Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church Newsletter 201 Fayetteville Street . Clinton, NC 28328

Phone: 910-592-2677 . Fax: 910-592-3100 . Website: gravesmemorial.org

Email: Steve Wilkins: RevSHW@ymail.com; melissagriffin@embarqmail.com

Copies of the 2019 Lenten devotional, Awakening to God’s Beauty, are available outside the church office and in the narthex. In Awakening to God’s Beauty, the Rev. Krin Van Tatenhove, PC(USA) pastor, hospital chaplin, substance abuse counselor, traveler, photographer and amazing storyteller has put together a collection of daily meditations and soul stirring original photographs based on the Psalms to help us on our Lenten journey. We are invited to practice visio divina– praying with art—to open our eyes to the beauty of creation and God’s great hope. Pick your copy up today!

A Year With the Bible Meeting will be held on the first Sunday, monthly, beginning this Sunday, February 3, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., at the home of Bill & Nita Aiken. We will discuss the previous month’s passages and which was most meaningful to us and why. Copies of the 2019 Five Day Bible Reading Program are available outside the church office. This special Bible reading system allows you to read the entire bible (or just the New Testament), in chronological order, in one year while only reading five times a week.

Please join us for the First Wednesday Fellowship & Covered Dish Meal on February 6th, at 6:30 p.m., in the MacQueen Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite dishes to share! Invite a friend! Host: Memorial Room Sunday School Class & Faith Group 9.

Boy Scout Troop 27 and Cub Scout Pack 27 invite you to join them in celebrating Scouting at GMPC. On Scout Sunday, February 10th, the Scouts will be participating in the 11:00 a.m. service, and serving a BBQ lunch with all the fixings following worship in the GMPC Fellowship Hall. Lunch is free, but donations will be accepted. Take-out plates will also be available. You can help by notifying any former troop members you know. We would like to have as many Scouts and leaders here as possible. Your support of scouting here at GMPC is greatly appreciated.

BROWN BAG LUNCH BIBLE STUDIES: Are held weekly, on Mondays, at noon, in the GMPC Fellowship Hall. Please plan to join us as Dr. Wilkins leads us in Bible Study. We will eat and enjoy fellowship the first 15 minutes, opening our Bibles at 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Bring your lunch, your Bible, and your appetite for God’s Word! Tea and water will be provided. Invite a friend.

Midweek Manna (Wednesday’s at 5:15–6:45 p.m.): A time for food, fellowship, and Bible study for adults, and activities for children from nursery through 5th grade. Join us! *If you would like to provide/make a meal, please contact Carol Wilkins, cell #843-318-2386. Monetary donations will also be gratefully received. *Midweek Manna will not meet on the Wednesdays that covered dish meals are held

Presbyterian Penny Pincher Project: A coin collection challenge to the GMPC congregation, for our annual March fundraiser, will begin March 1st. The special penny pincher “collection cup” will be made available soon.

Our Annual Congregational Meeting and Pig Picking will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the MacQueen Fellowship Hall. The orders of business include: 1) Review of the 2018 Year End Financial and Statistical Report and 2) Election of the 2019 Nominating Committee. This is also the time we look forward to recognizing and introducing all new members received and all babies and children baptized during the past year.

Wednesday Lenten Luncheons at First United Methodist Church will begin on March 6th at Noon (each week through Wed., April 17th). The cost of lunch will be $5.00 per plate. GMPC will host lunch on April 3rd. We are grateful to FUMC for hosting these meditations and lunches for the community during the Lenten season.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. for GMPC’s Ash Wednesday Service, as we begin our journey through the season of Lent.

January - February 2019

OUR KNOWN ILL:

Martha Dunn Lynne Pridgen Julie Stefanovich Annabelle Fetterman Erma Faircloth Diane Westerbeek Ted Lockerman Mary Harrington

Doc Fields- Southwood; Rm. 109

Frances Hubbard- GlenAire Margaret Faircloth- MaryGran; Rm. 701

Tink Purcell- The Cardinal at North Hills

Betty Heaton- MaryGran; Rm. 204 Betty Hairr-(Mother of Vickie Pope)

Juaweese Franklin-(Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Christine Stacey-(Mother of Lara Capparuccia)

Joe Kozel-(Father of Kristi Williford)

Hewitt Fulton-(Father of Bill Fulton) Becky Hughes-(Sister of Bill Scott)

Joan Bartlett-(Sister of Annette Newton)

