THE GOOD NEWS - First Presbyterian Church of Commerce, Texas

THE GOOD NEWS
The Good News is published weekly and monthly by
the First Presbyterian Church of Commerce, Texas.
November 2015
Inside this Edition:
A Message from the Pastor
All Saints Day This Sunday
Daylight Savings Time Change
Halloween Community Events
Halloween and Food Allergies
Treasurer’s Report
Advent Is Coming
FPC Is Online
November Calendar
Gilmont’s 75th Anniversary
FPC Welcomes New Members
Keep Us Informed
Food Pantry Items
Staff, Session, Committees
In Our Prayers
November Dates to Remember
November Worship Leaders
November Community Events
Worship with us
this Sunday!
“A Christian Community of Faith”
9:45 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages
10:50 a.m.
Sunday Worship
Rev. Krista Rasco – Pastor
Email: [email protected]
www.facebook.com/krista.rasco
Roger McKenzie – Church Secretary
And Editor, The Good News
Office: (903) 886-3783
E-presence
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/fpccommerce
Website: www.fpc-commerce.com
A Message From the Pastor
Dear FPC and friends,
The last meeting of Grace Presbytery
back on Oct. 1 was a long meeting but a
good one.
Our General Assembly
Moderator, Rev. Heath Rada, was in
attendance and spoke to us about the
“call to the church” he had just released
to the church (found here: http://pres-outlook.org/2015/09/
a-call-to-the-church/ ). A excerpt from an online story found
on The Presbyterian Outlook website follows:
Heath Rada, moderator of the 2014 General Assembly,
has issued a “call to the church” – a call for reform of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), naming a “a lack of trust across
the church” and saying it’s imperative for the denomination
to act soon.
“We do not have the luxury of time to discern and to
debate,” Rada said in remarks prepared for the Presbyterian
Mission Agency Board, meeting in Louisville Sept. 23-25.
Among the “bold and immediate steps” he’s calling for:
•A churchwide discussion to assess the will of the PC
(USA) that would be led by the Committee on the Office of
the General Assembly. The Office of the General Assembly is
expected to make an announcement soon of how that will
work.
•All who care about the church – individual Presbyterians
and including “people who have felt disenfranchised, people
from different theological positions and different cultural and
racial backgrounds, staff members at the local and national
Continued on page 5
All Saints’ Day Celebrated This Sunday
The day following the celebration of Halloween
by kids (and many adults) just about everywhere is
another celebration—All Saints Day. That event,
which FPC will take celebrate this Sunday, is followed
the next day by All Souls Day. This year that three
day stretch falls on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
What do these three events have in common?
Why, the dead, of course.
This is a brief explanation of how the three
events are connected. The information comes from a
variety of sources, including primarily Wikipedia, an
on-line article by writer Greg Garrison.
Opinions are mixed when it comes to Halloween.
People tend to love it or hate it. The annual trick or
treating event is fun for kids who get to dress up and
get candy or other goodies. Adults who love
Halloween are happy to give out candy and maybe
even dress up themselves.
Costumes nowadays come from a variety of
ideas—some innocent and fun (i.e. Charlie Brown,
Barbie), some downright diabolical and scary (i.e.
ghouls, zombies). But fright, scaring, and being
scared is a big part of what Halloween has come to
be, at least in America—not at all what is associated
with the two days following Halloween.
In his article, Garrison notes that Halloween
derives from the day it precedes—All Saints Day. It’s
root word, hallow, means holy. The suffix een is short
for evening. It literally is the Eve
of All Hallows.
All Hallows is the other name
for All Saints Day, which follows
Halloween and is described by
Garrison as a Christian holy day
that honors saintly people of the
past.
This Sunday at FPC, we will
remember those who died in the
past year—church members and
loved ones. A “roll call” will be
solemnly read and candles will
be light in memory of the dead.
The exact meaning of the
observance may differ slightly
among different denominations,
but the central belief is a
recognition that these people
are still with us—their body may
die, but their spirit lives on.
