Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Sympathy of the Congregation is extended to Art Youse on the death of his brother, Charles Youse in Readsboro, VT.
Next Week’s Sermon is “The Promise” by Bill McCoy. Old Testament Lesson is Genesis 15:7-21.
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.
Cents-Ability Offering is Received Today: Cents-Ability is a partnership of Christian faith, compassion, and the simple action of setting aside a few cents each meal to provide food for hungry people. The offering is undergirded with prayer reminding us of the importance of sharing our lives and gifts with others. This is an opportunity for every family member, adult, youth and child, to respond to the needs of the hungry. Isaiah 58:10 If you give of your own food to feed those who are hungry and to satisfy the needs of those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.
Youth Group: Youth group meetings have begun for students in 6th through 12th grade! Join us tonight from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the dining room. Dinner will be provided.
Volleyball: If you are interested in playing co-ed volleyball this fall please contact: Payne Warner @ youth@firstpresby.com.
Local Mission Grant Applications: Through the very generous pledge and plate offerings by you, the First Presbyterian Congregation, local mission outreach grant requests are funded annually. First Presby has a very long and rich history of supporting local non-profit agencies/organizations that promote a better quality of life for those in need in our community. To apply, local/state agencies submit their applications to the Mission Division. A subcommittee of the Mission Division reviews the grants following a best practices set of guidelines and the Division makes recommendation to Session regarding funding. If you know of, or have an association with, a 501c3 organization that would qualify to submit a grant application, please make them aware of this opportunity. The grant applications for 2018 funding will be available in the church hallway on the information table beginning September 1 and/or online at www.firstpresby.com. All applications are due on or before Friday, September 29, 2017. Please contact Sue Webster if you have any questions.
Traveling this Summer? Take a First Presby “Greeting Card” with you to drop into the offering plate of the church you visit on vacation. You will find these wallet-size blue cards inside the Friendship Pads, and on the “Bulletin” bulletin board in the hallway. Then bring home a worship bulletin, leave it in the church office (be sure to include your name!), and we’ll “map” you on the bulletin board.
The Lay Academy begins a new fall study of “Comparative Religions” on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 10, 4:00 p.m. in the Activities Bldg. Dining Room. We live in a time when controversy, tension, hostility between Religions is more common sometimes than peace and harmony. When we learn more about religions other than our own, we gain new insight into our own faith, and better skills for loving our neighbor, not to mention our enemy, as ourself. Dr. Bob Newman will be the primary lecturer and we will have guest speakers from different religions in our community. Free and open to everyone. Even the textbook is free. Invite your friends and neighbors. For more information, please contact the Church Office, (304) 343-8961, or Bob Newman (304) 345-0225.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Peanut Butter
If You Enjoyed singing or listening to the offerings of the Family Choir this summer, pray and ask the Lord if this is your year to become part of the Geneva Choir. Music literacy and perfect attendance are not required, but a sense of humor is certainly helpful. God needs singers of all voice types and levels of experience, and you will receive the gift of community in the Choir Room. Rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m.
More About the Music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion” about this morning’s concluding hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God”: “This is one of the best-known German hymns, not only in its original language but in many English-language hymnals. For people in the United States it is often associated with Thanksgiving Day services or with large public gatherings. Its origins were on a thoroughly different scale: the author intended it for a table prayer. As recently as the latter part of the 19th century, one of Rinkardt’s descendants owned the now-lost original manuscript of the hymn which bore an annotation that it was written on June 24, 1630, for his children to sing. This very likely dating means that it would have been written in the context of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), far from the circumstances of peace and plenty that it may suggest to singers today. There is much more gratitude here for much less than the benefits enjoyed by many people who now sing this hymn nonchalantly.” 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.
Church League Basketball: Attendance for Church League Basketball begins in September. Eligibility to play requires attendance at Church, Sunday School, Youth Group and/or LOGOS at least twice a month on different days. If your student is interested in playing, or you are interested in coaching/helping please send Payne Warner an email at youth@firstpresby.com.
