February 2014 - First Presbyterian Church

February 2014 - First Presbyterian Church

ICHTHUS
February 2014
The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield, North Carolina
Reflections in the Water—The Word of God for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
In This Issue:
From the Pastor
From the Director of Music
Acolyte and Trinity Training
Angel Fund
Blue and Gold Banquet
Church Library
Church Officers, 2014
Circle News
Deacons’ Care Groups
Fellowship Time
Giving Envelopes
JOY Connection
Joy Gift Offering
Highlights of the Session
Hospice
Hospitality Desk
Kids’ Page
Memorial Gifts
Pinewood Derby
Presbyterian Women
Presbytery Meeting
Property Committee
Scout Sunday
Smithfield Area Ministries
Stewardship
Sunday School Copies
Volunteers Needed
Yes We Can Food Drive
Prayer Concerns
Thanks
February Calendar
Lectionary
Worship Nursery
Flowers
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Ushers
Lay Readers
Acolytes
Trinity Ringers
Building Officers
A publication of
First Presbyterian Church
215 S. Third Street
PO Box 1159
Smithfield, NC 27577
934-0988
[email protected]
www.fpcsmithfield.org
This book of the law . . . you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in
accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall
be successful..
− Joshua 1:8
Give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching.
− I Timothy 4:13
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
− II Timothy 3:16-17
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it
divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:12
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and
by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
− Romans 15:4
Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and
authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?
− Ordination Vow, Book of Order, W-4.4003b
The act of sharing our faith story lies at the heart of our calling to be disciples of Jesus
Christ. As Christians we learn first ‘…to glorify God and enjoy him forever’ in our catechetical
statements. Sharing the Good News with others is as central to our identity in the Reformed
tradition as coming together for worship and singing and prayer. The written witness and
testimony of more than three thousand years regarding the relationship between God and
humanity is embodied in scripture, this book we call the Holy Bible which communicates the
Word of God to us.
During our officer training in the fall, we recognized the expression, the Word of God, can
be defined faithfully in variety of contexts and from several perspectives. As a Reformed
Church, we affirm theologically that the Word of God is conveyed to God’s people in three very
specific ways:
The Word of God is communicated to us in the sacred scripture as contained within the
authority of the Old and the New Testaments.
The Word of God is sealed unto us through the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper.
The Word of God is made fully known to us in the Word Incarnate, the Word made flesh
in Jesus Christ.
However, to recognize and comprehend the second and third revelations fully, it is essential
for us to know our stories of faith as contained within the first witness, that we may discern the
leading of the Spirit among us. To know Jesus Christ, the first followers had to have the
testimony of the prophets and faithful who preceded him. I pointed out during the course of the
officer training that our growth as Christians is not simply acquired from the passive reading of
the Bible, but necessarily comes as we wrestle and engage the Word as it is expressed through
the active words and deeds of faith as demonstrated through our own lives dedicated to God.
As a closing training exercise, I shared with the group a past Basic Bible Content
examination for Presbyterian Church (USA) ordination as a teaching elder or minister. After
taking the exam, we learned together that we all have room from growth. I asked the officerselect to participate in this exercise, not to embarrass or make anyone feel inadequate, but to
illustrate the challenges that we have before us as teachers, elders, and leaders in a world that
knows little of our story.
If you were asked today to share the Good News and your story of our faith with a stranger,
would the testimony make for a Short Story or Life-changing Witness? In serving the Church as
a teacher and pastor, I remain amazed that as I sit with the ancient sacred texts of our faith and
reflect upon their meaning that God is still speaking a Word to us that is full of abundant Life
and Hope and abides with us today. This Word offers for us a new beginning within every
moment and with every breath we take. I invite you to continue your journey with and within
this astounding Story and perhaps even renew your relationship with Scripture today. The Good
News of Jesus Christ remains as new and relevant for our Future as it is to our Past and sustains
us in the Present.
Peace and grace be with you all.
Pastor Joe
Mary Alice Thomas who is in Charlotte.
Jane Cunningham has moved back to assisted
living. Her address there is The Kempton #215,
2298 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403.
Helen Godwin who is in Raleigh.
Ellen Rogers who is in Raleigh.
Hazel Whitehurst who is at Carolina House.
Nor Bell and Marie Gupton who are at Barbour Court.
Debbie Henderson who is recovering from surgery.
Bonnie Hooks who is undergoing treatments.
Eddie Perkinson who is in the hospital.
