Faith Alive “Rooted in Christ’s Love” On a recent trip to Greenville, SC, Jeff and I strolled through Falls Park, one of the loveliest parks in the southeast, in my opinion. On the edge of Falls Park, on the perimeter of the old Furman University campus, is a tree that will—literally—stop one in one’s tracks. At least it did me. I couldn’t help but walk to the base of this tree and look up. The tree’s roots are exposed above the earth, while it teeters on the edge of a steep incline from the top of the hill down to the curb. I ran my fingers along the roots, and while they were smooth, they were also knotted and gnarled, having been weathered by the elements. It was a magnificent sight. Standing there, I could not help but feel insignificant beneath the tree’s awesomeness. (Jeff snapped the picture below while I was standing in awe, oblivious to his camera.) As I looked up, the pieced-together lines from Ephesians kept bopping around in my head that Paul wrote: broad, deep and high is Christ’s love for us. The words Paul wrote, in fact, go more like this from Ephesians 3:16-19 (NRSV): I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. At this time of year, as we gear up for the busy-ness of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, it is so easy to lose sight or become out of touch with our motivation behind our observances and celebrations. One would hope it is our goal to acknowledge the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love for us, but often it is about making sure the turkey is cooked all the way through and figuring out who is going to be around the table and at what time. Continued on pg. 6
Transcript
Faith Alive
“Rooted in Christ’s Love” On a recent trip to Greenville, SC, Jeff and I strolled through Falls Park, one of the loveliest parks in the southeast, in my opinion. On the edge of Falls Park, on the perimeter of the old Furman University campus, is a tree that will—literally—stop one in one’s tracks. At least it did me. I couldn’t help but walk to the base of this tree and look up. The tree’s roots are exposed above the earth, while it teeters on the edge of a steep incline from the top of the hill down to the curb. I ran my fingers along the roots, and while they were smooth, they were also knotted and gnarled, having been weathered by the elements. It was a magnificent sight. Standing there, I could not help but feel insignificant beneath the tree’s awesomeness. (Jeff snapped the picture below while I was standing in awe, oblivious to his camera.) As I looked up, the pieced-together lines from Ephesians kept bopping around in my head that Paul wrote: broad, deep and high is Christ’s love for us. The words Paul wrote, in fact, go more like this from Ephesians 3:16-19 (NRSV):
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
At this time of year, as we gear up for the busy-ness of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, it is so easy to lose sight or become out of touch with our motivation behind our observances and celebrations. One would hope it is our goal to acknowledge the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love for us, but often it is about making sure the turkey is cooked all the way through and figuring out who is going to be around the table and at what time. Continued on pg. 6
PW Wednesday Prayer Luncheon Schedule PW Casserole Care Schedule November Circle 5 November Circle 1 December Circle 1 December Circle 2
Presbyterian Women News
2
Monday, November 13 Hostesses
Circle 1 10 A.M. in the Parlor Contact Page Carver for information
Circle 2 10:30 A.M., Covenant Village Living Room Betsy Burleson & MaryAnne Brown
Circle 3 2 P.M. Covenant Village Card Room No hostess
Circle 5 No Meeting in November N/A
Circle 6 6:30 P.M. in the Parlor Lenise Melton & Betty Davenport
Tuesday, November 14
Circle 4 11:30 A.M. in the Parlor Sarah Wentz, Carol Fuller, Sharon Lanier
Circle Schedule for November
Thank you to everyone who contributed sandwiches for Rise Against Hunger! They were very much appreciated and assisted the congregation in packing 30,000 meals!
Circles or individuals interested in volunteering with the Backpack Weekend Food Program should contact Sylvia Seawell.
The Women of the Church are very excited to kick off the Crockpot Ministry!
Orders may be placed November 1-10th with order forms available at the Reception Desk or online at www.fpcgastonia.org/crockpot. Orders will be available for pickup in the Fellowship Hall on November 17th. Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card.
Selections 3-5 servings 6-8 servings
Chicken Parmesan $14 $25
Chicken & Dumplings $13 $22
Hamburger Veggie Soup
$13 $22
Sausage Corn Chowder $14 $25
Veggie Soup $10 $18
You Can Help. . .
