CHURCH LIFE @ FPC www.fpcsanangelo.org June 2019 F ive more Sundays – wow – after 36 years of ordained ministry it hardly seems possible that my retirement is now so close at hand. When I add in my six months of youth ministry at the American Church in Tehran, as well as a year and one half at the Presbyterian Church in Cleburne, TX – along with four-plus years earning two Masters degrees at seminary – I’ve been at this a long time! I’ve been asked many times what my next plans will be and I am really not sure. As I mentioned in a sermon a few weeks ago, my first task will be to figure out what to do with all of the books I have accumulated. Then there are the file cabinets filled with past sermons and worship bulle- tins. I’ve already begun the process of discarding old files, but there is much more to do. I’ve also been asked if I am happy or sad about retiring from minis- try. The happy part is that I hope to have time to do many of the things I’ve had to forgo over the years because of pastoral responsibilities. As a person who likes order and organization (which some would describe as OCD) I am even looking forward to finally having time to purge and organize our attic and the five storage closets I have in our garage. What I am sad about is stepping away from such a vibrant and ac- tive church and congregation. I am going to miss you. The routine of min- istry has become part and parcel of who I am, so I am sure it will be an ad- justment when my life is no longer shaped by the demands of sermon prep- aration and all of the many other responsibilities of being a pastor. In the meantime I am concentrating on my final five Sundays as your pastor. I am preaching every Sunday in June, so pick a Sunday and you will find me in the pulpit. In fact – come every Sunday as we continue to work our way through the Book of Acts. This Sunday, June 2, will be my final time to serve the Lord’s Sup- per as your pastor. We will be in Acts 21:17-26, and my sermon title, “Fake News,” is a timely one. Vacation Bible School begins on Tuesday, June 4, and one more time I will help lead the children and youth in some of the great old VBS songs. I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful event one final time. Sunday, June 9, is Pentecost, and I hope you will once again plan to wear red that Sunday as we celebrate the birth of the Christian Church. That Sunday will find us in Acts 22:1-29, and the sermon title will be “Defense of the Faith.” Sunday, June 16, is Trinity Sunday as well as Father’s Day. As we continue to follow the story of Paul in Acts the sermon title will be, “Trials and Tribulations.” Continued on P. 2 From our Pastor Bill Proctor T he message of the church to the world can be none other than the word of God to the world. This word is: Jesus Christ, and salvation in this name. It is in Jesus Christ that God’s rela- tionship to the world is determined. We do not know any other relationship of God to the world apart from Jesus Christ. There- fore the church, too, has no relationship to the world other than through Jesus Christ. This means that the proper relationship of the church to the world does not derive from some natural law, or law of reason, or universal human rights, but solely from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church’s message to the world is the word about the coming of God in the flesh, about God’s love for the world in the sending of God’s Son, about God’s judgment on unbelief. See P. 2
Transcript
CHURCH LIFE @ FPC www.fpcsanangelo.org June 2019
F ive more Sundays – wow – after 36 years of ordained ministry it hardly seems possible that my retirement is now so close at hand. When I add in my six months of youth ministry at the American Church in Tehran, as well as a year and one half at the Presbyterian
Church in Cleburne, TX – along with four-plus years earning two Masters degrees at seminary – I’ve been at this a long time! I’ve been asked many times what my next plans will be and I am really not sure. As I mentioned in a sermon a few weeks ago, my first task will be to figure out what to do with all of the books I have accumulated. Then there are the file cabinets filled with past sermons and worship bulle-tins. I’ve already begun the process of discarding old files, but there is much more to do. I’ve also been asked if I am happy or sad about retiring from minis-try. The happy part is that I hope to have time to do many of the things I’ve had to forgo over the years because of pastoral responsibilities. As a person who likes order and organization (which some would describe as OCD) I am even looking forward to finally having time to purge and organize our attic and the five storage closets I have in our garage. What I am sad about is stepping away from such a vibrant and ac-tive church and congregation. I am going to miss you. The routine of min-istry has become part and parcel of who I am, so I am sure it will be an ad-justment when my life is no longer shaped by the demands of sermon prep-aration and all of the many other responsibilities of being a pastor. In the meantime I am concentrating on my final five Sundays as your pastor. I am preaching every Sunday in June, so pick a Sunday and you will find me in the pulpit. In fact – come every Sunday as we continue to work our way through the Book of Acts. This Sunday, June 2, will be my final time to serve the Lord’s Sup-per as your pastor. We will be in Acts 21:17-26, and my sermon title, “Fake News,” is a timely one. Vacation Bible School begins on Tuesday, June 4, and one more time I will help lead the children and youth in some of the great old VBS songs. I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful event one final time. Sunday, June 9, is Pentecost, and I hope you will once again plan to wear red that Sunday as we celebrate the birth of the Christian Church. That Sunday will find us in Acts 22:1-29, and the sermon title will be “Defense of the Faith.”
