A Caring Congregation Seeking God’s Purpose in a Changing ... · tears. SYW is a conference that...
4
First Presbyterian Church of Garland Monday Morning Newsletter April 29, 2018 Page 1 of 4 WEEKLY EVENTS Saturdays 8:00-10:00 Fellowship Hall COMMUNITY BREAKFAST Wednesdays 7:00 AM MEN'S BIBLE STUDY 7:30 CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSAL Thursdays 10:30 PASTOR'S BIBLE STUDY Fridays 7:00 HOME BIBLE STUDY (SEE SCHEDULE INSIDE) UPCOMING EVENTS April 29 Senior Recognition Sunday May 2 12:00 Senior Saints1 May 3 7:00 Deacon’s Meeting May 4 7:00 Garland HBS May 6 12:00 Picnic MONDAY MORNING NEWSLETTER News of the People of First Presbyterian Church of Garland Vol. XLVIII, Nbr. 9 April 29, 2018 Sunday Worship 8:30 am Contemporary 10:50 am Traditional 5:00 pm Urdu Worship Sunday School 9:35 am 930 West Avenue B Garland, TX 75040 (972)272-2595 www.fpcgarland.org Vision Statement A Caring Congregation Seeking God’s Purpose in a Changing World To Equip and to Send Forth Disciples with Christ’s Love Through the Power of the Holy Spirit Pastor’s Desk My dear friends, You may have heard of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I could write a sequel to that book and call it But You Will Learn a Lot when Your Own Child Goes to Kindergarten. Nelson is coming to the end of his kindergarten experience. It is truly amazing how much he has learned in these past nine months. He learned more or less how to behave in a group, how to listen and follow instructions for the most part, how to count, how to read, how to add, how to tie his shoes, how to clean his face. He learned hundreds of facts about the world around him. He learned not to touch a hot BBQ smoker. If he didn’t get any more school after this year he might be able to function and survive in the world. So now let’s get to the sequel. Here are some things I have learned that many of you have long known. People, even 5-year-olds, can learn to navigate life without me telling them what to do all the time. In fact, the more you tell people what to do, the less their brains will learn how to learn. Telling people what to do makes people stupid, not smart. Not that I don’t have any wisdom to offer or guidance to give, but people have to learn things in their own way. The best we can do is encourage learning and give permission to try it their way. Their mistakes will be there best teachers. Most struggles come and go. About a year ago, which now seems like a lifetime, I was convinced that Nelson would have a permanent stammer. It was painful to hear him try to get a sentence out. And then one day, after a couple of months, it just stopped. I learned that sometimes the brain develops faster than the body and vice-versa. His brain was thinking fast, but his tongue was moving slow. Many of our struggles are like the weather around here. If you don’t like it, just wait until tomorrow it will be totally different. It’s easy to believe that every problem we have will be forever, but most of the time we wake up one day and they’re just gone. Tomorrow is another day. So don’t worry so much. Love covers a great many parenting mistakes. Every parent in the world has been convinced that they have permanently warped their children. And we all do our damage (cont. on pg 3)
Transcript of A Caring Congregation Seeking God’s Purpose in a Changing ... · tears. SYW is a conference that...
First Presbyterian Church of Garland Monday Morning Newsletter
April 29, 2018 Page 1 of 4
WEEKLY EVENTS
Saturdays
8:00-10:00 Fellowship Hall
COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
Wednesdays 7:00 AM MEN'S BIBLE STUDY
7:30 CHANCEL CHOIR
REHEARSAL
Thursdays 10:30 PASTOR'S BIBLE
STUDY
Fridays 7:00 HOME BIBLE STUDY
(SEE SCHEDULE INSIDE)
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 29
Senior Recognition Sunday May 2
12:00 Senior Saints1 May 3
7:00 Deacon’s Meeting
May 4 7:00 Garland HBS May 6
12:00 Picnic
Sunday Worship
8:30 am
Contemporary
10:50 am Traditional
Sunday School
9:30 am
MONDAY MORNING NEWSLETTER News of the People of First Presbyterian Church of Garland
Vol. XLVIII, Nbr. 9
April 29, 2018
Sunday Worship
8:30 am Contemporary
10:50 am Traditional
5:00 pm Urdu Worship
Sunday School
9:35 am 930 West Avenue B
Garland, TX 75040
(972)272-2595
www.fpcgarland.org
Vision Statement
A Caring Congregation Seeking God’s Purpose in a Changing World To Equip and to Send Forth Disciples
with Christ’s Love Through the Power of the Holy Spirit
Pastor’s Desk
My dear friends,
You may have heard of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in
Kindergarten. I could write a sequel to that book and call it But You Will
Learn a Lot when Your Own Child Goes to Kindergarten.
