CALLING ALL DISCIPLES Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

2017 September 1 Calling All Disciples

Here is another installment from the book, Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt by Ted V. Foote, Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg. 2000. “Have You Been Saved or Are You Presbyterian?” That’s the title of the first chapter in the book, Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt. Presbyterians might answer that question like the author suggests, “Yes, I was saved 2000 years ago!” Of course there are some Presbyterians who do have a very physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of the reality of the work that Jesus did on the cross but not everyone experiences that “Aha!” or mountaintop moment of conversion and that is perfectly fine! In the Reformed tradition of Presbyterianism, we affirm that God is working within our world and within our lives over a lifetime. When we join a church or participate in baptism, we affirm our recognition of and inclusion in the work that God has done, is doing and will continue to do in the world and in our lives. Not all of us can claim a day and time when we come to that realization.

For many of the “neo-Evangelicals Christians in the Bible Belt, the significant even in a Christian’s salvation is this moment of acceptance or conversion” (pg. 1) according to authors Foote and Thornburg. Much of their focus can be about bringing others to this moment of conversion “for the sake of their souls” and “When were you saved?” becomes an important question in their world.” (pg. 2)

For Presbyterians, salvation is less about a day on which human action and “affirm that no moment of acceptance save us, but God in Christ who acted yesterday, acts today and will act tomorrow saves us. Our emphasis will always be on God who saves and redeems rather than our own words or actions in saving ourselves.” (pg. 3) This may be an oversimplification of the how we believe but hopefully this does help us to understand our differences with more compassion. There are certainly overlaps, exceptions and nuances to all of our faith convictions but learning about what others find important as well as what establishes our own foundational beliefs gives us a place to begin the conversations and explore relationships with others.

In God’s All Encompassing Grace, Pastor Judy

First Presbyterian Church 700 N Central Avenue Connersville IN 47331

765-825-4189

PASTOR: Rev. Judy Fitchett

CLERK OF SESSION:

Carla Beard

OFFICE HOURS FOR SECRETARY: Wednesday and Thursday

9 am – 2 pm

Email and Website:

pastor@connerpres.org office@connerpres.org www.connerpres.org

In This Issue:

A Word from Our Pastor, p 1 Spread the Word, p 2 This Month at FPC, p 3 Prayer Concerns, p 4 Mission Activities, p 4 Wedding Reminder, p 4

Deacons Notes, p 5 Session Notes, p 6 More Church & Local News, p 7 Organ Survey, p 8 September Calendar, p 9

Communion Sunday will be

September 3rd

Deacons to prepare the Sacraments are:

Jill Yaryan and John Bohlander

2017 September 2 Calling All Disciples

October

Sept. 21st

Liturgist for the month of September : Cindy Crispin

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Coffee Hour

Sept. 3rd – Jill Yaryan Sept. 10th – RALLY DAY - Deacons

Sept. 17th – Open

Sept. 24th – Ann Kirschner

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The Price for altar

flowers will continue

to be $15.00 this year.

Sept. 3rd – Don and Cathy Kirk Sept. 10th – Will and Nan Rose

Sept. 17th – Open

Sept. 24th – Open

Please let the church office know how you want the flowers to be dedicated.

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2017 September 3 Calling All Disciples

Deacon of the Week

Visitation Schedule

Sept. 3rd – Sept. 9th John Bohlander

Sept. 10th – Sept. 16th Jill Yaryan

Sept. 17th – Sept. 23rd Ann Kirschner

Sept. 24th – Sept. 30th Art Fitchett

Oct. 1st – Oct. 7th Cathy Kirk

Usher/Counter Teams Schedule

Sept. 3rd – Jill Yaryan and Richard Leiter

Sept. 10th – Kay Bishop and Sarah Smith

Sept. 17th – John Bohlander and Doug Ross

Sept. 24th – Lisa Hazelrigg and Don Kirk

Oct. 1st – Myra King and John Fairchild

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Church and Community Activity Schedule

Sept. 3rd Worship, 10:30 am

Community Meals, 5-6 pm

Sept. 4th LABOR DAY

Sept. 6th Choir, 6 pm

Sept. 10th Worship, 10:30 am

RALLY DAY – Pitch-in

Community Meals, 5-6 pm

Sept. 11th Rotary Club, Noon

Bible Study, 6 pm

Yoga Class, 6:30 pm

Sept. 13th

Choir, 6 pm

Deacon’s Meeting, 7:15 pm

Sept. 14th Fellowship Hall Reserved

Sept. 17th

Worship, 10:30 am

Community Meals, 5-6 pm

Sept. 20th Choir, 6 pm

Session Meeting, 7:15 pm

Sept. 21st Newsletter Deadline Fellowship Hall Reserved

Sept. 24th Worship, 10:30 am

Community Meals, 5-6 pm

Sept. 27th Choir, 6 pm

Sept. 30th Amanda Toney and Andy Yaryan Wedding

Serving Community Meals

in September will be

Chartwells

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Mission Activities

We are once again collecting for the Thanksgiving and Christmas

baskets. For the month of September we will be collecting crackers. Please

remember to check the expiration dates to be sure the food is good through

2017. In September, we are asking for:

50 Boxes of Saltine Crackers

I have updated the list of what we have collected so far for the baskets.

