Reverend Gregory J. Bentley, Pastor

Motto The loving place that is Reaching, Growing, and

Sending people with Christ.

Vision

Fellowship is a Christian ministry that glorifies God and transforms humanity by doing justice, living

mercy, and walking humbly with God.

Mission

Fellowship is called to make disciples by leading

people into a personal relationship with God

through Jesus Christ and equipping them for the work of ministry in the

church, community, and world.

3406 Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL 35811 ♦ Office 256.539.2418 ♦ Fax 256.539.2492 ♦ e-mail:fpcsecretary1@gmail.com

April 2015 Volume 8 Issue 4

On Saturday, March 7, using the theme “Bonds of Influence between Senior and Younger Women,” the Presbyterian Women honored six women of the Huntsville community as Legends and nine younger women as their Legacies. A reception followed in the Dorothy B. Johnson Fellowship Hall. Monique Ryan and Dorothy Johnson (seated) and Kathleen Arthur, Cheryl Johnson, Jerita Crummie, and Cerisa Rice (standing) were honorees from Fellowship Presbyterian Church.

The HAND of Fellowship Page 2

STAFF

Reverend Gregory Jerome Bentley Pastor

Mrs. Brenda Davis Director of Music Ministry

Ms. Darlene Richardson Children’s/Youth Choir Director

Mr. Jason Sellers Pianist, Children’s/Youth Choir and

Director, Praise Team

Mr. Ryan Felton Percussionist

Vacant Secretary

Mr. Theodus Friend Sexton

DIRECTORY OF SERVICES Early Morning Service 8:00 a.m. Sunday Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsals Inspirational (Tues.) 6:00 p.m. Chancel (Tues.) 7:15 p.m. Praise Team (Wed.) 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study (Wed.) Noon Prayer Service (Wed.) 5:30 p.m. Youth and Children Bible Study (Tues.) 5:45 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Tues.) 6:30 p.m.

Newsletter Team Dr. Barbara Anthony

Mrs. Pauline Bodiford Mrs. Gladys P. Bracy

Ms. Cheryl K. Johnson Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell

Dr. Joyce Pettis Temple Mrs. Lois N. Thompson

Photographers

Mrs. Gertrude Hicks Dr. James Hicks

Christopher Gaines

DATES TO REMEMBER

1 - Christian Education Ministry Team meet at 5:30 p.m. 2 - Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 p.m. 3 - Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m. 4 - Evangelism Ministry Team meet at 10:00 a.m. 5 - Resurrection of the Lord/Easter 5 - One Great Hour of Sharing 6 -Worship Ministry Team meet at 12 noon 8 -Witness and Service Ministry Team meet at 5:30 p.m. 12 - PW Circle Meeting at 4:30 p.m. 13 - Food Distribution prep 10:00 a.m. 14 - Food Distribution prep 10:00 a.m. 14 - Property & Maintenance meet at 12 noon 15 - Food Distribution prep and distribution 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 16 - Stewardship & Finance meet at 5:30 p.m. 18 - Presbyterian Men meeting at 8:00 a.m. 22 - Earth Day 23 - Stated Session meeting at 6:00 p.m. 26 -Youth Ministry 26 - Earth Care Sunday

Spring Gathering

for Presbyterian Women (PW)

The Spring Gathering will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church in Athens, Alabama, 112 South Jefferson Street. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. and the Gathering at 10:00 a.m. Deadline for registration is April 5. Please give lunch cost of $10 to treasurer Gertrude Hicks before the deadline.

Haley Bone,

Moderator of PW

The HAND of Fellowship Page 3

Honorees (Front Row) Mary Curry, Bobbie Hyder, Mildred Fields, Monique Ryan, Geraldine B. Hereford, Dorothy Johnson. Back Row: Deborah Nious, Elizabeth Derrick, Stephanie Burton, Yolanda Patton, Kathleen Arthur, Dede Booker Lacey, Cheryl Johnson, Jerita Crummie, Cerisa Rice.

L-R: Joyce Pettis Temple, Eddgra Fallin, Frances Harris, presenters of honorees; Shirley Brown, Mistress of Ceremony.

Mary Peagler lights Christ Candle. Joyce Pettis Temple pins corsage on Haley Bone, moderator of Presbyterian Women.

Michele Hicks introduces the occasion. Solo in memory of Toni Franklin sung by Lauretta Moore.