Ann Ragland who is recovering from surgery.
Evelyn Ray who is home.
Marie Atkins who is home.
Eula Brown who is home.
Devon Pollard who is home.
Nelson Vaughn who is home.
Martha Rogers who is in Norfolk, VA.
Mable Surles who is in Fayetteville.
Betsy Olive who is recovering from surgery.
Congratulations to Patrick and Jennifer Templeton on the
birth of a son, Joshua Thomas Templeton, on December 30,
2013. Joshua is the grandson of Beth Osborne and the great
grandson of Ruth Daniel; and to Jayson and Brittany Naylor on the birth of a son, Jacob Brantley Naylor, on January
7, 2014. Debbie and Jake Jacobs are his grandparents and
Mikki Sharek is his great grandmother.
Christian Sympathy to Linda P. Crowder on the death of
her mother, Myrl M. Ray, on December 20, 2013; and to
Tony and Anita Liverman on the death of Tony’s mother,
Flora “Nell” McGlohon Liverman, on January 16, 2014.
February 9, 2014
Come help us honor these scouts
as they participate in worship.
Blue and Gold Banquet
Sunday, February 9
Noon ~ 3:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
Did You Know . . .
Shelley and Chris Roberts’ new address is 107 Smithsanders Court, Smithfield. Their phone number is 919-2090719.
Olivia Booker is completing an internship at Davidson.
Frank Grubbs runs a pottery business out of his home —
and he’s the potter.
Jane Kate Brown presented a program about art in Johnston
County at the January JOY Connection.
John and Martha Taylor got a firsthand view of the blizzard of 2014 as they were visiting their daughter Janet in
Oswago, IL, a suburb of Chicago, during the brunt of it.
February JOY Connection
Two dynamic duos will be featured at the
February 6 meeting of JOY Connection. In the
kitchen Billy Duncan and Ann Huckenbeck will
prepare a wonderful meal, and on stage sharing
their vocal talents will be Rich Huckenbeck and
Benny Pope. You don’t want to miss this very special time of
fun and fellowship. Reserve your place by signing up on the
information table or by calling the church office at 919-9340988. And remember that you are always welcome to bring a
dessert — you can sign up for that on the reservation sheet.
— Ann Ragland
Thank you again for your continued dedication
to the ministry of Hospice House. Throughout
the month of November, various people have
stopped by and dropped off additional items for the
pantry. And the meal that was provided on a
Sunday evening was beautiful. We truly appreciate
your service and generosity!
In Christ,
Hospice Volunteers
Dear Friends at First Presbyterian,
Andy and I want to thank everyone for their prayers
and love during our adventure with Andy and his gallbladder.
There were so many blessings along the way. For it to
have been such a serious situation, we have so much gratitude
for its being so easy. He is better than ever and doing great.
Thank you again for all your support. We are so
grateful for such a caring church family.
With much love to you all,
Emma Alice and Andy Gemmell
The Property Box
The Property Committee owes each of you a
heartfelt thank you for helping us be good stewards of our
resources as we transitioned into our expanded space last
year. We ended our year fairly close to budget, and we
know that success is in large measure due to each member’s
diligence in considering costs as they became acquainted
with using our addition.
So we thank you!
Memorials for Bobby Patterson, Myrl
Ray, John Shallcross, Sr., Flora “Nell”
Liverman
Honorariums for Liz Craig, Bonnie
and Jimmy Hooks, Jennifer and Patrick Templeton, Brittany
and Jayson Naylor, Hannah Scott Hepner, the Church Staff,
the Church Choirs, The Handbell Choir, the Church Officers,
the Church Treasurers and Committee Volunteers
Donors: Billy and Clara Wellons, Dot Ellmore, John Shallcross, Jr., Bill and Shirley Sharek, John and Maxine McFadyen, Linda Crowder, Tom and Sandra Johnson, Wingate and
Susan Lassiter.
Need Envelopes? You Decide . . .
If you want 2014 giving envelopes for yourself or for a
child and have not received them, please contact Receiving Treasurer Beth Osborne. She will gladly
get some to you.
Beth will soon order giving envelopes for
2015 as we can now get them at a reduced price.
If you do not need giving envelopes, please let
her know and she will assign you an envelope
number but will not purchase envelopes for you,
thereby saving the church money. Help her to help us be good
stewards.
Monday Morning Circle Program for February
The Monday Morning Circle meeting was
cancelled in January due to the severe cold. Judy
Schmidt will present both the missed January
lesson and the February lesson at the February 4
meeting, so members should be prepared for
both!
