Decatur Presbyterian Church November 2012

Decatur, Georgia

DECPRESS

2012 Habitat Build 3

College Connections 4

Scottish Heritage Day 5

PW November 6

Men’s Breakfast 7

Angel Tree 7

Youth Breakfast 8

(404) 378-1777 | decatur-presbyterian-church.atlpcusa.org

C O M M I T M E N T S U N DA Y F O L L O W S DPC’ S C E L E B R A T I O N D I N N E R F E S T I V I T I E S

By Bo King, Stewardship Chair

O ctober featured two events in the life of our church for which we are intensely grateful. On Oct. 14,

more than 300 members of our church gathered at Agnes Scott College for a cele-bration dinner.

We hope that those of you who were able to attend left with a renewed sense of pride in the people and missions of Deca-tur Presbyterian Church. If you were un-able to attend, we hope that you will visit our website and watch the wonderful short film that Jonathan Harris made for the oc-casion.

The dinner would not have been possi-ble without the tireless efforts of our church staff and volunteers who overcame the many logistical challenges inherent to such a large event.

Our ministry team – Todd Speed, Ken Hughes, Rebekah Abel Lamar, Matt McMahan, Lori McMahan, Trip Porch, and Bobby Newman developed much of the program for the evening. Finally, the din-ner was made possible by anonymous do-nations from several members of our church. All of these people have our deep-est thanks.

Then on Sunday, Oct. 28, DPC mem-bers responded with gratitude and faithful-ness on Commitment Sunday. The com-bined Kirkin’ of the Tartans/Commitment Sunday yielded a ripe attendance of 365 worshippers and an unusually strong level of financial commitment in support of the church’s many and important missions.

Commitments received to date reflect an increase of 13% compared to the prior year, which is sorely needed in order to continue DPC’s faithful response to the physical and spiritual needs of the congre-gation, community and world.

A special heartfelt “Thank you” to all those who have already made their com-mitments. May you grow in God’s grace as

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Dr. Todd Speed at the podium (above left) welcomes more than 300 DPC members and guests to the Celebration Dinner.

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C E L E B R A T I O N A N D C O M M I T M E N T | F R O M P A G E 1

After dinner, guests strolled across the beautiful campus to Gaines Chapel to view the video, hear the choirs sing, enjoy skits and presentations as we celebrated together.

we fulfill the mission of the Church to-gether.

For those who have not yet offered a commitment card, please respond soon. Of course, our elders would like to budget confidently for the coming year, but we encourage you to give: 1) because of God’s great mercy and grace toward us; 2) because every Christian has a spiritual need to give; and 3) because the church truly needs significant support in order to fulfill its purpose.

And we encourage you to consider prayerfully percentage giving, intentionally offering a proportion of what has been entrusted to you for the sake of ministry.

When we support our church with our time, talent, and treasure, we can do so joyfully and in the certainty that, ignited by grace, we will bring warmth, light, and change to more people and places than any other venture might provide. Thank you for your generous and faithful re-sponse.

During dinner, John and Frances Guess (above left) and Renie and LeAnn Hallford write prayers for DPC on paper for an art project by the youth presented later.

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DPC VOL UN T EE RS COM PL ET E T H E IR 11T H HABI TAT HOUS E

By Jim Keith

C rystal Green and her 3-year old son, Melvin, have a new home. Thanks to the generous support

from Decatur Presbyterian and the volun-

teer efforts of many the house was com-pleted on October 13 — the 11th build for the members of Decatur Presbyterian Church. More than 40 volunteers worked each Saturday for seven weekends in partner-ship with the Cathedral of Christ the King, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. The home looks great! Much appreciation goes to the Atlanta Habitat staff for their planning, organiza-tion, direction, and leadership for the past two months. Special thanks to our regular crew for their weekly dedication: Dana Keith, Les and Elinor Cook, Reed Owens, David Holbrook, Roger Perry, Greg Bedol, Jack Brooks, and Tony Miller. Due to your generosity and support, our participation in Habitat for Humanity builds will continue for many years to come. If you were not able to help this year, I hope that you will consider partici-pating in future builds.

New shrubs and flowers are installed on the last day of the 2012 build.

DPC Habitat leader Jim Keith helps home-owner Crystal Green celebrate the com-pletion of her new home.

J ill Joyner Bush and Tamara Beachum Gehle

are teaming up to offer a women’s retreat next Feb-ruary, “Redefining Loss to Live Wholeheartedly.” The event will be held Feb. 1-3 at Simpsonwood Retreat Center in Norcross.