Joyce & Landon Autry-(Tammy Honeycutt)

Smiley Funderburk-(Uncle of Sharon Funderburk)

P. Jones Lockerman-(Brother of Ted Lockerman) Ronnie Watson-(Brother-in-law of Amelia Surratt)

Nancy K. Thomason-(Friend of Tiil Herring)

Shannon Capper-(Sister of Sean Capparuccia)

Ellen Collins-(GMPC Missionary)

Volume XLII, No. 1

SYMPATHY TO:

Connie, Trent, Ty, and Tripp Wil-liamson and families on the pass-ing of her husband, their father, and GMPC member, Burrell (Burl) Jasper Williamson, Jr.

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PASTORAL PONDERING… There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dear Friends, As I continue my efforts in this column to describe some of the “hows” and “whys” of our worship, this month I would like to address the liturgical seasons. The calendar for the church year follows a pattern based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the subsequent call to discipleship in the life of the Christian. The basic pattern for the seasons of the church year is as follows: Advent. The four Sundays before Christmas, Advent has as its emphases the hope of redemption, the ful-fillment of redemption in Christ, and the final ushering in of the Kingdom of God. Of course, the climactic celebration comes as we commemorate the birth of our Savior. Christmas to Epiphany (December 25-January 6). The focus of these days is upon the commemoration of God’s self-manifestation to all people. The high point of this season is January 6, Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the Magi. In the Orthodox calendar, Christmas is actually celebrated on January 6. This season is also the origin of the twelve days of Christmas. Lent (the 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays). Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. This season in the Christian year is marked with spiritual discipline, preparation and repentance, prayer and fasting, anticipating the death of Jesus Christ. Historically, Lent has also been a season of preparation and instruction for people desiring to make a profession of faith. Notable days we observe during Lent include Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter). Easter. Easter is not simply a one-Sunday celebration; it is a 7-week celebration of the resurrection of the Lord and a season of rejoicing. During the Easter season, we remember the ministry of Jesus between his resurrection and his ascension, and we also focus on the early days of the church in the Acts of the Apostles. Pentecost. The day of Pentecost is often considered the “ birthday” of the Christian Church. On this day, we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit and its empowering of the Church to fulfill the ministry to which Jesus calls us. Ordinary Time. Ordinary time consists of the weeks between Epiphany and Lent, and the weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The focus during Ordinary Time is the demands of the discipleship to which Jesus calls us. In many churches, including Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, the church year is noted not only in our bulle-tin, but also by the colors of the parament on the pulpit and lectern, and the stole worn by the pastor. Purple, the color of royalty, is the color of Advent; as purple is also the color of suffering, this is the color by which we mark the season of Lent, as well. White is the color of glory, and so the Sundays of Christmas and the season of Easter are marked by white, as are some of the other festival days celebrated on the church calendar (e.g., The Baptism of the Lord, Trans-figuration, Christ the King). Red is the color of the Holy Spirit, and so it is the color used on Pentecost. Green is the color designated for Ordinary Time; some associate the green of the vine to the color of Ordinary Time, as in Jesus’ exhortation to abide in Him as He is the vine, and we are the branches. Hopefully, this gives you a little more understanding of the rhythm of the church year.

Faithfully yours, Steve Wilkins

OUR CHILDREN:

Sunday School: Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m.

PresbyCrew: (2nd & 4th Wednesdays, from 3–5:00

p.m., going with the school calendar, for K – 5th grade) will meet twice in February. February 13th & 27th.

MISSION BUDDIES: (For ALL Children—12th Grade,

2nd Sunday’s of the month, as part of Sunday School)

February 10th Mission: Valentine Surprise! We will be making a Valentine Surprise for everyone attending worship on February 10th!

ITEMS NEEDED: Monetary Donations

It’s not too early to start thinking about GMPC Vacation Bible School 2019 on June 24th - 27th, from 5:30—8:30 p.m. 2019 VBS Director: Tami Warren. Mark Your Calendars Now! Details Coming Soon!

PRESBYTERIAN MEN & PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS:

The Men’s Breakfast Meeting for February will be on the 10th, 8:15 a.m., at 1st Baptist Church. We graciously extend an invitation for all men to join us in February, for breakfast and fellowship with the men of FUMC, 1st Baptist, and Grove Park Baptist.

February PW Circle Meetings are as follows: (Bible Leader: Linda Williamson)

Circle #1 will meet on the 4th at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Linda Giehls.