Hooks First to Donate to Angel Fund
Bonnie and Jimmy Hooks were recently featured in the Fall
2013 edition of Foundation Views, News from the Johnston
Health Foundation. They were the first to made a donation to
the Johnston Health Angel Fund through the Grateful Patient
program. This fund serves as a means for patients to show their
gratitude to their caregivers. The honorees, Phyllis Toole, a
volunteer; Regina Sherman and Sara McClure, nurses; and Dr.
Rusty Anderson, were given lapel pins in the shape of a
starfish, an allusion to the following story:
A man was taking his daily walk along a beach when he
saw in the distance a young boy moving like a dancer. He
hurried his pace to see up close the young man who would
dance to welcome the day. As he drew closer, he saw the young
man was not dancing at all. Rather, he was reaching down,
picking up small objects, and tossing them into the sea. He
came even closer then called to the boy, “Good morning! May I
ask what you’re doing?”
The boy paused and replied, “Throwing starfish into the
ocean.”
“But why?” the older man questioned.
To this the boy replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going
out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the man said, “But don’t you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all
along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference.”
At this, the boy looked up at the man and then down at a
starfish next to his foot. He picked up the starfish and gently
tossed it back into the ocean. As it met the water he said, “I
made a difference to that one.”
There are many, many cancer patients; they far outnumber
the people who provide their care. Those caregivers are a
special breed whose efforts help so many in a most difficult
time, one patient at a time. They deserve recognition and
thanks.
After her surgery at Rex last May, Bonnie was referred to
Dr. Anderson in Smithfield for her medical oncology care. “I
came in as a doubting Thomas,” she says, “but by the second
visit, I was certain that I was getting the very best care. There is
none better. I was even more certain of that when Dr. Anderson
referred me to Duke for more specialized care.”
The Hooks learned about the Grateful Patient program from
Alison Drain, Executive Director of Johnston Health
Foundation, when they met her during the Poker Run at Holt
Lake. Every year a group of residents sponsors the event to
raise money for charitable causes, including the work of the
foundation.
Bonnie is very familiar with charitable work. Her niece
founded the Me Fine Foundation. Also, cancer is a disease with
which she is all too familiar. She has seven relatives who have
battled the disease. “I feel fortunate that Johnston Health can
provide cancer treatment and care right here at home,” she says.
She and Jimmy know firsthand how much the caregivers
mean to people at their most vulnerable. They made their
donation gladly, and were surprised to learn they were the
program’s first donors. They plan to make donations to the
foundation in honor of their friends as Christmas and birthday
gifts. It is their hope that some of their friends and church
family will begin to do the same thing.
If you want to learn more about the program, contact
Alison Drain at Johnston Health Foundation. She will be very
happy to speak with you. And we should all keep in mind the
meaning of legend of the starfish: that we should be here for
each other.
Deacons’ Care Groups 2014
Sarah Pate
Barbour, Tom
Burke, Jeff and Dina
Capps, Julia
Capps, Rick
Daniels, Judy
Ennis, Craig and Evy
Gorman, Paul and Abby
Hauser, Mary
James, Charlie and Jo
Jones, Nan
Lester, Tony and Sandra
Pope, Benny and Pam
Rice, David and Kathy
VanSchaick, Julie
Williams, Shirley
Ziady, Phil and Rebecca
Chap Ragland
Arthur, Bob and Debbie
Best, Rodney
Blackman, Nina
Bolin, Jane
Creech, Paul and Kim
Duncan, Billy
Hairr, Eddie and Shanda
Harrell, Jane
Holzshu, Scott and Brandy
Johnson, Bernice
McFadyen, John and Maxine
Schmidt, Hubert and Judy
