News October 2017 www.FirstPresAthens.org

ColumNs

Bruce’s Blog

My Friends,

There is a scene in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” in which the hero, Frederick, asks for the assistance of the police to capture the pirates. The police gather in the town square and the women begin to sing, “Go ye heroes to glory!” The police sing back, “We go, we go, we go!” They keep singing and singing, standing in the town square, but they never leave! They just sing about going!

The Corinthian Christians were acting this way. They had promised to give to Paul’s collection for the Jerusalem church, but a year had passed and nothing had been given. Paul wants them to act on their promise, “Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equaled by your realistic action now!” (II Corinthians 8:11, The Living Bible)

It’s true, isn’t it? Some people have enthusiastic ideas, but just run in place and nothing happens. Some people act on what they promise, and the world is made a better place.

As we come to the end of 2017, thank you for how you have acted on your promises and what you’ve done in this time of transition. I now ask you to consider your promises as we build forward on the grand history of this great church, preparing for a new pastor and supporting the ministries and missions of FPC.

We can plan our ministries only by what you promise and how you act on those promises.

Our model for practicing what we promise should be the example Christ set for you and me. Jesus trusted God for all that would happen as he acted on his promises. Was it easy? No! Was it faithful? Yes! And as you live your promise, so we grow as a community of faith.

Thanks and blessings,Bruce Lancaster, Interim Senior Pastor

Save the DateOctober 1

Food SundayWorld Communion Sunday

Peace & GlobalWitness Offering

The Wayne F. Middendorf Memorial Concert Series

presents Organist Marilyn Keiser

October 7Blessing of the Animals

October 15Choir Dedication Sunday

October 15-22IHNA Host Week

October 17PTP Trip to Oconee Hill

CemeteryOctober 22

AthHalf Pre-Race ServiceOctober 29

Reformation SundayFood Sunday Benefiting

the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank

Sunday, October 1, we will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank. This month they are requesting:

n canned soup

n sweet peas

Thank you for donat-ing 448 items in September, which was a huge help to the Food Bank!

Blessing of the AnimalsOctober 7, 10:00 a.m.

Join us for our first Blessing of the Animals in the upper parking deck. Dr. Carol Strickland will offer a blessing for our furry friends. All leashed or caged pets are welcome. Please bring your own pets and also invite your animal-l o v i n g n e i g h b o r s and friends!

We will celebrate Reforma-tion Sunday highlighting the 500th anniversary of the year Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, launching the Protestant Reformation.

500th Anniversary

October 31 marks the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Before there was Facebook, there was the church door. This is where on All Hallows’ Eve (the day before All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day) in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses. This document was Luther’s reasoned disagreement with practices and theology of the Church, especially the sale of indulgences. Buying indulgences was supposed to release certain dead people from so many years of purgatory by transferring to them extra credits of the saints. While this was a marvelous fundraising strategy for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the purchase of much exquisite art work, it was rotten theology, and Luther said so.

As a Protestant, I have always been proud of my religious tradition, and especially of the Presbyterian or Reformed branch of it. I will celebrate with special fervor this 500th anniversary of the church’s reformation, but with my spirits somewhat dampened. You see, recently I reread the relevant chapters in The Church of Our Fathers, the classic book penned by Luther scholar Roland Bainton (who was still riding his bicycle in his eighties around New Haven when I was there) and used for years in the “Covenant Life Curriculum” of the Presbyterian Church. I was reminded how violent and bloody the Reformation was. The reformers paid a high price for sticking to their interpretation of scripture. They were excommunicated, persecuted, and even killed. Some fought back. Only the Anabaptists were pacifists.

While Luther was hiding, after his refusal to recant his beliefs, some of his followers who were students in Wittenberg rioted and pelted the priests with stones. This sort of violence spread. In Basel the common folk took matters into their own hands and smashed all the religious images and statues in all the churches and public places. In other parts of Switzerland, Catholics and Protestants began to kill and burn each other. Even within Protestantism there was hatred, fear, and mistreatment. The Anabaptists, who did not baptize babies, refused to take oaths, and believed in church and state separation, were driven out of Reformed churches and even drowned.

