Jan 2008 PRES - Evergreen Presbyterian Church

Evergreen Pres
Evergreen Presbyterian Church
613 University
Memphis, Tennessee 38107
(901) 274-3740
Pastor: Dr. Kenneth S. Letterman
Parish Associate: Rev. Amy Howe
General Information: [email protected] website: http://www.evergreenmemphis.org
January 2008
From the Pastor’s Pen As we read the Bible we see that it is full of “turning points.”
One of those great turning points for the people of Israel can
be seen in the book of Joshua as they prepare to enter the
promise land. The book recounts the transition from a wandering people to a people possessing the gift God has given
them. In the opening verses the stage is set with the people
being called upon to be faithful to God if they hope to remain and be secure in this new land.
“Turning points” are not restricted to the pages of
the Bible. They are there in all parts of our life – personal;
family; work; school; church; and the list continues. And the
real issue is really not the turning point itself, but how we
deal with it in faith.
In a classic Peanuts’ cartoon Charlie Brown says to Lucy,
“Someone has said that we should live each day as if it were
the last day of our life.”
“Aaugh!” Lucy cries. “This is the last day! This is it!” She
runs away screaming, “I have only 24 hours left! Help me!
Help me! This is the last day! Aaugh!”
“Some philosophies,” says Charlie Brown, “aren’t for all
people.”
Living each day as if it were the last day of our life is not a
bad philosophy. However, living each day as if it were the
first day of our life just might be a better one. 2008 is a new
year filled with exciting new possibilities. The old year is
gone. The mistakes were made and the obstacles we have
overcome are now in the past. A new year has arrived.
Speaker Danny Cox tells about a Broom Hilda cartoon
(yes - I like cartoons) in which her troll-like, naïve, innocent little friend Irwin puts on a long-tail tuxedo
jacket, picks up a conductor’s baton and walks into the
woods alone. Irwin steps up on a fallen tree log and begins to wave his arms as if to conduct. There are no musicians, only rocks, trees and flowers. Soon, musical
notes pour from the rocks, trees and flowers and fill the
area. Finally, Irwin turns and confidently says, “It’s all in
there; you just have to work on getting it out.”
As we look at this new-year, a turning point in the life of
Evergreen, we know it is filled with all kinds of wonderful possibilities. “They’re all in there; we just have to
work at getting them out.” As we continue to be a light
to the world, sharing the Good News in ministry and
mission we, like the ancient people of Israel, are called to
be faithful. This is a new year – a new beginning.
May we live every day as if it is our first.
Serving together,
P AGE 2
JANUARY 20078
January Birthdays
Faith Cooper
…………….
Sophie Merchant …………….
Matthew Condren…………….
Harriet McLean …………….
Jameson Jones …………….
Elizabeth Nathan …………….
Lester Van Middlesworth.…….
Diane Row
…………….
Joe Sohm
…………….
William Graves III…...……….
Doris Madsen
…………….
Merrie Jo Crumpley………….
Alba Castro
…………….
Chuck Wallace……………….
Paige Southard …………….
Patty Wiley
…………….
Celeste Bursi
…………….
Jean Phelps
…………….
Andrew Miller……………….
Sue Miller
…………….
Joan Wilkinson …………….
Mike Letterman …………….
Matthew Letterman……….….
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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The January meetings of Circles 1-4 will be held on January 15th at
10:15am in Millard Hall. Presbyterian Women will gather at 10:30
with the Bible Study being led by Rev. Amy Howe. The Coordinating
Team will meet in the Session Room at 9:45am.
Circle 5 will meet on the second Saturday, January 12, at the home of
Jane McIntosh, 5110 Rich Road.
Thank you—
from the Lettermans
Christmas is that wonderful time of year when we become
ever more mindful of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and
all that incredible event means to our lives. The season also
brings a deeper sense of how thankful we are for one another. Melinda and I are grateful for our Evergreen family
and all the special acts of kindness that have been shown to
us this season, it means so much to us. But even more importantly, we thank you for the support and prayers for our children as Matt returned from Iraq and Jennifer deployed this
year. A most blessed New Year to each of you and those you
love.
Ken, Melinda, our children and their families
Change of
Address
If your home address or
email address has
changed, please notify the church office.
We need to be able to continue to communicate with you, especially those of you who
have indicated that you would like to receive
The Pres via email! Many are being returned
as “undeliverable”! Your cooperation is truly
appreciated
S.A.M.S.
The Scottish American Military Society
Post #1943 meets regularly. If you are
interested or want to find out more about
S.A.M.S. you can contact Pastor Ken or
go to their website at www.S-A-M-S.org.
