July 20, 2016 - First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church of Americus
A community of faith, responding to God’s call;
Loving, learning and leading people to Jesus Christ.
October 19, 2016
STAFF
Sommer Fulmer Bower, Pastor
[email protected]
Denise Watson, Secretary
[email protected]
Lenard Martin, Jr, Pianist
[email protected]
Meda Krenson, Financial Secretary
[email protected]
Volunteer Staff
Bill Krenson, Treasurer
[email protected]
CHURCH SESSION
Clerk of Session
Sharon McFarland
Class of 2017
Schley Gatewood
Jim Griffith
Jim Herron
Class of 2018
Cara Hawkins
Sharon McFarland
Richard Pollette
Class of 2019
Bill Krenson
Fred Richmond
Beth Williams
Elder of the Month
Jim Griffith
Church Office
229-924-2162
Fax - 229-924-5512
[email protected]
The First Presbyterian Connection
newsletter is published every 1st
and 3rd Wednesday of the month.
We welcome your submissions.
Deadline is Tuesday noon prior to
the Connection being published.
OCTOBER 23, 2016
JOIN US at 11:00 a.m. followed by a covered dish lunch!
Join us THIS Sunday for Reformation Sunday at
First Presbyterian Americus
On Sunday, October 23, we will be celebrating our Presbyterian heritage! Dan Gillan, a bagpiper from Albany,
will be our special guest musician.
After worship, there will be a covered dish lunch for the
congregation in the Fellowship Hall. Chicken will be
furnished. Please plan to bring a vegetable, salad, bread
or dessert and join us all for lunch and fellowship that
day.
History of the Church
What does it mean to be Presbyterian? Presbyterianism in a wide sense is the system of church
government by representative assemblies called presbyteries, in opposition to government by
bishops (episcopal system), or by congregations (congregationalism). Our congregation is a member
of the Presbytery of Flint River and the Synod of the South Atlantic. In its strict sense, Presbyterianism is the name given to one of the groups of ecclesiastical bodies that represent the features of
Protestantism emphasized by French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized
much of the Reformed thinking that came before him. The most important standards of orthodox
Presbyterianism are the Scots Confession, Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms of 1647.
The chief distinctive features set forth in the Westminster declarations of belief are Presbyterian
church government, Calvinistic theology, and the absence of prescribed forms of worship. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation.
~ continued on page 3
We received word last
week that Sara Matkowsky is now under
hospice care. Please lift
Tina Baxter (her daughter) and all of Ms. Sara’s
family up in prayer and
thought as they walk
through this next chapter in Ms. Sara’s life. You may
send cards or letters to Tina Baxter at Maple Court,
2408 N. Tift Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794
Nov.
5th
Kiwanis Club
Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, October 22
Psalms 23:6
Let Us Remember Together ...
First Presbyterian Fellowship Hall
Doors Open at 8:00 a.m.
SUNDAY,
November 20
Following worship
Are You Interested in
Participating in the New
Land Task Force?
Session approved forming a task force for
discussion and research regarding the empty
lot at 129 S. Jackson Street that was purchased this year.
If YES, please contact the church office at
924-2162 or [email protected]
Soup and Salad Lunch
Followed by
You are invited to come help prepare the church of
Advent. Donna Minich will be making individual bread
bowls for lunch on Sunday, November 20th. Please
bring either a crock pot of soup (or chili) or a salad to
share with the group. After the meal, we will gather in
the sanctuary to decorate the church.
Continued from page 1
Water is still rising in states
impacted by Hurricane
Matthew -
Presbyterians were among the earliest Reformed immigrants to America. They settled
up and down the East Coast, and began to
push westward into the American wilderness,
founding congregations as early as the 1630s.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
The denomination had its origins in colonial
reaches out to impacted communities
times when members of the Church of Scotland and Presbyterians from Ireland first immigrated to America. by Rick Jones | Presbyterian News Service
After the American Revolution, the PCUSA was organized in Philadelphia under the leadership of John Witherspoon to provide national LOUISVILLE – It’s been several days since Hurricane
leadership for Presbyterians in the new nation.
Matthew made its way up the eastern U.S. coastline and
people are still being evacuated. Power outages and high
water have made it difficult for authorities to determine
the extent of Matthew’s wrath.
In 1706, seven Presbyterian ministers met in Philadelphia and formed
the Presbytery of Philadelphia, the first Presbyterian presbytery in
the New World. The clergy assumed the freedom to organize and the
right to worship, preach, teach, and administer the sacraments. Growing population and immigration caused the presbytery to organize
the Synod of Philadelphia in 1716. The church began to develop its “It’s not just coastal areas that have been impacted,” said
own indigenous leadership and educational, mission, and charitable Jim Kirk, associate for U.S. disaster response with Presbyinstitutions, as well as to experience its first internal conflicts.
