First

December, 2019

Announcements & Celebrations p. 2 Reminders p. 3 Nurture p. 4 Teach p. 5

Worship p. 5 Fellowship p. 6 Serve p. 7 Directory p. 8

As a diverse family of believers in Jesus Christ, our mission is to glorify God

by celebrating and sharing God’s renewing and transforming love as:

We worship the living God with joy and thanksgiving.

We teach the Word of God to deepen our faith and to grow in

our love for Jesus Christ.

We serve others through sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We fellowship to enrich and energize our life together as a congregation.

We nurture and embrace all God’s children.

“We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast, for a special announcement...”

Believe it or not, I remember the days when those words actually meant something. Back when you had a handful of TV channels and all your news came through 1 of 3 big networks. The rare occasion when a show was interrupted by a SPECIAL REPORT or BREAKING NEWS didn’t happen that often, but when it did...it was really important. These days, every day has some frantic BREAKING NEWS busting in on the 24/7 news cycle. I can’t de-cide if the world is that much crazier or, as a society, we are just more prone to freaking out? I guess it could be some of both. The problem is that the occasional “real” crisis gets swallowed up by all the “manufactured” ones. Do you remember poor Mike Sidele of the Weather Channel, reporting on the impending crisis of a hurricane on the Gulf Coast? Body leaning into the wind, barely able to keep his footing...and in the background were two teenagers, strolling down the street without a care in the world. It’s hard in a world of constant BREAKING NEWS to know when something is actually important. When I look at the Bible, I notice that God had a few BREAKING NEWS moments. And, yep...the people didn’t pay attention then, either. I guess some things never change. Prophet after Prophet after Prophet, sharing the Word of the Lord in dramatic and sometimes disruptive ways (check out Ezekiel 4, if you have a strong stomach!) - and the people didn’t listen. So, after a few hundred years of not really getting anywhere, God tried a new thing, and broke into the world with a little baby, from a humble family, under inconvenient circumstances, on a silent night. Big, showy announcements were never made...unless you count the ones to a handful of shepherds, some sheep, and 3 dudes from the Orient. When the latter showed up in Jerusalem, King Herod didn’t have a clue why they were there! God snuck into our world...and caught us all off guard. That, to me, is the brilliant subtlety of the Christmas and Advent season - it urges us to pay attention. Not just to the big, showy, loud things in life but to the little, humble, maybe even ignored things in life. The things that might actually change us...the things that might actually save us...while we are looking elsewhere. So, my prayer for each of you, in this SPECTACULAR AND AMAZING Christmas...is that you will find Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in something really, really, really...small.

Grace, peace, and Merry Christmas - Richard

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We in the Fishburne Family were surprised and overwhelmed by the dedication of the beautiful 150th Anniversary banner, paraments, and Bible sash. Thank you for your continued support and love as we move through these days without Coty. We love our church family.

Shirley, Anne, Will, Mary and Geoff

We would like to thank all of our church friends for all the cards and prayers for the loss of my brother, George Broadwell. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful church friends.

Lena Hopkins

Dear Church Family

The meal you sent after Wayne’s knee surgery was wonderful!! We are so blessed to be in such a great church. Your kindness was so appreciated. Thank you again.

Love and Blessings,

Wayne and Carroll Terry

Carrie and James Roberts

and their sons, Hudson, Bentley and Landon.

Annual Christmas Dinner – Please make plans to join our church family on Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 pm for the annual Christmas Dinner. The Fellowship Committee will provide turkey, ham, dressing, gravy and rolls. Bring your favorite side dishes (vegetables or salads) and desserts to share. The children will kick off the evening of festivities with their pag-eant before dinner. A special visitor will cap off the evening! Be sure to come for this festive and fun time together.

Service of Lessons and Carols SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 11 A.M.

The Chancel Choir will be presenting a Service of Lessons and Car-ols during the Morning Worship Service on Sunday, December 8. The tradition of the Service of Lessons and Carols dates back to the early part of the Twentieth Century in the Anglican Church in England. This popu-lar service, today presented by King’s College Cambridge every Christmas Eve, tells the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus. The scripture readings are interspersed with the singing

of Christmas carols by the congregation and seasonal anthems by the choir.

