CHURCH NEWS Volume 4, Issue 1 - January, 2019 From Your Interim Pastor First Presbyterian Church will soon enter its 150 th year of faith, worship, and mission. 2019 will be an exciting time of celebrating God’s love for this great church, and through this great church! May each member of the congregation, along with your friends be renewed in their commitment to live as Christ’s servants and to share his good news. As you enter 2019, give some thought to words from Proverbs: “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.” – Proverbs 3:5ff The Message Below are some items, events, etc., that need to be at the forefront of your minds as you begin 2019. † Two-thousand-nineteen is the year of First Church’s Sesquicenten- nial! The celebration of the church’s 150 th anniversary will be ongoing throughout the year with various events focusing on praising God, re- flecting on our past, rededicating ourselves to Christ, and spreading the love of Jesus in our church, community, and beyond. More will soon be shared about this exciting event. † THE PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE has been formed. At a congregational meeting on Sunday, December 30, seven persons will be elected to serve on this very important committee. Their names will be published in your Sunday bulletin and listed on the church’s website, https://fpcjc.org. My encouragement to you is to pray daily for the PNC, especially during these initial days of organization. † KIRK NIGHT – the Winter/Spring Session – will begin Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Programs are planned for children, youth, and adults. A delicious meal is served at 5:30 PM. Information about KIRK NIGHT can be found on this page, in the church bulletin, or at https://fpcjc.org. † YOUR CONGREGATIONAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE has the responsibility to seek persons to serve as elders and deacons for First Church. The CNC will then recommend these women and men to you, the congregation. Very soon, the CNC will solicit from you the names of those you feel would be the best leaders for First Church. WILL NOT MEET January 2, 2019 January 9, 2019 WILL RESUME January 16, 2019 SINCE JULY 2018, it has been my privilege to serve as your Interim Pastor. Sharon and I are grateful to God for the opportunity given to us to be with you during this important transition. As you may know, I was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Treatment is underway at the Line- berger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Much to our regret, it is necessary for me to resign as your Interim Pastor, effective December 31, 2018. We love First Church, and will miss you. I am sure you will be hearing very soon from the Session’s Personnel Committee about your next interim pastor. Thank you for your prayers for us. You will be in our prayers for you as you pre- pare to call your next pastor. Blessings to you all, Jay Coker
Transcript
CHURCH NEWS Volume 4, Issue 1 - January, 2019
From Your Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church will soon enter its 150th year of
faith, worship, and mission. 2019 will be an exciting time
of celebrating God’s love for this great church, and through
this great church! May each member of the congregation,
along with your friends be renewed in their commitment to live as
Christ’s servants and to share his good news. As you enter 2019, give
some thought to words from Proverbs:
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.”
– Proverbs 3:5ff The Message
Below are some items, events, etc., that need to be at the forefront of
your minds as you begin 2019.
† Two-thousand-nineteen is the year of First Church’s Sesquicenten-
nial! The celebration of the church’s 150th anniversary will be ongoing
throughout the year with various events focusing on praising God, re-
flecting on our past, rededicating ourselves to Christ, and spreading the
love of Jesus in our church, community, and beyond. More will soon be
shared about this exciting event.
† THE PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE has been formed. At
a congregational meeting on Sunday, December 30, seven persons will
be elected to serve on this very important committee. Their names will
be published in your Sunday bulletin and listed on the church’s website,
https://fpcjc.org. My encouragement to you is to pray daily for the PNC,
especially during these initial days of organization.
† KIRK NIGHT – the Winter/Spring Session – will begin Wednesday,
January 16, 2019. Programs are planned for children, youth, and adults.
A delicious meal is served at 5:30 PM. Information about KIRK NIGHT
can be found on this page, in the church bulletin, or at https://fpcjc.org.
† YOUR CONGREGATIONAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE has
the responsibility to seek persons to serve as elders and deacons for First
Church. The CNC will then recommend these women and men to you,
the congregation. Very soon, the CNC will solicit from you the names of
those you feel would be the best leaders for First Church.
WILL NOT MEET January 2, 2019
January 9, 2019
WILL RESUME January 16, 2019
SINCE JULY 2018, it has been my privilege to serve
as your Interim Pastor. Sharon and I are grateful to
God for the opportunity given to us to be with you
during this important transition. As you may know, I
was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of
prostate cancer. Treatment is underway at the Line-
berger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Much to our regret, it is
necessary for me to resign as your Interim Pastor,
effective December 31, 2018. We love First Church,
and will miss you. I am sure you will be hearing very
soon from the Session’s Personnel Committee about
your next interim pastor. Thank you for your prayers
for us. You will be in our prayers for you as you pre-
pare to call your next pastor.
Blessings to you all,
Jay Coker
2
JANUARY
In Spirit Birthdays
(Consider sending a note or card to our folks who are not physically
able to join us—but join us in spirit—to brighten their day
on birthdays, or “just because”...)