Re-enrolling in Kroger Community Rewards. If you have enrolled your Plus Card for Kroger to donate to First Presby, re-enrollment is not necessary this year. Since becoming part of this Rewards Program in 2015, Kroger has donated over $9,000 to First Presby, with each quarter’s gift growing as more members enrolled their Plus Cards. If you are a Kroger shopper and have not yet enrolled your card, now is the perfect time to do so at www.kroger.com to help grow our ministry. Our organization number is: 83840. If you need help enrolling, stop by the church office and we will be glad to get you started.
Down-sizing or moving? We are looking for a donation of a nice room-size area rug (14×10 or 16×12) for under a large conference table. If you have one you would like to donate, please send a photo and dimensions to jackie@firstpresby.com. A charitable contribution receipt will be provided. Thank you!
Church Family-Style Dinner, August 30
Please make reservations by 4:00 p.m. Monday.
Please complete the form below or contact the church office (304-343-8961) for reservations.
(Those registered for LOGOS, do not have to make dinner reservations)
Theme: FROG Night
Hosts: Deacons & Covenant Sunday School Class
Return the tear-off portion below for your dinner reservation.
Wednesday Dinner –August 30, 2017– 6:00 p.m.
First-time visitor, be our guest—no charge!
NAME_______________________________________PHONE______________________________
______Adults _______Children 3 through 12 _______Children 2 and under
PRICE FOR DINNER
Adult/$7; Child 12-under/$3; Child under 3 is free
LOGOS MENU: Pepperoni Rolls, Salad, Fresh Veggies & Ranch, Fruit, Cookies
ADULT MENU: Pizza Casserole, Salad, Fresh Veggies, Dessert
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, August 27
Cents-Ability
9:15 Covenant Class
10:30 Worship
11:30 Ruffner Room Refreshments
11:45 Service of Healing
6:00 Youth Group
Monday, August 28
8:30 Aerobics
Tuesday, August 29
5:30 Fellowship & Rec Division
7:00 Boy Scouts
Wednesday, August 30
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
5:00 LOGOS
6:00 Church Fellowship Dinner
Thursday, August 31
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
Friday, September 1
8:30 Aerobics
ALL NEW CHURCH PICNIC
The Picnic is Coming To You!
WHEN: Sunday, September 10 from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
WHERE: Fellowship & Recreation is hosting the Annual Church Picnic on the Church Parking Lot and Green Space
WHAT TO BRING: A vegetable side dish, a salad or dessert to share. Drop food off in the Dining Room where volunteers will keep the hot food hot and cold food cold. Meat and drinks will be provided.
ACTIVITIES: Activities for all ages including a dunk tank, bounce houses, face painting, a photo booth, dessert competition (bring your recipe, music and more.)
Come to church dressed in comfortable picnic clothes.
We want EVERYONE to come home for the food, fun, and fellowship!
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SEPTEMBER, 2017
Friday, September 1
Mark 14:27-42
Saturday, September 2
Mark 14:43-52
Sunday, September 3
John 8:47-59
Monday, September 4
Mark 14:53-65
Tuesday, September 5
Mark 14:53-65
Wednesday, September 6
Mark 15:1-11
Thursday, September 7
Mark 15:12-21
Friday, September 8
Mark 15:22-32
Saturday, September 9
Mark 15:33-39
Sunday, September 10
John 10:31-42
Monday, September 11
Mark 15:40-47
Tuesday, September 12
Mark 16:1-8(9-20)
Wednesday, September 13
Matthew 2:1-12
Thursday, September 14
Matthew 2:13-23
Friday, September 15
Matthew 3:1-12
Saturday, September 16
Matthew 3:13-17
Sunday, September 17
John 11:45-57
Monday, September 18
Matthew 4:1-11
Tuesday, September 19
Matthew 4:12-17
Wednesday, September 20
Matthew 4:18-25
Thursday, September 21
Matthew 5:1-10
Friday, September 22
Matthew 5:11-16
Saturday, September 23
Matthew 5:17-20
Sunday, September 24
Luke 3:7-18
Monday, September 25
Matthew 5:21-26
Tuesday, September 26
Matthew 5:27-37
Wednesday, September 27
Matthew 5:38-48
Thursday, September 28
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Friday, September 29
Matthew 6:7-15
Saturday, September 30
Matthew 6:19-24