Good News

First Presbyterian Church

July 2018

Where Every Member is a Missionary

(985) 643-0871 www.fpcslidell.org

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As most of you know by now, the session has authorized the purchase and installation of a new sign for our church. Unlike our current sign, the new one will be perpendicular to the road to allow easier

viewing while driving, and will have many of the new “bells & whistles” with it (like color display that allows pic-tures as well as texts with it). I hope it will make a wonder-ful addition to our church. (And lest anyone worry about the cost: The funds for the new sign have been graciously and generously donated by a family, for which we are all very grateful.) This is but one idea that we’ve been exploring to raise our profile and exposure in the community. We, also, as most of you know, have begun a “Bring Friends to Church” campaign, that I regret is being call the “Pelt the Pastor” Campaign. The person who brings the most visitors to church will have the opportunity to throw one water bal-loon at me for each person they invite during our summer sermon series. (I’m still not quite sure how that got past me on session….) So if you know a person you’ve wanted to invite to church, NOW is the time. We’re even planning on a 2-month advertising campaign in The Grand Theater before movies for November and December. While no firm plans or ideas are set yet, the ad will be shown while waiting for the movies to begin. We’re trying to come up with a fun yet unique approach. If you have any ideas, we’d be glad to get your input.

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Yet, I’m also reminded of what Paul wrote to Corinth: “We do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you. You yourselves are our letter...; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” The best advertising we could have for this community is each and every one of you, showing others the love of God to all people. Be the letter of Christ to this community, and see the Spirit of the living God at work in all you do. Blessings & Peace Keith

CONTENTS Pastor’s Message 2-3

Church Happenings 4-5

The Missions Corner 6-7

Calendar 8-9

Worship Page 10

Lectionary Readings 11

Ministry News 12-13

Christian Nuture 14

Holy Humor 15

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CHURCH HAPPENINGS

Let’s get this church packed with people so we can Pelt the Pastor with water balloons!

Cut out the below coupon and present it to your friends. If you need more coupons, they are available in either

of the church foyers.

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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY It was official. After almost a decade of assorted disagreements, struggles, appeals, remonstrances, and even open, armed battle around Boston for the past year, the 56 members of the Continen-tal Congress meeting in the Pennsylvania State house decided to declare the colonies independence from England. Yet this was not an easy or an overwhelmingly popular decision. The decision had been simmering for a long time, since the British Parliament began enacting laws taxing the colonists over 10 years before. Yet despite the growing unrest in that time, most people still hoped for a reconciliation with England and the king, even after the battles at Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill the year previously. The trade war and blockade the king instituted early in the year however began to sway people away from reconciliation with the king and towards independence. In June, Richard Lee of Virginia presented to the Congress a resolution: “Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Yet even then, consideration of independence was postponed by a vote of seven to five. In an effort to buy time for support for independence to grow, the Congress agreed to establish a “Committee of Five” to draft a broadside declaring the reasons for independence, should the Con-gress vote in favor of it. The five members selected were John Ad-ams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert Livingston of New York, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, on whom the task of drafting of the declaration fell. Finally on July 1, 1776, Jefferson’s draft was presented to the Congress. Following some edits and revisions, the Congress, on July 2, 1776, voted 12-0 for independence with one abstention, and adopted the Declaration on July 4. Since then, we have cele-brated July 4 as Independence Day.

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THE MISSIONS CORNER

Continue the ministry of Jesus Christ! Help Feed the Hungry Saturday, July 7, 2018

9 a.m. till Noon. @ Mount Olive

2457 2nd St, Slidell, LA 70458

If you have any suggestions, announcements, or articles for our newsletter, please submit them to Pastor Keith or Dawn Dussor in the church office or email churchoffice@i-55.com

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THE MISSIONS CORNER

Community Christian Concern & Miramon Center (CCC) offers emergency basic need to families in Sli-dell, & Pearl River & the transitional men's facility.

