First Presbyterian Church 1169 Clark Street, SW Covington, GA 30014

Nonprofit Organi-zation

U.S. POSTAGE P A I D

Covington, GA 30014

Permit No. 32

The deadline for the May “First Press” is April 15, 2018. Please submit your articles and information to the church office by email: penihaug@gmail.com or by dropping

off your copy to the church office, neatly printed or typed or on a flash drive. Thanks!

Time Sensitive Church News Please Do Not Delay

See our website at: www.fpccov.org

If your birthday has not appeared on our monthly list, please notify us of the full date and we will add it to our data base so that when your next birthday rolls around, we will be able to help you celebrate!

19 Laurie Bunn 22 Sarah Jane Moss 23 Barbara Luton Phyllis Pruner 28 Elizabeth Pope 29 Sam Moss Jean Carol Mundy 30 Joyce Ashworth Phyllis Yoder

1 Billy Fortson Joe Moon 3 Bill Cobham 4 Fletcher Stamps 5 Steven Barnes 7 Maxine Blankenship 8 Nick Jessup 10 Wayne Scarborough 11 Kingsley Allen 12 Harrison Stamps 16 Martha Taylor Guy McGiboney 17 Kent Compton

First Presbyterian

Church

1169 Clark Street, SW

Covington, GA 30014

(770)786-7321

Fax (770)786-6596

www.fpccov.org

FIRST PRESS

First Presbyterian

Church Staff

Steven M. Barnes Interim Pastor

revbarnesy@me.com

Dan Walden Director of Youth and

Children’s Ministry djwalden@mac.com

Peni Kehoe Secretary-Treasurer

penihaug@gmail.com

Krista Firkus Interim Choir Director Kfirkus42@gmail.com

Alice Walker Organist

awalker.atl.pres.5 @gmail.com

Jenny Giles

Pauleen Green Nursery

Darlene Alley

Director Early Learning Center

fpelcdirector @gmail.com

First Presbyterian Church, Covington April 2019

Greetings FPC Family! Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ! I hope and pray this April 2019 newsletter finds you happy and well! As I write this a couple days before spring officially be-gins, the extended weather forecast shows several upcoming days of high temps in the 70s … can it really be true?!?! This year the month of April will bring us Easter and all the Holy Week drama that comes with it. First, we will celebrate Palm Sun-day on April 14th. Palms will be waved and “Hosannas” will be shouted, as we rejoice in our Savior’s triumphant entrance into Je-rusalem. But, then, a few days later we will encounter Maundy Thursday on April 18th, and we will once again be presented with a new opportunity to embrace God's profound love for us, even if it means facing the horror of the cross. But, it was through that very cross that God accomplished what only could be ac-complished through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice ... reconciliation with the world. Be-cause of Jesus and all he experienced, both good and bad, during Holy Week, noth-ing stands between us and God's amazing love. We don't have to understand how this is possible. We don't have to understand why it had to happen this way. But, we must believe it! German pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, helps articulate this amazing event of reconciliation in this way:

"Those who look at Jesus Christ in actuality see God and the world in one. From now on, they can no longer see God without seeing the world, nor the human without seeing God. Ecce homo - see what a human being! In him the reconciliation of the world with God took place. The world is conquered not through smashing it but through reconciliation. Not ideals, programs, not con-science, duty, responsibility, virtue, but the perfect love of God all alone can meet reality and overcome it. It is not a general idea of love, but the love of God really lived in Jesus Christ, that accomplishes that. This love of God for the world does not withdraw from reality back into noble souls transported away from the world but rather experiences and suffers reality of the world in the severest way. The world amuses itself with the body of Jesus Christ, but the martyred One forgives the world its sin. This is how reconciliation takes place." - from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God Is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter, WJKP, Louisville; p.80

You see, because of Jesus Christ, we are made right with God and nothing will ever separate us again from the love of God! This is the crux of the Easter message—of the resurrection and the empty tomb, which we will celebrate on April 21st this year! And, the magnificent and wonderful thing about Easter and the resurrection is that while life and all its complexities may indeed be a puzzle, we don't have to solve it. We don't have to try and put the pieces together. We don't have to "figure it out." We just have to believe. Even when or if we don't understand it, we simply must be-lieve it ... the tomb was empty!

