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@ymail.com; melissagriffin@embarqmail.com

UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS:

On Sunday, December 23, 2018, 11:00 a.m. Worship Service, the GMPC Chancel choir will present "Morning Star," a Christmas cantata celebrating the everlasting Light of Christmas, by Lloyd Larson. Mr. Larson states, "I pray that you will find hope in its message and encouragement in the unconditional love of God. Hold fast to the promise that even in the darkest of nights, the Morning Star will rise! 'Arise, shine for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.' (Isaiah 60:1)."

GMPC’s annual Service of Lessons & Carols, a traditional program of scripture and music to ring in the Christmas season, will be held on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Make plans to attend. Invite your friends and neighbors.

The Church Office will be closed December 25th through January 3rd. For emergencies please contact Rev. Steve Wilkins or Clerk of Session, Carl Barr.

On Sunday, January 6, 2019, we will Ordain and Install the Newly Elected Elders of the Class of 2020 and 2021. We thank the Class of 2018 for their faithful service!

GMPC and the GMPC Chancel Choir and Handbell Ensemble will join with St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 110 W. Main St., Clinton, for an Epiphany service on Wednesday, January 6th at 7:00 p.m. We invite you all to join us, as we gather, to celebrate this Christian holiday.

We will resume our First Wednesday Fellowship Covered Dish Meals on January 9th (Note this is the 2nd Wednesday), at 6:30 p.m., in the

MacQueen Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite dishes to share! We thank the Congregational Care Committee and all volunteers for this time of fellowship! Host: K - 5th Sunday School Class & Faith Group 2.

A Congregational Meeting will be held following worship on January 13, 2019 for the purpose of 1) the Presentation of the 2019 Annual Budget and 2) to Review the Terms of the Pastor’s Call.

The GMPC Prayer Quilt Ministry (monthly, on the third Tuesday’s, at 9:30 a.m. in the GMPC Fellowship Hall) will resume their regular schedule on January 15, 2019. We invite everyone to come lend a hand.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed: To volunteer your time, to this wonderful mission opportunity here in the Clinton community, please contact the church office before January 14th, 2019, to be added to the GMPC Annual Volunteer list. (Volunteers are placed in pairs and typically serve two or three times annually on the 1st, 3rd or 5th Tuesdays. Meals are picked up from Byron Butler Court on Warsaw Road between 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. on your assigned day(s). *Completed schedule will be mailed to all current and new volunteers by February 1st.

BROWN BAG LUNCH BIBLE STUDIES: Held weekly, on Mondays, at noon, will resume on January 14, 2019, in the GMPC Fellowship Hall. Please plan to join us as Dr. Wilkins leads us in Bible Study, on the book of Genesis. 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.

December 2018 - January 2019

OUR KNOWN ILL:

Martha Dunn Lynne Pridgen Julie Stefanovich Annabelle Fetterman Erma Faircloth Diane Westerbeek Ted Lockerman

Doc Fields- Southwood; Rm. 109

Frances Hubbard- GlenAire Margaret Faircloth- MaryGran; Rm. 701

Tink Purcell- The Cardinal at North Hills

Betty Heaton- MaryGran; Rm. 204 Mary Harrington– Southwood; Rm. 210

Betty Hairr-(Mother of Vickie Pope)

Juaweese Franklin-(Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Christine Stacey-(Mother of Lara Capparuccia)

Joe Kozel-(Father of Kristi Williford)

Hewitt Fulton-(Father of Bill Fulton) Becky Hughes-(Sister of Bill Scott)

Joan Bartlett-(Sister of Annette Newton)

Joyce & Landon Autry-(Tammy Honeycutt)

Smiley Funderburk-(Uncle of Sharon Funderburk)

P. Jones Lockerman-(Brother of Ted Lockerman) Savannah & Chariti-(Friends of Deana Weaver)

Ralph Godbold-(Friend of Linda Carr)

Doug Shaw-(GMPC Flautist)

Kay Anderson-(In-lawsof the Perry's)

Ellen Collins

Volume XLI, No. 12

The Church Staff Sends Each of You Wishes

of Hope, Joy, Peace and Love During this Christmas Season

and Throughout the Coming New Year!

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 2

PASTORAL PONDERING… “...ever since I heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love you have for

Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you.” (Ephesians 1:15-16)

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that Carol and I have been here a year! Where does the time go?

Truly, Carol and I have experienced God’s abundant blessings in this congregation and community, beyond our

wildest expectations. From the day we arrived, we were met with a gracious and warm welcome. You have show-

ered us with kindness upon kindness. Carol and I have often remarked to ourselves that GMPC and Clinton have

felt like home for us much quicker than any other place we’ve served – that’s a testimony to the way y’all have wel-

comed us and embraced us.

I’ve also learned a few things since moving to eastern North Carolina. And so I would like to share a “Top 10”

list of things I have learned in my first year here.

10. Highway 24… ugh.

9. Pork and poultry? Yes, please!

8. The “t” in Clinton is sometimes silent; but that’s okay, because some people put that same “t” in

“Wilson.”

