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

Phone: 910-592-2677 . Fax: 910-592-3100 . Website: gravesmemorial.org Email: Jerry Bron: brondrj@aol.com; melissagriffin@embarqmail.com

UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS:

The Stewardship Committee and the Treasurer greatly appreciate everyone’s prompt response in pledging to the 2018 budget. If you have not pledged, please consider doing so at this time. Pledge Cards are available in the Narthex and outside the Church Office.

This year’s Christmas Eve Services will be held on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Communion by Intinction will be served at the 5:30 p.m. service. (No Worship Readiness on the 24th.)

We will honor Dr. Jerry Bron at our next First Wednesday Fellowship and Covered Dish Meal, scheduled for January 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone to come out and join us as we show our appreciation to our Interim Pastor and Linda, his wife. Bring your favorite dishes to share! January hosts: K - 5th Sunday School Class, Friends in Faith Groups 1 & 2, & Dale Purcell.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed: To volunteer your time, to this wonderful mission opportunity here in the Clinton community, please contact the church office before January 5th, 2018, to be added to the GMPC Annual Volunteer list. (Volunteers are placed in pairs and typically serve two or three times annually on the 1st, 3rd or 5th Tuesdays. Meals are picked up from Byron Butler Court on Warsaw Road between 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. on your assigned day(s). *Completed schedule will be mailed to all current and new volunteers by February 1st.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 110 W. Main St., Clinton, invites you to their Epiphany service being held on Saturday, January 6th at 7:00 p.m. Join us, as we gather, to celebrate this Christian holiday.

The Community Service Committee asks that you please consider giving regularly to one or more of

the many mission opportunities here at GMPC: Back Pack Buddies (weekly food donations), Clinton

Crossings/Courtyard (bingo prize donations), Diaper Bank of Sampson County (diaper & wet wipes donations), First

Baptist Church Soup Kitchen (cakes), Helping Hands & Hearts (Wheel Chair Ramp building volunteers), Meals on

Wheels (meal delivery drivers), Prayer Quilt Ministry, Presbyterian Women’s Projects, Presbyterian Men’s

Projects, Salemburg Food Bank (weekly food donations), Southeastern Carolina Crossroads (new/gently used men’s

clothing donations), UCare, Inc. (food, toiletry items & house hold staples donations)

COMING SOON TO GMPC: La Leche League of Sampson County. Breastfeeding? Or pregnant and planning

ahead? Join us the 1st Thursday of every month, in the GMPC Nursery, at 10:00 a.m., beginning January 4, 2018.

The La Leche League of Sampson County, led by Lucy Lockamy, will offer valuable breastfeeding support and

information through: free monthly meetings for mother-to-mother support, leaders trained and accredited by La

Leche League International, latest breastfeeding information, lending library and books for sale, and telephone

help from experienced leaders. At our monthly meetings we will discuss: advantages for breastfeeding for mother,

baby, and family, preparing for baby’s birth and baby’s first weeks, avoiding and overcoming difficulties: questions

mothers ask, nutrition, weaning, and changes as baby grows. Pregnant women, mothers, and babies welcome!

December 2017 - January 2018

OUR KNOWN ILL:

Betty Heaton Martha Dunn Margaret Register Don Wilson

Doc Fields—Southwood; Rm. 109 Margaret Faircloth—MaryGran; Rm. 701

Frances Hubbard– GlenAire

Tink Purcell– The Cardinal at North Hills

Ted Lockerman—MaryGran

Others: Betty Hairr-(Mother of Vickie Pope)

Juaweese Franklin-(Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Joe Butler-(Brother-in-law of Penny Horne)

Christine Stacey-(Mother of Lara Capparuccia)

Joe Kozel-(Father of Kristi Williford)

David Askins-(Former GMPC member)

Volume XXXX, No. 12 The Church Staff Sends Each of You Wishes

of Hope, Joy, Peace and Love During this Christmas Season

And Throughout the Coming New Year!

SYMPATHY TO:

Susan Westerbeek and family on the passing of her grandmother, Belle Rufus Pope.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 2

WORDS FROM DR. JERRY BRON:

To The Saints at Graves

Well, well. It’s been seven or eight months since I first began showing up at Graves, first as a supply pastor and then as an interim. Now you will be introduced to your designated pastor in a couple of weeks. I came here in part because of a calling of sorts. By that, I mean, I felt called by my BOSS to take up residence here among you and to help you try and make some sense of the pain that was so compel-ling. I came also because this church is a great church and it deserves redemption….not that I could do that but I know One who can and now I think has. To what degree will become evident in the near future. And so on this eve of my leaving, I celebrate what God has done in our midst while we have been together. C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (“The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lew-is) If there is even a whisper of truth in that I pray that we have heard God shout that it is time to move on beyond all that pains us and get on with embracing the exciting future that is in store for those who allow the Spirit to set the tone. A word of warning here! Embracing the future on our own terms is fraught with pain and agony as well we now know. So I thank you for your support, your kind words, and your generous spirit, not to speak of your will-ingness take seriously the new thing that God is doing among us. I say us because I am now one of you. And so my prayers will continue to follow you through the days and weeks ahead……..so go out there and claim your inheritance as children of God, disciples of Jesus Christ.