It’s grievous how the followers of the Prince of Peace have at times swerved so far off track. It seems our old bugaboo sin is ever near. That’s why our motto, “The church reformed and always reforming” is so important, not to mention the command to love your neighbor.

Carol Strickland, Associate Pastor

Music NotesOctober 15 will be Choir Dedication Sunday, when we celebrate the music ministry of our church and honor members of our choirs. It is also when choir members publicly commit themselves to offering their time and talents. Singing in a choir is rewarding and usually fun, but it is also hard work and requires commitment.

I believe in going beyond simply teaching choirs the pieces they will sing. I believe in teaching music and exploring the music, understanding who wrote it and why, and why it was chosen to be sung in our worship. The Royal School of Church Music has a motto: “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

That reminds me of a Chinese proverb: “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”

In our rehearsals, I constantly ask questions: “How many beats does that note get?” “Why do you think the composer wants us to sing that part softly?” I ask questions so choir members (of all ages) will have to look at the music and think. I want them to be part of the process. My hope is that encouraging people to search for answers will not just apply to music, but it will form a life-long habit, so that we can sing and do everything else in our lives with spirit and understanding.

This fall we have some changes in our Music Ministry. Melanie Powers has retired after nine and a half years as our Children and Youth Music Assistant and forty-one years total directing children’s choirs. She has served our children and youth with joy and we appreciate her dedication. We plan to more formally show her our thanks at a later time.

We are pleased to welcome Charlotte Chromiak as our new Children’s Music Assistant. Charlotte is an Athens native and serves as director for the Cherub Choir. Charlotte has taught elementary music in Oconee County for nine years, having previously

taught in Clarke County, and has also taught preschool, dance, and piano. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Orff-Schulwerk from the University of Memphis.

She has directed the children’s choirs at Central Presbyterian Church in Athens and has served as a substitute organist and pianist in area churches. Charlotte joined First Presbyterian Church in 2015. She and her husband, Zack, live in Athens with their children, John and Greta.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the Glory),John Coble, Director of Music and Organist

Charlotte ChromiakMelanie Powers

A big “thank you” to those who have volunteered to provide a ride for a church member to get to church or to an important appointment. We still need more drivers to make this program a success so please contact me to volunteer.

Please also let me know if you need a ride or you know someone who has transportation issues. Contact me at 706-548-4458 or judy.s.scanlon@gmail.com.

Judy Scanlon, Congregational Care Commission

IHNA Host WeekOctober 15-22

As our final 2017 host week approaches, we continue to be grateful for dedicated volunteers from our congregation and also from our support congregation, Congregation Children of Israel. Our August host week proved that we have the most patient, cheerful, flexible volunteers and church staff anywhere as we worked through schedule changes, air conditioning and hot water issues, late night arrivals, mounds of laundry, and choosy eaters to provide the very best care for three moms and six children. We celebrated a seventh birthday with party hats and a cookie cake and we discovered that children were great helpers with take-down duties.

On August 13 we hosted our first IHNA Open House in the Pit! We had many interested visitors all morning, including IHNA Executive Director, Davin Welter. Classrooms were set as they are while our guests are here so that all could see what a warm, practical space we provide. We’re grateful to Director of Youth Ministries, Kim Ness, and our youth group for generously sharing their space during our host weeks.

On October 5 we’ll join Athens area coordinators to work on the schedule for 2018. Please contact Michelle (michelle.shaw@usan.com) or Patty (pattywhiten@windstream.net) to learn how you can get involved with this outreach ministry that blesses so many.

Michelle Clendenen-Shaw and Patty Whiten, IHNA Co-Coordinators

Thank you for your wonderful response to our new program to loan and borrow walkers, wheelchairs, etc. We now have an inventory of items that can be borrowed on the church website at firstpresathens.org/dotsclosetfirst. For more information, please contact me at 706-714-7600 or madelinevandyck@gmail.com.