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE
Workdays continue at 223 Tanner St. on Saturdays
and some weekdays throughout October. You
are invited to continue volunteering! Bill
Glover (cell 704-650-5892) is the best person to contact
about exactly when volunteers are needed.
DONATE BLOOD
The next FPC Blood Drive will be Monday, December
4, 2:30-6:30 p.m. Mark your calendar and plan to
donate!
SHERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Opportunities include lunch
buddies, reading buddies, mentors and other ways we
can help. Contact Gloria Hickson if you have
questions: 704-865-6109.
VETERANS’ DAY LUNCHEON Come celebrate our veterans on Wednesday, November 8,
11:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall of FPC; RSVP by November 6 to [email protected] or to the Reception Desk.
NICKEL-A-MEAL We collect this offering the 2nd Sunday of each month. It goes to hunger relief projects within the presbytery and around the globe. Please give as you are able.
THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
FPC has a plot where we grow food for local ministries. We need volunteers to help weed. The gate lock combination is 6014 and you can go any time you have a few minutes. Contact Cynthia Anderson with questions: 704-616-1067. THROUGH THE MISSIONS MINISTRY YOU GAVE... $3,000 each to PC(USA) Mission Partners: the Turks (Madagascar), the Van Brocklins (Region Liaison for South Asia), and to Dr. Martha Sommers, who will serve as a family practice physician and as a lecturer and family medicine practitioner at Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi. $5,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for the Atlantic Regional Storms Fund. $500 each to First Presbyterian of Napa in honor of David Stoker and to Palma Ceia Presbyterian in honor of John DeBevoise.
Kirkin’ Sunday is Coming: November 12! Rev. Billy Robinson, Associate Presbyter for the Presbytery of
Western NC will be our preacher. We will have one worship service at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Everyone is invited
to lunch. The church will provide the meat...you bring a side item. Needed: Tartan-bearers Let Trip Stewart know if you
Continued from pg. 1 Let us be mindful, that for some, this time of year is particularly difficult as they grieve the loss of dear ones who have died this past year. (We will remember these dear souls on our All Saints observance, Sunday, November 5 during the 11:00 a.m. worship service.) Or, those whose family situation has changed and the holidays will be about figuring out a “new normal” for their family. Let us, as the body of Christ, be faithful reminders of the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love for these folks during days of sorrow and loneliness. There are times and moments along the journey when we feel tiny, insignificant or lonely, but the promise of scripture tells us otherwise. Throughout our Biblical witness we are reminded that God claims us in love. Isaiah 43 says that we are honored and precious in God’s sight, while Matthew’s Gospel assures that we are more valuable than anything else in all of God’s creation (Matt. 10:29-31). As this autumn season progresses and we reflect on the abundant love of God for us this Thanskgiving and Christmas season, let us cling to these timeless words of our faith that were written in 1563 in question/answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism:
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven;
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.
Blessings to us all as we continue upon our journey to be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love for us and our willingness to live wholeheartedly for him. Peace,
New Shelves for Choir Music
ADULT MINISTRIES
PRAYER LUNCH Wednesdays at Noon in the Fellowship Hall. Come to be fed—body and spirit!
FAITH & FICTION
The next Faith & Fiction meeting will be on Sunday, November 5 at 5:00 p.m. We will meet at Covenant Village in the Card Room and will be discussing Taken by Dee Henderson. Our hostesses will be Lenise Melton, Pat Sudderth, Dorothy McKenzie and Betty Davenport.
December’s book will be The Immortal Nicholas.
ATTENTION!!! ALL MEN Men’s Fellowship Breakfast has resumed for the fall. This group gathers at the PAD on
Wednesdays at 7 a.m. for breakfast and for a 7:30 a.m. devotion. We dismiss at 8:00 a.m. Come join us!
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
This project is in full swing and you are invited to participate. Boxes are available at the Reception Desk. There are brochures that explain what to put in the boxes for children’s gifts. Then please return them in time for us to dedicate and send them on November 19. Becky Voorhees is our church’s contact if you have questions.
Fourth Sunday A Gathering of Grace and Prayer
The Worship & Music Ministry is extremely pleased with the gracious reception of this innovative Sunday afternoon service. Fourth Sunday had more than 150 congregants in its
3-week experimental schedule.