That brings us to All Souls Day, a celebration
primarily observed in Latin countries or, here in
America, by communities of Latin descent. Nov. 2’s
celebration is thus also known as “El Día De Los
Muertos,” or the Day of the Dead. Those dead being
honored are typically relatives, though not
exclusively. The day can include festivals, parades
and group celebrations. Altars remembering the
dead are also common.
In America, the celebration by those not of Latin
descent is usually more sedate—with prayers said
for for the souls of the deceased and cemetary visits
to the graves of loved ones among the most typical
observances.
So to wrap it all up, and to give it persective,
Garrison writes that “More than a thousand years
ago in Ireland and Britain, a common custom of
Christians was to come together on the eve of the
feast of All Hallows Day to ask for God's blessing and
protection from evil in the world. Often, they would
dress in costumes of saints or evil spirits and act out
the battle between good and evil around bonfires.
That's the source of the modern observance of
Halloween.
“The Christian concept of the importance of the
individual soul underlies All Saints' Day and All Souls'
Day, which are observed worldwide primarily in the
Catholic and Anglican traditions.”
Halloween Community Events
You can start Halloween with a free breakfast,
then visit a community health and wellness fair at
A.C. Williams School, and end the day with treats on
the Commerce downtown square.
The monthly Last Saturday Breakfast Community
Gathering will be held from 9-10 a.m. at the
Wesleyan Campus Ministry Building, 1504 Lee Street
in Commerce.
The free breakfast is open to the community and
features pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice,
and coffee. It is sponsored by the First United
Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Campus
Ministry.
All ages are invited to the community’s second
annual Health and Wellness Fair at AC Williams
School in Commerce between 9-11 a.m.
Presented by some local businesses and the
Commerce Chamber of Commerce, the event
features health screenings, including mobile
mammography. Open enrollment help with
Medicare will be available. Kids will have a variety of
activities available. There will also be a Pumpkin
Contest and a Couponing Class.
A good way to end Halloween festivities is to go
trick or treating around the square in downtown
Commerce. This year’s Halloween on the Square will
take place from 5:30 –7:30 p.m.
FPC’s Sherry Johnson, who is the Tourism and
Event Coordinator for the City of Commerce, said
the event will be held rain or shine.
FPC will have a table handing out treats to
children. Pastor Krista Rasco will be manning the
table, but she invites FPC members to help out and
enjoy the evening. The event, she noted, is a good
way for people who live in the country and don’t get
many trick or treaters to enjoy a more active
Halloween experience.
Johnson expects over 25 vendors, a Commerce
ISD sponsored trunk or treat event, two bounce
houses, and a face painting booth.
Halloween No Fun for Kids with Food Allergies
Candy giveaways are fun for
children at Halloween—unless you
have an allergy to nuts or some
other food that triggers a reaction.
Food Allergy Research and
Education (FARE) launched its Teal
Pumpkin Project in 2014 to raise awareness that not
all children can enjoy the normal Halloween treats.
Go to www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumkin-project
to find out what you can do to help make Halloween
safe and happy for all children.
Treasurer’s Report
Income for the month of September was
$12,175.69. This is above our average
monthly budget.
Thanks to those for
contributions to help catch up.
Expenses for the month were
$10,550.35. This is a little below our
average monthly budgeted expense.
Year-to-date
through
September
disbursements exceed receipts by $16,680.
As always, it is greatly appreciated if you are
able and willing to donate to help cover this
deficit.
Year-To-Date Net (starting with April)
0.00
(2,000.00)
(4,000.00)
(6,000.00)
(8,000.00)
April
May
(3,605.00)
(3,810.00)
June
July
Aug
Sept
(6,400.00)
(10,000.00)
(12,000.00)
(14,000.00)
(16,000.00)
(16,680.00)
(18,000.00)
(20,000.00)
(18,076.00) (18,305.00)
FPC Is Online!
Advent Is Coming!
Make an Advent Wreath!