Sunday, June 16, is Trinity Sunday as well as Father’s Day. As we
continue to follow the story of Paul in Acts the sermon title will be, “Trials
and Tribulations.”
Continued on P. 2
From our Pastor Bill Proctor
T he message of the church to the world
can be none other than the word of God to the world. This word is: Jesus Christ, and salvation in this name. It is in Jesus Christ that God’s rela-tionship to the world is determined. We do not know any other relationship of God to the world apart from Jesus Christ. There-fore the church, too, has no relationship to the world other than through Jesus Christ. This means that the proper relationship of the church to the world does not derive from some natural law, or law of reason, or universal human rights, but solely from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church’s message to the world is the word about the coming of God in the flesh, about God’s love for the world in the sending of God’s Son, about God’s judgment on unbelief. See P. 2
P A G E 2
C H U R C H L I F E @ F P C
From P. 1 The church’s mes-sage is the call to turn around, to be-lieve in God’s love in Christ, to prepare for the second com-ing of Christ, the coming kingdom of God. It is thus the word of redemption for all people. The message of God’s love for the world places the church-community into a relationship of re-sponsibility for the world. In word and deed, the church-community has to witness to the world concerning its faith in Christ, to work on removing any of-fense, and to make room for the gospel in the world. Wher-ever this responsibil-ity is denied, Christ is denied; for it is the responsibility that corresponds to God’s love of the world Dietrich Bonhoeffer Ethics
J U N E 2 0 1 9
Continued from P. 1
Sunday, June 23, will take us to Acts 23:12-35, which tells the story
of Paul being taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea under the cover of dark-
ness for his own safety. The sermon title that morning will be “Flight By
Night.”
My last Sunday, June 30, may be out of my control as I sense plans
are being made – but I am scheduled to preach on Acts 24 – the entire
chapter – because it tells the remarkable story of Paul before the corrupt
governor Felix. I’ve entitled my message, “Felix the Cad,” which is – I
have to say – one of my favorite sermon titles ever!
As the transition continues I hope you will pray for those who are
managing the transition process – and that you will be praying for Joel – as
decisions are made and actions are taken. I know God is at work in this im-
portant process.
Blessings to you!
1. Take art classes 2. Join a community band or chorus
3. Learn a new instrument, or rediscover an instrument you used to play
4. Visit art museums 5. Attend theatre
6. Participate in community theatre 7. Play golf
8. Play tennis 9. Go for long walks 10. Ride your bicycle 11. Attend concerts 12. Play card games
13. Play board games 14. Volunteer as an usher
15. Volunteer as a museum docent 16. Become a tour guide 17. Sew or knit clothing
18. Write a memoir or autobiography 19. Take up photography 20. Learn a new language
23 8:30 Prayer Ministry 9:15 Sun Sch 10:30 Worship
24 9 a.m. Angel Acdmy Soup Kitchen
25 26 6:45 a.m. EMBS 9:00 Angel Ac-dmy
27 10:00 a.m. Crochet, Parlor
28 29
30 See above All-Church lunch*****
*Communion, June 2 **No angel Academy June 3-June 12, will resume June 17; ***6/9 Pentecost, WEAR RED TO CHURCH! ****6/9 Second Summer Sunday Sing-Song & Potluck @ the Lake Lodge 5-7; *****6/16 Trinity Sunday; ******6/30 All-Church Lunch for Bill’s last Sunday
P A G E 4
C H U R C H L I F E @ F P C
J U N E 2 0 1 9
June 9 will be the first Second Sunday Sing-Along and Pot Luck @ the Lake Lodge! From 5:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. Bring your favorite entrée, side-dish, salad or dessert to share. There will be time for fellowship, we will hear from the children of VBS as they sing a couple of their VBS songs and fol-lowing the time of sing-ing, boat rides will be available. The other dates for the Second Sunday Sing-Along & Potluck are July 14 and August 11. F
PC is forming a team of
volunteers to prepare and
serve an evening meal to
House of Faith campers
in grades 7th - 12th on Thursday,
July 18 at Lake Brownwood!
