delivered especially for you!€¦ · rebecca rognas class of 2016 anne brothers linda lawson...
TRANSCRIPT
“ Together We Serve”
Office — Mon-Friday 9:00 AM—1:00 PM
813-782-7412 — Fax: 813-782-4352
E-mail: [email protected] // Web site: firstpcz.org
Church Staff
The Rev. John W. Caster, Pastor
Home phone: 813-779-4394
e-mail: [email protected]
Debbie Edwards, Director of Music
Jason Edwards, Choir Director
Dell Anderson — Church Office Administrator
Vacancy — Clerk of Session
Mark Freeman — Youth Leader
Tracy Clemmer — Nursery Attendant
Session
Class of 2014
Yvonne Daume
Mark Edwards
Tim Franke
Class of 2015
Joanne Combs
Audrell Howard
John Wilcher
Class of 2016
Megan Hall
Robert Harmsen
Charles Pugh
Deacons
Class of 2014
Fran Crum
Kay Haas
Tom Hannold
Class of 2015
Sharon Harmsen
David Reifsteck
Rebecca Rognas
Class of 2016
Anne Brothers
Linda Lawson
Suzann Parrish
February, 2014
The First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills
5510 19th St. Zephyrhills, FL 33542
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Tampa, Florida
PERMIT # 7801
Address Service Requested
Delivered especially
for you!
February, 2014
The F.R.E.S.H. Youth will be
serving soup & sandwiches for the Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, Febru-ary 2, 2014. We will join young people in churches across the country to collect canned goods & money for those who are hungry and hurting. In 2013, $7.47 million was collected by Souper Bowl of Caring participants for local charities. All of the canned goods & money collected
is donated to our food pantry - none of the money is sent to the Souper Bowl of Car-ing headquarters. Organizers only ask that each participant report their collection so national totals can be determined and announced. Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, more than $98 million has gone to help people in need. Please sup-port the youth of our church in this effort to “love our neighbors” by joining us for the Souper Bowl of Caring on February 2 following Worship.
Choir Roast Beef Dinner, Saturday, February 22
The choirs of First Presbyterian Church will be holding their annual Roast Beef Din-ner on February 22nd. Tickets will be sold in advance only. No tickets will be sold at the door. Menu is: roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, salad, dinner roll, dessert. Yumm… See Debbie Edwards or Jason Edwards for tickets.
A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. John W. Caster February, 2014
For everything there is a season, and a time
for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is
planted
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Most of you will have received a version of this notice: On January 11 I notified the session that I will retire, effective April 1, 2014. My final day at First Presbyterian Church will be March 31. Lynda will retire, as well, and we expect to move from Florida to Ohio shortly thereafter.
You are aware that a little more than two years ago I suffered a major heart attack that I almost didn’t survive. At that time I thought about retir-ing, but it didn’t seem like it was the right time, either for Lynda and I, or for the congregation. But, now, two years later, it is the right time.
In the past two years we have accomplished a great deal. We have begun new ministries and reached out in creative ways to our neighbor-hood. I am proud of the ministry we have done together here. You are ready to move on to new opportunities in ministry and mission.
I have appreciated the love and support of the congregation in my six years of ministry here in Zephyrhills. We value the friendships we have made and appreciate all you have done for us in these years together. Although we may remain friends, please understand, when I have retired I will no longer be able to be in any pastoral rela-tionship with anyone in the congregation.
The transition process has already begun. The session will hire an interim pastor to guide you through the transition and eventual call of your next pastor. An interim pastor search committee of the session has already been elected. The Presbytery of Tampa Bay, through the Commis-sion on Ministry and Interim Executive Presbyter Rev. Nancy Kahaian, will help to guide the church through this process. The interim pastor
search committee is: Ruling Elders Megan Hall (Chairperson), Bob Harmsen, Charles Pugh, and John Wilcher.
I am confident that with the strong lay leadership that is in place, the ministry and outreach of First Presbyterian Church will continue uninterrupted.
