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:

Please make plans to continue our celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by attending a Community Reformation Service on Saturday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m. The service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Area pastors will be leading worship, and there will be a combined choir. Let’s glorify our Lord together!

GMPC’s 2017-2018 Resident Directory will be available in the Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday, October 29th. Please stop by to pick up your family’s copy.

Consecration / Reformation Sunday will be celebrated on October 29th. The congregation is encouraged to bring your 2018 annual pledge to submit during worship. The Stewardship Committee and Treasurer greatly appreciate everyone’s prayerful consideration of their financial support to the 2018 Budget of GMPC, and your continued support to the GMPC Building Fund. A Covered Dish Luncheon will follow worship in the Fellowship Hall. Please make plans to attend this time of celebration.

The November First Wednesday Fellowship and Covered Dish Meal will be hosted by the Friends in Faith Ministry on November 1st. It’s very much like having our “summer picnics” all year long! See you at 6:30 p.m. in the MacQueen Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite dishes to share!

A third, and final, Boundary/Child Protection Training, led by Dr. Jerry Bron, will be held on Sunday, November 12th, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Training is required for all adult leaders/volunteers who will be working with our children, Infants – Age 18, in any capacity. Certification is valid for two years. *Those who received training last year, need to fill out/sign a recommitment form. Forms will be available on November 12th in the banner room and should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.

Thanksgiving Community Food Drive to benefit the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg: It is time once again for GMPC’s annual food drive. Grocery bags for the food drive will be available following Sunday services on October 22nd through November 5th. A "wish list," stapled to the bag, may be used as a guideline for needed items. We ask that you please return your filled bags by Sunday, November 12th. We are looking forward to another successful food drive and feel so blessed to be able to help make a difference in the life of someone else.

The 2017 Thanksgiving Offering benefiting Children’s Hope Alliance (Formerly known as Barrium Springs and Grandfather Home for Children) will be received on Sunday, November 19, 2017. We ask that you give generously to help God’s most precious gift to us, His children! The Thanksgiving Offering is one you can support, knowing you will be helping children from all over our state receive the care they need.

The Annual Clinton Community Thanksgiving Service is planned for Sunday, November 19, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church (408 College Street). This worship service is organized by several congregations from our community, including GMPC, and is open to everyone. Please make plans to attend this time of worship as we join other churches from our community in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord.

GMPC Prayer Quilt Ministry will not meet during the months of November & December. We will resume our regular schedule, monthly on the third Tuesday’s at 9:30 a.m., in the GMPC Fellowship Hall, on January 17, 2017. Do not worry if you can not sew, that is only one aspect of creating these prayer filled quilts. *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.

October - November 2017

OUR KNOWN ILL: Betty Heaton Don Wilson Martha Dunn Margaret Register Geneva Matthis Susan Bristow

Doc Fields—Southwood; Rm. 109 Margaret Faircloth—MaryGran; Rm. 715

Frances Hubbard– GlenAire

Tink Purcell– The Cardinal at North Hills

Others: Betty Hairr-(Mother of Vickie Pope) Joe Butler-(Brother-in-law of Penny Horne)

Juaweese Franklin-(Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Jim McGuirt-(Former GMPC member)

Volume XXXX,No.10

SYMPATHY TO:

The Kerr family on the passing of their mother, and GMPC mem-ber, Barbara Lytch Kerr.

David, Brenda, and John Nordin on the passing of their daughter, his sister, and GMPC member, Meredith Keir Nordin.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 2

Words From Dr. Jerry Bron:

To the Saints at Graves

Now that I am retired I enjoy reading, reading without interruption that is. In addition, I am a member of a reading group. That group is composed of Presbyterian ministers, some retired and some still ac-tive in local churches. One of the books that we recently read and discussed was, “Living Into Com-munity” by Christine D. Pohl. In the introduction she says, “The best testimony to the truth of the gospel is the quality of our life together.” “ Jesus risked his reputation and the credibility of his story by tying them to how his followers live and care for one another in community.” (John 17:20-23) What’s really at stake here? “When breakdowns happen the costs go beyond the shattering of valued relationships, important projects or a shared future.” “The character of our shared life, as con-gregations, communities, and families- has the power to draw people to the kingdom or to push them away. How we live together is the most persuasive sermon we’ll ever get to preach.” In my living among you for over three months I have observed how on the one hand you are incredibly connected. Tragic death experienced brings out a litany of compassion and support the likes of which I have not seen anywhere for some time. On the other hand, there are also too many among us who continue to actively work to continue to feed the conflicted atmosphere here. Some among us still vilify and demonize those with whom we have had differences. So, I hereby remind all of us, as we move into the future God has in store for us, that it is time to change our ways because “how we live togeth-er is the most persuasive sermon we will ever get to preach.” Think about it. Grace and Peace to you and yours in this season of your life. Jerry

P.S. To you readers, I would highly recommend “The Crucifixion of Ministry” by Andrew Purves, who, by the way, is one of the members of our reading group. Sooo powerful.

