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First Presbyterian Churchof Fulton, Missouri

Congregational Newsletter for April, 2019

Newsletter Contents

To jump to a particular section of the newsletter, please click the link below:

• A Message from Our Pastor• Sunday Schedule• Things To Be Shared• Committee Information

A Message from Our Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Very soon, we will enter into Holy Week, and we will remember the story of the Passion of our Lord Jesus. While I look forward to Easter each year, I have found that my appreciation for our celebration of the Resurrection is magnified when I experience it as the culminating event of this weeklong tale. I particularly appreciate the reflective nature of our communal worship services during Holy Week, during which time we are all invited to “step into the story.” The commemorative acts that we perform during worship, ask us not just to hear the stories as history, but to recognize our own place among the people who so desperately need Jesus’ grace and yet so often fail to respond in faith.

On Palm Sunday (April 14th, 10:30 a.m.), we could easily wave branches and sing “Hosanna!” because we think it’s a cute tradition to parade our children down the sanctuary aisle. But we should remember that those first people who called out to Jesus—“Lord, save us!”—would desert him or even openly condemn him just a few days later. As our choir leads us in their Cantata program that day, we will be reminded of the failure of human devotion and the triumph of divine love that takes place over the course of this week.

When we gather for our Maundy Thursday Service (April 18th, 6:30 p.m.), we might not think that there is any special significance as we approach the table. But set within the context of Holy Week, we are reminded that this was the setting for the final teachings that Christ offered to his disciples. As they entered the upper room, their master knelt before them as servant, washing their feet. As he sat at table with them, he welcomed them as host, offering them bread and cup, as reminders of their share in his death and their hope to sit with him again at table in the kingdom.As we experience the Service of Tenebrae on Good Friday (April 19th, 6:30 p.m.), we could sit comfortably in the pews, absent-mindedly singing along to the hymns. But with each reading and with each candle extinguished, we are drawn to the foot of the cross where we have to look up and witness Christ in anguish, as he lovingly gives his life for our sake. In this moment, we are left to confess the totality of our own sin and our complete reliance on the mercy of God.

If you join your Brothers and Sisters in the church for these moments of worship throughout Holy Week, I believe that it will invigorate your experience of the Easter joy that we will celebrate in worship (April 21st, 10:30 a.m.). As we shout “Alleluia!” our souls may embrace the glorious hope that we all have

received new life through our share in Christ’s resurrection! And as we go into the world, as God’s Easter people, we are filled with the confidence that we can share the Good News that the one who died for our sins is also the one who is Risen and who has conquered death on our behalf! I hope to see you in worship on Sunday and throughout this coming Holy Week!

Grace & Peace,

Aaron J. White Pastor

Please feel free to visit me during my regularly scheduled office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 9:00 to noon. To schedule an appointment for another time, or to arrange for home visitation, please call me at the church office, (573) 642-5541, or at my cell phone, (573) 590-3136. You may also email me at pastor@fultonpresbyterian.org.

Sunday Schedule

Sunday School 9:30-10:20 a.m.Choir Practice 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Worship Service 10:30-11:30 a.m.View the Church's Calendar of Events Online

Please click the calendar icon to view the full church calendar. Once the calendar page opens, you may navigate to other months by clicking on the arrow buttons in the upper left corner of the calendar. For information about reserving the use of the church facilities and/or adding an event to the church calendar, please contact Ramona Dobson (email: ramona.dobson@gmail.com; phone: (573) 310-1048).

Church By-Law Change Recommendations

Session is recommending the congregation approve the following changes to the church By-laws at

the April 28th Congregational Meeting held after the worship service. A vote in favor of these

changes will change our quorum to 12 members for Congregational Meetings and Session from 8

members to 6 with the following committees represented: Administration, Christian Education,

Congregational Care, Mission, Property and Worship.

Outreach will become the work of all committees beginning this next year by David Jatho moving to

Christian Education and Fellowship will fold into Congregational Care when Linda Baysinger goes off

Session in 2021.

The Nominating Committee will also be bringing a slate of elders for the Class of 2022 and the next

Nominating Committee to the April 28th Congregational meeting.

I. Quorum for the Meeting

The quorum for a meeting of the congregation shall be the Moderator, the Secretary, and 10% of the

members of the church, but under no circumstances shall it be fewer than 25 [insert 12] members of

the congregation. Consistent with the laws of the state of Missouri, a quorum shall be 10% of the

members on corporate matters (amended 7/15/14) The secretary shall determine that a quorum is

present. All members of the congregation present at either annual or special meetings are entitled

to vote. (G-1.0501. (Consistent with the laws of the state of Missouri, voting is restricted to members

age 12 or above. Voting by proxy is not allowed.)

Clerk's note: We currently have 119 active member, so 10% is 12 people

II. Officers of the Corporation

Officers of the Corporation shall consist of:

President – Current Moderator of the Administration Committee

Secretary – Current Clerk of the Session, as elected by the Session according to Article VII and

Article XIII.

Treasurer - Current Treasurer of the Session, as elected by the Session according to Article XIII.

Trustees – all eight [insert 6] of the current ruling Elders

XIII. Elders

The congregation shall elect eight [insert 6] elders divided into three classes, one class of whom shall

be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term (amended 5/24/15 and 4-29-18).

Elders must have been a member for at least one year before serving on session. No elder shall serve

for consecutive terms, either full or partial, totaling more than six years. An elder having served a

total of six years shall be ineligible for reelection to the Session for a period of at least one year.

