Volume 8, Issue 3 February 10, 2016 Editor: Janice D. Gray FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1400 South Elm Street Greenville, NC 27858 Phone: (252) 758-1901 Fax: (252) 758-1365 Office Hours: M-Th 8-5 Fri 9-12 www.fpcgreenville.org WORSHIP SERVICES Ash Wednesday Services February 10, 2016 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. February 14, 2016 First Sunday in Lent Campus Ministry Sunday 8:30 a.m. - Worship **11:00 a.m. - Worship Our PCM students will lead worship. Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Luke 4:1-13 **Service broadcast live on WNCT 1070 AM 105.9 FM radio starting at 11:00 am (also in New Bern - 95.7 and Jacksonville - 101.1) and streamed live at www.1070wnct.com and www.fpcgreenville.org. LENT GATHERINGS On Wednesday, February 17, we will begin our Lenten Gatherings, beginning with Meditation and Music at 12:00 noon and lunch following ($5 donation). We need volunteers to provide the soup/sandwich lunches - sign up in the Welcome Center. Here is the schedule for the Lenten Gatherings. February 17: Bill Neely, Devotion February 24: Steve Prevatte, Devotion March 2: Kathleen Williams, Devotion March 9: Bill Neely, Devotion March 16: Steve Prevatte, Devotion Pick up a Lenten Devotional book in the Welcome Center. The book was written by Brian Coulter, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, SC, and author of Be Holy: Find Identity, Find Belonging, Find Purpose. YOUTH SPAGHETTI LUNCH The annual Youth Spaghetti Luncheon fundraiser will be on Sunday, February 21 after worship. Please make plans to join us for our annual fundraiser for Missions! To go plates will also be available. The cost is $5 per plate which includes spaghetti, bread, salad, drink, and dessert. CALLING ALL KIDS! All children Pre-K through 5th grade are invited to a Valentine's Day Party on Sunday, February 14th from 4:45-6pm. This will be our kickoff to the spring semester of our Sunday afternoon children's programs: Spread the Word, Cherub Choir, and JAM Singers. If your child has never participated before, this is a great time to start! Contact Karrie Rushing (karrie@fpcgreenville.org). The next edition of our printed publication, FOCUS, will be published on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Please submit all articles to janice@fpcgreenville.org by 9:00 a.m. Monday, February 15, 2016.
OUR MEMBERSHIP CARES Cypress Glen: Sarah Allen, C106, Ben Lattin, C120, Beth Clark, A105, Martha Coffman, C213, Margie Wright, 305 Francis Asbury Ln. Golden Living: Gladys Howell Spring Arbor: Thelma Flye, Rm. 112 At Home: Jerry Cox, Mary Smith, Jimmy Sutton Vidant: Joe Sullivan, Linwood Winbourne, Louise Woellmer FPC Events. Wednesday, 2/10 9:00 am Prayers & Squares (R207) Ash Wednesday Service Cypress Glen Lunch 3:00 pm Service for Clara Carr 6:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry (Par) 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service 8:00 pm AA (R202) Thursday, 2/11 10:00 am Bible Study (Parlor) 6:00 pm PCM (FH) 7:00 pm Overeaters Anon (R211) 8:00 pm AA (BFH) Friday, 2/12 5:30 pm PCM Babysitting Fundraiser Saturday, 2/13 11:00 am Overeaters Anon (R211) Sunday, 2/14 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship 11:30-2:30 Zaxby s PCM Fundraiser 12:00 noon Youth Council 3:00 pm Youth to Humane Society 4:45 pm Children s Choirs 7:00 pm Ministry Meetings 8:00 pm Communications Council Monday, 2/15 11:00 am Staff Meeting (HHR) 6:30 pm Boy/Cub Scouts (BFH, Rms) 7:00 pm Overeaters Anon (R211) Greenville Women s League Tuesday, 2/16 6:00 pm MOC Dinner (FH) 7:00 pm Bell Choir (R213) Ulster Board (R205) Wednesday, 2/17 9:00 am Prayers & Squares (R207) Lenten Devotion/Lunch 1:00 pm Address Angels (R202) 6:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry (Par) 7:00 pm Chancel Choir (R216) 8:00 pm AA (R202) Thursday, 2/18 10:00 am Bible Study (Parlor) 6:00 pm PCM (FH) 7:00 pm Overeaters Anon (R211) 8:00 pm AA (BFH) Friday, 2/19 Saturday, 2/20 11:00 am Overeaters Anon (R211) 12:00 noon PW NTN Luncheon (FH) AGE VENTURERS: On March 1, we are off to Elizabeth City to have a tour and show at the Elizabeth City State Planetarium. Afterward, we will have lunch. We will leave at 7:30 a.m. and return by 4:00 p.m. Cost is $5. Pay and register in the church office. Make plans for our overnight trip in April to the Outer Banks. Register in the church office. Contact Kathleen or Cathy for more information.