First Presbyterian Church

PresbyNews

December, 2021 January, 2022

Dear Friends, Making Memories

Christmas is such a time of joy for me. I have such fond memories of colorful lights, celebrating life with extended and loving family, delicious family meals together, and the special worship of the Advent Season with all of the symbolic meaning of Christmas decorations. This year promises to be no less special, even though many of my loving family are now in heaven with God. Emmanuel is “God with Us” in a way that is beyond my greatest imagination, but I have faith in this truth. This year, we will have such special worship and fellowship opportunities that you will be “making memories,” of “God with Us!” Here are some things to get excited about: Advent Wreath Candle Readers and Lighting (love seeing the different church members lead us into worship) Two baptisms: Elleigh Kate Evans (daughter of Alex and Lori Beth Evans) will be baptized on the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 28); and Andrew Boykin Tucker (son of Phillip and Heather Tucker) will be baptized on the Third Sunday of Advent (Dec. 12). Coker Choirs: Two college choirs from Coker singing and leading us in Christmas Carols Sunday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. (love offering with offering plates at exits to help one choir with expenses as they travel to sing at Carnegie Hall in the Spring. $1610.00 was sent to the choir.) Minute for Missions: Annual Endowment Report: Dec. 5 Christmas Communion (The Lord’s Supper): Dec. 5 White Christmas Catered Dinner: Wed. Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. with donations going to Pee Dee Coalition (special visitor from North Pole?) Children’s Christmas Pageant: during worship on Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. Community Christmas Caroling: Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. with refreshments afterwards Christmas Feast – December 21st The Mission Ministry Team is hosting a Christmas Dinner that will be delivered to our Caring Circle. Family Friendly Christmas Eve Worship: Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m. Come in casual dress and the children will be invited down front to hear the Christmas Story read (Luke 2:1-20) and the Children’s Message to them will be the “Christmas Eve Message.” Family Friendly Casual Worship 12/26: The Sunday morning after Christmas, we will worship without bulletins and encourage casual dress. We will have a text, brief homily and sing Christmas Carols (by request).

Happy Advent Season To You! I am so blessed to be your pastor! As we have begun to meet face-to-face in worship, fellowship, missions and ministries together, I have gotten to know you better and better, and have quickly fallen in love with you all! We are indeed making memories! This is such an important thing to do with your entire family, especially your precious children and grandchildren. They need to know the love of God by experience through the loving body of Christ, which is who you are! Try with all your might to be present and add to the blessings of Emmanuel, God with us, during this season of hope, love, joy and peace! Celebrate the memories you have from great Christmas’ past, especially related to your family church involvement, and give thanks to God! Dr. Steve --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Thank you for your wonderful participation in Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes for children. We received 42 boxes!

 

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS

Here is some information from the Presbyterian Women for the month of January 2022.

Sunday, January 2nd Communion – Satellite Circle Wednesday, January 12th 10:00 am Circle Meeting in the Fellowship Building Sunday, January 16th Youth Supper has been canceled due to Martin Luther King Weekend Holiday

 

Christian Education

Sunday School Teaching Schedule

For December 2021 and January 2022

Preschool/Elementary December 2021 5th Tammy Joyce 12th Becky Childers/Kristen Miller 19th Karen Tillman 26th Jean Page Watson/Fred Harris

Preschool/Elementary January 2022 2nd Tammy Joyce 9th Becky Childers/Kristen Miller 16th Karen Tillman/Shelley Morgan 23rd Jean Page Watson/Fred Harris 30th Mary Jane Evans/Ashley Driggers

Middle School/High School Middle School/High School December 2021 January 2022 5th John Long 2nd John Long 12th Gina Goddard 9th Gina Goddard 19th Tracie Phillips 16th Tracie Phillips 26th Mary Anderson 23rd Mary Anderson 30th No Sunday School – Youth Ski Trip

FUN PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 2021

The Fun Program Kids will meet as follows for the month of November Wednesday, December 1st 3:00 pm Wednesday, December 8th 3:00 pm Wednesday, December 15th No Fun

Program Wednesday, December 22nd No Fun Program Christmas Holidays Wednesday, December 29th No Fun Program - Christmas Holidays

 

 

FUN PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2022

Wednesday 5th 3:00 pm Wednesday 12th 3:00 pm Wednesday 19th 3:00 pm Wednesday 26th 3:00 pm Parents please note: If schools are closed for the day or close early due to inclement weather – Fun Program will not meet.