All photos: Christopher Gaines March 7, 2015

Thanks to Diedre Davis for the beautiful bulletin display and Linda Burruss, display case, for their creative contributions to Women’s Weekend. Their creativity always enhances the programs of the church.

Page 4 Volume 8 Issue 3

Eddgra Fallin (L) receives Certificate of Appreciation for two years service as Moderator, Presbyterian Women (2012-2014) from Moderator Haley Bone.

Tonya Gaines (L) and Brenda Davis (R ) accept Lifetime Membership Awards in PW from Haley Bone (C ). Gaines accepts the posthumous award for her mother, Antoinette Franklin.

The PW Planning Committee accepts gifts of appreciation. L-R: Cheryl Johnson, Eddgra Fallin, Linda Burruss, Mary Peagler, Joyce Pettis Temple, Chairperson, and Tonya Gaines.

Frances Harris ( R) presents guest minister Reverend Janae Pitts-Murdock with gift from the Central N. Alabama Alumnae Chapter, and Jerita Crummie (not pictured) presents for the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Reverend and Mrs. Bentley with Reverend Pitts-Murdock in center.

Photo Credit: Dr. James Hicks (except as indicated).

Sarah Ford recognized for service to Synod of Living Waters. Photo credit: Eddgra Fallin

March 8, 2015

Fellowship Presbyterian Women

Reverend Gregory J. Bentley

Page 5 Volume 8 Issue 3

New Wineskins for New Wine: Social Media for 21st Century

Ministry

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour

new wine into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22

God has blessed us here at Fellowship with a clear and compelling vision and the energy and willingness to see it through to fruition. People are engaged in Bible study, worship, and witness and service to the church and to the community. Our core practices--passionate worship, radical hospitality, intentional faith development, risk-taking witness and service, and extravagant generosity--are being manifested in very tangible and impactful ways. That gives me life and causes me to want to invest even more of myself in what God is doing in, through, with, and among us. However, if we are to maximize our potential and our performance, I believe we must incorporate one of the most important and transformational developments of the 21st century: social media. This is especially true in reaching Millennials (ages 18-35) and is becoming increasingly true with the Boomer generation (65 and over) as well. We are finding out that more Boomers are becoming more digitally savvy because they want to be connected with and communicate with their grandchildren who were born into and are being reared in the digital world. Millennials cite three reasons for not being involved in church: 1. They don’t feel welcome. 2. They don’t understand what’s going on (speaking

language in church that we don’t speak anywhere else).

3. Church doesn’t address the issues they care about.

We will address these three issues in the near future, but right now we want to focus on the mode and means of ministry. Social media-- Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blog, and Email-- are very effective tools for reaching this demographic. Not only that: adding screens and electronic projection to the sanctuary will not only enhance our worship experience but also will be a tremendous cost saving measure as well. Yes, there is a onetime investment up front, but the return on investment will be realized almost immediately.

Let us march boldly into the 21st century using social media to REACH, GROW, and SEND people with Christ doing justice, living mercy, and walking humbly with God.

In His Service, Pastor Bentley

Church members attended the 21st Century Social Media workshop conducted by Reverend Dexter Strong on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

Photo Credit: Reverend Gregory J. Bentley

Volume 8 Issue 3 Page 6

The Golden Charmers recently elected and installed the 2015-2016 officers at its regular meeting. Reverend John L. Herndon III, Pastor Emeritus and participant in the organization, installed the newly elected officers. They are (left to right) Robert Franklin, Jr, president; Theodore Dixie, Sr. vice president; Evelyn Rich, secretary; Gladys Bracy, treasurer; and Gloria Evans, chaplain; Reverend Herndon, forefront. All members of Fellowship (PCUSA) are invited to join or attend meetings scheduled bimonthly, beginning January 2015.

AAMU Alumni and Friends

I was recently appointed Membership Chair of the Huntsville – Madison County Chapter, Alabama A&M Uni-versity Alumni Association. My initial charge is to increase our active mem-

bership by two hundred. I believe it can be done. I am asking all alums to contact me for member-ship forms, etc. See me, call me (256-533-2592), email me (bpeag61@outlook.com). Thank you, and “Go Bulldogs.”

Robert Peagler, Class of ‘72

The Evangelism Ministry Team visited Madison Manor on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Elder Clifton Canady gave the message on "Love,” taken from 1 John 4:7-12. Brenda Davis was the musician for the service.