Continued at the top of page 3, right column

Page 2 First Presbyterian Church

Session & Administrative Notes

Monthly Financial Report

April Usher Chair: Warren Liem

Sound Engineer:

Ken Walker

Hospital Visitors: 3/31: B & D Vining 4/7: C. Wolverton 4/14:D Kennon 4/21: A. Walker

4/28: J. Wolverton

Class of 2019 Carter Gibson Jay Lanners

John McCarthy Cheryl Meichsner Miriam Wheeler

Allie Hay

Class of 2020 Doug Bolton

Stan Hall Cindy Moon Bob Tabb

Michael Thompson

Class of 2021 Warren Liem

Pam Stillerman Donna Weesner

Cy Wolverton

MEMBERS OF SESSION

Serving Us in March

2019 February

Numbers rounded

Monthly Budget

Monthly

Income/ Expenses

YTD Income

/Expenses

Pledged Income 31,768 3,155 58,679

Non-Pledge Income 3,583 2,951 5,990

Other Income 416 190 230

Total income 36,601 34,698 64,899

Expenses 38,594 37,337 74,054

Net Totals (-1,992) (-2,639) (-9,155)

If unable to serve, please get a sub for

your duties

Pledge arrears for 2019 (-4,858)

Also, all ELC teachers and administrators have signed a letter of intent to return for 2019-20 school year. · Congregational Life and Care Team are working on plan for the Supper Club as well as planning for the Holy Week services that will be held at FPC this April. · Finance and Stewardship reported that expenses were down for the month, however income is also down. · Welcoming and Evangelism team have reworked the church bulletin board and are making plans for fu-ture events for booths to represent FPC. · Witness team reported that FPC will host an infor-mational meeting of the Family Promise program for Newton County Pastors. · Worship team reported that the Rev. Jill Lum will be the service pastor for April 7th. Volunteers to help usher during Holy Week services at FPC are needed. · Personnel team reported that Interim Music Direc-tor, Mindy Forehand, resigned her post. Michael Thomp-son is currently working on a contract to hire Krista Firkus as the FPC Interim Music Director. · Strategic Planning team reported that the majority of work was completed for each Ministry Teams Strate-gic Plan. · During the retreat at Burge Plantation the Session members participated in several team activities; re-viewed and discussed FPC membership roll assigning individual session members to contact inactive FPC members to discuss their desire to remain on FPC roles; reviewed and discussed the by-laws of the corporation, identifying sections to add clarifications or additional wording; session members were given a presenta-tion by Sherri Bozardt, a representative from Thornwell Homes, on the needs of their facilities; session estab-lished a sub-committee to investigate the amount of funds available through the Capital Campaign and make recommendations on amount to spend and which pro-grams to donate to Thornwell Home.

Submitted by John McCarthy Assistant Clerk of Session

March Session Highlights

· The March stated session meeting included 12 members in attendance. FPC Youth Director Dan Walden and The Rev. Steven Barnes (moderator) were also in attendance. · Dan Walden reported that a Web page was created that will highlight and inform the congregation on the ac-tivities of the PNC. He also reported that a Facilities Use Calendar was created on the FPC Web site where the congregation can pre-check for locations within the church that may have pre-existing activities prior to their contacting Peni to add new events. · The Christian Education Committee reported on the status of the upcoming Spring Festival for the ELC.

Continued next column

First Presbyterian Church Page 7

see our website at: www.fpccov.org

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3

4

9:30 Ambassador Choir at FPC then Benton House

5

6

7 Lent 5 9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service

8 6:00 ELC Board

Meeting

9

Women’s Circles 10:00 Eliz. Ann 10:30 Martha 7:00 pm Ruth

4:00 Exercise

10

6:45 Sanctuary Choir

11

10:30 Ambassador Choir

12

13 8:00 Men’s Breakfast & Study

14 Palm Sunday

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service

15 7:00 NAMI

16

4:00 Exercise

17 6:45 Sanctuary Choir

18 Maundy Thursday

No Ambassador Choir

6:00 Worship Service at FPC

19

20

21 Easter

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service with Communion

22

MONTREAT REGISTRATION

BEGINS

23

1:00 A Novel Bunch

Book Club

4:00 Exercise

24

6:45 Sanctuary Choir

25 10:30 Ambassador Choir

26

27

28 Easter 1

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service Hunger Walk

29 30 4:00 Exercise

6:45 Sanctuary Choir

10:30 Ambassador Choir

see our website at: www.fpccov.org

Holy Week Services at 12:00 each day at FPC; lunch follows

Spring Break for Newton Schools and the Early Learning Center

Page 6 First Presbyterian Church

Community Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is now open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 - 12:00. Donations of any non-perishable food items are welcome. Bernice Bailey is the Director, (770-786-3048)

