UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS:

Beginning Sunday, September 1, 2019, Membership Rosters of those eligible to serve as Elders of GMPC will be made available for the upcoming election. Forms, for suggesting names for consideration by the nominating committee, for the office of Elder, will be included as bulletin inserts on September 15th, 22nd and 29th. Forms are due by noon, October 2, 2019.

A Congregational Meeting will be held on October 20th for election of Elders.

The 2019-2020 Nominating Committee, elected at the March 2, 2019 Annual Meeting of the Congregation, Diane Westerbeek: Chair, Diane Viser: Vice Chair, Wilbert Faircloth, Myrtle Petty, Mac Purcell, John Surratt & Jan Tart, thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration in suggesting names for the upcoming election.

September 8, 2019 is Promotion Sunday! This is a special time when we commission our leaders for the upcoming program year. This is also a time of recognizing our children and youth as they are promoted to new Sunday school classes, and thanking our retiring acolytes who are entering 9th grade.

Brown-Bag Lunch Bible Studies will be held weekly, on Mondays, at noon, beginning September 9th, in the Fellowship Hall. Please plan to join us as Dr. Wilkins leads us in a Bible Study, on the Gospel According to Mark. Come and learn of the mission and ministry of Christ as told in the first-written Gospel. We will eat and enjoy fellowship the first 15 minutes, opening our bibles at 12:15–1:00 p.m. Bring your lunch, your Bible, and your appetite for God’s Word! Tea and water will be provided.

GMPC Summer Concert Series: At 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2019 we will hold our final concert of the 2019 Summer Concert Series. GMPC is pleased to present Negro Spirituals, featuring Daryl Duff, baritone & Bridget Capparuccia, soprano. Mr. Daryl Duff, a former U.S. Navy Sea Chanter, is a voice professor at Liberty University, and Ms. Bridget Capparuccia is a voice major at Liberty. Together they will present a wonderful concert of Negro Spirituals, an historic and uniquely American musical genre. Refreshments will follow. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for our 3rd Annual Summer Concert Series for the Clinton community.

The GMPC Prayer Quilt Ministry (Third Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.) resumes on September 17th in the Fellowship Hall. The Prayer Quilt Ministry meets approx. 6-7 times a year. Four quilts are prepared at each meeting, than sent with a sewer to complete at home. The idea behind these quilts is simple, yet powerful. As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is offered and symbolically tied into each quilt. Each “comforter” is a gift of love, a statement of faith and a testimony to our belief in God and the power of prayer. Do not worry if you can not sew, that is only one aspect of creating these quilts. For more information please contact Pat Welfare or the church office. See you on the 17th as we gather to organize and plan for the 2019-2020 program year!

Ministry Partnership Forms– As we plan for the program year in the church's ministry (September–August), the Session ministries invite your participation. Ministry Partnership Forms are available outside the church office. Please indicate your interests in serving in various capacities in our ongoing work, and our ministry elders will contact you to confirm your participation. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27).

Volume XLII, No. 8

Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church Newsletter 201 Fayetteville Street . Clinton, NC 28328

Phone: 910-592-2677 . Fax: 910-592-3100 . Website: gravesmemorial.org

Email: Steve Wilkins: RevSHW@gmail.com; melissagriffin@embarqmail.com

OUR KNOWN ILL:

Henry Lamb, Julie Stefanovich, Diane Westerbeek, Kathy Peay, Savannah Jackson, Martha Dunn, Susan Bristow

Erma Faircloth– MaryGran; Rm. 709 Margaret Faircloth- MaryGran; Rm. 701

Betty Heaton- MaryGran; Rm. 204 Mary Harrington– Southwood; Rm. 301 Tink Purcell- The Cardinal at North Hills

Frances Hubbard- GlenAire

Gina Powell- (Daughter of Curtis & Peggie Lindsay) Wayne Reynolds- (Brother of Joy Prestage)

Ann Weeks- (Mother of Joy Prestage) Juaweese Franklin- (Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Joan Bartlett- (Sister of Annette Newton)

Christine Stacey- (Mother of Lara Capparuccia)

Joe Kozel- (Father of Kristi Williford) Betty Hairr- (Mother of Vickie Pope)

Ronnie Watson- (Brother-in-law of Amelia Surratt)

Hewitt Fulton- (Father of Bill Fulton)

Becky Hughes- (Sister of Bill Scott)

Joyce & Landon Autry- (Tammy Honeycutt)

Ray Respess- (Brother-in-law of Piet Westerbeek)

Debbie Carver- (Sister of Kermit, Dale, Wanda)

Mary Lynn Roberts- (Sister of Mac Purcell)

Wilbert Knowles- (Former GMPC Custodian)

August - September 2019

SYMPATHY TO:

Molly Held, Kyle Held, Joni Fay Fet-terman, Trey Fetterman, Charlotte Harrell and families on the passing of Annabelle Lundy Fetterman.