We still have some time to say our goodbyes. Lynda and I will be around until the end of March. There will be a number of occasions where we will have an opportunity to share our thoughts as we end our time together.
At the next meeting of the Tampa Bay Presbytery
on February 8 at the Grace Presbyterian Church
in Spring Hill, the Presbytery will vote to grant me
the status of “Honorably Retired.” Everyone who
would like to be there is invited to attend.
In response to numerous requests, I can say this emphatically: “Yes, Macie is coming with me! Sorry, she can’t stay.”
May God bless us all as Lynda and I (and Macie) move to the next phase of our lives and the church moves on to a new pastoral relationship and new adventures in ministry.
We thank God for all the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills.
Faithfully, John & Macie
MACIE will be dressed like this next winter in Ohio!
Phoebe Kay Haas
Moderator
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
TO EVERYONE
Mon., Feb.3 Leader's Meeting 1:30PM Tues., Feb.4 Joint Circle Meeting 7:00PM Wed., Feb.12 Crafts 1:00PM Sat., Feb.15 PW Annual Gathering 9:00AM Trinity Presbyterian Church Clearwater Sun., Feb.23 Installation of Officers 10:00AM Wed., Feb.26 Crafts 1:00PM
Please note that Circles this month are combined. Bible Study will be held along with a couple of short but fun activities. We will hold election of officers at this time.
The PW Annual Gathering is open to all women. It is a wonderful day opening with a Worship Service followed by Election of District Officers and their Installation. Registrations have to be made before Feb. 8th. Any one interested in attending should see Kay or Maggie as soon as possible. Registration fee is $8.00 which includes lunch.
PW has started collecting empty prescrip-tion pill bottles. Leave them on the PW table in the Fellowship Hall. Remember we still collect can tabs, used postage stamps, and soup labels. They can be left on that table also.
We would love to see some new faces at these events.
* IMPORTANT NOTICE * I will on longer be chairing the Craft Group as I have for the last 18 years. I am now the Modera-tor of Deacons and now feel that there is anoth-er VERY CAPABLE person out there in the Congre-gation that would be good at the position of Craft Chairperson. The group will still be meeting the 2nd and 4th Wed. of each month. I will still
handle the crafts at the Bazaar if that person so wishes. I will help them in any way possible and try to attend when my time allows.
Sincerely, Kay Haas (813)788-3454//Cell — 813 469-2225 e-mail: [email protected]
Drumming For Dreams
The Shining Lights Sunday School class of First Presbyterian Church is a community partner with Woodland Elementary School through Drumming for Dreams. This is a program based on three princi-ples: Listen, Focus, Respect. Not only is this taught and reinforced in drumming, but it is connected to their home life, academic life and their social con-tacts.
There is a group of 25 students waiting for the pro-gram to get started. Teacher mentors have volun-teered to mentor about a third of the students. In order to continue the program, mentors are needed. These are 9, 10 & 11 year old kids that would bene-fit from a relationship with an adult role model.
A school psychologist has agreed to meet with any-one interested to help guide them in conversation as a mentor. Please see Debbie (organist) to volun-teer, ask questions, etc. These are sweet kids that may just be having a rough time at home; divorce, single parent, etc. Once we have a group of inter-ested persons, a date will be set to meet with the psychologist for a question and answer time.
The Church Office will be closed
on Monday, February 17.
From the
Deacons’ Corner
Happy Valentine’s
Day to you all! The Deacons, are excited
about opportunities to serve our Lord, our congregation and
our community in 2014!
Each February we ask our congregation to help stock our Food Pantry by filling grocery bags with
items that are used each month. After Worship on Febru-ary 9 and 16, gro-cery bags (with a printout of the items needed) will be handed out as you leave Church.
Please remember to pick up as many of
the items on the list as possible, and return the bag Sunday, February 23. This is a tremendous Bless-ing for our Food Pantry! In January we served 64 families - 2 were new. Everyone we meet on Food Pantry Day is always so thankful for the assistance; it is indeed a privilege to help God’s children on this journey.
