What brings young people to church?

Our vision: to be a place of respite, renewal, and regeneration for all through the grace of Christ.

Our mission: to be the hands and feet of God in the world.

One of the questions discussed during our Lent lunch was: what brings young people to church?

The list of responses included God, friends and family, fun activities, mentoring younger children, Christian ed-

ucation, music, building relationships, and parent’s night out. One item that has been on all our minds was hiring a dy-

namic youth leader who plans activities with youth input. As you know, the Session has been engaged in an active

search for just that person.

I was considering the connection between these things and Christ. Two of them- God and Christian education-

are directly connected. The others could as easily be found in school clubs or Scouting or sports but they are certainly

important as possible motivators that can attract young people to church.

The thing that was missing from the list that is specifically Christian, was the idea that parents bring their chil-

dren to church to learn about and to participate in service. Christian service is the foundation of our vision and mission

statements and it’s the ministry of Christ Jesus that we’re taught from an early age.

While service does take many non-religious forms, Christians engage in it for a particular reason that stands

above mere civic or social endeavors: redemption. Christian service is a way that Christians demonstrate gratitude for

the grace we have received in Christ’s death.

In serving, we also discover our spiritual gifts. We learn to be more like Jesus. We discover new faith potential

in ourselves. We might even experience God’s presence among us. We certainly learn to love our neighbors as our-

selves and when we go out to serve, we, like the Good Samaritan, learn that the definition of a neighbor is anyone who

needs our help.

Building a culture of Christian service is also a way to increase unity in the congregation. Imagine an entire con-

gregation gathered to serve. Imagine how in that serving moment there are no divisions between people: neither age

nor income not education or skill. Just a collection of Christ’s followers called to step beyond their own needs, all fo-

cused on praising God by becoming a servant.

That’s a powerful vision of a powerful church that brings good news into the world around us and develops discipleship in its young members by motivating them to serve. Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. –Psalm 113

Peace be with you,

Allen

April 2019

Anchor Links is a monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church

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Monday April 1 at 5:30PM Faith Development Monday April 8 at 5:00PM Property Meeting Monday April 8 at 5:30PM Mission Tuesday April 16 at 10:00AM Pastoral Care Tuesday April 22 at 5:30PM Session

April Meetings & Events

GOOD SAMARITAN FOOD

ITEM FOR APRIL

Granola Bars & Pop Tarts

LENTEN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS-

Sunday, April 7, 14 9:30-9:45am

Sunday, April 28th 3:30pm

“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens

Sunday April 14 Palm Sunday Luke 23:1-49

Monday April 15 Isa. 42:1-9

Tuesday April 16 Ps. 71:1-14

Wednesday April 17 John 13:21-32

Thursday April 18 Maundy Thursday 6:30pm with Holy Communion Exodus 12:1-4

Friday April 19 Good Friday Hebrews 4:14-16

Saturday April 20 Great Vigil of Easter

Sunday, April 21 6:30am Breakfast Following Bring a dish to share and flowers for the Cross.

Sunday, April 21 10:00am Traditional Easter Worship with Holy Communion

Saturday, April 20th

Breakfast at 8:00am

Join us as we do some

spring cleaning.

There are baskets in the Sanctuary for your donations of individually wrapped

Easter candy

Palm Sunday Service, April 14, 2019 6:00pm at The First Church of The Nazarene

Tuesday, April 16th Help us reach our goal of

$2,500.00 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 13—11:00am

at the home of Brent & Kate Canady 1359 Hwy 130 East

Lunch will be provided

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April 12

Tim & Raychelle Flannagan

April 26

Doug & Ellen Treadway Celebrating 33 years!

Happy Anniversary Happy Birthday

April 1

Meredith Spears

April 4 Dianne Watson

April 7

Evelyn Davidson

April 8 Spencer Cross Heather Knott

April 10

Tom Tyndall

April 12 John Marsh

April 13

Winston Caine

April 14 Ansley Knott

Wayne Williams

April Celebrations

Hollyn Faith Hutson 7 years old

April 16

Lauren Smith

April 19 Anne Windham

April 20

Hollyn Faith Hutson

April 21 Preston Cross

Ginger Shofner Will Watson

Michael Watson

April 23 Anne Shofner

April 27

Margaret Anne Cobb

~Do What Makes You Happy

~ Be With Who Makes You Smile

~Laugh As Much As You Breathe

~Love As Long As You Live

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DAY CIRCLE 1:00pm in the Church Parlor Lesson: 11 Evangelism & the Believer Lesson Leader: Janet Mullins Hostess: Shirley Luscinski NIGHT CIRCLE 6:30pm at the home of Adrian Bomar Lesson Leader: Brenda Skelton Lesson #20 Hostess: Pat Thomas

Spring Salad Supper

Tuesday, April 23rd 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall

Speaker: M.J. Miller

Author, Speaker, Missionary, Beekeeper

Bring your favorite salad to share and join in for an evening of ladies’ talk, laughter, fellowship and delicious salads. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!