Godspeed, Jerry

OUR CHILDREN:

Sunday School: Sunday mornings at 9:45

PresbyMusic: Cherub Choir (PreK-1st Grade:1

st & 3

rd Wednesdays, 4-4:30 p.m.);

Children & Youth Choir/Handbells (2nd-8th Grade: Wednesdays, 5-5:45 p.m.);

PresbyCrew: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, from 3–5:00 p.m. for K – 5th grade.

MISSION BUDDIES: (PreK—12th Grade, 3rd Sunday’s monthly, as part of Sunday School)

*Please Note Missions Buddies will meet on the 4th Sunday, during January.

January Mission: (Please submit supplies by Friday, January 19, 2018.)

Care Bags for Children in Homeless and/or Domestic Violence Shelters. ITEMS NEEDED: Blankets ($2.50 Walmart blankets are fine), Children’s Books, and Monetary Donations to buy tote bags. The high school BETA Club will be providing stuffed animals. *A Mission Buddies donation bin is located in the fellowship hall.

**We thank you for your generous support of this new program here at GMPC. Together we are making a difference, one act of kindness at a time. THANK YOU!

~ Sunday, December 10, 2017 ~

I will be loyal to GMPC and support it with …

My Presence: Sunday School Attendance 52 Worship Attendance 106

My Gifts: Weekly Year-To-Date Tithes and Offerings $3,718.00 $298,084.69 Building Fund Offerings $ 920.00 $ 58,630.83

Youth 411:

Youth at GMPC are "ON THE MOVE!" We would like to include YOU(th) in our "instant update- what's happening-let's go" group text message! Feel free to send Wanda Coleman a text so you can join

in on the AMAZING fun! #910-590-7453

Central Missional Community Steering Team News

The winter gathering will be held January 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Included in the worship service are a message by Olanda Carr and hon-oring the Faithful Saints selected by each Session. Neal Sinclair is GMPC's honoree. The worship service will be followed by a business meet-ing, lunch and then breakout sessions sharing insights and ideas on "A Response of Our Gratitude." Anyone wishing to stay for lunch ($10.00) must register by calling the church office.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 3

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ Copies of These Days, January - March 2018, are now available in the narthex and outside the church office.

~ 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.

~ CAKES NEEDED for the January 11th First Baptist Soup Kitchen. We ask that all cakes be delivered to the GMPC kitchen by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 10th. *January Coordinator: Annette Newton

~ Backpack Buddies Program: Volunteers meet each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Sunset Avenue School to pack food bags for over 250 “food insecure” Clinton City School children, ages Pre K - 8th grade. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items! (canned soups, juice boxes, raisins, fruit cups, pudding cups, granola bars, pop tarts, trail mix & individual cereal boxes) *A collection bin is located in the Fellowship Hall.

~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at First Baptist Soup Kitchen (408 College Street) on Thursdays, Weekly from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. *11:00 – 3:00: Cooking, 3:00 – 5:00: Deliveries, 5:00 – 7:00: Serving.

~ Diaper Bank of Sampson County: Donations of diapers (all brands and sizes, to include adult diapers), dia-per wipes & diaper rash cream are collected. A collection bin is located in the fellowship hall for your convenience.

~ GMPC Prayer Quilt Ministry (monthly, on the third Tuesday’s, at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall) will resume their regular schedule on January 16, 2018. Do not worry if you can not sew, that is only one aspect of creating these quilts.

~ MISSION OPPORTUNITY: Christian Food Bank of Salemburg. Every 3rd 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! Dried Beans, Peanut Butter, Breakfast Items, Can Soup, Can Vegetables, Rice/Pasta, Can Fruit. (A box for food donations is in the Fellowship Hall for your convenience.) *Recycled grocery bags in bundles of 50 are also needed! *Next opportunity: January 20th

~ A Confirmation Retreat is planned for February 2, 2018 at Camp Monroe. Anyone wanting more information can contact Bonnie Barr or Stan Mertz.

PRESBYTERIAN MEN OR PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS:

~The Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast Meeting for January will be on the 14th, beginning 8:15 a.m., at Grove Park Baptist Church. We hope all men will join us for breakfast and fellowship with the men of FUMC, 1st Bap-tist, and Grove Park Baptist! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Thank you.

~January PW Circle Meetings are as follows: (Myrtle Petty will be our Bible Leader for January.) Circle #1 will meet on the 8th at 3:00 p.m. at Mary-Gran Nursing Center (120 Southwood Drive). Circle #2 will meet on the 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the GMPC Memorial Room. Circle #3 will meet on the 9th at 10:00 a.m. in the GMPC Fellowship Hall.

~A PW Coordinating Team Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 4th at 7:00 p.m., and a PW Quarterly Gathering is scheduled for Monday, January 22nd, also at 7:00 p.m.

