From the Pastor:

With the beginning of the New Year, we look forward to the seasons ahead for our church family and our gatherings for worship, mission outreach, fellowship, and education. “Coming to Church” is on top of our lists of priorities as we respond to our calling to, “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord…Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord” (Psalm 134). During 2017, let us recommit ourselves to the commission to “Grow our church” as we invite friends, neighbors, families, and others to join us at WPC!

In his book, Transforming Congregational Culture, Anthony B. Robinson makes this observation about planning programs in the church. As committees make decisions and engage in organizing our ministry, his words are helpful:

Often when we seek to answer the question, ‘What are you trying to accomplish?’ we utilize some combination of ongoing ministries and new initiatives. There are some things that the church, if it is the church, will always be engaged in doing. In many ways these are described by the classic marks of the church: kerygma (worship and celebration), didache (teaching and learning), koinonia (community and care), and diakonia (service and witness). These provide a basic structure for beginning to describe a congregation’s mission and ministry. These can be described as ‘the four core ministries of most congregations.’ And the overriding purpose of the four is Christian formation.

As we celebrate the ministry of our church, we are reminded that everyone in the congregation is encouraged to participate!

In January, I invite you to celebrate our connectedness to the other Churches of Abingdon Presbytery, the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). From our denominational website (http://www.pcusa.org/), we learn that the PC (U.S.A.) seal reflects our connectedness in faith, hope, and love and reminds us that Christ calls us to follow Him as one family of faith and hope united by His love. Please read this information and share it with others.

Peace and Grace, Brad

The Presby

January 2017Wytheville Presbyterian Church

285 Church StreetWytheville, VA 24382

Phone: (276)228-4715Fax: (276)228-6830

Email: wpchurch@embarqmail.com

wythevillepresbyterianchurch.org

Office Hours: Monday - Friday9:00am - 2:00pm

Wendy Morrison, Office Mgr.Brad Simpson, Pastor

Becky Absher, Music DirectorJames Willis, Youth & Family

MinistriesBeth Pulliam, Clerk of Session

Session Digest:The Session met for a stated meeting on December 11, 2016.

Pastoral Concerns: Beulah Bing, Jo Ann Cannoy, Joe Cavender, Dan Challgren, Ethan Challgren, the family of Ken Cottrell, Sousin Cottrell, Charles Crockett, the family of Joe Crockett, Hayden Cundiff, Mimi Friedman, Jim Gleaves, Carola Hider, Art Inman, Alice Kelley, Maxine Manuel, Kathy McAllister, Bill Pollard, Ron Smiley, Ernest Williams, Sr., and Ernest Wilson.

Motions approved by the Session:

1. The recommendations of the Committee to Study the Structure of the Session be approved as follows:A. The Session will consist of nine Elders

to be elected in classes of three each year. Terms will be for three years.

B. The Session will have the following standing committees, each chaired by an Elder:(1) Finance and Stewardship(2) Evangelism, Church Growth, and Fellowship(3) Congregational Care(4) Worship(5) Christian Education(6) Mission(7) Property(8) Personnel

C. Elder in Charge and Hatcher Hall duties:

(1) September through May (9 months) – one Elder in Charge and one Elder at Hatcher Hall door as we have done in the past

(2) June, July, and August – Three Elders in Charge for each month. The three will have the responsibility to be sure all duties are covered.

2. Beginning in January, 2017, the Elder classes will be as follows:2017: Stan Martin, Kat McCoy, Jerry Morrison

2018: Dan Challgren, Kym Dunford, Beth Pulliam2019: Jim Gearhart, Sarah Angliker, Ron Boone

3. Having listened to the faith stories of Sarah Angliker and Ron Boone, the Session approves their ordination and installation to be December 18.

4. To approve the budget for 2017 as approved by the Finance Committee.

5. To accept the Church Financial Report as presented.

* * * * * *

Presbyterian Women:The PW Circle 1 will meet on Monday, January 2 at 11:00 a.m. Andy Cundiff will be leading the Bible Study. Circle 3 will meet at 12:15 noon on Sunday, January 8 following worship service in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and lesson 5.