Look for Fourth Sunday to Return
at the same time July-September 2018!
Worship & Music is considering the same format, featuring intercessory prayer time. Perhaps further arrangements will include a nursery and moving the time to 5:00 rather than 5:30 to allow youth to participate
before their regular 5:30 meeting in the PAD.
Comments are appreciated and sharing with Worship & Music and the Session.
Cookie Brenner Chair of Worship & Music
Adult Ministries
First Press PERIODICALS US POSTAGE
PAID Gastonia, NC
Worship and Music Notes
Healing Hearts: Widow/widowers support group for members of FPC and FUMC. Meeting with Eddie Ingram, Nov. 9, 2:30-3:00 p.m. at the FUMC Family Life Center.
Memory Screening Event: Nov. 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at FPC; register by calling 704-864-5500.
Blood Drive: Dec. 4, 2:30-6:30 p.m., FPC.
A Service of Hope Dec. 12 at 12:15 and 6:00 p.m. at FUMC. For those grieving the lost of loved ones, struggling with illness or addiction.
Mark Your Calendar: November 12: Kirkin’ Sunday November 22: Community Thanksgiving Service, 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist; let’s have a good showing from FPC!
4+4+4 ADDS UP TO WINNING WEDNESDAYS! 4 WEDNESDAYS * 4 GREAT MEALS * 4 DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS NOVEMBER 1 NOVEMBER 15 Meal Time: 5:30-6:15 p.m. Reservations are recommended but not required. If you have difficulty arriving at the church during mealtime just let us know and we will pack a plate for you. Program: 6:15-7:15 p.m. November 15—Chef Quay Williford and Team (Special Thanksgiving Meal); Speaker—Dr. Joanne Sizoo, Pastor of Grace Presbyterian (Fort Mill, SC), Moderator of the Iraq Partnership Network
November 2017 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1621 EAST GARRISON BLVD GASTONIA, NC 28054 PHONE: 704‐864‐2651 WEB: www.fpcgastonia.org FB: www.facebook.com/fpcgastonia TWITTER: @1Pres_Gastonia
7:00 a.m. Bibles & Biscuits 8:30 a.m. Yoga 10:00 a.m. Small Group Prayer Beads
Newsle er Deadline for the November 15 edi on
Habitat Workdays con nue on site (223 Turner St.)
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 a.m. Kirkin’ Lunch 1:30 p.m. Diaconate Mee ng 5:30 p.m. Mid-High Youth
Nickel-a-meal Offering
Kirkin’ Sunday
10:00 a.m. Circle 1 10:30 a.m. Circle 2 (Covenant Village) 2:00 p.m. Circle 3 (Covenant Village) 6:30 p.m. Circle 6
7:30 a.m. PET Mee ng 9:30 a.m. Staff Mee ng 11:30 a.m. Circle 4 6:00 p.m. Building & Grounds 6:00 p.m. Youth Ministry Mee ng 6:15 p.m. Worship & Music 7:00 p.m. Thrive Rehearsal 7:15 p.m. Young Women’s Gathering
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry 10:30 a.m. RoadRunners Mee ng 11:00 a.m. Backpack Delivery and Storage 1:00 p.m. Mail Newsle er 4:30-6:30 p.m. Flu Shot Clinic 5:30 p.m. 4+4+4 Winning Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing Music 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
7:30 a.m. Finance Ministry Mee ng 8:30 a.m. Yoga 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 10:00 a.m.-Noon Memory Screening
December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 December 7 December 8 December 9 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 4:30-6:30 p.m. Call to Advent Choirs 6:00 p.m. Session Examina on Communion Sunday
10:30 a.m. Pastoral Care Planning Mee ng 1:00 p.m. Pastoral Care Ministry Mee ng 2:30-6:30 p.m. Blood Drive
11:00 a.m. Circle 4 11:30 a.m. Staff Lunch
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast 12:00 p.m. Prayer Lunch 1:00 p.m. Mail Newsle er 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
8:30 a.m. Yoga 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 7:00 p.m. Children’s Ministry Mee ng