Nelson is coming to the end of his kindergarten experience. It is truly
amazing how much he has learned in these past nine months. He learned
more or less how to behave in a group, how to listen and follow instructions
for the most part, how to count, how to read, how to add, how to tie his
shoes, how to clean his face. He learned hundreds of facts about the world
around him. He learned not to touch a hot BBQ smoker. If he didn’t get any
more school after this year he might be able to function and survive in the
world.
So now let’s get to the sequel. Here are some things I have learned that many
of you have long known.
People, even 5-year-olds, can learn to navigate life without me telling them
what to do all the time. In fact, the more you tell people what to do, the less
their brains will learn how to learn. Telling people what to do makes people
stupid, not smart. Not that I don’t have any wisdom to offer or guidance to
give, but people have to learn things in their own way. The best we can do is
encourage learning and give permission to try it their way. Their mistakes
will be there best teachers.
Most struggles come and go. About a year ago, which now seems like a
lifetime, I was convinced that Nelson would have a permanent stammer. It
was painful to hear him try to get a sentence out. And then one day, after a
couple of months, it just stopped. I learned that sometimes the brain develops
faster than the body and vice-versa. His brain was thinking fast, but his
tongue was moving slow. Many of our struggles are like the weather around
here. If you don’t like it, just wait until tomorrow it will be totally different.
It’s easy to believe that every problem we have will be forever, but most of
the time we wake up one day and they’re just gone. Tomorrow is another
day. So don’t worry so much.
Love covers a great many parenting mistakes. Every parent in the world has
been convinced that they have permanently warped their children. And we all
do our damage
(cont. on pg 3)
First Presbyterian Church of Garland Monday Morning Newsletter
April 29, 2018 Page 2 of 4
Just a reminder that we support four agencies a year on a quarterly basis. Camp Gilmont is our Deacons' Fund second quarter agency for 2018. Camp Gilmont's mission is to
offer Christian-based programs and provide facilities for groups and individuals to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Summer camps, KidQuake, YouthQuake (now known as GAP), Men's Retreats, and the Women's Retreat are opportunities for our family to enjoy this oasis in East Texas. 2018 will mark 78 years of their Christian camping ministry. Donations are accepted at any time they are designated for Camp Gilmont. The faithful and generous support of FPC's family is greatly appreciated!
Please notify the office when any of your contact information changes.
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund Needs a Boost
As most of you know, the church
maintains a Pastor’s Discretionary
Fund that provides some financial
assistance to church members and to
members of the Garland community.
This fund is down to about $100, so
please prayerfully consider a donation
to this fund.
You can put your donation in the
offering plate but please put on the
memo line a note saying it is for the
Pastor’s fund. If you are giving cash
to this fund, please put it in an
envelope with a note saying it is for
the pastor’s fund.
Thank you for your continued support
of this ministry of our church.
First Presbyterian Church of Garland Monday Morning Newsletter
April 29, 2018 Page 3 of 4
Pastor’s Desk (cont’d)
There’s no avoiding it. But even the deepest emotional wounds can be healed by love. Nelson wouldn’t get out
of the car after coming home from school. So I just left him in the car sitting in the garage. It wasn’t hot outside.