The last Sunday of November is the beginning
of Advent—a very special time in the Christian
calendar.
FPC’s
Christian Education
Committee
has
received approval
from
the
FPC
Session to hold an
“intergenerational
interactive evening
event to kick off the
season of Advent.
So
mark
your
calendars and plan to join together at FPC to make
advent wreaths .Children and adults will work
together to make memories as well as wreaths.
This fun event for all ages is set for Wednesday,
Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Hot chocolate, holiday snacks, cheese, cold
cuts and fruit will be served. Families whose
children attended SCAMP will also be invited.
Registration is required so the committee can
plan for the right number of participants.
Registration deadline is Nov. 11. Call the church
secretary or send an email with the names and
ages of who will be participating.
www.facebook.com/fpccommerce
www.facebook.com/group/fpccommerce.
https://twitter.com/fpccommerce
www.fpc-commerce.com.
November Calendar
Worship Schedule
1
Morning Worship service 10:50 a.m. (Be
on time: remember to change your clocks
due to the Daylight Savings time change)
All Saints’ Day
Sermon focus on Revelation 21:1-6a
And Isaiah 25:6-9
8
Morning Worship Service 10:50 a.m.
Sermon focus on Mark 13:24-32
15
Morning Worship Service 10:50 a.m.
Memorial Hymn Sing Sunday
22
Morning Worship Service 10:50 a.m.
Christ the King / Reign of Christ Sunday
29
Morning Worship Service 10:50 a.m.
Photo-A-Day Lent Project
Still Available
First Sunday in Advent
Even though we will not be
doing an Advent Photo-A-Day
as a church this year, there are
still two opportunities to
participate in Picture Advent
for those interested in this
kind of project.
The
first
is
from
LECFamily.org
at
http://
lecfamily.org/advent. Use the
hashtag #picturelent when
posting to social media sites. There is also
rethinkchurch.org (a United Methodist website)
which does something similar to this every year,
however, they have not posted their Advent
material yet. Keep checking for updates.
perspective of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 21:25-36)
Sermon focus on Hope, from the
Other November events
3, 17, 24 Tuesdays, 9 a.m.—Teach the Preacher
4
Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.—Christian
Education Committee meeting
9
Monday, 10 a.m.—PW Circle meeting
11
Wednesday, 6 p.m.—Session meeting
15
Sunday, noon—Stew Luncheon following
worship sponsored by the Membership
Committee
18
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.—Advent Wreath
Making Class
levels, and all others who care about our denomination” – to participate in that effort, to help guide
the 2016 General Assembly.
•A series of “Moderator Chats” to listen to Presbyterians’ concerns.
•Regional gatherings in early 2016 of commissioners elected to the 2016 General Assembly.
“Are we listening to God’s call for us to do a new thing?” Rada asked. “And are we willing to risk
the comfort and, in some ways, the traditions of our past in order to accept our place in a resurrected
church?”
Just recently there has been a survey released that has been specifically designed to gain responses
about our identity as the Presbyterian Church (USA), and what our future might look like. If you are a
member of PC(USA) (which you are if you are a member of FPC-Commerce) or consider yourself a
Presbyterian, then you are invited to take this survey (found here: http://www.surveygizmo.com/
s3/2376025/Join-the-Conversation). The results will then be presented and used for further conversation
at the 222nd General Assembly in June 2016 in Portland, Oregon.
We have been doing a little bit of that through the New Beginnings program. **You thought we had
forgot all about that ;)** We have not forgot about it, only through the time of vacations over the summer,
and then back to school we have not had the chance to move forward with it. The leaders of the New
Beginnings small group have met with our facilitator, Rev. Shane Webb this past month and will meet
again this next month to discern what the next steps are to move forward and implement the decision
made from the small group meetings. Just as a reminder, that decision was “mission redefinition”. But
you may have noticed some actions taken ALREADY from the results of these small group meetings and
decision, including, but not limited to, the SCAMP camp that happened this past summer. I will update you
as we continue to move forward.
