ACT
2004
September 24 & 25
Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church
Richardson, Texas
ACT
is Grace
Presbytery's annual educational and leadership development event.
ACT provides courses on a wide range of topics including teacher training,
faith development, Bible study, and issues facing the Presbyterian
Church. ACT is not just for Church School Teachers. Every member of
our congregation will find a class of interest to them. Programs are
offered with advance registration. Meals are also offered with advance
registration. Details and registration forms are in the C.E. office.
ACT 2004 will take place September 24 & 25 at Canyon
Creek Presbyterian Church, Richardson.
ACT II
Returns
JUST FOR 7th-12th GRADERS
This event is high energy and loaded with food for the mind and the
soul. The youth will be led by some of the very best youth leaders
in the country.
Inquirer's
Class to begin in September!
What
is a Presbyterian? Do I have spiritual gifts? What is prayer? What
does it mean to be part of a community of faith? What opportunities
are there for helping others in Jesus' name?
If you
have these or other questions about faith, joining the church, or
just getting more involved at First Presbyterian, then you are invited
to an Inquirer's Class.
This four to five week adult class will begin on Sunday, September
12th at 9:45 AM in the sanctuary. For an hour each of those Sundays,
Bob and Anne will lead discussions beginning with our faith in and
common worship of God through Jesus Christ. We will touch on such
topics as: Presbyterian History, stewardship, spiritual gifts and
disciplines, and how to get involved at First Presbyterian. Please
sign up by September 5th on the sheet in fellowship hall so that we
have enough materials for everyone. Just to warn you, there will be
some reading involved! This class will prepare those who want to join
First Presbyterian and will challenge those who are already members.
Hope to see you there!
MUSIC
DIRECTOR/ORGANIST
Dan Vaughan
has informed the session that due to the tremendous growth of his
business, Vaughan Organ Company, he is no longer able to carry out
his responsibilities as music director/organist. It was with regret
that the session accepted his resignation, effective December 31st
. Dan has been a wonderful asset to the music program at First Presbyterian.
We are grateful for the brilliance that Dan brings to church music.
We are also pleased that the Vaughan's church membership remains with
us.
Pat Sproull
will conduct bell choir practice Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM and voice
choir rehearsal Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. Pat will also choose
the music for the choirs.
Elizabeth Glasgow will play for the remaining five Sundays that Dan
will be absent.
A
search committee from the bell choir, voice choir, and congregation
is formed.
The first meeting is scheduled for the evening of September 13Th at
6:30 PM.
The committee includes: Rob Mehl, Cynthia Case, Felie Cotti, Julie
Hendon, Melanie Logue, and Preston Dobbs.
|
MUSINGS
This
fall I will write a series of Musings on Child Advocacy. Several
reasons prompt this emphasis. First, we are in the early stages
of the Decade of the Child so named by our General Assembly
in 2001. Many churches have begun programs in the last three
years that encourage children and youth in their development
physically, emotionally, and spiritually. First Presbyterian
has done several good things with children and youth, but we
can do more!
Last summer, Horizons magazine had an issue dedicated to Child
Advocacy. One article states the obvious, at least to me, "our
world is often unkind to children." Another article is
written by Marian Wright Edelman, director of the Children's
Defense Fund, whose Leave No Child Behind advocacy program began
way before our President's education bill. The issue begs the
question, "How can we make this society more child-friendly?"
Please ask me more about this!
Another issue in child advocacy is researched well in a now
seminal book on adolescent girls. Mary Pipher wrote an excellent
book about the everyday dangers of being an adolescent girl,
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. This
book has opened discussion of the cultural influences which
can destroy any sense of wholeness for young women as they come
of age, including the pressures of a sexualized and media-saturated
culture which asks too much of the female gender. It deals with
issues such as adolescent depression, divorce, eating disorders,
and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. Pipher uses anecdotal
studies and personal experiences to help the adult reader get
closer to the realities of growing up as a girl in today's society.
You are welcome to read my copy if interested.
Whether you are parenting/stepparenting or grand/great-grand
parenting at this time of your life, children and teen issues
are important, deserving our attention and continued education.
Times have changed, causing childhood to be a harder stage than
in generations before. The church should be in the forefront
of safe spaces for children and teens, a place for learning
to live in loving community and for healing from those hurts
that will surely come along the way.
As we begin a new year of Sunday School and youth group, I encourage
all of you to affirm the children of this church in whatever
ways you can. They need good Christian mentors, someone with
whom they can build a trusting relationship and look
up to on their faith journey. Remember those in your past who
helped you see Christ in their acts of love and encouragement.
Now it's your turn! Become a teacher. Become a shepherd to a
confirmand. Share your faith story during a potluck. The point
is, be there for a child or a youth. Talk with a member of the
CE committee or myself about ways to nurture the children of
First Presbyterian.
They deserve our support!
Shalom,
Anne
|
MARK
YOUR CALENDAR
PRESBYTERY
MEETING
Grace Presbytery will meet in Kileen, TX September 8th. Anne Johnson
will be formally received into the presbytery at that time. It will
be a strong sign of support to have a significant representation from
the Search Committee and congregation present to stand with Anne,
as she is received. If you can go, please contact the church office.