Suggested donations for April: Canned fruit

Family Support Group

Every Third Mon-day of the Month

7:00 - 8:30 pm

If you have a loved one with a mental illness, this group is for you. Be a friend, bring a friend. For questions and information, call Michael Thompson at 518-577-8691 or email him: mkthompson96@gmail.com. When you attend the meeting come in the door on Clark Street to the right of The Garden. Sponsored by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for Rockdale and Newton counties.

Witness news

Baby Love

Another distribution of Baby Love was done in March to the Salvation Army, Food Pantry and the Homeless Shelter. The delivery consisted of 795 diapers, 12, packages of wipes, a receiving blanket and a package of pacifiers. More diapers than usual were received in this past 3 month period. Thanks to all who have supported this local mission project of the Wit-ness Committee with diapers, wipes or cash donations to make this possible.

Update from Pastor Nominating Committee

As you may know, the Pastor Nominating Committee at First Presbyterian Church has begun the search for our new pastor. To gain insight about who we are as a church and what we desire for our future, we would like to ask you to complete a survey called a Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT). This survey will provide key indicators of our congregational health along with areas of challenge and potential growth. Most important-ly, this survey will help us to collect and understand the range of views that exist at our church and the possibilities, willingness, capacity and en-ergy for moving our ministry into the future.

The survey is now open! If you have not received an email with the link, please contact Jodi Atkins, jodiwalden@ymail.com. If you would prefer to take the assessment using a paper copy, please stop by the church office, and we will provide one for you along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Please be sure everyone 16 and older living in your home has an opportunity to complete the survey. INDIVIDUAL INPUT is key to our gaining insight into overall perceptions and experiences. Please set aside enough time to answer all of the questions. It will take between 20 and 30 minutes and the online version must be completed in one session. All survey responses are strictly anonymous.

Thank you for helping to build the future of First Presbyterian Church in Covington! If you have ques-tions, please contact Cy Wolverton by email at jcwolv3423463@bellsouth.net or by phone at 678.300.8720.

In Christ,

And, because the tomb was empty, we know that both the good and the bad in life is in God's hands. Be-cause the tomb was empty, we know that God's love for us, made real in Jesus Christ, is truly real both in life and in death. And, because the tomb was empty, we are free to live and love and serve in God's name each day of our lives, even when other people don't agree with us or understand why ... even when they are puzzled. Thanks be to God that death was

not the final chapter in Jesus' life, and it won't be in our lives either. That's why we are resurrection peo-ple! May everyone have a happy and blessed East-er. Until the next time I remain … just another silly preacher wondering if tolerating high pollen counts before spring has even officially started should quali-fy as a new Lenten discipline!

Grace & Peace, Steven

First Presbyterian Church Page 3

News of the Congregation

The regular monthly meeting of the Session will take place on Sunday, April 14, directly follow-ing the 11:00 worship service.

Presbyterian Women’s Circles

Presbyterian Women will continue to explore the communities of Christ through the study of “Cloud of Wit-nesses.” Guests are welcome. If you would like more information

contact Eleanor Scarborough at 770-786-4661 or wascarone@bellsouth.net.

Circles for April:

Elizabeth Ann Circle will meet on Tuesday, April 2nd at 10 a.m. in the Martin Fellowship Hall to dis-cuss chapter 7 “God with us as Emmanuel.

Martha Circle will meet on April 2nd, 10:30 am at the home of Alice Walker. Rachel Mason is our Study Leader.

Ruth Circle will meet April 2nd, 7:00 pm. at the home of Darcel Tabb.

Celebrating the Gifts of Women

If you are a woman and a member of First Presbyteri-an Church, you are automatically a member of Pres-byterian Women and April 7th is YOUR day! The women of the church will be assisting with leading worship that day. The women will also be the choir for the day, under the direction of Janet Carmichael.

A Novel Bunch book club will meet Tuesday, April 23rd at 1:00 pm. We will discuss “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly. Location to be announced.

Ambassador Choir Rehearsals

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Choir room. Come join in making a joyful noise! See the April Calendar for special times and choir events.

