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February/March 2015www.indepres.org

B i - M o n t h l y I s s u e # 2

www.indepres.org

MA

R/A

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2015

IPC podcast is available: www.indepres.org/resources/podcasts

M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 5

From One Generation to Another Celebrating 50 years of Independent Presbyterian Church

Independent Presbyterian Church is rich in the tradition of deeply rooted relationships. A once small body of people grew into a rare covenant community, now families of three and even four genera-

tions. Catherine Wilfong, Dan McEwan, and Lucy Green, long time members, volunteered to share their memories and insights of IPC over the years.

“I was baptized here as a baby forty-five years ago,” Dan McEwan said. Dan currently serves as an elder in the church. Catherine Wilfong began attending Independent in high school, 10th grade. Lucy Green came to IPC in 1979 as a freshman in high school and began working as a youth intern under The Reverend John Sartelle Sr. in 1988. Catherine and Dan were members of the IPC youth group while Lucy worked as an intern under youth leader, Lisa Turner. “They were a huge part of our growth, strategy, and planning. God used them both tremendously. All of us who went to church in that era look back and see Sartelle and Lisa as a considerable impact on us and the church family,” Lucy said. Lucy, Dan, and Catherine had many significant life moments at IPC.

“All of us grew up, married, and baptized our children here,” Lucy said. Independent has served as the home for marriage covenants and baptisms alike.

“I think one of the unique qualities of IPC is the number of people who were baptized and married here. I think that is part of the

50–year look back of what IPC is,” Dan McEwan said.

“There may have been eight different families with a child in that photo. We had all taken that ski trip together at one time or another. Some of our kids were actual cousins. But generally many of the friend-ships that they share are what I call extended family,” Catherine said.

IPC members consistently encouraged Lucy and her family to feel welcome and worked to foster relationships with them. “The night my family decided to join Independent, Mrs. Wanda Fee came over to me and said, ‘we have been praying for you to join for two years,’ ”

Lucy said. Generations have been interconnected at Independent. “The real covenant relationship is in families speaking to one another’s lives. Wanda Fee told my mother it would be okay for me to have a date with my husband. That is an example of how things have been woven here,” Catherine said.

Catherine, Dan, and Lucy reflected on different aspects of God’s providence and blessing at Independent throughout all seasons.

“50 years of commitment to the Gospel. A really neat aspect of IPC is the consistent message we have heard no matter who has been

our preacher. Families have benefitted from that message and that has been the foundation of IPC, our church,” Dan said.

Independent has consistently nurtured an environment for close-knit relationships. “Over the years we have had Covenant Groups, Fellowship Groups, and Grace Groups. We have named them lots of different things,” Catherine said. There is something positive to be said about tradition. It builds foundations, creates stability, and generates relationships. “These are my safe friends. They’re richer and they’re deeper,” Catherine said.

IPC actively supports Palmer Home for Children, an organiza-tion that provides a Christian home for children in need. Each year IPC students and adults travel to Mentone, Alabama, for Camp Palmer. The camp is held to provide a Christ-centered camp experience for children living at Palmer Home and allow house parents to have a break. “All the adults would take off from work -the Crews, the Francis, etc. I loved that because I got to know the adults,” Lucy said. Students and adults were able to grow closer through shared camp experiences. “We rolled Sartelle’s cabin and when they came in to find us, we were all back in our beds sweating,” Lucy said while laughing.

Approaching young adulthood, Catherine, Dan, and Lucy all became members of a weekly Bible study and community group at IPC called College and Career. College and Career began in 1983 at Lisa Turner’s family home and was led by John Sartelle. “Good teaching com-bined with good marketing took off,” Dan said. Summertime brought a crowd of Memphis students and young adults together. “It was really a sweet spot. It was a great place to get charged and be with like-minded people. It was fellowship, music, and good teaching,” Catherine said. It was typical to have attendance of 400-500 people on a summer night and 200-300 on a school night. “It was very relevant to where a college student was,” Dan said. College and Career had lifelong effects on those who were involved. “Each one of us went to College and Career and met our spouses there,” Catherine said. Catherine, Dan, and Lucy were not the only people to meet their future spouses at College and Career. “At least seventy-five to one hundred people met their spouses in that ministry,” Dan said.