The list is on the back doors of the sanctuary. We are short several of these

items as well. There will be a box in the back of the sanctuary for the items.

Thank you for your continued support of this project.

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Just a reminder of the wedding here at First Presbyterian

On September 30th at 3:30pm

Amanda Toney

And

Andy Yaryan

Helen Parvis Will Rose Ellen Doty Mindy Bohlander Myers Charles Maxwell Bob Begley Ron & Betty Gay Fox Karen Coffman Nathan Meyer Dink & Betty Thornberry Robert Benson Betty Mason

PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH ANY CHANGES TO THIS LIST.

2017 September 4 Calling All Disciples

Deacons Meeting - August 9, 2017 PRESENT: Pastor Judy, John Bohlander, Art Fitchett, Ann Kirschner, Cathy Kirk, Kay Bishop and Jill Yaryan ABSENT:

Devotions: Ann Kirschner read a devotion provided by her friend, Don. The title was “Thought for a Lifetime”. Cathy Kirk volunteered to give devotions for the September meeting.

Cathy Kirk then opened with prayer.

Ann Kirschner moved to approve the minutes from the prior meeting. Art Fitchett 2nd and motion carried.

Deacon Business: John Bohlander had prepared the birthday/anniversary cards for signatures for September.

Ann reported that the Hickory Creek Nursing Home appreciated our visit with cards and flags for the 4th of July Holiday. It was mentioned that we could have visited with the residents, but, we were there during lunch and we didn’t want to interrupt. Ann said a good time to visit and deliver would be during the activity time according to Shaun Steele, activities director.

Ann will check to see if October 9th or October 16th will be best for delivering the Halloween cards. Ann or John will be on the lookout for Halloween cards and possibly small pumpkins to fill with candy. Ann will make sure there are no special restrictions for the residents.

Prayer Concerns: Cathy Kirk’s sister, Jane, Pete Bishop’s brother, Bob, who was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and is to undergo 5 treatments beginning August 22nd. Jim Gard- onset of dementia. Helen Parvis- suffered a fall the prior Saturday

Kay Bishop’s son-in-law, Robert- dealing with his Mom’s Health and family. Molly, John, Jim & Claudia-start of 7th grade.

Prayers of Thanksgiving: Art & Pastor Judy’s son, Adam- successful surgery and a 2 Year job touring with a new show.

Communion: September 3rd team C (John & Jill); October 1st team B (Art & Cathy) World Communion; November 5th team A (Kay & Ann); December 3rd & December 24th team C (John & Jill)

Pastor Judy will ask Marilyn to type new revised directions for setting up Communion.

Deacon of the Week: Sept 3-Sept 9: John Bohlander Sept 10-Sept 16: Jill Yaryan Sept 17-Sept 23: Ann Kirschner Sept 24-Sept 30: Art Fitchett Oct 1-Oct 7: Cathy Kirk

New Business: We are pleased to have Marilyn Stevens as our church secretary. She will be in the office from 9am -2pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Deacons are in charge of the September 10th Rally Day Meal. Art volunteered to provide barbecue ribs and chicken in place of grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs. John will provide the heavier divided plates. Cathy will provide the plastic ware. Jill will provide cups if needed. Kay will provide extra bag of ice. A sign-up sheet will be posted for side dishes. Ann suggested using the various napkins we currently have instead of purchasing new. We will use colored tablecloths.

The Deacons will check around for colorful sparkled center pieces for the tables. Set up will be on Saturday, September 9th at 1 pm.

Cathy closed with prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Jill Yaryan, Secretary Next meeting: September13, 2017- 7:15 p.m.

2017 September 5 Calling All Disciples

Session met August 16. Present were Elders Cindy Crispin, Lisa Hazelrigg, Don

Kirk, Fred Sess, Mary Swope, and Larry Zumkeller. Clerk, Carla Beard, was also

present. Reverend Judy Fitchett moderated the meeting. Elder Sess opened the

meeting with devotions and prayers. Session had not met in May, June, or July.

Total income for the month of June was $6,206.68. July income totaled $9,376.82.

Expenses for June totaled $10,767.56 and for July $8,145.03.

After discussion, Session decided to survey the congregation regarding the future of our organ. We considered

doing this on Rally Day in September.

In partnership with Fayette Central Elementary and with the assistance of Lisa Hazelrigg and Lois Sess, we are

receiving leftover food at the end of each school week. We will distribute this food to the Community Meals

families on Sunday evenings.

Session approved cleaning the carpets in the sanctuary, the hallway, and the Fellowship Hall. The estimate from

Hartzell is $1,078 plus an additional amount per individual chair in the Fellowship Hall.

