THE POWER OF GOD FLOWING THROUGH US March 23, 2018 Dear Friends, One of my favorite devotional authors is Carlo Carreto. An Italian layman, he left fascist Italy and moved to a monastery in the North African desert and devoted his life to supporting the monks there. He would deliver food and water to them often when they would retire to the desert for prayer. During his time back and forth he would often contemplate the heavens. On our recent vacation I was reminded of the incredible clarity of the night sky above the desert. We were in Baja, Mexico. There, too, the air is dry and little water vapor clouds the atmosphere. The stars are always bright and clear. Father Carlo once looked toward those same bright stars and made the following observation recorded in his Letters From the Desert: Beyond the nebula Andromeda are other millions of nebulae and thousands of stars which my eyes cannot see, but which God has created. It is true that Jesus said, Go and make disciples of all nations. But he also added, Without me you can do nothing. It is true that St. Ignatius said, Act as though everything depended upon you. But he added, Pray as though everything depended upon God. God is the creator of the physical cosmos as well as the human cosmos. He rules the stars as He rules the Church. And if, in His love, He has wished to make people collaborators in the work of salvation, the limit of their power is very small and clearly defined. It is the limit of the wire compared with the electric current. We are the wire, God is the current. Our only power is to let the current pass through us. Of course, we have the power to interrupt it and say, no. But nothing more. There is great comfort to be had in our remembering that the very hand of God rests upon our lives and courses through our days. As we enjoy this season of Easter and recollect the Risen Lord, let us celebrate the Good News and share it boldly with others. Let the current flow through you and into the world. God bless. Grace and peace, Faith Alive
Presbyterian Women News BIRTHDAY LUNCH INVITATION Please join us on May 7th for our annual Birthday Luncheon. This annual luncheon is a time for the Presbyterian Women to celebrate the conclusion of the year s activities. We also honor a woman or women with an Honorary Life Membership to recognize faithful service to First Presbyterian Church. The event remembers women who have joined the Church Triumphant in the previous year. It is also the time to identify causes, both national and international, as recipients of the annual Birthday Offering received at the luncheon. Tickets are available by calling the Reception Desk and paying the day of the luncheon. Monday, April 9th Circle Schedule for April Hostesses Circle 1 10:00 a.m. in the Parlor Kay Brown and Gloria Hickson Circle 2 10:30 a.m. in the Living Room at Covenant Mary Ann Brown and Betsy Burleson Village Circle 3 2:00 p.m. in the Card Room at Covenant Village Cookie Brenner Circle 5 7:00 p.m. at the home of Leslie Wallace (316 Leslie Wallace Cape August Place, Belmont, NC 28012) Circle 6 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor Vicky Wilson and Anna Renfro Tuesday, April 10th Circle 4 11:30 a.m. in the Parlor Lil Lanier, Frances Henry, and Susan Blair Wednesday Prayer Lunch Casserole Care Schedule April Circle 5 Circle B/C 2 Mark yo ur ca len da rs fo r the PW Sprin g Gathering W arren Wilson Presbyteria n Co lleg e April 14, 2018 List en fo r registration in fo r m a t io n.
CHILDREN S MINISTRY NEWS The Children s Ministry is excited to announce that we are the host church this year for the Gaston Regional Children s Choir Camp 2018! This choir camp has a long history in Gaston County as the only church sponsored ecumenical children s choir camp in Gaston County! This means that all denominations and non-denominational houses of worship are invited and welcomed. This year Pam Andrews, a Grammy Nominated International Children s music composer will be our guest clinician. This year s musical will make its debut right here in Gaston County at First Presbyterian Church. The dates for the camp are as follows: July 16th 19th from 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. The musical will be performed on the evening July 19th. Early registration prices are as follows: now until May 7th $65.00 per camper, May 8th June 18th $75.00 per camper, and after June 18th $100 per camper. Please fill out and return attached registration forms to Jill Kimbirl along with your payment made out to the Greater Gaston Baptist Association or GGBA. Auditions for drama parts and solos will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 6th at 2:00 p.m. This is such an exciting opportunity to host this event at First Presbyterian Church. We will also be in need of volunteers to assist during the week. Youth volunteers are also encouraged to assist and will receive volunteer hours. Please prayerfully consider how you can utilize your gifts and serve. And finally, mark your calendars for this year s Vacation Bible Spectacular! Camp will begin on Sunday, June 10th and continue to Wednesday, June 13th. The theme will be unveiled soon!!!!! Our Vacation Bible Camp runs in the evening to allow working families an opportunity to attend and assist. Dinner is provided for campers and volunteers. Mark your calendars and plan to attend and volunteer! See Jill Kimbirl or Lisa Dent if you should have any questions.
