church currents€¦ · scott harrison, the author, is the founder and ceo of charity: water, one...
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JOIN US FOR WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP
Sunday School 9:45am
Worship Service 11:00am
CHURCH CURRENTS First Presbyterian Church 210 S. Wayne Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
phone: 478-452-9394
www.fpchurch.org “like” us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/First.Presbyterian.Church.Milledgeville.GA
We seek to glorify God through:
Inspiring worship in Word and music, Inquiring study for adults and youth,
Inclusive hospitality locally and globally, Industrious outreach for social justice
and environmental stewardship.
April 2019
We are on the radio Our worship service is broadcast on WKZR
(102.3 FM.) every Sunday morning at 11:00am and Live
on Facebook
ONLINE GIVING
www.fpchurch.org
VBS 2018
April’s Upcoming Gatherings
Saturday, April 13 ~ Easter Egg Hunt 2:30~4:30pm
Sunday, April 14 Palm Sunday
“Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 21:9
Thursday, April 18 ~ Maundy Thursday service at 7:00pm
“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
Friday, April 19 ~ Good Friday
“...and He HIMSELF bore OUR sins in HIS body on the CROSS.” 1 Peter 2:24
Sunday, April 21 ~ EASTER ~ He Is Risen!!
Join us in celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!!
Each year, we place a cross on the lawn and decorate it with
flowers. Please join us, Easter morning at 10:30, for a brief
dedication service designating it as the John and Libby Lounsbury Cross. Bring flowers from your garden and house (or favorite flower shop!) as we honor the
years of service the Lounsbury's have given, and show the beauty
of the Resurrection!
Coord. of Children &
Youth Ministries:
Gloria Burns
Issue No. 275 April 2019
First Presbyterian Church
Organists:
Kate Phillips
Jenny Moore
Director of Music:
Dr. Jennifer Flory
Admin. Asst.:
Amy Snowden
Child Care Providers: Morgan Martin, Raeven Rodney, Andaysha Taylor
Pastor:
Rev. Susan
Balfour
Sisters and Brothers, Greetings in the name of Christ! I give thanks to God for you, for your constancy and faithful-ness. You are a light to our community, showing God’s love in word and deed! As an update on our Long Range Plan: We have been seeing wonderful results from the first phase of our plan, as we have seen an increase in visitors! There are more people in our commu-nity who are aware of who we are and what we stand for; we will continue with those outreach efforts. In addition, I have spoken with the Presbyterian Foundation about how to go about bringing our plan to fruition. They have advised that our three-part plan be condensed into one, rather than piecing out the renovations in our plan. This will make for a more streamlined capital campaign, and shorten the amount of time we will have to endure construction. This revises our timeline so that we expect to carry out the renovations toward the end of a three-year campaign. Should we raise the needed amount earlier than that, we will, of course, move up the renovation date. Our plan is to renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, including installing a shower and laundry room. We hope also to install a fire escape and elevator. The new facilities will benefit us, of course, but they will also enable us to serve our community better. Energy- and water-efficient appliances will help our environment and utility bills; an updated commercial kitchen will make community events easier to host; showers and laundry will enable us to offer personal grooming to the homeless (and to our members, in the event of power/water loss at home!); having on-site laundry will also enable us to use fewer paper towels and napkins, too! I am very excited about the possibilities! Our need at this stage is for a few good people. We would like to assemble a small task force who will be responsible for conducting the campaign and meeting with contractors to determine what exactly we aim to do and how much money it’s going to cost. I urge you to prayerfully consider contributing to this project with your time and talent, as well as your tithes!
With God, all things are possible, and we have been called to be God’s faithful servants in this time and place. I am grateful for the many ways in which we already fulfill that calling, and the ways yet unfolding. And I am grateful for you.
The grace and peace of Christ be yours, always.
Rev. Susan
SESSION/ELDERS 2019 ~ Donna Gautier, Nancy Miller (Clerk), Bill Werts, Bob Wilson
2020 ~ Grace Anne Azahar, Catherine Dean, Marianne Edwards, Doris Moody, Anne Smart
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP
JOIN US FOR STUDY & WORSHIP
Sunday School 9:45AM Potluck Wednesday 6:30PM
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00AM Bible/Book Study 7:15PM
NURSERY SCHEDULE: April 7 Doris Moody April 14 Anne Smart April 21 Joel Burns April 28 Elizabeth Baarda Many thanks to the loyal nursery volunteers. Anne Smart ([email protected]).