GET INVOLVED SPOTLIGHT: Infant Cradle Ministry *(In an effort to bring awareness to the many mission opportunities here at GMPC we will “spotlight” one mission every month. We ask that you please give regularly to these programs in need of your help.)

Under the guidance of Clayton Dunn, GMPC launched the Infant Cradle Ministry in April 2015. The Infant Cradle

Ministry benefits families leaving the hospital with stillborn children. In many cases, families face financial hard-

ship during this time. In an effort to help these families during their time of need, wooden cradles, which effec-

tively serve as caskets for infants who are stillborn, are built and outfitted with satin linings, pillows and blankets

and offered free of charge to Sampson Regional Medical Center and local funeral homes. It is our hope that

these cradles will express the love of Jesus to some unknown family in a time of distress, sorrow and need.

What you can do to help: Contact Clayton Dunn: cwdunn72@yahoo.com, to volunteer your services in helping to gather materials, build, paint, or sew and/or install the interior of the infant cradles.

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JANUARY 2018:

07 14 21 28

Crib/Toddler Nursery: (Nancy & Lauren Perry: 2nd & 4th Sundays, Mary Doyne & Claire Tart: 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays) 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Jan Faison (Ella) Allison Brock (Ruthie) Linda Williamson Diane Viser Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Will Johnson Eli Faison Walker Spell Ava Williford Julian Beaujeu-Dufour Rebekah Bryan Anna Perry Sinclair Connor Johnson

Worship Readiness: (Tami Warren) January Leader: Linda Jewell Carr

Pre-K—2nd Grade Class: (Hollis White) Darby Scott Penny Horne Mission Buddies Najshula Lassiter 3rd—5th Grade Class: (Hollis White) Hollis White Diane Viser Mission Buddies Lucy Lockamy Sr. & Jr. High Youth Class: (James & Joy Dodson) Joy Dodson Charlotte Harrell Mission Buddies Paul & Diane Viser Memorial Room: (Dorothy Sue Faison) Melvin Weaver Glenda Underwood Tommy Newton Anne Price Care Class: (Brenda Nordin) Ronnie Honeycutt Tommy Newton Nita Aiken Linda Williamson

Pathfinders Class: (Lauren Perry)

PresbyCrew: (Mariana Sanderson & Myrtle Petty) We always welcome extra volunteers … come any time you can! 01/10 Team 1: Mary Aycock, Bonnie Barr, Penny Horne, Betty Blue Packard, Darby Scott, Jan Tart; Kara Donatelli, Adrian Donatelli 01/24 Team 2: Mary Doyne, Dorothy Sue Faison, Annette Newton, Nancy Perry, Amelia Surratt, Diane Viser; Beth Bryan, Sr., Dale Purcell Snacks: 01/10 Shannon Sinclair & 01/24 Hollis White Meals-on-Wheels: (Anne Price) 01/02 Molly Held & Ann MacGill; 01/16 Linda Williamson & Dale Purcell; 01/30 Bonnie Barr & Delores Murphrey Ushers: (David Brock) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office David Brock, John Fox, III, Ron Nimmo, Jack Perry, Warren Sinclair, Glenn Spell, Don Wilson Lay Readers: TBA Joni Fay Fetterman Allison Martin TBA Flower Committees: (Mac Spell) 01/07 (Communion Sunday) 01/14 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Faircloth, Sr., Mr. J. B. Faircloth, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William Holt Faircloth, Mr. Haywood Alexander Faircloth, Ms. Anna Margaret Faircloth and Mrs. Julie Faircloth Best by the Family 01/21 Memorial for Mrs. Doris Butler Stewart and Mr. Henry Lafayette Stewart, Jr., by Ms. Beth Stewart and Family 01/28 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. James Barefoot, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Williamson, Sr. by Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Williamson, Jr. and family

Happy Birthday During January: 1) John Barwick; 02) Brooke Sauer;

03) Christy Bristow, Wesley Cowand, Evie Walls; 04) Vicki Pope; 06) Pat O’Neal, Allison Driver, Julie Hensley; 07) Wanda Coleman; 08) Robin Sink; 09) Jackson Johnston, Jan Tart; 10) Samantha Pope; 11) Dale Purcell, Alana Carlton; 12) Connie Williamson, Audry Kerr; 13) Tripp Williamson, Weston Johnston; 14) Lauch Faircloth; 15) John Fox, III; 17) Joel Rose, Christian Peterson; 19) Alex Tirado; 20) Mark Harrell, Gabriel Capparuccia; 21) Clayton Dunn; 23) Christie Hensley, Reid Walls; 24) Joy Dodson, Andrew Howard; 25) Shawn Matthews; 28) Neal Sinclair, Sarah Foster, Patrick O’Quinn, Jr., Olivia Sessoms; 29) Brooks Barwick, III, Penny Horne; 30) Melissa Stephenson; 31) Gloria Williamson, Hampton Brock

Lectionary Text for January:

07) Ps. 29; Gen. 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11; 14) Ps. 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Sam. 3:1-10 (11-20); 1 Cor. 6:12-20; John 1:43-51; 21) Ps. 62:5-12; Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20; 28) Ps. 111; Deut. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28