The Carillon J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 V O L U M E 3 4 I S S U E 1

A Publication of

First Presbyterian

Church

2101 N. Herritage St.

Kinston, NC 28501

252-522-1921 (phone)

252-522-1922 (fax)

info@fpckinston.org

www.fpckinston.org

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Pastor’s Page 2

Worship in January

3

Children/Youth 4/5

Children &

Youth Worship

6

Messiah 7

New Members Circle Meetings Birthdays

8

Church Calendar

9

Prayer Requests

10

Leadership & News

11

Matthew 2:1-12

They Saw

They followed

They worshipped

Will you come and see the light from the stable door? It is shining newly bright though it shone before. It will be your guiding star; it will show you who you are.

Will you hide, or decide to meet the light? Will you step into the light that can free the slave?

It will stand for what is right. It will heal and save. By the pyramids of greed there’s a longing to be freed.

Will you hide, or decide to meet the light? Will you tell about the light in the prison cell?

Though it’s shackled out of sight, it is shining well. When the truth is cut and bruised, and the innocent abused,

will you hide, or decide to meet the light?

“Will You Come and See the Light?” is from Brian Wren, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany:

Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press,

2008) and are reproduced by permission. Copyright © 2007 by Brian Wren.”

P A G E 2

T H E C A R I L L O N

From Your Pastor “20/20 Vision”

I have worn glasses or contacts since about the third grade. This new year will be the first time in a long time that I will see 2020. As people of faith, we believe that our sin blurs our vision and understanding of who God creates us to be. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23 that, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Not to be confused with committing a crime, which involves the breaking of rules and laws, sin is a condition of the heart or an expression of that condition where we are separated from God and fail to trust in God. Sin can be expressed in particular actions and inactions.

The “Brief Statement of Faith” of PC (USA) says:

But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation.

Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like

a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

God has always been faithful to his people. We Presbyterians believe God has offered us salvation because we know God to be a God of love. Salvation is not something that we can earn by being “good enough.” No one is good enough on our own—we all depend upon God’s goodness and mercy. From the kindest, most devoted churchgoer to the most blatant sinner, we are all saved solely by the grace of God. On Sunday, January 12, during worship we will celebrate Jesus’ baptism. In our own baptisms we participate in Jesus’ saving death and resurrection. During worship we will have an opportunity to reaffirm our baptismal covenant. In remembering and renewing our baptisms we are invited to let go of our sin that clings so strongly to us. During this act of remembrance we will physically let go of our sin, with the hope that we will be able to clearly see who God calls us to be. My hope for us all in 2020 is that we will know and live into our calling as God’s sons and daughters.

Joyfully, Pastor Travis

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Worship in January January 5—Epiphany Sunday

Celebration of The Lord’s Supper

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6

Matthew 2:1-12

January 12—Baptism of the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

Matthew 3:13-17

January 19—2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Isaiah 49:1-7

January 26—3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4

Matthew 4:12-23

P A G E 4

T H E C A R I L L O N

First in Formation: Updates from Christian Education & Spiritual

Formation Rev. Sydne Allen, Transitional Director

Happy New Year, Y’all! As I write this, we are about to be on vacation for a few days in my hometown of Lexington, NC. We will worship on December 29 at my home church, First Presbyterian, where I was baptized, confirmed, married to Travis, and ordained to the Ministry of Word & Sacrament. This is the first time we have been in Lexington since 2016, and we are breathing deeply as we spend time away. Part of my gratitude comes from experiencing the Advent and Christmas season among you: thank you for our gifts and cards; for invitations to dinner; and for checking on us during a season that can be busy for everyone, but especially for a clergy family. CE & Formation has been busy: the children and youth prepared and facilitated a great worship service on December 15 with the “No Fuss, Few Rehearsals” pageant highlighting Hannah’s and Mary’s songs in the Old and New Testaments. We decorated 18 dozen cookies with Mrs. Wilma Boldt and sold those to you during Sunday lunch. Thank you for your generosity in purchasing cookies and donating to our summer children’s and youth activities, especially Carolina Cross Connection! Kids’ Club went Christmas caroling and had so much fun, we hope to make this an annual tradition! Be sure to get on our list for next year! Finally, Travis, the boys, and I were thrilled to welcome our youth into our home for a Christmas party and “White Elephant” gift exchange. We’re looking forward to more opportunities to host PYC in the future. Wednesday Bible Study returns on January 8 with a deep dive into The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). “Coffee & Jesus” returns in the Youth Room on January 12; Kids’ Club and PYC return on January 12. If you’d like to be involved in children’s and youth ministry, please let me know, we’d love to have you! Be on the lookout for a “Faith Development Survey” coming from the Ed & Nurture committee this month. This survey isn’t just for those with children and youth, but for anyone in the congregation who takes the promises we make at baptisms seriously (so, all of us!) Thank you, in advance, for your diligence in completing it! Be encouraged by Paul’s words in Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say ‘Rejoice.’ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” With holy curiosity, Sydne

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T H E C A R I L L O N

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P A G E 8

T H E C A R I L L O N

1 Jason Cherry

1 Claire Perry

1 Elyza Perry

2 Frank Hall

3 Hope Shackelford

4 Ray Wooten

8 William Moore

9 Greg Theodorakis

14 Kathleen Marshall

16 Elaine Nix

17 Tommy Benton

18 Ann Cherry

18 Mitch Cooper

20 Cathy Wooten

20 Tyler Johnson

23 John McPhaul

27 Ralph Clark

28 David Mills

28 Don Mills

29 Steve Jefferson

30 Bill Jernigan

31 Colby Lewis

31 Collins Moore

We are glad you are here!

