Faith Alive

Thank you to the Boy Scouts of Troop 11 for

hosting the congregation at a spaghetti dinner after

church on Scout Sunday, January 29.

I’m still a little stuck in Christmastide for some reason. As I write this, I still long to listen to Christmas carols and to see the lights donning people’s homes on dark nights, even though I’m slowly trying to get in “Lent mode” and force myself to think about the journey to the cross. Alas, the cross is a far cry from the babe in the manger and the lights on my Christmas tree. As I was wrestling with these extremes, I came across this observation from Meister Eckhart, the German Mystic and Philosopher (1260-1328), who wrote: “What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly but does

not take place with myself? And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to Him in my time and culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: When the Son of God is begotten in us.”

Since we recently ordained and installed new officers to the role of Elder and Deacon, the observation reminds me that to be called into service, and to consent to that call, is how the Son of God continues to be “begotten” in us. Hearing the call is one thing; answering it and living it out is quite another. This edition of First Press is sure to advertise a variety of different opportunities for mission and ministry from Souper Bowl of Caring and Family Promise, to the Not-So-Newlywed Valentine’s Dinner, to the work of Presbyterian Women, to the opportunities for worship in the coming weeks. With these advertisements, I encourage one to view them as calls worthy of acceptance and not simply “things going on at the church.” When we heed the calling to be a part of such missions and ministries, both at and beyond First Presbyterian, these are ways in which the Son of God continues to be “begotten in us.” For in these opportunities, God is providing fellowship and discipleship-deepening moment that will sustain us for the cold days of winter until the first buds of springtime appear. My prayer this winter season is that the Son of God will be begotten in you and in me in ways that beget grace, giving birth of Christ again and again in our own time and in our own culture. Indeed, the Son of God is begotten in us when we place our hearts and minds on these things. Thanks be to God.

THIS SUNDAY, FEB. 5

offering stays local

Presbyterian Women News

You Can Help. . .

Host our neighbors with Family Promise, Feb. 5-12. Sign up at fpcgastonia.org or with Luke Buchanan or Lenise Melton.

Give funds to purchase blankets for people in emergency situations on Blanket Sunday (Feb. 19). See article in 1/18 First Press.

Make birthday calls to the congregation; sign up for a particular day on the calendar in the Congregational Care office (room ADU 207). Dates are available beginning in March. When signing up for a day, volunteers are asked to make all of the calls for that particular day.

Make a casserole for Rise & Shine. See Tom Avery.

Volunteer to run the Sanctuary sound board. David Dickson will train you. Call him at 704-616-7181.

You shared… The Henderlite and Seekers Sunday School classes made special donations of nearly $5,000 during December. These gifts included local organizations and continuing flood relief assistance through Coastal Carolina Presbytery.

The annual Presbyterian Women's Bake Sale will be held on Saturday, March 4 from 9:00 a.m. - noon. Proceeds from the Bake Sale benefit missions of the Presbyterian Women.

Last year we had around 272 frozen casseroles, 266 baked goods and 22 items including homemade pickles, pimento cheese, soup, and turkey salad. We raised $7,771.00, and we hope to raise more this year to support our mission opportunities! Ladies, we need your help! We know that the casseroles are one of our hallmark items. This year we expect the trend to continue. We ask that if you make 10 casseroles please add a vegetable to 5 (half). 30 casseroles remained on Sunday morning. Had they contained mixed veggies, broccoli or green beans, we would have likely sold them Saturday. Breakfast casseroles and soups with meat included were sold quickly, as were the homemade turkey salad, pickles, and pimento cheese. Our baked goods were sold out by noon on Saturday too! I hope these suggestions are implemented as we strive to make each year better using our data. We appreciate your many contributions and look forward to your help again this year! If you have any Bake Sale questions feel free to call Page Carver at: 704-913-0574. Ready, set....start baking!

Circle Location Time Hostesses

Monday, February 13 Circle 1 Church

Parlor 10:00 a.m. Gloria Hickson, Beverly

Stewart Circle 2 Covenant

Village LR 10:30 a.m. Geraldine Johnston, Louise

Keir

Covenant Village/Circle 3

Covenant Village Card Room

2:00 p.m. N/A

Circle 5 2543 Gleneagles Dr. (Julie Craig)

7:00 p.m. Julie Craig, Kate Buckles, Tyler Bullock

Circle 6 Church Parlor

6:30 p.m. Sylvia Seawell, June Murphrey

Tuesday, February 14

Circle 4 The Pad 10:00 a.m. Alice Ragan, Beverly Sumner, Judy Planer

Circle Meeting Times and Places—February

ADULT MINISTRIES

PRAYER LUNCH continues each

Wednesday at Noon. Don’t miss a great meal,

fellowship and a devotion.

