church at the lake - amazon s3 · looked, looked, and looked some m ore. after about 15 minutes of...

First Presbyterian Church www.fpcmorristown.com600 W. Main Street 423/586-4281Morristown, TN 37814 June & July, 2016

Vacation Bible School 2016

Camp Discovery-Jesus at Work Through Us is our

exciting VBS offering this year. June 7-10, from

9am-Noon each day, we will be at Civic Park

(across from the Boys & Girls Club) as we reach out

to our community. There will be Storytelling, Bible

Challenge, Crafts, Games, Snacks, and more. VBS

is open to students who have completed

Kindergarten through students who have just

completed 5th grade. Registration forms are

available in the FPC office or online at

fpcmorristown.com. Willing to volunteer? Please

speak with Becky Jo Moles or Kyle Schmidt for a

way to help.

Discover His plan! Discover His purpose! In

Camp Discovery VBS, children learn that Jesus

works in and through us! They'll look into the

Bible, God's Holy Word, and explore five

tree-mendous Bible accounts where God works in

His people to save them and through His people to

serve! Jesus saves us, gives us faith, courage, and

wisdom to serve Him and share His Good News

with our neighbor! God does have a plan and a

purpose for each of His beloved children!

Church at the Lake

June 26, 2016, 10:30am

It is that time of year again for Church at the Lake. Mark your calendars for June 26. We will meetagain this year at Harrell Park. Worship will be at10:30 am with a covered dish lunch to follow. Sobring your favorite dish and be ready to eat likethere is no tomorrow!!! Plan to play on the lake thatafternoon.

Our members with boats are always generous aboutgiving rides. Please remember that everyone willneed some kind of floatation device if they go in thewater.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:By Land - If you want to use your GPS the address is 399Rice Drive, Bean Station, TNOR take Hwy 25 E to Lakeshore Dr.Travel 2.2 miles on Lakeshore and turn Left onHarrell Park Rd. (You will see a sign)Travel 0.3 miles and turn Right on Rice Dr. You will see the entrance to Harrell Park in .2miles

By Water - Harrell Park is on a point right before GermanCreek Bridge. Look for a large pavilion.

I want to take my article space thisissue to share about a recent activitywith some youth. To give a littlebackground information, we

periodically participate in an activity we affectionately callThe Bill Hyder Project. For those who didn't know Billor haven't heard about this activity let me briefly explainit.

Bill was an interesting man who had an expression ofhis faith that he kept hidden from much of the world. Following Bill's far-too-early passing I learned from Bill'swife Debi that around Christmas time Bill would visit alocal grocery store to share some Jesus-love with anunsuspecting recipient. Bill would walk through thestore and identify a family/shopper that he intended tobless in God's name. Bill would follow the family to theregister and after the cashier rang up all the groceries, Billwould slide in and pay for the groceries, blessing thefamily on behalf of his faith.

The youth and I have tried to honor Bill by going tothe grocery and buying groceries for others in the nameof Jesus. This brings me to our recent youth missionopportunity. Instead of going to the store and buyingsomeone's groceries, we decided to buy groceries andthen go out and try and find people to give the food. The students and I went aisle by aisle, adding items tothe cart, deciding that we would bless three families. Three bags of potatoes, three cans of this, and threeboxes of that. As a quick side note, it was quite amusing,and I think a growth opportunity for our students, as wedecided what would be a nutritious addition to the cart. We added a second cart as the items began to overflowfrom cart #1. We finally made our way to the checkoutand divided the items from the carts to the three familieswe intended to find.

