The Breath Priest Lake Presbyterian Church Vol. 16, No. 5 Take the Breath to Spread the Word May 2016 Smile and the world smiles with you reminds us that smiling can be contagious, but it is not the same as Christian joy. Christian joy is not a surface phenomenon, for it comes from deep within the soul. Christian joy is knowing and experiencing the power of the Resurrected Christ each day. Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a Christian writer and speaker, is also a quadriplegic due to a diving accident when she was younger. Rather than wallowing in despair, she has chosen to tell others about the Christian joy in her writings and talks. In one of her books she tells about the time she was at a convention and was surrounded by a crowd of women during a break. One woman said, Oh Joni, you always look so happy in your wheelchair. Please tell me how you can smile and be so happy. Joni knew that the break would soon be over, so she wondered how she could answer the woman s question in about 60 seconds. How could she sum up in one short minute what had taken her three decades to learn? So Joni took a deep breath and said, I don t do it. That raised some eyebrows. In fact, let me tell you how I woke up this morning, which was an average day for me. After my husband left for work at 6:00 a.m., I was all alone until I heard the front door open at 7:00 a.m. That is when a friend arrived to get me up. While I listened to her make coffee, I prayed, O Lord, my friend will soon give me a bath and get me dressed, brush my hair and teeth, and get me ready for the day. I don t have the strength to face this routine one more time, so God I need your help desperately. O Lord, I don t even have a smile to start the day, but You do. So Lord, may I borrow a smile from You? So when my friend came through the door, I turned my heard and gave her a borrowed smile sent to me straight from the heart of God. Joni concluded by saying, whatever joy you see on my face today was borrowed from God this morning. Some people in the PLPC congregation may be going through a difficult time now. Some of you may have encountered life s most difficult problems, and some may have lost the desire to smile. If you are finding it hard to smile, I want you to know that you too can borrow a smile from God. A borrowed smile from God reminds us that beneath the surface, which nobody can see, there is an inexpressible joy that is available to each of us. It is the joy of the Resurrected Christ, and it is a joy no one can ever take from us. It is my hope that you will start each day with a borrowed smile from God for it can brighten the lives of the people around you and give you joy in your heart. And that is the Good News Pastor Jimmie 1
PLPC was blessed April 24th with the baptism of Ella Grace Hansel! We rejoice with her parents, Diane and Matt Hansel, and her grandmother, Shirley Hansel. On Sunday, April 17th, a baby shower was held for Matt, Diane and Ella Grace. The family would like to thank everyone for their wonderful gifts. A very special thanks to Auntie Jessica Muirhead for the gorgeous Christening gown We love you, Ella Grace! Senior Sunday! Graduation is in the air!!! Please join us, May 1st, to celebrate and honor our High School Seniors. There will be a recognition and presentation ceremony with a reception to follow. We would like to also congratulate our College Senior, Savannah Loudermilk. Our 2016 Graduating Seniors are: Allison Culp ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School Ali Orstrom ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School Brooke Stuteville ~ Antioch High School Savannah Loudermilk ~ University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Psychology (entering Elementary Education Masters Program) HOOPS is set to begin its 8th season on June 8th. Youth ages 14 and older are invited to PLPC each week for basketball, devotional and dinner! The eight-week program will meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the gym. If you're interested in volunteering, please see the following members of the leadership team: On the court: Justin Greene, leading devotions: Jordan Greene, cooking and serving dinner: Leesa Fields and overall programming: Mike Howard HOOPS is a vital mission of our church as we reach out into our community and into the lives of an often forgotten segment of the population, young men. If you would like to make a financial donation or provide equipment or food, please see Laura Bradford or another HOOPS leader. 2
