P C The S E - Pfafftown ChristianJennifer Durham: Irma & Fred Muetzel’s granddaughter Geraldine...
Transcript of P C The S E - Pfafftown ChristianJennifer Durham: Irma & Fred Muetzel’s granddaughter Geraldine...
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PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) 3323 Transou Rd. PO Box 130 Pfafftown NC 27040 Phone: 336- 924-9925 Fax: 336- 924-2501 E-mail: [email protected] www.pfafftownchristian.org
Church Staff
The Rev. Gerald Thomas
Pastor
The Rev. Tim Shoaf
Minister of Music & Programs
Traci Canter, Office Administrator
Volume 2, Number 7
January 2019
The Season of Epiphany
A Note from the Worship Committee
PCC and guests have just experienced another musical blessing from our Chancel Choir and our outstanding Bell Choir. You have once again outdone yourselves with your presentation of “An Evening of Christ-mas Music” which was under the direction of our magnificent Tim Shoaf. Each of us who attended the Cantata left with our hearts filled with Thanksgiving and Peace. We thank all of who participated and your selfless hours of rehearsals. Our Christmas Elves were at it again this year making our Sanctuary even more beautiful than before! We thank each of you! We are so grateful to Evelyn Nifong and her team for their hard work decorating and preparing delicious food for the Reception held after the Cantata. What a wonderful opportunity to reach out and enjoy our neighbors and each other. We thank each of you who attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Your presence made it very special. Once again it is time to look ahead and be thankful for each other and our many blessings we have shared at PCC. Your Worship Committee wishes you hope and the blessings of a New Year. We are so grateful for each of you.
Elders’ Meeting Thursday, January 10, 2019/ 7:00 PM
Education Building, Room 104
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Church Board Meeting Sunday, January 13, 2019/ 2:00 PM
Education Building, Room 104
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Pastor Relations Committee
Meeting Thursday, January 24, 2019/ 7:00 PM
Education Building, Room 104
January 6, is celebrated as Epiphany or
Three Kings’ Day. Epiphany is the climax
of the Advent/Christmas Season and the
Twelve Days of Christmas, which are
counted from the evening of December 25
until the morning of January 6, the Twelfth
Day. Epiphany means “to show,” “to make
known” or “to reveal.” We remember the
coming of the wise men bringing gifts to
visit the Christ child, who by so doing
"reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and
King. The Wise Men or Magi who brought
gifts to the child Jesus were the first
Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "King"
and so were the first to "show" or "reveal"
Jesus to a wider world as the Christ. This
act of worship by the Magi corresponded to
Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus
would be "a light for revelation to the
Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), was an indication
that Jesus came for all people, and that the
work of God in the world would not be
limited to only a few.
Epiphany is now observed as a time to
focus on mission; of the church’s mission
to reach others by "showing" Jesus as the
Savior of the world. -Tim
mailto:[email protected]://www.pfafftownchristian.orghttp://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html
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Prayer
Requests
Rose Tara: Vallie Cline
Brighton Gardens: Edna Williamson
Church Family: Garland Terry, Bud Barker, John Grice, Mary Ferguson, Connie & Ed Snuffer,
Edith Sprinkle, Evelyn Nifong, Julie Tilley
Others: Raymond Nifong: Ken and Vicki Davis’ friend
Jason Alexander: Jack and Mary Groffs’ friend
Martha Blevins: Marlene Thomas’ family
Haley Burns: Skip and Jo Stanley
Jennifer Durham: Irma & Fred Muetzel’s granddaughter
Geraldine Edwards: Ann Fletcher’s aunt
Jan Everton: Jo Stanley’s sister
June Fulton: Jill Robertson’s friend
Corinne Hedrick: John Grice
Cayden Kingsbury: Rodney Stilwell’s grandson
Chuck Kolstad: Evelyn Nifong’s son-in-law
Margaret Laudine: Ann Fletcher’s friend
Sue Miles: Jo Stanley’s friend
Louise Davis Moore
Daniel and Lewis Shields (infants) Jill Robertson’s friends
Angela Joy Neal: Gennie Romanello Sinclair
Darlene Stewart: Ann Fletcher’s sister
Joy Stokes: Jill Robertson’s sister
Emory and Ella Thomas: Gerald Thomas’ parents
Teresa Tyndale: Edith Sprinkle’s friend
Judy West: Ann Fletcher’s cousin
Loved Ones in the Military: Joshua Hughes, Norfolk, VA.
Chase Lee, Guam; USS Key West;
Major Hope Poster, NG, Texas;
Cpt. John G. Van Hoy IV, Fort Campbell, KY.
As Way Leads on to Way
“Wiggle Worms” Don’t even bother with the dictionary. “Wiggle worm” is
not there. To find one, you had to be on the third pew of
the Springfield Baptist Church on a Sunday morning. One
would show up about the time of the pastoral prayer. The
prelude to the pastor-led prayer was a moment of silence. A
moment-become-an-hour to a preschooler. So long seemed
this vacuum of time and space, I feared for the twelve
o’clock dismissal.
