Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Congratulations to:
- Ben and Elizabeth Adams on the birth of Cathryn Foster born May 27. Cathryn joins brother Hoy at home. Grandparents are Dave and Candy Strader and Trip and Becky Adams.
- Michael and Anne Moses on the birth of Palmer Michael, born January 20.
This morning we welcome our Bells and Bars Music Academy students to worship leadership. The group worked together all week to learn music for chimes, bells, Orff instruments, steel drum, and tubano drums. At the end of the week, each student tie-dyed his or her own shirt and handbell gloves to wear this morning. We thank Heather Curtis, daughter of Ellen Golden and granddaughter of Dick Golden, for designing our shirt logo, and we thank Chip Urling for printing our shirts for us each year. This year’s Music Academy students are Sophie Alexander, Ali Arbogast, Emma Berger, Lila Crislip, Riley Crislip, Aidan Daugherty, Devlin Daugherty, Bekah Grishaber, Charlotte Hoblitzell, Ellie Hoblitzell, Catelynn Kidd, James Odin, and Ruth Odin.
What is Pentecost? For Christians, Pentecost is a holiday on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church.” Thus, from an historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective, since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus, Pentecost is the church’s birthday.
The Pentecost Offering is received today: Give toward a more promising future! When you give to the Pentecost Offering, you are helping to provide opportunities for young people to grow and share their faith in Christ. Of the Pentecost Offering, *40% stays with our congregation to develop and support programs for young people in our own church and community. *25% supports Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) which provides opportunities for young adults to serve in communities around the world and grow as leaders through transformative Christian service.*25% goes to Ministries with Youth to help guide our youth by uniting them in Christ and lifting them up as leaders and messengers of God’s word.*10% advocates for at-risk children to support vital ministries helping to improve education and provide safe havens for children.
Vacation Bible School – Planet Earth Passport – in collaboration with Bream Presbyterian Church and Kanawha United Presbyterian Church and hosted by Bream this year. Dates are Friday, June 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 pm., Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bream Presbyterian Church and Sunday, June 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Coonskin Park. To sign up for this intergenerational mission experience please contact Janet Chambers at janet@firstpresby.com or 304-343-8961.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Boxed Skillet Meals and Canned Meats
Ruffner Room Refreshments: Please join us in the Ruffner Room following the worship service for a time of Fellowship and Refreshments. We will have lemonade, water, and coffee. What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 1 Corinthians 14:26.
Sing in the Family Choir Next Sunday! Come to the Choir Room next Sunday morning, June 11, at 9:30 a.m. to learn the anthem for 10:30 a.m. worship. We’ll be a different choir on each Family Choir Sunday, determined by the people who are in town each time we sing. Other Family Choir Sundays this summer will be June 25, July 9, and July 16, so mark your calendars and plan to sing with us. All ages are welcome.
Barefoot Sunday is June 11! This is the day that you are invited to come to church in bare feet to walk in solidarity with those who daily have to walk with no covering or protection for their feet. This is also the day that you bring an offering of shoes in support of those who do not have shoes. This year, First Presby is partnering with Free Your Footwear, a branch of Bridge Ministries, Inc. that is working with domestic and international organizations to help collect, refurbish and distribute gently used or new shoes to those in need worldwide. Millions of people worldwide go without basic needs every day, like footwear. Having this lack of shoes can lead to feelings of rejection and worthlessness and also exposes the individual to tremendous health risks. Receiving a gift of shoes is a way to signify importance and a feeling of being loved. Be one of the first to stop by the bulletin board in our church hallway to select your Barefoot card and commit to purchase a new pair of shoes for a child in need. Or select a card to make a financial donation to support the work of Free Your Footwear. Instructions for participation are on the bulletin board or contact Sue Webster for more information.
Hot Dog Sunday: On June 11, Barefoot Sunday, you are invited to join Fellowship and Recreation and Mission in the Dining Room following worship for our annual Hot Dog Sunday.