The next thing I knew, I heard him screaming bloody-murder at the top of his lungs. The garage lights go out
automatically after a couple of minutes. He was in the pitch dark and couldn’t do anything about it. He was
traumatized and I felt horrible. I was imagining his future conversations with a therapist. And for months after
that, he would panic if he thought he was going to be left alone. But little by little my regular assurance and
showing of my love for him settled him down. Neuroscience has confirmed that emotional scars which show up
as brain damage can be healed by simple and regular acceptance, love, and encouragement. And it doesn’t even
have to be from a parent. It could be anyone.
Just imagine if we applied these same lessons to all our relationships, including church: don’t tell people what
to do (encourage others to learn for themselves and give them permission to try it their way), don’t worry so
much- this too shall pass, and nurse each other’s wounds with your love.
The amazing thing about the Christian faith is that we have been given an inner teacher who is with us always;
letting us learn and gently nudging us along the way, bring us peace and assurance that this struggle is not
permanent, and lavishing us with his healing love: The Holy Spirit.
Lovingly, Pastor Paul
____________________________________________________________________________
The annual All-Church Picnic is on May 6 following the combined worship service. Each family is asked to bring two picnic side dishes; delicious smoked meat will be provided. Dress that day is
casual. Lots of fun activity is promised, along with plenty of food and great fellowship. Everybody, come!
Attendance at all 3 worship services
plus those worshiping at Kidquake on
April 22 was 203. Total giving was
$4196.05.
Attendance at all 3 services on April
15 was 191. Total giving was
$7271.11.
Remember, if you want to Amazon to donate
to First Presbyterian Church of Garland, you
need to start each shopping session at the
URL http://smile.amazon.com. They will
donate 0.5% of the price of eligible
purchases you make.
5 locations of Home Bible Study meet once a month from 7:00-8:00:
1st Friday—Garland @ the home of the Renaud family 2nd Friday—Rowlett @ the home of the Pendarvis family 3rd Friday—Wylie/Sachse @ the home of the Green family
4th Friday—Dallas/Richardson @ the home of the Masih family 4th Friday—Forney @ the home of the Kuja family
Hebrews 10:25: “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
First Presbyterian Church of Garland Monday Morning Newsletter
April 29, 2018 Page 4 of 4
Bingo for Missions
Bring your Mom & Family to Bingo for Mexico Mission Trip!!
On May 12th at 6 pm the church will host a bingo event.
All proceeds will go for expenses on the Mexico Mission trip including lodging and gas for people going to work. The money will also be used for building material to construct a house. Bingo cards will be $10 and winners will receive gift cards or gift baskets.
Brisket sandwiches and all the fixings will be sold.
No nursery will be provided.
Come join in the fun and fellowship.
Anyone interested in making donations of gift cards or baskets please contact Annette Renaud .Contributions may also be made directly to Mexico Mission Trip during offering time .
Thank you.
A Message: Have you ever been to Synod Youth Workshop? Whether your answer is “more times than I can count”, “yes, but not for several years” or “no, not yet”…we hope you will join us this summer for a life-changing week of faith formation, fellowship, service and fun. Since 1957, SYW has provided an amazing and unique conference experience for high school youth from Synod of the Sun. SYW offers both a fun place and a holy space to explore and deepen one’s faith by following the example of the acceptance, love, and grace of our Lord. Daily activities include small group gatherings, worship, group-building, service, lots of laughter, and even room for tears. SYW is a conference that truly lives out these biblical words: "When one rejoices, we all rejoice. When one weeps, we all weep." We welcome your group to be part of our loving, serving, worshipping and ever-growing SYW family. Synod Youth Workshop will be held at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, OK, from July 9th-14th, 2018. The conference is open to youth who have completed 8th grade through graduated seniors. Further information and links to online registration can be on our website - SynodYouthWorkshop.com. Please feel free to contact me: ([email protected]) or Gary Holloman ([email protected]) with any questions. This is an amazing conference!
Senior Recognition
On April 29, we will be honoring our graduating seniors at the 10:50 am service: Soham Saleem, Geoff Snider, Junior Tabufor, and Tabitha William. Come congratulate them and learn about their future plans!
Graduating college seniors will also be saluted in the April 29 bulletins and the next newsletter. If you are a graduating senior of either level, please notify Sue Suneson if you are not named here. (This includes college graduates from the middle of the year.)