Presbyterians were only one of the reformed denominations that
dominated American colonial life at the time of the Revolutionary
War. Presbyterians participated in the writing of state and national
constitutions. Reformed views of God's sovereignty and of human
sinfulness moved the new nation toward checks and balances and
separation of powers. Independence forced adjustment in church as
well as government structures.
terian Disaster Assistance. “Because of the heavy rains in
North and South Carolina as well as Virginia, there is a
concern about flooding in the central parts of the states.”
Kirk and other PDA staff have been in constant contact
with church leaders in the affected areas.
In 1788, the synod met in Philadelphia to form the General Assembly “I’ve been in touch with presbytery and synod execs,” said
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA). Kirk. “We’ve let them know that we care and are willing to
It adopted a constitution that included a form of government, a
help. We will have boots on the ground this week.”
directory of worship, and subscription to the Westminster Confession
and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. In 1789, the General Assembly held its first meeting in Philadelphia. In the early years of the Because of the rising water, Kirk says it’s difficult to deter1800s, the church carried on revivals and organized congregations, mine the extent of damage, but expects the long-term
presbyteries, and synods wherever they went, emphasizing the con- recovery to take three to five years.
nectional nature of the church.
Presbyterians helped as well to shape voluntary societies to encour- “This is an event that has significantly impacted nine presage educational, missionary, evangelical, and reforming work. As the byteries and that’s unusual. We’re talking something on
church began to realize that these functions were corporate in nature the level of a Hurricane Sandy. It has covered a lot of
and as the century proceeded, it formed its own boards and agencies
to address these needs at home and abroad. Mission to Native Americans, African Americans, and populations all over the world became
a hallmark of the church.
The nineteenth century was also characterized by disagreement and
division over theology, governance, and reform-particularly slavery.
When the country could not reconcile the issue of slavery and the
federal union, the southern Presbyterians split from the PCUSA, forming the PCCSA in 1861, which became the Presbyterian Church in the
United States. The themes of the late nineteenth and all of the
twentieth century are many. Currently the largest group is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has its national offices in Louisville, KY.
It was formed in 1983 as a result of reunion between the Presbyterian
Church in the U.S. (PCUS), the "southern stream," and the United
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA), the "northern stream."
As of 2012, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had approximately 1.8
million members, 10,000 congregations, and 20,000 ordained and
active ministers.
Flooding on the southern bank of the Tar River near Greenville, North Carolina on October 10 when the river cresting around 20 feet (6.1 m). (Photo
by Ed Erhart via WikiMedia)
Continued on page 6
Volunteer Schedule
Elder of the Month
Jim Griffith
Oct 23: Ushers/Greeters: Bill Krenson, Pat Hill, and
Cathy Clark Reynolds.
Radio Announcer: Sharon McFarland
Oct 30: Volunteer Ushers
Radio Announcer: Ronnie Greer; Bk Cara/Ella Hawkins
November Elder
of the Month
BILL KRENSON
Nov 6: Communion Prep Bill Krenson (trays) Servers: Cara Hawkins, Jim Herron, Sharon McFarland
and Richard Pollette
Ushers/Greeters:Tom and Emily Collins
Radio Announcer: Jim Griffith; Bk Ronnie Greer
Nov 13: Ushers/Greeters: Russ Childers and Ronnie
Greer
Radio Announcer: Sharon McFarland; Bk Jim Griffith
Bible Study on the
Book of
The church will
have a table set
up in front of
the church for
downtown Trick
or Treat on
Thursday, October 27th. The Kiwanis Pet
Parade begins at 4:00 p.m., followed by
Downtown Trick or Treat.
Join us on
, at 10:00 a.m. to make treat bags.
Wednesday, October 19
6:00 p.m. - Building Grounds Committee Meeting
Saturday, October 22
8:00 a.m. - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in the fellowship hall
Sunday, October 23
Reformation Sunday
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School
10:40 a.m. - Elders meet for prayer (parlor)
11:00 a.m. - Worship with Rev. Bower
12 Noon - Covered Dish Lunch
Tuesday, October 25
2:15 p.m. - Historical Sign Committee
5:30 p.m. - Not on Sunday Sunday School Class
7:00 P.M. - Stated Session
Thursday, October 27
4:00 p.m. - Downtown Pet Parade and Trick-or-Treat
Tuesday, November 1
12 Noon - Worship Committee Meeting
5:30 p.m. - Not on Sunday Sunday School Class
Pastor Sommer has begun a new Bible study on the
Book of Genesis at Magnolia Manor, the Second
Tuesday of every month, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15
a.m. Join them on the Section 3 sun porch on Tuesday, November 8, at 10:30a.m. As a special treat,
Lenard Martin, Jr., will be playing the piano. All are
invited to attend.
