First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke Rapids, NC

First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke Rapids, NC
16 East Fifth Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
252-537-4018, 252-537-9041(Fax), office@fpcrr.com

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In Touch -- September 2006

How to Forgive

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

"Lord, You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.

As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally, he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked? The man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man answered - "Yes Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked? And the man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?"
The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever?" The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I love You, and I need You, come into my heart, today. For without You I can do nothing.

Consecration Sunday Is Coming Nov 19

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church's mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Our congregation's Stewardship Committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program again this year as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, "What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?" During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church's missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.

Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday, 19 Nov 06. Please make every effort to attend. We urge attendance even by those people who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader, The Rev. Jim Lawton, will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Stewardship Committee and the Session. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

Bob Pearce, Stewardship Moderator

Stewardship Booklets

Two booklets on Stewardship are available in the Narthex. "Tithing Is More Than the Number Ten" is a sermon by Albert C. Winn. "Stewardship And You" tells how to use your time, health, talents, relationships, property and the Gospel in a partnership with God. Please take copies for your own study and pass them along to others who might appreciate them.

Keep In Your Prayer

Scott Cranford

Email: scott.m.cranford@us.army.mil
Mailing: 1LT Scott M. Cranford, HHB
113th FA BDE APO, AE 09366

Thank You From Grace Fishel

You mean so much to me--yes, you church members! How can we ever thank you for all that you have done for us during my cancer operation and radiation treatments? The food, flowers, cards, thoughts and especially prayers on my behalf are appreciated SO MUCH that my words here are so inadequate. Your care and support of me has meant SO MUCH...and we feel SURE that it has and is making all the difference in my wellbeing and recovery from a devastating disease. I believe that I am one of the lucky ones, more fortunate ones for survival, and we know that our church family has come to the forefront on my behalf. GOD BLESS YOU ALL !!

Grace and Harry

Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord...

Children's Choir will resume meeting on Sunday, September 17th. Children's Choir is for children from pre-k through 3rd grade.
Come join us and bring a friend for Bible stories, music, snacks and fun. We meet every Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Loy Building.
Drop off and pick up for children is by the playground. If you have any questions, please call Ellen Bryant at 535-5957.

Flowers

3rd-
10th– Pet & Larry Spears
17th– Harry & Grace Fishel
24th-

Greeter: Laura Pate

Ushers

Bob Patterson
John Patterson
GC Warren
Betty Keyes
David Grimes
Linda Brewer

September 2006

From the Preschool

After Many years of service to First Presbyterian Preschool Cheryl White has taken a job with the Roanoke Rapids City Preschool Program as a teacher assistant. Thanks you Cheryl for your years of dedication. Linda Brewer and Karen Silva have agreed to continue the preschool program for the year 2006-2007. Currently we have twenty-one three year old children and nine two year old children enrolled. We have a waiting list of four for the two year old class. Orientation will be held August 29th with classes beginning September 6th. For those who have called and stopped by to offer your help– thank you. We appreciate your support and encouragement. Please come by and observe these busy young children at work and play. We look forward to a great year!

Missing Books

It has been brought to our attention that the following items from the Presbytery of New Hope Center are past due: Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study, Vol. 2 And You Can Increase Sunday School Attendance. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of these books please contact the Church office.

Chinese Story

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Blessings to all my crackpot friends.

More From the Stewardship Committee

The members are: David McDonald, Dennis Gaylor, Bill Graham, Bob Pearce (current Session members) Linda Brewer, Julia Ann Fitts (last year's Stewardship co-chairmen), Bill Brown, Faye Brown, & Fritz Fansler.

We have decided to conduct this year's activities much the same as for last year. Consecration Sunday will be 19 Nov 06 and our speaker will be The Rev. Jim Lawton whom you will remember filled our pulpit the Sunday following Easter this year. He will participate also in a Friday, 17 Nov 06, 6:30 pm dinner Meeting with members of Stewardship, Session, and their spouses in the Loy building. We will ask the Youth to furnish this meal. We plan to have Minutes for Stewardship the 3 preceding Sunday Worship Services. Instead of a Consecration Sunday luncheon, we will have a 9:00 am breakfast that will take the place of Sunday School. We will collect "Time and Talent" sheets then. We will announce the financial results via PhoneTree and e-mail during the following week and during Worship Service the following Sunday. We plan to provide several Stewardship theme bulletin inserts. And you will find Stewardship articles like this one in the following issues of our Newsletter.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the work of your Stewardship Committee is welcome. Please let us know your suggestions. And we need article writers and Minute for Stewardship speakers.

Happy Birthday

3 Will Bryant
    Diana Dillard
7 Sarah Thiel
9 Rie Boone
    Jimmy Bryant
    Wil Ricks
11 Carol Barden
    Matthew Theil
15 Larry Spears
17 Carolyn Crawford
    Alicia Grimes
    Laura Pate
19 Denise Hackenburg
20 Dee Landen
22 Cole Bryan
    Virginia McCrimmon
    Hazel Welch
25 David Hayes
28 Anne Pruden
30 George Froeba

October Newsletter Articles Due September 17th

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