Faith Alive

Progress Update from the Interim Pastor Nominating Committee (IPNC)   

On September 24, 2018, our congregation received the letter from Rev. Dr. John Frye stating his desire to “Honorably Retire.” It was shortly thereafter that calls were made by the Personnel Committee to begin identifying people to serve on the IPNC. Upon approval by the Session, the Interim Pastor Nominating Committee of First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia was formed. The members of the committee are Tyler Bullock, Janet Sytz, Dustin Letts, Tom Wallace and myself, Robbie Lineberger. On October 17, 2018, the IPNC met for the first time and our journey began. Our initial meetings consisted of instructions from Rev. Bobbi White (General Presbyter of Western North Carolina), sharing each other’s faith story, taking deep breaths, gathering information about our church, praying, gathering thoughts of the type of Interim Minister that our congregation would seek, and praying some more! Our first task was to complete the Ministry Information Form (MIF). This form was approved by the Session, by the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, and by the PCUSA. Our MIF is currently posted on the PCUSA Church Leadership Connection website as well as the FPC Gastonia website. Your IPNC has been meeting at least once a week since October 2018. Our committee has agreed that “the right person,” the person God sends to us, will be a great fit to lead our church, and our staff, in this time of transition. In order for a call to be extended to an interim minister, the IPNC has agreed we must have a unanimous vote among us. Once our interim minister arrives, our committee will conclude its work as our interim minister guides us through the steps to begin searching for our next installed Senior Minister/Head of Staff. During this process, a new Pastor Nominating Committee will be elected by the congregation as we seek God’s guidance for our next installed Senior Minister. The IPNC is committed to finding the best person for our church to guide us during this period of transition. As of January 31, 2019, we have received seventeen Personal Information Forms (PIFs) from PCUSA ministers interested in answering our call. From the 17 PIFs, I am pleased to say that we have interviewed six very good candidates. All six candidates have extensive interim ministry experience, especially in churches of similar congregational size to FPC Gastonia.

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Presbyterian Women News  

Current High School Seniors

and

College Students

It Is Time To Apply For The

2019 Presbyterian Women

Presbytery of Western North Carolina Scholarship!

Application information is available at the reception desk

and is due to the Presbytery no later than February 15, 2019.

Ask for the blue scholarship folder and follow the guidelines to apply!

Important Dates and Responsibilities

Monday, February 11 Circle 1 10:00 a.m. Church Parlor Hostesses: Carol Goode, Kay Brown Circle 2 10:30 a.m. Covenant Village Living Room Hostesses: Louise Kier, Mary Layton Circle 3 2:00 p.m. Covenant Village Card Room No Hostesses Circle 5 7:00 p.m. Location TBD Hostess: Caroline Letts Circle 6 6:30 p.m. Church Parlor Hostesses: Betty Davenport, Barbara Hite Tuesday, February 12 Circle 4 10:00 a.m. PAD Hostesses: Sharon Lanier, Mary Sumner, Susan Challenger Blanket Sunday: 2/17 Bake Sale: 3/02 PW Women’s Sunday: 3/10

Casserole Care: Prayer lunch: February: Circle 4 February: Circle 6 March: Circle 5 March: Circle A

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Rise Against Hunger Circle Responsibilities

Rise Against Hunger will be held on Sunday, March 3 after the 11:00 service in the Fellowship Hall. Active circles are asked to provide 3 dozen sandwiches (either ham or turkey, with or without cheese, or pimento cheese) and Service Circles are asked to provide 2 bags of apples. Hope you can volunteer and enjoy the fellowship as we provide for those in need.

Blanket Sunday

One way you can be the hands and feet of Christ is to reach out to help people who have suffered disasters. On Sunday, February 17 we will have an opportunity to support Church World Services through Blanket Sunday. CWS help people not only in the United States but also worldwide. Your generous donation will help someone recovering from fire, flood, earthquake and other disasters—both natural and

manmade—wherever suffering strikes. Thank you to all who provide baked goods for the Presbytery Meeting! Barbara Yarbrough reported that the food was lovely and delicious.

