Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
The cross on the chancel is made from three Christmas trees. It symbolizes the connection between cradle and cross as we celebrate the gift of God’s Son and His sacrifice for our salvation.
Sympathy of the Congregation is extended to Matthew and Steven Bruner on the death of their grandfather, Harry Bruner, Sr. on May 9.
This Week’s Sermon is “Whatever happened to Archippus?” by Bill McCoy. Sermon Text: Colossians 4:17
Next Week’s Sermon is “The Most Glorious Commandment” by Bill McCoy. Sermon Text: Psalm 133:1-3.
Many Ways to Support our Ministries: In addition to traditional cash and checks in the offering plate, you can give on our website firstpresby.com via your computer or smart phone, through our mobile app “Church Life” (you must first set up a user profile on our website to use the Church Life app.) or by texting 73256 and typing “firstpresby” in the message line. Use the QR code card in your pew rack to go directly to our giving page. God loves a Cheerful Giver.
The Lay Academy continues to study “The Addictive Brain,” today from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Dining Room. Dr. Thad Polk lectures (DVD) on “The Gambler’s Brain.” Is it possible to become addicted not only to ingested drugs, but to external, social environments where risk-taking excites the brain and hijacks its functions not through chemical reactions but through behavioral abuse, craving, and dependency. The answer is “Yes,” and this tendency is also heritable through DNA. Revenue gained by American Casinos exceeds 60 billion dollars per year. Victims of this form of addiction also suffer in relationships, school, and work. Everyone is welcome to join us to learn from Science and to join our discussions. Bring a friend or neighbor. For more information, please contact the Church Office, 304-343-8961.
Fellowship Breakfast: Please join Fellowship & Rec and the Mission Division for a breakfast on May 21, from 8:30-9:15 a.m. (Before Sunday School) in the Dining Room. The menu will be scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash brown casserole. We will be focusing on the ministries we will be supporting on Barefoot Sunday. Come, enjoy a great breakfast, and learn about Free Your Footwear.
The May Luncheon of the Presbyterian Women will be held on Thursday, May 18 at noon in the church dining room. Installation of PW officers for 2017-2018 will take place. Also, presentation of
the 2017 Honorary Life Membership/Service Award. Make a reservation for the lunch through your Circle Leader or by calling the church office, 304-343-8961. PW Sunday will be held on May 21.
The Preschool Program is offering three week-long summer camps for children ages 3 (and potty trained) through 6. Camp dates are June 12 – June 16; July 10 – July 14; and July 31 – August 4. For more information, or to sign up a child for camp, please call the preschool office at 304-343-8961 ext. 128. Camps are open to the community, so if you know of a child that may benefit from summer camp, please pass this information on to their parents.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Cereal
Bells and Bars Music Academy will take place Tuesday through Friday, May 30-June 2 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Sunday morning, June 4. All students who have completed Kindergarten and older are invited to participate. We will learn music for chimes, hand-bells, Orff instruments and drums, and we will lead worship with our instruments on Pentecost, Sunday, June 4. Register online on the First Presby website, or fill out one of the registration forms on the table in the hallway. The materials fee is $30, with a family maximum of $75, and scholarships are available. All the music will be custom-written for each student, so let us know as soon as you decide to join us!
Presbyterian Coffee Project: Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolates, raisins, and nuts continue to be available for purchase after worship and the week days during church business hours.
Youth: Sunday and Wednesday Youth Group have now ended for the school year. Please watch for emails and announcements of summer youth events.
Youth Mission Trip: A high school mission trip in West Virginia is planned for July 30-August 3. A $50 deposit towards the total trip cost of $260 is due with your reservation. Contact Payne for more information and to reserve your spot on this work and fun-filled trip for rising ninth graders through graduating seniors.
More About the Music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion about this morning’s middle hymn, “Open My Eyes, That I May See”: “The text printed here agrees entirely with what the author originally printed in the collection, ‘Truth in Song’ (Chicago, 1896). There is a note under the title citing Psalm 119:18 as the inspiration for the hymn. In the King James Version, this verse reads: ‘Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.’ The latter part of each stanza also suggests some dependence on Psalm 130:5: ‘I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.’ This text is a good reminder that the reading of Scripture needs active engagement of all our faculties. The third stanza is also significant in praying for the strength and courage to live out what we learn from our reading.” For more tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of “Glory to God: A Companion” by Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph.D in our church library, or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
Geneva Choir for youth and adults’ welcomes sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, and everyone in between. No prior musical experience is required; just a servant heart and a sense of humor. We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Choir Room at the top of the stairs above the Susie Early Room. Come sing with us!
Shepherd’s Center Holiday Decorations Sale May 25: Any and all seasons’ religious and/or fun holiday items (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, Passover, Easter, Valentine’s, etc.) will be offered for sale by the Shepherds’ Center at their meeting/luncheon May 25. Proceeds will go to help fund our older adult ministry.
