“ Together We Serve”

Office — Mon-Friday 9:00 AM—1:00 PM

813-782-7412 — Fax: 813-782-4352

E-mail: firstpcz@verizon.net // Web site: firstpcz.org

Church Staff

Rev. Ginny Simmons Ellis — Interim Pastor E-mail: pastor.firstpcz@gmail.com — (813)404-6723

Dell Anderson — Church Office Administrator

Debbie Edwards — Director of Music

Jason Edwards — Choir Director

Henry Skaggs — Youth Leader

Tracy Clemmer — Nursery Attendant

Session

Class of 2014

Yvonne Daume

Mark Edwards

Tim Franke

Class of 2015

Joanne Combs

Audrell Howard

John Wilcher

Class of 2016

Megan Hall

Robert Harmsen

Vacancy

John R. Murch, Sr.,

Clerk of Session

Deacons

Class of 2014

Fran Crum

Phoebe Kay Haas

Tom Hannold

Class of 2015

Sharon Harmsen

David Reifsteck

Rebecca Rognas

Class of 2016

Anne Brothers

Linda Lawson

Suzann Parrish

January, 2015

The First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills

5510 19th St. Zephyrhills, FL 33542

Address Service Requested

l

Delivered to you via e-mail

Happy New Year!

Join us for “Burning of the Greens” Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 5:30 we will gather outside at the Fellow ship Hall corner. There will be a time of worshipful reflection during which all of us can burn small branches from Christmas trees, as a sign of letting go or perhaps honoring the past, as we move into this New Year. There will be a light meal in the Fellowship Hall after wards and a last chance to sing some Christmas carols. Bring a piece of your Christ mas Tree if you like.

OTHER COMING EVENTS:

Saturday, January 3 —-9:00 AM—3:00 PM Elder/Deacon planning day

Sunday, January 4 and January 11 — Officer Training

Saturday, January 17 @ Noon (2-5 hours) — Defibrillator Class

Tuesday, January 20 11:30 AM —Women’s Salad Luncheon

Saturday, January 24 9:00—12:30 —Mission Sewing team

Sunday, January 25 —Annual Congregational meeting

with a covered-dish luncheon following Worship.

Saturday, January 31 6:00 PM — Movie Night

January/February/and part of March—Monday and Thursday 10:00 AM–12:30 PM

Stephen Ministry training classes will be held in the Conference Room.

January, 2015

BUILDING ON A YEAR OF CHANGE

Friends,

What a year of change! About this time

last year Rev. John Caster announced his retire-

ment for April, 2014. I arrived as your interim

pastor on May 15. Since then we have worked

together, worshipping and serving. Speaking for

myself, it has been a good time, though busy, with

so many names, faces and systems to learn.

Now it is time for us to move into the pro-

cess for calling a new installed pastor. First

among the required steps is to do a Mission

Study. After the study is complete the congrega-

tion can elect a Pastor Nominating Committee to

search for the next pastor.

The Mission Study process begins with a survey

for the congregation to take, to give us a base-line

indication of what we have and what we need as

we move forward. Who can take this survey? You

can! Active members, affiliate members and

friends of the church can participate in the sur-

vey. We plan to distribute and collect the survey

on Feb 8.

Second, between February 18 and March

11 we will hold small-group discussions which I

call Cottage Meetings,. These will be held various

days and times and in a variety of places, so that

everyone will have a chance to participate in a

group. Perhaps you would to host one of the Cot-

tage Meetings. I am expecting eight or ten

groups, with more than 100 people participating

in all. (Each group will meet just one time.)

The congregation will be kept informed

with open Town Meetings, the first one after the

survey results are back and another when the

Cottage Groups report back.

Here’s what I need you to do:

HOST! If you are willing to host a Cottage meet-

ing at the church, in your home, or at some other

meeting space (a clubhouse, for example), please

let me know. We need a day and time, also a num-

ber of spaces for the group (8 to 15).

SIGN UP! I hope to have sheets out by Feb

1, for you to sign up for the cottage group that

works for you. Please be part of these discus-

sions.

