Pfafftown Christian Church 2017 Visitor Our Journey From the worst of times to the best of times, surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. These words from a hymn our choir often blesses us with seems so appropriate for this time in the life of our church. As we look back on our journey over the last several months: Our first step was to put an intentional ministry program into place with the leadership of Ken Massey. Secondly a Transition Team was formed consisting of members voted on by the Congregation. Third, the Search Committee evolved with the help of Ken and the Transition Team. We thank each one of these team members for your many hours of hard work. We are truly blessed! We also want to thank our congregation for having the faith in our teams and ultimately voting unanimously to call Rev. Gerald Thomas to be our new Pastor. None of this would have been possible without a lot of prayers and the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed ... Surely the presence of the Lord is in this Place! Your Worship Committee Daylight Savings Time Begins March 12th Remember to set your clocks forward one hour. PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED (Disciples of Christ) 3323 Transou Road PO Box 130 Pfafftown, NC 27040 Phone: 336-924-9925 Fax: 336-924-2501 Email: [email protected]Website: www.pfafftownchristian.org Church Staff Rev. Gerald Thomas, Pastor Rev. Tim Shoaf, Minister of Music & Programs Jane K. Hoover, Office Administrator Pfafftown Christian Church, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, NC 27040 Phone: 336-924-9925 - Email: [email protected]- website: www.pfafftownchristian.org Inside the March Visitor Page 1: Our Journey Our New Pastor Page 2: Final Words from Pastor Lori Thank You Page 3 Goodtimers Tenebrae Service Easter Egg Hunt Page 4 CWF News Notes from Tim Community Garden 2016 Page 5 Disciples4Water 2017 PCC Easter Offering Page 6 Regional Assembly Page 7 Address Updates Servers, Prayer List, Holy Week Activities Inserts: Calendar Pastor Gerald and Marlene Thomas 1st day at Pfafftown Christian Church: Wednesday, March 1, 2017 1st Worship Service, Sunday, March 5th. “As a pastor, my concern is to lead and share the work of the church, providing “good soil” for worship, education, ministry and spiritual nurture. I desire to pastor where the church, as a community of faith, honors and encourages the vocation of every person to contribute to the work of Grace in our world.” Ten years ago Gerald and Marlene moved from Georgia to North Carolina to be be closer to family. They now desire to live closer to Gerald’s parents & Marlene’s family in High Point. “As I learned of your pastor search, I became curious to know if my gifts and experi- ences echo the desires of your congregation. I reviewed your congregational profile and feel very comfortable with your church type and the “top 10 characteristics.” Preaching/teaching and pastoral care are my strongest gifts. Twenty-five years of pastoring has given me ample experience with your other concerns. INTERESTS: Baseball, Aviation, Hiking. FINAL WORDS: “Concerning vocation, Frederick Buechner writes that it is ‘the place God calls you is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’ ” Welcome, to Pfafftown Christian Church, Pastor Gerald and Marlene.
Transcript
Pfafftown Christian Church
2017 Visitor Our Journey
From the worst of times to the best of times, surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. These words
from a hymn our choir often blesses us with seems so appropriate for this time in the life of our church.
As we look back on our journey over the last several months:
Our first step was to put an intentional ministry program into place with the leadership of Ken Massey.
Secondly a Transition Team was formed consisting of members voted on by the Congregation.
Third, the Search Committee evolved with the help of Ken and the Transition Team.
We thank each one of these team members for your many hours of hard work. We are truly blessed!
We also want to thank our congregation for having the faith in our teams and ultimately voting unanimously
to call Rev. Gerald Thomas to be our new Pastor. None of this would have been possible without a lot of prayers
and the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed ... Surely the presence of the Lord is in this Place! Your Worship Committee
Daylight Savings Time Begins March 12th
Remember to set your clocks forward one hour.
PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Pastor Gerald and Marlene Thomas 1st day at Pfafftown Christian Church: Wednesday, March 1, 2017
1st Worship Service, Sunday, March 5th.
“As a pastor, my concern is to
lead and share the work of the
church, providing “good soil”
for worship, education,
ministry and spiritual nurture.