Evangelism Teachable Moment In April 2014, the Evangelism Ministry Team began studying Evangelism Explosion; a “witnessing as a lifestyle” instruction manual, written by the late Reverend Dr. James Kennedy, Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Evangelism

Explosion is designed to “equip churches for friendship, evangelism, discipleship, and healthy growth.” In the forward of the book, Dr. Billy Graham praises Pastor Kennedy for providing recommendations for how a congregation can be “motivated and mobilized to perform the task of evangelism.” Dr. Graham further credits Pastor Kennedy as having recaptured the biblical concept that the church’s primary task is “every member evangelism.” Throughout the remainder of 2015, members of the Evangelism Ministry Team will implement Teachable Moments (insights into the concepts being explored in Evangelism Explosion)

(Continued on page 7)

Page 7 Volume 8 Issue 3

Reverend Bentley’s Quips and Quotes

“It’s not about the person; it’s about the purpose.”

Sermon, “Parting the Waters”

February 15, 2015

twice monthly, at both services, on the second and third Sundays. The overarching goal is for all members of the FPC family to consistently undertake Christ’s great commission to go forth and make disciples. In Evangelism Explosion, Pastor Kennedy unveils a proven strategy that promotes healthy growth; “lay evangelists are enlisted in the church, equipped at the church, sent out from the church, share without apology about the church, fold new believers into the church, and continue to nurture those believers in the church.” It is stated within the text that the congregation that properly applies the ministry recommendations will undoubtedly experience spiritual, numerical, and organizational growth. The Evangelism Ministry Team respectfully solicits the prayers of the FPC family as it discerns God’s will and intent and the practical applications of the text. The team further asks for your open mindedness and prayerful consideration as it capitalizes on Teachable Moments.

(Continued from page 6)

Study Completed

FELLOWSHIP EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Joyce Pettis Temple, Convener Witness and Service Ministry Team

In preparation for emergency situations, there is an Emergency Team and a Safety Officer charged with special duties. The Team works alongside the ushers, whose responsibilities in an emergency were the focus of last month’s article in HAND. Familiarize yourself with those who can assist you if you should experience an emergency. Safety Officer: Elder Theodore Dixie, Sr. Emergency Team Chairperson: Mr. Anthony Thompson Members of the Emergency Team: Note: This is the last in a series of articles about being prepared to respond to emergencies at Fellowship.

Tonya Gaines Glory Ogbu Anthony Thompson Walter Watson

Theodore Dixie, Sr. Carolyn Jackson Sarah Ford Diedre Davis

On Sunday, March 8, R e v e r e n d B e n t l e y happily presented to Theodore Dixie, Jr. (left) and Lauretta Moore the certificate of completion for the course exploration of Experiencing God.

Photo Credit: Diann Bentley

On Sunday, March 2 2 , R e v e r e n d Bentley joyously presented to Steve and Laura Anderson the certificate of completion for the course exploration of Experiencing God.

Photo Credit: Christopher Gaines

Page 8 Volume 8 Issue 3

Brian Evans Receives Prestigious Music Recognition

Brian Evans, a senior at Hattiesburg (Mississippi) Oak Grove High School, has been selected the 2015 Section 3 recipient of the “National High School Heart of the Arts Award” by the National Federation of State

High School Associations (NFHS). The Award recognizes students who exemplify the ideals of the positive ‘heart of the arts’ that represent the core mission of education-based activities. This is the second year the award has been offered. Consistently motivated by his love for music, Brian has overcome several medical challenges to become a highly accomplished performer. Despite having three major medical issues that might have frustrated others, Brian has instead grown into a young man who loves music for the sake of music, and finds strength, solace, and motivation within it. For six consecutive years, he has participated in an All-South Honor Band that includes students from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He will also perform in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a member of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. A member of several Oak Grove High School ensembles and its marching band, Brian has been part of a group that has consistently been rated “All-Superior” in state evaluations and won numerous awards. The NFHS divides the nation into eight sections. Section 3 includes Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nominations for this award are generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members. The section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year. Brian Evans is making all his relatives proud, but especially parents Debra and Gregory Evans and grandparents Gloria and Richard Evans. (Article abstracted from press release, Oak Grove High School)

Youth Choir Performs

The youth choir performed at the Mount Calvary Seven Day Adventist Church for Youth Prayer Week on Friday March 27, 2015, at 6:00 pm. The youth choir consisted of LeYanda Jones, Gakari Horton-Burks, Nia Richardson, Destine Brown, and Galik Horton-Burks. We thank church family for supporting the youth at this event.