Students and adults touched each other’s lives. “The people that you mature through during that stage really mold you and the roots are deep, and you grow through that,” Catherine said. College and Career, in ten years’ time, grew to become several generations of people. A people rooted in their faith, their theology, and the Gospel.

Members who had a fruitful youth at Independent desire to culti-vate an environment with the same opportunities they (continued pg. 2)

windows©, (U.S.P.S.) #018597 is published bi-monthly by THE INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 4738 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee, 38117. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to windows©, 4738 Walnut Grove Rd., Memphis, TN, 38117. PERIODICAL POSTAGE paid at Memphis, TN POSTMASTER.

A few things to know about IPCSunday Mornings@IPC | Worship Services, 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. A fully staffed nursery and preschool ministry is available for all services.

Sunday School Communities | 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday School for Kindergarten through 5th Grade | 9:45 a.m.

K-Church or Junior Church | 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. for K through 2nd Grade

Church Offices | open Monday –Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday 901.685.8206

Wednesday Evenings@IPC Fellowship Dinner @ 5:30 til 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall | $6/Adult -and- $4/Child age 4 – 10 (3 & under FREE).

@IPCmemphis

An example of Covenant Family. Each student pictured here is a third generation member of IPC.

Follow us @IPCmemphis

Sermons are available online: www.indepres.org/resources/sermons

Friday: “That Thing” fun in the Romper Room

from 6:30-7:30 a.m

.Saturday M

orning: games and m

ovies in the Romper Room

9:30 a.m.

Childcare will be provided until 12:00 p.m

.

Childcare for Children K – 5th grade during Renew

al

In

de

pe

nd

en

t P

re

sb

yt

er

ian

Ch

ur

ch

Saturday, M

arch 21

Palmer H

ome H

ernando Cam

pus Work – Play D

ay 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m

. Serving our oldest M

ercy Ministry

Saturday, A

pril 4Free D

inner served for College Students &

Young 20s at the E

aster Eve Concert, Levitt Shell 6:00 p.m

.

Sunday, A

pril 19D

inner at the Hunt &

Polo Club | H

osted by 60s Com

munity 6:00 p.m

. A

dults Only, C

ost: $40.00 per person

Wed

nesday, A

pril 22D

inner at the IPC Fellow

ship Hall 5:00 p.m

. | Program at 6:30 p.m

.

Thursd

ay, April 23

IPC Trivia D

inner 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | H

osted by the Young Adults

Wiseacre | 2738 B

road Avenue

Saturday, A

pril 25 C

rawfish B

oil at Avon Park (fam

ilies welcom

e) | Hosted by 20s, 30s &

40s Com

munities

Saturday, A

pril 25 D

inner at the home of Lynn &

Dudley Schaefer | H

osted by the 40s & 50s C

omm

unities

Sunday, A

pril 26

8:30 & 11:00 a.m

. Worship Services | C

ongregational picnic after services, IPC G

ym

Join us in Celebrating the

50th A

nniversary of Independent Presbyterian C

hurch

Mem

bers and friends are encouraged to attend one or m

ore of the following

50th Anniversary events.

Friday, May 22– Wednesday, May 27

(1st – 12th Graders) Contact Lisa Turner

at lturner@indepres.org for more information.

Easter Eve Concert 6:00–8:00 p.m. Levitt Shell

Saturday, April 4, 2015 The concert will feature students from Visible Music College.

Singer/songwriter Lance Cook and student band The Passport will be performing.

