July 24, 2016
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Next week’s sermon is “The Table of Grace”, by Jim Roberts.
“On the Green” Hosts: Personnel Division, Sojourner’s Class and Koinonia Class.
Second Hour Bible Study- Following Time with Young Disciples and the Passing of the Peace, all children in grades 1-5 are invited to join us for Bible Study in room E-113. Look for Janet Chambers. She will walk the children to their classroom. If this is your child’s first time visiting Second Hour Bible Study, please accompany them to the room so that you can sign them in and get acquainted with our teachers.
Youth- During worship, the youth are invited to sit with Youth Director Payne Warner in the rear gallery.
Youth News– Due to traveling for work and vacations, regularly scheduled youth events will be taking a hiatus until the end of July. Notice will go out when events restart on a regular basis. Please pay attention to your email for notice of summer events such as pool parties, bowling, and movie parties. If you would like to get on the Youth email distribution, email Payne at youth@firstpresby.com.
Thanks to our child care volunteers today in our nursery, toddler and preschool rooms. All child care rooms are equipped with live video feeds of the worship service. If you love children and babies, call the church office, (304)343-8961, to volunteer in this special ministry.
Are you a Kroger Community Rewards customer? Kroger Plus Card shopper? The Kroger Company will make a contribution to First Presby each time you use your Kroger Plus card when you designate the church as your choice of charity. Participation does not affect your gas point total. To enroll your card, go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards and select First Presby as your church. If you need help, stop by or call the church office during the week with your Kroger Plus Card and we will be happy to register it for you.
Traveling this summer? Keep in touch with your church family several ways. You can participate in Sunday worship – the service is broadcast on the WCHS 580AM radio website at 11:00 a.m. Check out our website, http://firstpresby.com/ to read the weekly announcements and the bulletin, download past sermons to listen at your convenience. You can log in to the website as a member and set up a recurring gift directly from your checking account or credit card to continue supporting your church ministries while away. Members can also find contact info for other church family members in the member portal. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FirstPresbyCharleston to see photos of the latest happenings. Stay in touch this summer- we’ll miss you when you’re not here!
Are you receiving the weekly announcements in your e-mail? If not, call the church office to update your
e-mail address. In addition to the once a week announcement sheet, we will e-mail you only with very special or late-breaking news. We won’t “spam” your inbox. We promise.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Dry or Canned Milk, Peanut Butter
Knitting and Crocheting- The knitting and crocheting group will be meeting August 2, at 6:00 p.m., at the home of Laura Ceperley, and August 16, at 10:00 a.m., in room E-406. For more information, please contact the church for more information.
“On the Green” Family Sign-ups: We are trying something new for our “Fellowship on the Green” after worship this summer. Our usual small groups–classes and divisions–will cover fewer Sundays for bringing refreshments. This will allow 2 or 3 families to participate together on a Sunday of their choice. Sign up on the poster in the hall or call the office to share being the hosts of “On the Green” this summer. Instructions are included. Open Sundays are September 4 and 11. Please take advantage of this new opportunity to share in the hospitality of First Presby this summer.
More about the music: We now have an important new resource, a volume of research on every tune and text in our hymnal written by the Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph.D. entitled, Glory to God: A Companion. This book contains extended articles about each text and tune in our hymnal. Here’s an excerpt from the about this morning’s opening hymn text, “Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!”
“This text was created in 1988 as an entry in a competition held by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Bicentennial Committee…This was the winning hymn of the competition and was designated “The Bicentennial Hymn.” The bicentennial theme is most evident in the refrain, where the phrase ‘celebrate the journey’ is incorporated, but images of time and journey are found throughout the text (‘led us through the ages long,’ ‘long years have come and gone,’ ‘let wisdom be our guide,’ ‘triumphed o’er the ages long’).”
For more fun tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of the Companion in our church library or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
Look for the big map on the bulletin board in the hallway! Whenever you travel, bring home a bulletin from the churches you visit, and we’ll “map” you on the board. By the end of the summer, our board will be full, and we’ll be connected to brothers and sisters all over the world! Leave your travel bulletins in the church office, and be sure to include your name!
Electronic Giving- Did you know that we can easily set up a recurring gift to the church directly from your checking or savings account? This can easily be done on our church website. Also, you can offer your financial gift to God electronically by scanning the QR code on the laminated card in the pew racks. These cards can also be placed in the offering plate as a sign of your faith and trust in God.
New Series for Sojourner’s Class continues- Sojourner’s Class continues to study “Jesus and His Jewish Influences” on Sunday mornings at 9:15am in the Education Bldg., room 411. Come for lecture and discussion of how Jesus was both faithful to his parent faith community and original in his ministry, reaching out and beyond his heritage. Everyone welcome. For more information, please call Bob Newman (304) 345-0225.
The Cents-Ability Offering is Received Today: The recent flood disaster has and will continue to occupy our minds, offerings, and human resources as we strive as a church community to help to meet the needs of the flood victims. This is very good, right, and necessary. As we continue to engage ourselves in the needs of flood relief, we must also continue to recognize the ever present need to feed our brothers and sisters in our local and global communities. Hunger never sleeps. Please continue to give to the Cents-Ability Offering. Proverbs 22:9 “A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.”
