FIRST PRESBYTERIAN T U S C A L O O S A

Serving Christ from the Heart of TuscaloosaServing Christ from the Heart of TuscaloosaServing Christ from the Heart of Tuscaloosa June 2016June 2016June 2016

Church Staff

Rev. Mike Anderson

Interim Pastor

Rev. Lou Ann Sellers

Associate Pastor for

Congregational Care

And Missions

Rev. James Goodlet

Associate Pastor for

Campus Ministry

Neeley Lane

Director of Youth Ministry

Rev. Dr. Thomas Herwig

Parish Associate for

First Pres Deutsch

Bill Pool

Church Administrator

L Jeffries Binford, Jr.

Organist

Jenny Thagard

Director of Christian

Education

Dr. Pamela Truelove-Walker

Preschool Director

Libby Hagler

Church Financial Secretary

Missy Pilkington

Administrative Assistant

Mike Till

Church Sexton

Sherry Snow

Church Sexton

Bernadette Roche

Communication Coordinator

900 Greensboro Avenue

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Phone: 752.3531

Fax: 752.3885

www.fpctusc.org

FPCTusc.blogspot.com

Keep Calm and Carry On by Rev. James Goodlet

“I can’t believe I’m saying this to my pastor, but calm down.” These words were once spoken to me during a phone call with one of the many people who have helped push this little project called UPerk along. The thing is, many of you know me. I don't do calm. I

envy those who do, as they seem the type bearing not-so-short tempers and longer life spans. They coast through life like Forrest Gump's feather on a breeze, whereas I feel like I crash land with minimum grace and maximum awkwardness. So when this person told me to calm down, it didn't quite register. I started thinking to myself, “You want me to calm down? Don’t you know what’s at stake here? We have to bring beautiful, bold coffee to Tuscaloosa! And we have to make this new way of ministry work! Calm down? I don't even know what that means!’” It's probably a good thing I didn’t say anything, considering that would've been a little reactive. Maybe over-reactive. And this person was right: I needed to calm down. I needed to take a deep breath. I needed to listen. Because that’s what you do when you don’t know what you’re doing: you calm down, you breathe, and you listen. UPerk is moving forward. Our board is formed and working. Our fundraising is headed in the right direction, though we still have a ways to go. The design phase is drawing to a close. We'll be launching a new website in the next month. We're creating new and re-imagining already-existing partnerships in Tuscaloosa to springboard some exciting initiatives when we open our doors. We're working with Heritage House Coffee and Tea on some big ideas for feeding customers and community members. Things are moving, y'all, and it wouldn't be possible without the amazing folks-- both within the church and the greater Tuscaloosa community-- who have ushered this thing along. To witness the Body of Christ in action-- pursuing a vision, dreaming dreams, imagining possibilities-- has been breathtaking. To be clear, though, there have been times when finding breath has been a fleeting enterprise. The whole process has presented one big, long learning curve. Yet the church has been there throughout, offering guidance, extending a helping hand, and even telling a high-strung campus minister to calm down. Breathe. Listen. Learn. That's how this works. That's how life teaches you. That's how the Spirit pushes you. Breathe. Listen. Learn. Keep Calm. Carry On.

2

by Rev. Mike Anderson

I have found that Presbyterians are often scared of the Holy Spirit. It seems we have allowed our Pentecostal friends to define for us what it means to live by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit does not mean we jump over pews, wave our hands in the air, and babble unknown tongues. I do not mean to disparage those who do those things. That is just not us. And it is not what defines a life lived under the control of the Holy Spirit. Paul defines the life lived by the Spirit as one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23) As someone has said, “It is not how loud you shout or how high you jump, as long as when you come down, you walk straight.” The life Paul defines is a supernatural life. It takes far more than determination and a strong will to make it happen. It cannot be lived apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the Romans talks of this life in the Spirit. After speaking of our lostness, whether as a Jew under the Law or Gentile, he states that God demonstrated his own love for us, whether we are Jew or Gentile, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Our life, lived by faith, is the result of God’s great love for us. It is pure grace and it is God’s gift to us in the per-son of the Holy Spirit that makes it happen. What a gift it is! Romans 8 begins by saying, “For God has done what the Law could not do.” It is interesting that prior to chapter 8, the Holy Spirit is mentioned four times in Ro-mans. In chapter 8, the Holy Spirit is mentioned 21 times. The resurrected life, de-scribed in chapter 6, is empowered by the Holy Spirit in chapter 8, and it is a life that is a gift from God to us. In the coming weeks we will explore this Spirit-filled life Paul describes in Romans 8. I make no claim to understand the Holy Spirit fully. It is a mystery that by faith I accept and receive. I hope you will join me on Sunday mornings for this study as we worship together. Blessings, Mike

