First Presbyterian Church 224 East Mobile Street, Florence, AL 35630

Phone: 256.764.2081 Email: office@fpcflorence.org

www.fpcflorence.org

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THE MESSENGER

JUly

2016

Vacation Bible School is every Friday through August 5, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a break for lunch. All children of the church are invited to attend. Youth and Adult volunteers are needed, whenever you are able, to help with activities. The group will meet on the stage in the fellowship hall with the children who come to Soup Kitchen.

Mon, July 3 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

Sat., July 9 Clean Up Day

Sun, July 10 9:30 a.m. Church Transitional Meeting

Tues, July 12 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Christian Education Committee Congregational Care Committee Stewardship Committee and Mission and Service Committee

Sun, July 17 4:00 p.m. North Alabama Presbytery Men’s Gathering at our church

Tues, July 19

4:30 p.m.

Stated Meeting of North Alabama Presbytery at Copeland, Athens Bicentennial Committee

Sun, July 24 3:00 p.m. Shoals Concert Band Handy Concert

Tue, July 26 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Session Coordinating Team Stated Meeting of the Session Florence Camerata Handy Concert

Wed, July 27 6:00 p.m. First Presbyterian and Friends Handy Concert NO Bible Study

Mondays July 11, 18, 25 Wednesdays Fridays

6:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

Small Group Study at the home of Dixie Carter, 470 Palisade Drive Choir Practice Bible Study Vacation Bible School

JULY CALENDAR

CHURCH STAFF Rev. Brandon E. Miles, Associate Pastor

Dr. James K. Thompson, Parish Associate Rebecca Rockhill, Music Director Peggy S. Willich, Administrative Assistant Alan Flowers, Music Director Emeritus

First Presbyterian Church’s Statement of Mission

First Presbyterian Church Florence is a historic but evolving downtown church, striving to serve its congregation and community with a ministry that demonstrates a strong commitment to God and His love as revealed in Jesus Christ. Grounded in traditional worship and music, teaching and prayer, we facilitate spiritual growth, encourage family worship, practice stewardship of our resources, and maintain service to our community and the world. In all we do, we seek to be open to God’s Spirit as we move into the future.

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Our visitors during June:

Katie Almond, Jane and J.C. Bergin, Matt Dorrance,

Jennifer Edgar, Trey Fraser, Betty and Charles Lamar,

Teresa Lucas, Elizabeth Marmann, Curry Marmann,

Barbara and Buford Mays, Kathy and Rick McAdams,

Mickey McClure, Tony Smallwood

Bonnie and Thomas Wallace

Average worship attendance

for the month of June: 74

Dear Saints of First Presbyterian Church:

As of today, 28 people have completed the Congregational Assessment Tool, and I want to say, “THANK YOU!” Thank you for taking the time to help our congregation and our leadership as we work to grow in our ministry and effectiveness as followers of Christ.

In the first week of the survey being live, 16% of the congregation has shared their thoughts, concerns, and hopes. It is my hope that by the end of our survey on July 20th our church will have over 80% participation. All members of the church should have received a link by email. If you have not, please contact the church office so you can participate in helping us learn how we can best be the church God has called us to be.

A computer is available in the library, along with a member of the church who has volunteered to be available every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., if you need assistance. If you prefer not taking this 20 minute survey online, paper copies are available here at the church. This is a chance for every member to participate in building the future of First Presbyterian Church Florence.

Please take the short time to share your thoughts, your concerns, and your hopes for a third century of ministry at FPC! Rev. Brandon E Miles

EVENTS AT OUR

CHURCH:

Sunday, July 24

3:00 p.m.

Shoals Concert Band

No charge for admission

* * * * * * *

Tuesday, July 26

7:30 p.m.

Florence Camerata

Charge for admission

* * * * * * *

Wednesday, July 27

6:00 p.m.

FPC Choir and Friends

No charge for admission

We express our love and sympathy

to the family and friends of Margaret Fleming,

who died Tuesday, July 5, at the age of 102.

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WORSHIP

COMMUNION SUNDAY, JULY 3

Servers: Jane Gough, Dave Marbury, Nancy Marbury, Laura Moody, Libba Sherrod

Ushers for July: Jane Gough, Laura Moody, Barbara Peck, Libba Sherrod

SUNDAY MANA

July 3 - Rev. Brandon E. Miles Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Liturgical color: green)

2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:1-16 “Unexpected God, Unexpected Lives”

July 10 - Rev. Brandon E. Miles Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Liturgical color: green)

Colossians 1:1-14; Psalm 82; Luke 10:25-37 “Christian In Word and (sometimes) In Deed”

July 17 - Guest Minister Rev. Wayne Williams Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Liturgical color: green)

Colossians 1:15-28; Psalm 52; Luke 8:26-39 “What’s Your Name, Child?”