CCC is located at 2515 Carey St., Slidell, LA 70458 Ph # 985-646-0357

In addition to a monthly cash contribution, we donate McDonald gift cards to CCC to distribute to needy families. Below are some of the stories as told by the CCC councilors

The family that I gave 2 McDonalds gift cards to was a single mom that could use them. This single mom was raising two teen-age boys by herself. She was working at Walmart and also receiv-

ing food stamps. Things were going well at Wal Mart and she was promoted and given a raise. This raise made her ineligible

for food stamps. She was recently fired from Wal Mart and now needs to reapply for food stamps.

Ms. Pittman eyes lit up when I gave her McDonalds cards for her

children. She is a single mother raising 5 children. The McDonalds gift cards made her day.

A special thanks to all who are contributing to this worthy cause and to those who continue to fill our foyer bins with dry goods for the CCC food pantry. This is a huge help during the sum-mer months.

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WORSHIP PAGES

July 1 Wilma Dickey July 8 D’Loye Swift July 15 Larry Gay July 22 Jeff McDowell July 29 Dawn Dussor

Greeters: Magda Angle and Richard Dickey Snack Preparation: JoAnne Gay Communion Prep: Margie Wood

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LECTIONARY READINGS

July 1 Exodus 3: 1-12 2 Corinthians 2: 14 Pulpit Supply: Leadership Called to the Front

July 8 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10 Mark 6: 1-13 Exodus 20: 12 Sermon Series: The Duty We Have To Others

July 15 2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19 Ephesians 1: 3-14 Mark 6: 14-29 Exodus 20: 13 Sermon Series: Bringing Life

July 22 2 Samuel 7: 1-14a Ephesians 2: 11-22 Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56 Exodus 20: 14 Sermon Series: Seeing The Sacred In Everyone

July 29 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 Ephesians 3: 14-21 John 6: 1-21 Exodus 20: 15 Sermon Series: Thou Shalt Provide For Others

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ELDERS

Facilities and Finance George Dussor (‘18) Laurie Clark (‘19) Glen Carson (‘20)

WMMCCE (Worship, Mission, Member Care, Christian Ed) Wilma Dickey (‘18) Jeff McDowell (‘19) Larry Gay (‘20)

MINISTRY NEWS

Barbara Nicosia July 1 Laurie Clark July 9 D’Loye Swift July 16

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MINISTRY NEWS

Pastor Keith will be on vacation June 30-July 5

We will have a guest pastor Sunday, July 1st.

Sunday, July 1st,

we welcome Elder Buff Slayton to the pulpit.

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CHRISTIAN NURTURE

Gerald Pinkston (Mrs. Glenys’ Broth-In Law) - recovering from heart attack Bill Goldston (Mrs. Glenys’ Brother) – health concerns Marvin & Debbie (friends of Dussor’s) – heart troubles and dementia Margie Barrineau (Cindy Thiele’s Mother) – Recovering from Mini Stroke James Mitchell – (friend of Dussor’s) – Various Troubles Michael Wilcox (Son of Sue’s friend Pat) – Cancer Barbara Toups (Sue’s Son-In-Law’s Sister) – undergoing cancer treatment Paula Gunn – at home Danny Holley – health concerns Harry Babirad (Shirley’s brother-in-law) - cancer Mitchel Glasgow (Marsha Carson’s brother) - cancer Shirley Sharpe – health concerns Florine Lott – health concerns Vivian Huntington – health concerns Ed & Charleen Kruebbe (Dawn Dussor’s Parents) – health concerns Alan Simmons (friend of Dussor’s) - cancer Elwin Washburn (Brother of Vivian Huntington) Parkinson’s Our Veterans, Our Military, Our First Responders, & Diplomatic Persons - Serving around the world

* Indicates new person or change in condition

If you know of a person who should be added to or kept on the prayer list, please let the office know.

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HOLY HUMOR

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