INSTALLATION
OF ANNE JOHNSON, Sunday Sept. 19th at 3 PM
It's time to celebrate a new song! All are invited to attend the Service
of Installation of the Reverend Anne Johnson as First Presbyterian
Church's new Associate Pastor. The moderator of Grace Presbytery,
the Rev. Terri Matthews, will duly install Anne to her service. Others
on the Presbytery Commission include our own James Tunnell as an elder
representative. Rev. Kathy Collier will be preaching! In addition,
an elder from Anne's prior pastorate, Ruth Irvine, will be present.
Of course, there will be beautiful music and great preaching! Following
the service, there will be a reception catered by Laura Tennent and
her crew. We know the food will be scrumptious!
Your attendance will show the Presbytery your support and enthusiasm
for Anne and the new position of Associate Pastor. So see you there!
BIBLE STUDY
The Wednesday night Bible Study will resume September 15th at 7:00
PM in the
conference room.
Christian Faith seeks understanding and one of the best ways possible
to seek
and experience the meaning of Christian Faith is through Bible Study.
Your are invited to join us on Wednesday September 15th at 7:00 PM.
COMMITTEE
MEETINGS
For the month of September only, all committees will meet at their
own discretion.
SESSION
MEETING
The regular stated meting of the session is Tuesday September 21st,
7:00 PM.
Members of the session will meet with Ralph Godwin, and Kathy Collier,
representatives of the presbytery's committee on ministry. The representatives
will convene to converse about the life of First Church.
The business meeting will begin at 7:30 PM.
SALAD
SUPPER: Mark your calendar for the Fall Salad Supper, Sunday Sept.
12th at the church, 6:00 PM. Please bring a salad to share.
Mrs. Sherie Flower, of the Rockwall Historical Foundation, will present
the program, a slide show "150 years of history."
BAKE SALE: The first bake sale will be September 12th. Bake
something to sell and/or buy something to munch on.
MORNING
CIRCLE: will meet Thursday Sept. 9th, 10:30 AM at the church.
Hosted by Judy Denecke. All women are invited to join us for fellowship
and study. Wilma Foster will lead the study: "What She Said"
quotable women in Scripture.
LADIES NIGHT OUT:
will meet Tuesday, Sept. 7th, 7:00 PM at the home of Melanie Logue.
EVENING CIRCLE: TBA
150TH
COMMITTEE
The excitement
of our church's 150th year continues.
Our "Minute
for History" is continuing one Sunday each month, thanks to our
church historian, Wilma Foster. The next one will be presented by
Cynthia Case
on September 12th and will be about Matilda Smith, missionary.
Be sure
to mark your calendars for the following events!
Sun.
Oct. 10 - Potluck dinner with a program based on stories about
some of our
church members. Come for an evening of fun and story telling!
Sat.
Nov. 6 - 5:00 until 9:30 PM
Family barbecue & live music in a barn! Start gathering your old-timey
clothes to wear and come join the fun.
There will be old-fashioned games for the children as well as "Living
History" demonstrations.
Sun.
Nov. 7 - 150th Celebration Sunday
Lunch will be served following our special church service
We will
be mailing special invitations for our Celebration Weekend to those
church
members who have moved away. Jannie Clark is trying to locate names
and addresses of these members. If you know the whereabouts of a past
member, please contact her. We are hoping to have the invitations
in the mail within the next few weeks.
We will
soon be offering 150th memorabilia items for members to buy as a keepsake
of this special event in our church's history. Be watching for these!
We still
need lots of helpers on our committee for all of the events that are
planned. Please contact Joanie Mehl to volunteer your time and talents.
OUR
PRAYERS FOR:
Gene Cuny
Lou Campbell
Frances Campbell
Mike Yosenick
Dorothy Pullen
Virginia Black
NEW
MEMBERS: We welcome into our church family Mitch, Stefanie, and
Charlie Adams.
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
The congregation's
Elder Nominating Committee solicits suggestions
regarding persons who should be considered for the office of Elder.
To assist
the Elder Nominating Committee in its evaluation of candidates, please
provide as much of the following information as possible on the person
you wish to suggest to the Committee.
Name
of Person_________________________________
Has this
person served as an Elder in this or another church? Yes______ NO____
How often
does this person attend worship?
Every
Sunday______ 3 Sundays a month_____2 Sundays a month_____
Your
Signature (optional)_________________________________________________
Please
return this form to a member of the Nominating Committee.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Carol Poole, (moderator), Joanie Mehl, Bob Cotti
SEPTEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
Immediately following morning worship September 19th we'll celebrate
all our September "Babies" birthdays in the fellowship hall.
Cynthia
Case Kelli Kersey
Kaitlyn Crawford Mary Krause
Kathy Crawford Kaelyn Lawson
Isom Crawford Tim Layendecker
Sally Denysschen Mildred McSwain
Laura Dobbs Carol Poole
Rick Filip Randy Roland
Brian Gaertner Mike Ruland
Jean-Luc Gascoigne Catherine Schubert
Jeremy Herring Bill Sinclair
John Hoover Colleen Tennent
If you have a September birthday and your name is
not on the list, please contact the church office.
FINANCIAL REPORT
AS OF JULY 31, 2004
Budgeted Pledge
Receipts YTD: $147,242
Actual Pledge Receipts YTD: 141,018
Budgeted Plate Income
for YTD: $ 17,075
Actual Plate Income YTD: 10,648
