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 -- October 2007

FROM THE INTERIM-PASTOR

STEP ONE AND COUNTING…

Well, the first workshop has come and gone and I wanted to communicate with you what progress is being made toward getting ready to elect a PNC (Pastoral  Nominating Committee), call your next pastor, and, more importantly, readying yourselves for the next stage of First Presbyterian Church’s faith journey.  Each time the congregation gathers to study, pray, share and speak the truth in love, you have an opportunity to move forward, to make progress, or not.  In order for the yet-to-be PANC to have the best chance for succeeding in its call and for this church to be vital and healthy, each “Step” needs your valuable in-put.

Step One, (Transition Workshop: Back to the Future), was the beginning of an on-going process, coming to terms with your history.  As you shared some of the significant events from your personal perspectives in the timeline of this church’s history, the reality of differing view points, differing delights, and differing griefs became apparent. Also, the apparent need for reconciliation and healing still exists around the departure of your pastor because a number of you have perspectives which were/are radically different.  Many of you suggested that a longer period of time for you to talk to one another would have been helpful.  I want to try and respond to that request by offering some Sunday afternoons for Coffee and Conversation in the coming months.  This first workshop helped move you forward by saying out loud there are real differences in the way each of you see history, in what you believe is/was important in the life of the church, and the gifts which were/are essential for a pastor to have.  Recognizing that history is subjective and that perspectives are individual means that uniformity won’t ever exist as you look back, but to become even healthier as the Body of Christ your continued prayers and intentional efforts for reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing are essential to move forward.

CONGRATULATIONS on starting your trek into the wilderness on our journey together!!  Though much still needs to happen, you’ve taken your first step and November 4^th, again after worship, we will gather again to take Step Two.   The next congregational gathering will have as its focus to obtain a clear understanding of who you are as a church now and what vision from God you have for future ministries.  Your efforts at this workshop will produce data which the yet-to-be PNC will use as they put together the Church Information Form (CIF).  The CIF must clearly reflect who you are and what you believe you are being called to do for and with God in the future.  YOU have the wonderful opportunity to dream together and discern specific directions that you and your next partner in Christ will travel together.  The information that is gathered will be passed on to the PNC when they are formed and this will save them a lot of time, and offer them a great start in the steps they must take.     JAL

***

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!! TRANSITION WORKSHOP II: PILGRIM PEOPLE SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 4, 2007 AFTER WORSHIP.

Be a part of discerning God’s will in the life of this faith family, plan to come and share your ideas.

***

October 7th is World Communion Sunday.  If you are a shut in and wish to be served communion or if you know of someone that wishes to be served communion at home, please contact the office.

SESSION  ACTIVITIES FOR SEPTEMBER

 A Stated Session Meeting was held on September 9^th, with all Session members present.  Rev. Love continued the Pastoral Transition Education series with handouts and homework assignments.  Session members committed to support the Transition Workshop on September 16^th.

The Finance & Personnel Committee recommended Session consider reestablishing the Pastor’s Reimbursable Account.  The past format and guidelines will be reviewed with feedback provided to the committee.  It was noted that the 2008 budgeting process will begin with their first meeting on September 11^th.

Session approved a recommendation by the Facilities Committee to allow a second Weight Watchers time period from 11 AM until 2 PM on Wednesday, for which the Church will be compensated.

The Nominating Committee reported progress on the slate of Church Officers for the class of  2010, with hopes to complete it in the very near future.

The next Stated Session Meeting will be on October 14^th, at 7 PM in the Loy Building.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MODERATOR

 Youth Leaders

I’m thrilled to be able to report that we have leaders for our youth programs.  As Pet Spears said on Rally Day, "First Presbyterian always comes through”.  Judy Oglesby and Linda Brewer are going to teach the Presbykids and the Silvas are leading the Senior Highs.  Ellen Bryant is teaching the children’s choir.  Our Sunday School teachers are:  Tanya Glasgow, Laura Pate, Susan Gaylor, Bob and Lisa Patterson for the youth and Ellen Bryant and Bill Brown for the adult classes.

As a congregation, we need to support all of our workers with our prayers and attendance.                                                                                             Lelia Frazier

Sunday School
 

 We have enjoyed the Sunday School “social” time for the month of  September.  If you have not been able to come, please plan to join us in October.  Also, don’t miss the classes.  The new literature, Seasons of the Spirit, is a good program and with our excellent teachers provides a wonderful study of the Bible.  I had the pleasure of listening to Ellen Bryant teach the first lesson and she did an outstanding job.  I taught the children’s lesson another Sunday and really felt that we had a good learning experience.

A special thanks to Circle 1 for providing our refreshments during the month.

Lelia Frazier

Sunday School Fellowship

Circle 2 Assignments for October

Lisa Patterson and Phyllis Hayes

Pet Spears and Nancy Crowe

Beth Brewer and Ellen Bryant

Ellen and Ed Burnett

***

MORE FROM THE INTERIM-PASTOR

EVALUATION NOTES: TRANSITION WORKSHOP I

I would give this workshop the following rating 1= not my thing to 7=just great!

           Votes were     #1 -1,  #2-0,  #3-0,  #4-5,  #5-12,  #6-7,  #7-6.

Parts of the workshop which were most helpful.

The responses were varied, but the idea of hearing from and seeing what others thought and valued appeared most frequently.  Also elements which were helpful: the worship component, remarks by the leaders, and good food!

Suggestions for improvement more time to hear from one another, small group

format; advanced preparation; youth in-put; defined goal(s) for outcome; checking for understanding; pencils, not markers, shorter time; and more participation from congregation.