OUR CHILDREN:

Sunday School: Sunday mornings at 9:45

PresbyMusic: Cherub Choir (Prek-1st Grade:1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 4-4:30 p.m.); Children & Youth Choir/Handbells (2nd-8th Grade: Wednesdays, 5-5:45 p.m.);

PresbyCrew: 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month from 3–5:00 p.m. for Kindergarten – 5th grade.

*Registration, for both of these programs, is still open. Plan to join us and bring a friend! Please contact the church office to register your child(ren) and/or volunteer to be of assistance.

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

November Mission: Soldiers’ Angels: May No Soldier Go Unloved. GMPC has been accepted as a Hol-iday Community Partner member, to team with Soldiers’ Angels, this Christmas Season. We have pledged to provide 50 filled Christmas stockings, to be distributed by Soldiers’ Angels, to deployed service members and veteran patients. Their goal is to provide 13,000 stockings this year. *ITEMS NEEDED: Slim Jims or Beef Jerky, Packages of Holiday: Nuts, Candy, Peanut Brittle & Candy Canes, Single Serve: Drink Mix Packets, Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate & Cookies, Playing Cards, Card Games, Puzzle Books, Travel Sized Games & Note-pads, Holiday Themed: Pens, Pencils & Lip Balm, Socks, Black Winter Gloves, Winter Caps & other Holiday

Themed Items, as well as Monetary Donations. A Mission Buddies collection bin is located in the fellowship hall. We ask that all supplies be submitted by Friday, November 17th.

We need a few families to assist with the Lighting of the Advent Candles during the Advent season. (December 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th during morning worship & the December 24th, 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service). Please contact the Church Office to share your families willingness to serve on one of the dates listed above. Thank you.

GMPC REMINDERS: Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 5, 2017. Remember to set your clocks back one hour. See you at Sunday School (9:45 a.m.) and/or Worship (11:00 a.m.)!

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 3

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ CAKES NEEDED for the November 9th First Baptist Soup Kitchen. We ask that all cakes be delivered to the GMPC kitchen by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8th. *Contact Betty Blue Packard to sign up/place your name on the list.

~ CAKES NEEDED for Feed the Community Day, hosted at First Baptist Church: 900 College Street, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22nd. GMPC will be providing desserts. If you would like to make/buy a cake/pie to share, please contact the church office or Anne Price to sign up/place your name on the list. We ask that all uncut cakes or pies be delivered to the GMPC Kitchen by Tuesday, Nov. 21st. *Most requested: Sweet Potato Pie & Pecan Pie.

~ Mission Opportunity: Diaper Bank of Sampson County. Donations of diapers (all brands and sizes, to include adult diapers), diaper wipes and diaper rash cream are collected. A collection bin is located in the GMPC 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. (Volunteer for the whole day or as your schedule allows.) A hot meal is served to approx. 150 – 250 people in need every Thursday. If you are interested in vol-unteering your time, simply show up between 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. and join First Baptist Church in their efforts.

~ 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 bin for donations is located in the Fellowship Hall.) *Recycled grocery bags in bundles of 50 are also needed!

~ 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 food drop off bin is located in the Fellowship Hall.

~ A PODCAST (audio file, mp3 format) of Sunday Sermons Is Available on the GMPC Website. To listen to posted sermons visit: http://gravesmemorial.org/. Thank you to our Web Administrator, Richard Bryan for making these available.

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

PRESBYTERIAN MEN & PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS:

~The Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast Meeting for November will be on the 12th at 8:15 a.m. here at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church. All men are invited to gather for breakfast and a time of fellowship with the men of FUMC & First Baptist Church! Contact Melvin Weaver for more info.

~November PW Circle Meetings are as follows: (Glenda Underwood will be our Bible Leader for November.) Circle #1 will meet on the 6th at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Betty Blue Packard (108 Sir Leslie Court). Circle #2 will meet on the 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Memorial Room. Circle #3 will meet on the 7th at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

~P.W. Coordinating Team Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 2nd at 7:00 p.m., if needed. TBA

~Seasonal Flower Committee: (Please see your 2017-2018 Presbyterian Women’s Book for list of committee members.) *Annual Dues: $20.00 (Payable to P.W.) should be submitted no later than October 31, 2017. Thank you!