Kate Skinner

April Walrath

Amanda Williams

The Church Directory has been updated and

is available for pick up. Copies are located in

the entrance ways of the Sanctuary or you

may pick up one from the office.

Circle 1—2nd & 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. (Jan. 13 and 27 ) Leader: Katherine Harper (252-525-8845 or KatherineQHarper@hotmail.com

Circle 2—Mon., Jan. 6 at FPC Conference Room, 2:30 p.m. Leader: Janice Hendrix (252-522-4843)

Circle 3—Mon., Jan. 6 at Queen Street Deli, 11:30 a.m. Leader: Patricia Noble (252-526-1437)

Circle 4—Wed., Jan. 8 at Queen Street Deli, 11:30 a.m. Leader: Cathy Swann (252-522-1193)

Circle 5—Tues., Jan. 7 at Queen Street Deli, 11:30 a.m. Leader: Kathryn Thutt (252-522-5246)

Circle Meetings in January:

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T H E C A R I L L O N

P A G E 1 0

Spring Arbor, Kinston Nancy Cherry Jim Marshall Max Tabory

Harmony Hall, Kinston Jeanette Marshall

In Memoriam

“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. Those who believe in me, even

‘though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

John 11:25-26

Clara Fenner Manning

November 6,1925—November 26, 2019

Helen Ambler Rackley

December 25, 1928—November 26, 2019

Emily Heard Moore

August 31, 1933 — December 1, 2019

A Note from….

Rev. Drs. Wanda and Bill Neely

Our family give thanks for your many expressions of love and sympathy during our son Will’s illness and then following his passing on November 18, 2019. We are grateful for your cards, thoughts and prayers and especially for your loving Will through the stories we shared.

Members

Becky Barbee

Ralph Clark

Honey Fuller

Hope Shackelford

Honey Whitaker

Pamela Williams

Brenda Woodley

Family & Friends

Bill Anderson

Susan Audino

Ronnie Civils

Hilda Cranfill

J. Warren Creech

Kirk Fuller

Bill Gay

Judy Greer

Peggy Holliday

Amy Smith Johnson

John and Sue Martin

Shannon Moore

Edith O’Brien

Skip Palmer

Kenneth Rouse

Michele Spence

Mitchell Tippet

Richard (Ricky) E. Tutt

Glenwood Waters

State Veterans Home Fred Antonowich

Cypress Glen, Greenville Gertrude Dalzell

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Tuesday, August 7, 8:00 a.m.

at Chick-fil-a

ALL MEN ARE WELCOME!

Year-to-Date Budgeted

Amount Difference

$361,019 $347,000 $14,019

Date Attendance Offering

Nov. 24 106 $4,651

Dec. 1 89 $2,690

Dec. 8 100 $8,865

Dec. 15 114 $6,266

Dec. 22 86 $6,738

Serving in

January 5 12 19 26

Greeters Ray Scott Spence Scott Williams Cindy Angel David Fillippeli

Acolytes Ely Perry Hayden Blizzard Killen Harper Jenks Jenkins

Lay Leaders Aaron Dale Inez Dale J. C. Carraway Mitch Cooper

Lock-up Doug Noble John Hendrix Facilities Facilities

Steward Rick Landis Rick Landis Rick Landis Rick Landis

For your

convenience, pledge envelopes for

the year 2020 are located in the

entrance ways of the Sanctuary.

If you haven’t turned in your pledge

for 2020, please turn it in to the

office so we can get the budget for

2020 completed.

Tuesday, January 7, 8:00 a.m.

at Chick-Fil-A

Please submit your end of year Committee reports if you have not already done so.

Send them to the church office at info@fpckinston.org.

To share a specific prayer concern or make known a particular concern or suggestion, please see any of the members of Session listed below who comprise the elected leadership of our church.

The Session

Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021

Jason Cherry Cindy Angel Sidney Baker Frank Hall June Cummings David Mills Janice Hendrix David Fillippeli Patricia Noble Bill Jackson George Jenkins Joy Shortell Jenks Jenkins Michael Martin Ray Scott Spence Steve Jefferson Cathy Wooten Scott Williams Laura Pressly Clerk: George Jenkins

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Travis Allen, Pastor

Sydne Allen, Transitional Dir . of Chr istian Ed. & Formation

John O’Brien, Director of Music/Organist

J. C. Carraway, Assistant Choirmaster /Organist

Linda Johnson, Financial Administrator

Shelly Sparrow, Office Administrator

Jeff & Christi Boyd, Missionar ies to Cameroon

News Around FPC’s World First Presbyterian Church

2101 N. Herritage Street

Kinston, NC 28501-2221

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Would you like a fun night out, a delicious meal,

and wonderful fellowship?

Would you like to get better acquainted with your

fellow church members?

Then contact the church office to sign up

for February 6 or March 5. We are looking

for hosts and guests. Don’t miss it!