I desire to pastor where the
church, as a community of
faith, honors and encourages
the vocation of every person
to contribute to the work of
Grace in our world.”
Ten years ago Gerald and
Marlene moved from Georgia
to North Carolina to be
be closer to family. They now
desire to live closer to
Gerald’s parents & Marlene’s
family in High Point.
“As I learned of your pastor
search, I became curious to
know if my gifts and experi-
ences echo the desires of your
congregation. I reviewed your
congregational profile and feel
very comfortable with your
church type and the “top 10
characteristics.”
Preaching/teaching and
pastoral care are my strongest
gifts. Twenty-five years of
pastoring has given me ample
experience with your other
concerns.
INTERESTS: Baseball, Aviation, Hiking.
FINAL WORDS: “Concerning vocation, Frederick Buechner writes that it is ‘the
place God calls you is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’ ”
Welcome, to Pfafftown Christian Church, Pastor Gerald and Marlene.
7 2
Daylight Savings Time Begins March 12
Remember to set your clocks forward one hour.
SERVERS for MARCH, 2017
ELDERS: Ken Davis, Steve Clodfelter
DEACONS: Betty Barker, Jack Bryant
Tony Bryant, Paul Shropshire
COMMUNION: Bill and Betty Simpson
OPENING/CLOSING: Bill Simpson
Church Family Bud Barker,
Mary Ferguson,
Irene Hussey,
Ed Snuffer,
Doris Spaugh.
Loved Ones in the Military
Sgt. Samantha Goliat, OH;
PRAN Joshua Hughes, Norfolk, VA;
Chase Lee, Guam; USS Key West;
Captain Hope Poster, NG, Texas
Captain John G. Van Hoy, IV, Iraq.
Others Patricia Barber (daughter-in-law) Frank & Pat Barber; Terry Bowen (brother of Betty Clodfelter);
Hailey Elizabeth Burns, missing since April, Granddaughter of Gordon Burns (friends of Skip and Jo Stanley);
Vernon Carlton, (friend of Skip & Jo Stanley); Scott Hicks (nephew of Ann Fletcher);
Lacy Mabe (uncle of Scott, Jill & Emma Robertson); Sue Miles (friend of Jo Stanley);
Bud and Jean Mitchell (friends of the congregation); Cayden Kingsbury, grandson of Rev. Rodney Stillwell;
Richard and Pauline Thompson, (Anne Bryant’s parents);
Darlene Stewart (sister of Ann Fletcher); Wade Tuttle (Jill Robertson’s uncle);
John Vickers, (friend of Jo & Skip Stanley); Judy West (cousin of Ann Fletcher).
The Lenten Season and Holy Week Activities
Ash Wednesday: Lent began on Wednesday, March 1
Palm Sunday: April 9 11:00 am join us as we celebrate with a Palm Sunday Processional.
Maundy Thursday: April 13th th 7:30pm The “Last Supper of Christ”
Good Friday: April 14th 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service, A service of darkness - Tenebrae -
using the words and music of Faure’s “The Seven Last Words.”
Silent Saturday: April 15th is Silent Saturday. A time for personal meditation on the reality that
appearances deceive and that God is at work even when everything seems lost.
Easter Sunday: April 16th We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord through our:
Early Easter Community Worship: 7:00 am at the Pfafftown Cemetery
Easter Breakfast: 9:30 am at the church
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt: 10:00 am at the church. Worship Service: 11:00 am - Bring fresh cut flowers to adorn our Easter Cross.
Rev. Kevin and Tracey Deibert
6201 Stantonsburg Road
Farmville, NC 27828
(Kevin is the pastor of Farmville Church, DOC)
Hold in Your Prayers
Final Words As sure as the seasons change, all pastoral ministries come to an end. As
your Interim Pastor for Congregational Care, I knew this from the beginning.
To be an effective servant of God in interim ministry, it is important to live one
day at a time, enjoying each worship service, each bazaar, yard sale, Elders or
Church Board meeting, visit or administrative responsibility as an act of service.!
It has been a privilege to serve you in this way.