At the prompting of the pastor, we bowed our heads and
closed our eyes and in that vast continuum of time and
space I attempted to focus upon God. God knows I tried. It
even became a game: “Today, I’ll keep my eyes closed the
entire prayer. Today, I’ll be still.”
Never happened. My need for constant moving caused
my father to chuckle and say, “You’re worse than a wiggle
worm on a hot brick.” Cute, but not a compliment.
My father owes me an apology. Today, wiggle worms are
the rule! The church not only accepts the meditation-
challenged, but works diligently to provide the hot bricks.
Hypnotized by the urge to “Just do it” and defined by
technology, the Christian devotional life has given way to
the need for sight and sound in individual and corporate
worship. Kids today don’t know how good they have it.
Most adults as well. Forced to sit in the silent spaces of a
pastoral prayer, persons might break under the strain of
facing their lives in undeniable honesty. Struggling to focus
for five minutes on God could make us too tired to continue
the service. Pausing in the week to listen for God might
frighten us, as we are not used to the rhythmic pounding of
our hearts. Sitting still on the hot bricks of our existence
could sear our consciences: “Easier to wiggle through the
week. Better to be a worm for Jesus than a slug for Satan!”
An old proverb says “Do not speak unless you can improve
upon the silence.” Unfortunately, our words and deeds no
longer grow out of the stillness, but silence has become an
annoyance to the wiggling of our bodies and the wagging of
our tongues. On second thought, I owe my father the apol-
ogy. I’m sorry if my need to wiggle precluded your need
to be still and know your God. But for what it’s worth, my
memories of you, eyes closed and very still in worship, are
the better part of me. -GT
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MENU: Breakfast Foods: Tenderloin, Bacon, Eggs, Grits, Fried Apples, Biscuits and Strawberry
Jam
The Gathering
January 9, 2019
6:00 p.m.
Upper Fellowship Hall Pastor On Holiday
Our pastor will be on holiday vacation December 31
through January 6. If you have a need, please contact
Tim or your family’s Elder. Your Elder is listed your
PCC Yearbook. Steve Clodfelter will be preaching at
the worship service this Sunday, January 6.
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Notes from Tim
Epiphany and the Carol
We three kings of orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Included in the Christmas season is the Feast of the
Epiphany which we celebrate on Epiphany Sunday, January
6th each year. This holy day celebrates the arrival of the
three men from the East, we refer to as the Wise Men, Magi,
Kings, etc. as they brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh to the Christ Child.
This carol was composed by the American John Henry
Hopkins, Jr. for the 1857 Christmas pageant at the General
Theological Seminary in New York City where, at that time
Hopkins was the seminary's music director. The carol wasn't
published for public use until six years later in 1863. Both
the words and melody of this carol are stirring as they
describe the arrival of the Magi which marked the first
approach to Jesus by gentiles. While Jesus was born Jewish
and was hailed as the King of the Jews, his message was for
the entire world and the story of the arrival of the Magi in
the Gospel of Matthew is the first mention in the Bible of
gentiles coming to worship Jesus.
In this carol, Hopkins begins by describing the Magi
traveling with their royal gifts in the first verse. While the
guiding star over Bethlehem is described in the chorus
between verses, each of the next three verses describe an
individual gift and its significance. Gold, is offered to
represent Christ's kingship. Frankincense, which is men-
tioned frequently in the Bible as being used in religious
rites, is given to recognize Christ's deity. Finally, there is the
myrrh also used in religious rites but mostly for funeral rites
in times past. Myrrh is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark
where Mark describes Christ, just before His crucifixion,
being offered, and refusing, a cup of wine laced with
myrrh—something that was intended to deaden the pain of
His crucifixion. The image of Christ's future crucifixion is
made even more vivid as the third and fourth lines of the
verse continue with: Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. This is followed by the
fifth verse that joyfully proclaims Jesus' glorious
resurrection which will follow His crucifixion. In these
five short verses, Hopkins ties the two holiest days of
the Christian calendar, Christ's birth at Christmas and
His resurrection at Easter, together in one lyrical and
very moving carol.
As we sing this carol on Epiphany Sunday, January 6,
may we, as the Kings from the Orient, be led to follow
that wondrous star to Bethlehem and kneel down before
the Christ Child offering our hearts and our lives to Him
as our gifts, as He fills us with the love and joy that
only He can offer!
Go! Tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!
- Tim
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Crisis Control Donations
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to the needs
of our community through the Crisis Control Ministry.
During the month of January, we will continue to
collect toilet paper. Please place your items in the
“Crisis Control Box in the hallway near the Narthex.
Thank you!
ELDERS: Tony Bryant, Beth Faircloth
DEACONS: Betty Barker, Jack Bryant
Jackie Romanello, Paul Shropshire
COMMUNION: Paul Shropshire
OPEN/CLOSE: Tony Bryant
Thank you for your part in ministry at PCC!
SERVERS for January 2019
Contact Jo Stanley or Lynda Bryant
if you cannot serve
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9:45 a.m., Education Building, Room 104
“NOW THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS”
Based on the poem by Howard Thurman, our conver-
sations will center on living the life that Emmanuel’s
presence gifts us in this season of Epiphany.