Men's Bible Study and Breakfast

The Men's Bible Study will meet this month on Saturday morning, April 13, at 8:00 am in the fellow-

ship hall. We will continue the Lenten study. Bring your breakfast and bring a friend.

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals

Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. in the Choir Room. New members are always welcome.

Donation forms will be placed in the Sunday bul-letin beginning, March 31. The suggested donation will be $8 and may be given in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Deadline for turning in the form is April 14.

Page 4 First Presbyterian Church

Early Learning Center

Family Connection

Dear FPC Family, Thank you so very much to those of you who helped make our first Spring Family Festival such a success this year! This was an incredible ministry to our school’s families and the community. I strongly believe that one of the best ways to reach the lost is through loving relationships that bring them into a church family. This church supports the ELC financially, prayerfully, and in humble service. Thank you again for your help, time, advertising, and donations.

This month we will be focusing on plants and animals. Each class is growing a variety of seeds and choosing which animals to examine. We even have a pet-ting zoo coming to us at the end of the month! This is always a favorite day for the children and the teachers. Our students will be learning the Easter story and about the amazing love Jesus continues to show us in our lives. We will hunt Easter eggs and have class parties to celebrate this miraculous season. Be prepared for hallways full of giggles and happy squeals!

If you know of anyone seeking a great school, please have them contact me soon. We are enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year now! We are re-opening the one year old class next year too. Please visit us at www.fpelc.org for all the details.

As always, thanks for all your support!

God Bless,

Darlene Alley FPELC Director

Lenten Study Sundays @ 10:00am until Easter

Join us for a special Lenten study entitled Seven Days to Glory led by our pastor the Rev. Steven Barnes during the Sunday School hour. “The last week of Jesus' life encompassed some of Christianity's most significant events. Based on the Gospel of Mark, this study looks at each of these days to describe the im-portance of Jesus' actions at the time, and what they mean for Christian living today.”

Vacation Bible School June 10th - 14th | 9:00am - noon Daily

Roar VBS: Life is wild...God is good! All children who will be rising Kindergarten through 5th grades are welcome to participate.

Adult and youth volunteers of all ages are needed to make this year’s VBS safe and successful. Contact Dan Walden at the church office if you are able to help in any way.

SAVE THE DATES!

The Wizard of Oz April 13th & 14th

The Oxford Singing Children will be featured in a musical theater presentation at Porter Performing Arts Center. Come out and support the arts and artists in our community!

Youth Connection will be attending the matinee performance on Sunday, April 14th at 3:00 pm. For tickets or information, go to www.newtoncountyarts.org, or call 770-786-8188.

Palm Sunday Procession Sunday, April 14

On Palm Sunday we are invited to march in procession to mark the occasion of

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will make a joyful noise and wave our

palms to honor Jesus.

Maundy Thursday

On Thursday night during Holy Week, April 18, we will cele-brate Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. We will partake of communion around tables in the Martin Fellowship Hall at 6:00 pm. It is a brief service of Scripture, prayer, music and communion.

Easter Day Worship

Celebrate the Resurrection at worship on Sunday, April 21! We will celebrate the day with the Lord’s Supper. There will be no Sunday School that day. Bring cut flowers for the cross on the front lawn.

First Presbyterian Church Page 5

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter

Voice and Duo Piano Concert

First Presbyterian Church Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 3:00 pm

Florence Peacock, noted Soprano, and sister of Louly Hay, will appear in Concert with Becky Ramsey and Alice Walker, Duo Pianists, on Sunday, May 19, at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Covington. Vocal repertoire will include solos from Handel’s “Messiah,” Lieder by Schubert, and selections from musical theater. Duo Piano repertoire will include works by Mendelssohn, Bach, Saint-Saens, and Benjamin. The FPC Congregation and the general public are cordially invited to attend.

Community Worship

For many years we have joined with other churches in Covington for Holy Week worship services. The ser-vices will be at noon Monday through Friday, April 15-19, with lunch following at 12:30 pm each day. First Presbyterian is the host church this year.

Preachers for the week will be:

Monday - Edwin Beckham, Good Shepherd Tuesday - Doug Gilreath, First United Methodist Wednesday - George Lanier, Grace United Methodist Thursday - Cody McNutt, First Baptist Friday - Steven Barnes, FPC, with the Ambassador Choir

We hope you will make this a priority, if you can, during this season of preparation.