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN CATERING TO OUR NEIGHBORS LUNCHEON 2016 Presbyterian Women will sponsor a luncheon, Catering to our Neighbors, Saturday, February 20, in the church Fellowship Hall. The luncheon will benefit the Greenville Utilities Neighbor to Neighbor Program and will feature a catered lunch by Front Porch Catering of Ayden, door prizes, baked and frozen food sales, plus unique items for raffle. Tickets are still available for the luncheon, with seating with friends options possible. Contact Antoinette Patterson (252-413-0636) or Cathy Taylor (704-995-1866). Presbyterian Women are accepting donations from individuals and businesses. If you want to help our neighbors, please consider a donation, which will be matched by Greenville Utilities. Please make checks payable to PW with NTN donation in the memo line. You can mail your donation to the church office at 1400 South Elm St., Greenville, or take it to the office. FROZEN FOODS Please consider cooking or preparing something for our frozen foods table at the Catering to our Neighbors Luncheon. Casseroles of any size (8x8 is very popular), lasagna, baked spaghetti, broccoli casserole, chicken casserole, are always a big hit. Also chicken salad, pimento cheese, soups, and sauces all sell very well. We need all items brought to the church by February 19th so we can price them. If you have questions or if you need freezer space, please contact Earlene Hite, 916-3325. BAKE SALE Men and women, girls and boys we need baked goods for the Catering to our Neighbors Luncheon! Please make, bake, and take any goodies, cakes, pies, cookies, bars, fudge, pickles, jellies, relish, tarts, or snack foods for our bake sale. We are hoping for a huge response since we have caterers preparing the luncheon dishes. Please drop off your goodies Friday, February 19th. Please contact Pam Finch, 355-7693, with any questions. RAFFLE FOR PW LUNCHEON How would you like to win a wonderful outdoor wall plaque, a 900 watt Nutri Ninja Blender, a FitBit, a "Paint it Purple" Large Utility Tote, a "Pampering Gift Basket" which includes a Professional Hair Dryer, Gift Certificates, Robe, Tote Bag and more, or a complete set of Downtown Abbey DVDs... just to list a few?? Please be on the lookout for our table in the welcome center. We will be selling tickets for our Raffle Items on Sunday prior to the 11:00 service. You could win one (or all) of the items while helping raise money for our Pitt County neighbors who cannot afford heat during the cold winter months. A WIN/WIN SITUATION! Also, if you are willing to donate items to either the raffle or door prizes, please let Ann Taylor or Jeri Jackson know... the more the merrier. Thanks! PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN CT will meet Monday, Feb. 22, 7:00 p.m. at the church. All PW are invited to lunch at McAlister s Deli on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m. High School Seniors/College Students Applications are now available in the church office for scholarships provided by the Presbyterian Women. You will find an application form and guidelines for each of the scholarships awarded. The deadline for applying is March 1. The same form is used for all scholarships the PW Scholarship, the Hubert and Mary D. Bryant Scholarship, the Anna Belle Boyd Sugg and Fordyce Harding Sugg Scholarship, and the Pandora s Box Scholarship. There is also an application available for a Women of New Hope Presbytery Scholarship. That application must be mailed and received by the Presbytery by March 1. Contact Mary Beth Pugh, 364-8255/ dcmbpugh@suddenlink.net if you have any questions.
In Memoriam Ernest Bockoven Wright March 1, 1924 - February 2, 2016 Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26a The church extends heartfelt sympathy and prayers to his wife, Marjorie and family. Memorial gifts may be given to First Presbyterian Church, 1400 South Elm St., Greenville, NC 27858. In Memoriam Clara Robinson Carr May 17, 1930 - February 6, 2016 Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26a The church extends heartfelt sympathy and prayers to her family and friends. Memorial gifts may be given to First Presbyterian Church, 1400 South Elm St., Greenville, NC 27858. FIRST FRIDAY CLUB We had a great time at Pizza Inn and ice skating Friday night with a great turnout! Thank you to all who attended! Next month s meeting will be March 11, when we will play games at the church. Cost will be $5 to cover the cost of food. SOUPER BOWL OF CARING A big thank you for all of your donations to the Souper Bowl of Caring! On Saturday, we turned in 751 pounds of food along with the food collected on Sunday and $322.44!! These gifts will definitely help feed a lot of people. The director, Angel Ray, is very thankful for our church s support of the Food Bank. There are three ways to help this organization--1. donation of food, 2. time spent at the Food Bank, and 3. Monetary donations. Ray pointed out that our church does all three! Thank you! CONFIRMATION CLASS & ELDERS Please save the date for our second retreat which will take place on Saturday, March 19. We will be working at the Third Street Community Center and then coming back to the church for our lesson. Lunch will be provided. YOUTH MISSION TRIP The Youth Summer Mission trip will be a construction trip to the mountains of NC, June 18th-26th. If you are interested in joining us to help a construction team of youth, please let me know. We would love to have you. The trip will end with a little bit of fun at Carowinds. THANKS TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS February 14 is Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Sunday. Thank you to all teachers who are passing on faith and hope to others. Thank you for changing the world, one person at a time. God has certainly called you. The flowers in the Welcome Center are in your honor. Please take one after the worship service as our way of saying thank you.