FPC Book Club
Michele Obama is widely considered one of the most admired women in the world. Her best-selling book, Becoming, was the subject of our March book club discussion.
Obama tells of her structured childhood on Chicago’s south side. The daughter of a city laborer and a stay-at-home mom, her parents worked hard to provide a better future for their children. Her stories of relatives, including a stern, piano teacher aunt and a jazz-loving grandfather called Southside, foretell of a White House tenure filled
with musical performances and much joy.
The struggle to become her own person, sometimes in the shadow of her famously charismatic husband, provides the ongoing theme of the book. She shares how a free-spirited friend who died young and her “whirling dervish”
husband helped her to loosen some of the expectations her disciplined childhood had instilled. Obama says of the age-old question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’, “as if at some point you become something that’s
the end.”
Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission To Bring Clean Water To The World is the book club choice for April 11. Scott Harrison, the author, is the founder and CEO of Charity: Water, one of the most admired and trusted nonprofits in the world. Reviewer Christine Caine wrote of the book, “Thirst is a powerful reminder of the difference one person can make in the lives of millions of others, if only they surrender to putting others before
themselves. What a gift Scott Harrison and his vision are to the world - to provide clean drinking water to every single person. May we all value people the way Scott has - and may we leave such a life-giving legacy.”
May’s selection is Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference. The book is the true story of the designation of Clarkston, Georgia, as a refugee settlement in the 1990’s.
The founding of a youth soccer team there served as a way to unite refugee children.
Book Club meets on second Thursdays at 2 p.m. in the church parlor. All are welcome!
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
God has been faithful to us and we are called to faithfully respond. When we listen to others’ stories, pray for their
needs and give generously, we follow the example of our creator who is, in the words of “A Brief Statement of
Faith,” “Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal
home.” Join us on the 2nd Sunday (April 14) at 5:00pm in the FPC Parlor or the 2nd Tuesday (April 9) at 11:00am
in the FPC Parlor If you are interested or have any questions please contact Rosemary Begemann at
Sermons are now available as a podcast
on the Anchor App and may also be
found on iTunes! “Under the Palm” is
the name of the podcast.
Please consider hosting an after church reception in the month of April. Sign up on the clipboard in the kitchen!
April 7 __Reception for Rev. Cheryl Barnes___ April 14__________________________
April 21___Easter Sunday_________ April 28 __Anne Smart_______
FAITH BASED ACTION
Most of us have accepted that our role in this world is to follow Jesus into the places in the world where need exists. This role is the reason we have fed people and cared for those who fall through the cracks in our world. The PCUSA gives us opportunities to make our mission happen on a global and local scale.
The four annual special offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peace & Global Witness and Christmas Joy each provide different opportunities. We are now in the season of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. During lent and particularly on Palm Sunday we accept this offering to assist with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Self-Development of People. These programs are adminis-tered by the Presbyterian Mission Agency and as a result, there is no administrative cost deducted from the funds received. The Presbyterian Hunger Program approaches hunger holistically with 5 tools:
Direct Food Relief combined with Root Cause Work Sustainable Development
Advocacy Intentional and Sustainable Living
Education
The effort tries to help people by not only filling the current need, but continuing to provide food by showing folks how they can feed themselves.
The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program continues to serve in disaster sites long after most groups have gone. It is currently still at work in Haiti assisting the victims of the terrible earthquake. It is still working to assist the displaced and wounded from the Indonesian Tsunamis. The work continues in the areas devastated by Hurricane Michael and the California fires in the United States. Simply put, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance concentrates on long term healing.
Self-Development of People is a ministry that affirms God’s concern for humankind. We are Presbyterians and ecumenical partners dissatisfied with poverty and oppression, united in faith and action through sharing, confronting, and enabling by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvan-taged people, seeking to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression and injustice.
SDOP Core Strategies:
Promote Justice, Build stronger communities, Seek economic equity
As those in this community are very aware, justice and economic equity can be hard to sustain. We definitely need to promote this effort. In short, One Great Hour of Sharing is an offering we need to support. ~Joel D. Burns
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Easter Egg Hunt Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, April 13, 2:30~4:30 pm. Join us for fun, games, contests, Egg hunting, and a rehearsal for Palm Sunday. Please see Anne Smart to volunteer to bring refreshments such as cupcakes, cookies or drinks. Get your plastic eggs
to fill (except chocolate and peanuts) from Gloria soon, they go fast. Thanks for all your help. Our Singers will be singing for some part of Worship on Palm Sunday and will need to be
here on April 14 by 10 am. Students That Always Rejoice and Serve
Our Elementary Children continue to meet on Sunday afternoon from 3-5pm. This group is the core of our children’s ministry. We play games, sing (as you have heard during worship), help with the food pantry, make
cards for our shut-ins and learn to pray for our families, the church, and our world. This is a very friendly group and we welcome new faces.