We encounter loss on a daily basis that informs who we are and is woven into the tapestry of our lives. You get to decide what you want to take away from the experiences of grief. How do you rede-fine and make loss a bright and colorful piece of your life?

The two-day retreat offers time for learning, reflection, creativity, so-cializing, and relaxing in the believe that self-care is at the core of good health.

Rates include room and all meals. Fill out the online registration form available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XTMQMKZ to reserve your place.

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T he congregation is encouraged to keep these students in your prayers, send a card, little treat or

small gift cards to let them know they are being especially thought of during Novem-ber.

Josh is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in com-puter science. He expects to graduate in December.

Interests include playing water polo, cooking and computers. Email address: joshuatb@live.unc.edu Birthday: December 1 Address: 308-B Sunset Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Caroline is studying Spanish and sociology at Willamette University in Oregon.

Enjoys wall climbing, hiking, coffee houses, and West Coast travels Birthday: November 24 Email: cmtaylor1124@yahoo.com Address: Willamette University, 900 State Street, Box E292, Salem, OR 97301

Ellen is a freshman at Ohio Wesleyan Uni-versity studying zoology and possibly psy-chology. She hopes to study elephants in their native habitat in Africa or India

Interests include soccer and the Uni-versity jazz band (plus Elvis!) Birthday: January 20 Email: elvisrocks3345@gmail.com Address: Ohio Wesleyan University, HWCC Box #1838, 40 Rowland Avenue, Delaware, OH 43015

Becky is a sophomore at Duke University studying public policy.

Email: mcmahonbecky1@yahoo.com Birthday: September 16 Address: 1700 Pace, Apt. P, Durham, NC 27705

Mahene is a freshman at Presbyterian Col-lege.

Birthday: April 6 Address: 403 South Adair Street, P.O. Box 50631, Clinton, SC 29325

N O V E M B E R S P O T L I G H T O N DPC’ S C O L L E G E S T U D E N T S A W A Y F R O M H O M E

JOSH TAYLOR

CAROLINE TAYLOR

ELLEN HUGHES

BECKY MCMAHON

MAHEN LEWIS

B obby Newman has joined the staff as

Youth Ministry Assistant to Trip Porch. Bobby comes from Senatobia Presbyte-rian Church in Missis-sippi where he served as Director of Youth Minis-tries. He is a 2010 graduate of Ole Miss where he ma-jored in English.

Currently, Bobby and his wife Morgan live on the Columbia Theological Seminary campus while he seeks to earn a Masters of Divinity degree. Bobby has enjoyed various forms of youth ministry through serving on camp ministries and a Montreat planning team.

Bobby is overjoyed to walk closer with youth through Bible study, play, and discussion, en-couraging them to be not only leaders in the future, but today as well.

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T A RTA N S F I L L E D T H E SA N C T UA RY O N S C OT T I S H H E R I TA G E S U N DA Y O C T . 28

Anne Marie Miller (left) uses her cape to warm another as families line up before the presentation of the tartan banners.

Mike Brown (above) carried the Claymore Sword as a processional cross, held high to the glory of God. The ceremony of the Kirkin’ of the Tartans is American in origin but celebrates the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church.

Slack Fellowship Hall (right) filled after the service as 175 people enjoyed lunch, planned by the Congrega-tional Care Council. The cheese grits — and fall cup-cakes — were a big hit.

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Terry McMahan, brother of Matt McMahan, has a recurrence of cancer; kidney cancer has spread to his liver

Alex Cook healing from thumb and shoulder surgery after a fall from roof

Joyce Bond in rehab at Budd Terrace

John Newsome, foot surgery

Charles Darnell, knee replacement surgery 8/22, recovering at home

Dan Ault, rotator cuff surgery 8/29

Homer Allen, stroke, rehab at Budd Terrace

Chuck Darrah, bypass surgery 8/28

Linda Bailey’s sister, Janice, brain can-cer, and Linda’s mother is receiving hospice care at Magnolia House As-sisted Living in Conyers

Helen Bain, recovering at home from a fall in August

Bobbi Brown, surgery on left hand

Pat Morris, broken wrist

John Stevens, cataract surgery 11/6, lens implant in right eye later

Brian Beaubien’s brother, Beau, is re-ceiving treatment for lymphoma

Jay Lyle, outpatient surgery to repair collarbone injury from bike accident

John Morris, recent hospital stays for cardiac issues

Anne Marie Miller’s step-father, Tom Souter, fell and chipped a wrist bone, very painful (still being treated for bladder cancer)