Church Events At A Glance

Saturday, April 13: Ryan's Case for Smiles 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Fulton, 718 Court St. Fellowship Hall.

Thursday, April 18: Maundy Thursday worship service. Holy Communion observed. 6:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Fulton, 718 Court Street.

Friday, April 19: Tenebrae (Good Friday) Worship Service. 6:30 p.m. A service in shadows, scripture and song. First Presbyterian Church of Fulton, 718 Court Street.

Sunday, April 21: Easter Sunday Worship Service. 10:30 a.m. First Presbyterian Church of Fulton, 718 Court Street.

2019 FPC GARAGE SALE…After the Sale Update

Thanks to ALL OF YOU, our 2019 garage sale was a huge success!

We are anticipating profits of over $3,000 once items are sold either on eBay or auction. The vision of new furniture in our Church Lobby will become reality!

Thanks to the tireless efforts of many of you who helped with pricing, organizing, straightening, donating, purchasing, advertising, cashiering as well as cleaning up and dispersing the very few leftover items we had after the 3-day event.

Thanks again from your 2019 FPC Garage Sale Committee: Linda Baysinger, Ramona Dobson, Mary Osburn & Karen Luther

Do You Have Box Tops for Fulton Schools?

If so, please save them and bring them to the church. Cut the Box Top symbols from participating product boxes (there are hundreds of participating products including cereal, tissue, etc).

A bucket has been placed in the lobby for collection. Connie Epperson has volunteered to redeem the tops and lids. Each redeemed Box Top is worth 10 cents, paid to our local schools twice a year in December and April. Thank you for contributing to the needs of our children.

Committee Information

Mission Committee

"Jesus said to his disciples, 'They need not go away;you give them something to eat.' "

—Matthew 14:16

Thank You for Your Contributions!

Each Sunday morning, our children collect the contributions that you bring during the worship service. At other times, contributions may be placed in the marked bin in the church kitchen. As you consider what items you might bring, please know that one of the greatest needs is for shelf-stable sources of protein, such as peanut butter or canned meat.

If you need a food item to share with the children, extras are stocked in the lobby and the narthex. There's also a jar there where you can drop in a cash donation, which is used to restock the food that we keep available for worshipers to offer.

8th Annual Ryan’s Case for Smiles Pillowcase WorkshopEcumenical Event

Saturday, April 13th, at First Presbyterian Church9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please join us for our 8th year! You’ll leave this pillowcase-making workshop fulfilled as well as having a great time! Every pillowcase we make will go to a child in a Mid-MO hospital suffering with cancer or a life-altering illness. If you don't sew or bring a sewing machine, we still need your help bagging pillowcases, pinning or ironing. Come help us this day any time frame that fits into your schedule!There will be donuts, juice and coffee available in the morning. Please bring a sack lunch. Tea, water and desert will be provided at lunchtime.

For those of you that want to purchase fabrics, for each PILLOWCASE you will need:

• 7/8 yard juvenile (or teen) printed fabric;• 1/3 yard coordinating border fabric.

Fabrics should be pre-washed (non-scented), without dryer sheets, and lightly pressed. Sparkly fabrics are not recommended.

Ques4ions? Please contact:Karen Luther, (573)590-1624; kluther54@gmail.comGinger Beasley, (573) 592-7539; glbeasley@charter.net

In this photo, is our display following the 2018 workshop. Please notice that the number of pillow cases increased each year! What an accomplishment for these volunteers!

If you should have any questions, please contact Karen Luther (573-590-1624 or

kluther54@gmail.com) or Ginger Beasley (573-592-7539 or glbeasley@charter.net). Thank you.

To view a larger image of this photograph please click on this button.

Worship Committee

Please help lead our Holy Week worship services! Volunteers are needed for the

following roles:

• Maundy Thursday (April 18th, 6:30 p.m.): Remove a worship item (i.e., Bible, communion plates, etc.) from the sanctuary during the "Stripping of the Church"

• Good Friday (April 19th, 6:30 p.m.): read a prayer or Scripture passage.

• Easter Sunday (April 21st, 10:30 a.m.): Bring a worship item (i.e., Bible, communion plates, etc.) into the sanctuary during the "Dressing of the Church."

If you are able to help with any of these services, please call Aaron, (573) 642-5541 or

email him by clicking here. Thank you very much!

Lenten Season Brochure

Please Signup Your Child to Serve as Acolyte!

We want every child to be welcome to share in leading worship as an Acolyte! Click here to sign your child up now on our Signup Genius page!

To view and/or print this Lenten Season Brochure please click on this button.

Property Committee

Save Your Best Choice Labels and Moser's Receipts

We have received $60.00 from Best Choice Labels and $50.00 from Moser’s tapes. All added to our Church Building Fund. “Ain’t That Good News!” Please save and donate your Best Choice labels and your Moser grocery tapes.Nola Garner has volunteered to redeem the labels and tapes for money applied to our church building fund.

Thanks again to all of you who turn in your Labels and Tapes.Nola Garner

The First Presbyterian Church of Fulton, Missouri is a congregation of Missouri Union Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Contact FPC, Fulton

Our mailing address is:P.O. Box 6037, Fulton, MO 65251

Our phone number is:(573) 642-5541

Newsletter feedback can be sent to:newsletter@fultonpresbyterian.org

Street Address:718 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251

To obtain driving directions from Google Maps, please click here.

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