Lenten Lunches begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5
th at noon! This is such an important time of inspi-
ration (guest Speaker); delicious soup, sandwich, dessert and drink and fine fellowship! This is the Deacons’ only fundraiser. Soon there will be a sign-up sheet that will offer opportunities for everybody to get involved and help by making soup, stuffing sandwiches, baking a cake, washing dishes, etc. Please mark your calendars and join us each Wednesday during Lent as we are fed spiritually and physically. Bring your friends and neighbors!
As always, we appreciate your help and your pray-ers; please be assured that you are in our prayers as well.
In Christian Love,
Kay Haas, Moderator
813-788-3454
813-469-2225
Supper Club meets Saturday, February 8
at 5:00 PM at Maine-ly New England located off St. Rd. 54 in Zephyrhills. RSVP to Sue Reffit at 813 783 1299 by Noon on Thursday, February 6.
. Charles and Rosalyn Pugh wish to thank everyone for their pray-ers and concerns re-garding their grandson,
Joe Soueidan. He recently had surgery and is re-covering nicely.
HELP WANTED
Clerk of Session Volunteer opportunity for an organized, de-tail-oriented person. Keep the session rec-ords including minutes, membership rec-ords, and correspondence. Must have basic computer skills. For more infor-mation, please contact Rev. Caster.
A Retirement Dinner is be-ing planned for Rev. John and Lynda Caster for Sun-day, March 16.
Watch for details.
Mary Andersen/Daughter of Maggie Andersen April Martin Jean Basnight Family/Sister of Rosalyn Pugh Claudia Kopp McBee/Art Kopp’s daughter Scott and Elizabeth Beckley/friends of Mary Jackson Ruth McCall/Daughter of Martha McLaughlin Richard Beiling Gordon and Joyce McDonagh Kenneth Conrad Martha McLaughlin Stu Daume Jim Melton/Brother of Suzann Parrish Donna Engelbrecht Lee Mosher/Nephew of Anna Angelo Jeff Franke Ruth Mullen Mardell Franke Brian Murch Harriet Headworth Suzann Parrish Todd Hilbrandt/Son of John and Shirley Hilbrandt Joe Soueidan/Grandson of Rosalyn Nancy and Ken Keslar/Daughter/son-in-law and Charles Pugh of Donna Brooking
Pray for those in Nursing Homes:
Reba Carlson/Westbrook Manor — John Roberts/Royal Oaks-Dade City — Irene Finn/Heartland Joe Horak/West Winds Assisted Living — Don Edwards/Zephyrhills Health & Rehab.
Pray for those in the Armed Forces:
LSC(SS) Matthew E. Edwards/Mark and Debbie Edwards’ son — HE1(SW/AW) Jamie Edwards/Mark and Debbie Edwards’ daughter-in-law — Sr. Airman Jason Haas/Phoebe Kay Haas’ grandson Major Craig Young/Jack and Dianne Young’s son
04 Mary Ellen Badgero 16 Stoy Daume 05 Bill Hughes 16 Marilyn Wood 07 Maggie Andersen 19 Maxine Stevens 08 Joann Wuerfel 22 Jack Young 08 Joni Roberts 23 Vera Wilson 12 Donna Engelbrecht 23 Janet Horak 14 Lillian Inglis 23 Rosanne Vogel
13 Gordon and Joyce McDonagh 54 Years 24 Roger and Rebecca Rognas 46 Years 26 Joe and Anna Angello 21 Years
Prayer List
Stephen Ministry Leader's Training
Course
I departed after church Sunday, January 12, and ar-rived in Orlando for my week of leadership training. The place was bustling with Christians of many de-
nominations from 37 states and Canada. I immediately met people from Kansas, South Dakota, Alabama, Indiana, and Georgia. During the week I met people from Colorado, Wis-consin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and, Tennessee and Canada. From so many places, we were all there together in Christ with the pur-pose of furthering our ability to listen to others' difficulties in a totally confidential and nonjudgmental way - just listen and chat, and pray and read scripture if the person desires that.