Dancing Destiny Canady Chapter 33 of Dance Masters of America (DMA #33) holds a winter convention, THE FORCE, in February each year. They bring in a premier faculty to teach workshops for the students and also hold Performing Arts, Solo Titled, and Scholarship competitions at this convention. It is held in Montgomery, Alabama, at the Montgomery Performing Arts Theater. Destiny Canady made the trip to Montgomery for the third year this past February as a student with the North Alabama Dance Center. Destiny performed with her group on Friday evening, February 6, along with several other dance companies from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Destiny and her classmates received the highest award (Platinum) for their performance, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Destiny will cap off her seventh year of dance with the North Alabama Dance Center this Memorial Day weekend with their annual end-of-year recital at the Von Braun Center. Destiny will perform in the matinee and evening shows.

Page 9 Volume 8 Issue 3

What is Session Doing? Session approved donations for the North Alabama Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc., UNCF North Alabama Campaign, and Huntsville Bible College. Session approved accepting two carts for food distribution and a display rack. Tim Smith was approved to use the church kitchen for catering with the stipulation that a request will be submitted annually to session to use the facility. Session approved submission of documents for Earth Care recertification. Family Night Dinner is rescheduled for Friday, May 15, 2015.

Information The youth will sponsor a Gospel Concert on the church lawn on Sunday, April 26, 2015. The Golden Charmers will sponsor Older Adult weekend activities, culminating with a guest speaker on Sunday, May 3, 2015.

Special Offering – One Great Hour of Sharing

“I was hungry and you gave me food” Matthew 25:35

A special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing was held on April 5, 2015. Your gift enabled the church to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, offering food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed. “The need is great and so is our calling.” Special envelopes were provided in your bulletin for the offering.

Felicia Martin McBride (right), niece of Dr. and Mrs. George Grayson and a member of Fellowship’s Praise Team, received the Earlie Rich Award on March 10, 2015, at Alabama A&M University. This award is presented annually during the Youth Motivation Task Force Outreach Program (YMTF)

by the Office of Career Development Services (CDS) (formerly The Career Planning, and Cooperative Services) where Dr. Rich served as director for 12 years. YMTF is a program that matches professionals from the public and private sector with A&M students to help them succeed in the workplace. CDS honors the memory of Dr. Rich with this award because of his genuine interest in programs of the University and because of his loyalty and dedication to the concepts and ideas of YMTF. Felicia is the recipient of the 2015 Award because she also exemplified loyalty and dedication as a consultant through the years. During 2015, she served as YMTF Corporate Co-chairperson, served on the advisory board, corporate coordinating team, co-chairperson of the Student Leadership Award, and president at the culminating program. Previous recipients of the award from Fellowship Presbyterian Church are Robert Peagler (2001) and Christopher Evans (2005). Since 2015 marked the fortieth year for YMTF, Evelyn Rich was invited to present the Earlie Rich Award. (See picture above, right.) Reverend Gregory Bentley and Christopher Evans were also consultants for the 2015 YMTF program. Cheryl Johnson served on the Planning Committee representing the University. Gloria Evans served on the Essay Committee. The late Dr. Earlie Rich was a member of Fellowship Presbyterian Church.

Page 10 Volume 8 Issue 3

On March 14, 2015, after weather delays, the Huntsville Spiritual Chorale, was in concert at the Weinburg Center for the Arts in Frederick, Maryland. Titled “Hidden in Plain View,” the narrative of the program emphasized the underground railroad and the use of codes for dangerous communications. Spirituals and quilts were a primary means of passing information; they were heard and seen ‘in plain view.’ Bobby Hayden of Hayden Productions provided the narrative and invited the Chorale to assist in bring his information to life. He incorporated the historic Lowry House (Huntsville, AL) and its concealed space for slave hiding along the underground railroad as part of the information. Sites in Frederick, MD, were also a part of the underground railroad. Chorale members dressed in approximate period costume for the performance. Fellowship Presbyterian members who joyfully participated were Linda Burruss, Stefanie Davis, Ted Dixie, Jr., Lucille and George Grayson (George’s role was cheerleader.), Henry Muse, Evelyn Rich, Joyce Pettis Temple, and founder and director Brenda Davis. Bill Davis was present through musical influence and his spirit of musical perfection. The audience enthusiastically and appreciatively received the program, giving a standing ovation at its conclusion. Not everyone in the audience was a stranger: Linda Burruss’ niece attended from Washington, DC, as did Joyce Pettis Temple’s cousin and her husband from Ft. Washington, MD. The Chorale was extremely grateful for its safe travel, a round-trip distance of approximately 1,337 miles. It was an all-expenses paid trip for the Chorale, and almost certainly will lead to other long-distance invitations.