For many summers a team of
FPC volunteers has traveled to Lake
Brownwood Christian Retreat and
fed approximately 300 elementary,
middle school or high school age
children & their counselors, and this
summer is no different!
We need your help—this is a
great way for our youth to get any
service hours they might need for
school or civic organizations. It is
also a wonderful
opportunity for
mothers, fa-
thers, sons,
daughters, cous-
ins, and grand-
parents to work
side-by-side in
service to our Lord by feeding &
serving others. Call Susan Gober
to volunteer, 655-5694. This year
they have asked us to prepare for
300, this number includes allowing
seconds for the campers and coun-
selors.
J une 30 will be Bill’s last
Sunday as our pastor.
Plans are in the works for a
wonderful catered lunch to
be held following the service that
morning. Our Board of Deacons
will see that it’s special and deli-
cious!
On that Sunday we are asking
everyone to
come
adorned in
their favor-
ite hat so
that it will
literally be HATS OFF TO BILL,
thanking him for his years of ser-
vice to our congregation.
T he Kona Ice Truck will be back at FPC on Sunday,
July 14 immediately after the worship service—which
will be a Wear Your Shorts to Church Sunday! So, be
sure you are here on July 14 and plan to enjoy a nice
cool snow cone on a hot summer day!
P A G E 5 C H U R C H L I F E @ F P C
Sunday school classes to combine for summer
T he Combined Adult
Summer Sunday School
Class will begin meet-
ing on Sunday, June 2.
The class will meet in room 107
and begin a study by Kyle Idle-
man entitled, Don’t Give Up.
Participants will watch a short
video and then discuss and reflect
on how one can stay strong in the
faith in spite of this challenging
world.
The second study is Sing!
A study of the role of music in our
worship.
Also on June 2 children and
youth will combine into one
Sunday school class in the gym.
Volunteers are needed to take one
Sunday—or more and lead the
children in a simple, done-in-a-day
service project. The youth will
assist the volunteer and help the
children as needed. Call Natalie
Craddock at the church office to
volunteer, 655-5694.
I f you’d
like to
make sure
all the
VBS volunteers
have plenty of
energy, then please consider
bringing your favorite sweet or
savory snack to help stock the
Teachers’ Lounge! Also, fresh
fruits and veggies would be wel-
come too. You may bring your
donations to the Parlor any morn-
ing VBS is taking place, June 4-7
from 9:00 a.m.—noon. Call
Natalie if you have any questions,
716-8280. For your information
there are 45 adult and youth vol-
unteers for this year’s VBS.
Feed the hungry VBS volunteers!
Dear FPC,
Thank you very much for your
donations of Parents Night Out
vouchers! With your donations,
we were able to provide food and
giveaways to 40 families of the
312th Training Squadron. Your
support of our squadron and all
those assigned to Goodfellow is
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
312th Wolfpack Booster Club
T he summer edition of our young adult bible study group, Starting Point, will kick-off on
Monday, June 3 at the home of Nancy and John Cargile. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. with the bible study beginning at 7:00 p.m. Those attending won’t want to leave early because at the con-clusion of the study at 8:00 p.m. boat rides shall commence! Contact Morgan Moore if you would like to provide a meal for around 20 young adults. Four Mondays remain available, July 8, 22 and 29; and August 5.
Dear Members of FPC,
Thank you so much for the
beautiful flowers delivered to us
on May 26. What a day brighten-
er they were! We really appreciate
being part of such a warm and lov-
ing church family.
Sincerely,
Cynthia & Bill Keel
S ession has voted to conduct a Congregational Meet-
ing for the purpose of receiving Bill’s retirement and
dissolving his call as senior pastor of FPC. The
meeting will be held immediately after the June 30