Monthly Fellowship Activities March 20– Ice Skating @ Mid-South Ice House April 25– Paintball (Guys) and Pottery (Girls)

Streets NightsThursday, March 26 @ Vance (Downtown) Wednesday, April 22 @ IPC

Summer ActivitiesCamp Palmer– May 22-27 (Memorial Day Weekend) The Edge Summer Conference– June 20-24 Streets Week– July 2015

U P CO M I N G E V E N T S

• RYM July 6 –11, cost $450• Honduras Mission Trip July 19–25, cost $1,250

20-30 AdultsVBS, Construction, Empowerment Skills, and Pastoral TrainingMay 29 - June 7, 2015 | $1,800–2,000 per personLeader - Diane Clowers

20-30 AdultsMedical and Empowerment SkillsJune 5 – 14, 2015Leader - Holli Payne

6-8 PeopleChildren/Youth Holiday Club and Community OutreachLate July/Early August 2015 | $2,500 per personLeader - Emily Dafferner

6-8 MenDoor-to-Door EvangelismNovember 2015 | $3,400Leader - Ed Norton

Save-the-Date

Get ready to blast off on a Space Trek adventure!

IPC VBS • June 8 -12, 2015 Please go to indepres.org/vbs for more information

about volunteer opportunities.

IPC Sanctuary FlowersIPC ANNOUNCEMENTSCongratulations: To Christie and John Summers on the birth of their daughter, Allie Grace, on December 10, 2014; to Michelle and Jeremy Raby, on the birth of their son, Joel, on January 10, 2015.Our Church in Bereavement: Our sympathy to the friends and family of George Toney, who died on November 26, 2014; to Wayne Herring, on the death of his wife, Joyce, on December 20, 2014; to Bo and Rob Mitchum on the death of their mother, Mary Mitchum, on December 28, 2014; to Lynn Albano and Frank Hitchings and their families on the death of their mother, Mary Catherine Hitchings, on December 29, 2014; to Martha Laster, Lynne Knox and their family on the death of Martha’s husband and Lynne’s father, Jack Laster, on December 29, 2014; to Toni and Greg Parker, on the death of her father, James W. Campbell Jr. (Jim), on January 5, 2015; to Joyce and Tim Folse, on the death of his mother, Lorraine Davis Folse, on January 12, 2015; to Marjorie Jones, on the death of her mother, Margaret Giles, on January 25, 2015.Welcome: (Joined from December 2014 – January 2015) Angela and Dan Applegate, Christina Brent, Andrew Van Hersh, Don Johnson, Elisabeth Sullivan, Kristy and Paul Bell, Morgan Mayo, Amelia and Mike Bailey, Taylor Lackie, Catherine Talbot, John Prentis Sartelle III, Nicole and Andrew Kinzler, John Carter Hawkins, and Molly McEwan.

BOOKSTORE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Closed Saturday | Sunday 9:30–10:50 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. after worship

www.indepres.org/resources/ipc-bookstore | 901.763.3932 | covenant@indepres.org

Find us on Facebook.

Music Ministry@IPC 2015 Excellent opportunities for musical training and worship

leadership are available to everyone from 18 months of age through adults. Contact the music office for more details

at musicoffice@indepres.org.

March/April 2015 Choir ScheduleWednesday Rehearsals 5:30 p.m. Jr. High Choir

6:30 p.m. Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary Choirs 7:30 p.m. Adult ChoirSunday Rehearsals

5:00 p.m. Senior High Choir

Upcoming Music EventsPalm Sunday Program, March 29, 6:00 p.m.

The Adult Choir with OrchestraJr. High Choir Spring Trip, April 17-19Jr. High Choir Homecoming Concert

April 22, 6:00 p.m.Children’s Choirs Spring Program

Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary ChoirsApril 29, 6:30 p.m.