Life in the Spirit

3

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching us! The theme this year is "Water All Around the World". Come join your friends for Vacation Bible School June 27-30, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at First Presbyterian Church! Rising kindergarteners through rising 5th graders are welcome. Please register by Sunday, June 5. Participants register online on the First Pres Vacation Bible School page at http://www.fpctusc.org/ministries/children/vacation-bible-school/ Scroll down the page to the registration link. Registration for Vacation Bi-ble School is free. If your child is in the Pre-K class at FPC Preschool or attending summer camp, you do not need to register them on the web-site. They will be registered by the Preschool. You may purchase their shirt and/or CD online. The deadline to order T-Shirts is Monday, June 6. If you would like to serve our children by working as an adult or youth vol-unteer, please complete the Adult/Youth Volunteer Application by clicking the link at the bottom of the online registration form. Participants can or-der and pay for VBS-themed T-Shirts online and VBS music CDs as well. The order link is at the bottom of the online registration form. VBS T-shirts are available in all sizes from x-small Youth to 2x Adult sizes; all t-shirt sizes are $14.00 per t-shirt. Music CDs are $2 each. For more information about Vacation Bible School or volunteering, please contact Audrey Smith (ahs.coupons@gmail.com) Date Monday, June 27 - Thursday, June 30, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to noon Address First Presbyterian Church 900 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 http://www.fpctusc.org

4

By Rev. Lou Ann Sellers

Psalm 137:1-4, a psalm of Lament By the rivers of Babylon—there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows[a] there we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How could we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

What could our community have done when an EF4 tornado touched down in Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011? What could our community have done when the great winds – up to a 190 miles per hour – carved a path of destruction across the city almost 6 miles long?

What could our community have done when it became clear that 12 percent of the city had been destroyed in just a few short minutes?

What could our community have done when the offices of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Compassion Coalition and the city’s Emergency Management Agency were all blown away?

What could we have done when the city’s fleet of sanitation trucks was greatly damaged?

What could we have done when only 12 of the 32 churches - participating in Compassion Coalition of Tuscaloosa County -were still standing after the tornado? This is a non-profit of churches across faith lines with the mission to mobilize faith-based organizations to transform lives affected by disaster.

What could we have done when 1257 residential structures and 116 commercial structures were destroyed?

What could our community have done when familiar neighborhoods, places with glorious green canopies, shops and restaurants we frequented, road signs and marques which were hallmarks for drivers -were all suddenly no more?

What could we have done when people we called by name – friends, loved ones, acquaint-ances – where plucked from our midst – and some even from our grasps? Could we have done more than bury the 53 dead, tend to the over 1500 injured and begin to clean up the debris?

This horror – this emptiness – is something of the pain the writer of psalm 137 found words to describe. This writer was not describing feelings in the aftermath of a natural disaster but something that changed her life and the life of the community. The Psalmist related the pain of the destruction of the hometown city of Jerusalem and then of being captured and exiled to a foreign land.

The Psalmist said the tears of the people flowed and the music ceased. Did we in this community of Tuscaloosa not shed tears and find no words in the face of such destruction in the hours and days after the tornado?

Remembering… on the Occasion of the Fifth Anniversary

of the April 27, 2011 Tornado in Tuscaloosa, AL

5

YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM

We also read that the saving wind scattered Noah’s flood. It parted the Red Sea for the fleeing Israelites. Jesus compared wind to the Spirit in John’s gospel (3:8):

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Do we not sing of the breath of God which encourages our faith? “Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do.”

In her book Katrina’s Grace, Wind, Water and Wisdom, Sandra Lynn Price –Katrina survivor and re-tired, Presbyterian pastor having served a church in Livingston, Alabama, shares her observations of watching seagulls face a strong wind.

Sandra says, “One of the things I’ve watched over and over on the beach is what seagulls do when high winds come up. When the wind is too strong, respecting the wind, standing together to receive its power, they gather on the beach facing into the wind, standing still, facing directly into the wind. They do not try to fly. They do not hover and shy away. They stand together, each facing into the wind, standing as one, all facing into the wind together. I guess that’s what real community is, facing in the Spirit togeth-er.” (Price, p. 22)

Despite our pain and suffering in Tuscaloosa five year ago, is that not what I observed in our commu-nity as we faced the aftermath of the tornado? Did not many people stand side by side looking into the pain, the great loss in the wake of the great wind – did many not stand together and began to respond?