The PWC closet is missing some tablecloths! If you want to see Presbyterian Women in a tizzy, come to FPC when we’re setting up for a luncheon and there are no tablecloths! If you have them and have been meaning to get them back to church please return them and put our minds at ease. As a reminder, if your Circle takes them to the cleaners, you are responsible for returning them to the church.

Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership

An Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Presbyterian Women organization is conferred upon an individual in recognition of her faithful service in some area of the church’s work and the work of Presbyterian Women. The person’s selection is announced at the Birthday Luncheon in May. Please consider nominating someone you feel worthy of this honor. 2019 Nomination Forms are available at the Reception Desk. Please return completed forms to the Reception Desk by March 1, 2019. To read a list of previous winners, turn to page 5 of the 2017-2019 Presbyterian Women’s Directory. Contact Margaret Mackie (704-853-6404) with any questions.

Presbyterian Women News

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Sewing Ministry Update! The Sewing Ministry is up to great things. Recently, a church member inquired about an adult bib for a loved one. Leanna Vaughn immediately put on her thinking cap and went to work. She used pillow cases and shoe strings from the sewing room to make this wonderful bib. It even has a pocket for catching crumbs. We are constantly amazed and grateful for the creative women who serve the PWC through the Sewing Ministry.

The Women’s Connection Retreat will be held in Montreat on August 9th-11th. The retreat focuses on women coming together in an open and welcoming community to be challenged and inspired, to rest and be renewed, and to discover who God wants us to be. The keynote speaker will be Valarie Kaur. Valarie Kaur is a seasoned civil rights activist, award-winning filmmaker, lawyer, faith leader, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Special guest, Amy Grant, will close out the conference on the 11th. Registration is now open. For more information go to montreat.org/events/women.

Presbyterian Women’s Sunday is March 10th. We are very excited to welcome Reverend

Rebekah Maul Senior Minister,

Wake Forest Presbyterian

Church.

 

to Becky Fail upon the death of her sister, Janet Clemmer, on January 25, 2019.

NICKEL-A-MEAL

We collect this offering the 2nd Sunday of each month. It goes to hunger relief projects within the presbytery and around the globe.

Time to Sign Up for the Valentine's Dinner:

Plan to join the fun at the Valentine's Dinner on February 10 at 5:30 p.m. for a great meal and The Newlywed Game. Tickets are $7.50 per person/$15 per couple. Free childcare is available (please let Jill k n o w a b o u t c h i l d c a r e n e e d s a t jkimbirl@fpcgastonia.org). Register for this great event at www.fpcgastonia.org or at the Reception Desk.

First Pres Fourth Fridays

Starting on Friday, February 22nd, the under 40(ish) crowd of First Pres will be hosting a rotating Supper Club on the 4th Friday of every month. If you'd like more information about the Sunday School class, or would like to be added to the First Pres Fourth Friday invite list, please contact Sarah Sumner at sfrsumner@gmail.com or 919-368-8573.

Rise Against Hunger: March 3

Join the Missions Ministry for a congregation-wide meal packaging event in the Fellowship Hall. We will measure rice and nutritional supplements, bag and box them, and prepare them to be sent to disaster regions around the world. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please register at the following link: http://events.stophungernow.org/FirstPresGastonia2019.

Presbytery Mission Trips Love to serve? Looking for ways to help people impacted by recent hurricane flooding? Consider these great opportunities hosted by the Presbytery of Western North Carolina and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: • April 28 – May 4, 2019 PDA Host Site, FPC Wilmington, NC Maximum group size - 14. • May 5 – May 11, 2019 NCCUMC Host Site, Chestnut Street UMC, Lumberton,

NC. Maximum group size – 12. Information and Registration Forms available from presbytery office. www.presbyterywnc.org Phone: 828.438.4217 Cost: $50 What will we do? Mission groups provide home repair and maintenance on houses devastated by Hurricane Florence. Examples of things the team could do: gutting, removing damaged walls, ceilings, floors, and otherwise preparing homes for reconstruction, installing insulation and sheetrock, drywall mudding, flooring and painting. Brian Schroeder and Betsy Keith plan to attend the trip to Lumberton and have been on similar trips before. They would be great resources to answer any questions you may have. Brian’s email: blsgt75@gmail.com; phone: 704-864-3173.

