CONGRATULATIONS to:

Cathy and Don Par-rot upon the death of Cathy's brother, Charles Michael "Mickey" Harris of Little River, SC who died July 5, 2019.

Melanie and John Dun-can upon the death of John's sister, Judy Duncan York on July 24, 2019.

Dianne and Dick Belton upon the death of Dick's sister-In-law, "Boots" Bel-ton on July 20, 2019. The family of Ann Furr Cory upon her death on July 25, 2019 in Dunn, N.C. Faith Alive

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Interim Process! Please mark your calendar now for the dinner and program in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m.,

Tuesday, September 24, when Dr. Cindy Benz will make a presentation on what happens during

an interim period in a church. This is an extremely important time in the life

of the First Presbyterian Church and it will be more fruitful if we know what to

expect. The interim process has changed significantly since the last time we

were transitioning between installed pastors and this is a great opportunity to

learn what it is like now, as well as a great opportunity to ask questions! Cin-

dy will first share some information about how she came to serve as an inter-

im pastor and why she is passionate about it. Then, she will give us an idea of

what we can expect during this time AND how we can help! If there was ever

a time to be plugged in and participate, this is it!

We Have a New Ministry Partnership with CareNet Counseling!

CareNet is a community based spiritually integrated counseling ministry affiliated with Wake For-est Baptist Hospital. They are committed to help people achieve health and wholeness by inte-grating personal faith and spiritual insights and principles with effective psychotherapy techniques. CareNet strives to help people achieve, restore, and maintain mental wellness which improves overall health. The CareNet counselor who will be our partner is Russ Keeney. We are anticipating a start date of August 8, 2019. Russ can be reached directly at 704-291-4173.

Russ has been a counselor for the last 13 years in North Carolina and has experience with individ-ual, couples, adolescents, and family therapy. He is originally from Massachusetts and has been in NC since 1993. His background in trauma and family work have become well known in the Gaston County community and among other professionals in the field. Russ’s background includes individ-ual therapy, family preservation social work, and Family Centered Therapy. Russ graduated from Gordon Conwell Seminary in 1991, with a Master’s degree in theology, and in 2003 with a Master’s degree in counseling. He has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2006.

Next Vesper Service in the Chapel August 18th

Fellowship begins at 5 p.m. and the Vesper service at 5:15 p.m. It will con-clude at 5:45 p.m. The service will include music, intercessory prayer re-quests, devotions and communion. Plan to attend with your family and friends.

Another service will be September 22nd.

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Presbyterian Women News

Please join the Women of the Church on Wednesday August 28th, from 5:30 until 7:00, for an evening of good food and wonderful fellowship. Rev. Lauren Sease Vanacore will kick off the yearly Bible Study, leading us through Lesson One.

This year’s study, Love Carved in Stone, is an in-depth look at the Ten Commandments and is authored by Eu-genia Anne Gamble with Suggestions for Leaders by Joyce MacKichan Walker.

As we work our way through the Ten Commandments, we will examine how we can live out our relationship with God and with one another in a world that is often ruled by other standards. The author will also challenge us to dig deep and ask ourselves: What is the pain from which God seeks to protect us in the Ten Command-ments? How can a fresh embrace of the Ten Command-ments contribute to the restoration of ourselves, our communities, and the furthering of the gospel in the world? Each lesson begins with an explora-tion of one of the Ten Words (Commandments) in its biblical context. From there we’ll consider a moment from Jesus’ life that shows us how he lived out that Word. We’ll then consider the Word for our own lives and contexts, and conclude with an invitation to pray with the Word in our circles or study groups and in our personal devotions. It is sure to be a thought provoking study. Please RSVP to Don-na Kerns at the church by Monday August 19th.

We have plenty of casseroles in the freezer for Casserole Care so Cir-cles can take a breather this month. The Casserole Care Committee will give us a shout when we need to begin making them again. Wednesday Prayer Lunch duties will be discussed at the first Presbyterian Women’s Council meeting on August 26th so no circle has Prayer Lunch responsibilities.

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Christmas in July

Thanks for Your Help!

Thank you to all who participated in our mission project Christmas in July. The stu-

dents and teachers at Grier Middle School will know that we care about them and

will be starting out with supplies that will be needed and used. Your generosity will

be a reminder that they are special to us. Thank you for your gifts and your support

for this mission.

If you are a late Christmas shopper and wish to add a gift, please contact a member of the Missions Committee or leave your gift at the front desk.