Other comments:  More about what God wants than what we want; helpful;

Necessary; appreciate leadership of church; food and fellowship great!

Time for the next workshop: Sunday 8-9:30-6; Saturday 9-11-1; Sunday 12:30-2

Received the largest number with 28; 2-3:30-2; 3:30-5-1; 5-6:30-3; 6-8-3 and one suggestion for a week day.

If you have other suggestions for improving the congregational gatherings, please let Jane or a member of the Transitional Team know; your Transitional Team members are: Mike Knudson, Grace Fishel, Jim Allen, Cheryl White and Glen Lee.

Schedule & Opportunities to Serve

BIRTHDAYS

Oct. 3


5

13

21

22 

27
 

Ray Barmer
Douglas Hayes

Jimmy Hodges

Ellen Burnett

Fritz Fansler, Jr.

Margie Stainback

Bill Graham
 

Oct.  7

14

 21

Oct.  7

14

21

28
 

Oct.   7

14

21

28
 

FROM THE STEWARDSHIP MODERATOR

CONSECRATION SUNDAY IS COMING 18 NOVEMBER 2007 

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, 18 Nov 07. 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. Leigh Gillis, will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.
 Bob Pearce, Stewardship Moderator
 

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.

Bob Pearce, Stewardship Moderator
 

Your Stewardship Committee

The members are Bill Brown, Bill Graham, Bob Pearce (current Session members,) Linda Brewer, Julia Ann Fitts, Faye Brown, and Rev. Jane Love, ex officio. Ellen Bryant and Lisa Patterson are liaison members from the Worship and Finance & Personnel Committees respectively.

We have decided to conduct this year's activities much the same as last year since it was judged largely successful. Consecration Sunday will be 18 Nov 06 and our speaker will be The Rev. Leigh Gillis, the minister at Cann Memorial in Elizabeth City. She has taught on stewardship/faith and money at the Presbytery level; currently, she moderates the Presbytery Council. She and our Rev. Jane Love will exchange pulpits 18 Nov 2007. Rev. Gillis will participate also in a Sunday, 11 Nov 06, 5:30 coordination meeting and a 6:30 pm dinner Meeting with members of Stewardship plus 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 three preceding Sunday Worship Services. The topics are: "What this church has meant to me", “Step Charts", and "The Importance of Consecration Sunday." Like last year, we will have a 9:30 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 bulletins in the Narthex and as 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.

Bob Pearce, Stewardship Moderator

<<<<<<>>>>>>

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
ENDS NOVEMBER 4TH
(Spring forward and Fall back)

<<<<<<>>>>>>

 

WINNING WORDS!

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a deemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

JOYS & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

JOYS:  Jane Walser (Return home from Nursing Home)

             Will Ricks (Ongoing healing)
 

CONCERNS:

Katherine Carter (Mother of Susan Barmer)

Dwight Cranford

 Andy Howard

Debbie Overton (Niece of Becky Hux)

Cheryl Thiel

Sallie Ray Warren

Mr. & Mrs. R. B. Barnes

Fritz Fansler

Agnes Hubbard

Betsy Merritt

Emma Jean Collins

Betty Pearce

Terry Tomlinson

Chris Borrell (Friend of Alicia Grimes)

Beth Walton (Sister of Joe Hagan)

Barbara Carter

If you have needs or prayer concerns to share with the  congregation, Please contact Margo Allen at 537-7079 or Roni Hackenburg at 537-4487 .

More from the Christian Education Moderator
Sunday school lessons and related scripture are listed below.  Come and join us for our study in  Seasons of the Spirit.

  This Season...Pentecost 2

Oct.     7

14

21

28

More from the Stewardship Moderator

Children's Stewardship

Do Your Children See You Give?

Every parent wants to raise children who share and give generously. When our children someday meet God face to face we want to know that they will hear Jesus say to them the same words the master said to those who used their talents wisely, “Well done, my good and faithful servant...Come, share your master’s joy.” (Matt 25:21)

However, raising a generous child is a challenge in a society that constantly teaches children to want more and more things for themselves. One of the key factors in teaching children to be generous is to let them see you giving. After all, children mimic what they see, not what they hear.

Today many donations to the church may be made electronically, monthly, quarterly, or via mail. Thus, children may never actually see their parents give. A child who never sees a parent place an envelope in the Offering could grow up thinking, “My parents never gave any support to the Church. Why should I?”

Therefore, it is important that parents talk with children about the charitable gifts the family makes. If you would like to increase your giving you might even ask your kids about ways the family budget could be adjusted so that there is more to share with God. Their suggestions might surprise you!

We all know that money can’t buy happiness. Wealthy people can be just as unhappy as poorer people. Rather, happiness comes from being content with what we have and feeling like we are making a difference in the world. We can put our children on the path to a happy and successful life by teaching them how to use and manage money so that it brings them contentment, fills their needs and allows them to help others.

Financial experts suggest that children should be taught to divide their allowance into three or four sections – to spend, to save, to invest and to donate. Spending covers basic needs and wants. Saving teaches patience and planning. Investing looks to the future. For children this might mean future educational needs. Donating gives kids satisfaction by allowing them to be a part of sometime important, like the Offering.

Our Lord calls each of us to share what we have. He tells us, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and even more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48) Children who learn to give away a portion of their financial blessings not only are following the Lord’s command but they also begin to discover that sharing part of their money can be very satisfying.

Bob Pearce, Stewardship Moderator

CONSECRATION SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 18TH