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Friday, April 24, 2015 Sunday’s Weather: Sunny 70°/ 51° Volume 20, Issue 8
Roadrunners visit BMW factory
FIRST PRESSFaith alive!
Source: NOAA
INSIDE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP, FUN and SERVICE!!!!
OPPORTUNITIES
Fun, fellowship and fast cars! SCOUT HUT DEDICATIONMay 3On May 3 at 2 p.m. at the Scout Hut, the scouts and adult leaders of troop 11 and First Presbyterian Church will honor Steve Owens for his wonderful contributions to scouting by dedicating the scout building in his honor as the Steve Owens Scout Build-ing. Steve took a personal in-terest in shepherding many scouts through the program of the Boy Scouts of America and stood by the side of many scouts who exemplified the ideals of scouting by receiv-ing the honored Eagle Scout award. The entire church fam-ily and community is cordially invited to join the scouts in this day of celebration and honor.
SPRING PICNIC May 17Mark your calendars to attend the Spring Picnic. This year’s picnic will fea-ture our first ever Sunday School Showdown. This friendly competition will be like Family Feud, but much more fun! We can’t wait for May 17!!!!!
EASTER SEASONWORSHIP
Join our journey through the Easter season, which lasts until Pentecost. Inside, please en-joy a special article about the beauty of spring!
SUNDAY WORSHIPLIVE STREAM AVAILABLE FOR
Traveling this Sunday? There’s no need to miss our worship service. Worship with us live online
at www.fpcgastonia.org!
Photos by Betsy Keith
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
With faith and hope in the power of the resurrection, members and friends of First Presbyterian offer our care, love and support to Mike and Leslie Wallace and their chil-dren, Michael and Rob,upon the death of Mike’s mother, Mrs. Peg-gy Tate Wallace,who died Tues-day, April 14; and to Don and Bet-sy Thrower upon the death of their niece, Ms. Mary Marsh Thrower, who died Sunday, April 12.
NEW EVERY MORNINGBy Rev. Marissa Galván-Valle
When I lived in Puerto Rico, I had no notion about seasonal changes that were not associated with rain: It rained more or less, de-pending on the time of year. Nev-ertheless, there was something that always caught my eye. In all the greenery that surrounded us, weeds or grass always grew in the most unexpected places. The one place that always jumped out the most to me was the crevices of the sidewalks. There was no fertile soil there, just a little bit of dirt. That did not stop the seeds from taking hold and growing. Nature has a knack for fighting and for growing anew in places where life can seem diffi-cult. This has always amazed me. When I moved to the United States, I experienced my first fall, my first winter, and my first spring. Winter was (and is) too long. Everything seems to die. All goes gray, and trees and flowers look sad, as if they are never going to be able to rise up again. To someone that is used to seeing green all year long, winter is a death-like experience. When is this going to end? How are the trees and flowers going to survive the film of ice that some-times covers them? The wait is ag-onizing. Some flowers die, even if you try to protect them, and some trees dry up. Then spring suddenly arrives and the battle for life and newness begins.
I noticed during my first spring in the United States that the flowers appear before the leaves; I had al-ways thought that the leaves would come out first. But the flower, the most delicate part of the plant, blossoms and fights with freez-ing rain and low temperatures to make sure that the plant is going to survive. It grows with a strength, an urgency and a fierceness that amazes me. Grass grows quickly and demands to be trimmed reg-ularly. Everything grows with an intensity that celebrates life and newness with every breath. I know
that people here in the States are probably used to it, but to me it’s a literal and constant reminder of how the Creator’s love and mercy are new each morning.
Lamentations 3:22–24 states: The steadfast love of the Lord nev-er ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” I often remember this verse, but I did not remember where it was in the Bible. I was surprised to find it in Lamentations. Isn’t this book sup-posed to be a collection of laments of a prophet who mourns over the desolation of his city? The original title of the book in Hebrew may be translated as “O how”—as in “How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!” (Lamentations 1:1). This word often precedes our own lamentations: “How is this pos-sible? How could have this hap-pened? How could you do this?” But somehow, hope always finds a way through, and the prophet has to acknowledge that God’s love and mercy break through the sadness, the tears, and the death-like state of an empty city. They are new ev-ery morning. They fight intention-ally through the darkness and the fear because God’s faithfulness is great. The Lord is our portion and our strength, even in the worst of circumstances. Therefore, hope springs to life, even in shallow sidewalk crevices and even after the cruelest of winters. God’s love and mercy are everlasting!