7. Farmers are among the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.

6. Clinton is home to the state champion soccer team, AND the United Soccer Coaches Association

NATIONAL Coach of the Year – Yay, Brad Spell!

5. Highway 24… still…

4. When the storm strikes, the fine people of Sampson County rise to the occasion and lend a helping

hand.

3. If you try, you can find a BBQ fundraiser or Fish Fry just about every week.

2. God is good. (Of course, that’s true everywhere)

And now, drumroll please, for the number one thing I have learned this year:

1. The people of Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church are the BEST!

Truly, I thank God for you. And I thank you for embracing us as members of your church family. To God be the

glory!

Faithfully,

Steve

OUR CHILDREN:

Sunday School: Sunday mornings at 9:45

PresbyCrew: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, from 3–5:00 p.m. for K – 5th grade.

MISSION BUDDIES: (For ALL Children—12th Grade, 2nd Sunday’s of the month, as part of Sunday School) January 13th Mission: Warm Hearts for Warm Hands. We will be making lap warmers for our shut-ins and elderly. If you know of someone in need in the commu-nity, please contact Hollis White or the Church Office.

ITEMS NEEDED: Monetary Donations (Please submit donations by January 11th.)

**We thank you for your generous support of Mission Buddies. Together we are making a difference, one act of kindness at a time. THANK YOU!

Presbytery of Coastal Carolina Central Missional Community Winter Gathering

We cordially invite everyone to attend this year’s Winter Gathering to be held on Saturday, Janu-ary 26, 2019, here at GMPC. The theme is “The Calm after the Storm”. Our keynote speaker, Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, is a creative artist and does ministry with her artwork. Online registra-tion will be available in January. More information coming soon on how to register or serve as a volunteer for the gathering.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 3

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ Copies of These Days, January - March 2019, are now available in the narthex and outside the church office.

~ GMPC’s Prayer Request Cards are located in the pews for your convenience. If you have a prayer request, simply fill out the prayer request card and place it in the offering plate.

~ La Leche League of Sampson County: Breastfeeding? Or pregnant and planning ahead? Join us the 1st Thursday of every month, in the GMPC Nursery, at 10:00 a.m. The La Leche League of Sampson County, led by Lucy Lockamy, offers valuable breastfeeding support and information for all women within our community. Next Date: January 3, 2019

~ CAKES NEEDED for the January 10th First Baptist Soup Kitchen. We ask that all cakes be delivered to the GMPC kitchen by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 9th. *January Coordinator: Annette Newton

~ 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 Fellowship Hall.

~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at First Baptist Soup Kitchen (408 College Street) on Thursdays, Weekly from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. *11:00 – 3:00: Cooking, 3:00 – 5:00: Deliveries, 5:00 – 7:00: Serving.

~ Diaper Bank of Sampson County: Donations of diapers (all brands and sizes, to include adult diapers), diaper wipes & diaper rash cream are collected. A collection bin is located in the fellowship hall for your convenience.

~ MISSION OPPORTUNITY: Christian Food Bank of Salemburg. Every 3rd Saturday, monthly, bags of food are giv-en to those in need beginning at 9:00 a.m. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items! Dried Beans, Peanut Butter, Breakfast Items, Can Soup, Can Vegetables, Rice/Pasta, Can Fruit, Recycled Grocery Bags. (A box for food donations is in the Fellowship Hall for your convenience.) *Next Date: January 19, 2019

~ Congratulations to Coach Brad Spell! He has been named the United Soccer Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. He had been named the Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year which put him up for this honor. Brad is only the sixth coach from North Carolina ever to receive this award and only the third from a public high school in NC to receive it. He will receive the recognition in Chicago in January. CONGRATULATIONS BRAD!

~ 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 avail-able in the fellowship hallway.

~ The Congregational Care Flower Ministry: Memorial Flower reminders are given weekly through the church office. Your family’s preference, for use of flowers, will be asked at this time. You may take the flowers with you or indicate your desire for the Flower Ministry to utilize them. Memorial Flowers being utilized will be rearranged into smaller vases, on Mondays, tentatively 9:00 a.m., and delivered to those in need of a smile. *If you have flower vases that you are no longer using, please consider donating them to the church to be reused. A bin is located in the fellowship hall.

PRESBYTERIAN MEN (PM) OR PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN (PW) NEWS:

~The Men’s Breakfast Meeting for January will be on the 13th, beginning 8:15 a.m., at Grove Park Baptist Church. We hope all men will join us for breakfast and fellowship with the men of FUMC, 1st Baptist, and Grove Park Baptist! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Contact Melvin Weaver for more information.

~January PW Circle Meetings are as follows: (Myrtle Petty will be our Bible Leader for January.) Circle #1 will meet on the 7th at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Amelia Surratt. Circle #2 will meet on the 7th at 6:00 p.m. at the Honeycutt Manse. Circle #3 will meet on the 8th at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorial Room.

~A PW Quarterly Gathering will be held on Monday, January 22nd, at 7:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall.

