We all God First June, 2020images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2968/JUNE2020Newsletter.pdf · Kara starts...
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First June, 2020 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. From May to August in the year 325 AD, the first great council of Church Bishops gathered at Nicaea, a few miles outside of Constantinople. The council was assembled by the newly established Emperor Constantine, who, over the course of years, had successfully fought off 3 rivals to become the sovereign ruler over the Roman Empire. Most of you know the story from there; Constantine became the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity as a valid reli- gion. Although his nephew would later attempt to undo what he started, it was Constantine's acceptance of Christi- anity that ended almost 300 years of marginalization and, at its worst, violent persecution. With Constantine, Chris- tianity would cease to be an illegal cult and soon rise to become the Empire’s predominate religion. In short, as I am prone to say, the Empire that killed Jesus with its violence was eventually overcome by his follower’s persistent pat- tern of love, grace, forgiveness, and strong sense of community. That community was and is the Church. Paul referred to it as the body of Christ and he didn’t mean that fig- uratively, he meant it Spiritually. For Paul the church WAS the body of Christ - the living, breathing embodiment of His presence alive and at work in the world. This Spiritual community was given life at the event we are celebrating this weekend, Pentecost, but as its presence grew, so did its suffering. A small, outlier religion nestled within a pow- erful culture dominated by ancient Gods and Goddesses, Christianity found its foothold amongst the lesser powerful - slaves, women, laborers, and merchants - who connected with the image of a humble, servant as their Lord. Their proclamation of faith in Him became the touchpoint of their vulnerability and even their persecution. So, they had to endure just as their Savior endured. In the end, their faithful endurance became their greatest strength and even their path to victory. Like a rock that weathers generations of storms while the loose soil is eventually washed away, the Church - and those who made up its body - demonstrated this strength through their ability to love, forgive, and endure with dignity and grace. In this season, as we remember the origins of the Church, I view their witness as a testimony to us - that how we endure is infinitely more important than why or what we endure. As Christ’s body today, I pray that we will con- tinue to lean into the same values that have given the Church its strength from the very beginning. Peace - Richard
Transcript of We all God First June, 2020images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2968/JUNE2020Newsletter.pdf · Kara starts...
First
June, 2020
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.
From May to August in the year 325 AD, the first great council of Church Bishops gathered at Nicaea, a few miles outside of Constantinople. The council was assembled by the newly established Emperor Constantine, who, over the course of years, had successfully fought off 3 rivals to become the sovereign ruler over the Roman Empire. Most of you know the story from there; Constantine became the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity as a valid reli-gion. Although his nephew would later attempt to undo what he started, it was Constantine's acceptance of Christi-anity that ended almost 300 years of marginalization and, at its worst, violent persecution. With Constantine, Chris-tianity would cease to be an illegal cult and soon rise to become the Empire’s predominate religion. In short, as I am prone to say, the Empire that killed Jesus with its violence was eventually overcome by his follower’s persistent pat-tern of love, grace, forgiveness, and strong sense of community. That community was and is the Church. Paul referred to it as the body of Christ and he didn’t mean that fig-uratively, he meant it Spiritually. For Paul the church WAS the body of Christ - the living, breathing embodiment of His presence alive and at work in the world. This Spiritual community was given life at the event we are celebrating this weekend, Pentecost, but as its presence grew, so did its suffering. A small, outlier religion nestled within a pow-erful culture dominated by ancient Gods and Goddesses, Christianity found its foothold amongst the lesser powerful - slaves, women, laborers, and merchants - who connected with the image of a humble, servant as their Lord. Their proclamation of faith in Him became the touchpoint of their vulnerability and even their persecution. So, they had to endure just as their Savior endured. In the end, their faithful endurance became their greatest strength and even their path to victory. Like a rock that weathers generations of storms while the loose soil is eventually washed away, the Church - and those who made up its body - demonstrated this strength through their ability to love, forgive, and endure with dignity and grace. In this season, as we remember the origins of the Church, I view their witness as a testimony to us - that how we endure is infinitely more important than why or what we endure. As Christ’s body today, I pray that we will con-tinue to lean into the same values that have given the Church its strength from the very beginning. Peace - Richard
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Welcome Kara Wheeler
Director of Family Ministries
Kara starts her new position with FPC on June 1st. If you would like to reach out to her, you may contact her at:
Contact Information
If you have a new address,
phone number, or email
address please let us know.