What could our community have done but sought our neighbors in need, pulling some out of the de-bris, carrying some for help and immediate care?

What could our city agencies and officials have done, but reorganize and immobilize finding and car-ing for its citizens?

What could our health care community have done but converge on the hospital, triaging and treating thousands over those first days?

What could our organizations – our businesses, non-profits and churches have done – but get out in the streets – providing food and water; volunteering innumerable hours of clean up and assistance?

What could our community have done but provide shelter for the homeless – at first short term in Red Cross centers or taking a neighbor into our home – and then longer term by helping to clean up and re-build homes?

What could our community have done but listen to one another’s stories, sharing in grief, encouraging for a new future?

Standing shoulder to shoulder, working side by side, leaning into aftermath of the strong wind, were we not able to demonstrate our convictions –of God’s power to move among and within us in some hum-ble response?

Rev. Lou Ann Sellers

First of three sermons delivered on the occasion the Fifth Anniversary of the April 27, 2011 Tornado at the Ecumenical Service held at Trinity United Meth-odist Church on April 27, 2016

6

By Becka Montgomery

Question: What do a surgical nurse, a neonatal specialist, a young city employee, a church pastor, a passionate scientist, and a 60’s something grandmother all have in common?? Answer: We are all members of a scout team who traveled to Haiti!! So why Haiti?? A few years ago, First Presbyterian’s Mission Committee sensed a call to develop a long term partnership with a group or organization in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. So for the past two years, our team, representing a variety of ages and skill sets, has been busy with meetings, research, e-mails, and much prayer, diligently seeking that special friendship in country, a place where we here in Tusca-loosa could grow and serve together with those in Haiti to further God’s Kingdom. As someone involved in mission a number of years, I see the role of mission changing and growing from more than just a trip by church members to listening and then responding to the needs of our mission partners, and not only in Haiti, but here in the States, also our friends in Kenya and Madagascar. On our recent trip in April, we visited schools and medical facilities, a center for the disabled, a church, a cultural cen-ter, plus vocational and agricultural sites. We heard presentations by passionate Hai-tians who are dedicated to preserving their heritage, their dignity, and encouraging their own people to a better way of life. I believe that our church can be a part of that pro-cess, and as I look around this sanctuary, I see the many gifts which you all possess, gifts which the Lord can use for His Glory! Haiti is more than just poverty and need. Haiti is mountaintops and beaches, palm trees and fields of rice and sugar cane. But most of all, the heart of Haiti is her people! People like Herns – our translator and mother hen; Marie Carmel – a beautiful young priest with a vision for her parish; Zo – an excellent driver who gifted us with Haitian coffee at the end of our visit; Maurice – patriarch of a village who shared a delicious meal, the history of Haiti and a town dance to celebrate the community; Marie Flore – whose family is involved in transforming the Central Plateau Region through education, medical care, and looking after the elderly. Our team would like to thank you for the opportunity to travel to Haiti and discover her people and places, and we would truly appreciate your prayers as we continue to dialogue and make decisions about all we have learned and experienced. Soon we will be making our final recommendations to Mission Committee about how we believe our church family can build a bridge with this island nation and serve the Lord there. We hope that you will prayerfully consider being a part of what God is doing in Haiti, as the Lord says,

“For Behold, I am doing a New Thing!”

Becka Montgomery, Member of the Haiti Scout Teams, November 2014 and April 2016

Minute for Mission

7

Presbyterian Women!

8

Youth Prayer Breakfast by Neeley Lane

Exciting things are happening in the Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church! First Presbyterian Director of Youth Ministries, Neeley Lane, sent this exciting up-date from Frances Lehman, a 10th grade youth who is a member of the Youth Leadership Team: "After brainstorming ideas for youth events in Youth Leadership Team, we came up with the idea of prayer breakfast before school! We had our first one in January and since have had one once a month. We have had great turnouts and hope to continue next year!" - Frances Lehman (10th grade youth)

Youth Leadership Team

Youth InFocus!

9

Youth InFocus!

10

Youth InFocus!

11

Youth In Focus!

