Nov. 6, 2015 - First Presbyterian Church of Commerce, Texas

Weekly Edition
No. 32
Nov. 6, 2015
Published (almost) weekly by the First Presbyterian Church of Commerce, Texas
Bible Readings for this Sunday’s Worship Service
This Sunday is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.
Old Testament: Daniel 12:1-3 The Resurrection of the Dead
Psalter: Psalm 16 Song of Trust and Security in God
Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-25 Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All / A Call to Persevere
Gospel: (and sermon focus) Mark 13:24-32 The Coming of the Son of Man / The Lesson of the Fig Tree /
The Necessity for Watchfulness
Assisting with Worship This Sunday
This Sunday’s worship leaders are: Dennis White, Head Usher; Jack Walker, Candle lighter; and Keith
McFarland, Liturgist. Please thank these volunteers for their service when you see them. Let them know
you appreciate their help in making Sunday worship better at FPC. If you would like to assist in this or any
other way, please contact Rev. Rasco or the church secretary,
Upcoming FPC Events
• Monday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m.—Presbyterian Women’s Circle meeting
• Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m.—Teach the Preacher on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m.—Session meeting
• Sunday, Nov. 15, noon—The Membership Committee is hosting a Stew
Lunch following the worship service. Volunteers are asked to bring a
pot of their favorite stew, and crackers or sweets. There will be a sign up sheet this Sunday at the
back of the sanctuary. If you will submit your recipe via email by Nov. 11, the church secretary will
print them out and have copies available at the event. The Membership Committee extends its
thanks to all those who will be helping.
Memorial/Celebration of Life for Thomas Seawell
There will be an event Saturday, Nov. 14, at TAMUC that many FPC folks will
want to attend. A memorial/celebration of life ceremony will be held to
remember Thom Seawell, who died Aug. 28.
A highly respected artist and educator, he left retirement to come to
Commerce in 1992 where he taught screen printing and beginning printmaking
classes as an adjunct instructor at Texas A&M University-Commerce through
the spring of 2014. His wife, Barbara Frey, teaches ceramics at TAMUC.
The event, sponsored by the Art Department, is from 2-4 p.m. in Conference
Rooms A & B of TAMUC’s Rayburn Student Center, 2200 Campbell Street.
In Our Prayers at First Presbyterian
Our Troops
Diane Little
Gordon Hunter
Jace Carrington
Bruce Campbell
Sara Grace Pullen
Melba Blount
Amy Lopez
Billy Marshall
Joe Yeakley
Randy Roberts
Barbara Frey
The Hines family Penny Belcher Muecke and family
Edith Baker
Kathy Benton
John Paul Rhodes
Wendell Edwards
Micah Krajca and his family
Royal Conal
Kade Daniel Campbell
Grace Byrd
Petra Strassberg
Joyce McCord
Family of Dale Bedgood
Kathryn McKenzie
Family of Virginia Holley
Additions to Our Prayer List
Rev. Rasco announced last Sunday that Virginia Holley, who was already on our prayer list, passed
way that morning (Nov. 1). A modified obituary for her is below in this newsletter. Please continue to
pray for her family, which includes the FPC families of Ric and Brenda Estes (daughter) and Jeremy
and Jordan Conner (granddaughter), as well as all of those on our prayer list.
In Memorium—Virginia Ruth Holley
Virginia Ruth Holley, 90, passed away on Sunday November 1, 2015, in Greenville.
She was born in Cuervo, New Mexico, on Aug. 21, 1925, to Maggie Barker Daniels and Huey Castleton
Daniels. She was a homemaker and a seamstress.
Survivors include her son, H.D. (Butch) Holley Jr. of Commerce; her daughters: Barbara Leonard of
Commerce, Brenda Estes of Fairlie, Doris Alexander of Plano, and Ruth Leake of Plano; her seven
grandchildren: David Isom of Campbell, Amber Porterfield of Murphy, Ashley Johnson of Paris, Colby
Estes of Paris, John Holley of Carrollton, Dennis Holley of Corpus Christi and Jordan Conner of
Commerce; and, her thirteen great-grandchildren (including FPC’s Cal and Evie Conner). She is also
survived by her two siblings : Dorothy Beevers of Melrose, NM. and Kathryn White of Dallas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Dennis Holley, Sr.; her parents, Maggie and
Huey Daniels; her son, A.G (Tex) Holley; her brothers : Irvin, Alvin, James and Tom Daniels; and, her
sisters: Mamie Wooten, Lena daily, Mildred Daniels and Marie Beevers.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home in Commerce, where
funeral services were conducted on Nov. 4. Jay Porterfield officiated.
Pallbearers were David Isom, Colby Estes, John Holley, Dennis Holley, Jeremy Conner and Brent
Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were Richard Estes , Gary Hendrix, Cody Hendrix, Justin Morris, Brent
Hoover, William Haddock and Douglas Beevers.
Following the funeral services, interment took place in Mount Zion Cemetery in Cumby, Texas.
Those wishing to make memorial donations may do so to Children's Medical Center of Dallas,
1935 Medical district Drive, Dallas, Texas 75235.
After Advent Wreath Class, Christian Education Committee Planning Elder Training
FPC’s Christian Education Committee, headed up by Walt Davis and Petra Strassberg (with a lot of
help from Isabel Davis, Keith, Nancy, and Carolyn McFarland, Brenda Estes, and Rev. Rasco) has been
going gangbusters.
In their latest monthly report, the committee is following up its SCAMP success this summer with
two events—the intergenerational advent wreath making event already mentioned in this newsletter
and an upcoming Elder Training/Planning Event set for Jan. 8-9 at the Spring Hill Retreat Center.
Barbara Tucker is providing the meals.
Following this training, the ordination and installation of Elders will take place on Sunday, Jan. 10.
Newsmakers
FPC welcomes back
two of its roving band of
musicians. Jim and Toni
Deaton
have
been
visiting
friends
and
sightseeing in North
Carolina and Tennessee.
Jim snapped this photo
of Toni (at left) with Sally
Davis Faires. Sally is a
former FPC member
from when she lived
here as a child.
The friends were
searching for clay frogs at a pottery place in North Carolina. Four of their purchases have made it back
to Commerce with the Deatons.
Bag It
For the second Sunday
of
the
month,
the
suggested food donation
to the Commerce Food
Pantry is either or both of
these two kitchen pantry
staples (pictured at right).
Happily, both of them
go together very nicely.
We suggest you bring
these item(s) in a bag.
Special Food Pantry Event!
On Dec. 3, FPC’s Bettina Zvanut and Isabell Davis will conduct a Crock Pot Cooking Class for
clients of the Commerce Food Pantry. They will give a short presentation on how to make an
inexpensive and easy meal using a crock pot.
Have you received an honor or a blessing? Do you have a photo to share?
Is your committee meeting? Let us know. Whatever it is, be sure to send it in early!