Middle School/High School Youth Schedule for December 2021

Here is the youth schedule for the month of December!  Please mark your calendars with these dates!!  Sunday, December 5th      6:00 pm Youth Room Tuesday, December 7th     4:00 pm Youth to decorate 

   Fellowship Building for    White Christmas 

Sunday, December 12th     3:00 pm Youth to meet at the church to go to Ollie’s in Rockingham to purchase books for Pathfinders for their Christmas Service project. All youth need to bring $10.00. A erwards we will go to Bella Italy for our Christmas Dinner which Mac will take care of the cost for this meal. Sunday, December 19th    11:00 am Youth will be playing bells during the morning Worship Service. All Youth will need to be here by 10 am to prac ce. The Youth will not meet that evening – beginning of Christmas Holiday     Sunday, December 26th     No Youth – Christmas Holiday    

  

Middle School/High School Youth Schedule for

January 2022 Sunday, January 2nd 5:00 pm High School Youth will

meet at in Youth Room to begin planning for Vacation Bible School – this decision was made when we were in Montreat last summer.

Sunday, January 2nd 6:00 pm Regular Youth Meeting for Middle School and High School Sunday, January 9th 6:00 pm Regular Youth Meeting Sunday, January 16th No Youth Meeting – Martin Luther

King Holiday Weekend Sunday, January 23rd 6:00 pm Regular Youth Meeting Friday, January 28th – Sunday, January 30th –

Youth Ski Trip to Beach Mountain – details will be sent to everyone by mid December.

Fellowship Class will begin an Advent Study on

Sunday, November 28th Incarnation: Rediscovering the

Significance of Christmas by Adam Hamilton

His parents gave him the name Jesus. But the prophets, the shepherds, the wise men, and angels addressed him by other names. They called him Lord, Messiah, Savior, Emmanuel, Light of the world, and Word Made Flesh. This study will explore the meaning of these titles and what they tell us about the child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Join the Fellowship class beginning Sunday, November 28th at 10 am in the Fellowship Building as they reflect upon the significance of the Christ-child for our lives and world today!

A new Study for the Parlor Class will begin on Sunday, November

28th entitled: Light of the World by Amy-Jill

Levine In Light of the World the class will explore the biblical texts surrounding the story of the birth of Jesus. Amy-Jill Levine traces the Christmas narrative through the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, and the visit from the Magi. Join the class as they begin this wonderful Advent Study beginning at 10 am in the Parlor.

From the Session of First Presbyterian

The following items were recently approved by the Session:

Approved holding the December stated Session meeting and Elder examinations on Thursday, December 9.

Approved Ashley Driggers to serve a three-year term on the Louis G. McArn Memorial Fund Committee.

Approved a new curriculum for the Parlor class: Jesus is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered, by Martin Coppenhaver.

Approved the choir to sing without masks. Approved catered White Christmas dinner for Wednesday, December 8. Approved baptism request for Andrew Boykin Tucker on December 12. Approved Christmas Feast mission for caring circle members. Approved spring yard sale to be held the weekend of the Cheraw Spring Festival. Approved a Stewardship luncheon to be held on January 30. Approved $106,206 to be disbursed from Endowment fund to be used in church building

and grounds 2022 budget. Approved the listing of the commercial property at 400 Market Street with Mary

Anderson.