There were many other amazing things that happened at the last presbytery meeting, including a
wonderful worship service, hearing the faith journeys, and voting on the acceptance of retiring pastors,
candidates for Teaching Elders, teaching elders moving into the presbytery, along with hearing from
mission worker, Mark Adams, and much more.
One decision that took place at the meeting was the approval of $6,125,000 (from the settlement from
Highland Park Presbyterian Church) to be allocated for mission purposes. (More details about this decision
can be found here: http://www.gracepresbytery.org/grace-presbytery-allocates-6-1-million-for-missionsand-ministry/) As we grieve the separation of HPPC from Grace Presbytery, we also need to remember, as
I have found, that there are many different sides to the situation to consider (which I won’t try to address
right now). Yet out of the darkness still comes a ray of hope as Grace Presbytery made a decision to use
90% of the funds received from that settlement to go towards sustainable mission. It is definitely a model
to look up to for churches and presbyteries alike when it comes to stewardship. Majority of the time when
a large sum of money comes in majority of it gets put into savings (for a rainy day, emergencies, etc.), and
only a small percentage of it goes to actual ministry and missions. Grace Presbytery reversed this
mentality of “let’s save it in case we need it in the future.” Now is the time to take some risks. It’s scary
and it might not always succeed or go the way we imagined or planned but if the decision is made through
healthy, and purposeful discernment of what God is leading us to do then we have to trust God, take the
risk, and see what happens.
Grace and peace be with you all,
Rev. Krista Rasco, pastor
This could be a scary sight until you
look at it closely. David Zvanut isn’t
robbing a grave for Halloween. He’s
adding some lighting to his Bois
D’Arc tree sculpture in City Park.
Photo by Jason Rasco
Gilmont’s 75th Anniversary Invitation
FPC Welcomes New Members
You are invited to come
on out and celebrate 75 years
of camp ministry at Camp
Gilmont (near Gilmer) next month on Nov. 7-8. There
is something for everyone during this free day at
camp full of fun, which begins with brunch on
Saturday at 11 am.
The day continues with high action choices:
zipline, canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking and
archery. There are also, lower mobility options like
board games, trolley rides, crafts, knitting, dominoes,
and lots of visiting.
Enjoy a silent auction, commemorative gift shop,
music and more! At 4 p.m., there will be a
Celebration Service and Dedication of the O’Neal
Center, followed by the Annual Visioning Dinner at casual camp attire for this annual fundraiser.
After dinner, join in with the campfire sing along.
Accommodations are available for overnight stay
Friday and/or Saturday. Sunday morning there are
options for individual and small group Morning
Prayer at various camp locations. PLEASE RSVP at
www.campgilmont.org, or call 903-797-6400.
Two new members to FPC were welcomed in a
recent worship service. Eddie Fuller, who has a
history with FPC, joined in September; and Nancy
Nichols Smith, a cousin of Bob Johnson, joined in
October.
We will attempt to provide more in depth
information about these two in a future newsletter.
In the meantime, please take time to meet them
and welcome them personally.
And if you know of someone who is looking for a
church to visit or join, invite them to come to FPC
for a worthwhile worship experience.
Please keep us informed and let us know
about news items we can
use for our next newsletter.
Call or email (we prefer
email) the church office
with your news.
Don’t Forget Food Pantry Items
In Our Prayers at First Presbyterian
The Commerce Food Pantry serves between 3545 different families in need each week—over 150
families each month. Donations are a major source
of its ability to help these people. Remember to help
out the food pantry with a donation of food each
Sunday.
1st Sunday—Peanut butter and/or jelly
2nd Sunday—Bag of pinto beans and/or rice
3rd Sunday—Box of cereal or oatmeal
4th Sunday—Cans of tuna, spam, chicken
5th Sunday—Cans of fruit: peaches, fruit cocktail
OurTroops
Diane Little
Gordon Hunter
Jace Carrington Bruce Campbell Sara Grace Pullen
Melba Blount
Amy Lopez
Billy Marshall
Joe Yeakley
Randy Roberts
BarbaraFrey
Audrey Carrington
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
Virginia Holley
First Presbyterian Church
If you have anyone you would like to add to
the Prayer List, please contact the church office.