The Deacons will chair our Rally Day Celebration on Sunday, September 10. Carla Beard will chair Breakfast

with the Christmas Angel in December. The All-Church Birthday Party is scheduled for October 15.

The Mission Committee reported that we assisted a camper in attending Camp PYOCA this summer. We donated

to PYOCA and to Mission Encounters International using funds from the Betty Jo Schuler account. We also

supported 9 participants in the Storytelling workshop at the Summer Discovery Camp using funds from the Betty

Jo Schuler account. We continue to collect food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. We bought Dairy

Queen gift cards for the New Teachers Luncheon. Pastor Judy said we received a nice thank-you note from one of

the teachers. Lisa Hazelrigg thanked Ronda Leiter for her help with preparations.

The family of Conner and Hillary Walling lost everything in a fire, and Fred Sess thanked the congregation for

their generous support in helping them get back on their feet.

The Nominating Committee consists of Larry Zumkeller, Sarah Smith, Cindy Crispin; chair, and Pastor Judy;

ex officio. They will start in September.

Our secretary, Karen Dixon, resigned to take a new job. Marilyn Stevens has accepted the position and is working

2 days a week until she works out some complications in her schedule.

Elders assisted Pastor Judy with serving communion in May, June, July and August. The committee is working to

find pulpit supply for Pastor Judy’s vacation the last two Sundays in October and the first Sunday in November.

Commissioner Sess and Pastor Judy attended the quarterly Presbytery meeting in Bluffton in August. He reported

on discussions held there.

Pastor Judy reported her activities, including a funeral, wedding counseling, participation in the Rotary Club and

Ministerial Association, and writing articles on a schedule for the newspaper.

We shared prayer concerns, and Elder Kirk shared his gift of music. Elder Zumkeller moved to adjourn, and the

meeting was closed with prayer and song.

2017 September 6 Calling All Disciples

RALLY DAY

Rally Day will be on Sunday, September 10th

. This is a time each year when we Rally

around our church and kick off our fall worship season. The choir will return

to worship and Sunday school will begin again. Following worship we will gather

in the Fellowship Hall for a pitch-in dinner. The Deacons are in charge of this dinner

and have some-thing very special planned. The meat will be chicken and ribs crafted by

Art Fitchett! Wow!

There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board so that we can have a variety of sides and desserts. All are

welcome and there will be plenty of food so if you decide at the last minute; come please, don’t worry about

a dish. This might be a great time to invite a friend or new neighbor to join you for worship and fellowship.

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On September 10th we will rev up our spiritual motor to begin a new season of worship at Connersville Presbyterian Church….this is Rally Day and we will welcome our Choir back from their summer break! The first Choir practice of the new season will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 6th. If you have not been a member of our choir, but have thought that you might want to join this fun group, come on and try it on September 6th….you might find that this time will rev up your spiritual motor. If you have questions, talk to any choir member or to Bob. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Vision Committee

The Vision Committee is hard at work trying to create a Vision Statement for our Church. This project came from the officer’s retreat in April. We have lots of ideas and have had some great conversations about what our church does now, what our strengths and weaknesses are and what we believe we want to be in the future. The worksheets from the retreat are hanging in the conference room. If you have not become part of the conversation and would like to have input, please talk to Jill Yaryan, Fred Sess, Myra King, Becky Morris or Mary Swope. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Connersville Local Museum

This note was passed on to our church family. The museum is

getting organized to pack things up for the move to the new location.

They need newspapers to wrap things in and bags (sacks) and also boxes.

The museum is open on Sunday afternoon and these items can be dropped

off there. Also, they need people to help pack items up and then later

move them.

2017 September 7 Calling All Disciples

Dear Friends and Family of First Presbyterian Church, Our Sanctuary Organ is in need of repair. We can keep doing “band aid” repairs but that gets expensive with a minimum charge every time there is a visit. We have quotes from both Lima Pipe Organ and Reynolds Associates (they did the repairs to the organ at First United Methodist) and depending on the work we want done we are looking at a price range of between $125,000 to $160,000.00. Session has decided that congregational input is

needed to help guide their decisions regarding doing the upgrades. It would take a majority of our assets to fund this project without looking at a campaign to specifically fund the renovations. Please take some time to thoughtfully and prayerfully answer the following questions regarding this project.

SURVEY

1. On a Scale of 1-10 how much do you prefer the use of Organ vs. Piano in Worship? ORGAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PIANO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2. What other instruments, if any, would you like to see us use during worship?

3. Do you think it is a wise and God-honoring use of our time and money to begin a campaign to upgrade our Sanctuary Organ to “new” status? What would be your concerns about taking on such a campaign? Would you be willing and able to contribute to a campaign fund to support this project? Any other comments or concerns you would like to share? Other alternatives we might consider? YOUR NAME (Optional) ______________________________________________________________________________

2017 September 8 Calling All Disciples