March Newsletter 2015

Knitted Together "...speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up into Him in every way who is the head, into Christ,

from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when

each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love." Ephesians 4:15-16

RSV

"For Thou didst form my inward parts, Thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13 RSV

First Presbyterian Church 10612 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, TN 37384

Phone 423-332-2327

From our Pastor:

I sit this morning on a love seat next to the large front window in the manse and I see the snow. It is white beyond white. Its

whiteness outlines and contrasts with everything not snow covered in the landscape. And I think of snow in Scripture. My

mind recalls Isaiah 1:18 and I search for these words in my Bible.

Come let us reason together, Says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be

like snow

The whole first chapter is the Lords indictment of His people, Israel, for their faithless betrayal of His Covenant with them.

They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing

wrong, learn to do right! Seek jus4ce, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the

widow.

Why does the Lord care so deeply for His people? Why does He allow our sinfulness to affect Him. Why does the Holy Spirit

actually grieve when we are harming each other (Ephesians 4:13)? Perhaps it is because as He tells us in Isaiah 55:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are

higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I do not know why. I only know that it is true for the Lord God consistently reveals this loving suffering side of His nature all

through the Holy Scriptures. And that is not all that He reveals. Somehow the Lord God has this magnificent plan or design to

redeem all His sinful willful creatures. Centuries before Jesus comes to dwell among us we can read something very mysteri-

ous in the Lords thoughts:

Surely, he took up our infirmi"es and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smi$en by him

and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniqui"es; the punishment that

brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.

The snow is white and covers our sins that is all we know. We know too that the change from scarlet to white came at a great

personal cost to the Lord. This is something of what Lent (forty days before Easter not coun>ng the Sundays) is all about, a

>me to be amazed at the love of God in Christ Jesus, a >me to more fully know that His thoughts are not our thoughts and

His ways are not our ways.

Because He lives, MarkMarkMarkMark

March 2015

Preaching for March March 1 will complete the series on "Fully Armed" with The Helmet of Salva>on and "The Two

Weapons that Chris>ans are Licensed to Carry".

Next: During Lent before Easter: I will be preaching through Lec>onary Passages from the Gospel of

Mark & John about Jesus' Mission and Life.

From the Session Mee"ng of February 17, 2015: COMMUNIONNext Communion will be Sunday, March 8, and we will follow a paGern of Second Sunday every other month for

Communion. Prepare yourself spiritually to receive the Lord's Supper on these dates.

PRESBYTERY Presbytery of East Tennessee Mee>ng has been rescheduled to Saturday March 7 @ 9:30 a.m. at Northside

Presbyterian Church in ChaGanooga. Danny Curvin and Mark ScoG will represent our church there and vote on controversial

amendments to our denomina>on's Book of Order which will change the words about marriage from man and woman to person

and person and will allow pastor's and churches to preform same sex marriages in their buildings but will not force those pastors

and churches who disagree to preform such services on their property. If you'd like to come with us, call Mark or Danny.

LENTEN CONGREGATONAL PROGRAMThe Liturgical Season of the Forty Days of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 18,

and con>nues for 39 more days not including Sundays through Saturday, April 4, the day before Easter Sunday. This is a >me for

the Church to devotedly reflect on the Cross and on Chris>an Discipleship. During the six Sundays in Lent, each Sunday one

individual or family will lead the Congrega>on in a Lenten Wreath Ceremony as a Call to Worship. This ceremony is like the

Advent Wreath Ceremony with Scripture Reading and Prayer but Candles will be ex>nguished, instead of lit as they were in

Advent Season, and the reading of a short reflec>on on the Cross and Chris>an Discipleship will be added. If you and your family

would like to lead one of these Sunday in Lent Ceremonies, please, tell Danny Curvin or Rev. Mark.

Commi ee reports:

Property - an increase in our insurance rate was received as a result of last years weather related claim for damage to our

buildings. Bids are being taken to try to improve the rate.