As we loaded items into our vehicle we began todiscuss how we would find families/people to give thisblessing. We decided to go to the neighborhood nearwhere our upcoming VBS would take place. Wecriss-crossed the streets looking for someone sitting ontheir front porch or walking in their front yard. Welooked, looked, and looked some more. After about 15minutes of searching we found our first family. Fourboys playing on a parked truck, with a grandpa aged manwatching from the comforts of a front porch chair. Weparked, unloaded holding our bags of groceries andasked the man if we could bless them with somegroceries. He said food was much appreciated and wedropped off the groceries. We shared information aboutthe upcoming VBS, offered some kind words to thechildren, and were on our way. One family down, twostill to go. We then drove, and drove, and drove as webroadened our search area, hoping to find anotherfamily. This search proved far more difficult than weinitially expected. We weren't sure if people were off at

work, away at church, or just in their homes sleeping. We returned back to the first neighborhood spottedsome people on their back porch, parked our vehicle,and approached the front door. We rang the doorbell,and a younger mother came to the door. Like the firstfamily, we asked her if we could share a blessing of foodwith them. This is where our experience becameinteresting. She declined, respectfully, but she declined. We wondered how our good intentions could not bereceived as we intended. Over the course of the next 20minutes, we finally found two other families to bless.

This experience is one that we will not quickly forget. It made me think about the efforts of the church. As weattempt to share the Good News of Jesus with ourcommunity, we try to craft the service, ministryprograms, and other interactions with people in a waythat we believe will be positively received. Like our foodsharing experience, our efforts are not always received aswe intend. We must be continually prayerful that God,through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, will workthrough us to reach people. We ask for your continuedprayer, patience, and understanding as we attempt toshare the Good News. Thank God for Bill Hyder andother people living out their faith.

-Your Brother in ChristRev. Kyle Schmidt

Biblical Worship?

Recently, I was asked to define"Biblical worship." What a hugequestion! Well, if we're just talkingabout what it looks like on the outside, it

can be a pretty big spread of answers. Many Charismaticsor Pentecostals might look at David's worship center inZion and say it's singing and dancing and clapping and lotsof instruments - basically a great big party celebratingGod. And they'd be right. Many in more formal churcheslike maybe Catholic, Episcopal, etc., might look at theTemple and say worship is a very structured andGod-ordered time when we follow specific rituals whichdraw us to focus and remember God's awesome greatness. And they'd be right. Many mainline Protestants likePresbyterians or Methodists might look at the synagogueand say it's a time to learn and grow in our knowledgeabout the greatness and majesty of God decently and ingood order. And they'd be right. Orthodox would look inRevelation. Proponents of the Home Church conceptwould look in Acts. Gather together, "sing responsively ahymn to Christ as to a God (Pliny the Younger toTrajan)," and you're good. The Bible pretty much says allthese things are great and acceptable to God.

But, you can look in Amos or Malachi or Isaiah andsee where God rejects festivals and celebrations andsacrifices and rituals. We can assume that because herejected them, they must have been doing them. Somaybe just doing them isn't what counts. Just goingthrough the motions doesn't cut it. Maybe what we do andhow we do it really doesn't define worship. The actionsand "styles" really aren't what define worship. If Godaccepts all of this worship, but also will reject all of thisworship, maybe there's something more important to Godthan the motions. Micah, Isaiah, and others say God'slooking for a contrite, humble heart. He's looking forjustice, compassion. He wants us to reject our evil waysand be cleansed from our sins, not by a ritual or action,but really from within your heart and mind, and focus onHim. True worship is in spirit and in truth, humblywalking with God.

So, a guy is in the front row singing and dancing andlifting his hands, but all the while he makes sure the cuteblonde across the room notices his big biceps as he "bustsa holy move." The action is there but is it biblical worship?Probably not. Or a lady sits with her bulletin joining in theresponsive reading with great articulation and vocalintensity, but she's frustrated on how slow it's goingbecause she wants to beat the Baptists to Shoney's or hasan early tee time. The action is there, but is it biblicalworship? Probably not. Or a guy kneels down to enterinto a prayer of confession, but just thinks about how thatperson in front of him taking up two seats needs to go ona diet. The action is there but is it biblical worship?Probably not.