12

June 1 Elizabeth Hubbard, Jean Morrow, Jack Smalley

June 2 Bennett Alldredge, William Robertson, Michael Stilson, Sandy Stilson

June 3 Richard McLaughlin, Janet North

June 4 Emily Keller, Kyle Neighbors

June 5 Katie Barnett

June 6 Chad Clark, Ann Thomas

June 7 Richard Henry, Jamesdon Hood, Lisa Joiner, Fran Pruett

June 8 Jim Hamner III, Will Hickman, Callan Johnson

June 9 Lilly Leitner, Claire Nichols

June 10 Clarice Aycock, Jr., Anna Scott Elliott, Phil LaMoreaux Jr., Peggy Menning,

Michael St. John

June 11 William Deal, Cameron Devine, Morgan Devine

June 12 Susan Elmore, Annabelle Upton

June 13 Tommy Danner III

June 13 Mark Hickman II, Patricia Palmer, Jennifer Wilson

June 14 Louise Allison, Shelley Hancock, Jean Hinton, Alan Maxwell, Robert Morgan

June 15 Bob Jamison, Belle Russell

June 17 Beth Cline

June 18 Ginny Martin

June 19 Jeff Crissey, Wilhemina Durham, Molly O'Donnell, Miller Wright

June 20 Bill Campbell

June 21 Daniel Maughan, Paula Neighbors, Wren Thomley

June 23 Leigh Devine, Bill Jackson Jr, Sally Ozment, William Owens, Lib Thomson

June 24 James Goodlet, James Leitner

June 25 Becky Compton, Billy Curtis II, C. J. Daane, Madeline Easley, Thomas Heslop,

Ben Schiller, Rachel Ward

June 27 George Hawley, Lora Hubbard, Manon Kilgore, Amanda Musselwhite

June 28 Marcella Redden

June 29 Brittney Blake, Kelly Butler, Cora McKenzie

June 30 Finis Prendergast

June 2016 Birthdays

13

By Jenny Thagard

Do you have children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends who would

like to go to summer camp? We have funds to send children and

youth to summer camp at Living River. Contact Jenny Thagard at

jthagard@fpctusc.org for more information.

June 3-5 You and Me Camp (Pre-K-1st grade with a

parent/grandparent)

June 5-10 Sr. High Mission/Work Camp (Grades 9-

12)

MADE Camp--Music, Arts and Drama for

Everyone (Grades 4-8)

June 12-17 Elementary Camp (Grades 2-5) Jenny

Thagard at jthagard@fpctusc.org is one of

the Directors. June 19-24 Middle School Camp (Grades 6-8)

June 25-July 1 Older Discovery Camp (Grades 6-12)

July 10-15 Younger Discovery Camp (Grades 2-5)

Living River

14

Ways to Support First Presbyterian Church

Have you ever asked this question, "What are the ways I can give to First Presbyterian

Church?"

There are a variety of ways to give financially to First Presbyterian Church:

Online Giving

Visit our secure online giving page at http://www.fpctusc.org/members/online-giving/ to make your dona-

tion by credit card or Paypal account.

Bill Pay

Use your bank’s Bill Pay system to make automatic payments to FPC. Use the following information:

Pay to: First Presbyterian Church

Address: 900 Greensboro Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Electronic Funds Transfer

Set up an Electronic Funds Transfer from your savings or checking account. Contact Libby Hagler for

more information.

US Mail

Mail your payments to:

First Presbyterian Church

900 Greensboro Avenue

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

During Worship

Cash or checks may be placed in the offering plate during our worship services. If you do choose to donate

online, please let us know during worship by dropping an “online offering” form into the offering plate.

Stock and other gifts

Consider donating stocks or including FPC in your will to continue a commitment. - See more at: http://

www.fpctusc.org/members/online-giving/

Contact

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the First Presbyterian Church Financial Secretary,

Libby Hagler (lhagler@fpctusc.org), 752-3531.

15

16

First Presbyterian Church 900 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of West Alabama

Who We Are Big Brothers/Big Sisters serves at-risk children throughout the West Ala-bama community and in several of the local schools. Each child is matched with a mentor who supports and encourages them to believe in themselves. The majority of these children come from single-parent, socially-disadvantaged, and economically-deprived families. How You Can Help Volunteers (age 19+) are needed as mentors who are able to com-mit one hour a week to provide companionship, friendship, and guidance through a one-on-one relationship with a child or teenager. Contact: Danielle McInerney, Program Director (205) 758-5734 Whitney Jamison, School Days Coordinator (205) 758-5734

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of West Alabama

2720 6th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

www.bbbswestal.org

Local Mission Service Opportunity