Youth 411: Sunday School (Sunday’s at 9:45 a.m.) / Youth Group (Sunday’s at 5:00 p.m.)

2019 is going to be a spectacular year! Be on the lookout for Youth Activity Updates, via text message, from Pastor Steve. To be added to the group send Pastor Steve a text at #843-450-5747.

The GMPC Youth Cookie & Soup Mix Jars Fundraiser was a success. Thank you for your generous sup-port! 158 of 165 jars made were sold. (We have 7 jars of the Five Bean Soup Mix left if anyone is looking for last minute Christmas gifts.) Together we raised $2,010.00 for the GMPC Youth program! Thank you!

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JANUARY 2019:

06 13 20 27

Crib/Toddler Nursery: 9:30 am–12:30pm (Nancy Perry & Gabriel Capparuccia: 2nd & 4th Sundays, Lizzy Tart & Natasha Capparuccia: 1st & 3rd Sundays, 5th Sunday: Lizzy Tart) Monie Sue Spell Allison Brock (Ruthie) Linda Williamson Diane Viser Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Jewell Carr Holden Spell Ava Williford Jase Westerbeek

Worship Readiness: (Tami Warren)

Pre-K—2nd Grade Class: (Hollis White) Darby Scott Mission Buddies Ann Johnson Linda Giehls 3rd—5th Grade Class: (Hollis White) Carol Wilkins Mission Buddies Diane Viser Lucy Lockamy Sr. & Jr. High Youth Class: (James Dodson) Joy Dodson Mission Buddies Bonnie Barr Bonnie Barr Memorial Room: (Dorothy Sue Faison) Glenda Underwood Tommy Newton Melvin Weaver Paul Viser Care Class: (Brenda Nordin) Paul Viser Steve Wilkins Anne Price Tommy Newton

Pathfinders Class: (Lauren Perry) Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry

PresbyCrew: (Annette Newton & Darby Scott) *We always welcome extra volunteers … come any time you can! 1/09 Team 2: Mary Doyne, Nancy Perry, Amelia Surratt, Diane Viser, Carol Wilson; ENRICHMENT: Kara & Adrian Donatelli 1/23 Team 1: Mary Aycock, Bonnie Barr, Gabriel Capparuccia, Betty Blue Packard, Jan Tart; ENRICHMENT: Anne Price & Dale Purcell

Snacks: 1/09 Beth Stewart & 1/23 Mary Aycock Meals-on-Wheels: (Anne Price) 1/01 No Meals-on-Wheels; 1/15 Bonnie Barr & Delores Murphrey; 1/29 Mary Doyne & Melissa Griffin Ushers: (Stan Mertz) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office Ed Carr, James Carr, Henry Faison, Chuck Spell, Danny Aycock Lay Readers: Lauren Perry Linda Williamson Brooks Barwick Ruthie Brock Flower Committees: (Mac Spell) 01/06 (Communion Sunday) 01/13 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Faircloth, Sr., Mr. J. B. Faircloth, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William Holt Faircloth, Mr. Haywood Alexander Faircloth, Ms. Anna Margaret Faircloth and Mrs. Julie Faircloth Best by the Family 01/20 Memorial for Mrs. Doris Butler Stewart and Mr. Henry Lafayette Stewart, Jr., by Ms. Beth Stewart and Family 01/27 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. James Barefoot, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Williamson, Sr. by Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Williamson, Jr. and family

Happy Birthday During January: 1) John Barwick; 02) Brooke Sauer;

03) Christy Bristow, Wesley Cowand, Evie Walls; 04) Vicki Pope; 06) Pat O’Neal, Allison Driver, Julie Hensley; 07) Wanda Coleman; 08) Robin Sink; 09) Jackson Johnston, Jan Tart; 10) Samantha Pope; 11) Dale Purcell, Alana Carlton; 12) Connie Williamson, Audry Kerr; 13) Tripp Williamson, Weston Johnston; 14) Lauch Faircloth; 15) John Fox, III; 17) Joel Rose, Christian Peterson; 19) Alex Tirado; 20) Mark Harrell, Gabriel Capparuccia; 21) Clayton Dunn; 23) Christie Hensley, Reid Walls; 24) Joy Dodson, Andrew Howard; 25) Shawn Matthews; 28) Neal Sinclair, Sarah Foster, Patrick O’Quinn, Jr., Olivia Sessoms; 29) Brooks Barwick, III; 30) Melissa Stephenson; 31) Gloria Williamson, Hampton Brock

Lectionary Text for January:

06) Ps. 72:1-7, 10-14; Isa. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:1-12; Matt. 2:1-12;

13) Ps. 29; Isa. 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22;

20) Ps. 36:5-10; Isa. 62:1-5; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; John 2:1-11;

27) Ps. 19; Neh. 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

I will be loyal to GMPC & support it with:

My Gifts: Dec. 16, 2018 Year-To-Date Tithes and Offerings $314,530.79 Building Fund Offerings $ 58,521.00

Needed for Budget: Year-To-Date Operating Budget $297,100.00 Building Fund $ 33,000.00