P AGE 3
E VERGREEN P RES
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT EVERGREEN
STARTING BACK JANUARY 9
Wednesdays continue to be Wonderful at Evergreen! Our new term begins January
9th. Please join your Evergreen Family for dinner, fellowship, and spiritual enrichment.
Dinner begins at 5:30. Adult meal is $6.00; children’s meal of peanut butter and jelly is
$2.00
Children’s Choir and Program
6:00-7:15
Youth, led by James Hanrahan and Matt Bowman
6:00-7:15
Adult Program
6:15-7:15
WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAM
January 9
To be Announced
January 16
The Beatitudes, led by Dr. Mitzi Minor
January 23
The Beatitudes, led by Dr. Mitzi Minor
January 30
The Beatitudes, led by Dr. Mitzi Minor
Dr. Minor is a long time favorite of Evergreen. She is the New Testament professor at Memphis Theological Seminary. She opens up the New Testament in powerful and transforming ways. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve
deeper into the beloved words of Christ found in The Beatitudes.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MENUS
January 9
Spaghetti with meatballs, green beans, tossed salad, apple pie
January 16
BBQ chicken, baked apples, scalloped potatoes, red velvet cake
January 23
Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, tossed salad, banana pudding
January 30
Beef tips over noodles, English peas, garden salad, pecan pie
J ANUARY 2008
P AGE 4
Deacon Orientation
and Training
ALL Deacons, both newly installed and those serving
for another year, are asked to attend a short orientation meeting on Tuesday, January 22, at 7:00pm. We
will meet in the Session Room. We willl discuss the
duties and responsibilities of being a deacon in the
church, as well as train for our ushering duties at Sunday morning worship and other worship events in the
church. Please make every effort to attend and RSVP
to me at [email protected], or call me at 726-5711
Harriet Schneider
SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners.
Isaish 61:1
News from Youth Ministry –
THANK YOU FROM RECREATION MINISTRY for a successful 2007! Recreation Ministry
send s a big THANK YOU to everyone involved in making 2007 a successful year for us and those we serve. 2007
Recreation Ministry at Evergreen would not have been possible without the Recreation Committee, Evergreen
Church staff & officers, and the children, families and friends who participate and keep us going day in and day out. I
would like to recognize Recreation Committee members—Kevin McDonell, Anna Lee Burkle, Pete Harris, Beth
Bowman, Gina Walker, Steve Humbert, & Leslie Montgomery. I wish it were appropriate and that I had the time to
list all of the many accomplishments for Evergreen Church as a result of these individuals’ time and energy, but
there are far too many to even begin. Recreation Ministry wishes everyone a healthy and happy new year and prays
that you all will know the peace, grace and many blessings of our Lord in 2008!
Evergreen Youth Ministry
The Youth of Evergreen held a Christmas Babysitting Fundraiser and it was very successful. We had children from
the Recreation and Playschool Ministry and children from the community who were experiencing Evergreen for the
first time! The fundraiser was very successful and we are excited about the 2008 year! We are currently raising
money for our mission trip for the 2008 summer. Please be looking for our other upcoming fundraising events in
2008!
Evergreen Basketball
The basketball season is going very well. Mini-Jammerse begins this month and we will have over 25 children. If
anyone would like to come and volunteer and help with Mini-Jammers practice and games, please contact James at
278-4430. It is so wonderful watching these 4,5, and 6 year olds playing basketball. Practices and games are always
on Saturday. They begin at 9:30am and they only last for 1 hour.
E VERGREEN P RES
P AGE 5
Heartfelt Sympathy
Our Christian love and sympathy
is extended
to the family of
Charles W, Canon
who united with the Church Eternal
during Advent.
May God bless and console you and gently wipe every
tear from your eyes.
ATTENTION! URGENT! St. John’s Soup Kitchen
Remember, the Evergreen family has been asked to cook and serve a meal for the
homeless at St. John’s United Methodist Church on Tuesday, January 8, 2008.
Please consider preparing a casserole (vegetable or potato) or dessert, as well as
assisting with serving the meal from 4:00pm until 6:00pm.
This year, we will also need donations of meat already prepared and sliced, or you
may contribute to the cost by designating checks to the “Soup Kitchen.” Please bring food to Evergreen
by 3:00pm and use disposable dishes.
Thank you, Evergreen, for your service to those less fortunate in the Memphis community.
Throughout the year, many of you
have borrowed books from Pastor
Ken’s Library—if you’re finished
with these books, please return
them. There are others who would
like to borrow them as well.
Thanks!