GET INVOLVED SPOTLIGHT: U Care, Inc. *(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.) U Care, Inc. opened its Emergency Shelter, June 23, 1997. It houses domestic violence victims and their families. Services available to the public: Emergency Shelter, Court Advocacy, Victim Advocacy, Education/Trainings, Counseling by psychologist, Youth at Risk Services, 24 Hour Crisis Line, Court Mandated Batterers’ Program, Follow Up Services. GMPC supports U Care through our annual budget, volunteer support and work done by adult and youth members of our church, in addition to donated supplies as needed.

What you can do to help: Donate Needed Items! (Toiletry & Household Supplies)

*A collection bin will be available in the GMPC fellowship hall & in the Narthex throughout November.

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOVEMBER 2017:

05 12 19 26

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. Kristi & Olivia Williford Dale Purcell Mary Lou Faircloth Deanna Weaver Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Walker Spell Eli Faison Ava Williford Rebekah Bryan Holden Spell Jewell Carr Anna Perry Sinclair Trey Bryan Worship Readiness: November Leader: Tami Warren

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: (Sunday School: James Dodson; Youth Group: Joel & Wanda Coleman) Joy Dodson Charlotte Harrell James Dodson Paul & Diane Viser Memorial Room: (Dorothy Sue Faison) Amelia Surratt Anne Price Melvin Weaver James Dodson Care Class: (Brenda Nordin) Paul Viser Lee Howard Linda Williamson Anne Price Pathfinders Class: (Lauren Perry)

PresbyCrew: (Mariana Sanderson & Myrtle Petty) We always welcome extra volunteers … come any time you can! 11/08 Team 1: Mary Aycock, Bonnie Barr, Penny Horne, Betty Blue Packard, Darby Scott, Jan Tart; Crystal Faison, Kristi Williford Snacks: 11/08 Deborah Hall Meals-on-Wheels: (Anne Price) 11/07 Bonnie Barr & Diane Westerbeek; 11/21 Beth Bryan, Sr. & Joan Carr Ushers: (David Brock) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office Matt Johnson, Richard Bryan, Trey Fetterman, David Nordin, Joel Coleman, Jr., Tommy Tucker, Jason Williford Lay Readers: Beth Bryan, Sr. Linda Williamson Linda Williamson TBA Flower Committees: (Mac Spell) 11/05 (Communion Sunday) 11/12 SEASONAL FLOWER COMMITTEE: Cornucopia Arrangement 11/19 SEASONAL FLOWER COMMITTEE: Cornucopia Arrangement 11/26 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. Granville Lee Wallace, and Ms. Cynthia Wallace by the family

Happy Birthday During November: 02) Kenner

Lane, Tommy Newton, Rachel Aiken, Elizabeth Coleman, Rhett Howard; 03) Curtis Lindsay, Ava Williford; 04) Carl Barr, Matt Johnson; 05) Nancy Monroe; 06) Glenn Spell; 10) Mary Aycock; 11) Faye Carr, Mary Warren; 12) Nancy Heath, Joel Coleman; 13) Larry Harrington, Jack Perry, Melina Matthews; 14) Erma Faircloth, Claire Tart; 16) Beatrice Gray, Tink Purcell, Wyman Faison; 17) Til Herring, Deborah Hall; 18) Bill Aiken; 19) Mary Harrington, Harry Sinclair; 20) Chuck Spell; 22) Whit Tart, Kara Donatelli, Nick Rose; 23) Tommy Tucker, Aaron Viser, Emily Wilmot; 24) Mike Brown, Jax Coombs, Deanna Weaver; 25) David Crawford, John Crawford; 28) Tucker Fox; 30) Henry Faison, Catherine Yancey

Lectionary Text for November:

05) Ps. 107:1-7, 33-37; Josh. 3:7-17; 1 Thess. 2:9-13; Matt. 23:1-12;

12) Ps. 78:1-7; Josh. 24:1-3a, 14-25; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:1-31;

19) Ps. 123; Judges 4:1-7; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30;

26) Ps. 100; Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24; Eph. 1:15-23; Matt. 25:31-46

High School Bible Study for Mothers & Daughters, led by Lee Howard & Amelia Surratt, will meet on *Thursdays from *5:00-6:00 p.m., in the Memorial Room. Grandmothers are welcome to participate with their granddaughters if mothers cannot come. Invite your friends & their mothers and join us as we gather to grow, fellowship & learn as a community of faith.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

I will be loyal to GMPC and support it with …

My Presence: Sunday School Attendance 99 Worship Attendance 42

My Gifts: Weekly Year-To-Date Tithes and Offerings $9,401.00 $257,182.27 Building Fund Offerings $ 380.00 $ 40,114.83

Needed for Budget: Weekly Year-To-Date Operating Budget $4,504.63 $193,699.09 Building Fund $1,525.38 $ 65,591.34