C.R.O.S.S. Shelter

116 Hickory Drive, Shelbyville, TN

Community Religious Outreach Social Services

C. R. O. S .S. was founded in 2008 to address the

issue of homelessness in our community. C. R. O. S .S. is a non-profit charitable organization that is staffed by a 100%

volunteer staff.

C. R. O. S .S. Mission: The purpose of this program is to provide relief to the poor,

distressed and underprivileged. Shelter, food, and life skills intervention in a Christian atmosphere for homeless men, women, and

children.

Sleeping quarters and meals for men, women, and children are provided. Donated clothes and hygiene items are available for guests in

need.

Services are provided regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or life-

style orientation.

Items always needed and appreciated:

Food: Milk, Coffee, Coffee Creamer, Cheese

Slices, Sandwich Meat, Large tea bags, Sugar-free drink mixes for pitchers (like peach or lemonade),

Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Pickles, Hot Sauce, etc., Bread, Peanut Butter, Butter, Sugar, Breakfast Cereals.

Non-Food: HE Laundry Detergent, 39 gal. Trash

Bags, Dish Detergent, Dishwasher Detergent, Floor Cleaner, Multi-purpose Cleaner,

Multi-purpose cleaner with bleach, Furniture

Polish, Dryer Sheets, Ibuprofen, Glass Cleaner, Paper items: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Napkins.

Hygiene items: Men’s and Women’s Deodorant,

Toothpaste.

https://crossshelter.org/

For more information check out the website:

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O U R

Y O U T H

Lenten Sunday

School Class

Join Us Sunday,

April 7th &

14th Guns

Front Row: Kelsey Shatley, Carley Shatley, Sophie Miller, Morgan McCormick, McKenna Lamb and Ralph Eibling.

Back Row: Nathan Eibling, Josh West, Caleb West, Autumn Quick, Emma Ward, Dawson Hasty, Hunter Wilhelm, Grace Wilhelm, Molly Jensen, Zoe Jensen, Zoe Carballoso, and Dayton Hasty.

FPC and Edgemont Baptist Youth

FFA Members helping with the final delivery are Walter Harris, Logan Roberts, Brandon Powell, Jamie Atwood, and William Perez.

Spring Break means that youth who receive Backpacks through the schools will not have the opportunity for food during the schools recess. First Presbyterian Church and Edgemont Baptist Church along with Shelbyville Lion’s Club joined on Sunday, March 17th to pack 130 boxes for social workers to distribute to their students. This a community effort with donations and help from Jostens, Shelbyville Lumber Co., Kroger, Dominos, Select Trailer and more…..

Enjoying fun times together and dinner at Toots!

The Shelbyville Police

Department

visited Parents’ Day

Out in March to talk

with the children.

Thank You, Shelbyville Police Department!

Busy Packing...

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BUD MELSON for Property Committee by David & Debbie Kee Brent & Kate Canady Bailey & Trena Little Margaret Smith Tommy and Linda Anderton Charlotte Williams Leo & Brenda Skelton Mike & Karis Matusek Terry & Ginny Saylor Charles & Karen McDonald Jeffrey & Holly Calk Tony & Carolyn Matusek Linda Griffin Jo Moore Newton Helen Garner Robbie Holman Hasfurder Edwin & Elaine Holcombe Bob & Alice Durio Belinda Craig Ruthie Shepherd Gail and Naomi Luna BUD MELSON for GREG GARNER SCHOLARSHIP by Nancy June Brandon Pat and Mary Marsh