Waiting to begin concert, L-R: Joyce Pettis Temple, Evelyn Rich, Lucille Grayson, Stefanie and Brenda Davis, Carmelita Gandy.

Interior of the Weinburg Center for the Arts , originally a movie theater that opened in 1926.

Through her excellent directing during the performance, Brenda Davis drew out the anguish, joy, loneliness, or whatever emotion the spiritual being sung required.

The Chorale’s program is listed at the top of the marquee of the Weinberg Center for the Arts.

Page 11 Volume 8 Issue 3

Newsletter Deadline Articles for the newsletter should be submitted

to Mary Mitchell at mitchell623100@bellsouth.net and cc the church secretary at:

fpcsecretary1@gmail.com not later than the third Friday of the month.

4 Yolanda Jones 4 Anthony (PJ) Thompson 5 Dominique D. Bennett 8 Mary Peagler 8 Ryan Gordon 8 Kimily H. Johnson 8 Jonathan Ford, Jr. 18 Sierra Ford 22 Jerita J. Crummie 23 Erica Temple 24 Frances Harris 24 LeYanda Jones 25 Veral Hill 26 Flossie Henderson 26 James H. Hicks 26 William Bradford, Jr.

Checkout Fellowship on the web: www.fpchuntsville.org

www.facebook.com/fpchuntsville

Parents, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately on their scheduled Sunday!

April 5

Gakari Horton-Burks and Destiny Canady

April 12 Solomon Sigmon and Dana Bone

April 19

Ryan Gordon and Dezmyn Coleman

April 26 Miriam Bentley and Parker Ford

**Please wear black pants or skirts/dress on your scheduled Sunday**

Parents, if your child is not available on his/her scheduled Sunday, please call or text me, Ollie Smith, at 256-527-4147, so that I can find a replacement.

Altar Flowers

5 Lois Dade Family 12 Henry Muse Family 19 Thomas McAlpine Family 26 Lirse Jones Family

Magazine Donors Thanks to Mattie Ford, Lucille Grayson, and Joyce Pettis Temple for the magazines donated this month.

Page 12 Volume 8 Issue 3

Fellowship Member Sick List

The Prayer of Faith James 5:13-16

“ 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

The Jackie Bennett Family (daughter Monica Bennett and twin sons, Stephen

and Michael Bennett) Clara Bryant Bettye Dixie

Richard Evans Jonathan Ford

Thelma Gardner Dana Smith

Geneva Wright

Sick List of Family and Friends of Fellowship Members

Lucille Hicks Aunt of Martha Mullins

Thomas Brooks

Uncle of Martha Mullins

Doris Bradford Sister of Haley Bone

Robert “Larry” Cleveland Brother-in-law of Bettye Dixie and Carolyn Jackson

Mary B. Dixie Mother of Theodore Dixie, Sr.

Flossie Henderson Mother of Barbara Anthony

Stokley Gardner Brother of the late Lloyd Gardner

Ailean King Peoples Mother of Kenneth King

Shielda Yvonne Ross Sister of Thomas Ross

Lina Mae Sanks Aunt of Eddgra Fallin

Luther Scales Brother of Geneva Scales Wright

Fannie P. Thompson Sister of Lois Dade and Eulasteen Muse

Valerie Thompson Sister of Debra Evans

Hattie Wall Sister of Charles Penn

Roderick Wall Nephew of Charles Penn

LaVon White Son of Thomas and Doretha Ross

Dorleen and James Witchard Sister and Brother-in-law of Doretha and Thomas Ross

Fellowship’s Members

In Loving Memory

Russell G. Brown - 2010 Annie Belle Fletcher - 2010

Patricia Ofori - 2011

Family and Friends Eva Mae Crawford – 1915 William J. Davis – 1966 Robert Streeter – 1969

Willie Friend, Jr. – 1975 Maggie Davis – 1996 Esma Woods – 1997

Gregory Battles – 2005 Ricky Battles – 2005