The Mission Study is an important step for First

Presbyterian Church, a step that moves the con-

gregation into its future of worship and service. I

pray that all will get on board with this effort.

May God bless us as we move into the new

year and this new stage of ministry,

Blessings!

Ginny Ginny Ellis, Interim Pastor

REMEMBER: I am usually here in Zephyrhills on

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I will be at-

tending Stephen Ministry Leadership training Janu-

ary 12-17. E-Mail: pastor.firstpcz@gmail.com Cell

phone (813) 404-6723

MISSION STUDY – 2015 An outline of the process

SURVEY -- entire congregation - on Feb 8

TOWN MEETING -- February 22 -- Survey Results

shared, with a covered dish lunch

COTTAGE MEETINGS during Lent, between

Feb 18 and Mar 11. Various days, times and

locations, each person to choose one meeting

Can you host a meeting? Let Ginny know if

you can do this. We plan for 8 to 10 groups, at

church or in the neighborhoods.

TOWN MEETING - March 15 -- Cottage Meeting

Groups report, with a covered dish lunch.

CONGREGATION – Elect Pastor Nominating

Committee - Palm Sunday March 29, if the way

be clear. No promises on this; Presbytery has to

say “Okay.” And we have to be ready.

Remember the church in your prayers

Remember the church in your will.

Remember the church when you speak with

your neighbors!

All women are welcome to attend a

Salad Luncheon on Tuesday, Janu-

ary 20th at 11:30AM. Lacoochee

School Personnel will be our guests

of honor. At this time they receive

little girl's panties, boy's briefs,

boys and girls socks and books (any kind-new or

used). Please bring a salad and plan on attending. If

you are unable to attend but would like to donate

the items, just leave them on the women's table in

the Fellowship Hall. Any questions contact Phoebe

K a y H a a s a t 8 1 3 - 4 6 9 - 2 2 2 5 o r

khaas5@tampabay.rr.com. Hope to see you there. As

Presbyterian Women become less formal in organi-

zation, some activities will go on as always with dif-

ferent people being in charge.

The mission team will be spon-

soring a “Sewing Bee” on Sat-

urday, January 24, 2015 to

make pillowcase dresses for

little girls in Africa. The dress-

es are easy to make and we

can have a fun time making

them together! If you have a portable sewing ma-

chine, bring it. If you don’t sew there are other jobs

to do. We need people to measure (bring a ruler);

people to cut (bring scissors); and people to hand sew

trim (bring a needle). The directions are simple but

we will have a retired home economics teacher to

help. If you can’t attend but would like to help, we

need new or gently used (no stains) pillowcases, dou-

ble fold bias tape, 1/4 inch wide elastic, rick rack or

other trims. Let’s have fun and

show little girls in Africa that

there is hope and they are wor-

thy. We will work from 9:00 AM

to Noon. A light lunch will be

provided.

How about a New Year’s Resolution that would bring

you closer to God and give you great fellowship? Well,

then, here’s the deal…come to the Adult Bible Study on

Wednesday evenings at 6 pm! ALL are invited!

Help is needed for the

Wednesday night suppers.

The meals are simple and all groceries are supplied.

We need people to cook and people to just help clean-

up. The sign up sheets are located on the REFRESH

bulletin board. The week before you are scheduled to

work you will receive detailed instructions. If you

can cook hot dogs, make grilled cheese sandwiches

and open a can you are qualified! Please help us!

NEW MEMBERS We welcome the following new members, received at

worship on December 28, 2014:

Jim and Patty Hopkins -- Jim is a Presbyterian

from Pennsylvania. Patty hails from West Virginia.

Jim works for Pet Smart in Tampa; Patty is staying at

home with their beautiful children: Noah who is 8,

Angel who is 5 and Jayme, who will be one in March.

The Hopkins live in Sandalwood.

Herb Preston has been part of this church for some

time. He attends the Adult Bible Study and the Sun-

day Morning adult class, as well as the Wednesday

Refresh suppers. In Zephyrhills since1960, Herb grew

up in Michigan.

