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HAPPENINGS on the Hill

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI • JUNE 2016

Nurturing Joyful Faith & Compassionate Service

Dear Church Family and Friends of FPC,

Moving now into our longer-daylight summertime, we as a church follow Jesus, the Light of the World. John 8:12 records one of Jesus’ great “I Am” revelations about Who He is and about what that means for us. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.’” We will celebrate that Good News in a special way, as we prepare for our Children’s Vacation Bible School that comes the middle of this month, June 13-16:

CAVE QUEST: FOLLOWING JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Bring your children, grandchildren, and others, and volunteer to help on one or more mornings. God will bless you, as you pray for and participate in this key Children’s Christian Education and Gospel Outreach ministry of FPC. [See Page 2 to learn more, and visit our website to register.]

This month, we will also:

Welcome Missionary and “child of FPC” Rand Carpenter, together with his family, on Sunday, June 5. Rand will lead a Joint Sunday School Time special presentation (Fellowship Hall, 9:45-10:30 a.m.) about the family’s mission work in Kenya, and some of the children will play the Offertory at our 11 a.m. Service.

Gather for our Presbyterian Women’s “All Circles and All Women” Ice Cream & Dessert Fellowship and concluding Bible Study, which I will lead – also on Sunday, June 5, at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Again, all women are welcome!

Gather at Robinson Lake on Sunday afternoon, June 12, for our VBS & Summer Kickoff Fellowship Cookout at Robinson Lake. Do not miss this, our major church-wide summer outdoor fellowship event – with great food (including “covered dish”), games, fishing, and time to make new friends while catching up on longtime friends’ summer plans. [Note: This will be in part an early version of our Independence Fellowship, which we usually have held closer to July 4.]

Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 19.

In all this, may you follow the Light!

Your Pastor and friend in Christ,

Martin Lifer

Fellowship Team Members Lynn Zimmerman, Rubye Guest, Peggy Branch & Janet Bardwell at Fellowship Brunch Honoring Graduating Seniors. (See more Senior Sunday pictures on page 3)

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Children’s Vacation Bible School is June 13-16, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Caves are dark, damp, and full of adventure! Join us for Cave Quest VBS as we proclaim Jesus is the light (even in the darkest places!), meet new friends, and sing, dance, and laugh while praising God! Ages 4 to 6th grade are invited to maneuver through caves and find the true light! Visit https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/fpcstarkville to register your child online. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Children’s Ministries Director Ashleigh Murdock (662-312-9884 or aabmurdock@gmail.com).

The Great Book of Hebrews

Leader of the Discovery Sunday School Class (by Bob Daniels)

From August 2015 to April 2016 the Discovery Sunday School Class at FPC studied the Book of Hebrews.

As with everything we study, we carefully read through the material in class together so we know actually

what the verses say and get as much out of it (individually and as a group) as we can. We also stop and

take time to discuss the verses and “digest” them. This generates some great discussions of Scripture.

We have now completed our study of the Book of Hebrews. A great study it was. It turned out to be one of

my favorites because there are so many foundational truths contained in its 13 chapters. And there are so

many beautiful verses in it such as “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” and “For the

Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword...”. This summary results from

our study and is useful as a reminder of the key points made by the author (not known for sure but per-

haps, Paul’s disciple Barnabus). Recall that the author is a well-educated, Jew speaking to other Hebrews

to explain how the Old Testament Scriptures (that they know well) show how God was working through the

old covenant to bring Jesus the Messiah to save all men. I offer this summary to the FPC congregation and

hope it stimulates you to look into the details of Hebrews chapter by chapter. Finally, I invite you to join us

each Sunday for study of the Scriptures on the 3rd

floor of the Sanctuary building across from the Choir

room.

Join us for fellowship and a VBS kickoff cookout at Robinson Lake on June 12th! VBS crafts will begin at 3:30, and games will follow shortly after crafts. Dinner will be served at 5:30. It will be a wonderful night spending time together, having fun, and getting ready for a Christ-filled week!

(Continued on page 3)

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Chapter 1

God Almighty has now spoken to us by His Son, Jesus the Christ.

All is given to Christ by the Father.

Christ is the offering for sin that cleanses and saves all men who will believe in Jesus.

God is eternal beyond time.

Chapter 2

Heed God

Jesus tasted death for all men.