More About the Music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion” about this morning’s opening hymn, “As the Wind Song”: “This hymn began with the creation of the tune, which the composer sent to the author with no suggestion of theme. Her reaction was that ‘its lyricism gave a feeling of the movement of the Spirit, both gentle and powerful.’ Just as Jesus used parables to describe the kingdom of God, the author here gathers a wealth of similes that are followed by ‘so it is with the Spirit of God.’ Some of these images are biblical (like the paraphrase of Romans 8:26 in verse 1) and some come from daily life (like the kite of 2.5); some are both, like the rainbow of 2.1.” 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.
Sign up today to be a part of First Presby Work Days-June 9 and 10 (work one or both days, whatever fits your schedule): 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. One of the projects that we will execute on June 9 and 10 is to build a wheelchair ramp. All supplies and instructions will be provided–we simply need your man/womanpower! Additional opportunities on June 9 and 10 may include lawn/yard 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. See Sue Webster in the main church hallway today after worship service to sign up – complete instructions for the work days will be provided by Sue and/or Andy Ceperley once you have signed up.
Lay Academy: The word “Poetry” comes from the Greek word POIEW which means to create. This is the word used in the Septuagint (Greek version of the Old Testament) in Genesis 1 to describe God’s work when He creates all of the universe. When we speak and/or write poetry, we are creating, following God’s example. What do we create? The answer is “Reality, the truth about who we are, how we feel, and what we want in our lives for a better world, more in tune with God’s hopes and intensions for His creation.” Here is an example of how Poetry begins: A Mother hoovers over her infant who cries with pain. Filled with love for this little one, her creation, she searches for sound, words, music, to sooth, comfort, heal her suffering offspring. She sings a lullaby, welcoming the sounds/words her heart and soul give her to share. She is also praying at the same time, joining the two of them together with the Spirit of their creator as she strives to create the love, comfort, healing her Savior promises to her. Everyone is welcome to come join our Summer Poetry Club which will meet weekly starting June 21, to explore Poetry, both original, and collected from other sources. For more information, contact the Church Office, 304-343-8961.
Tasty Tuesday – Summer 2017! During the summer months, members of First Presby serve dinner to those who may be hungry in our community. Our first Tasty Tuesday for this summer is scheduled for June 20. This is a multi-generational event and all congregation members are encouraged to get involved by way of preparing or purchasing food, serving, cleanup, or just by coming to enjoy dinner and fellowship with our brothers and sister of the community. This is a wonderful evening of fellowship, food, and fun! Spaghetti dinner is our menu for this first event. Mary McCoy will be on hand today after worship with a participation sign-up sheet. ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
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.
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. Do you love children and babies? Call the church office, 304-343-8961, to volunteer in this special ministry.
Act of Faith: We are reminded that all we have comes from God. Please remember to name the First Presbyterian Church as a beneficiary of your will, your retirement plan or of a life insurance policy in order that we may carry out God’s wishes and continue his work in our community and in the world.
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, 6/4
Pentecost/Communion
Gym & Rec Room Closed
9:15 Covenant Class
9:15 Sojourners Class
9:15 Manna Meal Sandwich Making
9:30 Bells & Bars Warm-Up
10:30 Worship
11:30 Ruffner Room Refreshments
Monday, 6/5
Gym & Rec Room Closed
8:30 Aerobics
10:00 First Presby Playgroup-Magic Island
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, 6/6
Gym & Rec Room Closed
5:30 APNC Meeting
Wednesday, 6/7
Gym & Rec Room Closed
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
11:45 Wednesday Men’s Group
5:15 Property Division
6:45 Personnel Division
7:00 Worship Team
Thursday, 6/8
Gym & Rec Room Closed
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
Friday, 6/9
Gym & Rec Room Closed
8:00 Mission Work Project
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 VBS @ Bream Church
Saturday, 6/10
8:00 Mission Work Project
10:00 VBS @ Bream Church