On the other hand, a guy is in the front row sitting inhis wheelchair dreaming about the day he'll be able todance and jump and clap before the throne of the greatGod he loves. The action's not there, but is it biblicalworship? Absolutely. Or a lady who never could learn toread sits quietly holding her bulletin listening intently tothe wonderful words about her Lord and Savior. Theaction's not there, but is it biblical worship? Absolutely. Or an elderly man can't kneel anymore, but bows his headfully trusting in God's grace to wash his sins away. Theaction's not there, but is it biblical worship? Absolutely.

I guess I'd have to say that Biblical worship is comingbefore God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength intrue heartfelt love and faith. Genuinely desiring to praiseGod whom you love with everything you have. Totallyand without reservation. Holding nothing back for anyreason at all. If you're completely focused on God, nomatter what, then what the motions look like is reallysecondary. If your only concern is to worship God nomatter what form it takes, it's Biblical Worship. Anythingelse, no matter what form, isn't.

Rick Kopituk

Wednesday Nights

We have a pair of picnics for you thissummer, June 8th and July 6th. Come outand enjoy your FPC brothers and sisters inChrist. Our picnics will be at theBishop-Goodman pavilion at Fred MilerPark. Both picnics will be pot-luck, withFPC providing the drinks and paperproducts. We will have some time for fellowship, and aintergenerational game or two. Dinner service will beginat 5:30 and we should be complete by 7pm. If this doesn'tsound fun yet, know that it's free. (That makes everythingsound better.) We hope to see you there.

Presbyterian Women

The next Presbyterian Women book clubwill be Friday, June 17 at 6pm at the homeof DruAnna Overbay. The book is HotelOn the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by JamieFord. In the book, Henry Lee is a12-year-old Chinese boy who falls in love

with Keiko Okabe, a 12-year-old Japanese girl, while theyare scholarship students at a prestigious private school inWorld War II Seattle. Henry hides the relationship fromhis parents, who would disown him if they knew he had aJapanese friend. His father insists that Henry wear an "Iam Chinese" button everywhere he goes because Japaneseresidents of Seattle have begun to be shipped off by thethousands to relocation centers. This is an old-fashionedhistorical novel that alternates between the early 1940s and1984, after Henry's wife Ethel has died of cancer. Aparticularly appealing aspect of the story is young Henry'sfascination with jazz and his friendship with Sheldon, anolder black saxophonist just making a name for himself inthe many jazz venues near Henry's home. Other aspects ofthe story are more typical of the genre: the bullies thatplague Henry, his lack of connection with his father, andlater with his own son. Readers will care about Henry ashe is forced to make decisions and accept circumstancesthat separate him from both his family and the love of hislife Everyone is welcome and please bring a dish to share.

Rummage Sale 2016

July 29 - 30

As many of you know we have arummage sale each year to raise funds forour youth mission efforts. This year thesale is July 29th-30th. It is less than twomonths away and we need your help to

make it successful. First thing, and most important, is please pray for

this fund-raiser. We all know that without God involvedthis can’t happen. Please pray that we are able to serveas many people as possible and raise the funds tosupport all the mission activities we plan.

Second, we need you to donate items. You can dropitems off at the church during office hours or you canalso contact RJ Kopituk (Email: [email protected],call or text: 423-200-7506) and we will come pick itemsup.

Third, you can buy items either at the sale July29th-30th OR we have a new way for you to get itemsearly. Below is special access link to a page on ourwebsite where we have posted select items to sell early.Items there range from furniture to cooking utilities tointernet routers to watches. New items will be added asthey arrive so make sure to keep checking back to findyour prized item. The link isfpcmorristown.com/saleitems.

Community Cash

Keep Buying Groceries as MissionWork! Our Community Cash programis like a win-win. You buy groceries andFood City/Ingles gives us money formission work. I know you are stillbuying groceries, getting gas, and possibly fillingprescriptions in the respective pharmacy. Why not useone of our convenient cash cards and help the youthmake 5% to use for our mission efforts? We have bothFood City and Ingles cards available and have sold over77,660 in cards, totaling over $3,883 in proceeds forYouth Missions. As you do your shopping for food, getgas for your errands, or anything else at Ingles/FoodCity, please remember us. You can get cards from theyouth at the table in the Gathering Hall on Sundays orfrom Kyle during the week. May God's blessing beupon us all.