July 24 - Rev. Brandon E. Miles Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Liturgical color: green)

Colossians 2:6-15; Psalm 85; Luke 11:1-13 “Essentially Praying”

July 31 - Rev. Brandon E. Miles Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Liturgical color: green)

Colossians 3:1-11; Psalm 107; Luke 12:13-21 “Look Beyond Yourself”

Readers for July 3 — Kelly Larkins; 10 — Laura Moody; 17 — Bob Hurt;

24 — Luci Wilson; 31 — Dick Peck

SANCTUARY FLOWERS Would you like to place flowers in the sanctuary for one of our Sunday worship services? Several dates are open on the flower chart in July and August, and the entire month of November. Please sign the chart located in the Welcome Center or contact the church office.

JULY BIRTHDAYS 1

2

3

4

7

12

14

25

27

28

31

Evie Frith

Bill Wharton

Uhland Redd, IV

Josephine Redd

JoBeth Hurt

Martha Anne Hardiman

Jan Schroeder

Amelia Wharton

John Hardiman

Rhonda Tyree

Sarah Miles

Elizabeth Marbury

PRAYER LIST Vicky Keys, fr iend of the Pfluegers and the Pecks Kaye Barnwell, niece of Libba Sherrod Bob Hernning at hom e The family of Margaret Fleming Kathy McAdams Jim Nash John Carter at Colum bia Cottage Evie and Tosha Frith at hom e Lindy Blackburn, fr iend of Cindy and Mack Fraser Jane Frith at hom e Uvonna Curott at Florence Nursing and Rehab Bobbie Zickler at Merr ill Gardens Ann Craig Sarah Leonard at Mitchell Hollingsw orth Mary Louise Flanagan, Freddie Tyree, and Jean Paxton at hom e The family of Steven Palis, brother -in-law of Chuck Gaputis David Reynolds, cousin of Lesley Byars and Blair Boggan Mike Lumpkin, brother of Joni W illingham Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Hughes, fr iends of Mary and Hollis Wilson MAJ Barry Crosby, Andrew s Air Force Base, Washington D.C.

JULY FLOWERS 3 Cracraft 10 Fleming 17, 24 and 31 are all open

NORTH ALABAMA

PRESBYTERY MEN’S

GATHERING

SUNDAY, JULY 17,

AT 4:00 P.M.

IN OUR FELLOWSHIP HALL

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Congregational Care Committee

Worship Committee

Ruling Elders (active and reserved) are needed to serve

homebound communion in August.

Handy Concert Wednesday, July 27, in our sanctuary, by our choir and friends.

Special scripture and sermon series coming in October

The choir will be coming downstairs during the last hymn of worship services

Stewardship Committee

Robert Tyree has been added to the Committee Per capita assessment for this year has been remitted to

North Our per capita amount for this year was $16.74 per member, should you wish to help with this expense.

Members of the newly-formed Bicentennial Committee

Barbara Peck, JoBeth Hurt, Jan Schroeder,

Jan Pflueger, Nancy Marbury,

Dixie Carter, Libba Sherrod

Mission and Service Committee

Two volunteers are needed to coordinate Room in the Inn A volunteer is needed to locate and coordinate local mission Two volunteers are needed to chair a 2017 mission trip, either

inside or outside of the United States The Soup Scoop:

Churches and volunteers who served in the Soup Kitchen in June: Trinity Episcopal Grace/St. James Methodist Magnolia Church of Christ St. Michael’s Catholic St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Westminster Presbyterian

Edgemont Methodist/Temple

Team Leaders who served in June: Barbara Peck, Prudy Thomas, Bert Bock, Jan Pflueger, Dixie Carter, Jane Frith, Burt Rieff, Carol Howdyshell, Jackie Zickler

AVERAGE NUMBER OF GUESTS AT THE SOUP KITCHEN IN JUNE — 80

Report from the Clerk of Session: The congregation is invited to attend an informational

meeting concerning our transition on Sunday, July 10, at 9:30 a.m.

The CAT survey will be online for each member of the congregation to complete between July 3 and July 20.

Session members will attend the NAP Commission on Ministry meeting in July to once again ask for assistance with issues regarding our transition.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE MODERATORS and CLERK OF SESSION

A NOTE OF THANKS from Melinda, Lyman and Wilson Mitchell: The members of this church surrounded us with love and kindness upon the death of

our mother, Betty Jean Mitchell. We greatly appreciated the food provided for us and we thank Janette Wilkinson and Nancy Marbury for organizing and

delivering the delicious meal. Your prayers, cards and presence will never be forgotten. Our mother was a lifelong member of this church; our parents

were married in this church and cherished their life together here; we each were baptized and raised to adulthood in this church; and now the lives of

both our parents have been celebrated upon their transition to eternal life in Christ in this church. Thank you so very much.