Madeline Van Dyck, Congregational Care Commission

Dot’s Closet@First Update Rideshare@First Update

Honduras Mission TripJune 9-16, 2018

We are thrilled to offer an intergenerational international mission trip next summer to Honduras with HOI. This trip is open to adults and youth in high school who are active in the youth program. An informational meeting was held on September 17. If

you are interested in joining us for this trip but were unable to attend the meeting, please contact Kim Ness (kness@firstpresathens.org). The deadline to sign up is October 15.

Bicentennial 2020 Committee

A committee has been working for 2 1/2 years collecting our church’s history. They have had work days in the church vault where historic items are stored, trips to Hargrett Library at UGA, and any other sources of information they could find.

This fall they are expanding to various sub-committees to plan an exciting year 2020 of learning and looking to our future.

They are interviewing members to collect their memories. They also hope to have children and youth activities, plan a legacy outreach project, special music, and are contemplating other ideas.

You are invited to come find out how you might wish to participate. You may email Diane Adams at dianea@bhhsblanton.com or call her at 706-255-9200. They are also planning another work day in the church vault. Please contact Richard Lane for information on that schedule at rlane@uga.edu.

Presbyterian Student CenterSunday evenings provide a special opportunity to meet UGA students and provide dinner. We feed approximately 25-30 students at 7:00 p.m. This is a wonderful time for fellowship and an opportunity for the students to learn more about our church. PSC provides the dinnerware, drinks, etc. and even the set-up and clean-up. We provide a meal and fellowship. To help, please contact Sydney Jackson at sydneyjackson@hotmail.com.

Children’s Ministry UpdateThroughout the year, our church takes part in many outreach projects, helping our neighbors in need right here in Athens as well as all around the world. We welcome and encourage our children’s involvment in these very important mission projects. At an early age, we teach our children the song, This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Our children have the light and love of Christ in them and are eager and very capable of sharing that light and love with others. In addition to our church-wide projects, the children also lead a few of their very own mission projects: Trick or Treating for UNICEF, “stuffing” Thornwell Turkey offering envelopes, and Vacation Bible School mission projects. In October, the children are going to begin a new, year-long mission project during Children’s Church - Heifer International’s Fill the Ark Program.

“The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer has helped more than 22.6 million families in more than 125 countries move toward greater self-reliance through gifts of livestock and training in environmentally sound agricutlure. The impact of each initial gift is multiplied as recipients agree to Pass on the Gift of one or more of their animal’s offspring, or the equivalent, to another in need.” www.heifer.org

So how are our children going to “Fill the Ark” and help communities in need? We will begin by learning in Children’s Church about the many animals that Heifer International sends around the world – chickens, cows, fish, goats, llamas, pigs, rabbits, sheep, water buffalo. Once the children have learned how each of these different animals provide food and resources to families, they will vote on the animal that they want to purchase and donate to a family in need. All children are invited to participate and can drop this special offering in our Noah’s Ark located in the Children’s Ministry Suite during Sunday School or in Children’s Church.

“A very important question currently facing our world is whether we can act quickly enough to save the Earth and its inhabitants. Noah faced a similar question thousands of years ago. In biblical times, the actions of people brought on God’s flood. Today, we are the ones who threaten to destroy God’s creation. Today’s flood takes the form of war, environmental destruction and massive poverty and hunger—all problems created by greed and injustice that can be remedied with compassionate action. God told Noah to build an ark and to take every kind of animal into it. To save the Earth for our children and future generations, we too must build an ark of refuge. As Noah drew upon faith and hope, so we must draw on faith and hope to build a future with no hunger and a healthy environment.” www.heifer.org

World Communion Sunday is October 1. We invite parents to join their children in the Children’s Ministry Suite during Sunday School, 9:45 – 10:40 a.m. to experience the Godly Play story, The Good Shepherd and World Communion. This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear and see Godly Play in action, and it will also give you a chance to share a feast with your wonderful children. Every month our children participate in a Feast Sunday. The Feast is one of the main parts of Godly Play and is a great and creative way for our children to learn more about the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Throughout the year, the children will read and talk about the many feasts that Jesus took part in, the last feast Jesus shared with his Disciples, and the importance of the feast that we share in worship and our invitation to The Lord’s Table. Feast Sundays are also a time for the children and

their Godly Play Guides to enjoy and share time together. And so that families can continue this important conversation at home, we would like to provide our children with a very simple and easy to follow Communion resource, You’re Invited: Family Devotions on The Lord’s Supper. Many of our children received a copy of this book last year, but please let me know if you did not receive a copy and would like one.