2007 GIVING STATEMENTS
Statements will be mailed around the week of
January 2nd. Please contact me no later
than January 13 with any corrections or
changes to the statements. Thank you.
Cheryl Williams,
Bookkeeper
J ANUARY 2008
P AGE 6
Music Notes —
The New Year is here! A time for new beginnings and New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions? Oh, those things we
promise to do that usually involve something about dieting or EXERCISE, but somehow quietly get dropped by
the wayside somewhere around January 16th. Well, how about a resolution that doesn’t involve dieting, or hard
exercise, or doing without; yet, is not only good for you, but good for a lot of other people, too?
How about making a resolution to join one of Evergreen’s music ensembles? You can enjoy a rich (non-fattening)
diet of music and fellowship, and the opportunity to enrich the music ministry of Evergreen. You not only get the
satisfaction and joy of serving God in a unique way, but you also get the joy of touching others with your gift of
music. You never know when a piece of music that you have helped bring to life in worship will touch the heart of
someone out there in the congregation. That’s one of the special joys of serving God through music. You may never
know that a person has been touched, have found peace or comfort or joy through the music, but they will keep the
music in their heart as they leave the service to go out into the world. Music ministry is a ministry, and is so much
more than just making music. Our Adult Choir and Handbell Choir are open to both adults and youth, and our
Children’s Choir is for our young singers, ages 4-5th grade.
Many, many thanks to the members of the Adult choir, Handbell Choir, and children’s Choir who have given so
much of their time and talents over the past year to the music ministry of Evergreen. Your dedication and hard
work are deeply appreciated. There would be no music ministry if it weren’t for these dedicated volunteers who
have taken the gifts that God has given them and shared them with our congregation. Thank You!
Be sure to check out the music board across from Dr. Ken’s office for music happenings at Evergreen and around
town!
HANDBELLS
Handbell rehearsals resume on Sunday, January 13, immediately after the worship service. We will be working on
new music, and new ringers are always welcome to come and join the handbell choir at any time. It would be wonderful to have the bells ring more often in worship, but in order to do so, we need more ringers. No experience is
necessary! What is necessary, though, is a willingness to make a commitment to attend rehearsals regularly. All of
the ringers depend on each other, and it is indeed a team effort. If one or more members of the “team” are missing,
it affects the quality of the rehearsal. If you love music, would like to ring handbells or learn to ring handbells, and
you are able to make that commitment to attend rehearsals regularly, then we encourage you to become a member
of the Handbell Team!
Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, January 9
Sunday, January 13
Children’s Choir resumes
Handbell rehearsals resume immediately after church
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Melanie
P AGE 7
E VERGREEN PRES
AFTERSCHOOL MINISTRY
The Evergreen Afterschool program continues to have an urgent need for tutors
during homework time (3:30-4:00, Monday through Thursday) to work especially
with the K-2nd grade. We currently have around 20 children in this age group
with only 2 staff members to answer all of their questions, help with spelling,
math, etc. If you would like to make a difference in a child’s life by volunteering (it
can be one day, every day, or whatever time you are able to give), please contact
Leslie at 278-4430.
The following items are used on a regular basis at Afterschool, so if anyone would
like to donate any of these items, we would be truly grateful: pencils, erasers, and drawing paper.
As you can see from these huge smiles, everyone thoroughly enjoyed our Thanksgiving program. With the dawning
of a new year, we look forward to discovering the new blessings of 2008! A special THANK YOU to everyone
who has been so supportive of our Playschool Ministry.
J ANUARY 2008
P AGE 8
STEWARDSHIP AS OF NOVEMBER 2007
EVERGREEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PC USA
Year-to-Date Actual
(This Year)
Year-to-Date Budget
(This Year)
REVENUES
Pledges
Plate Collection
4200—Presbyterian Women
Memorials
Total Designated Funds
4500—Mayo Interest (Budgeted—Used)
Anticipated Funds
Mission and Outreach
Playschool
Recreation
Total Revenues
$
305,066
3,154
550
2,200
11,000
10,000
57,196
$ 304,273
3,209
550
4,584
11,000
18,334
45,833
372,862
302,317
112,142
124,621
864,170
814,721
$ 860,359
$ 884,732
EXPENSES
Total Expenses
Evergreen Presbyterian Church
613 University
Memphis, Tennessee 38107
The Evergreen Pres Vol. 43, No. 1
January, 2008
Remember Evergreen in Your Will
Evergreen Presbyterian Newsletter
THE EVERGREEN PRES (USPS 778760) is published monthly by Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 613 University, Memphis, TN
38107-5198. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “The Evergreen PRES” 613 University, Memphis, TN 38107-5198.