Puppets Our very talented puppet crew practices at 10am each Sunday morning so that they can perform a skit relevant to
the Lectionary of the day. We welcome all Elementary aged children with good reading skills or older youth. If your child is interested and would like to join us please talk with Gloria Burns at [email protected] or 478-454
-6285 or just show up. Middle & High School Youth
Our Youth meet on Sunday afternoons from 3:00~5:00pm. This group runs a parallel but separate schedule with our Elementary Group. Join us for fun and fellowship. Interested youth are welcome to be a part of our puppet
crew. We do need people to help with costume design, props, and skit selection. Please speak with Gloria Burns.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Communion for the Infirm and Homebound Our FPC Worship Committee would like to make Communion available to those members of our
congregation who are unable to attend our church worship services. They will do so by bringing the communion elements to homes, hospital rooms, and nursing facilities. To request this service, please
call the church office at (478) 452-9394 and leave your contact information.
Food Pantry ~ 9:30-10:30am
‘Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.” - Isaiah 58:10
When the federal government went into shutdown a while ago, it appeared that members of our community who depend upon assistance to feed their families might be left wanting. A faith decision was made at that time to return to our previous weekly distributions from our food pantry, which had been suspended due to funding
concerns. Thankfully, the shutdown did end, but the need remains, so we are continuing to open the pantry each Tuesday. With your in-kind donations and financial support, we hope this can remain a weekly ministry.
Each family receives a bag of staple food items, intended to serve as the basis of 3 or 4 meals to which they add perishables from their own resources. The size of the bag is commensurate with the number of people in the
household, with more small and medium sizes distributed than large ones. We try to accommodate dietary restrictions and provide more “kid-friendly” items where there are several children noted on the registration form.
Each family still is eligible for a bag every four weeks.
The average cost of medium bag contents is approximately $25.00, with the small and large bags each running slightly more or less. As we distribute about 50 bags, this cost works out to around $1200.00 per month.
We have a line item in the church budget from which purchases can be made, but it does not refill itself, and it now has only enough to carry us through the end of April.
Contributions to this ministry, via designated donations or gift cards or purchased items, will continue to be needed. When shoppers for the pantry go to the grocery stores, every effort is made to make best use of the funds,
buying store brands and specials, using our personal shopper’s cards for deals, clipping or selecting online coupons, BOGO purchases, etc. All these measures help. And, of course, there are some folks who do considerable shopping
and never get around to turning in their reimbursement requests (you know who you are). Bless you!!
Thank you so much to the people who have given gift cards in the past couple of months. A special thank you to the people who have come on Monday mornings to pack bags and on Tuesdays to help with distribution.
There is a sign-up sheet on the Pantry door in the downstairs hallway where you can see who those folks are (so you can thank them yourself) and also put your own name in an available space. If you have questions or suggestions,
please contact me at [email protected] or 478.454.8139 (voice or text).
Samaritan Ministry Donations to the Samaritan Ministry Fund will be accepted in lieu of Easter Lilies again this year!
This ministry offers limited utility assistance to struggling families in our community. We are able to help keep the lights on, the heat/air (sometimes oxygen) running, and shelter from the storms! Please give if you are
able!! We will be assisting this month on April 16 at 9:15 am .
Help for the Hopeless, Light for the Lost, and Rest for those who Strive...
Prison Family Luncheon ~ Every Third Saturday 11:00am~1:00pm
On March 15 we welcomed 15 visitors from Atlanta with a delicious meal coordinated by Barbara Rowe and prepared by several volunteers including Melba Burrell, Catherine Dean, and others. Becky Humphrey provided
table decorations and assisted with set-up and serving. I know there were others involved and I apologize for omit-ting names, but you are no less appreciated than those I have named. Thank you all for stepping in while I continue
recovering from knee replacement surgery.
We will have a "traditional" Easter ham dinner on April 20 for this month's visitors. If you wish to partici-pate, please contact me by email at [email protected] or phone at 453-2154 (leave a message if I do not an-swer). I would like to provide a little basket for each of the children that day, so would appreciate contributions in kind or funds for that. Many hands have made light work each month, so you are encouraged to join in whatever
way you can to make this a better day than it might be for some of our visitors. You will feel blessed; I guarantee it!