We who believe in Christ are delivered from the fear of death.

Chapter 3

God is faithful to His promises.

The Holy Spirit speaks through the Psalms.

Beware of unbelief.

Chapter 4

Enter into God’s rest

Enter God’s rest by His Word.

The Word is alive and powerful….

Nothing is hidden from Jesus’ sight.

Jesus was tempted in every way we are and He will help us.

Chapter 5

Jesus is the source of eternal salvation.

Jesus has been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

You ought to be teachers but you are spiritual babies in need of milk, but “solid food” (i.e. strong Scriptural teaching) is for

mature Christians – who have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

“Full-grown” Christians know and can handle the Scriptures.

All these teachings are considered “Elementary.”

Chapter 6

Let’s move beyond “Elementary” teachings. Jesus is our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Chapter 7

Melchizedek is greater than Abraham and the entire Levitical priesthood. So, is Jesus.

We have a better hope than the old covenant and Jesus is the guarantee of the new covenant forever.

Jesus made one sacrifice for all for all time.

Chapter 8

Jesus is our High Priest forever who has taken His seat at the right hand of God.

Jesus is mediator of a better covenant that replaces the old covenant.

Chapter 9

Jesus as High Priest entered the heavenly temple and cleansed it with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for

us.

Jesus went to heaven itself and appeared in the presence of God for us! One sacrifice for all for all time.

Chapter 10

The Law and sacrifices were inadequate to cleanse sin.

Jesus came and His one sacrifice forgave sin forever and established a new covenant in faith.

Believe in Christ. Stop sinning.

(Continued from page 2)

(Continued on page 4)

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A group of FPC members recently hosted the MSU Ukirk to dinner and

fellowship.

The name Ukirk is short for University Church, Kirk coming from the old Scottish

word for Church.

Many of us older Presbyterians remember the college ministry as the “Westminster

Fellowship” but PCUSA General Assembly adopted Ukirk to help give a uniform

and recognizable name to the Presbyterian college ministry. Most campuses, in-

cluding the SEC schools, have adopted Ukirk and find it very useful. This con-

sistency has greatly

benefited students at MSU since many come from other states.

The MSU Ukirk started in October and has a core group of almost 20. This is much

smaller than the campuses at Ole Miss, Alabama, and Auburn who have had active

groups for several years.

However, this core group is strong and provides a chance for a sustainable ministry

which has not been available at MSU for quite a few years. —Submitted by Martha Wells

Chapter 11 (“The Hall of Fame” of Faith)

Faith is what God says is important… that is, faith in His Son Jesus the Christ. Faith was always important as with

all the examples cited in this chapter. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Samuel and the Prophets and all did what they

did by faith in God.

They conquered kingdoms, obtained promises, escaped the sword, put armies to flight, and suffered persecution to gain ap-

proval by faith.

Chapter 12

Have faith since we have such “a great cloud of witnesses”.

Have discipline. God disciplines the ones He loves as our own fathers did.

Christ’s coming is compared to the Israelites coming to Mount Sinai. There they met God himself. Likewise, we have

met God in the person of Jesus – the mediator of the new covenant.

Chapter 13

Let love of the brethren continue.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Thanks to all who helped out with our May functions – the Senior brunch was a great success, and the teachers of our FPC Childcare Center so appreciated the luncheon offered for their service. We had a lot going on in a short amount of time, so thanks to all who pitched in! This month we’ll all meet together for our joint circle meeting on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at 2PM in the Fellowship Hall. Martin will have our lesson this month, and then we’ll have something good for a mid-afternoon snack afterward! Don’t miss it! Circles Meetings & Reminders: June Mission – Camp Hopewell Pool Fund/Palmer Home/Least Coin June Lesson – Martha: Finding Our Identity in Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) Lesson Leader – Martin Lifer 5/31 5:30 PM – PW Coordinating Team meeting – Johnson Room 6/05 2PM – Joint Circle Meeting – FPC Fellowship Hall 6/8-11 – PW Synod Triennial Gathering – Franklin, TN As we all scatter for vacations and other summer activities, remember to pray for daily and support as you can the summer activities of FPC. Vacation Bible School is a highlight of this month, and your service to this activity appreciated by all. Find some way to plug in this summer! In Christ,

Michele Rackley

(Continued from page 3)

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MEMBER NEWS

Doris Mae Johns Wise

July 23, 1923 – May 4, 2016

Congratulations to newlyweds Andrew and Elizabeth Fountain,

who were married May 7, 2016, in Greenville, MS.