FPC Members to Travel to Guatemala

Gloria Hickson and Lil Lanier are in Guatemala February 4-11 with a group of 8 women from our presbytery. The group will be visiting our partners changing lives through the Guatemala Microloan Project. Our Presbyterian Women and congregation have been supporting this project through card sales. Pray for this

group as they build relationships.

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Continued from page 1 Please be assured that God holds us in the palm of his hand and that your First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia Interim Pastor Nominating Committee is alive, well, and working very hard! It is our goal to have good news soon! In the meantime, we ask for your prayers as we continue our work. God’s Blessings to All, Robbie Lineberger Chair, Interim Pastor Nominating Committee

Confirmation Mentor Visits Team David Layton (Karl Osei-Boateng’s mentor) was at St. Michaels recent home game versus Scholars from Charlotte. Although the home team lost, Karl believes his mentor brought luck as they dominated the first quarter of the game (unprecedented) and gave the opposing team a tough opposition. It was indeed a good game and David had a good time! Mentors, your support proves that the church is alive and well outside of the walls of a building. Thank you for your investment in these students of the faith. Send your pictures to: communications@fpcgastonia.org with a note about what is going on in the photo so you can be in our next edition of First Press!

 COLUMBARIUM 

 Have you no ced the amazing transforma on in progress 

at the Columbarium?  Stop by and take a look!  Ques ons, call Martha Beal or Esther Nelson. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT KICKOFF: FEBRUARY 6TH Adult Ministries is pleased to kick off a new season of Wednesday night programs. The theme of this series will be “Cultivating our Faith During Times of Transition.” The committee agrees we can offer a variety of programs using this theme and continue to welcome new ideas. Mark you calendar for the following Wednesday nights: February 20, March 6 (Ash Wednesday), March 20, April 3, April 17.

Faith and Fiction Faith and Fiction will meet on Sunday, March 3, at Covenant Village in the Card Room at 4:00 p.m.. We will be discussing Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Hostesses will be Bev Bryant and Jean Hileman.

ADULT MINISTRIES

Survey Says… By Janet Spencer, Chair of the Christian Education Ministry

Several months ago, the Membership Committee posted an online survey to members of First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. The purpose of the survey was to gauge interest and preferences regarding possible future speakers. Roughly 100 people participated in the survey, although all were encouraged to do so. The results are in and the findings very interesting. The survey consisted of four questions that were multiple choice. Below are the questions with the most frequent response. The first question: The topic I am most interested in for a potential speaker would be. An inspirational speaker was the choice made by 48.48%. The second question: Would you prefer the event be. This question pertained to the timing of the event. An overwhelming response of 67.68% indicated a one time event in the evening. Would you attend a speaker event and/or invite a guest? This third question was answered Yes, I would attend and bring a guest by 68.37%. The final question on the survey concerned the demographic nature of the participant. Of the 100 participants, 57% were over 60 years of age.

Using data like this collected from our body of believers is an excellent way make plans and involve more of us. Future events are always in the works. Sharing ideas and growing together will help us all grow in our Faith.

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The next Interfaith Trialogue meeting will be Monday, February 18th at 6:30

p.m. in the fellowship hall at FPC. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Worship Attendance Traditional Thrive 1/6/19 139 78 1/13/19 575 (Frye Farewell) 1/20/19 119 100 1/27/19 320 (Boy Scout Sunday)

Church Directory: Please Submit Any Changes Today!!!!

We are in the final stages of editing our new church directory. If ANYTHING has changed since you filled out your paperwork at the time of photography, or if you didn’t have your picture made but want your information to be correct, please call

Trip Stewart at the church TODAY. We are about to submit the final edits.

Have you disconnected your home phone? Do you have a new cell phone number? Has your email address changed? Have you moved?