Wallace, Myra
Worsham, Bob
Worsham, Hilda
Rich Huckenbeck
Brown, Jane Kate and Eula
Crowder, Linda
Ellmore, Dot
Foy, Eddie and Jamie
Kimball, Bill and Brigitte
Kimball, Bill and Shannon
Lee, Nancy
Lester, Troy
Liverman, Tony and Anita
Pollard, Lane and Cheri
Roberson, Hank
Taylor, John and Martha
Thomas, Mary Alice
Judy Johnson
Adams, Ellen
Capps, Lee
Dockery, Wayne and Diane
Evans, Tim and Debbie
Foy, Eddie and Jennifer
Gemmell, Emma and Andy
Hailey, Ross and Pam
Henderson, Jim and Debbie
Johnson, Jimmy
Lassiter, Tres
Osborne, Beth
Taylor, Glenn and Kay
Abrial Gorman
Allen, Harold and Cathy
Baker, Brad and Corey
Benson, Crystal
Booker, John and Shirley
Duncan, Kenny
Huckenbeck, Rich and Ann
Johnson, Jeff and Wilma
Johnson, Pandora and Wes
Knoll, Greg and Joyce
Lore, Miriam
Perkinson, Josh and Kelly
Rogers, Ellen
Withrow, Jerry and Pam
Brent Booker
Avera, Tom
Barwick, Tom an d Sharon
Capps, Anna
Godwin, Helen
Horne, Evans and Trish
Johnson, Freddy and Judy
Lee, David and Joyce
Narron, Julia and Jimmy
Sloan, Teron
Vaughn, Nelson
Wells, Ted
Wells, Linda
Tom Barwick
Adams, Nathan and Jane
Allen, Ken and Jane
Ruth Daniel
Atkins, Marie
Chance Steve
Churchill, Frances
Coats, Stan and Kelly
Dockery, Dwight and
Shelley Maddox
Hartman, David and Bobbie
Horne, Roger and Eleanor
Lassiter, Walt and Janet
Roberts, Brandon and Stephanie
Worsham, Al and Joy
Wynne, Vic
Judy Schmidt
Best, Billy and Helen
Booker, Brent and Nichole
Craig, Elizabeth
Hess, Robert and Barbara
Howerton, Tom and Joy
Lee, Charles and Judy
Marett, Earl and Etta
Merrick, Jill
Rhodes, Zach
Sharek, Bill and Shirley
Sharek, Mikki
Vaughn, Laura
Worley, Paul and Tonya
Elizabeth Craig
Boone, Tommy and Camille
Henderson, Jaime
Hobgood, Ann
Johnson, Lee and Paul
Naylor, Jayson and Brittany
Olive, Frank and Betsy
Pollard, Devon and Phyllis
Ray, Evelyn
Rilley, Nathan and Destiny
Surles, Mabel
Wilson, Rodney
Murdock, Patrick and Sonia
Diane Dockery
Flint, Walker and Helen
Jacobs, Jake and Debbie
Johnson, Tom and Sandra
Miller, Gene and Mary
Pate, Ricky and Sarah
Peele, Becky
Perkinson, Tyler and Lauren
Rogers, Martha
Smith, Cindy
Stephenson, J.A. and Linda
Wefald, Frank and Vickie
Welch, Betty and
Alice Adelman
Worley, Norwood and Jean
David Rice
Booker, John and Sue
Eason, Myde
Gupton, Marie
Harder, Tom and Diane
Hester, Joe
Lampe, John and Janet
Langdon, Harold
Miller, Grover and Judy
Moody, Mary
Ragland, Chap and Ann
Russell, Peter and Linda
Williams, Virginia
Dot Ellmore
Bell, Greg and Ruth
Creech, Eve
Cunningham, Jane
Hill, Susan
Hooks, Jimmy and Bonnie
Perkinson, Eddie and Sandy
Roberts, Chris and Shelley
Roberts, Tom
Scott, Daniel and Courtney
Templeton, Patrick and
Jennifer
Watson, Neil and Lucy
Whitehurst, Hazel
Worley, Lucy
If you have not been assigned to a Care Group, please contact Dot
Ellmore, Moderator, Board of Deacons.
Alpha Mu Omega
Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your
neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one
of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved
someone, you will presently come to love him.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The Greek letters that begin the words
"yesterday," "today" and "forever" remind us of Jesus'
constant presence with us personally and his eternal nature
that transcends time as we know it. "Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NIV).
Dozens of psalms and other Bible passages also proclaim
that the Lord's "steadfast love endures forever" (e.g., Psalm
100:5, NRSV). What a reassuring message when life seems
troublesome and fleeting!
What is Stewardship?
You may be tempted to answer, easily, “Money for the
church..” If so, you’re right. Partially right. Stewardship,
really, is all of life. It’s an attitude that affects action; a
gratitude that affects your response to God.
Take Alex. God comes to Alex and says, “Here’s my Son.
I gave him to you so that you may have a vital life.” Alex is
turned on. Alex is so grateful for this acceptance from God
that every moment of his life is affected.