Alice Lockerman and family on the passing of Ted Brooks Lockerman.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Hunter and Catherine Yancey on the birth of their son, Sutton Bright Yancey, born August 22, 2019.

Grandparents are Joel and Wanda Coleman.

Great-Grandmother is Mary Doyne.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 2

PASTORAL PONDERING…“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ… Therefore,

as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:2, 10

Dear Friends,

I have had many opportunities to see Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church put into action the verses printed

above. One of the most significant ways that we minister to people is through the support we offer when someone

passes away. People from this congregation quietly come alongside those who are stricken with grief at the loss of a

loved one. Behind the scenes we have faithful people who arrange for food for meals or receptions, people who put

together beautiful flower arrangements, people who organize the ushers, people who tend to the family before and

after the services. The list goes on and on.

As I write this note, we have recently held services for two long-time leaders in our community. I remain

deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support shown to the Fetterman and Lockerman families. In a fatherly

sense, I am extremely proud of the way this church has reached out during this time.

As I reflect on the kindness and the words of encouragement that are offered during a time of bereavement,

one of the things that has hit home for me recently is that it is important that we not wait until someone dies or

something bad happens before we reach out with kindness. Don’t save the words of encouragement until a later

time, because that later time might not come. Every one of us would do well to make it our habit to affirm one an-

other at all times, to embrace one another with goodness and to share the joy of the Lord. There’s no telling the good

that can come of life when we reach out to one another and affirm each other and let others know they are important.

Thank you for all you do to help carry one another’s burdens. Thank you also for all you do to show good-

ness, mercy, and love to fellow members of the body of Christ.

Faithfully yours, Steve Wilkins

OUR CHILDREN: *DON’T FORGET SUNDAY SCHOOL EACH SUNDAY AT 9:45 a.m.*

~ MISSION BUDDIES: (All Children—12th Grade, 2nd Sunday, monthly, as part of Sunday School) September 8th Mission: Phoenix Boxes! (Please submit supplies by Friday, September 6, 2019.) Boxes will benefit fire victims in our school district. 2 boxes will be delivered to each school. ITEMS NEEDED: Shampoo, Conditioner, Bodywash, Deoderant, Toothpaste/Toothbrush, Combs/Brush, Hair Ties, Feminine Products, Small First Aid Kits, $10.00 gifts card (Grocery, Drug Store, Fast Food). *A Mission Buddies donation bin is located in the fellowship hall.

~ MISSION BUDDIES HAS ADOPTED SUNSET AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! We plan to extend an act of kindness that will benefit the teachers, students, and/or staff, monthly, during the 2019-2020 school year. Mission Buddies recently delivered croissants and orange juice to Sunset Avenue as a “Welcome Back-to-School Treat” for teachers and staff. In September we will be collecting reams of typing paper to donate, October: Pens, November: TBA, December: $10.00 gift cards. For more info. on how you can be of help please contact Hollis White.

~ PRESBYCREW RESUMES SEPTEMBER 11th. PresbyCrew meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month from 3 – 5 p.m., for Kindergarten – 5th grade. Welcome back letters & registrations have been mailed. Plan to join us & bring your friends! Extra registration forms are located outside the church office.

~ PRESBYMUSIC: (Kindergarten—8th Grade) As we begin a new program year please consider making a commit-ment to the GMPC PresbyMusic program. For more information please contact Sean & Lara Capparuccia, Directors of Music at GMPC, at worshipnmusic@yahoo.com or (910)548-0505.

Building Fund: “50/500 and Then Some” campaign—a three month effort to pay off the remaining loan balance by September 30th. UPDATE: A huge congratulations and a heartfelt

THANK YOU from the Finance Ministry for all the participation in our 50/500 and Then Some campaign. We now have enough money pledged to pay off the remaining balance of the building loan! This is wonderful news and will allow the Session to use your money pledged to the general fund for other more important causes, such as our Mission Projects. However, we still have some work to do. There are several repairs that we need to make to our buildings. There is a visual aid in the Narthex that itemizes these needed repairs and their costs. Please consider an ongoing contribution to the newly named “Capital Account” that will be used for these repairs as well as others that we will need to make in the future. Thank You for all your participation!!!