Staff, Session, and Committees
Staff
Pastor ········································· Rev. Krista Rasco
Clerk of Session ·································· Wally Tucker
Music Director ······································ Jim Deaton
Organist ·············································· Toni Deaton
Nursery Attendant ······················ Carolyn McFarland
Secretary ······································ Roger McKenzie
Session Members
November Dates to Remember
Happy Birthday to:
8 - Neal Stewart
10 - Madison Avery Tucker
2015
2016
2017
Dennis White
Sherry Johnson
Neal Stewart
Jim Deaton
Ric Estes
Rick Selvaggi
Scott Stewart
Walter Davis
Helon Razniak
Petra Strassberg
11 - Dennis White
14 - Joane Walvoord
14 - Zane Belcher
Session Committees
Worship:
Chair ···················································· Jim Deaton
Co-Chair ··········································· Helon Razniak
Christian Education:
Chair ····················································· Walt Davis
Co-Chair ······································· Petra Strassberg
Membership and Pastoral Care:
Chair ················································ Helon Razniak
Co-Chair ·················································· Ric Estes
Mission/Evangelism:
Chair ·············································· Sherry Johnson
Co-Chair ············································ Dennis White
Buildings and Grounds:
Chair ················································· Dennis White
Co-Chair ············································ Scott Stewart
Stewardship and Finance:
Chair ·················································· Neal Stewart
Personnel:
Chair ........................................................... Rick Selvaggi
17 - Alexander Lucas Towne
19 - Eric McIntier
20 - Beverly Housewright
28 - Amy McIntier
Happy Anniversary to:
14 – Odeana & Neal Stewart
18 – Bettina & David Zvanut
22 – Kim and Mark Fake
___________________________
If we forgot you or got a date wrong,
contact the church secretary.
Kaitlynn Rasco takes a short break in painting
some Kaitlynn-sized pumpkins to provide a big
smile for the camera .
November Community Events
November Worship Leaders
November 1
Host Elder: ..................................... Sherry Johnson
Head Usher: ....................................... Dean Calvert
Candle Lighter: .................................. Carrigan Oats
Liturgist: ................................................ Walt Davis
Elements: ........................................... Neal Stewart
November 8
Head Usher: ...................................... Dennis White
Candle Lighter: .....................................Jack Walker
Liturgist: ....................................... Keith McFarland
November 15
Head Usher: ....................................... Bob Johnson
Candle Lighter: .................................... Evie Conner
Liturgist: ......................................... Barbara Tucker
November 22
Head Usher: ............................... Nancy McFarland
Candle Lighter: ...................................... Cal Conner
Liturgist: ............................................. Wally Tucker
November 29
Head Usher: ....................................... Rick Selvaggi
Candle Lighter: ................................... Matti Ritchie
Liturgist: ............................................. Tina Selvaggi
5-6
Veterans Vigil, TAMUC
6
7 p.m.—Veterans Appreciation Ball. Call 903
-468-8664 for information, ticket deadline
Nov. 1
8
Saturday morning—Hunt County Veterans
Day Parade—downtown Greenville
8-9
Saturday/Sunday—Camp Gilmont’s 75th
Anniversary Celebration
11
Wednesday, all day—Veterans eat free at
Sam Rayburn Student Center (TAMUC
14
Saturday—Susan G. Komen North Texas
Ride for the Cure events starting at 7:30
p.m. at TAMUC Equine Center.
14
Saturday, 2-4 p.m., TAMUC—Memorial/
Celebration of the Life of Thom Seawell.
21
Saturday morning at the United Methodist
Church—Thanksgiving basket distribution to
those who registered previously with Hunt
County Shared Ministries.
Next time we’ll add your monthly event if you tell us!