Back to School Means Volunteers Needed

It’s time for children to go back to school and for us to start planning to support our students in need at Sherwood. If

you were a tutor last year and plan to continue or if you are a person who’s interested in joining our group, please

contact Gloria Hickson at 704-865-6109. The children are wonderful and loving! It does make a difference! Just ask

someone who has done this mission or a child who’s found someone to depend on and be his/her friend to know

how important this mission is..

Samaritan's Feet

August 9, 2019 Time: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Boys and Girls Club

With school beginning we will be sharing the love of Jesus in our community mission project, Samaritan’s Feet.

We will need helpers to: set-up, clean- up, foot washers, water team, meal helpers, shoe store helpers, greeters,

runners, and general help where needed. This a special time to give over 200 pairs of shoes to children and share a

meal with them. Sign ups will be before and after the worship services as well as at the front desk. We hope you

will take the time to be a part of this important mission ministry. You will be glad you did!

Remember Family Promise—Our guests this week!

Welcome to our families visiting us this week from Family Promise. We hope

they will feel welcome and enjoy their time with us.

Thanks to all of you who have volunteered to make their visit more pleasant.

Check the sign in on our church website to see if there is still a need for volun-

teers. We’d love to have you participate. Lenise needs help on the weekends!

Pictured are a few of the FPC volunteers that assisted in the “set up” phase of

our week.

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Our Next One Service Sundays Are:

August 25, 2019 - One service only - 11:00 .m.

A congregational meeting for the election of officers and nominating committee will take place immediately following the service.

September 1, 2019 - One service only - 9:00 a.m.

Wanted: Walkers, runners, bikers, kayakers…

Are you a member of a gym? Do you gather with friends to walk /run in your neighborhood, on the greenway or golf course? Do you hike at Crowder’s Mtn. or elsewhere? Are you a member of F3 group? Enjoy kayaking? Have you been looking for a reason to go visit other NC State parks?

The Parish Nurse Ministry has an opportunity to apply for a $1000 grant to be used for programs/honorariums to support health and wellness, but needs your help!

The NC 100-mile challenge is an initiative launched by North Carolina State Parks to encourage every-one to get outside and explore our trails and water-ways. Church members can walk, hike, run, bike, paddle, roll, ride or skate anywhere in the North Carolina outdoors to complete their 100 miles out-doors in the geographical boundaries of North Caro-lina before December 31, 2019. All this requires is for 10 church members to each log 100 miles of activity.

These funds would provide amazing opportunities for additional community outreach, health educa-tion awareness programs, etc. . And the benefits to your overall health are immeasurable!

Notes

from

Lisa!

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Med Assist Giveaway Great Success!

The NC MedAssist over-the-counter giveaway program served over 700 people and 129 homebound individuals with $100,000 worth of over the counter products.

Of these, 148 individuals met the criteria for ongoing assistance with free prescription medications. This program helps people to potentially avoid hospitalizations and the often difficult choice of choosing between paying for meds vs. food, heat, etc. Thanks to all who helped with this event!

“HOOKIN’ for HOPE”

Crocheted Bags of Supplies for the Homeless and Current Drug Users

After learning about the need for the crocheted bags that have touched many

people who are currently using drugs or are homeless, Lisa Marisiddaiah, our

Parish Nurse contacted the Women’s Sewing Ministry of FPC to request their

help. They were happy to help and crocheted over 100 bags which were given

to the Olive Branch Ministry. The bags contained items such as Narcan, the

medication that reverses an opiate overdose, harm reduction, and wound care

supplies, food, and more.

These bags were given out locally and displayed at the national convention in

August of 2019. Olive Branch is launching “Hookin’ for HOPE”, with a pattern for

bags and suggestions for their use. The hope is that other faith and civic com-

munity groups will begin to make the bags and send them to either their own

local agencies or to Olive Branch , to be distributed as needed across the country.

Thank you Lisa and ladies of the Sewing Ministry for showing the love of Jesus in this mission project which is touching lives literally all over the country.

Upcoming Programs:

Wednesday, August 14, 12 noon @FPC Fellowship Hall -

“Essential Oils 101” - Program is free, lunch is $8.00. Please rsvp to 704-864-2651 by Aug 12.

Wednesday, September 11, 11 a.m.— 1:30 p.m. @FPC Fellowship Hall

"How the Opioid Epidemic is Affecting the Elderly" - Two speakers, Free lunch/Free Continuing Education.

If you know a church member who is homebound /disabled/ lacking transportation or has difficulty meeting their nutritional needs, please contact Lisa Marisiddaiah, Parish Nurse at 704-750-5472.