After Sunday School, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday together during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Chil-dren ages Pre Kindergarten – 2nd Grade who regularly attend Children’s Church are invited to remain with their parents in the sanctuary to participate in this special worship service. Please be sure to welcome our sweet children in worship on World Communion Sunday! We always want our children to feel invited and welcome to worship with their church family.

Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministries

Save the Date! Live Nativity, November 30

Christmas Pageant & Dinner, December 10

Godly Play Story, World Communion and the Good Shepherd

Youth Ministry NewsConfirmation is a learning opportunity and important step in one’s faith journey. At our church it occurs in the 9th grade. We meet during Sunday School to discuss some of the key teachings of the Christian faith, the history of the universal church and our local church, the life and work of Jesus, and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Throughout the year, confirmands also meet with their mentors, members of the church who have committed to help our youth grow in their faith. Most importantly,

confirmation class helps young people explore their faith journey, learn how to articulate what they believe and prepare them for a relationship with God that serves them into adulthood.

We ask that you add these youth and adults to your prayer list this year as they continue on their faith journey. Confirmation Sunday will be celebrated on Pentecost, May 20, 2018.

Kim Ness, Director of Youth Ministries

Confirmation Retreat at Camp Fellowship, SC

Trust falls during the retreat

2017-18 CONFIRMANDS

Mentors

AJ CARRMatt Bishop

ANN HARPER COVINGTONJennifer Trapnell

ELIZA DOWNSTerry Nestor

JOHN FERGUSON Terry McRae

LUCY FERGUSON Peggy Reigle

EMILY GASKILLDon DeMaria

KNOX HUFFJohn Kipp

HENRY LOGANFred Tunmer

KATIE SUE MARTIN-WILLIAMSPatty Whiten

EVELYN MOSERCarol Robinson

KATIE NORRISLewis Hudgins

MADISON SMITHShannon Ferguson

LUKE OSBORNERon Cox

JAMES WILLIAMSMadeline Van Dyck

Flower Dedications The following dates are available to dedicate flowers for Sunday worship: November 5, 19, and 26. The cost for two arrangements is $100. Please contact Lucy Bell, lbell@firstpresathens.org or (706) 543-4338 to schedule a date.

August FinancialInformation

Total Aug Revenue $70,614Budgeted Aug Revenue $89,137Total Revenue YTD $823,896

Total Aug Expenses $101,846Budgeted Aug Expenses $101,030Total Expenses YTD $846,532

Behind the ScenesWe have a wonderful staff that is supported by many volunteers contributing their time to enhance our worship and fellowship experience. What kinds of things do they do? Many of these things are almost invisible to most of us because they are “behind the scenes.” But the visible fruits of their labor are needed, useful, and enjoyed by all of us. They do not do these things as part of a church committee or commission, but as individuals who have seen a need and give. Please check out more “Behind the Scenes” in up-coming Columns issues to “meet” them and learn more about what they do.

I hope you’ve heard of Dot’s Closet recently, but I’d like to tell you a little more about its namesake, Dot Handley. For those of us who have been FPC members for a number of years, we remember how she has been a “child magnet.” Dot is also an active volunteer collecting and counting the Change for Children and collecting the Sunday School offering each Sunday. She acknowledges all gifts to the church made in memory or honor of someone and hand addresses envelopes and completes cards acknowledging the gift to the donor and to the family of the deceased or honored member.

On Monday mornings, you can find Jim McDonald, Carol Robinson, and Dot at the church counting the Sunday offering. Dot has been doing this for over ten years and Jim and Carol for over two years. They open envelopes, sort and count cash, and any information from envelopes is noted on the memo of the check. Everything is double-checked. This is an important and detailed task that assists in keeping good records for our church. Please thank them for their dedication of time and longevity of volunteering.