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
Holy Week Lunch-Hour Service & Meal In observance of Holy Week, Hardwick Baptist Church will be hosting an ecumenical service and meal on Monday, April 15, through Friday, April 19. We will begin in the sanctuary at noon with a 30-minute
service; then dismiss to the fellowship hall for a soup & sandwich lunch. The food and the fellowship are gifts to our community. The theme for the service is “What I am Learning about Following in the
Way of the Cross,” and the guest speakers are: Monday, April 15: Fr. David Probst ~ Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Tuesday, April 16: Tate Welling ~ Director, Georgia College Wesley Foundation Wednesday, April 17: Rev. Chip Reeves ~ Pastor, Community Baptist Church Thursday, April 18: Rev. Susan Balfour ~ Pastor, First Presbyterian Church Friday, April 19: Dr. Stephanie McClure ~ Professor of Sociology, Georgia College
The community is cordially invited to attend. All are welcome. Hardwick Baptist Church is located at 124 Thomas Street SE, Hardwick, GA 31034.
Visually Impaired Person’s Groups ~ Lightening Our Burdens To paraphrase a quote by John Heywood, “Many hands lighten the burden.” That’s the essence of our Caring and Sharing meetings. In our March meeting we shared ideas and devices we had
found that helped overcome everyday challenges of having impaired vision. First, Mike Martenson told us about a new device, the Lime Lighter ( Visual Enhancements,
Inc.), a hands free device which helps musicians read music while performing. Mike also gave us signature guides to help us keep on line when signing documents. Sandy Collins showed us a
variety of items which help when one is sewing which included a tape measure with tactile markers at various lengths & a needle threader. She also brought a dark colored cutting board which makes it easier to see items you are cutting. Another item was a roll of brightly colored
adhesive tape which she uses to mark dials on her stove so she can be sure they are completely turned off after use.
Dudley Weathers demonstrated magnifying devices - the Geordy and the TV glasses - which enhance vision for watching TV, etc. Anne Weathers, demonstrated how colored/raised letters can be placed on tags to hang on clothes indicating the color of the item. She also showed how
opaque and clear bubble adhesive bubble dots could be used to indicate frequently used functions on the microwave and oven. She gave out 20/20 pens and letter writing guides.
Maredith Griffith told the group about a device called the Smart Reader which reads written material out loud for you. She also demonstrated her talking watch which gives the day, date/
time auditorially. Most of these items can be found in the catalogues on line for Visual Enhancements, Inc. / Independent Living Aids, Inc./Mons International. We wish to thank
Marion Robinson who served as our emcee as Harry Beck had to miss the meeting. Her wit and compassion lifted our spirits.
Our next meeting will be on June 19th at 10:30 am, speaker to be announced. All those interested in
learning more about coping
with vision loss are welcome.
An
niv
ersa
ries
Limited Mobility: Mary Carlton Martha Chappell Helen Danuser Polly Morrison Gloria Smith
Church Family: Harry Beck, chemotherapy Haywood Edwards, recovering at Baldwin Navicent Debbie Lamsma, recovering at home Polly Morrison, stroke, rehabilitation at home Jackie Northington, recovering at home Extended Family: Charley, Marion Robinson’s friend, throat cancer Murphy Davis, Open Door Community, cancer, multiple health concerns Judy deGrandcourt, Sandra Balfour’s sister, advanced MS Kyle Dennis, Anne’s husband, Multiple Myeloma, kidney issues Russell & Kathleen Edwards, Marianne’s parents, numerous health problems Joellen Gonsauley, Nancy Miller’s sister, health concerns Kathy Hall, Gini Wilkerson’s mother, undergoing medical testing Dee Hartmann, Sandra Balfour’s sister-in-law, health issues Sue Madden, Catherine Dean’s aunt, undergoing chemo, having a difficult time of it Molly Manley, Jo Ann Manley’s daughter, cervical cancer, needs assistance Arthur & Julie Montemayor, Becky Henderson’s parents, ongoing health concerns Charlie Morgan, Jennifer Flory’s father, health concerns Chris Pearson, Sunda Coleman’s son, recovering at home; dialysis treatments in town Spencer Scott, Laura Burns Scott’s husband, health concerns