PRAYER BEADS AS REMINDERS OF HOPE Our Prayer Beads Small Group remembered ladies and children at the Women's Shelter with Easter bags. These small gifts, including prayer beads, are reminders that they aren't alone but prayed for by our church members. HEALTH EDUCATION AWARENESS LUNCH Anatomy of a Sitter Wednesday, April 11 FPC Fellowship Hall Program is free and open to the community. Lunch is available for $6.00. Lunch will be served Noon-12:30 p.m. while the program will be 12:30-1:00 p.m. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RUN Saturday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. at the Rotary Pavilion in Downtown Gastonia This is a certified 5K run in addition to a 2K fun walk, and there will be non-profit booth exhibits, a cornhole tournament, and a Healthy Kids Zone. Walkers and runners of all ages, participating non-profits, and community spectators are all invited!
You Can Help... HEAD OF EBENEZER SCHOOL TO VISIT FPC! Christy Mbewe, the head of the school we helped found and support annually, will be with us in worship on April 22. Plan to meet her and hear what news she brings from Malawi. JOIN THE PRESBYTERY TRIP TO WEST VIRGINA Working with flood affected churches and individuals; May 20-26, 2018, Ronceverte, WV. Estimated cost $200 per person. https://presbyterywnc.org/ or 828.438.4217 for all of the details and to register. PRAY FOR THE WV AND MALAWI TRIPS On May 12, a group from our presbytery will be going to Malawi for two weeks. Be in prayer for them, for our PC(USA) Mission Partner in Malawi, Dr. Martha Sommers, and for the trip to West Virginia (above). SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT FPC BLOOD DRIVE June 4, 2018, 2:30-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall 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. See the article on the next page for a highlight on this important ministry. GUATEMALA PARTNERSHIP You are invited to learn about the Guatemala Partnership at First Presbyterian Church of Marion on Sunday, April 8, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Connect with other churches in Western NC to share ideas about your partnerships. Email pwncguatemala@gmail.com with questions or for more information. BLACK MOUNTAIN HOME FOR CHILDREN FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS All are invited to the spring open house on April 14. Enjoy live music in the main campus courtyard and bring bedding plants to donate to the Tower of Flowers. (They ll then use them to beautify the campus.) The campus will be open for selfguided tours and the kids are excited to show off their home. MEALS ON WHEELS Meals on Wheels is in need of a volunteer to deliver meals on the second Friday of each month. The route of First Presbyterian should take no longer than an hour of time. Please contact Betsy Summer.
Help Fight Hunger in Gastonia and Western North Carolina contributed by Roger Rizk We are losing our battle to stop Hunger in Western North Carolina and now is the time for all of us to stand up and be a leader in our struggle. A recent disturbing study shows that more people in Western North Carolina are seeking help from food banks to feed their families today than at the height of the Great Recession four years ago! An estimated 107,600 people in Western North Carolina turned to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families according to a new Hunger in America study! That is an increase over a study performed in Western North Carolina in 2010! Do we really knows how it feels to be hungry? Do we really understand the pain in making the choice between paying an electric bill and buying food?? Your Rise and Shine Committee would like for all of us to be ever mindful of the hunger crisis that we face. To this end, we are going to try new approaches in enabling us to be mindful of our hunger problem and perhaps even experience the pain of hunger! We hope that you will bear with us joyfully and let us know how we are doing in bringing this to the front of our minds and spirit and the bottom of our hearts! In the mean time, remember that the second Tuesday of each month is the time to empty our family coin jars, donate our spare money, and joyfully write checks to FPC to joyfully embrace those who reach out for food with empty hands! Let us all remember God loves a cheerful Giver... 2 Corinthians 9: 7 You Gave To Bit of Hope Ranch, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Shining Hope Farms, With Friends, Gaston Family Promise, Noon Optimist Club, Girls on the Run, The Dream Center, Phoenix Community Outreach, and Gaston Skills through the Run for the Money. To Compassionate Friends to support the appearance of Alan Pedersen on April 19. Our monthly gift in honor of Martha Eddins to the charity of her choice.