Please join us for a Diapers & Wipes Shower for Kristen and Kyle Skinner

Sunday, June 19, at 10:40 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will celebrate with

Kyle and Kristen, who are expecting their baby on July 3. Diapers and/or

wipes may be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall.

Ladies, please join us as we study Priscilla Shirer’s The Armor of God this summer. We will meet Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. from June 14 – July 26. Please e-mail Orly at obh2@msstate.edu to sign up and to order a workbook ($13). Also, please let her know if you have childcare needs. Childcare arrangements will be worked out within our study group community. Additional details and information will follow to those who register.

Father’s Day is June 19, 2016

Holy Communion will be celebrated Sunday, June 26, at the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services.

Justin & Jennie Beth Chance hold Annabelle Evelyn Chance, May 23 2016. She

weighed 6 lbs, 11.9 ounces and was 20 inches long.

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Jane Bobbitt, Gayle Hodge & Ressie Carpenter

John Foster celebrates with his parents, Jeff & Barbara, and sister Doris at Fellowship Brunch Honoring Graduating High School Seniors on May 22, 2016.

Martin, Nancy & Faith Lifer with Adelaide Ramseyat Fellowship Brunch Honoring Graduating High School Seniors on May 22, 2016.

Sam, Ann Brett, Charlotte, Campbell, Sarah, & Nora Ann Strickland

Jackie & Carson Mullen, Cathryn Ryder, and Amy, Jack & Molly Kate Aarhus at Fellowship May 22.

Gary Templeton and Orly Hardin present PW

Scholarship Award to Lamarious Quinn

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Pastors Martin Lifer and David Hartung (St. Luke Lutheran Church) join FPC’s Men of Church Cooking Team members Charlie Weatherly, Richard Mullenax, and Dolph Bryan for the blessing to begin The Mission Cooking Fundraiser, which raised over $1600 on May 13th for the Helping Hands Ministry of Oktibbeha County.

During June, meals for the children have been sponsored by the following donors:

June 1: Wesley and Emily Ferguson in honor of Tate's birthday

June 3: Paul and Tracey Millsaps

June 8: Pat, Laura and Jack Bryan in memory of Margaret

Latham

June 10: A member of our congregation

June 15: Larry and Wanda Anthony

June 17: Ernie and Fancy George in honor of the birthday of

their grandson, Luke Iglay

June 20: George and Glenda Taylor in memory of their

daughter, Leslie Carol

June 22: Dolph and Greta Bryan

June 29: A member of our congregation

There are some meals needing sponsors in July and the remainder of 2016. If you are inter-ested in sponsoring a meal, please contact the church office or Melanie Mullenax at 323-7053 or mmullenax@bellsouth.net

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HAPPENINGS on the Hill

First Presbyterian Church PCUSA

307 University Drive

Starkville, MS 39759

Phone: 662-323-1994

Fax: 662-323-1999

E-mail: staff@fpcstarkville.org

Church Staff

Dr. Martin Lifer…………….Senior Pastor

Vicki Schramm……Church Administrator

Kim Beatty……..…..…..Church Secretary

Ashleigh Murdock…...Children’s Ministry

Coordinator

Dr. Craig Aarhus……........Music Director

Kathy McGill……..…….Children’s Choirs

Jennifer Blackbourn……..……….Organist

Ellen Mauldin…...….......Church Librarian

Amanda Corley…. FPC Child Care Director

Sunday Schedule

Worship (Sanctuary) - 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School - 9:45 to 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship - 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Worship (Sanctuary) - 11:00 a.m.

Deadline for next issue:

Monday, June 20th by 5:00 p.m.

E-mail articles/photos to:

Kim Beatty: kbeatty@fpcstarkville.org

Or

Liz Stringer: estringer@eastms.edu

View the newsletter online at www.fpcstarkville.org; click on Bulletin & Newsletter;

then click Select by Date to find the newsletter for the current & previous months.

First Presbyterian Church

307 University Drive

Starkville, MS 39759

Pastor Martin Lifer Presents Study Bibles to 2016 high school graduates

Lamarious Quinn & John Foster (see more pictures of Senior Day on page 6)