In Assisted Living: Jane Carroll, Fellowship Home at Meriwether, 10 Meriwether Place Bryan Dempster, Green Acres, 313 Allen Memorial Drive Bob & Eloise Lamb, Fellowship Home at Meriwether, 10 Meriwether Place Steven Powell, Chaplinwood, 325 Allen Memorial Drive SW Suzy Smith, Savannah Court, 61 Marshall Rd., Milledgeville
April 4 ~ Donna Gautier April 9 ~ Jennifer Carroll Morris
Carl Pettepher
Anne Smart April 10 ~ Jose Garcia April 12 ~ Emily Wells. April 17 ~ Jackie Northington April 18 ~ Roy Phillips
April 5 ~ Andrew & Min Lindsay April 12 ~ Jamie & Melissa Wheeles April 14 ~ John & Libby Lounsbury April 16 ~ Ken & Shaina McGill
Bir
thd
ays
TREASURER'S CORNER As I write this article we are in the season of Lent. It is a time of careful reconsideration of our lives. There are
so many things we have done that we should not have done, and so many things we should have done that we have not. Many people in our community are hurting. We have tried to help them as much as we can, but it is never enough. We
need more resources to do the job God needs done. We have a mission in our church to bring God's love to our community. We cannot perform that mission unless each of us gives enough to keep the doors open and the services flowing. Please give generously and make our love show. ~ Joel
D. Burns
January February 2019 YTD Contributions $15,876 $13,987 $29,863 Other Income 746 747 $1,493 Total Income $16,622 $14,734 $31,356
Budgeted Expenses $17,236 $16,209 $33,445 Net (Loss) ($614) ($1,475) ($2,089)
April 22 ~ Mary Lucik
Steve Powell April 23 ~ David Baarda April 25 ~ Vera Bales
April 28 ~ John Sallstrom
April 30 ~ Wesley Applebury
Congrats on Donna Gautier’s new grandbaby Harper Marie Mae
Hodgman, 8lbs 8.8 oz. 19in long!
Condolences to families our beloved’s of Charlotte Owens and
Frances Williams.
1 2
9:30~10:30 FOOD
PANTRY
12:00 Kiwanis Club
Luncheon
3
6:30 Potluck
Gathering
7:15 Bible/book
Study & Discussion
4
1:00 Afternoon
Bridge Club
5:30 Finance
Committee
5:30 Confirmation
Class
6:30 In Our Best
Interest
7:00 Choir Practice
5 6
7
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Puppets
11:00 Worship Service
w/Communion & Food
Offering Rec’d ~ Rev.
Cheryl Barnes 3~5:00
Students That Always
Rejoice & Serve
8 9
9:30~10:30 FOOD
PANTRY
11:00 Presbyterian
Women Study
12:00 Kiwanis Club
Luncheon
5:30 SESSION
10
6:30 Potluck
Gathering
7:15 Bible/Book
Study & Discussion
11
1:00 Afternoon
Bridge Club
2:00 FPC Book
Club
5:30 Confirmation
Class
12 13
EASTER EGG
HUNT 2:30~4:30
14 Palm Sunday
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Puppets
11:00 Worship Service
3~5:00 Students That
Always Rejoice &
Serve
5:00 Presbyterian
Women Study
15
3:00~4:00 Baldwin
County Retired
Educators Assoc.
16
9:30 Samaritan
Ministry ~ Utility
Assistance
9:30~10:30 FOOD
PANTRY
12:00 Kiwanis Club
Luncheon
17
6:30 Potluck
Gathering
7:15 Bible/Book
Study & Discussion
18 MAUNDY
1:00 Afternoon
Bridge Club
2:00 Learning in
Retirement Reading
3:00 Learning in
Retirement Writing
5:30 Confirmation
Class 7:00 Maundy
Thursday Service
19
GOOD
FRIDAY
20
11:00~1:00
PRISON FAMILY
LIUNCHEON
21 EASTER
Decorate the Flower
Cross
One Great Hour of
Sharing
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Puppets
10:30 Lounsbury Cross
dedication
11:00 Worship Service
22
6:00~8:00 Girl
Scout Leaders
23
9:30~10:30 FOOD
PANTRY
12:00 Kiwanis Club
Luncheon
6:30 BRIDGE
24
6:30 Potluck
Gathering
7:15 Bible/Book
Study & Discussion
25
1:00 Afternoon
Bridge Club
4:00 MCGA
5:30 Confirmation
Class
6:30 In Our Best
Interest
7:00 Choir Practice
26 27
28
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Puppets
11:00 Worship Service
29 30
9:30~10:30 FOOD
PANTRY
12:00 Kiwanis Club
Luncheon
1
6:30 Potluck
Gathering
7:15 Bible/Book
Study & Discussion
2
1:00 Afternoon
Bridge Club
5:30 Confirmation
Class
7:00 Choir Practice
3 7
April