First Presby Walking Community! Join us for a weekly walk on Mondays at 5:30 pm. We meet in the parking lot by the activities building for a one hour walk and time of fellowship. If the weather is good we walk outside, and if it is poor we walk in the Activities Building.
Ruffner Room Refreshments: We welcome you to a new time of fellowship in the Ruffner Room immediately following our Sunday service starting on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 28. Ruffner Room Refreshments will occur every Sunday though the summer, unless there is a Fellowship Lunch scheduled for that day.
Please Greet and Welcome our Newly Confirmed Church Membersin the Ruffner Room after the service this morning!
2017 Confirmation Class
Carly Chafin Sarah Riley
Camryn Hughes Katherine Sutton
Ruth Odin Arianna Swint
Ashton Urling
First Presby Work Days-June 9 & 10-Charlie Ferrell Home, 219 Garrison Avenue, Charleston
This project will help repair the home of a decorated Vietnam-era Marine who was awarded 10 commendations throughout his career. He has spent his entire life taking care of others including being an active volunteer in the local Toys for Tots Program. He is currently waiting for a lung transplant and while he has been waiting his home has become uninhabitable. Several organizations/churches are involved but they need more help. Skilled and unskilled labor is needed-a few examples: lawn care, cleaning, painting, kitchen installation, flooring, insulation, pressure washing. Volunteers needed to prepare and provide lunch. Please consider giving some of your time on June 9 and/or 10 to help. Detailed plans and sign up will begin after Memorial Day. To read more about this project check these out: http://www.wsaz.com/contenet/news/Charleston-police-and-volunteer-rebuilding-decorated-veterans-home-410949533.html https://www.gofundme.com/charlieferrellproject
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, 5/14
Mother’s Day
Confirmation/Senior Recognition
9:15 Sunday School
10:00 Music Warm-up
10:30 Worship
11:45 Service of Healing
4:00 Lay Academy
Monday, 5/15
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, 5/16
10:00 Knitting Group
5:30 Fellowship & Rec Division
7:00 Boy Scouts
Wednesday, 5/17
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
6:00 Rebecca Circle (meet in home)
6:45 Mission Division
Thursday, 5/18
Presbytery Meeting-Bridgeport
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
10:30 PW Hannah/Ruth Circle
11:30 PW Prayer Group
12:00 PW Luncheon
7:30 Geneva Choir
Friday, 5/19
7:00 Men’s Group
8:30 Aerobics
10:00 Women’s Outreach Bible Study
SUMMER ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED FOR FIRST PRESBY
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Bells & Bars Music Academy
May 30-June 4 Bells and Bars Music Academy is a fun-filled week of bell playing, chime ringing, Orff playing, drumming and fellowship for children who have completed Kindergarten through youth in 12th grade.
Vacation Bible School
June 9-June 11 As we have the last few years, we join with our neighboring Presbyterian churches for a VBS to remember. This year we will be hosted by Bream Memorial Presbyterian at their church. Mission focus this year is the environment and nature that surround us.
Art Camps
Three different Weeks
Week 1 Ages 4 years to grade 5 June 12-June 15
Week 2 Youth, grades 6-12 June 26-June 29
Week 3 Adults July 17-July 20
All camps have a $20 supply fee due at registration.
YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
Flood Relief Mission Trip
July 30-August 3 Flood Relief Mission Trip to the Webster Springs area restoring and repair homes with some fun activities also planned
Youth Group Activities: Keep your eyes and ears open for more exciting activities for Youth as the summer draws closer.
Bluestone Camps: The Camps at Bluestone run weekly from June 11 through July.
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Barefoot Sunday
June 11 Each year we partner with an organization to provide shoes for those in need. This year our mission partner is “Free Your Footwear” under the umbrella of Bridge Ministries.
Tasty Tuesday
During the summer we choose a Tuesday to prepare and serve a free community meal to all who stop by. This summer Tasty Tuesdays are: June 20, July 18 and August 15.
Mission Work Days
Stay tuned for details of our congregation-wide Community Mission Weekend. We will work under the direction of the organization West Invest to refurbish a home/homes on the West Side.
FELLOWSHIP AND RECREATION
All Church Breakfasts & Lunches Meet a friend-share a meal. Alternating months, you are invited to the Dining Room for either a Sunday breakfast or lunch. May 21, Breakfast; June 11, Lunch; July 16, Breakfast; August 20, Lunch
Ruffner Room Refreshments You are invited for lemonade, tea and coffee in the Ruffner Room following worship on Sunday mornings when there is not a Fellowship Lunch scheduled. Starts Memorial Day Weekend Sunday.