This year’s service will feature two selections from the African-American spiritual tradition, African Noel and Keep Your Lamps, both arranged by Andre Thomas; There Is No Rose of Such Virtue, a new musical arrangement for this traditional text by Beth Kenreich; While By My Sheep, long a mainstay of the European Christmas carol tradition; and an American folk spiritual, I Wander As I Wonder, featuring soloist Iris Rose.

Plan now to make this service an integral part of your Advent and Christmas celebration! Soli Deo Gloria! Don Roger

The annual Christmas Cookie Walk at FPC will be held on Friday, Decem-ber 6th from 4—7 pm. For only $6 you can fill a box with delicious home-made goodies! The help of all members is needed to bake, serve, set up and clean up for this event. This year, we are only asking that each member make 10 dozen small, homemade cookies. Invite your friends and neighbors for this delicious Christmas tradition!

The Christmasville Pancake Breakfast will be held on Saturday, December 7th from 8:00 am—10:30 am. The Youth and the men of the church will be working together to put on this wonderful event. Tickets are $6 adults, $4 ag-es 4—12, ages 3 and under are FREE. Tickets can be purchased in the church office or at the door the day of the breakfast. This is a great Christ-

mas tradition that brings in a good crowd so plan to get your tickets early. Proceeds will go towards the 2020 Youth summer conference trips.

In support of the youth, the men of the church are being asked to use Sign-Up Genius to volunteer. We need early birds to set up and cook or come a little later to serve and clean up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BA5A92CAA8-christmasville1

The Christmas Post Office provided by the Youth has begun and will continue through December 22nd. Bring your cards for church members before or after the worship service each Sunday. The youth will organize them and distribute these for you for the low price of 25 cents a card. The funds from this will go towards the Youth summer conference trip in 2020.

Christmas Eve Service-December 24 - 6:00 pm

There will be a change in our Christmas Eve candlelight service this year. For the safety of our congregation and to minimize damage to our velvet pew cushions, the Worship Committee has decided to no longer offer lit candles to children at the Christmas Eve service. Children,ages 10 and under will be offered a battery operated candle for the service.

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1 Joseph Briggs

Karen Holt

2 Evan Hicklin

Evelyn Howard

3 Lena Hopkins

5 Dede Johnson

Teresa Bradley

6 Jim Bowman

7 Susan Roberson

9 Maddie Skinner

Gene Bradshaw

10 Millie Saye

11 Kathy James

Caroline Allen

12 Brantley Rumford

13 Matthew Blackwelder

14 Patricia Sanford

15 Jordan Alexander

16 Courtney Mullinax

Linder Tucker

Janelle Chubb

18 Stuart Stevenson

Steve Sanford

21 Lynn Moran

Connor Hindson

22 William OJalehto

23 Brandon Price

Linda Hutchison

24 Ellie Dawson

26 Matt Johnson

27 Meredith Spradley

Freeman Sturgis

28 Garrett White

29 Joanne Lehman

Sherry Hutchison

30 Raines Bridges

Melissa Granacher

COUNTERS

Dec 1 Tom Hickman, Michelle Elston Dec 8 Sherry Hutchison,Charles Gresham Dec 15 Se Murdoch, Leslie Jurado Dec 22 Bob Barrett, Susannah Hayes Dec 24 Peggy Casey, Dave Keely Dec 29 Paul Horne, Joan Musselwhite