he next trip is set for July 14th thru July 28th 2016! Period March 1 March 31, 2015 (Operating accounts only) CHURCH FUNDS: Revenue: Pledge Contributions $29,318.00 Loose Offerings $7,687.00 All Other $5,169.95 Total Revenues $42,174.95 Expense: Missions $4,147.91 General Expenses $1,945.34 Properties $8,244.24 Committee Expenses $1,405.74 Personnel $26,109.78 Other $0.00 Total Expenses $41,853.01 Income as of 3/31/16 $321.94 MISSION FUNDS: Mission dollars carried over from 12/31/15 $4,681.65 Mission dollars accrued as of 3/31/16 $4,738.25 Mission dollars transferred to Designated Accounts $0.00 Mission dollars spent as of 3/31/16 -$4,668.66 Mission dollars available at 3/31/16 $4,751.24 DESIGNATED FUNDS: Designated dollars carried over from 12/31/15 $11,869.76 Designated funds received as of 3/31/16 $5,949.00 Designated funds spent as of 3/31/16 -$8,165.01 Designated funds transferred to Savings $0.00 Due to designated funds as of 3/31/16 $9,653.75 ACCOUNTS BALANCES: Money in Checking at 3/31/16 $26,901.87 General Funds $12,496.88 Missions Funds $4,751.24 Designated Accounts $9,653.75 Money in Savings at 3/31/16 $49,839.78 A/C Fund $25,900.00 Kitchen Renovation Fund $3,450.00 Insurance Deductible Sinking Fund $10,000.00 Nazarene Donation Designated for PNC to use for Moving Expenses for New Pastor $8,000.00 Capital Reserve Fund $2,489.78 May 1 Worship Leader Donna Nock Communion set up Valerie Barton Greeters/ Leesa Fields Crystal Caviness Nancy Loudermilk Gloria Kimbro Serve Choir David Sadler Communion cleanup Elizabeth Sadler Prayers of the people Pastor Jimmie May 8 Worship Leader Jon Loudermilk Greeters/ Frank Horton Karla Horton Justin Greene Sarah Greene Prayers of the people Pastor Jimmie May 15 Worship Leader Bob Ware Greeters/ Steve Greene Kristy Greene Maggie Wright Linda Anders Prayers of the people Pastor Jimmie May 22 Worship Leader Jordan Greene Greeters/ Chad Barton Valerie Barton Kevin Laterza Danielle Laterza Prayers of the people Jordan Greene May 29 Worship Leader Crystal Caviness Greeters/ Drew Norris Barbara Norris Bob DeBerry Susie DeBerry Prayers of the people Crystal Caviness *Note: If you are unable to serve in the capacity of preparing Communion, greeters, ushers, servers, cleanup or worship leader, please see Mike Howard or you may contact him @ 615-941-1454 or by email mikehoward@united.net. If you would like to be included in our rotation, please speak to Mike. 3
May 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Lectionary Class 9:00 Sunday School 9:00 Seekers Class 9:00 Worship Service & Senior Sunday 10:15 Reception following worship 2 8 9 Mother s Day Lectionary Class 9:00 Sunday School 9:00 Carrie Harvey Seekers Class 9:00 Karla Horton Worship Service 10:15 Eric & Nikki Hensley 15 16 Day of Pentecost Lectionary Class 9:00 Sunday School 9:00 Seekers Class 9:00 Worship Service 10:15 22 23 Lectionary Class 9:00 Sunday School 9:00 Seekers Class 9:00 Worship Service 10:15 Stated Session Meeting following worship Shirley Hansel 29 30 Lectionary Class 9:00 Memorial Day office Sunday School 9:00 closed Seekers Class 9:00 Worship Service 10:15 Dale Fields 3 10 17 Bob & Susie DeBerry 24 31 4 11 Jimmie out of the office 18 Justin & Sarah Greene Lisa Witten 25 Notes: 5 12 Jimmie out of the office 19 Ladies Lunch Bunch 11:00 Meet @ church 10:30 26 6 13 20 Niki Hensley 27 Danny & Donna Rae Dickerson 7 14 21 28 DID YOU KNOW some of the money this church gives was used to provide a Christian camping experience for children and youth who were taught the good news of the gospel last year during a wonderful camping experience? 4