Adult Ministries FAITH & FICTION Join this discussion and care group on Sunday, May 6, at 5:00pm at Covenant Village. We will be discussing LaRose by Louise Erdrich. Our hostesses will be Betsy Burleson and Mary Anne Brown. RoadRunners Save the date for June 13. We will leave at 9:00 a.m. to visit the Slightly Different Daylily Nursery near Shelby. Then we will eat together at Bridges BBQ before returning in the early afternoon. Sign up for your spot on the bus at the Reception Desk. Photos from the recent trip to Allison Creek Presbyterian Church s bluegrass entertainment. ADULT MINISTRIES
HUMAN-MADE COMMUNITY DISASTERS PANEL Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 18, when an expert panel will join us for the benefit of the surrounding region. Experts will be here at FPC to share their wealth of knowledge about human-made community disasters. A forum will take place for the public from 6:30 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. In the aftermath of school and church shootings, this is a topic our congregation and community is studying to see how we can be prepared to respond to any nearby tragedy. Members of the Law Enforcement and Response community are invited to a dialogue at 4:00 p.m. in the Session Room. A meal will be served 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Front Circle. RSVP required for the meal. Call the Reception Desk at the church at 704-864-2651 to sign up for a plate. The cost will be $6.00 per person. Members of the panel will include: Steve Loftis former Sheriff of Greenville County, SC Captain Aaron Back NCSHP, Raleigh Headquarters Captain Jeff Valentine Spartanburg Sheriff s Office Eric Skidmore, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program Please invite members of the community who might be interested in learning from some of the top experts in the nation about preventing and/or responding to events such as church or school shootings. ADULT MINISTRIES SAFETY & SECURITY TEAM UPDATE Members of Building & Grounds along with others with interest and expertise in security have been examining our facilities and practices with the goal of keeping everyone as safe as possible. This group has recommended that we unlock fewer doors on Sundays beginning on Sunday, April 8. Doors that will be open: both chapel entrances, the Memorial Gallery, the lower music hall door and the Fellowship Hall entrance. Look for more information and updates as this group continues their work of looking out for us all.
Join Music Ministries Share your talents! Sing or ring with the FPC choir or handbells! Rehearsals are: Sanctuary Ringers, Wednesdays, 5:35-6:35 p.m.; Sanctuary Choir, Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. See a choir member or director Bethany Jennings to learn more. bjennings@fpcgastonia.org March Attendance Date Traditional Thrive 3/4/18 172 88 3/11/18 176 (one service, Scout Sunday) 3/18/18 169 86 3/25/18 190 58 Thurs. Communion 69 Good Friday 106 Sat. Vigil 40; Sunrise 38 Easter Sun. 388 78 Worship and Music Notes First Press PERIODICALS US POSTAGE PAID Gastonia, NC
April 2018 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 Calendar of Events Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:30 p.m. Diaconate Meeting 5:30 p.m. Senior High Youth Nickel-a-Meal Sunday 10:00 a.m. Circle 1 10:30 a.m. Circle 2 2:00 p.m. Circle 3 6:30 p.m. Circle 6 7:00 p.m. Circle 5 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 11:30 a.m. Circle 4 6:00 p.m. Building & Grounds 7:00 a.m. Men s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Health Education/ Prayer Lunch 5:00 p.m. Personnel 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 Sanctuary Choir 7:00 a.m. Bibles & Biscuits 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 10:00 a.m. Prayer Beads Small Group Newsletter Deadline 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:00 a.m. Thrive 9:45 a.m. Welcoming Ministry Meeting 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 12:10 p.m. Welcoming Ministry Meeting 5:00 p.m. Faith & Fiction 5:30 p.m. Mid High Youth 6:00 p.m. Children s Ministry 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 4:30 p.m. Communications 5:30 p.m. Membership Development 6:00 p.m. Christian Education 6:30 p.m. Worship & Music 7:00 p.m. Thrive Rehearsal 7:15 p.m. Young Women s Gathering 7:00 a.m. Men s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch (Parlor because of Consignment Sale Setup) 1:00 p.m. Mailing Newsletter 5:30-6:30 Meal in the Circle (RSVP only) 6:30-7:30 Law Enforcement Panel 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:30 a.m. Finance 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 6:00 p.m. Safety & Security Meeting 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. PWS Consignment Sale 8 a.m. 1 p.m. PWS Consignment Sale Youth Car Wash for Mission Trip 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:30 p.m. Senior High Youth 6:00 p.m. Session Meeting 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 5:30 p.m. Missions Meeting 7:00 p.m. Thrive Rehearsal Presbytery Meeting 7:00 a.m. Men s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry 11:00 Backpack Delivery Noon Prayer Lunch 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 a.m. Bibles & Biscuits 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 29 30 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:30 p.m. Mid High Youth 10:30 a.m. Pastoral Care Planning 1:00 p.m. Pastoral Care 11:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:30 p.m. TED Talks Small Group 7:00 a.m. Men s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 6:00 p.m. Safety & Security Meeting Newsletter Deadline May 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Faith & Fiction 5:30 p.m. Senior High Youth Noon PW Birthday Luncheon 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:00 p.m. Building & Grounds 7:00 p.m. Thrive Rehearsal 7:00 a.m. Men s Fellowship Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Hunger Needs Small Group 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch 1:00 p.m. Mail Newsletter 5:00 p.m. Personnel 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 a.m. Bibles & Biscuits 10:00 a.m. Backpack Program 10:00 a.m. Prayer Beads Small Group