NURSERY & CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Dec 1

Nursery/Preschool

Traci Jackson, Rebecca Bridges

Children’s Church

Leslie Jurado, Jennifer Green

Children’s Sermon

Richard Carr

Dec 8

Nursery /Preschool

Denise Ice, Mimi Goodner

Children’s Church

Kia Hicklin, Sherry Hutchison

Children’s Sermon

Susan Roberson

Dec 15

Nursery /Preschool

Patti Cloninger, Lindsey Skinner

Children’s Church

Heather Deese, Tara Park

Children’s Sermon

Meredith Briggs

Dec 22

Nursery/Preschool

Wendy Blanchard, Leslie Jurado

Children’s Church

Lindsey Skinner, Michelle Elston

Children’s Sermon

Dr. George White

Dec 29

Nursery/Preschool

Joanne Edwards, Kia Hicklin

Children’s Church

Janelle Chubb, Christy Goodner

Children’s Sermon

Susan Roberson

Deacons on Call for December

David Chubb David Keely

Teresa Bradley

Dec 1 Evan Hicklin Dec 8 Emily Kay Dec 15 Liz Briggs Dec 22 Riley Elston

Dec 24 Evan Hicklin

Dec 29 Olivia Green

Upcoming Committee Meetings

December 10 5:30 Property Committee 6:30 Finance Committee

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Please keep these members of our congregation in your

prayers:

Health Concerns (Members): Beth Easley, Worth Kendall, Mary Tice, Audrey Moore, Debbie Norwood, Amelia Spradley, and Wayne Terry.

Christian Sympathy Lena Hopkins and her family in the death of her brother, Mr. George Broadwell. Joe and Lena Hopkins-4150 Marshall Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730

Robert Pender and his family in the death of his father, Mr. Robert Gibbon Pender. Robert and Kathy Pender-2612 Colecreek Ln, Rock Hill, SC 29732

Diane Hale and her family in the death of her mother, Dorothy Schneider. Diane Hale—1715 Glen Echo Pl, Rock Hill, SC 29732

Friends and Family Members to keep in our prayers: Carol Hines—(Susan Demchak's friend) 1106 Christopher Circle, 29730

Bob Renz (heart attack /rehabilitation) Cathy Kayser’s brother

43 Dayton Road, Jamesburg, NJ 08831

Colleen Eddington (Cathy Kayser’s sister) recovering from a stroke

106 Village Rd. Wickatunk Village, Morganville, NJ 07751

Keira Esposito (Sanfilipppo Syndrome)

746 Quicksilver Trail, Fort Mill, SC 29708-6548

Charlie Brewer-Brother of Suzie Brewer Price (colon cancer)

150 Panilla Ct., Murrells Inlet, SC. 29576

Dennis Hopkins—Joe and Lena Hopkins’ son (ALS-Lou Gehrigs Disease)

4120 Marshall Rd, 29730

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Please keep the following mem-bers of the military in your prayers:

Stephen “Anthony” Bradley (Teresa Bradley’s son & Jean Horton's grandson) Navy: Stephen Bradley, 515 Chesterfield Rd Hampton, VA 23661 Matthew Blackwelder Blackwelder, Matthew B. Navy: Matt, Kellie and Jackson Black-welder 120 Kenneth Ct Newport News, VA 23602 Major and Mrs. Ryan Middle-ton (Laura Keely) 9190 Brenahm Court Montgomery, AL 36117

Taylor Ferguson (Phyllis Ferguson’s grandson)

Army:

Capt. Taylor Ferguson

7653 Kessler Dr Fort Benning, Ga 31905

If you or someone you know has a pastoral need, please contact Richard at 803-818-1863 or through email at rcarr1024@gmail.com. You can also contact the church office (328-2467; firstpresrh@gmail.com) or one of the

Our Prayer Ministry is now accepting prayer requests. This important minis-try is for all of our church members and extended families. You may provide as much or as little information as you wish and know that prayers will be offered at a moment’s notice. Please contact Jane Williams (366-3834 or wjlcwilliams@aol.com).

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

This year our Tuesday Morning Bible Study will continue our exploration of New Testament Story by David L. Barr. This fascinating book covers the major themes, the historical background, and the cultural influences present during the writing of the New Testament. While this study serves more as an overview of each book, rather than a verse by verse study, it definitely uncovers the world behind the text, and offers a deeper insight into what was originally written. The Bible Study meets on Tuesday morning at 9:15 am.

Prayer and Visitation Ministries

will not meet in November or December.