Thank you for your willingness to allow me to be a part of your lives. We have shared
joys and sorrows. We have planned together, worshipped and ministered together, traveled
and shopped together. I am grateful for the love, kindness and support shown to me during
this interim time. You will always be a part of my heart.
As our formal covenant of service concludes, I carry with me all that I have learned about
God, about myself, and about interim ministry. What a joy it will be to watch and see what
God does here at Pfafftown Christian Church. I am confident in you and in Gerald’s leader-
ship to bring forth all that God has planned.
May God bless the time we have shared together as we look forward to what is to come.
And, in everything, may God be glorified through Jesus Christ.
With much love, Lori
Add to your Yearbook
Ed and Connie Snuffer
4239 Yadkinville Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Thank You Rev. Lori Carter
We have been blessed to have Rev. Lori Carter as part of our church family for some
time now.* Lori has been such an asset in our worship services and other events as well.
Being on the Worship Committee the last couple of years has at times been a challenge!
Thanks to Lori and her ability to make things run smoothly our job has been much easier.
We thank you, Lori, for that and your willingness to always step in when needed. As
you move forward may God be with you and continue to use you to spread His message.
Many blessings, The Worship Committee
*Lori visited PCC during 2014 and 2015 on August 1, 2015, Lori accepted
the call to serve as our interim pastor of congregational care.
6 3
The word 'tenebrae' is Latin for shadows. At a Tenebrae Service we feel the emotion of the passion story as shared in
music. This is not supposed to be a happy service, this is not a happy occasion. We sing solemn hymns and hear the
scriptural narratives of Jesus' final words from the cross. Seven black candles and a Christ Candle are lit. After each
reading of Jesus’ last words a candle is extinguished until only the flame of the Christ Candle remains. The Christ
Candle is carried out of the Sanctuary at the end of the service leaving us in total darkness (tenebrae).
The Tenebrae service recreates the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the crucifixion and is left unfinished, be-
cause the story isn't over until Easter Day. It is a moving spiritually reflective service.
Think of it this way: If you only see the happy ending of a movie, you may go away saying, "So they were all hug-
ging each other, so what?" When you see the beginning and the middle with all the suspense and grief you understand
what the characters experienced and the ending is all the happier. Attending the Easter service without experiencing
the Tenebrae service is like watching the wonderful ending of the movie without seeing the middle—you rob yourself
of joy.
Please join us for this special worship experience and invite your family, friends, and neighbors.
A nursery will be provided.
169TH REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
SATURDAY, April 29, 2017
Contact the Church Office if your are interested. It is a one day event.
Pastor Gerald will be attending. Registrations forms are available from Jane.
Note the deadline is April 21st .
Goodtimers Spring Outing!
The Goodtimers will meet on Monday, March 13, at 11:30 am
at Southern Family Restaurant for lunch and a program. Please
invite your friends to join us!
EGG HUNT: Easter Morning, 10:00 am It’s time to ask for your help with the Easter Egg Hunt.
We need plastic eggs filled with individually wrapped candies. If you prefer to skip the shopping we will gladly
accept monetary donations for these supplies.
Please bring your donations by Sunday, April 9, Palm Sunday. You can also drop off supplies or money gifts
anytime during office hours (9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday).
Jill Robertson and her volunteers will start getting the eggs ready for hiding by Friday, April 14, so be sure your
donations are here by then! And, if you would like to help with this fun activity, please contact Jill Robertson. Thank you, in advance, for your donations. You make this a fun event for children and their guests on Easter Morning.
TENEBRAE SERVICE
The Seven Last Words of Christ By Theodore Dubois
Good Friday, April 14, 2017
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
presented by the
Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir & Soloists Harp, Timpani, and Organ
PCC Easter Offering 2017 (Goal of $2000.00)
Disciples4Water is a passionate group of Disciples seeking wholeness in a fragmented world by
sharing living water and promoting a sustainable solution to the water crisis.
This year, monies raised from our annual Church Easter Offering will be designated for our
Disciples4Water Mission/Outreach initiative. Our CWF has already led the way for this
worthwhile campaign by donating $2000.00 which will provide a well and clean water for an
entire community. They are challenging the rest of our church to match their donation by
raising another $2000.00 to supply an additional well for a community in need.