Wednesday, November 2
2:30 p.m. - Manual of Operations Committee Meeting
Saturday, November 5
10:00 a.m. - Presbyterian Women Gathering at Covenant
Daylight Savings Time Ends - Turn Your Clocks Back
Flint River Presbytery Meeting
Saturday, October 15
Washington Street Presbyterian Church
Come out to support our own Ella Hawkins in GSW’s last
two home games.
Wednesday, Oct 19 against North Georgia at 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct 22 against Francis Marion University at
1:00 p.m.
Games are held on Hurricane Field.
Russ Childers, Bill Krenson and Pastor Sommer Bower
Wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness
Russ Childers, chair of the Presbytery Finance Committee
giving a presentation of Ripples in the River
- continued from page 3
Florida’s emergency response teams are thankful the damage wasn’t
as severe as projected. People are still trying to get back into their
territory,” said Kirk. “If there is a blessing out of this, it didn’t make homes as crews work to restore power and muck out the water and
landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, but it hugged the coast from sand.
Florida to Virginia.”
“There are a lot of people who lost everything. The storm surge made
The Rev. Bill Neely is a member of the PDA National Response Team a total mess of neighborhoods,” said Kathy Broyard, executive direcas well as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, North tor of Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN.)
Carolina. He says it is still a case of wait and see as rivers and streams “Long-term recovery work will take months, if not years, to complete.”
Broyard says they’ve partnered with Florida VOAD, Salvation Army,
crest in the next few days.
Baptist Kitchen, the Red Cross and others to provide meals as well as
“Most of the Greene County roads have been cut off except for one muck out as many homes as possible.
that heads south into Kinston,” said Neely. “We’ve become an island
“I received an email from a pastor in St. Augustine who said people are
because of the rising water.”
in shock following the storm,” she said. “The pastor said he had to
Neely says he and other members of his response team have reached support one lady as she packed her clothes because she was barely
out to a majority of churches in the eastern part of the state but have able to stand after seeing the damage.”
yet to reach out to coastal Carolina.
As she continues to reach out to churches and communities along the
“Right now we are waiting for the water to quit rising. It’s almost border, Broyard says she’s found some communities where there was
impossible to make any assessment until the water comes down,” little damage and others that dealt with tremendous storm surge.
said Neely. “There are people still being evacuated and airlifted out of
“We will work to form long-term recovery groups in the areas of need,”
houses all across the east.”
she said. “We will also support the efforts of volunteers, specifically
Neely says the youth in his church have put together more than 160 PDA, for volunteer housing and working with churches that might be
health kits to send to shelters in Bethel, North Carolina and he ex- able to consider hosting volunteers for clean up and long-term repairs.”
pects to ask for volunteer teams to assist with clean up and long-term Kirk says financial support will be critical in helping the communities
restore homes and roads damaged by the storm and high water.
recovery.
“We expect to find some damage in our churches and members’ “We need to lift presbytery leadership and faith leaders in prayer.
homes, but we can handle that,” said Neely. “For poor people, it’s a There are communities in South Carolina alone that have been workdevastation because they had very little to start with, and now ing non-stop to repair storm damaged homes for the last 18 months,”
they’ve lost that. They don’t have insurance and fall below the pover- said Kirk. “That’s grueling. We hope churches will consider mission
trips and financial support through the One Great Hour of Sharing.”
ty line already. They’re going to need help.”
—–
In Charleston, South Carolina, things are slowly coming back together, You are encouraged to write your check to
says Donnie Woods, executive presbyter for Charleston-Atlantic Preswith a note on the memo line
bytery.
First Pres will then
“Some areas have totally opened up and residents are returning from
upstate and other places,” said Woods. “Some areas on the outer
islands have so much debris from trees and such but they are slowly
letting people back on the islands and will continue to do so for the
rest of the week.”
Woods has reached out to all 48 churches that are part of the 12
counties of lower South Carolina. He’s heard reports of damaged
roofs, downed trees and loss of power. Flooding continues in many
areas, but he says people are managing.
“We are working with all of the available resources in Charleston to
clean up debris and get the power back on as soon as possible,” he
said. “I’ve already asked PDA to dispatch NRT members to the area to
assess what has happened and the extent of damage. As soon as the
way is clear in the coming weeks, we will have teams on the ground
to work with us.”
Woods says the mass evacuation of people up and down the coastline
was the right thing to do and likely saved numerous lives.
write one check to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Relief Program.
If you prefer, you may also support the relief efforts by
designating gifts to “Hurricane Matthew” through the
Presbyterian Mission Agency at
https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000193/
Prayer List
Please Pray For - Our Nation, Our Church; Our Pastor,
Our Staff, Our Officers, Campus Ministry, Our Community and especially:
A Not on Sunday, Sunday School class, led by Tom
McFarland, explores the problem of racism and
its effect on our community. The class meets
every Tuesday evening from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
at the church.