We would like to update
your information in Realm.
Congratulations to proud parents, Erica and Zach Neimann on the birth of their son, William “Will” Tyler Neimann who was born on May 6th.
Proud grandparents are Debbie and Bob Norwood.
Update on Covid-19 and the Church
• All activities at the church will remain cancelled through June with the exception of worship. In the meantime, we are working on a plan to host our first in person worship service sometime in June. More in-formation will be coming via email sometime next week. Pastoral care and administrative help are still available by phone and email.
• Summer worship will look different. The Session is putting together a detailed list that we will communicate to you within the next 2 weeks. Among those changes will be 2 services at 9:00 and 11:00 to keep our numbers in the building low. Other measures such as social distancing by family and cleaning between services will be included as well. Spe-cifics will follow.
• Sunday School will not reopen until the new school year. To supple-ment, we will offer a video Adult Sunday School class each week and a video Children’s church for the kids. In person Sunday School will not begin before Rally Day, August 16th.
• VBS will be postponed. We are holding out hope for VBS later this summer. We will continue to keep you updated.
• In-building activities will not resume before July. By July, we hope to be able to open the building back up to restricted gatherings. Until then, we will not resume any activities outside of worship.
• The Office will partially open on June 1 on a limited basis. You will need to call and make an appointment before you come. This will allow us to control outside traffic.
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2 Tara Park
Maddie Taylor
Lydia White
4 Ashley Kay
5 Diane Bailey
Kim Fitzke
7 Michael Bailey
8 Will Read
Alex Wooden
Lee Wooden
9 David Gresham
Will King
11 Phyllis Ferguson
Terry Dodge
12 Wyatt Fast
B.J. Lathan
Avadell Smith
14 Gene Black
Kim Carpenter
Kim Crean
18 Dean Ramsey
Jeannie Ramsey
19 Nancy Jones
Blaine Price
22 Isla Bradshaw
Mason Goodner
23 Patti Cloninger
24 Shirley Burton
26 Courtney Cloninger
Floyd Hale
Lindsey Rumford
June
Birthdays
July Library Fun
Due to the continued restricted activity at the church, the July Library Fun for Kindergarten and Elementary age chil-dren has been canceled .
The Jurado Children’s Library will re-main open, and it will be staffed on Wednesday mornings from 9 AM to 12 Noon. If there are any questions, call Will Read at 324-2046.
SC Primary—June 9th
Several have asked what type of PPE
will be provided at the polls on Election
Day. Here is a statement from the South
Carolina Election Commission:
“The SEC and county election offi-
cials will be doing everything we
can to help make polling places as
safe as possible for voters and poll
managers, including: providing
masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sani-
tizing wipes, and disposable cotton
swabs for making touchscreen se-
lections.”
Many of you may not be comforta-
ble in crowds during this time.
With that in mind, you may consid-
er voting by mail for this election.
Absentee applications and addition-
al information can be requested by:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 803-684-1242 or 803-909-7194
• Online: www.scvotes.org
Deacons on Call for
June
Joan Musselwhite Michelle Elston Ellie Dawson
Dear Church Family,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the kindness that you have extended to me during my back surgery. The numerous meals, visits, cards, and prayers helped bolster my spirits during my long recovery. I love you all!!
Debbie Norwood
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PRAYER LIST
Please keep these members of our congregation in your prayers:
Health Concerns (Members): Beth Easley, Worth Kendall, Mary Tice, Audrey Moore, Jane Williams, and Ann Dahlin.