If you would like to refer someone to the Visitation Ministry for possible visits or ask for prayer requests from the Prayer Ministry, please contact Jane Williams (wjlcwilliams@aol.com or 803-242-5431) or Rev. Carr ( 803-818-1863 or rcarr1024@gmail.com). The

ir“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for

many.” Mark 10:43-45

Youth: Kids Night Out: (5-12 years old) 2nd Friday each month 5:30-10 :00

December 13th, Walking in Winter Wonderland

Adults: Creative Crafters - 2nd Tuesday each month. $15 includes materials for craft and

Lunch. December 10-Hymnal Angels

Third Tuesday Together (TTT) third Tuesday each month 10:30 with guest speakers and

Activies. Lunch $10/event. December 17th, Christmas Celebration

For more information, please visit the website www.bethelwoods.org

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We Worship the Living God with Joy and Thanksgiving ♪ Cherub Choir (ages 4-grade 1)- Rehearsals Wednesday evenings, 6:00 pm.

Contact Will Read (wread@comporium.net)

♪ Covenant Choir (grades 2-5) - Rehearsals Wednesday evenings, 6:00 pm

Contact Don Rogers. (rogersdm@comporium.net)

♪ Adult Choir (high schoolers and adults) Rehearsals Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30 pm and

Sunday mornings 10:15 am

Contact Don Rogers. (rogersdm@comporium.net)

♪ Handbell Choir (middle and high schoolers and adults) Rehearses Wednesday evenings 6:00-7:00

Women’s

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Ladies’ Night Out will meet at the Red Bowl on Celanese Road on Thursday, December 19 at 6:00. To be included in the reserva-tion, please contact Karen Holt.

Women’s Crossroads Bible Study will meet at 6:30 on Thursday,

December 12 at the home of Sherry Hutchison (2258 Nations Ford

Rd). All ladies are invited to join us. Questions or information, contact

Susan Roberson (alexandersm@yahoo.com).

Men’s Fellowship will not meet in December. The next meeting is January 16.

Flower Calendar: Please consider signing up to provide flowers

for our Sunday morning worship service in 2020. You may dedi-

cate them in honor or memory of a loved one on their birthday,

anniversary, baptism, etc. To reserve a date, see the Flower Cal-

endar on the bulletin board in the narthex.

REMINDERS

You can view the church calendar on the website

http://www.fpc-rockhill.org

We encourage everyone to “like” our Facebook page;

https://www.facebook.com/First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Rock-

Hill-187934367939785/

The Church Office will be closed on Tuesday December 24th

and Wednesday, December 25th.

The Retirees of First Presbyterian Church group will

meet December 12th at the Rock Hill Little Café at noon for our Christmas

gathering. Join us for good food and fellowship.

Scheduling Events

Reminder

Be sure to get paperwork filled out as soon as possible when you need to use church fa-cilities for events. The pa-perword needs to be turned in and approved to be added to the church calendar.

Handicap Accessible-Doors

Always use the right hand door when entering on the lower level of Hopkins Hall. The

remote left door should on-ly be used when necessary. Also, children should not be allowed to operate the re-mote doors for safety rea-sons.

Maintenance

Issues

If you notice lights out, toilet issues or any other areas in the church that need to be addressed, please alert the Property Committee or the church office

Women’s “Out to Lunch” Group

The Women’s Out to Lunch Group meets following Sunday worship.

12/1 ~ Charanda’s 12/8 ~ Chili’s

12/15 ~ Egg’s Up 12/22 ~ Fatz 12/29 ~ Friendly Billiard’s

We serve others through sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Yarns of Love: The group of ladies that meets together each Thursday afternoon in the parlor to knit or crochet continues to find ways to bless others with shawls or lapghans. As you all have heard or read, we began with contributing to Hospice & Community Care for the patients there. Then we began to wrap our own members who are sick or frail in our prayers and love. Our next target was the newest Presbyterians born to our members. We make each little new arrival a blanket to be

presented along with the rose from the Communion Table in his or her honor

We hope that our finished products created with prayers and love bring each recipient much comfort, but readily admit that we, too, feel blessed for being able to use our talents in this ministry. If you would like to participate in this ministry, but don’t have the time or talent to knit or crochet, you can still make a difference by donating yarn or contributing to the group to buy yarn. Your donations would be greatly appreciated by the ladies who will turn yarn into shawls and lapghans filled with prayers.