Nora Walsh -- Nora loves children and works with a

child care center. Before coming to Zephyrhills, she

lived on Long Island where her three grown children

still live. Nora is a life-long Presbyterian and says she

feels like she has come home.

We hope all will get to know them and

welcome them.

First Presbyterian welcomes and encourages new

members. We do not anticipate a class for new mem-

bers in January, but if you would like to become an

official member of this church (Active Member of Affil-

iate Member) please speak with one of our elders or

with our Interim Pastor.

Active Members are members of the church with the

right to hold office and to vote on important matters.

Affiliate Membership is for students, military or for

seasonal residents whose “church of the heart” may be

elsewhere. For Affiliate members both churches rec-

ognize your place in the faith community, but only as

an Active Member can you vote or hold office.

Church Folks: Please remember to make an effort to

introduce yourself to people you don’t yet know. You

will certainly be greeting a brother or sister in faith,

and you may discover a new and dear friend.

From the Deacons’ Corner

Phoebe Kay Haas, Moderator

813-788-3454, 813-469-2225,

khaas5@tampabay.rr.com

How very much we appreciate your gen-

erosity during this past Christmas season!

Thanks to you, eight families in our community

experienced a very special time of Christian love

and caring, as we celebrated the birth of Jesus

together! All of the families were overwhelmed

with the gifts from our church. As Peter

Scazzero writes in his book, “Emotionally

Healthy Spirituality,” “…the goal of the Chris-

tian life is to love well.” …indeed! You achieved

that goal, and we thank each and every one of

you! (A special thanks to our Zephyrhills Police

Department who donated four bicycle helmets

for the children!)

Of course, we always appreciate your pantry do-

nations as well! On December 11, the pantry

served 109 families, with 15 being new to this

outreach ministry!

Peanut butter and canned

meat are the items requested

for January.

We appreciate your prayers;

please be assured that you

are in our prayers as well. We are here

to serve, so please let us know how we may

serve YOU!

May God richly Bless all of you in 2015!

In Christian love,

Suzann Parrish, Deacons’ Secretary

2015 PICTORIAL DIRECTORY

IN PROGRESS

FPC-Z is working on a 2014-2015 edition of our

Pictorial Directory with the help of Lifetouch

Studios. With many new people attending our

church, a new interim minister present, and a

new minister coming in the next year or so, it

will help us all get better acquainted - friends,

affiliates, and members. To make it a complete

and successful directory, we encourage you to

participate. You will receive free an 8"x10" por-

trait and the directory. There is no obligation to

buy any portraits, but if you choose to order any

pictures, you will be able to purchase them the

day of your appointment by a check or credit

card.

Next session of pictures will be January 8,

9, and 10, 2015. You can make an appoint-

ment by signing up in the Narthex on January

4, 2015 OR by calling Mary Margaret Trice (788

-5147).

WE HOPE FOR 100% PARTICIPATION!!

* * * * * *

Supper Club will meet on Sat-

urday, January 10 at 5:00 PM at

the Great Catch in Zephyrhills. RSVP to Sue Ref-

fit by Noon on Thursday, January 8.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window is a suspense-filled drama classic starring

James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Remastered

and in BluRay, Rear Window will have you on

the edge of your seat until the very end. Oh yes,

Popcorn and Pizza too. Join us on Saturday,

January 31 @ 6:00 pm.

(Donations help with the cost of the pizza)

To Pastor and

Congregation

My profound thanks for

all your cards, Prayers,

Good Wishes and kind thoughts.. God Bless

you all!

Anna K. Angelo

Fred Ainsburg Mary Andersen/daughter of Maggie Andersen Linda Smith/niece of Gordon McDonagh

Joe and Anna Angello Claudia Kopp McBee/daughter of Art Kopp

Jean Basnight Family/sister of Rosalyn Pugh Gordon McDonagh

Stu Daume Charles Pugh

Mardell Franke Joni Roberts

Randy Howard/son of Audrell Howard James Ruyle/friend of Tim and Mardell Franke

Nancy and Ken Keslar/daughter/son-in-law of Joe Soueidan/grandson of Rosalyn and Charles Pugh

Donna Brooking

Prayer concerns remain for thirty days unless the office is otherwise notified by family.