YOUTH NEWS: Although the Panthers did not come out on top, we still had a great time at the Super Bowl Party! Thank you to everyone for attending and to the parents for all of the delicious items. We definitely had a feast! Please continue to attend Sunday School. This week's lesson will be Jesus Teaches About Rewards. Sign ups--i know it is crazy to be thinking about spring and summer but we have several trips you can begin to sign up for: 1. Senior High Retreat (9-12th graders) at Camp Willow Run, March 4th-6th: I will need to know if you are planning to go by February 10th. All paperwork and payments must be submitted to Camp Willow Run by February 12th. The cost is $125.00 but you only pay $75. 2. Mission Trip to the Mountains --(ages 13 and up) Carolina Cross Connection, June 18th-25th: this will be a construction trip, so any adults who would like to put their construction skills to work, please join us. To close out the trip, we will be going to Carowinds. 3. Montreat Youth Conference--(rising 9th-12th graders), July 23rd-30th If you are interested in any of the above trips, please begin letting me know and more details will go out as we get closer. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm also looking for adult advisors who would be willing to attend with me. The church has paid for 17 spots and I need to be sure we don't need more spots. The total cost is $260. February 28th--a $50 deposit is due for Montreat and the Mission Trip. Upcoming Events: February 14th--We are going to go share our love for the animals at the Humane Society from 3:00 -- 5:00pm. Afterwards, anyone who would like to join us, we will go out for dinner. Pick up will be at the church at 6:00pm. Youth Council will meet following the 11:00 service. Lunch will be provided. February 21st--Spaghetti Luncheon: this is the Youth activity for the day!! Mr. Tom Harvey is planning on cooking for us again. However, he will not be able to be there on Sunday so I will need some extra help from parents. I will also be sending out a sign up sheet for various items needed. Thank you as always for your support. February 28th--Regular Youth 5-7pm. The Sneeds and Chappells will be providing dinner. Thank you! With Lenten season quickly approaching, we want to ask ourselves what can we do to better ourselves in God's eyes. With these sacrifices, we are able to continue to grow in our faith as we continue on this journey together. Brian Dilday, Youth Director 252-367-1914, fpcyouthgreenville@gmail.com
PCM FUNDRAISERS Presbyterian Campus Ministry is raising money for our mission trip to the Dominican Republic by babysitting at First Presbyterian Church from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday, February 12 th. Just sign up in the Welcome Center or email ecucampusministry@gmail.com and let us know how many kids you will be dropping off, as well as their ages. Infants through 2 years old should be dropped off in the nursery, and children of 3 years and above should be dropped off in the Godly Play room. We will divide them up based on age after they arrive. There will be games for the kids and plenty of qualified babysitters! A kidfriendly dinner will also be served. If you have any questions, please email ecucampusministry@gmail.com or call Emily Harvey at (252) 714-5751. Another PCM fundraiser will take place February 14 at Zaxby s on Firetower near Bells Fork. Enjoy lunch between 11:30 and 2:30 and mention PCM to have a portion of the receipts go to the PCM mission trip. MOC DINNER The Men of the Church Dinner will be Tuesday, February 16, 6:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. The program will be a business and planning meeting. We urge all men of the church who have an interest in planning new projects and purpose for the organization to attend. Your input will be important, so come prepared to share your ideas on how we can enhance or improve what we are presently doing. Chris Riddle will be cooking hamburger steak, mashed potatoes and peas. Sign up in the Welcome Center. Cost is $9. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Over the past few weeks, I have learned how valuable our eyesight is. In life, we take most things for granted until they are no longer available. I am thankful for the miracle of modern medicine and my physician s ability to save my eyesight, but living over the past few weeks with a gas bubble obstructing my vision, I have come to appreciate even more deeply the ability to see. We are entering the season of Lent. Traditionally this has been the season for giving up any number of things. One year our son Kres decided to give up television for Lent. Some of my Catholic friends give up meat for Lent. I ve even known some who gave up chocolate for Lent, but Lent is more than giving up some trite vice in our life that we might name as sin. Lent is supposed to be that time of revisioning ourselves as God s people, a time of seeing who Christ really is, and as Christ s disciples, who we are being called to be. As I mentioned this past Sunday, Lent stands between two mountains, the mountain of transfiguration and the mountain called Calvary. On the Mount of Transfiguration, three disciples saw the Christ of victory and glory. On Mount Calvary, we see the Christ who is the lamb of sacrifice, the one who dies for us. While the Mount of Transfiguration was a glimpse of the glory that would be revealed, Calvary s mountain is a passage to that glory. My prayer for all of us during this season of Lent is that whatever we take on to help us through this journey or whatever we give up that would blur our vision, that we all might journey with Christ as we seek to be God s people. Bill Neely