Flood Relief Efforts and Updates:
The outpouring of support and help from First Presby members in response to the flood relief has been tremendous! People have already given generously of their time and financial resources to help our neighbors in this very difficult and trying time. As we are aware, many counties throughout our state have been devastated by the floods. For the short term and possibly long-term, our efforts are concentrated in the Elkview, Clendenin and Clay county areas, where we have access to serve and provide resources in a very tangible way.
Provided below are ways that you can get involved:
Work Day: Our next First Presby workday is scheduled for Saturday, July 30. Working through the Hands On West Virginia Organization based in the Church of the Nazarene in Clendenin, we will provide our manpower to help flood victims restore/rebuild their homes. The exact nature of the work will not be known until a few days before, but come prepared to work hard, get sweaty and have some fun and great fellowship in the process. If you are interested in being on our next work team, please contact Sue Webster no later than noon on Thursday, July 28, sue@firstpresby.com
Backpack and Bed Project: Backpacks: There are still 34 Backpacks that need to be claimed! St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, located in Pinch, is working very directly and intentionally with families in the Elkview area who lost everything during the flood. They are gathering many supplies to provide to the families to help them re-enter their homes and lives. One of those items will be new back to school backpacks filled with supplies that we will provide. Fabulous brightly colored backpacks and supplies are beginning to arrive – thank you to everyone who has already selected and purchased a backpack. See the Backpack Bulletin Board in the main church hallway to participate – there are still many backpacks to choose from. The supply list to fill the backpack with is located on the picture of the backpack on the bulletin board. Please bring your backpacks/supplies to the church office not later than July 29.
Bed Linens: The Church of the Nazarene in Clendenin is receiving a donation of beds to be distributed to local families. They have a very real need of sheet sets to distribute with the beds. What a wonderful gift for people who have lost everything, to be given a clean bed to rest their weary bodies. Update: So many people have already brought in sheets, but we still have availability to get involved. See the Backpacks and Beds board in the main church hallway to participate BEFORE purchasing and/or donating sheets. Please bring your sheets and backpacks to the church office no later than July 29.
Free Camp: The YMCA is holding a free summer camp at Coonskin Park for all children who reside in flood effected area. First Presbyterian Church is helping to support those efforts with a financial donation to provide lunches. Camp counselors are needed (perfect opportunities to serve for High School Students) – please contact the YMCA if you can help in this effort.
Monetary Donations: Checks can be made out to First Presbyterian Church, note: Flood Relief. We will ensure that all flood relief monies stay in West Virginia and will work through local agencies to see that all financial donations are used in the very best manner to benefit flood victims. The funds may also be directed to WVMAW to assist with flood relief.
Additional Needs: Clendenin Church of the Nazarene needs Squeegees, Box Fans, Utility Knives, Respirators and Filters, Building Materials, Lime, Power Tools-Circular Saws and Saws, Cordless Drills Power Testers-Circuits and Outlets, Heavy Duty Extension Cords, Crow Bars, Trowls and Putty Knives, Foot Powder, and Fly Swatters. If you have any of these items that you can donate, please contact Sue Webster.
Praise Note: During First Presby’s VBS that occurred at the beginning of the summer, the children made Care Bears that were given to the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority. Mike Jarrett, the Chaplain for KCEAA came to talk to the children and explained how useful the bears are when they respond to an emergency situation involving a child. A bear is given to the child to provide comfort. Mike Jarrett, who was a first responder the night of the flood, let us know that almost two thirds of the 60 bears that our children made have been given to children affected by the floods. What a gift those bears have been to the children during this very difficult time – To God Be The Glory!
Pastoral Care/Lay Person Counseling Needed August 1-13: For full details please contact Barbra Chalfant at the Presbytery at missions@wvpresbytery.org.
Please remember, the flood relief needs are fluid and always changing. And, while the needs are here and now, they will also be needed for a very long time. Our goal is to employ the resources of our church members in a way that is most beneficial to those who have been affected while being worthwhile and safe for our members. As the people who are in the midst and closest to those needs communicate them to us, they will be communicated to you.
Check out our photos! Were you a part of Vacation Bible School? or the Flood Clean-up Crew? or the Art Class Field Trip to the Huntington Museum? Or would you simply like to see what happened at those events? Photos from these ministries can be viewed on the church facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FirstPresbyCharleston/ which is open to all.
This Week at First Presby:
Sunday, 7/24:
Cents-Ability
9:15 Covenant Class
Sojourners Class
10:30 Worship
11:30 Fellowship “On the Green”
4:00 Stephen’s Ministry
Monday, 7/25:
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
Tuesday, 7/26:
9:00 Art Camp (Field Trip Day)
Wednesday, 7/27:
8:00 Wed. Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
3:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball
Thursday, 7/28:
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
9:00 Art Camp
Friday, 7/29:
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
3:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball
Saturday, 7/30:
No Activities Scheduled