Jay & Kim Lyle on the death of Jay’s step-father

Mary Goza Moore on the 10/2 death of her sister, Lorraine Hamby (aunt of Pat Morris, great-aunt of Elizabeth Webb)

Chris & Gail Kearney on the death of Gail’s mother

Dave & Dina Williams on the 10/3 death of Dave’s aunt, Mary Cash, in Brunswick, GA, and the 10/5 death of Dina’s aunt, Angie Parrino, in Tampa, FL

John & Sue Bingeman on the 10/4 death of John’s mother in Charlotte, NC

Ken & Pam Hughes on the 10/4 death of Ken’s fa-ther, Raymond James Hughes, in Buffalo, NY

Trip and Brittany Porch on the 10/19 death of Brit-tany’s uncle, Jim Fennin-gan, in San Diego, CA

H O S P I TA L & H E A L T H C O N C E R N S

R O S E M A R Y R A Y N A L L E A D S L E S S O N O N G O D ’ S H O U S E H O L D A N D H O S P I TA L I T Y

O n Tuesday, Nov. 13, Rosemary Raynal will guide Presbyte-

rian Women as we study the third lesson of the program year, “A Spiritual House and Household Matters.”

The key idea of the les-son is that God makes a house a home by forming the chil-dren of God into a dwelling fit for the Holy Spirit, with Christ as chief cornerstone.

Rosemary formerly taught writing and litera-ture at Davidson College, and now serves as writing instructor at Colum-bia Theological Seminary.

She has been married to Charlie Raynal for 43 years. Though recently retired from CTS, Charlie is writing a book on African American Presbyterians in South Caro-lina.

Join other women of the church at 10:30 a.m. in the

Crusader’s Class-room (M212). Lunch will be served at noon in Slack Fellowship Hall. The menu includes Krispy Orange chicken, vegetable fried rice, oriental vege-tables, yeast rolls,

rice pudding with chocolate-dipped fortune cookies, plus beverages. The cost is $7.

Reservations should be made by Friday, Nov. 9, by calling the church office at (404) 378-1777 or sending a message to this email: RSVP@dpchurch.org.

Our Mom’s Group con-tinues to meet each Monday from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided in Bradley 307, and the women meet in McGeachy 306.

The Night Circle will meet on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the home of Kim Campbell with Sue Bingeman as co-hostess. After a light supper at 6:30 p.m., Ann Church-man will serve as the Bible Interpreter.

Special Prayers

For Herb and Mary Uth-laut’s grandson, Cpt. Chris Uthlaut, as he deploys to Afghanistan to train Af-ghan police in a very vola-tile situation, and for 8-year-old great-grandson, Garrett Uthlaut, Char-lottesville, VA, who has a hole between scalp and spine, undergoing test, unsure of treatment.

Rosemary Raynal

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A pair of jeans, an “American Girl” book, hip hop mu-

sic, or a doll. A warm sweater, body lotion or a new brush. These are the simple wishes for Christ-mas – that can come true for children or senior adults listed on our “Angel Trees.”

For a dozen years, generous members of De-catur Presbyterian Church have supported the “Christmas in Decatur” program. Visit the trees on the McGeachy Building Adult Sunday School floor and choose the child or adult you will help. Bring

the unwrapped gifts la-beled with the red or yel-low angel information by November 25 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving).

Doug and Louise Stark have managed this pro-gram for DPC for several years. “We have been blessed to witness the generosity this congrega-tion gives to this en-deavor,” says Doug. “There have been many challenges presented with some of these wishes and at times we had our doubts as to how they would be fulfilled, but in the end the angels of DPC have always found a way.”

B E A N A N G E L ( O R S E C R E T S A N TA ) A N D B R I G H T E N C H R I S T M A S F O R S O M E O N E

D PC’s next opportunity to provide dinner meals for the residents of Hagar’s House is Sunday, Nov. 25 through Saturday, Dec. 1.

This women’s shelter is located just a few blocks from Decatur Presbyterian Church. Providing meals is one of the most meaningful outreach programs we have. DPC supplies dinner four different weeks during the year.

Volunteer with family members or recruit friends in your Break Bread Group, PW Circle, Sunday School Class or other small group. If you are

new to this program, you can be teamed up with more experienced volunteers.