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 3

Youth 411: (Youth Group, 6th-12th Grade, Sunday Nights 5:00—6:30 p.m.)

We’ve got some great activities planned for GMPC Youth in September! Please mark your calendars accordingly, and plan to participate. Unless otherwise stated, our times are 5:00 – 6:30 Sunday evenings.

September 8: Escape Room Bible Game- Gather in the fellowship hall at 5:00 for dinner, activity to follow. September 15: Downtown Prayer Walk- Meet in the church parking lot at 5:00. We will then walk through downtown and pray for our city (Courthouse, downtown businesses, City Hall, Fire Department, Police Depart- ment). We hope to have other churches joining us. Then back to the church for dinner at approximately 6:00. September 22: Prepare for a Youth Fundraiser- Build a “ Money Wall” . Dinner at 5:00. September 29: Lesson and Activity- The meaning of communion and baking bread to use in church for World Communion Sunday (October 6). Dinner at 5:00.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ Music Notes: The Handbell Choir will resume weekly practices on Wednesday, September 11th. If anyone is interest-ed in finding out more about the handbells or would like to join the group, please contact Sean or Lara Capparuccia.

~ Copies of These Days (July - September) are available in the narthex and outside the church office.

~ Year With the Bible Meetings: (1st Sundays, Monthly, 2:30 p.m., home of Bill & Nita Aiken) Discussion of previ-ous month’s passages and which was most meaningful to us. Next Meeting: September 1st. Everyone is welcome.

~ Butler Court (Meals-on-Wheels) will be hosting a Senior Day: WE THE SENIORS, on Wednesday, September 18th, from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at 501 Byron Butler Court. This FREE event (food, games, fellowship, entertainment, door prizes) for the public will be a day of fun with the senior participants. *GMPC will be assisting by providing volun-teers, donations of candy/small items for gift bags, bingo prizes, and water. A signup sheet is available in the church of-fice and will be circulated at the September 9th Presbyterian Women Circle Meeting. Contact Anne Price for more info.

~ MISSIONS: Christian Food Bank of Salemburg, every third Saturday, monthly, bags of food are given to those in need beginning at 9:00 a.m. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items! *A collection bin is located in the GMPC fellowship hallway. Next Food Bank: September 21, 2019

~ A Love for Chairiti Raynor Community Yard Sale will be held in the GMPC Fellowship Hall on September 21st, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cost: $15.00 per table if you would like to set up items to sell. If you would like to donate items to be sold you may drop them off in the fellowship hall on Friday, September 20th. To reserve a table, donate a baked good, purchase a t-shirt: $15.00, or find out how you can be of help please contact Deanna Weaver #592-3527 or Shaletia Raynor #366-5630 by September 14th.

~ Mission Opportunity: Diaper Bank of Sampson County. Donations of diapers (all brands and sizes, to include adult diapers), diaper wipes and diaper rash cream are collected. *A collection bin is located in the GMPC fellowship hallway.

~ Coffee Hour at GMPC is held each Sunday, between Sunday School and worship, in the fellowship hall. We hope everyone will come for a time to visit before worship. *If you would like to provide refreshments, a sign-up sheet is availa-ble in the fellowship hallway.

~ Backpack Buddies Program: Volunteers meet each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Sunset Avenue School to pack food bags for over 250 “food insecure” Clinton City School children, ages Pre K - 8th grade. What you can do to help: Volun-teer Your Time! Donate Food Items! (canned soups, juice boxes, raisins, fruit cups, pudding cups, granola bars, pop tarts, trail mix & individual cereal boxes) *A collection bin is located in the GMPC fellowship hallway.

~ First Baptist Soup Kitchen will resume in October. More info. coming soon.

PRESBYTERIAN MEN & PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS:

~The Men’s Brotherhood Breakfast Meetings resume on September 8th, 8:15 a.m., at Grove Park Baptist Church. (*Please note change in location from First Baptist Church.) Please make plans to attend as we gather for a time of community fellowship!

~ A Joint Meeting of All Three Presbyterian Women Circles will be held on Monday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Please plan to attend as we gather for the first meeting of the program year. The 2019-2020 P.W. Handbooks and the P.W. Horizon Bible Study Books will be distributed. See you on the 9th!

~ An Installation Service for GMPC Presbyterian Women Officers and Leaders, for the upcoming 2019-2020 pro-gram year, will be held on September 15, 2019 during Worship.