Circle #2 will meet on the 4th at 6:00 p.m. At the home of Carol Wilkins.

Circle #3 will meet on the 5th at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorial Room.

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OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ Profoundly Grateful: “We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters...” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Carol and I are deeply grateful for the kindness that you have shown to us. We were overwhelmed by the gifts that many of you gave to us over the holidays, as well as the Christmas love gift that was presented to me on Christmas Eve. We will use part of that gift for a trip to the Outer Banks later this month; and I hope to be able to share highlights of that trip with the new camera I have purchased. Your kindness has been a constant source of joy for us, from the day we first stepped foot in Clinton. We do give thanks to God for calling us to serve Him alongside you, and we look forward to a long and fruitful season of ministry together. Profoundly grateful, Steve and Carol Wilkins

~ CAKES NEEDED for the February 14th First Baptist Soup Kitchen. We ask that all cakes be delivered to the GMPC kitchen by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 13th. *February Coordinator: Nita Aiken

~ Request: GMPC member Grady Broadwell is doing well but would love to receive cards and/or notes from her GMPC church family. She can be reached at 1304 Appalachian Blvd., Arden, N.C. 28704, or broadwellg@gmail.com.

~ MISSION OPPORTUNITY: Christian Food Bank of Salemburg, every third Saturday, monthly, bags of food are given to those in need beginning at 9:00 a.m. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items! *A collection bin is located in the Fellowship Hallway. Next Food Bank: February 16, 2019.

~ GMPC’s Prayer Request Cards are located in the pews for your convenience. If you have a prayer request, simply fill out the prayer request card and place it in the offering plate.

~ Mintz Baptist Church and Mintz Christian Academy invite you to attend their annual Variety Dinner Show performed at Mintz Christian Academy on February 15th and 16th, at 7:00 p.m. nightly. Cost: $20.00 per person, Re-served Tables—call early 564-6500 or 564-6221.

~ Please stop by the Fellowship Hall to pick up your family’s copy of the 2018-2019 GMPC Resident Directory if you have yet to do so. *Remember to update the church office with changes to address/phones/e-mails, etc.

Youth 411: *Sunday School (Sunday’s at 9:45 a.m.)

*Youth Group (Sunday’s at 5:00 p.m.)

Confirmation Class, a ten week study held annually for ninth graders, with Rev. Steve Wilkins & Mr. Boyde Bris-tow will begin on February 17th, at 9:45 a.m. The study prepares for examination by the session for reception into active membership in the life of the church. We ask that you pray for your fellow youth as they take this important journey in their life of faith. Letters will be sent out soon.

Be on the lookout for Youth Activity Updates, via text message, from Pastor Steve. To be added to the group send Pastor Steve a text at #843-450-5747.

Prayers & Squares, The Prayer Quilt Ministry

GMPC has been part of Prayers & Squares, The Prayer Quilt Ministry, since January 2006. Prayers & Squares is an inter-faith outreach ministry that combines the gift of a hand-tied quilt with the gift of prayer for someone in need. GMPC Prayer Quilt Ministry volunteers meet on the 3

rd Tuesday (Sept., Oct., Jan., Feb., March, April), at 9:30 a.m. in the GMPC Fellow-

ship Hall. A prayer quilt can be requested for any person experiencing physical, emotional, spiritual or other difficulties. Once a quilt is requested, an invitation is extended to the congregation to tie knots into the quilt representing a prayer, love and concern for the recipient. A Prayer Quilt may be requested by anyone, for any GMPC member or non-member and/or their immediate or extended family. Out of respect for privacy, it is the responsibility of the person who initiates the request to obtain the permission or consent directly from the person (or family) for whom the Prayer Quilt is intended. Prayer Quilt requests may be submitted through the church office or through anyone serving on the Prayer Quilt Ministry. What makes each quilt so special is not the pattern, color or workmanship, but the fact that prayer is symbolically tied into each one. These comforters are a statement of faith and a testimony to our belief in God and in the power of prayer.

What you can do to help: Become a member of the Prayer Quilt Ministry. Do not worry if you can not sew, that is only one aspect of creating these prayer filled quilts.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Kate & Dave Poplin on the birth of their daughter,

Charlotte Kay Poplin, born December 12, 2018. Great-Grandparents are Bill & Marsha Prestage.