Ella Stewart, Chair, Fellowship & Evangelism Commission

Dot Handley, Carol Robinson,and Jim McDonald

Looking Ahead

November 1All Saints’ Vespers Service

November 3, 5International Craft Fair

November 5Commitment Sunday

November 12Thanksgiving Food Bag Sunday

November 15Last Wed@First for Fall

November 19Thornwell Offering

Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship

Holiday Benevolence Market

November 30Live Nativity

PTP Trip to Oconee Hill Cemetery October 17, 9:30 a.m.

The Prime Time Presbyterians will enjoy a walking tour of Oconee Hill Cemetery lead by well-known Athens historian Charlotte Thomas Marshall on Tuesday, October 17. Charlotte will focus on some of the Presbyterians buried in the historic sections of the cemetery.

The cemetery entrance is on East Campus Road across from Sanford Stadium. We will meet at the Sexton’s House at 9:30 a.m. to tour the house, then begin the walking tour. Afterwards we will have lunch at Eastside Loco’s on Barnett Shoals Road.

The RSVP deadline is Thursday, October 12. Please RSVP to Judy Howell at jhowell@uga.edu or 706 549-2888.

Oconee Hill Cemetery

PNC UpdateThe Pastor Nominating Committee remains hard at work. They invite you to stop by the new displays in the Atrium and the reception area of the church office to learn more about the process of calling a new pastor. They will update the display’s “We are here” marker as they progress. Please also visit the “Our Pastor Search” link from the home page of the church website (firstpresathens.org) to find the recently com-pleted Mission Information Form and PNC updates.

PNC Display in the Atrium

Our Church FamilyCongratulations to:

Christopher and Abby Parks on the birth of their daughter, Conley Rae Parks on September 10, 2017. Conley is the granddaughter of Carla Wilson Buss & Carl W. Bergmann.

Becky Padgett, who was named Master Teacher by the Georgia Independent School Association.

Wanda Wilcox, who was presented with the Faculty Award at this year’s Women Faculty Reception at UGA.

Christian Sympathy to:Carol Bachman and family on the loss of her brother, Michael James McLaughlin.

Lucy Bell and family on the loss of her brother-in-law, Stephen Lee Yocum.

Sandra and Stan Kays and family on the loss of their daughter-in-law, Aleksija Eva Kays.

Carmen Meadows and family on the loss of her mother, Blanche Allen Vann.

Lynn Thomas and family on the loss of her mother, Estelle Chariker Camp.

Sept 30 Lizzie Simmons (Lizzie, we’re so sorry we missed you last month!)

Oct 1 Sarah Bennewitz, Mac Corry, Knox Huff, Jr., Wendy Humphries, Lillian Jones, Joy Swank

Oct 2 Charles Cantrell, Laura Clark, Cassi McCormack, Mary Lil Raymer

Oct 3 Carol Ashmore, Pat MarshallOct 4 Charley Burch, Jr., Lynn WestOct 5 Joan Duffett, John English,

Owen GuestOct 6 Carol Brown, Patti Burch, Kay

Chaffin, Mike Farley, Nancy Gilleland, Susan Noakes

Oct 7 Kendall Kookogey, Hal Hodgson III, Carol Robinson

Oct 9 Laura Bennewitz, Tom Granum, Carly Hunt

Oct 10 Cheryl Gazlay, Mary HopperOct 11 Katie Jean Griffeth, Jean

Martin-Williams, Sloane Turner, Bill Wilfong, Jr.