What we all had set out to do was learn to assist others in Christ, but to our delight and surprise, Christ visited our hearts too, and many of us had a tearful celebration with Him and each other.
So we all left with a great fulfillment ourselves and an enhanced ability to be Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders who can help run the Stephen Ministries at our own churches. There are more than 150 denominations with Stephen Ministry and 10,000 churches worldwide. More than a million people who had trials that seemed overwhelming have been nurtured and pulled out of the hole of sadness and overwhelming concern by Christ's love.
I want to thank the people of First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills for your love and support of our church's ongoing Stephen Ministry, and if you know anyone who might need a good confidential listener, let us know. Fliers that encourage people to call someone who cares are under the bulletin board in the coffee fellowship room; please take one.
Roy Marks, a Stephen Ministry Leader
POTTER … Prayer on Thursdays at Ten Equals Renewal… “God’s Little Devotional Bible” tells of a little shepherd
boy watching his sheep one Sunday morning and hear-
ing church bells ringing. He wanted to communicate with
God but didn’t know how to pray – so “he began reciting
the alphabet – A to Z - repeating his ‘prayer’ several
times.” The story goes on to say a man passing by asked the boy what he was doing and he told
him he didn’t know how to pray. The boy thought by saying all he knew, God could put the letters
together and spell what he wanted to say: asking God to take care of him and help him to care for
the sheep. • When we go to God in prayer, we needn’t worry if we don’t know what to say – “…He
can put your thoughts and feelings together and send you the answer you need, even when you
don’t know what you need.” • Wherever we are, or whatever we are doing, each Thursday at 10
a.m., let’s pause and pray.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Deacons to pass out
9th &
16th
Ministry Team Re-
ports are due on the
9th//Newsletter Dead-
line is on the 16th
1 Fellowship Hall is
reserved
2 8:30 Adult Study
10:00 Worship/
Communion
11:00 Souper Bowl
Ministry Teams meet
3 Presbyterian Wom-
en Leaders meet at
1:30 PM
Handbells 4:30 PM
Cub Scouts 6:30 PM
4 Presbyterian
Women/Joint Circles
meeting.
7:00 PM
5 9:30 SM training
5:30 REFRESH
6:00 Classes
7:00 Bible Study
7:00 Choir
6 7 8 Presbytery
Spring Hill/JWC re-
tirement
5:00 PM Supper Club
Maine-ly New Englnd
9 8:30 Adult Study
10:00 Worship/3¢
11:00 Coffee Fellow-
ship/Annual meeting
of the Congregation
10
Handbells 4:30 PM
Cub Scouts 6:30 PM
11 12 1:00 Crafts
2:30 Deacons meet
5:30 REFRESH
6:00 Classes
7:00 Bible Study
7:00 Parents REFRESH
13 10:00 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 Stephen
Ministers
14 15 Presbyterian
Women’s Annual
Meeting/ Clearwater
16 8:30 Adult Study
10:00 Worship
11:00 Coffee Fellow-
ship
11:45 Session meets
17 OFFICE IS
CLOSED/
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Handbells 4:30 PM
Cub Scouts 6:30 PM
18 19 10:00 SM
5:30 REFRESH
6:00 Classes
7:00 Bible Study
7:00 Choir
20 21 22 Choir Roast Beef
Dinner
23 8:30 Adult Study
10:00 Worship/Food
Pantry Collection/
Deacon Bags are
returned
11:00 Coffee Fellow-
24
Handbells 4:30 PM
Cub Scouts 6:30 PM
25 26 1:00 Crafts
5:30 REFRESH
6:00 Classes
7:00 Bible Study
27
7:00 Stephen
Ministers
28
First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills 5510 19th Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33542
(813)782-7412 Fax (813)782-7412 February, 2014 Website: www.firstpcz.org