Yes, he gives generously to the church — money and
time. He teaches Sunday school and serves on a committee
or two. Great!
But, more! Alex’s generosity spills over into his job at
the plant where he works diligently at healing “sores” between fellow employees. And naturally, he does his job as
best he can — puts his utmost effort into doing an excellent
job.
His grateful generosity influences him at the polls. He
votes for what will help people the most, even if it might
mean a few more dollars in taxes for him.
His overflowing thanks to God spills over into his concern for society in other ways. He listens and gently suggests
ways that men in power can promote justice. He was quietly
instrumental in getting a new hospital built in a ghetto of his
city. It took fifteen years, but he quietly stuck at it.
That is stewardship! The whole life of a person lived in
grateful response to God’s love in Jesus. The church fits
into the picture of stewardship, of course. And, generally,
a man’s generosity to his church indicates his generosity in
all areas of life.
— Stewardship Committee
First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield,
along with other
Presbyterian churches in Johnston County,
will host the
July Meeting
of the
Presbytery of New Hope
at our church.
More information as to how you can
help will be forthcoming.
Teachers . . .
We’ll Be Happy to
Help You
If you have copying needs for your Sunday School class,
you now have two options: you may make your own copies
on Sunday morning, or, if you’d like to skip the line, we can
make copies for you during the week and you can pick them
up in the workroom on Sunday mornings.
Let the church office know if we can help.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Christmas Joy Offering this year. First Presbyterian Church made
an offering totaling $712 to the Christmas Joy Offering. This
offering provides financial assistance to current and former
church workers and their families as well as opportunities
for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial
ethnic colleges and schools. Your generous gifts to the
Christmas Joy Offering shine as the One True Light of
Christ's love.
—Shirley Sharek
Training for our
Acolytes and Trinity Ringers
February 9
during
KICKS and Youth Club
Plan for your child to participate.
SAM’s Food Closet Needs Our Help
February’s food item requests are peanut
butter (smaller jars) and canned meat. The food
closet’s supplies are very depleted due to the
holidays and the cold weather. Additionally,
there are many people who have had their food
stamps delayed and are turning to the food
closet to tide them over. Any food items will be
appreciated.
Thank you for your amazing generosity. It has been
overwhelming.
—Pam Pope
of Session, January 2014
The Session and Board of Deacons held the annual
Joint Officers’ Meeting on Saturday, January 4, 2014.
· Approved accepting with thanks the gift of a network
color printer with maintenance supplies for the
church office from Bill and Shirley Sharek.
· Approved donating a color printer from the church
office to First Presbyterian Preschool.
· Elected Beth Osborne as Church Treasurer for 2014.
· Elected Debbie Jacobs as Clerk of Session for 2014.
· Elected Pam Pope as Elder Commissioner to the
February 22, 2014 New Hope Presbytery meeting at
Kirk of Kildaire, Cary, NC.
· Approved the communion schedule for 2014.
· Approved the Stated Session meeting dates for 2014.
· First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield, convened a
meeting of the corporation to elect officers for 2014.
They are Billy Duncan, President; Jimmy Hooks,
Vice President; Beth Osborne, Treasurer; and Debbie
Jacobs, Secretary.
If you have items you wish to bring before Session,
please contact Debbie Jacobs, clerk.
— Debbie Jacobs
·
Dear Congregation of First Presbyterian Church,
This week you donated your beautiful sanctuary flowers
to the SECU Hospice House, and we appreciate them so much.
We actually broke them down into ten vases and placed one in
each patient’s room. It makes such a difference — these small
touches.
Thank you for all the ways you’re supporting the
ministry of hospice.
In Christ,
Kristin Lassiter
We have braved the brutal cold of
January. We hope that February will
bring back that balmy weather so we
can get outside on the playground
again. Well, maybe a few more snow
days would be nice, too.
Ahhhhh February, the month of
love. At preschool, we love love. We love mommies, daddies, sisters, brothers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,
playing outside . . . the list goes on and on. It is a short
month during which we just keep on learning.
Mrs. DiNardo’s class fed the birds in January. They have
enjoyed looking for birds eating from their big pile of seed.
Registration will begin next month. We are excited to be
opening up for our thirty-fifth year! We are seeing our second generation come through the doors. It is very exciting to
know that we, First Presbyterian Preschool, are becoming a
tradition for families. If you know a family who would benefit from being part of the FPP family, send them our way.
We love to have new friends.
—Jennifer Jackson
Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith
let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.