Pray for those in Nursing Homes: Reba Carlson/Westbrook Manor — Irene Finn/Heartland — Joe Horak/West Winds Assisted Living

Don Edwards/Zephyrhills Health & Rehab. John Roberts/Royal Oaks—Dade City, FL

Ruth Mullen/Zephyrhills Health & Rehab.

Pray for those in the Armed Forces: LSC(SS) Matthew E. Edwards/Mark and Debbie Edwards’ son — Major Craig Young/Jack and Dianne Young’s son.

Sr. Airman Jason Haas/Phoebe Kay Haas’ grandson

01 Rollen Swink 14 Marcy Miller 18 Katy Neiswender

01 Brenda Cripps 15 Rosalyn Pugh 25 Grace Huntley

06 Madelynn Hall 15 Shirley Hilbrandt 27 Wilma DeMaagd

09 Karen Anderson 16 Ellen Lamoreaux 27 Philip Edwards

09 Wilma Klak 16 Jane Stickwood 31 Linda Lawson

09 Catherine Coffey 17 Robyn Kirk 31 Jeanne Hague

02 Ray and Janice Chambers 15 Years 26 Joe and Janet Horak 58 Years 28 Tom and Becky Todd 48 Years 30 Vernon and Joann Beardslee 61 Years

Yvonne Hocquard — December, 2014

Porter Stanford January 31, 1929 — December 18, 2014

Prayer List

If you know someone who is having a major life problem, please speak to a

Stephen Minister. We each have 50 hours training in working in total confi-

dentiality with someone who needs to share his or her problems. Confidenti-

ality allows complete expression of what's going on and leads to resolving the

problems and moving on with life.

Stephen Ministries is an independent, not-for-profit Christian educational

organization, founded in 1975 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization was founded by Rev.

Kenneth C. Haugk Ph.D. and is best known for the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in

congregations that use the Stephen Series system.

The organization draws its name from St. Stephen. In the book of Acts, Chapter 6, Stephen was chosen

to provide caring ministry to those in need. Since the days of the Apostles, caring ministry has been a

hallmark of the Christian faith community—and is at the heart of Stephen Ministry.

Congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality,

confidential, and Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. More than 12,000 congregations from

160 Christian denominations are now involved, and are located in the U.S., Canada, and 24 other coun-

tries.

The mission of the Stephen Ministries organization is summed up in St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the

unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature

of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12–13).

If you do know someone who is having a major life problem, then please contact Tina Hannold 782-

8303, the Stephen Ministry referrals coordinator, to have a Stephen Minister assigned to that person.

Stephen Ministers want to help you!

The Administration Ministry Team recently recommended that we

no longer use bulk mail to send our newsletters. This means that this newsletter is no

longer being sent to everyone by mail. It will be sent out primarily by e-mail, and mailed

with first-class postage to those without electronic mail. It will also be available for

pickup in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall and is always available on the website.

REASON: Along with the annual bulk mailing fee of over $180, plus the cost of the 11 mailings (about

$35.00 each), bulk mail requires a minimum of 200 pieces for each mailing. To obtain 200 addresses

we have had to mail the newsletter to everyone (even those who also receive the newsletter by e-mail)

plus additional names to reach the 200 requirement. That means we also have the cost of the extra pa-

per and copying costs to get to 200 copies. With all this in mind, the Admin team decided it is better

economy to drop bulk mail and mail the newsletters only to those without e-mail addresses or who es-

pecially request a mailed copy.

If you already receive the newsletter via e-mail, you do not need to do anything. If you are not yet re-

ceiving it via e-mail but have an e-mail address, we are requesting that you send an e-mail message to

the Church office at firstpcz@verizon.net. You will then be placed on the newsletter e-mail mailing

list.

WE PROMISE: your e-mail will not be given to anyone; no one will see it except for Dell.

Thank you for assisting us in this way! Let us know if you have any questions.

.