Oct 12 Meghan Bawcum, Becky Hartman, Jonathan Lu, Dave Lunde, Adam McLean, Sissy McRae

Oct 13 Ashton Blount V, Lindsay Griffeth, Pam Royster

Oct 14 Bill Bushnell, Bobby Heath, Glenda LaBoon

Oct 15 Adam Ansley, Natalie Fort, John Kipp

Oct 16 Mark Carter, Leita Cobb, Graham Epting, Erin Morris,

Oct 16 Townes PittmanOct 17 Melanie Bradford, Grace Lu,

Amy Martin, Amy Nicholson, Jackson Parker

Oct 18 Leigh Croshy, Linda Ritter, Susanna Trier

Oct 19 Katie Delinsky, Bob SanksOct 20 Sandy Boyles, Jerris Hayes, Julie

Nathanson, Alison NeufeldOct 21 Nan BartonOct 22 Judy Burch, John Coble,

Cardee Kilpatrick, Bruce Miller, Luke Parker

Oct 23 Mandy Burbage, Elizabeth Childs, Amber Estes, Allen King, Jr., Jordan Osborne, Turner Trapnell, Geoff Walsh

Oct 24 Terry Caven, Will Cowsert III, Mary Jane Holloway, Johnny Hyers, Tommy Jackson, Sr., Renee Middleton, Ed Nichols

Oct 25 Carl Bergmann, Kinsey Clark, Karen Gilmore, Julie Hayes, Fran Lane, Jane Magrino

Oct 26 Bob Bostrom, Brian Lukasiewicz, Brady Padgett, Chris Pope

Oct 27 Cathi Lancaster, Addie Middleton, Steve West

Oct 28 Claudette Cole, Mary Havick, Sandy Jordan, Tanner Scott, Bruce Travis, Joe Yeatts

Oct 29 A.J. Carr, Thomas Jackson, Jr., Brandon Respress, Lynnette Tuttle

Oct 30 Sylvia Jensen, Jane TravisOct 31 DeeAnn Cox, Del Dunn

Oct 1 Genesis 3:8-10Oct 2 Psalm 8:3-9Oct 3 Exodus 3:13-15Oct 4 Matthew 11:2-6Oct 5 James 2:14-17Oct 6 Mark 4:35-41Oct 7 Isaiah 6:6-8Oct 8 Genesis 4:8-10Oct 9 Psalm 13:1-6Oct 10 Mark 8:27-30Oct 11 Acts 1:6-11Oct 12 Matthew 22:34-39Oct 13 Psalm 113:1-9Oct 14 Micah 6:6-8Oct 15 Job 38:4-7Oct 16 Psalm 22:1-5Oct 17 Luke 10:29-37Oct 18 Acts 16:25-31Oct 19 Matthew 13:54-58Oct 20 John 20:11-18Oct 21 Psalm 121:1-8Oct 22 Ruth 2:8-12Oct 23 Matthew 6:25-33Oct 24 John 14:1-7Oct 25 Luke 9:23-27Oct 26 Matthew 16:1-8Oct 27 Isaiah 40:27-31Oct 28 Exodus 4:2-5Oct 29 John 13:36-38Oct 30 Matthew 25:34-40Oct 31 Romans 8:31-39

In MemoriamLora Landers Antley

1922-2017

Bible Readings on FAQs – “Faithfully Asked Questions ”

185 E. Hancock Avenue • Athens, GA 30601(706) 543-4338

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Sundays at First Presbyterian Church

Sunday, October 1Dining at a Banquet of Consequences

Dr. Bruce Lancaster PreachingCommunion Sunday, Food Sunday

Sunday, October 8Saying Grace

Dr. Bruce Lancaster PreachingCalled Congregational Meeting

Sunday, October 15The Prison of Want

Dr. Bruce Lancaster Preaching

Sunday, October 226:30 a.m. AthHalf Pre-Race ServiceThe Rev. Craig Topple preaching

11:00 a.m. A Fistful of Dollars: The Bad, the Ugly, and the Good

Dr. Bruce Lancaster Preaching

Sunday, October 29 Protestants: We Stand Alone Together

Dr. Bruce Lancaster Preaching

Worship Schedule8:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Except October 22

Sunday School for All Ages9:45 a.m.

Children’s ChurchChildren Pre-K through Grade 2 may leave with Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministries,

during the 11:00 a.m. service for Children’s Church held in the Children’s Ministry Suite.