Even when nature is wounded, it keeps fighting back. I have lived through two hurricanes, and I have seen the destruction of trees and houses. Somehow the trees and the houses always come back. God’s faithfulness toward nature and toward us allows us to stand up and to grow with new hope and new strength. Take time this spring to look around you, to see the res-urrection stories that nature gives us.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
John W. Parks, Sr., Elizabeth Wil-liams Robinson, and James A Stuart Scholarship funds are ad-ministered and awarded by a com-mittee appointed by the Session. The purpose of this plan is to pro-vide financial aid to the members of First Presbyterian Church. The primary factors for selecting grant recipients shall be Christian com-mitment, leadership, and scholas-tic achievement or merit. Financial need is the primary factor for de-termining the amount of the grant. Scholarship applications are avail-able at the Reception Desk and should be returned to the Business Office by Tuesday, May 26.
Visit the Wellspring at www.fpcgastonia.org for more inspirational reading!
May 3 - Communion Sunday9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 2 p.m. Scout Hut Dedication5 p.m. Faith and Fiction5:30 p.m. Vespers6 p.m. Senior High Youth
May 4Noon PW Birthday Lunch
May 67 a.m. Rise and Shine Men’s Fellowship Breakfast10 a.m. Sewing GroupNoon Prayer Lunch5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers Easter Play and Pray7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Youth Council
May 77 p.m. Children’s Ministry Meeting
Please note, this calendar reflects the calendar at the time of printing. Events listed are subject to change. Please visit www.fpcgastonia.org for the latest calen-dar updates.
FAITH AND FICTIONMay 3Faith and Fiction will not meet in April, but will resume their fellowship May 3 at 5 p.m. in the Card Room at Cov-enant Village. The hostesses will be Dotty Blake and Lenise Melton. They will be discussing the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
April 26 - Confirmation Sunday9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship4 p.m. Youth GAP Event5:30 p.m. Vespers6 p.m. Session
April 27 Noon Membership Development Meeting
April 284 p.m. Investment Committee Meeting
April 297 a.m. Rise and Shine Men’s Fellowship Breakfast10 a.m. Sewing GroupNoon Prayer Lunch5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers Easter Play and Pray7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!FPC welcomes Family Promise this week! Please visit www.fpcgastonia.org to volunteer. Activities for Family Promise start each day at 5 p.m.
CALENDAR
HELP FOR THOSE IN NEED There is an expanding need for knitted-materials, espe-cially caps for those facing serious illness, in our com-munity. If you knit, please consider joining our Sewing Group as they help fulfill this wonderful mission. Sup-plies are available in the Sewing Room - and the group meets at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays through May 27.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...Ecclesiastes 3:1
WELLNESS TEAMOngoingIf you would be willing to serve on our wellness team to assist someone with a ride to a doctor’s appointment, provide a nutritious meal, pick up a prescription, or maybe just make a compassion-ate phone call, please contact Lisa Marisiddaiah, parish nurse, at [email protected] or 704-616-4023.
ROADRUNNER TRIPMay 26PLAY BALL! The Roadrunners are going to the new BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte to see the Charlotte Knights play the Columbia Clippers. Join them as they root for the home team! The ticket price is $35 and includes admission to a reserved section of the picnic area, full buffet, and unlimited water and soft drinks. The bus will leave at 6 p.m. for a 7:05 game. Please call the church office to reserve your seat by April 30.
Rise and Shine needs your help! Sign up online at www.fpcgastonia.org to deliver a casserole for Rise and Shine, our weekly breakfast ministry.
Periodicals US Postage
PAIDGastonia, NCFIRST
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH1621 East Garrison BoulevardGastonia, NC 28054 704.864.2651www.fpcgastonia.org
Return Service RequestedDated Material
Postmaster, please deliver by Friday, April 24.
Dr. John L. Frye, Jr.Senior Minister
Extension 102 - [email protected]
Rev. Lauren Sease VanacoreAssociate Minister
Extension 104 - [email protected]
Pastor John H. StanleyMinister of Visitation
Extension 105 - [email protected]
Jill B. KimbirlDirector of Children’s Ministries
Extension 106 - [email protected]
Johnny BradburnInterim Organist
Myles A. DavidowitzChildcare Coordinator
Extension 106 - [email protected]
Robin FurrBusiness Administrator
Extension 122 - [email protected]
Bethany JenningsInterim Choir Director
Donna KernsReceptionist
Extension 101 - [email protected]
Lisa MarisiddaiahParish Nurse
Extension 121 - [email protected]
Cheryl S. MimsDirector of Mothers Morning Out
Extension 112 - [email protected]
Sherry MooreAdministrative Assistant
Extension 102 - [email protected]
Rodney OwensMaintenance Supervisor
Extension 115 - [email protected]
Janeen F. SilverDirector of After School/Summer EnrichmentExtension 110 - [email protected]
Elizabeth T. StewartInformation Services
Extension 109 - [email protected]
Dr. Patricia L. SudderthDirector of Presbyterian Weekday School
Extension 111 - [email protected]
Amanda Wood WilliamsDirector of Membership Development and Communications
Extension 116 - [email protected]
STAFF