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

In Touch -- December 2006 - January 2007

Luke 1:46-55

Some church members have reported problems not receiving or not understanding PhoneTree messages. Our PhoneTree machine may not deal gracefully with some phone systems with complicated menu systems, or maybe the office has the wrong phone number, or a child may receive but not report the message, or any number of other reasons some are not receiving the messages. In order to determine the nature and extent of this problem, a test PhoneTree message will be sent to all families in the congregation requesting the recipient call the office to confirm message receipt. Non-response will cause Tiffaney to contact you to determine the problem.

Please assist this effort to utilize the PhoneTree machine by responding to the test PhoneTree message by calling Tiffaney or writing a note. Also, please assist the office maintaining accurate contact information by providing your current mailing address and e-mail address. Some church members report not receiving copies of our In Touch newsletter. And we would like to utilize e-mail more to speed communications and to reduce stamp expense.

The Women of the Church would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Thanksgiving Tree. We enjoyed the project because it gave us the opportunity to help the Youth in their Operation Christmas Child Box project, and, also it gave us a tangible symbol of our need to be thankful. Thanks to all the ladies that worked on the “physical plant” of the tree. Contributions to the tree were around $530.

The listing for those honored and remembered is printed in this newsletter on pages 13-17.

The WOC are planning to partner with the youth in January to work on the community clothes closet.

Wednesday, November 17

Freddie Silva, Alex Bridgers, Jonathan Hayes, James and Rebecca White, Michael Graham Ferguson, Will Patterson, Dustin Harrell, David Hayes, Susan Ferguson, and Freddie and Karen Silva packed 109 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes from First Presbyterian Church into three vehicles. We took the boxes to Galatia Baptist Church in Seaboard and joined with their youth groups, pastor, and others in the effort to pack 92 cardboard shipping containers with 1,290 shoeboxes in a little less than an hour!!!! From there, the cartons were sent to a distribution center in Raleigh to have a Bible and a book about Christ put inside (in the languages of the regions to which the boxes are going) before going on to Charlotte to be sent around the world to share the Good News of Christ with children and families who may have never had the opportunity to hear. What a joy it is to be part of the family of God and to serve Him as missionaries in this way. We appreciate all of the help that the membership of this church gave in sending boxes, items, and money for shipping. We are also grateful for the help in wrapping and packing boxes

A final word.

The following story really touched my heart. I took it from the website: www.samaritanspurse.org I encourage you to visit the site to learn more about Operation Christmas Child. It is my hope that with the boxes that were assembled, last year’s distribution to more than 7.6 million children will be exceeded. Please continue to pray for those who will receive the boxes that they will feel God’s love for them in a very real and special way.

”Pauline filled a staggering 1,100 shoe boxes on her own last year. And that doesn't include the 100 boxes she packed for victims of the December 2004 tsunami! The 75-year-old woman shops year round for items to place in the shoe boxes. For her, the shopping is therapeutic. It gives her an outlet from the daily challenges she and her husband face as they take care of their quadriplegic son. When she isn't shopping for shoe box gifts or attending to her son's needs, Pauline stays busy taking food to a local homeless shelter and to an adult day care center. She's always eager to lend a helping hand. Pauline's dedication to Operation Christmas Child has inspired friends to call her the "shoe box angel."

May you feel the grace and love of God during this and every season!
Susan Ferguson

January 2007

Greeter:

Dec.- Dee Landen
Jan. Peggy Howard

Dec. 3 Josh Dillard
       10
       17 Sandy Bridgers
       24 LaNae Grimes

Flowers

Dec. 3rd - Ed & Ellen Burnett
Dec. 10th - Ben & Cheryl White
Dec. 17th - Dennis & Susan Gaylor
Dec. 24th - Becky Hux
Dec. 31st - Jeff & Diana Dillard

Sunday School Christmas Program
December 17 at 9:45
Breakfast will be served

Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2006
7:00pm

December, 2006
January 21, 2007
February 18, 2007
March 18 , 2007
April 15 , 2007

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

December 10 at 11 a.m. Worship Service

Sunday School Christmas Program

December 17 at 9:45

Christmas Eve Service

December 24 at 7 p.m.