FAITH & FICTION

meets Sunday, Feb. 5 , at 5 p.m. at the craft room* of Covenant

Village to discuss The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. (*note this change of location)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALIVE FOR ADULTS Our study Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness by Melissa Spoelstra continues Feb. 1 & 8. Dinner 5:30; study

6:00-7:00 p.m.

New Church Officers Ordained and Installed

Ad-Hoc Committee to Host Forums

Sunday, January 22 the ad-hoc committee studying the optimum class sizes for the Session and Diaconate, made their concluding report with recommendations to the Session. The Session affirmed the report with a recommendation that it be brought back to the congregation for a vote during the annual congregational meeting in the first quarter of 2017 (date of this meeting still to-be-determined). The ad-hoc committee will host two Q&A forums in February to help inform the congregation about the study and recommendations for optimum Session and Diaconate size. Come for information and to get your questions answered:

Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel Sunday, February 26, 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Deacons and elders are at the heart of what makes us Presbyterian! Members of the church answer God’s call to service in the particular offices and guide the church through the boards of the church, the Diaconate (deacons) and Session (elders). Most decisions in our form of government are made or confirmed by these groups. It is up to our deacons and elders to order the life and ministry of the congregation. We are thankful for the following, who have answered the call to serve among us as the Class of 2019, serving a three-year term. They were installed and/or ordained on Sunday, January 22 during worship. †=ordained in 2017

New Members Welcomed January 29 First Presbyterian is delighted to welcome the following into the life and ministry of the church! Caroline & Davidson Hobson (pictured below, left) join by letter of transfer from First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, SC. Davidson is Director of Admissions at Gaston Day School and Caroline is a stay-at-home mom to Ann Caroline, born in July 2017. Camellia & Tony Curella (center ) join by reaffirmation of faith. The Curellas retir ed and moved to Gastonia from Wisconsin. Tony is an Air Force veteran; Camellia is a native of Charlotte. Maureen Sell (r ight) is married to Hoppy Sell. She joined by letter of transfer from Northbrook Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC. Maureen is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Gentiva Home Health. Maureen and Hoppy are parents to Lindy Sell and Barron O’Shields. Michael Lipscomb joins us by profession of faith. Michael is the son of Bever ly Stewar t. Suzanne Frederick reactivated her membership after moving back to the area. We rejoice in each of these precious individuals finding a church home here!

Elders †Carol Belk Brittain †Katherine Mason Gallman Vann Marshall Matthews †Esther Hargette Nelson Richard Eugene Rankin, Jr. †Anna Sturgis Renfro †Roger Wade Rizk †Patricia S. Schultz Sylvia Spencer Seawell

Deacons †Gregory Vincent Cherry †Timothy Lee DuBois †Frances Hough Henry †Sally Humbert Hilton Dorothy Davis LaFar †Brian Christopher Levy Lenise C. Melton Brian L. Schroeder †Angie M. Sellers †Beverly Ann Stewart †Loretta Nanette Thomas

The Seekers Class enjoyed fellowship and breakfast in the

Parlor on January 22.

First Press PERIODICALS US POSTAGE

PAID Gastonia, NC

F A S T FACTS: For a Fun Evening: The Valentine’s Not-So-Newly Wed Game Dinner You are invited to a fun and valued tradition of First Presbyterian Church: our annual Valentine's Banquet. As always, we will enjoy the hilarious Not-So Newlywed Game and a delicious Italian meal served by our very own youth! Joyful entertainment and fellowship guaranteed! Childcare will be provided. $15/couple; $7.50/single. Please register online (fpcgastonia.org) or with Donna Kerns at the reception desk (dkerns@fpcgastonia.org).

portraits and more. Register to volunteer at https://southminsterchurch.com/register-to-volunteer/. Non-Food Pantry: Third Street Pres. hosts a non-food pantry the 3rd Wed. of every month, 10 a.m.—noon. Donations accepted: bath tissue, laundry detergent, soap and pine cleaner. The pantry has served 129 people since May. Soul Food: Third Street is hosting a Celebration of African-American History Month with Soul Food on Fri., Feb. 24. Cost $10. Fat Tuesday Meal: Robinson Memorial Pres. will host a meal on Tues., Feb. 28, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $5 per person, kids free.

January Worship Attendance Date 11:00 AM Thrive 1/1/17 125 New Year’s 1/8/17 Snow Snow 1/15/17 198 51 1/22/17 211 69 1/29/17 295 67

Camp Grier Comes to FPC: Staff from Camp Grier (www.campgrier.org) will be in Gastonia on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2-4 p.m. to share the fun of camp! Parents, children and youth are invited. The event will be in the Fellowship Hall at our church; refreshments will be provided. Summer programs are available from rising 1st grade to high school. Night to Shine: Southminster will host a prom-style event for special-needs people over age 14. Volunteers are needed to assist with the red carpet walk, games, dinner,

Our children meet each Wednesday night for dinner at 5:30, followed by activities and music. We’re working on a musical for worship on May 7. Come get in on the faith-building action!