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEPTEMBER 2019:

01 08 15 22 29

Crib/Toddler Nursery: 9:30 am–12:30pm (Nancy Perry & Measie Rodriguez: 2nd & 4th Sundays, Natasha Capparuccia & Melina Matthews: 1st & 3rd Sundays) *September 29th, 5th Sunday: Natasha Capparuccia Mac Spell Mariana Sanderson Joy Dodson Diane Barwick Mary Aycock

Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Holden Spell Jewell Carr Elias Faison Jase Westerbeek Ava Williford

Worship Readiness: (Hollis White) Hollis White Crystal & Isabella Faison Allison & Ruthie Brock Ann Johnson Lucy Lockamy

Pre-K—5th Grade Class: (Hollis White) Darby Scott MISSION BUDDIES Diane Viser Lucy Lockamy Ann Johnson

Sr. & Jr. High Youth Class: (James Dodson) Joy Dodson (Bojangles) MISSION BUDDIES Carol Wilkins (Bojangles) Bonnie Barr James Dodson

Memorial Room: (Dorothy Sue Faison) Rev. Wilkins (Combined) Melvin Weaver Anne Price Bill Scott Fifth Sunday

Care Class: (Brenda Nordin) Rev. Wilkins (Combined) Russell Byrd Boyde Bristow James Dodson Rev. Wilkins

Pathfinders Class: (Lauren Perry) Rev. Wilkins (Combined) Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry

PresbyCrew: (Annette Newton & Darby Scott) 09/11 Team 1: Mary Aycock, Bonnie Barr, Natasha Capparuccia, Betty Blue Packard, Jan Tart;

SNACKS: Myrtle Petty, ENRICHMENT: Diane Barwick, MISSIONS: Delores Murphrey

09/25 Team 2: Natasha Capparuccia, Linda Giehls, Nancy Perry, Amelia Surratt, Diane Viser, Carol Wilson;

SNACKS: Katie Brown, ENRICHMENT: Lee Howard & Lucy Lockamy, MISSIONS: Pat Welfare & Rebekah Bryan

Meals-on-Wheels: 1st, 3rd, & 5th Tuesdays, Pickup Between 10:45 - 11:00 a.m. (Anne Price) 09/03 John & Amelia Surratt; 09/17: Melissa Griffin & Linda Giehls

Ushers: (Whit Tart) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office Ron Nimmo, Glenn Spell, Matt Johnson, Ann Johnson

Lay Readers: Bill Laurence Anne Price Mary Doyne TBA Mary Aycock

Flower Committees: (Mac Spell) 01 Communion 08 SEASONAL FLOWER COMMITTEE 15 Memorial in loving memory of Dr. and Mrs. L. C. (Bill) Peak by Whit and Jan Tart 22 Memorial for Mrs. Margaret Martin by Mr. Cecil Martin and family 29 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. J. Alfred Butts, Mr. and Mrs. Croom Faircloth and Miss Carole Faircloth by Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Faircloth and Mr. and Mrs. Neal Matthews

Happy Birthday During September: 01) Beth Bryan, Sr.; 02) Bonnie Barr,

Mark Viser, Claire Fox; 05) Don Hollingsworth, Nita Aiken, Tynnley Miller; 07) Mary Dudley; 08) Adam Sink; 09) Jim Naylor, Jeffrey Howard, Molly Blanchard; 11) Stewart Johnston; 12) Ray Walls; 15) Carroll Oglesby; 16) Mary Lou Faircloth; 17) Dottie O’Quinn, Ryan Carter; 18) Russell Byrd; 19) Finn Howard; 20) Pinckney Heaton; 23) Diane Viser, Billy Prestage; 24) Juanita Cantrell, Mac Spell; 25) Gina Powell; 26) Sharon Funderburk, J.T. Newton; 27) Anne Price, Cameron Ellis; 28) Ginny Williamson; 29) Scott Prestage, Will Dodson, Collin Murphry

Lectionary Text for September:

01) Ps. 81:1, 10-16; Jer. 2:4-13; Heb. 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14; 08) Ps. 139:1-6, 13-18; Jer. 18:1-11; Philem. 1-21; Luke 14:25-33; 15) Ps. 14; Jer. 4:11-12, 22-28; 1 Tim. 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10; 22) Ps. 79:1-9; Jer. 8:18-9:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13; 29) Ps. 91:1-6, 14-16; Jer. 32:1-3a, 6-15; 1 Tim. 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

I will be loyal to GMPC

and support it with:

My Gifts: August 25, 2019 Year-To-Date Tithes and Offerings $209,606.05 Building Fund Offerings $ 59,284.69

Needed for Budget: Year-To-Date Operating Budget $217,634.00 Building Fund $ 25,892.36