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Beauty in Brokenness

Leonard Sweet, author of Strong in the Broken Places, describes a style of Japanese pottery called

kintsukuroi. It’s the art of repairing pottery with gold or

silver lacquer, leaving the piece more beautiful for having

been broken.

God is like a kintsukuroi potter, healing and staying

near to the brokenhearted (see Psalm 34:18; 51:17; and

147:3). Instead of ashes, mourning and despair, God

provides “a crown of beauty,” “the oil of joy” and “a

garment of praise” (Isaiah 61:3,NIV).

CONT……….

From under……...

Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church May, 2014

Beauty in Brokenness 1

May Lay Readers 2 Deacons Meeting Celebrating Mom May Communion Servers Special Dates

Birthdays & Anniversaries 3 Thank You! May Church Mouse Serving in worship for May

Special Person of the Month 4

Banners Men of the Church

Thank You 5 Session Highlights Summer Special Music News Church chuckles

Crossword Puzzle 6

Financials 7

Calendar 8

Last Page 9

Inside this Issue

The Redbud Tree

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FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 4th - Gary Adler 11th - Ellen Jordan 18th - Janet Newman 25th - John Martin

Lay Leaders

Special and Fun Dates for

May, 2014

May 1st - National Day of Prayer

May 5-11th - Christian Family

Week

May 11th - Mother’s Day

May 17th - Armed Forces Day

May 26th - Memorial Day

May 29th - Ascension of the Lord

Communion Servers

For the month of May

May 4th - Chuck Beall

Barbara Hough

Fred Iffland

Dick Johnson

Shirley Johnson

Ken Kunkel

Suzanne Smyth

Wana Thacker

Although earthly bro-

kenness brings pain,

the Master Creator

can turn it into some-

thing amazing that glo-

rifies him. When life

seems to fall apart,

remember that our

powerful God can make

you more beautiful for having been broken.

CELEBRATING MOM

In spring 2013, a young man named Aba At-

las wanted to do something special for his birth-

day, so he gave his MOM a present — and made

a video about the gift and its beloved recipient.

(locate it on YouTube by searching for

“iProjectAtlas, Dear Mother.”)

For years, Aba’s mother had worked long

hours outside the home and then cared for her

kids each evening. She’d bought a house so her

children would always have a place to call home,

yet the mortgage caused her great stress. Work-

ing a $30,000/year position, Aba saved enough

money to pay off his mom’s mortgage and, on

his birthday, presented her with a check. Ac-

cording to a caption in the video, her response

was “Wow x 9000.”

“I want to celebrate my life by celebrating

the woman who gave me life,” Aba says.

REMINDER

The monthly Deacons meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. On May 19th, NOT May 26th which is

Memorial Day (the office is closed)

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3 Marian Coffman 3 Blakely Jordan 5 John Boland 6 Gordon Buenger 7 David White 9 Chris White 11 Barb Hough 14 Dick Johnson 19 Payton Storm 20 Deborah Lively 28 Gary Adler 27 Bill Rogers IF YOU DON’T SEE YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE SO WE CAN GET YOU STORED IN OUR RECORDS!! THE SAME GOES FOR ANY MISTAKES YOU MAY SEE!! (we can’t fix it...if we don’t know it’s broke!) We appreciate your help!

USHERS FOR MAY

4th & 11th - Pete & Sissy Wells 18th & 25th - Velma Shaw & Carolyn Hannon

May Church Mouse

You may have had contact with these two busy church mice. They may have even taken your picture in the last few months. These two have been planning a pictorial directory for our church. They have taken many pic-tures….in fact almost a picture of

every person who has shown up on Sundays…..they even corralled the office staff and took their pictures. And, they were able to visit our members who are unable to be with us on Sundays and took their pic-tures. So, if you haven’t had your picture tak-en….watch out...they will be taking it soon!! Many thanks to these two busy little church mice.

Surely, you know these busy little mice!!

GREETERS FOR MAY

4th & 11th - John Martin 18th & 25th - Robert James

May Anniversaries

2 Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Sheehly 5 Donna & Milton Gamelin

13 Robert & Susan Kearns 31 Bill & Kathryn Templin

31 Fred & Norma Taylor

Thank you to all our church friends for the many cards and phone calls,

which really helped to cheer me.