You will set up at 6 p.m., dine with the families, then clean up and leave by 7:30 p.m. You will be providing the dinner for 3 or 4 mothers and their children, plus volun-teers. Bring what you cook from scratch at home, or stop and get take out or pre-pared foods from the grocery.

Contact Catherine Carter at home (404) 373-6187 or cell (404) 861-7656 to reserve the date you pre-fer or to get more information and ask questions.

H A G A R ’ S H O U S E R E S I D E N T S W I L L G I V E T H A N K S F O R Y O U R G E N E R O S I T Y

T he Nov. 17 Men’s Breakfast will fea-

ture Fahed Abu-Akel discussing his career as Executive Director of the Atlanta Ministry with International Students (AMIS). Abu-Akel served as moderator of the 14th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2002-2003. He recently retired from AMIS, which was founded in 1978 “to ex-tend friendship and hos-pitality to the interna-tional students drawn to Atlanta area college and universities. “ The breakfast begins at 8 a.m., catered by Zest Atlanta. Please use bulletin inserts to make your reservation ($6 cost) or call the church office at (404) 378-1777 by Wednesday, Nov. 14.

N E X T M E N ’ S B R E A K F A S T N O V . 1 7

Abu-Akel was born in Is-rael but educated here.

Ann Jackson checks the “wish list” for a senior adult

on the Angel Tree.

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by the 15th.

● 9 a.m. Sunday School

for all ages

● 10:15 a.m. Sunday

worship service

● Office open from

8:30 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. Monday through

Friday

From Rev. Shelvis Smith-Mather and Rev. Nancy Smith-Mather

Y our prayers, well wishes, and fi-nancial partnership are an absolute blessing. Thank you! Your decision

to give $3,500 (November 2011-$1,000 and December 2011- $2,500) towards the ministry of RECONCILE and in support of our family, sustains the vital ministries of trauma recovery and conflict transforma-tion in South Sudan.

Without question, life in a nation scarred by decades of civil war, lack of de-velopment, extensive trauma, and pro-found community wounds is quite difficult, but God has called our family to this ser-vice. God is using people of faith from

around the globe and in the church in South Sudan to accompany the world’s newest nation in her journey towards hope, healing and reconciliation. Thank you for investing your financial resources into God’s vision for South Sudan.

As I write this letter, the South Suda-nese pastors, teachers, bishops, NGO peace workers, and community leaders are traveling into places of unrest and conflict to make a difference. They all studied and trained at the RECONCILE Peace Institute in 2012. Your partnership reminds them, Christians of all nations support their ef-forts to rebuild their communities. Thank you. We are sincerely honored to be a part of Decatur Presbyterian Church’s presence in the world.

SOU T H SUDAN ON A JOURN E Y O F HO P E , REC ONC I LAT I ON

Nancy and Shelvis Smith-Mather are missionaries for the Presbyterian Church (USA). They need your prayers as Nancy recently gave birth pre-maturely to their first child, Jordan Eman, be-ing cared for at a neo-natal ICU clinic in Jordan. Shelvis is recovering from malaria. This report was written before these re-cent emergencies.

S unday morning, Nov. 11, please attend the Youth Fundraiser

Breakfast with Dr. Jennifer Ayres on “Learning on the Ground: Christian Educa-tion and Service in God’s World.”

The breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. in Slack Fellow-ship Hall. No reservation is required and donations will be accepted at the door.

This is one of two fund-raisers a year held to sup-port youth activities that include summer confer-ences and mission trips. Dr. Ayres will begin her presentation at 9 a.m. She is a professor in the Can-dler School of Theology, and also will be preaching

at the 10:15 a.m. worship service. She will discuss the view that Christian edu-cation happens in a variety of contexts, including in minis-tries of service and creation care. SUNDAY NIGHTS The youth have had en-joyed a wide variety of pro-grams on Sunday evenings this fall. These include a Halloween photo scaven-ger hunt, a meaningful night of service at Hagar’s House and the United Methodist Children’s Home where the youth have ex-hibited a life in faith in Christ.

SKI RETREAT PREVIEW The youth look forward to the annual Ski Retreat, planned for Jan. 11-13, 2013 at Beech Mountain in North Carolina. The group will be staying at Holston Presbytery Camp in Banner Elk. A deposit of $50 will be due Sunday Dec. 9.

A T T E N D Y O U T H F U N D R A I S E R B R E A K FA S T N OV . 1 1 F O R M E S S A G E O N E D U C A T I O N

Fundraisers help support trips to Montreat’s Youth Conferences.