BOB GARNER for GREG GARNER SCHOLARSHIP by Dan Townes David & Debbie Kee Leo & Brenda Skelton Preceptor Beta Sigma Phi Terry & Ginny Saylor Bailey & Trena Little Bryan & Vicki Bean David & Lynn Riddle James, Sarah, Isaac, & Grant Coble Caperton Billy & Betty Fox Connie Boutwell Linda Griffin Ann T Farrar Frank & Shirley Neal Jimmy & Melissa Simmons Ricky & Susan Francis Jim & Donna Sepull Mr. & Mrs. Barry D. Cooper

Fellowship Coffee Sunday, March 17th

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Sunday, April 7 5th Sunday in Lent

Lay Liturgist Leo Skelton Ushers/Greeter Tommy Anderton Michal Dobson Pat Marsh Ginny Saylor Hall Monitor Terry Saylor A Time for Young Christians Kate Canady Children’s Church TBD Nursery

Maddie Hittle

Serving Holy Communion:

Brent Canady, Tommy Anderton, Michal Dobson, Carol Magnuson, Leo Skelton

Sunday, April 21 Resurrection of The Lord Easter

Lay Liturgist Janice Womble Ushers/Greeters Helen Garner DeAnn Idso Bailey Little Raychelle Flannagan Hall Monitor Linda Anderton A Time for Young Christians Kate Canady Children’s Church No Children’s Church Nursery Abby Hittle

Sunday, April 14th Palm Sunday Lay Liturgist Ginger Shofner Ushers/Greeters John Marsh Pat Marsh Rob Marsh Randy Reed Hall Monitor Tony Matusek A Time for Young Christians Kate Canady Children’s Church Kristin Wilhelm/ Nursery Lisa Hittle

Worship Guild for

April Communion Preparation

Sunday April 7

Carol Magnuson &

Ellen Treadway

April 18 Maundy Thursday

Aaron Crafton & Allen Cross

April 21 Easter Sunday

Aaron Crafton & Allen Cross

Sunday, April 28th 2nd Sunday after Easter

Lay Liturgist Hall Monitor Theresa Blanton Geneva Melson

Ushers/Greeters A Time for Young Christians

Frieda Bone Connie Crafton Fred Hunt Kathy Smith Children’s Church Richard Smith Katherine Marsh

Nursery Raychelle Flannagan

Serving Holy Communion Maundy Thursday, April 18th

6:30pm Margaret Smith

Tommy Anderton

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On the Calendar for April 2019 SUNDAYS in APRIL Sunday School Bible Study 9:00AM Worship 10:00AM Holy Communion is observed the first Sunday of the month.

WEDNESDAYS in APRIL Choir Practice 6:30 PM

MONDAY, APRIL 1 Faith Development 5:30pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 5th Sunday in Lent Lenten Sunday School 9:30-9:45am Holy Communion

MONDAY, APRIL 8 Property 5:00pm Mission 5:30pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Day Circle 1:00pm Night Circle 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Last meeting for PYC

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Easter Egg Hunt The Canady Farm 11:00am Lunch will be provided Rain date Sunday the 14th at the church

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Palm Sunday Lenten Sunday School 9:30-9:45am Ecumenical Palm Sunday Service 6:00pm at the First Church of the Nazarene

TUESDAY, APRIL 16 Pastoral Care 10:00am

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Maundy Thursday 6:30pm With Holy Communion

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Good Friday

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Great Vigil of Easter Church Clean Up Day Breakfast 8:00am

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 Resurrection of the Lord/Easter Sunrise Service 6:30am Pot Luck Breakfast Traditional Worship 10:00am

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Session 5:30pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Salad Supper 6:00pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Book Club 3:30pm

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

600 North Brittain Street

Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160

Office: 931.684.6541

Fax: 931.684.6575

Email: first.pres.church600@gmail.com

Website: firstprezshelbyvilletn.org

Website: wwwFPC STAFF

Allen Cross III, Senior Pastor allencross3@yahoo.com

Shirley Luscinski, Church Secretary first.pres.church600@gmail.com

Billy Powell, Music Director

Diane Green, Nursery Director

SESSION

Kristin Conley, Clerk of Session

Class of 2019

Tommy Anderton, Kristin Conley, Christy Jensen, Charlotte Williams

Class of 2020

Kate Canady, Michal Dobson, Carol Magnuson, Mike Matusek

Class of 2021

Rob Marsh, Leo Skelton, Margaret Smith, LeaAnne Windham

TRUSTEES

Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Fred Hunt Bailey Little Kathy Smith

NOTE: Session minutes are available in the church office for

any member of the congregation to read.

ville.com