My Dear Church Family,I have been wanting to thank you

for so long for all you do for me. Asyou know I lost my brother and somany people at FPC prayed for Bill.He told me to personally to thank youall before he passed. He and I talkedevery day for 3 years. I miss him so much.

The Care committee, when they bring food, are sovery kind and the food is needed and appreciated. Also,the Women of the Church bring me home made giftsand I want them to know how much I appreciate theirkindness and prayers. I would like to thank everyone atFPC for their prayers and cards.

Love, Bob and Marian Dafferner

Way to Go FPC!

The people of First Presbyterian give muchto the community! We know that we havemany members who volunteer their timewith Daily Bread, Girls and Boys Club,Taskforce on Diversity, MATS, and many

others. If you work with any area agency ororganization, please let the Missions Committee know! Please contact Amy Keesee at [email protected] 423-736-8766.

The 2016 Sanctuary Flower Chart

is hanging outside the church office.Please take a Sunday in honor or memoryof someone. The beautiful flowerarrangements are only $35. Don’t miss outsharing your love through the flowerministry. There are still many dates available for thisyear.

Dates for Your Calendar

Youth CROSS Mission Trip - May 29-June 3

Presbytery Meeting at King University - June 4

Vacation Bible School - June 6-10 (tentative dates)

Wednesday Church Picnic - June 8

Youth Dominican Republic Mission Trip - June 12-18

Church at the Lake - June 26

Wednesday Church Picnic - July 6

Presbytery Meeting at Holston Camp - September 6

Presbytery Meeting at Jonesborough - December 6

Upper Room Devotionals

are available on the wall displaybeside Gary’s office for any memberwho would like one.

Right Now Media

We live in a media-based society andhope you will find this new media toola blessing. RightNowMedia (RNM) islike a Netflix of christian videos,movies, conferences, etc. There is nocost to you as the youth mission fundsare picking up the fee. RNM includes

Bible Studies, Kids Shows, Real Life Stories,Conferences, Studies for Parents, Studies for Teenagers,Studies on Marriage, Studies for Men, Studies forWomen, Studies on Leadership, Christian Living BibleStudies, Studies about Work, Studies on BiblicalFinance, Studies on Mission & Outreach, Studies onEvangelism, Studies about Recovery, Studies for College& Singles, and lots more. We truly believe there issomething for everyone as we seek to strengthen ourbond with Jesus. RNM is also being used as anevangelistic tool. With the youth picking up the fee, weare able to offer this ministry tool to any of our friends,family, co-workers, etc. that we/you desire. I know thatwith any new technology there are growing pains,adjustments that cause frustration, and a wonder howthis will benefit me. We ask you to give RNM a try,poke around, and let us know what you think. We arecommitted to RNM for a year and will then reevaluate. If you would like to get someone added to the "Invite"list, please email their contact info (Name and emailaddress) to [email protected] and I will getthem added. If you have any questions, please let meknow. Please let me know of any questions or problemsyou encounter. May God be with us in all we do.

Mission Statement: “To develop a loving relationship with God and others, grow spiritually through God’s Word, and care for all throughour actions and works in order to expand God’s Kingdom.”Vision Statement: “Through God’s love, FPC will be a welcoming and growing community of Christians who seek to glorify God.”