Session Synopsis Following is a brief recap from the February 27th Session Meeting: 1. The session approved a motion to accept Mike Howard and Jordan Greene as elders, with installation set for March 20th. 2. Communion was served on January 3rd and February 7th. 3. Session approved a 2016 budget amended to close the budget shortfall. 4. Due to decreased attendance, KONNECT will begin meeting monthly through the end of the school year. 5. Elders Crystal Caviness and Leesa Fields attended a LEAD Training for Christian Ed training. Crystal also attended a Clerk of Session training. 6. Session approved a fundraiser for Angaza Nuru building fund with a Pysanky egg making event on March 19th. 7. A Palm Sunday lunch was planned for March 20th. A Senior Sunday event was scheduled for May 1st. 8. The session approved the use of three new Mission Statements: Loving and serving together with our neighbors, throughout the community and the world, to glorify God. Answering God s call, to be his hands, heart and love, to God s world. "Priest Lake Presbyterian is the little church doing big things. 9. The Session agreed for the need to come into compliance with the Book of Order (manual) regarding worship duties. 10. The next session meeting was set for April 24th. (The synopsis for this meeting will be in the June newsletter following approval of the minutes by the Elders at the May Session meeting.) Ladies Retreat fed Women's Souls and The Local Raccoons More than 20 women attended the 5th annual PLPC Ladies Retreat April 9th-10th at the YMCA Outdoor Center, with the theme of "Choose the Better Part." Participants learned how breathing correctly can give us more energy and we also learned basic yoga moves from a certified teacher. Jill Lancaster led us in a time of study as we delved into the story of Mary and Martha and learned why it's important to set priorities in our lives so that we can "choose the better part." We also learned that soup containers accidentally left outside overnight turn into a feast for local raccoons! Mark your calendars now for the next PLPC Ladies Retreat, scheduled for January 28th and 29th, 2017. Don't miss the adventure! The next Ladies Lunch Bunch get-together will be on Thursday, May 19th. We will be going to Rafferty s Restaurant at 4041 Armory Oaks Drive in the 100 Oaks area for lunch at 11:00 am. We hope you will join us and bring your friends who are always welcome. Please contact Gloria Kimbro by the Tuesday before at gkimbro@comcast.net or 615-668-4693 to reserve your place. Carpooling will be leaving the church at 10:30 am. See you soon! 5
WALKing through Luke, one verse at a time The Wednesday WALK is moving through the Gospel of Luke, discovering nuggets of history and new truths. Please consider joining us for lively discussions as we study Luke verse by verse. We meet 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays in the high school Sunday school room. The Sunday WALK group will meet May 22nd for a special event. Watch for more details coming soon. WALK, in its sixth year, has grown into a supportive group of women who pray and care for one another as we each seek God's Will for our lives. All women of the church and community are invited to join WALK. We meet in the high school classroom. If you have questions, please contact Crystal Caviness at 615.306.3401 or via email at crystal.caviness@gmail.com. Parental Grace The both of you have given me life. Even though your life was filled with strife. I know I wasn t the perfect child. But we all know it s in our blood to be wild. You both are the perfect parents that could never be replaced. You gave me peace, love, life and happiness, and to say the least, my name means grace. You will never leave my heart and soul; because you ll always wear a halo. I want you both to know I always needed you to grow. I m surrounded by complete and total love. I have to thank the good Lord above. You have my utmost praise. I wasn t the easiest to raise. Don t ever think that you re not on my thoughts. Because when it comes to that my brain doesn t fault. I love you both and always will. Ann Fox In honor of May & June honorees, Mother's Day and Father's Day, I would like to submit the attached poem, to be placed in the newsletter, that our daughter, Ann Fox wrote for Raymond & I several years ago. She has had two poems selected and published in: The Best Poems and Poets of 2003 and The Golden Mantle of Evening. These books of selected poetry from several poets have been placed in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Love to all, Linda & Raymond Anders 6
Priest Lake Presbyterian Church 2787 Smith Springs Road Nashville, TN 37217 Interim Pastor Jimmie Lancaster lancasterjimmie@gmail.com Office: 615-366-0247 Cell: 901-383-0763 Publisher Susan Rowell, Administrative Assistant office@priestlakepresbyterian.org http://www.priestlakepresbyterian.org 7