Chris#an Educa#on we have many opportuni>es to teach or subs>tute either during Sunday School, Bible School,

Wednesday nights or Junior Church. Please let DoMe Curvin know if you are willing to teach in any capacity.

TreasurerJim Hargrove has agreed to assist as needed and subs>tute for Charlie Burks while Charlie is on vaca>on later this

year.

Outreach annual spring event will be held on April 11 this event will showcase our giNs and talents with music; handi-

craNs; food; fellowship, vendors, a car show and fun. We will be contac#ng you for assistance! Rain date April 18.

Presbyterian Women Installa>on of our new officers was held during worship on February 2, 2015. Our new leaders are:

Moderator Adrienne Hargrove; Vice Moderator Nancy Burks; Secretary Judy Ellis; Treasurer Becky May

Many thanks to outgoing officers: Julia McGee and Effie Heiss, Co-Moderators and Virginia Hodges, Treasurer.

There was a Presbyterian Women (PW) mee>ng Sunday, February 15 at 3pm. This was a planning mee>ng for what generally

we will be working on for 2015. Several women aGended the mee>ng. There was a posi>ve outlook with much volunteerism

already. To serve our church we all need to help one another. Volunteers signed up to help manage decora>ons, menu, flowers,

cleanup, phone, social events, meals for sick, funerals, etc. There will be a sign-up list posted outside the kitchen for needs to

replenish our kitchen (towels, pans, washcloths, etc.)

Marilyn Suber, Moderator of PW for the Presbytery of East Tennessee, wrote that there will be a Spring Presbytery wide PW

mee>ng April 25, 2015 at Second Presbyterian Church in ChaGanooga, with more details to follow. I also requested she send

expecta>ons of Presbyterian Women as a group. This is a new concept to me since my previous churchs did not have a similarly

ac>ve PW organiza>on. We were in larger Presbyterian churches with Elders, Deacons and mul>ple other commiGees. My goal is

to make this group all inclusive for every woman who comes to our church. We will try to schedule mee>ngs when people arent

working, if possible. I hope as a group we can help our church grow. I will do my best to serve everyone and Christ.

In Christ, Adrienne Hargrove

Pastor Mark's Work Schedule

Church Office Phone: 423-332-2327; Mark's Cell Phone: 423-457-0745 ; email address: cmsco [email protected]

Office Hours @ Church- 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday- The best >me to phone or drop by is between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or call and make an appointment

Friday is his "Family Day"

If you phone Mark (423-457-0745) on Friday, you will be referred to

an Ac>ve Elder with her/his name and number; please, give your

message to the elder designated and she/he will call Mark for you. In

an emergency Mark will respond as quickly as possible to help you.

Knitted Together March 2015

3 ways to help your pastor:

1. Pray for him;

2. Let him know how to pray for you;

3. Tell him of special needs like when a family member is in the

hospital.

Please keep our members and friends in your prayers:

Lynn CliN, Emma Cole, Gary Cross, Billy Crowe, Dena Hopkins, BeGy Johnson, Joe Manna, Sr.,

Jack Mitchell, Barbara Newman, Tillery Phillips, Tapanga SaGerfield, Mary Esther Shannon, Dorothy Dean Shelton, BeGye Skillern, Tony Tarkington

Thomas Pelham is currently in the service. Con>nue to offer prayers for Thomas and his family.

*******************************************************************************************************


CONFIRMATION CLASS

There are five students in our Confirma>on Class

mee>ng each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth

Room behind the sanctuary.

Members are: Morgan Hopkins, Cody Fuller,

Casey Fuller, Will Hopkins and Delanie Dempsey.

Other youth 10 and over are s>ll invited to join

us. Rev. Mark and Toni are the teachers.

These young folks will make their professions of

faith and receive bap>sm (if not bap>zed) on

Palm Sunday, March 29, during the Morning

Worship Service @ 11:00.

Pray for these ministries to the children

and with the children to the Lord.