Verneda Hinzmann

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Special Person of the Month

For May, 2014

Our Special Person is:

Lola Stepp I have only known, personally, one person with the name Lola, my niece whose name is Dolores and whose nickname is Lola. So, what a pleasure to know another Lola and have the opportunity to introduce her to you.

Lola was born in West Chester, PA. The family, (parents, Lola and one brother) moved to Mountain Home where Lola attended school here. She studied one year at the Governor’s School in Conway. The Governor’s School (aka Arkansas Governor’s School for the Gifted and Talented) is located on the grounds of Hendrix College and was founded by governor Bill Clinton in 1979. Lola will graduate this month from University of Arkansas Mountain Home as a LPN. She plans to study one more year and receive her degree as a RN and be certified in Obstetrics. She loves children and has such a cheerful disposition and will make a great nurse. She is currently working on her apprenticeship at the 5 star Gassville Therapy and Living Center.

Lola is a competitor and enjoys shooting rifles, shotguns and pistols. She also enjoys playing her flute as well as fishing in the great Arkansas outdoors when time permits. She is a busy girl! You may have recently seen her picture in the Baxter Bulletin announcing her induction as a member of the Elks Club here in Mountain Home.

Some little known facts about Lola: a big long-term goal of hers is to obtain her Doctorate in nursing….she loves cakes especially her moms with the peanut butter icing…...she watches the history channel a lot….the love of her life is Cheyenne, her German shepherd pup and her favorite color is blue.

How fortunate we are to welcome this special and interesting new member to our church family!

Oh, by the way…..if you didn’t know Lola is the daughter of Fred and Debbie Stepp and I’m quite sure the apple of their eye.

Welcome, Lola

Let’s say THANK YOU again to the Banner

Committee for the lovely banners we have

enjoyed on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.

They are truly beautiful and many thanks to

these talented ladies!

Jan Lawson

Sissy Wells

Phyllis Gladson

Janet Newman

Marion Harrower

and the late….Judy Faust

NEWS FROM MEN OF THE CHURCH THE MAY MEETING WILL HAVE A SOME-WHAT DIFFERENT FORMAT. ALL MEN OF THE CHURCH ARE INVIT-ED TO BRING A SHORT BIO OF THEM-SELVES (5-6 MINUTES), TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER. BUD HOUGH, PRESIDENT, MEN OF THE CHURCH

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Session Highlights - April

The cell phone workshop was a success with ap-

proximately 50 lunches served to the partici-

pants, student mentors, and committee members.

Several participants were visitors to our church.

Approval was given to begin the search for a new

TV for the Fellowship Hall to replace the current

one which has been broken for several months.

Total package will include the TV, table and set-

up in the Fellowship Hall.

The church picnic will be held October 19th in

conjunction with a pastor appreciation Sunday.

A potluck dinner is being planned for Pentecost

Sunday, June 8th. Meat and dessert will be pro-

vided and side dishes contributed by the congre-

gation.

Gary Adler, our Commissioned Lay Pastor, con-

ducted Sunday Services for the residents of Good

Samaritan on March 30th. Gary also participat-

ed in the Healing Service on April 9th.

One of the three air conditioning units to be re-

paired is now completed with the remaining units

to be completed upon procurement of ordered

parts.

Respectfully submitted,

Barb Hough, Clerk of Session

These minutes are for information only - they have not

yet been approved by the Session and may contain er-

rors, misinformation or omissions. They will be

amended, corrected and/or revised by the Session at

their next stated session meeting and then approved by

the Session.

My sincere thanks to Pastor Nancy for her visits and prayers during my recent illness. Also, thanks to all my special friends of the First Presbyterian Church for the beau-tiful cards with their words of cheer and pray-ers and for the card that so many people signed. I rest in God’s loving care and also receive the loving care from my own dear daughter. I was so pleased to have a home visit from my dear friend Sue and Gizmo. Thank God for the church which is alive in the world today.

“Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian Love.”

Lovingly, I am your friendly Nazarene in Christian love, Opal E. Snow

Church Chuckles

Church Ladies With Typewriters

….Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the

First Presbyterian Church. Please use large

double doors at the side entrance.

….Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet

Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.

….The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies

of the congregation would lend him their elec-

tric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sun-

day.

….The eight-graders will be presenting Shake-

speare’s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday

at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend

this tragedy.

….The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on

the Water.’ The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for

Jesus.’

….Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a

chance to get rid of those things not worth keep-

ing around the house. Bring your husbands.

A ‘Summer Special Music’ sign-up sheet: is

located on the bulletin board in the Fellowship

Hall. Please sign up or talk to Marilyn Seel for a

Sunday during June/July/August that you would

like to provide us with your special music.

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7

Financial News

INCOME & EXPENSE SUMMARY Ending April 22, 2014

REVENUE CURRENT MONTH ACTUAL ACTUAL YR. TO DATE

Pledges $11,907.00 $44,620.00

Initial Offering 0.00 635.00

Interest 1437.51 1459.20

Miscellaneous 0.00 20.00

Loose Offerings 416.00 1,695.24

Sunday School 16.00 130.00

Fellowship Hall 0.00 50.00

Total Revenue $13,776.51 $48,609.44

EXPENSES

Personnel 3,429.13 37,243.96

Administration 479.55 5,264.85

Building & Grounds 4,361.64 12,256.00

Worship & Planning $241.17 $773.20

Missions 30.69 581.50

Ministry 46.00 76.65

_________________________________________________

TOTAL EXPENSES $8,588.18 $56,196.16

NET INCOME (LOSS) $5,188.33 ($7,586.72)

Note: Interest Earned also includes investment income from TPF.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10-11 am

Alleluia Ringers

2

3

4

9am - Adult Sunday School

10am -Worship Service/

communion

11am - Coffee hosted by

Personnel and

Finance Committee

11 an - Blood Pressure

Screening

Deacons Offering

5 9 am Counters

10:00 am Worship

Meeting.

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11:30 am - Circle

Meetings #1, 3 &

4 at Dee’s home

7 10 am Bible Study

1:45 pm Choir

3:30 - Mission Meeting

8

10-11 am

Alleluia Ringers

12 - 4 pm Master

Gardeners

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10

11

9 am Adult Sunday School

10am Worship Service

11am - Coffee hosted by

Men of the Church

Copper Kettle Offering

12 9 am Counters

13

14

10 am - Bible Study

1:45 pm Choir

15 10-11 am

Alleluia Ringers

9 am - Master

Gardeners

16

C

L

O

S

E

D

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18 9 am Sunday School

10am Worship Service

11 am Coffee hosted by

Circle #1

19 9 am Counters

10 am Deacons Meeting

11:30 -Men of the Church

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No Ministry Mtg.

for May/next mtg.

June 17th 2:00 pm

3 pm - Session

21

10 am - Bible Study

1:45 pm Choir

22

10-11 am

Alleluia Ringers

23 C

L

O

S

E

D

25 9 am Sunday School

10 am Worship Service

11 am Coffee Hosted by

Circle #3

26

27 9:00 - Fellowship

of Love

28 10 am - Bible Study

1:45 pm Choir

29

10-11 am

Alleluia Ringers

30 C

L

O

S

E

D

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REDBUD CALENDAR MAY, 2014

Please verify committee

meetings with the chair-

person as

days/times are subject to

change!

Publication Deadlines Weekly bulletin - Wednesday afternoon by 2:00 pm

Newsletter - Thursday, May 21st

Please submit all articles in writing.

You may drop them off at the office or

email to Connie McLaurin: fpcmh@centurytel.net

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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C

L

O

S

E

D

I’ve learned so much from

my mistakes…….

I’m thinking of making a few more!

C

L

O

S

E

D

OFFICE CLOSED

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Church Office Hours

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday

Church Mailing Address

1106 Spring Street

Mountain Home, AR 72653

870-425-3799

fpcmh@centurytel.net

Website: www.fpcmh.net

First Presbyterian Church 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR 72653

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Pastor,

Reverend Nancy L. Taylor

Mr. Gary Adler, Lay Pastor

Sunday School: 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m.

Secretaries:

Connie McLaurin,

Helen Harding,

Carolyn Saul