None for January
Each Week Sunday Praise Team Rehearsal 7:45 a
Worship service 8:45 a
Fellowship and Refreshments 9:45 a
Officers' Prayer Time 9.50 a
Sunday School 10:00 a
Officers' Prayer Time 10:45 a
Worship Service 11:00 a
1PSM Games and Devotions 6:00 p
Monday Sanctuary Reserved 2:00 p
Miracles Happen 7:00 p
Chamber Ringers 7:00 P
Celebration Ringers 7:30 p
Tower RingerS 8:30 p
Tuesday Web Design Team 9:00 a
LXI Bible Study and Dinner 5:00 p
Wednesday Student Instrumental Ensemble 4:45 p Fellowship Dinner 5:30 p
Adult Bible Study 6:15 p
Children's Choir -1st Street Kids 6:15 p
1PSM Elevate 6:15 p Chamber Singers 6:15 p Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p
Thursday Prayer Group 9:00 a
Sanctuary Reserved 9:00 a
Men's Lunch, Bible Study 12:00 p
Fellowship Hall Reserved 3:30 p
Friday Miracles Happen 7:00 p
Saturday Miracles Happen 7:00 p
1 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 2 No Kirk Night
9 No Kirk Night
14 Property and Maintenance 5:30 p
15 Personnel Committee 5:00 p
16 Kirk Night Resumes 5:30 p
17 Hwy 56 5:30 p
17 Deacons Meeting 5:30 p
20 Miracles Happen Business Meeting 1:00 P
20 MLK Service 5:00 p
21 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 21 Good Samaritan Lunch 10:30 a
22 Stewardship Committee 5:30 p
22 Session Meeting 7:00 p
26 Streetside Ministry 11:00 a
PLEASE LET US KNOW BY JANUARY 10, 2019.
Couples and singles are encouraged to sign up by using the sign-up
sheet in front of the Worship Center, in the Welcome Center, or in
the narthex of the Sanctuary.
If you have questions or need additional information, contact:
Jenny Fowler, 423-929-9666
Natalie Bailey, 423-767-2547
Betty Gehre, 423-926-9936
GOOD SAMARITAN LUNCH (MELTING POT)
MONDAY, JANUARY 21 10:30 AM Church Office
Bring sandwiches (individually
wrapped), bananas and chips.
Sign-up sheets for food donation or to help
serve are posted outside the church office and
the Worship Center. For further information,
call Shelby Ingram (282-5856).
West Main Pantry Needs
January
Laundry Detergent Paper Towels
THE TRAVELERS enjoyed a Christmas
lunch buffet at General Morgan Inn in
Greeneville on their December road trip.
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1st Presbyterian Preschool1st Presbyterian Preschool1st Presbyterian Preschool1st Presbyterian Preschool Serving Our Community Serving Our Community Serving Our Community Serving Our Community
For Over 69 YearsFor Over 69 YearsFor Over 69 YearsFor Over 69 Years!!!! fpcjcpreschool.weebly.com
We offer classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds from Late AugustWe offer classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds from Late AugustWe offer classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds from Late AugustWe offer classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds from Late August----May.May.May.May.
For more information or to register for preschool, For more information or to register for preschool, For more information or to register for preschool, For more information or to register for preschool, please contact us at please contact us at please contact us at please contact us at [email protected] or or or or 423-926-1636....
Preschool registration for the 2019Preschool registration for the 2019Preschool registration for the 2019Preschool registration for the 2019----2020 school year is 2020 school year is 2020 school year is 2020 school year is getting underway!getting underway!getting underway!getting underway!
Registration opens to current preschool & church families on Jan. 23rd.Registration opens to current preschool & church families on Jan. 23rd.Registration opens to current preschool & church families on Jan. 23rd.Registration opens to current preschool & church families on Jan. 23rd. Registration opens to the community on Feb. 7th.Registration opens to the community on Feb. 7th.Registration opens to the community on Feb. 7th.Registration opens to the community on Feb. 7th.
STUDENT MINISTRY
In December we celebrate the Advent season; Jesus coming to earth in human form. I like how the Message
paraphrases it in John 1:14.
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”
I also love Oswald Chambers devotion for December 25th in which he says: Just as our Lord came into human history from outside
it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God?
These are great reminders of what we have to celebrate this season! We had a great Christmas celebration in December with nearly
thirty students for our annual Christmas party. We also promoted the 6th graders that night to the student ministry.
With this change we are moving towards having a 6th- 8th grade ministry and 9th
-12th ministry. Obviously for this to be a successful
undertaking we will need more adult volunteers willing to work with either the middle school or high school students on Sundays
(Sunday school teachers) and Wednesday evenings (small group leaders).
If you have ever felt God leading you to serve or work with students, please contact me to get more information on how and where
you can be used. Tim Jones: work,(423) 926-5108; cell,(910) 635-6383; email, [email protected]
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First Presbyterian Church 105 South Boone Street
Johnson City, Tennessee 37604
423.926.5108
https://fpcjc.org
FPC Johnson City Staff Gary Arner
Director of Facilities Abraham Bodkins
Contemporary and Youth Music Laura Champouillon
Organist Jay Coker Interim Pastor Janice Cunningham
Ministry Assistant and Receptionist Linda DeLong
Kitchen Manager Larry Dodd
Director of Worship, Church Business Administrator
Jennifer Jacobs Director of Children’s Ministries
Tim Jones Director of Student Ministries
Stacy Larsen Director of The River
Terry "Tree" Lewis Maintenance
Amy Sentell Director of the Preschool
January 2019
BOARD OF DEACONS
Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Jim Carr Martha Courtney Cathy McIntyre
Nancy Helsabeck Shelby Ingram Tonya Nucci
Wesley Reed Jerry Urse
SESSION
Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Rick Beeson Mike McCalmont Tom Borthwick