—Abraham Lincoln
Blind Trust
Lex Gilettte, a blind long-jumper from Raleigh, North
Carolina, lost vision in one eye at age three and in the other
at age eight, both due to detached retinas. But, refusing to
even use a cane, Lex learned to get around independently.
He ran track at Athens Drive High School, and when he
graduated he attended East Carolina University.
Lex participated in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic
Games. Before an event, his guide shows him around the
course. During competitions, the guide positions Gilette at
the starting line, then goes to the sand pit. From there he
claps and calls steadily so the athlete can follow the sounds
and run straight ahead. Gilette knows to jump when he hits
his sixteenth step. Unable to see where he’s going, or the
line from which to jump, or the spot where he’ll land, Gilette
entrusts himself fully to his guide. The result? Three consecutive silver medals and a world record set in 2011. It’s
taken a lot of faith in himself and in his guide to attain these
achievements. If you’d like to see him in action, go to
video.pbs.org/video/2237346928. He’s an inspiring young
man.
We’re all blind to what lies ahead in life, so our guide,
the Holy Spirit, goes before us and beckons us forward in
the way we should go. If we entrust ourselves to God, we
can do great things.
Donations Appreciated
Sunday morning Fellowship
Time is a long-standing tradition
at FPC. Each week a Sunday
school class or a committee
provide the food and the church
provides the beverages. Please
notice there’s a basket on the
refreshment table for donations. Just a small gift weekly or
monthly to help defray expenses will be greatly appreciated.
Opportunities to Serve . . .
Children’s Worship Nursery—
contact Ruth Bell or sign up
on the information table.
Time with Children and Lay
Readers — contact
Sandy Perkinson
Serving the Community
The Mission Statement of First Presbyterian Church states
that we “are empowered by Christ and the Holy Spirit to be
faithful . . . through service by reaching out to a voice in need;
through stewardship by realizing that all we have belongs to
God. Our new facility has enabled us to serve many groups in
our community who meet here on a regular or as needed basis.
They include Alcoholics Anonymous, expanded groups of
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, the Johnston County Arts
Council, the Guardian Ad Litem Program of Johnston County,
and committees of the Heritage Center of Johnston County.
These non-profits meet here free of charge.
St. Valentine
Every February 14 we celebrate the loved ones in our lives
with cards, flowers and chocolate. But
Valentine’s Day has another meaning that
has been lost.
First declared a holiday by King
Henry VIII of England in 1537,
Valentine’s Day commemorates the
beheading of St. Valentine on February
14, 270 A.D. His crime? Performing
wedding ceremonies after Roman
Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage.
Valentine was martyred for faithfully doing the work God
had given him. Although it’s good to celebrate love and
marriage, let’s also remember the courage of a man who gave
his life to follow his convictions.
Cubs Host Pinewood Derby
Pack 95 hosted the 2014 Pinewood Derby on January 11 in
our fellowship hall. There was a lot of fun and
participation going on that morning. Pictured
above are the participants. The winners are pictured in front of the leaders; left to right: fourth
place, Jude (Bear); third place, Timothy
(Webalos 2); second place Tommy (Tiger); and first place,
Damien (Wolf). As you can see, these winners represent all
pack levels.
Our cubs meet on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.. If you or someone
you know is interested, please talk to Evans Horne or Ruth
Bell for more information.
—Ruth Bell
Hospitality Desk Volunteers
Every Monday through Thursday volunteers man the hospitality desk from 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m., and every Friday
from 9:00 a.m. through noon. These volunteers
answer the phone and keep a record of calls
and visitors. Depending on when they’re
scheduled, they also help with bulletins and the
newsletter. Sometimes they help set up for JOY
Connection. They’ve even been known to help
with VBS decorations. They do what is needed.
The regulars at the desk are Jane Bolin, Camille Boone,
Wayne Dockery, Billy Duncan, Jane Harrell, Eleanor Horne,
Benny Pope, Pam Pope, Judy Schmidt and Virginia Williams.
Substitutes include Julie Capps, Debbie Jacobs, Lee Johnson,
Nancy Lee, and Judy Miller. Be sure to thank all these volunteers for a job well done when you see them.
Church Library Moves
Recently built-in bookshelves were installed in the new
church library, the last room on the adult Sunday
school hall. Soon, Ann Huckenbeck will begin
transferring the contents of the old library to the new
one, and she is asking for volunteers to help her. If
you can lend a hand, please let her know.
The original library now serves as an officers’
study.