Participants use a study guide with the book,
America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege,
and the Bridge to A New America by Jim Wallis
along with the Bible.
Contact Tom for more information at
[email protected] or
229-942-0224
November 20th
First Presbyterian financially supports the Harvest of
Hope Food Pantry each month. On Sunday, November 6, we are collecting boxes of cereal as our monthly donation. You may still drop off your donations in
the office as well.
As we are fed each month by our Lord Jesus through
Holy Communion, we do our best to help feed others in
need.
For 140 years, you have been the arms of Christ to the
abused, abandoned and neglected children of Thornwell Home for Children. Your gifts, prayers and acts of
kindness have truly given these little ones proof that
they are children of God.
A special offering for Thornwell Homes will be collected on Sunday, November 20. Please indicate on
your check or offering envelope your gift to Thornwell.
Special envelopes will be included in the November
20th bulletin. Thank you and God Bless.
October/Nov 2016
Sun
Mon
9:45 a.m.
Sunday School
10:40 a.m.
Elders Meet
for Prayer
Presbyterian Women Group B is responsible for meals during the month of October. Karen
Gatewood coordinator. Call the church office, 924-2162, if you know of a need.
Tue
Wed
Thu
PRES HOUSE
LUNCHES
PRES HOUSE
LUNCHES
11am - 1pm
11am - 1pm
Every
Thursday
5:00pm.
Weight
Watchers
Fri
Sat
11am Worship
16
17
18
20
19
24
25
26
27
30
Session 7pm
31
2
Not on Sunday SS
Class with Tom McFarland 5:30pm
7
Trays
(Bill Krenson)
8 Genesis Bible
3
Manual of
Operations
Meeting
2:30pm
Worship Committee
12 Noon
Prayers for Peace
3pm at Lenny’s
Market
6
1
28
29
4
5
Downtown Pet
Parade and
Trick or Treat
4 pm
Not on Sunday SS Class
with Tom McFarland
5:30pm
Covered Dish
12 Noon
22
Kiwanis
Pancake
Breakfast 8am
Flint River
Finance
Committee
2pm
Building &
Grounds 6pm
23
21
9
Presbyterian
Women Gathering
at Covenant 10am
Pastor Sommer in
Atlanta at the
Greater Atlanta
Presbytery CPM
Meeting
10
11
12
Study 10:30 am at
Magnolia Manor
Staff Meeting
1:30 pm
Not on Sunday SS Class
with Tom McFarland
5:30pm
Oct 23: Ushers/Greeters:
Bill Krenson, Pat Hill, and
Cathy Clark Reynolds.
Radio Announcer: Sharon
McFarland
Oct 30: Volunteer Ushers
Radio Announcer: Ronnie
Greer; Bk Cara/Ella Hawkins
Nov 6: Communion Prep Bill
Krenson (trays) Servers:
Cara Hawkins, Jim Herron,
Sharon McFarland and Richard Pollette
Ushers/Greeters:Tom and Emily Collins
Radio Announcer: Jim Griffith;
Bk Ronnie Greer
Nov 13: Ushers/Greeters:
Russ Childers and Ronnie
Greer
Radio Announcer: Sharon
McFarland; Bk Jim Griffith
125 South Jackson Street, Americus, Georgia 31709
229.924.2162
Church Christmas Mission Project
Presbyterian Mission Agency GIVING CATALOG
Christmas Card
Regardless if you use option 1 or 2, you are invited to give the gift
of a friend or
loved one. Beautiful Christmas Cards have been created which you may give as a gift to
show a donation was given in their honor.
OPTION 1
Contributing to the building of a GARDEN WELL. Any contribution amount (from $5 to $1,250) is greatly
appreciated! Our congregations mission and outreach committee has chosen this particular need as our church
focus. A well provides clean water for drinking, bathing, washing, and irrigation to an entire community. Change
the lives of countless people by giving them a reliable and convenient source of water. By joining our gifts
together, however large or small, we expand our witness to God’s gracious and abundant work in the world.
-Name of the person giving the donation ______________________________________________
-Contact number _________________________________________________
-Amount donated ______________________________________
-Check number ____________________________
OR
Cash received _______________________
If you have chosen option 1 please write your check to “First Presbyterian of Americus” with “garden well” in the memo line.
Our congregation will deposit your check/cash and write one check to the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Your donation will be seen in your church end-of-year giving statement.
OPTION 2
The Presbyterian Giving Catalog is filled with incredible opportunities for giving. On the attached sheet you will
find different gifts that can impact those in need around the world…including gifts of livestock, water, agriculture,
kits and tools, education, youth & young adults and relief assistance. There are no bad choices! All of the gifts are
distributed to share Christ’s love where needed in the world.
If you have chosen option 2 please fill out the form on the attached sheet with & write your check to “Presbyterian Church (USA).
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
‘
.’ ”
(ACTS 20:35)