———————————————————-

Jennifer Doorey & Kyle Held on the birth of their son, Theodore Aiden Held,

born December 29, 2018. Grandmother is Molly Held,

Great-Grandmother is Annabelle Fetterman.

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEBRUARY 2019:

03 10 17 24

Crib/Toddler Nursery: 9:30 am–12:30pm (Nancy Perry & Gabriel Capparuccia: 2nd & 4th Sundays, Lizzy Tart & Natasha Capparuccia: 1st & 3rd Sundays, 5th Sunday: Lizzy Tart) Deborah Hall Suzi Matthews (Melina) Anne Faircloth Carol Wilson Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Trey Bryan Will Johnson Rebekah Bryan Elias Faison, Jr. Worship Readiness (Tami Warren): February Leader: Tami Warren Pre-K-2nd Grade Class: (Hollis White) Darby Scott Mission Buddies Ann Johnson Linda Giehls 3rd & 5th Grade Class: (Hollis White) Carol Wilkins Mission Buddies Diane Viser Lucy Lockamy Sr. & Jr. High Youth Class: (James & Joy Dodson) Joy Dodson Mission Buddies Bonnie Barr Bonnie Barr Memorial Room: (Dorothy Sue Faison) Tommy Newton Steve Wilkins Anne Price Amelia Surratt Care Class: (Brenda Nordin) Amelia Surratt Ronnie Honeycutt Tommy Newton Bill Scott Pathfinders Class: (Lauren Perry) Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry Lauren Perry PresbyCrew: (Annette Newton & Darby Scott) *We always welcome extra volunteers … come any time you can! 2/13 Team 2: Mary Doyne, Nancy Perry, Amelia Surratt, Diane Viser, Carol Wilson; ENRICHMENT: Amelia Surratt & Linda Williamson 2/27 Team 1: Mary Aycock, Bonnie Barr, Gabriel Capparuccia, Betty Blue Packard, Jan Tart; ENRICHMENT: Anne Price & Dale Purcell Snacks: 02/13 Mary Lou Faircloth & 02/27 Dorothy Sue Faison Meals-on-Wheels: (Anne Price) 02/05 Molly Held & Ann MacGill 02/19 Barbara Taylor & Melissa Fulton Ushers: (Stan Mertz) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office Sharon Funderburk, Tommy Newton, Madeline Fetterman, Tim Pope, Mac Purcell Lay Readers: James Dodson Darby Scott Hollis White Bailey Spell Flower Committee: (Mac Spell) 03 (Communion) 10 SEASONAL FLOWER COMMITTEE 17 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Barwick, Sr., Mrs. Rachel Cozart Barwick and Mrs. “Boo” Graham by Mr. H. B. Barwick, Jr. and family. 25 Memorial for Mr. J. E. Sinclair, Sr., Mrs. Mary Lee Sinclair, and Mrs. Elaine Sinclair Hobbs by the family.

Happy Birthday During February: 01) Ann Johnson; 02) Paulette Wilmot; 03) Allison Brock, Adelaide Monroe; 04) Boyde Bris-tow; 05) Jan Faison; 08) Pat Rose, May Barwick, Holden Spell; 09) Brad Spell; 10) Mary Doyne, Jack Beckett Newton; 11) Linda Giehls; 12) Sammy Bristow, Jody White; 13) Noah Tidey; 14) Peggie Lindsay, Diane Westerbeek, Alex Purcell; 15) Edward Johnston, III; 17) Julie Stefanovich; 18) Debbie Martin; 19) Amelia Surratt, Missy Packard, Alexander Morkos; 20) Tammy Honeycutt; 21) Geraldine Caruso, Debbie Owens; 24) Spencer Driver; 25) Grady Broadwell; 26) Carol Wilson, Emma Rosario, Brooke Morkos; 27) Tami Warren, Ed Carr, John Nordin; 28) Melissa Fulton, Houston Bouchard, Payton O’Quinn

Lectionary Text for February:

03) Ps. 71:1-6; Jer. 1:4-10; 1 Cor. 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30; 10) Ps. 138; Isa. 6:1-8 (9-13); 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11; 17) Ps. 1; Jer. 17:5-10; 1 Cor. 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26; 24) Ps. 37:1-11, 39-40; Gen. 45:3-11, 15; 1 Cor. 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38

Please continue to stop by the bulletin board outside

the church office, for the latest updates/news

from our missionaries, Andy and Ellen Collins in

Chiang Mai Thailand.