In a world where 780 million people lack access to clean drinking water, the creation of water well
drilling teams consisting of local citizens brings hope, pride and a source of income to the commu-
nity. By equipping these drill teams with the tools and skills they require to bring clean water to a
population, we are doing more than just giving water to those in need.
The global water crisis claims 3.4 million lives each year. This means 388 people die every hour
from waterborne illness: 44% of those that die are children. A child is dying every 21 seconds, then
surely this is a crisis that can no longer be ignored.
WHAT THEY DO: Through a unique partnership with local communities in need, Global Minis-
tries, Water4, and churches throughout the United States, Disciples4Water is addressing the crisis
by establishing and training local water well drilling teams as entrepreneurial
businesses to drill and maintain water wells in their local communities.
Global Ministries connects Disciples4Water with communities in need around the world through
their affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This agency provides a drilling
technique that is entirely manual and
sustainable; and as such is portable to
any region in the world where water can
be reached within approximately 100
feet of the surface.
Please be generous in your giving to our
PCC Easter Offering this year. Thanks.
5 4
Community Garden
Spring is here! Time when many of us turn our thoughts to being in the garden. If you or
a friend are interested in tending a garden spot in the PCC Community Garden, call the
Church Office at 336-924-9925. After office hours, leave your name and phone number.
You can also sign up on the sheet in the Narthex on Sunday morning or any other time
your are at the church.
A large area of the Community Garden will be used to grow and harvest produce for the Second Harvest
Food Bank to assist with the needs of people in our local piedmont area. This year we will grow corn, potatoes
and pumpkins.
If you don’t want to have your own plot, but would like to get out in the garden, you can offer your time and
support to assist with the Food Bank garden. Interested ? Call the church office 336-924-9925, leave a message
if we’re not here.
Once we receive your name and number we will add you to our e-mail and PhoneTree roster so that you may
receive information and updates during the gardening season.
We’re looking forward to working as a community to help meet the needs of the hungry
with the gifts of land, seed, and caring workers the Lord has provided. Thank you!
Here is a link to You Tube showing a drone fly over of the garden after it was harvested in 2016.
https://youtu.be/wnYaIlVXCfw
CWF NEWS
At their Meeting in February the CWF voted to do-
nate $2000 to the Disciples 4Water project.
There is an article on page 5 about this project.
The CWF is issuing a challenge to congregation
to match this $2000 amount so that our church can
provide two well kits to our brothers and sisters in
need in other parts of our world.
The CWF will provide meals through May,
2017. The next meal will be on Wednesday, March
15, at 6:00 pm in the DFH.
A sign up sheet is in the Narthex.
The next CWF meeting will on Tuesday, March
21, at 7pm in the DFH.
Lynda Bryant will be the hostess.
All women of Pfafftown Christian Church are members
of the Christian Women’s Fellowship.
Notes from Tim
Lent- A Call to Spiritual Renewal
The season of Lent, a 40-day period, begins on Ash Wednesday,
March 1, and ends on Saturday, April 15, the day before Easter.
Sundays are not counted in these forty days, since Sundays celebrate
the Resurrection. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word
“Lencten” which means “Springtime.” Christians use Lent as a time
for cleaning the Spirit; a springtime of the soul, a renewal. After the
darkness of winter, we all seem to cry out for spring, for newness.
Like David we plead, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
right spirit within me!”
Lent is your invitation to spiritual renewal or awakening. It is a
time to discover and claim the blessings God has for you. It is an
opportunity to deepen your prayer life – to renew your study of the
Scriptures – to share the burden of another through the expression of
God’s love in human interaction.
In short, it’s not a time to “give up” something, but a time for
“growing up” into the kind of warm, caring, loving, mature Christian
God calls you to be! The best place to begin is with regular worship
with the Family of God each Sunday morning and participating in the
special Lenten, Holy Week, and Easter services.
Plan to experience the renewal of Christ’s presence in your lives as
we anticipate and rejoice in His resurrection and promise of eternal