Friends and Family Members to keep in our prayers:
Carol Hines - (Susan Demchak's friend) 1106 Christopher Circle, RHSC
29730
Keira Esposito (Sanfilipppo Syndrome)
746 Quicksilver Trail
Fort Mill, SC 29708-6548
Charlie Brewer-Brother of Suzie 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 Cr Newport News, VA 23602 Major and Mrs. Ryan Middle-ton (Laura Keely) 9190 Brenahm Court Montgomery, AL 36117
Taylor Ferguson- (Phyllis Fer-guson’s grandson) Army: Capt. Taylor Ferguson 7653 Kesler 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 [email protected]. You can also contact the church office (328-2467; [email protected]) or one of the deacons on call.
Our Prayer Ministry is now accepting prayer requests. This very important ministry 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. This is a confidential group and your request will be treated as such. Please contact Jane Williams (366-3834 or [email protected]).
VBS will be postponed. We are holding out hope for VBS later this summer. We will continue to keep you updated.
Montreat Family Weekend-October 2 - 4 If you would like to make reservations, email Bev Keely or Michelle Elston.
Deposits will be handled at a later date.
Michelle Elston - [email protected] Bev Keely - [email protected]
Giving
Thank you to all who are continuing to send in your pledges. Without our usual worship service and time for offering, however, our giving level has started to decrease while expenses have remained roughly the same. There are three ways you may send your pledge to the church: 1) by mail to the address below, 2) drop them in Jackie’s box at the church, 3) give securely online through REALM. If you need assistance setting up online giving, please email or contact Jackie or Joanne.
Jackie ([email protected] ~ 389-8999) Joanne ([email protected] ~ 487-0770)
First Presbyterian Church P. O. Box 1011
Rock Hill, SC 29731
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Women’s
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Thank you for your kind and generous donations to the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina. First Presbyterian Church’s gift to the charitable care this year totaled $685.00. Your gifts are greatly appreciated.
In Loving Memory
Our mothers, Rose Mary Hardy and Nan Marshall Joe and Judy Hardy Our mothers, Josephine Lehman and Verna Mauch William and Joanne Lehman My mother, Frances Carter Linder Tucker Ken’s mother Karen and Ken Holt
In Loving Honor
Karen’s mother Karen and Ken Holt Margaret Ann Tice Karen and Ken Holt
Nursery News
Due to the current circumstances, the nursery is being deep cleaned according to the
COVID-19 guidelines before the church reopens. We will also be organizing cabi-
nets, storage areas, toys, etc. If you have any personal items currently in the nursery,
please contact Sheryl Smith by June 5th. Items left in the nursery after that date will
be donated.
A limited amount of toys will be placed back in the nursery when we reopen and
the toys will be sanitized after each use. The church is always thankful for the dona-
tions to our nursery, but due to the cleaning that will need to occur we would appre-
ciate you considering donating instead to the Hospice Store or Tender Hearts.
Your help is very much appreciated!
[email protected] or (803-370-3994)
From the Chair of the Property Committee:
Thank you to the follow-ing individuals who have contributed to completing property related issues during March, April and May: Butch Bailey, Wen-dy Blanchard. Heather Dease, Barry Goodner, Mimi Goodner, John Gra-nacher, Mary Hemleb, Rod Hicks, Karen Holt, Ken Holt, Sherry Hutchison, Bev Keely, Joan Musselwhite, Julia Nichols, Will Read, Mary Anne Sheppard, and Sheryl Smith.
Thank you also to the teams who keep the grounds maintained each month: Mike Hunsucker and Bob Ballard, Barry Goodner and Matt Good-ner, Jason Dease and Jim-my Hicklin, and Se Mur-dock and Paul Horne.
Please take a moment and say “thank you” to these people when you see them.
Thank you!
Paul
We serve others through sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Yarns of Love – The group of ladies who routinely meet
on Thursday afternoons in the parlor to make prayer
shawls and lapghans have been separated in isolation for
over two months; but that has not stopped their ministry!