Senior High Choir Northeastern Tour May 28-June 5

Senior High Choir Homecoming Concert June 5, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary

March/April 2015 Choir Schedule

Journey to the Highlands of Inverness, scotland

JULY 10 – 18, 2015

Members of Independent Presbyterian are cordially invited to visit members of Smithton Free Church in Inverness, Scotland and

experience the Highlands in a most personable and memorable way!For more information contact

Elizabeth Fowlkes at efowlkes@indepres.org.

It is often the assumption of those involved in a particular ministry that everyone else knows and cares about it. I have had that conceit about

the sanctuary flowers for years, but several recent conversations have made me realize that many of you have no idea who does flowers at IPC, and why.

For 20 years, Kaki Crews and Freddie McEwan were in charge of sanctuary flowers and Christmas decorations. Harriet Goshorn, Kristi McCann and myself have now taken over the job after years of being their ‘Vannas.’ We now have a group of faithful ‘Vannas’ helping us arrange. Let me say that for all three of us it is an amazing blessing to be able to arrange in the sanctuary each week. We hope the arrangements bless you too. After the services, these blooms go on to bless others, as a group of women under the leadership of Leslie Murphy come in every Monday morning and take apart the large ar-rangement to create small ones that are then delivered by still another group of women to our members that are ill or have new babies.

We are able to do all of this in a large part because in years past, so many of you have donated the flowers in honor or in memory of someone you love. Our budget does not come close to covering all the costs of flowers, supplies and Christmas decorations, but we have been fine due to constant memori-als and honorariums. Recently, however, flower donations have declined. Our hope is that after reading this article, many of you will be moved to start giving the flowers again once or twice a year. Caroline Bartusch, another invaluable part of this ministry, schedules the flowers and puts an acknowledgement of any gifts in the bulletin. Please call her at 901-747-0229, or me, Laura Martin, 901-482-6091 if we can answer any questions you may have.

Our big goal this year is to be able to buy some new Christmas decora-tions for the renovated sanctuary. For those who have never participated, we have such fun decorating the church and having lunch together in early December each year. That was how I first got to know many of the women of IPC around 30 years ago. Someone invited me and I came, not really knowing what was happening. I made wreaths for hours, talking the whole time. I still count as friends women I met that day. So here is your invitation! Put it on your calendar to join us in 2015. We would love to have you! The Flower Ladies, Laura Martin, Harriet Goshorn and Kristi McCann

experienced. “Our kids feel rooted at Independent for many reasons. They appreciate the relationships and feel the connectedness,” Catherine said. Many children of long time IPC members, and those who were involved in the beginnings of College and Career, now serve in the youth group or other ministry areas. “We loved our youth group grow-ing up here. We are involved here because we still have a heart for it to grow and blossom. My daughters were counselors at Camp Palmer this year. When my own children have opportunities to give back, I love how that comes back around,” Lucy said.

IPC provides the opportunity for youth and children to experi-ence true community and fellowship. “Our kids feel ties and that encourages participation,” Catherine said. Parents know that Independent is a comfortable, secure home for their children. “I like that this is a safety zone for our kids. If the world gets bad, school goes sour, this is a safe place,” Lucy said.

The Reverend John Newton wrote, “A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible, but which in time becomes a great deep-rooted tree.” Independent was once a small seed, planted in rich soil, which has now grown into the great deep-rooted oak tree.

“Where will God take the next generation of the church? Where will He take IPC in the next 50 years?” Dan McEwan said.

Check the back cover for the full 50-Year Anniversary Schedule.

From One Generation to Another… Cont.

Rwanda

For information regarding any of these short-term mission projects, please contact Wendy Fortner at wfortner@indepres.org or call the church office at 901-685-8206.

Short Term Missions ProjectsUganda

Cuba

Glasgow, Scotland

Speaker: Susan Yates

“Is Your God Big Enough, An Invitation to Find Out”

$7 per person or reserve a table, invite friends. R.S.V.P. to Barbara Collins, 901-685-8206 or email bcollins@indepres.org.

Tuesday, April 21 | 11:30 a.m.