Jeff Cleary 3David Easterly 4Lily Cooze 13Alex Medford 13Will Hyder 13Dillan Christian 15Gerald Kirby 15Fred Overbay 16Billy Hale 18Jack Cartwright 20Matt Craine 20Dianne Masengill 21Anna Kate Lovell 23Bob Dafferner 25Joy Allen 25Rachel Colvin 26Mary Lynn Bales 27David Holmes 28

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

Michael & Robin Hurt 2Gerald & Sarah Risdahl 8Pete & Sami Barile 10Jim & Joyce White 11Gary & Martha Kelly 12Pete & Sami Barile 10Randy & Becky Jo Moles 16Rob & Donna Musick 20Jeff & Jennifer Atkins 22

Ryder Smith 8Lea Wayne Perkins 11Carmen Kammann 11Bill Hastings 14Bruce Campbell 15Treva Purkey 16Sam Morgan 16Miller Goan 17Caroline Keesee 19Polly Holtkamp 21Suzanne Lovell 23

Julian Culvern 23Marty Allen 24Barbara Hale 25Hugh Portrum 26Scott Reams 28Maris Medford 29Sue Atkins 29Braxton Lovell 29

ANNIVERSARIESBruce & Elizabeth Campbell 2Jerry & Mickey Barbely 8Kyle & Amy Schmidt 10Ben & Kirsten Traywick 13Charles & June Buhlmann 20Wayne & Sharon Lucas 23David & Terri Tilson 25

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Regular Thursday Schedule7am Men’s Breakfast, Theater Noon Al-Anon, 201c4:30pm Girl Scouts, 3016pm Cub Scouts, 3017pm Boy Scouts, 301 7pm N.A., 201b

1 2Regular Schedule (See Above)

6pm Worship, Choir Suite

3 4Presbytery Meeting at KingUniversity

59:30am Worship10:45am Sunday School5pm Underground Youth

Youth leave on DominicanRepublic Mission Trip

610am Stability Ball Exercise,Children’s Wing 6pm Westminster Handbells7-8 pm Yoga, 119-207pm N.A., 201b7:15pm Men’s Ensemble

79am-Noon VBS6pm HR, 201c6pm Scouts’ Round Table, FH7pm N.A., 201b

89am-Noon VBS5:30pm Picnic at Fred Miller Park(Pot Luck)

9

Regular Schedule (See Above)9am-Noon VBS6:30pm Stephen Ministry, 205

10

9am-Noon VBS

11

12


Youth Mission Trip to DominicanRepublic


Youth Mission Trip toDominican Republic

1410am Congregational Care, FH6pm Buildings & Grounds, 201c7pm Scouts’ District Mig, 3017pm N.A., 201b


15


16

Regular Schedule (See Above)


176pm Presbyterian Women Book Clubat DruAnna Overbay’s


18



21

7pm N.A., 201b

22 23


24 25

26

Three Cents-a-Meal Offering

9th Annual Church at the Lake


28

7pm N.A., 201b

29 30


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3


4 Church Office &

Family Life3 Center

Closed

5

6pm Scouts’ Round Table, FH7pm N.A., 201b

65:3opm Picnic at Fred Miller Park(Pot Luck)

7Regular Schedule (See Below)

6pm Worship, Choir Suite

8 9

10



12

10am Congregational Care, FH6pm Buildings & Grounds, 201c7pm Scouts’ District Meeting,3017pm N.A., 201b

13 14

Regular Schedule (See Below)6:30pm Stephen Ministry, FH

15 16

17


1810am Stability Ball Exercise,Children’s Wing

Noon Session Packet Deadline

6pm Westminster Handbells7-8 pm Yoga, 119-207pm N.A., 201b7:15pm Men’s Ensemble

19

7pm N.A., 201b

20 21

Regular Schedule (See Below)

22

Noon Newsletter Deadline

23

24

9:30am Worship10:45am Sunday School

11:30am Session

5pm Underground Youth


26

7pm N.A., 201b

27 28

Regular Schedule (See Below)

29

Rummage Sale

30

Rummage Sale

31

Three Cents-a-Meal Offering


RegularThursday Schedule7am Men’s Breakfast, Theater Noon Al-Anon, 201c4:30pm Girl Scouts, 3016pm Cub Scouts, 3017pm Boy Scouts, 301 7pm N.A., 201b

church at the lake - amazon s3 · looked, looked, and looked some m ore. after about 15 minutes of...

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