Even though apart, they have continued making pieces to
be received by the patients of Hospice & Community
Care. Observing social distancing, the shawls/lapghans
were collected with porch drops and then delivery was made curbside to HCC.
During this time apart, the ladies have made 44 pieces including lapghans and
shawls. Some of the lapghans were made with red/white/blue yarn which will go to
veterans near the end of life during a special pinning ceremony of honor.
Since our church activities have been suspended, we have had two exciting arrivals
of new little Presbyterians! James Allen Chubb, son of David and Janelle Chubb
and grandson of Rod and Diane Hicks, arrived on March 26. William Tyler
Neimann, son of Zach and Erica Neimann and grandson of Debbie and Bob
Norwood, arrived May 6. Both of these little boys have received a white handmade
blanket complete with a tag “Made with love and prayers/1st Presbyterian Church /
Yarns of Love Ministry“. The ladies look forward to watching James Allen and Will
grow up with their church family.
The ladies who participate in this ministry all agree that they receive a blessing by
being able to make and contribute these handmade pieces with prayers and love.
Help for HOPE: During the month of June, please consider
donating a jar(s)of peanut butter and a box(es) of crackers
(saltine, graham, or Ritz) for the clients of Project HOPE.
During the summer months when school is not in session,
many children/students will be at home and responsible for preparing their own
food/snacks. Peanut butter and crackers provide healthy snacks and young children/
students are able to make peanut butter with crackers for themselves. Please bring
your donations to the church and leave in the box in the narthex by June 21. Thank
you so much for supporting our church wide effort to address the issues of hunger
right here in our own hometown. On behalf of the Mission Committee and the
recipients of our gifts, Thank you!
We Worship the Liv-ing God with Joy and
Thanksgiving
HOP
(Hunger Outreach Program)
On the 4th Tuesday of each
month our church participates
in the “Hunger Outreach Pro-
gram”. We are a member of a
consortium of several churches
who meet and prepare approxi-
mately 240 meals, which are
bagged and delivered to the
hungry and needy in our com-
munity. We do not meet in the
Summer, our next HOP meet-
ing will be September 28th
You are invited to join us at
3:00 p.m. to assist in this ef-
fort. If you are unable to come
and help, you may assist by
writing a check to First Pres-
byterian Church and marking
it for “HOP”.
Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen
Ladies will meet on Thurs-
day, June 25th from 10:00
a.m. - 1:00 p.m. We help cook
for the Soup Kitchen on Craw-
ford Road. Anyone interested
should call Wendy Blanchard
at (704) 616-7021 or Christy
Goodner (to volunteer.
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Return Service Requested
The Officers of First Presbyterian Church
Members of the Session
Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022
Bob Barrett Matt Goodner Barry Goodner Peggy Casey Jimmy Jurado Cynthia Johnson Paul Horne Laura Lengers Joanne Lehman Kathy James Susan Roberson Robert Pender Julia Nichols George White, Clerk Sheryl Smith
Members of the Diaconate
Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022
Susannah Hayes Gene Black Lindsey Skinner Dave Keely Teresa Bradley, Moderator Ellie Dawson Joan Musselwhite Michelle Elston Faye Ballard Eric Park Traci Jackson Steve Mullinax Jane Williams Leslie Jurado Diane Bailey
First Presbyterian Church 234 East Main Street POST OFFICE BOX 1011 ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA 29730
Staff Contact Information:
Church Office: (803) 328-2467
Rev. Richard W. Carr, III Minister [email protected] (803) 818-1863 [cell] Rev. Dr. Craig C. Butler Marriage and Family Minister [email protected] (803) 366-5445 [cell]
Dr. Donald M. Rogers Director of Music [email protected]
Janet Miller Organist [email protected] Will Read Cherub Choir Director [email protected]
Mickey Johnson Handbell Choir Director [email protected] Joanne Stogner Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Jackie Johnson Financial Secretary [email protected]
