First Presby’s Weekly News
September 17, 2017
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Please note the parking lot will be closed for resurfacing on Monday, September 18.
A Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, September 24, immediately following the worship service for the purpose of the Election of officers for the Class of 2020.
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 “Comparative Religions” this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the Dining Room of Activities Building. Having learned about the Primal Religions, we begin to study South Asia, India and the family of religions that begins with Hinduism, the oldest of the so-called Great Religions of today’s world. Professor Mark Berkson will lecture (DVD). Read pp. 9-35 in your textbook. Dr. Newman will lead discussion, with everyone invited to participate. For more information, please call the Church Office, 304-343-8961 or Dr. Newman 304-345-0225. All Lay Academy studies are free and open to the public. For this class the textbook is free of charge. Bring a friend or neighbor.
Fellowship & Rec would like to thank all everyone who volunteered, brought food, and attended the picnic last Sunday. The event was a rousing success and a model for the future. If you provided a dish, we ask that you email Payne the recipe at youth@firstpresby.com. If you had your picture taken in the photo booth and did not pick up your picture, please see Payne before or after the service at the Panera Table. Watch the church announcement emails, slideshows before the service, and listen to Bill’s announcements for our next event.
Dessert Competition Winners: Congratulations to the winners of the Dessert Competition! With a record-breaking number of entries, the competition was fierce. Taylor Raab and daughter Alicia took first place with their Triple Chocolate Cake, Mary McCoy laid claim to second place with a chocolate and caramel Turtle Cake, and Carolyn Mullet hauled in third place with Dave’s Apple Pie.
Youth: We return to our regularly scheduled programing with Sunday Night Youth Group from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Dining Room and LOGOS on Wednesday nights from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Church League Basketball: Attendance requirement for participation in Church League Basketball has begun. If your child wishes to play, please make sure they are attending Sunday School, worship, and/or Youth Group at least twice a month. Please contact Payne at youth@firstpresby.com to sign-up for a team, or if you are interested in coaching.
Presbyterian Women Luncheon—September 21, noon in the Dining Room: The congregation is invited to hear David Nolan’s presentation on implementing our Strategic Plan: “Looking to First Presby’s Future.” Call the church office (304) 343-8961 by 8 a.m. Tuesday to make your luncheon reservation.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Spaghetti (1 lb. package) and Sauce
More About the Music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion” about Sunday morning’s response, “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying”: “This song was first recorded on the author/composer’s 1973 album, Son Shiny Day. [Ken Medema] has described how it originated in 1970 when he was working with a youth group in New Jersey: ‘We started talking about a young man who was in the hospital and who really needed our prayers. In the middle of our prayer time, the idea for this little chorus came to me. I started humming, then singing. Soon the kids were mumbling along with me…So it was a song born out of our concern and prayer for a friend.’ (Psalter Hymnal Handbook; Grand Rapids, 1998)” 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: There’s room in the Geneva Choir for you! Music literacy and perfect attendance are not required, but a sense of humor is certainly helpful. The choir does have a few people with great solo voices, but most of us are just regular folks like you. God needs all of us! Come to rehearsal this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Choir Room and join your voice with ours.
Hurricane Harvey and Irma Assistance: Our prayers are with all of the people affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Our hearts are broken by the incredible destruction caused by both hurricanes. There are numerous ways to provide support. Gifts can be given through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance by using the following link: https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000169/, or you can mail a check to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700 designating to DR000169-Harvey or DR000194-Atlantic Regional Hurricanes-Irma. In the near future, First Presby will be organizing church-wide volunteer activities to help those affected by the hurricanes. More information will be available in the weeks to come.
Local Mission Grant Applications Available: Through your very generous pledge and plate offerings, the First Presbyterian Congregation annually funds local mission outreach grant requests. 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. Agencies submit their applications to our Mission Division. The Division reviews the grants following a best practices set of guidelines and makes recommendations to Session regarding funding. If you know of a 501c3 organization that qualifies to submit a grant application, please make them aware of this opportunity. The grant applications for 2018 funding are available on the information table in the church hallway and 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.
Opportunity to Serve on the RCCR Board: WANTED- A person who wants to help the less- advantaged own their own homes, who wants to help the addicted become clean and return to society, and who is willing to give of their time to make it happen. First Presbyterian Church helped found the Religious Coalition for Community Renewal over 25 years ago, with continuous representation on its Board of Directors. We are seeking a person who will serve God with their time and energy by working on the RCCR’s board for a three-year term. The RCCR Board meets the 4th Thursday of each month from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. RCCR’s primary fundraiser each year is the Bean Dinner. If you feel called to this ministry, please contact: Sue Webster – 304-343-8961 Ext. 139
Check out the map before it goes away! We worshipped with brothers and sisters in churches as nearby as Huntington and as far away as Oslo, Norway, all shown on worship bulletin board in the main hallway. The map won’t be there forever, so check it out today and find out where everybody has been this summer!
It’s Charleston Trash Bag pick-up time again. If you have more bags than you can use, please donate them to the church. Please note you can bring your Trash Bag Voucher to the church if you can’t use the bags, and we will pick up the bags for the church. Each year we save over $700 by using your donated bags. Thank you!
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, September 17
Musician Commissioning
9:15 Sunday School
10:00 Choir & Worship Team Warm-up 10:30 WORSHIP
4:00 Lay Academy, Comparative Religions DR
6-8:30 Youth Group
Monday, September 18
8:30-10 Aerobics, Rec. Rm.
Tuesday, September 19
9:20 Staff Meeting, Ruff. Rm.
9:30-11 Bible Study Group, A-203 (Coffee)
10-12 Knitting / Crocheting Group, E-406
4-6 Trustee Meeting, E-406
5:30 Fellowship & Rec. Div., Library
5:30-6:30 FPC Lyres Club, Ruff. Rm.
6-9 Boy Scout Troop 5, DR-Eagle
Wednesday, September 20
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30-10 Aerobics, Rec. Rm.
11:45 Men’s Wed. Lunch Group, Bistro
5-7:30 LOGOS, DR, Rec. Rm., Gym, A-109,
E-112, E-302, E-306, Library
6:00 Church Fellowship Dinner, DR
6:45 Mission Division, E-406
7:30 Worship Music Team, Sanctuary
Thursday, September 21
RECYCLING
7:30 Bible Study, Downtown Shoney’s
10:30 PW Hannah/Ruth Circle, A-203 (coffee)
11:30 PW Prayer Group, A-201 12:00 PW Luncheon, DR
7:30-9 Geneva Choir, Choir Rm.
Friday, September 22
7-8 Men’s Group, DR
8:30-10 Aerobics, Rec. Rm.
10-11:30 Women’s Outreach Bible Study,
A-203 (Need coffee)
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 6:19-12