Approved annual fee for livestreaming to be paid from Poston-Matheson/Bohannon trust. Approved At-Ease request to resume meetings in the fellowship building on the 2nd

Tuesday of each month, beginning in December.

PRAYER LIST

B.J. Moore’s daughter, Rhe a; Kathie Cook, Joe Witherspoon; Bobbie Jones; Lindsay Benne ’s father: Earl Daniel; Ellen Duvall, Shelley Morgan’s father; Bobby Polson; Meredith Hydrick’s rela ve: Edward; Gerry Rogers (& Bobby); Ina Coggeshall;  Atha Lou Gibson; Gray Sloop; Brylee Denham;  Bennie and Benny Lou Moore;  Gina Goddard’s dad: Gene Brymer;  Dan Tillman’s friends, Tammy Griffin (cancer) and William Greene (stroke); Pam Cook (Cathy Chapman’s daughter‐in‐law’s mom with cancer); Andrew (Cathy & Mike Chapman’s grandson) Louise Carpenter’s brother Robert KentListonAnderson  Arta Sompayrac  Craig Dubos Addy Jewart  Bobby Joe White  Denise Vick (friend of Brother Davis) Barbara Dickson Carolyn West                                                                                 

Birthdays DECEMBER 2 Jackson Tucker 4 E.J. Jones 5 Jim Conn Betty Davis 8 Ashley Driggers 10 June Ingram 12 Jacob Goddard 15 Duward Angle 16 Bobby Rogers 17 Bennie Moore 21 Gail Ingram 22 Parker Pierce Christie McLeod 23 Jordan Smith 30 Elleigh Evans Bobby Jones January

1 Blake Tillman Beth Witherspoon 2 Gina Goddard 4 Jeanine McKinney 8 Rickey Pace 9 Sue Funderburk 11 Jean Page Watson 17 Bea Sloop David Evans 23 Michael Chapman 24 Marleigh Evans 29 Campbell Harris

December Church Calendar 1 8:30 a.m. MMO 6:00 p.m. Choir 2 9:00 a.m. Decorate Church 5 10:00 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship 6:00 p.m. Youth 6 8:30 a.m. MMO 6:00 p.m. Worship Meeting 7 6:00 p.m. Adult Choir 8 8:30 a.m. MMO 12:00 pm AT EASE 3:00 p.m. Fun Program 5:30 p.m. White Christmas 9 5:30 p.m. Session 12 10:00 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Children’s Pageant 3:00 p.m. Youth 13 8:30 a.m. MMO 15 8:30 a.m. MMO 6:00 p.m. Adult Choir 19 10:00 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship 3:00 p.m. Caroling 24 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service 26 10:00 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship 30 9:00 a.m. Take decorations down

The Church office will be closed on

December 20th through January 2nd.

January Church Calendar 2 10:00 am Church School 11:00 am Worship 5:00 pm VBS – Youth Planning 6:00 pm Youth 4 12:00 pm AT EASE 5:30 pm Christian Education 5 8:30 am MMO 3:00 pm Fun Program 5:15 pm Revelation Bible Study 6:00 pm Choir 9 10:00 am Church School 11:00 am Worship 6:00 pm Youth 10 8:30 am MMO 12 8:30 am MMO 3:00 pm Fun Program 5:15 pm Revelation Bible Study 6:00 pm Choir 16 10:00 am Church School 11:00 am Worship 19 8:30 am MMO 3:00 pm Fun Program 5:15 pm Revelation Bible Study 6:00 pm Choir 20 5:30 pm Session 23 10:00 am Church School

11:00 am Worship 6:00 pm Youth 24 8:30 am MMO 26 8:30 am MMO 3:00 pm Fun Program 5:15 pm Revelation Bible Study 6:00 pm Choir 28-30 Youth Ski Trip 30 10:00 am Church School 11:00 am Worship 12:00 pm Stewardship Luncheon 31 8:30 am MMO The Church Office will be closed on January 17th for Martin Luther King Holiday