Kayleah Copeland, daughter of Kari Newman Cur>s, grand-daughter of Gary and Jan Newman, and great granddaughter of Barbara Newman was the proud winner of the afghan created

by Mrs. Doras kniMng group. As you can see she is wrapped in the love and warmth created by the afghan! Mrs. Doras KniMng Group raised $187 from this mission and donated the funds to the First Presbyterian Churchs playground upgrades.

Have you registered Yet?

Camp John Knox 2015

A place for Faith

A place for Adventure

A place for Memories

At Camp John Knox you can:

Challenge yourself on the High Ropes Course

Waterski and Swim

Make new friends

Play in Gods beau#ful crea#on

Do arts and craGs

With camps for all ages, there is a place for you at John

Knox. From Day Camps for our youngest, to Adventure

Camps for older kids. Check out our website to learn more

and to get registered.

Johnknoxcenter.org 865-376-2236

A Volunteer is needed to help with Acolytes on

Sunday mornings from 10:50-11:00 a.m. Please

speak to Mark ScoG or Danny Curvin


Church Schedule:

Services:

Each Sunday: Sunday School 10:00 a.m. / Worship 11:00 a.m.

Sunday March 8Communion

Communicants Class 10:00 a.m. Meets in Youth Room

Each Wednesday:

Adult Bible Study /Youth and Childrens Ac>vi>es 7:00 p.m.

Opportuni#es of serving:

Presbyterian Womengroup mee>ngs

PW Circle meets in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. on 4th Tuesday for Bible

Study and lunch aNerward

Session meets 3rd Tuesday evening at Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Mission opportuni#es:

Third Sunday Offering is collected by the Outreach commiGee each

month on the third Sunday for those in need in our communi>es.

Community OutreachSpring Event April 11volunteers needed to plan

and produce a community event to aGract more people to FPC

We love to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with our church family.

Please share your special dates and we will include it too!

Knitted Together will be published monthly near the 1st of the month. Please send items to publish to Effie Heiss or Judy Stephenson, [email protected] by the 15th of the previous month. Thank you. Our newsletter staff is: Effie Heiss (editor); Judy Stephenson (production manager); Jim Hargrove (distribution manager); Bud Ellis (graphic artist). Newsletter can also be found on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/FPC37379 Please give Jim Hargrove (423-760-8787; [email protected]) the names, mailing addresses or email addresses of family and friends, and possible new members, so that we can send them our monthly newsletter. Please let Jim know if you prefer your newsletter via email.

March 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 SS 10:00 Communicants 10 Worship 11:00

2 3 4 Art 5:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 pm

5 6 7777 Bud EllisBud EllisBud EllisBud Ellis Julia McGeeJulia McGeeJulia McGeeJulia McGee


COMMUNIONCOMMUNIONCOMMUNIONCOMMUNION

9

Knitting 6:30 pm

10 11 Art 5:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:00 Danny CurvinDanny CurvinDanny CurvinDanny Curvin Jan NewmanJan NewmanJan NewmanJan Newman

12 13 14


16 17

Session 6:30 pm

18 Art 5:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:00

19

Game Night 7 pm

20 21


23

Knitting 6:30 pm

24

PW Circle 10

am

25 Art 5:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 pm Bible Study 7:00

26 27

Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn KurzenbergerKurzenbergerKurzenbergerKurzenberger Emily SenecalEmily SenecalEmily SenecalEmily Senecal

28

29 SS 10:00 Worship 11:00 Receive Communicants Class 11:00

30 31

GiGs of Talents:

ChoirEaster Cantata; Sunday Worship

KniKngWith Dora Sowell at Doras 2nd and 4th

Monday evenings6:30-8:30 p.m.

Art Classes by Bud Ellis in Fellowship Hall

Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m.

Fellowship of the Table:

Lunch following Sunday worshipvarious loca>ons

Covered dish dinner prior to Wednesday night

events6:30 p.m.

Game Nightsthird Thursday evening, Fellowship

Hall, 7:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

10612 Dayton Pike

Soddy Daisy, TN 37384

March Newsletter 2015

Documents

Transcript of March Newsletter 2015