Sunday, January 6
No Connect Group (Pastor on Vacation)
Sunday, January 13
The Gift of Tradition, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Sunday, January 20
The Gift of Celebration, John 2:1-11
Sunday, January 27
The Gift of Home, Luke 4:14-21
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart. - Howard Thurman
A Word of Gratitude...
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give
you hope and a future”~ Jeremiah 29:11
What a true blessing it is to be your new Office Admin-
istrator! When I decided to leave state government after
nearly 30 years, I prayed that God would give me a part-
time job, preferably a position in a local church, one that
was close to home and one that would give me time to
visit my two granddaughters in Boone. I claim Psalm
37:4 which states, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He
will give you the desires of your heart.” Our God is an
amazing loving and forgiving God and I am so thankful
to Him and to everyone here at PCC for allowing me this
opportunity to serve Him and you. I have been welcomed
with so much loving and warmth from everyone. I look
forward to working with all of you to make Pfafftown
Christian Church all that it can be and ultimately for His
glory! ~Traci Canter
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ANNUAL BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON
In celebration of our church family birthdays, we will
have our Annual Birthday Luncheon in the Upstairs
Fellowship Hall on Sunday, January 27, following the
Worship Service. This will be an enjoyable event as
you share with others who celebrate birthdays the same
month as you.
Lunch will be provided consisting of a salad bar, baked
potato bar, homemade soup, and of course, birthday
cake for everyone!
We will have a “Remember When” display table and
invite each person attending the luncheon to bring with
you a special toy(s) that was given to you as a child or
an item or photo of remembrance that you would be
willing to share on the display table! (I know most all
of us have a few toys and/or a picture and maybe an
old cherished birthday card from a special birthday that
you could share or a gift you received at Christmas or
another occasion when you were young that has a
special meaning to you). Start brainstorming about
something you could bring and display!
Please mark your calendar for Sunday, January 27 and
plan to join your church family and friends for a really
spectacular time of food and fellowship!
In Appreciation... A Word of Thanks...
Dear Pfafftown Christian Church,
Thank you so much for the gift of a most special
sacred Christmas program. I feel so blessed to
experience this evening again this year with my
mother (Martha M. Lilly) and sister.
As soon as my mother received your newsletter and
saw the date, I had it on my calendar to make plans
to travel to NC! This was her one big Christmas
wish at age “93” to be able to be there in person.
Tim is such a wonderful director and the whole choir,
handbells, and musicians all added up to make the
most beautiful celebration of the “Winter Rose.”
It was such a privilege to hear Jill again as well.
The reception was a treat, not only good food, but
precious fellowship.
Please receive this enclosed love offering and use it
for the church as needed.
Merry Christmas and
Love in Christ,
Mike and Susan Sowers
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Reverend Gerald Thomas,
My husband and I were invited by our friends Ken
and Vicki Davis to the Christmas Celebration at
their church last Sunday, December 16. We didn’t
know what to expect but thought it would be a
pleasant evening. To say that we were STUNNED,
in a good way, is to say the least! The whole experi-
ence was magnificent -- I wanted to stand up and
cheer after each segment.
The music was Majestic, Joyful, and so very
Beautiful. The voice of Jill Gardner was thrilling. I
have no words good enough to express the creativity
and talent and passion of Tim Shoaf for the
masterpiece that he created. I was hoping the whole
program was being recorded because I wanted to
hear it again--and again. Please send our huge thank
you to him and all who made this the fabulous
experience that it was!
What came to mind as we were experiencing the joy
of the evening was a line from the Bible: “Joy is the
infallible sign of the presence of God.”
I could feel God’s presence last Sunday in your
Sanctuary -- and I feel sure I wasn’t the only one.
Thank you all for a wonderful Christmas Gift!
Sincerely,
Rosemary and Ed Azevedo
P.S. The food and fellowship after was terrific,
warm, friendly, and delicious.
Thank You
A BIG “Thank You” to Gerald Fletcher, Cliff Hunt, Dan
Binkley, Brad Fletcher, Alan Fletcher and Tim Shoaf
who helped at our Church Workday on Saturday,
December 8th. They trimmed shrubbery, raked leaves,
replaced light bulbs and performed other tasks to get the
church ready for the Christmas Season. The church
grounds look beautiful thanks to your hard work!
Also, thanks to Harry Nifong for clearing snow off the
steps and sidewalks around the church in preparation for
the Cantata and Evening of Music held on December 16.
Dear Pfafftown Christian Church,
I wanted to take this opportunity during the
Christmas season to express my gratitude to the
congregation of Pfafftown Christian Church for
your kindness and generous donation to myself
and my wife, Susan, during my cancer treatment
last year. As you can well imagine, it was a tough
time, both physically and financially, but through
the power of community, God’s love, and your
prayers, we indeed made it through.
I know your support and love for my parents,
Garland and Sue Terry, helped enormously in
their time of worry.
All of you are very much loved and appreciated
and we will continue to “pay it forward.”
Happiest of holidays, Lee Terry
Address Update! Sue Conrad
230 Miller Pointe Drive
Winston-Salem, NC. 27106
(Please update this address in your
Church Yearbook)