If you have questions or are interested in joining this group of women, please see: Peggy Casey, Gus Cook, Phyllis Ferguson, Karen Holt, Linda Hutchison, Cathy Kayser, Mary Anne Sheppard, Carroll Terry, Margaret Ann Tice.

Help for HOPE: For December, please consider bringing one or more boxes of oatmeal. It doesn’t have to be name brand; store brand is fine. Large boxes, small boxes, individual servings, old-fashioned, quick cooking, or instant are all needed. Bring in your contribution and leave it in the narthex by December 15. Your contributions are appreciated by the Mission Committee and more importantly, the recipients who need it most.

Help for HOPE: Our congregation kindly and generously donated 143 boxes of macaroni and cheese during the month of November for the clients of Project

HOPE. Thank you on behalf of them and the Mission and Outreach Committee.

The Congregational Care Committee is in need of volunteers. Our committee is made up of teams that provide meals to church members in times of sorrow and joy and also provides food items for memorial receptions. Team leaders

contact members of their team to prepare an item to contribute when there is a need, then the leader delivers the meal to the family. Contact Joan Musselwhite for more information. (803-324-0704 or jmusselwhite@comporium.net).

We would love to have you join us!

Care Bags: FPC is participating in an on-going local mission project that allows us to

share compassion and kindness with those who have loved ones in palliative care at

PMC. You may leave items in the box in the narthex.

Small water bottles, peanut-free prepackaged snacks, small notebooks, pens or pencils, small tissue packs, lip balm, mints/gum. Items to pass the time: Crossword puzzles, word searches, small puzzles, etc.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,

so you must love one another.” John 13:34

We Worship the Liv-ing God with Joy and

Thanksgiving

HOP

Hunger Outreach

Program

On the 4th Tuesday of each

month (with the exception of

June, July and August), our

church participates in the

“Hunger Outreach Program”. We

are a member of a consortium of

several churches who meet and

prepare approximately 240 meals,

which are bagged and delivered

to the hungry and needy in our

community. Our next HOP meet-

ing will be on Tuesday, Decem-

ber 17th. Contact Christy

Goodner (803-370-0848) or Wen-

dy Blanchard (803-366-7862) if

you would like to assist in this

community effort.

Dorothy Day

Soup Kitchen The next meeting will be

on Thursday, December 26th

from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. We

will not meet in November. We

help cook for the Soup Kitchen

on Crawford Road. Anyone inter-

ested should call Wendy

Blanchard at (803) 366-7862 or

Christy Goodner (803-370-0848)

to volunteer. Page 7

Return Service Requested

The Officers of First Presbyterian Church

Members of the Session

Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021

Heather Deese Bob Barrett Matt Goodner Jimmy Hicklin Peggy Casey Jimmy Jurado Tom Hickman Paul Horne Laura Lengers Sherry Hutchison Kathy James Susan Roberson Se Murdoch Julia Nichols George White, Clerk

Members of the Diaconate

Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021

Deena Campbell Susannah Hayes Gene Black David Chubb Dave Keely Teresa Bradley Charles Gresham Joan Musselwhite Michelle Elston Karen Holt, Moderator Eric Park Traci Jackson Bobby Smith Jane Williams Leslie Jurado

First Presbyterian Church 234 East Main Street POST OFFICE BOX 1011 ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA 29731

Staff Contact Information:

Church Office: (803) 328-2467

Rev. Richard W. Carr, III Minister rcarr1024@gmail.com (803) 818-1863 [cell] Rev. Dr. Craig C. Butler Marriage and Family Minister butlerc@comporium.net (803) 366-5445 [cell]

Dr. Donald M. Rogers Director of Music rogersdm@comporium.net

Janet Miller Organist nljemiller@carolina.rr.com

Mickey Johnson Handbell Choir Director bellman@comporium.net Joanne Stogner Administrative Assistant firstpresrh@gmail.com

Jackie Johnson Financial Secretary jjohnsonfirstpres@gmail.com