* * * * * *

Flower Chart for 2017:The flower chart is now available. If you are interested in signing up for a special Sunday in 2017, please put you name on the chart for that Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Crockett at 228-4050.

* * * * * *

Communion and Congregational Meeting:We will have Holy Communion on Sunday, January 8. There will also be a Congregational Meeting following the worship service to review the budget for 2017 and to approve the Terms of Call for Rev. Brad Simpson. Please plan to attend this service and meeting!

* * * * * *

2

Wednesday Night Supper and Programming:We will resume our Wednesday night activities on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m. We begin our evening with choir practice at 5:15 p.m., then potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. following with Bible study at 7:15 p.m.

* * * * * *

Hope Pack the Bag Program: We will need help with the pack the bag on Wednesday, January 25 at 4:00 p.m. We will meet in the warehouse behind Smokey’s.

* * * * * *

New Address for Alice Kelley:c/o Becky Lowry4824 Hearthstone RoadClemmons, NC 27012Rebecca’s number is 336-413-3661

3

The Seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

 

     

                    The Seal: A Closer Look

The seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a symbolic statement of the church's heritage, identity, and mission in contemporary form. Its power depends on both its simplicity and complexity, as well as its traditional and enduring qualities. The basic symbols in the seal are the cross, Scripture, the dove, and flames. The dominant structural and theological element in the design is the cross — the universal and most ecumenical symbol of the Christian church. The cross represents the incarnate love of God in Jesus Christ and his passion and resurrection. Because of its association with Presbyterian history, the Celtic cross was chosen as a model for this contemporary rendering of the ancient symbol.

 

                In experimenting with the basic lines and shapes

of the cross, the contour of a book began to emerge in the horizontal section, and the two center lines of the cross became the representation of an open book. This integration of the horizontal dimensions of the cross with the book motif highlights the emphasis which the Reformed tradition has placed on the role of Scripture as a means of knowing God's word.

 

               The slightly-flared shape of the Celtic cross also

makes possible the transforming of the uppermost section into the shape of a descending dove. As a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the dove is intimately tied to the representation of the Bible, affirming the role of the Spirit in both inspiring and interpreting Scripture in the life of the church. The dove also symbolizes Christ's baptism by John and the peace and wholeness which his death and resurrection bring to a

 

4

broken world.

               Beneath the image of the book is the suggestion

of a lectern or pulpit, which captures the important role of preaching in the history of Presbyterian worship.

 

                Integrated into the lower part of the design are

flames which form an implied triangle, a traditional symbol of the Trinity. The flames themselves convey a double meaning: a symbol of revelation in the Old Testament when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and a suggestion of the beginning of the Christian church when Christ manifested himself to his apostles at Pentecost and charged them to be messengers of the good news of God's love.

 

             The triangle also suggests the nature of Presbyterian government, with its concern for balance and order, dividing authority between ministers of the Word and laypersons and between different governing bodies. This understanding of the church was based in part on an important idea in Reformed theology, the covenant, which God establishes with people to affirm God's enduring love and to call us to faith and obedience to Jesus Christ.

 

            

5

   Looking more closely at some of the visual components of the design, viewers may discover elements that seem to fuse with some of the more obvious theological symbols. In the shape of the descending dove, for example, one might also discern in the body of the bird, the form of a fish, an early-Christian sign for Christ, recalling his ministry to those who hunger. For some, the overall design evokes the calligraphy of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Others have seen a baptismal font or a communion chalice (cup).

 

              In 1 Corinthians, Paul described the church as a body with many members, illustrating the pluralism of the church and the many gifts which God gives to its members. So also the seal's individual parts, when taken together, form an encompassing visual and symbolic unity, while not exhausting the richness of possible interpretations.

 

6

7