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Faith and Fiction meet September 1, at Covenant Village in the Card Room at 5:00 p.m. We will be reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Our hostesses will be Lenise Melton and Vicky Wilson.

Travel with the Roadrunners!

The Roadrunners plan a trip to the Bechtler Muse-um of Fine Arts in Charlotte on August 22nd. This is a 36,000 sq. ft. facility dedicated to an exhibition

of mid-20th century art. It is a part of the Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte. Contact Betsy Keith for additional details.

More Trips Coming!

September 12 to Love Valley, N.C.

October 10 to Blowing Rock, N.C.

Thank you for all the material you send to 1st Press. Publishing 1st Press is simple: No materi-

al...No 1st Press!

BUT...what happens after you write an article?

Space is an issue and occasionally it is neces-

sary to limit the number of pictures and length

of articles.

After assembly and editing, a few rough draft

copies are prepared for the ruthless eyes of Glo-

ria Hickson, Tom Avery, and Dotty Blake.

Yes...we make mistakes!

What are the nuts and bolts that finally deliver it to you? Once finished, Calvin Craig receives a

copy for the FPC webpage. The printed pages then weave their way through our “in house” publishing system which pro-

duces over 400 color copies in about an hour.

The following day the mailing team performs their magic. The careful hands of Ben and Betsy Summer, Barbara Hite,

Beth Bolin, Betsy Keith, Beverly Stuart, and Esther Nelson carefully add inserts, such calendars or special bulletins,

fold, seal, and individually address each one with special labels prepared by Trip Stewart . Pleasing the Post Office is the

next hurdle as they are quite persnickety. Each 1st Press must be evenly folded, sorted by zip codes and precisely sealed

with two tapes –not one or three! Finally you get the 1st Press!

Thanks! Carol and Bob

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Wild and

Wacky

Wednesdays

Aug 7th Morning Mission - Meals on Wheels Center & White Water

Center Cost: $49 (youth all access pass) Must be 8 yrs. and

45 lbs. to participate Lunch Details: Bring a bag lunch to eat at Kevin Loftin River

Front Park, Belmont Drop Off Time: 9:00 a.m. Circle in front of the Sanctuary Pick Up Time: 5:30 p.m. Circle in front of the Sanctuary

Aug 14th Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, S.C.

Cost: $16.95 General Admission (Children 2-12) & $5.00 ice cream

Lunch Details: Bring a bag lunch to eat in picnic area Drop Off Time: 8:30 a.m. Fellowship Hall Pick Up Time: 6:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall

Notes

Participants are encouraged to invite friends. In order to provide enough space in vehicles, registration – a minimum of two weeks ahead of time. To register your child for Wild and Wacky Wednes-

day trips, please email or call Jill Kimbirl at jkimbirl@fpcgastonia.org or 704-365-2651. Wild and Wacky Wednesday trips are for rising 2nd thru rising 6th

graders. Chaperones and Drivers are needed. Please contact Jill Kimbirl to volunteer. Permission forms will need to be filled out by guests. *Crises Assistance Ministry requires the names and ages of all our volunteers ahead of time. Please email Jill your desire to attend as soon as possible to secure our space.

Join the Rally August 25th

Parent Meeting

August 11th @ 12:15 p.m.

Lunch will be provided and we will meet in the Fel-lowship Hall. I am giving you the date early. It is vital that you be there! We will be announcing our mis-sion trips for next year, giving out the yearly sched-ule, and giving you updated handbooks. Please RSVP to Tori by August 4th in order to give us a headcount.

Youth Completes Service Project

A service project was completed today for the Boys and Girls Club of Gastonia. We packed school sup-plies with notes of encouragement written by the youth, made over 250 cups of homemade play doh

and made over 50 stress balls. We made practical and fun items for all of the children to use this year. We had twenty participants for our service project. Helping others was a fun and learning event for us.

First Press PERIODICALS

US POSTAGE PAID

Gastonia, NC

Worship Attendance

July, 2019

28 July Vespers attendance 24

*total viewership for the week — Some may view services at a later date. The totals include both services. The “live” viewers include Facebook and YouTube, but do not count those watching on the Covenant Village closed circuit TV sys-tem.

Date Thrive 11 a.m. TotalLivestream Viewers*

7 July 122 No service 22 live (54 total)

14 July 68 102 58 live (91 total)

21 July 67 98 70 live (93 total)

28 July 86 96 Not available

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http://gap.wncpresby.org/