A team is working hard to make this directory a nice tool for the ministry of the

church. Please help us finish strong and have it as up-to-date as possible! As soon as the final edits are submitted, we will be just a few weeks away from having our new

directories in our hands!

Congregational Meeting Announced

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting/Annual Meeting of the

Corporation for Feb. 24 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service.

Youth Ministry News  

Youth events are going strong! Connect with Tori Pa erson, Director of Youth Ministries to get all of the latest updates on upcoming youth events. Ask her 

to add you to the youth email list and contact her at  tpa erson@fpcgastonia.org. 

 Looking Ahead

February 10th- Valentine's Dinner February 24th- Family Feud

CALLING ALL FAMILIES

In order for us to make Family Feud happen, we need you to participate! We need parents, and siblings to be ready to play. Please send me an email if you are willing to participate. The more families we have,

the more fun! If you are planning to participate, please let me know by February 3rd.

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Completed Habitat House Look what we can do when

God’s people come together!

First Press PERIODICALS US POSTAGE

PAID Gastonia, NC

Interested in joining FPC? Come to the New Member Class on Sunday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m.

in the Session Room!

 RING…RING…IN THE NEW YEAR BY VOLUNTEERING   Looking  to  become  involved  in  2019? There  are  opportuni es  for  you  to become a part of our team that fills  in at the Recep onist Desk when there  is a  staffing  need.  This  is  usually  during extended staff mee ngs, staff retreats, or when someone is on vaca on.   When there  is a need, an email will be sent out  to our  team  to ask  for help. You would  let us know  if  there  is a  me  in which you can assist.   This  is a vital ministry of our church, and we  look forward to working with each of you. We would love to build a team of approximately 10‐15 people. If you would like to  volunteer,  please  contact  Donna  Kerns  by  phone  or  email  at dkerns@fpcgastonia.org.  

FEBRUARY 2019 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1621 EAST GARRISON BLVD

GASTONIA, NC 28054 PHONE: 704-864-2651 WEB: www.fpcgastonia.org FB: www.facebook.com/fpcgastonia TWITTER: @1Pres_Gastonia

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Feb 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:30 p.m. Valentine Banquet Nickel-a-Meal Sunday

8:30 a.m. Yoga 10:00 a.m. Circle 1 6:30 p.m. Circle 6

9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m. Circle 4 6:00 p.m. Building & Grounds

7:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch 5:00 p.m. Personnel 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Choir

Rehearsal

8:30 a.m. Yoga 10:00 a.m. Prayer Beads Small Group 6:30 p.m. Children’s Ministry Meeting

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:30 p.m. Youth Ministry

Blanket Sunday

8:30 a.m. Yoga

7:30 a.m. P.E.T. Meeting 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 4:30 p.m. Communications/ Membership Development 6:00 p.m. Adult Ministries 6:30 p.m. Worship & Music

7:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 9:30 a.m. RoadRunner Ministry 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Alive Meal and Speaker 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 5:35 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

7:30 a.m. Finance Meeting 8:30 a.m. Yoga

Calendar of Events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 24 25 26 27 28 March 1 March 2 9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. New Member Class 11:00 a.m. Worship Noon Congregational Meeting 5:30 p.m. Youth Ministry (Family Feud) 6:00 p.m. Session Meeting

8:30 a.m. Yoga 9:00 a.m. Bible Moderators 10:00 a.m. Presbyterian Women Council

9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 5:30 p.m. Missions

7:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Prayer Lunch 5:30 p.m. Wee Sing 5:30 p.m. First Kidz 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

Newsletter Deadline

Presbyterian Women Bake

Sale

March 3 March 4 March 5 March 6 - Ash Wed. March 7 March 8 March 9

9:00 a.m. Thrive 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship Noon Rise Against Hunger 4:00 p.m. Faith and Fiction 5:30 p.m. Youth Ministry

Communion Sunday

Rise Against Hunger

1:00 p.m. Pastoral Care Meeting

9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

7:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Sewing Ministry Noon Lenten Service off site 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Alive Meal 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Worship Service 7:30 p.m. Choir

Rehearsal

6:30 p.m. Self Defense - Parish Nurse Ministry Event