A Publication of Second Presbyterian Church In Little Rock, Arkansas July 22, 2015 S E C O N D P r e s s

Dear Friends,

In his latest book, The Road to Character, New York Times columnist and PBS commentator David Brooks

focuses on the deeper values that should inform our lives. Responding to what he calls the culture of the Big

Me, which emphasizes external success, he challenges us, and himself, to rebalance the scales between our

“resumè virtues” – achieving wealth, fame and status – and our “eulogy values,” those that exist at the core of

our being: kindness, bravery, honesty, faithfulness; focusing on what kind of relationships we have formed.

I found the book thought-provoking and enlightening, and it has inspired me to do a series of sermons entitled

“Growing Character in Christ.”

The thesis of the sermon series is that Jesus Christ changes lives. This is the gift Christ gives when our lives

become a home for his Spirit. He changes us. Not just from people who were dead to people who are now

eternally alive, not just from people who didn’t know anything about God and who now know something about

God. But more concretely, when the Spirit of Jesus Christ gets hold of a life, there are other kids of changes –

from ill-tempered to even-tempered, from cowardly to courageous, from dependent to free, from tight-fisted to

open handed, and so on.

The sermon series begins this Sunday, and will continue through August and into September. My prayer is that

God will work through these sermons to re-shape our lives toward the character of Jesus Christ.

Christ’s peace,

Steve

Sermon Series

Growing Character in Christ

Steve Hancock

July 26 Growing Character in Christ: Unfinished Products

1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13

August 9 Growing Character in Christ: Honesty

Ephesians 4:11-25

August 16 Growing Character in Christ: Tenacity

Hebrews 12:1-3; 11-13

August 23 Growing Character in Christ: Humility

Luke 14:7-11

August 30 Growing Character in Christ: Self-Control

Galatians 5:13-25

September 13 Growing Character in Christ: Courage

John 16:29-33

September 20 Growing Character in Christ: Liberality

Acts 4:32-37

September 27 Growing Character in Christ: Surrender

Philippians 3:7-14

Annual Second Presbyterian Documentary Film Festival

Our “annual” Second Presbyterian Documentary Film Festival will be held on Sunday afternoons—July 26, and August 2 at 3:00 p.m. in Second Hall. July 26: Give Me The Banjo: Stories of America’s Instrument Facilitator: Doug Akin Steve Martin narrates this musical odyssey through 300 years of American history and culture featuring contemporary banjo masters such as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck. A mix of history and music—rare archival footage, interviews, and performances tell the story of the development of blue grass in America.

August 2: The Wisdom to Survive Facilitator: Scharmel Roussel Instructive and inspiring….this film shows people working in practical, transformational, and imaginative ways to bring about a fundamentally different and more just and sustainable world. Leaders and activists in science, economics, and spirituality discuss ways to evolve amidst climate change. This film is shared with us through Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light.

Summer Social will be held every Sunday (July 5 through August 23) from 9:40 until 10:00 a.m.

It will be located in our narthex, our welcome area in front of the sanctuary. The Summer Social is time to visit with and make friends in the church; have coffee or juice and a bakery treat; catch up on summer plans and trips; and most importantly, to welcome each other to worship.

Our Newest Member

Ken Sandusky joined by Transfer of Letter from Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.

The 2015 Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference, “Down to Earth Advocacy and Action,” will be held September 15-18 at the beautiful Montreat Conference Center. The keynote speaker is Patricia Tull, author of Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible and the Ecological Crisis. Outreach Ministry has allocated funds to defray registration costs by reimbursing the first 10 registrants up to $150 each. Contact Rick Owen at (501) 307-9593 once you’ve registered to take advantage of this generous offer. For more information about the conference, visit http://presbyearthcare.org.

DR. KING’S UNFINISHED AGENDA: A Retreat at Montreat August 21-23

Are you interested in wrestling more deeply with the realities of racism in our country? Would you like to consider further how the church can be an agent for change? On August 21-23, 2015, Presbyterians from across the country will be gathering for a three day event at Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina to reflect more on the legacy of Dr. King and the role of the church in working for racial justice. Housing, meals, and transportation will be provided, and we anticipate the total cost will be around $500 per person. If you are interested in attending this conference with Associate Pastor Lindy Vogado, please contact her at lindyvogado@secondpreslr.org or 227-0000.

OUR ENDOWMENT FUND AT WORK Over $24,000

in Scholarships Awarded!

The scholarship committee is pleased to award over $24,000 in scholarships to fifteen highly qualified students from the May and Deal scholarship funds within our Church’s Endowment Fund. These students will be attending Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, Hendrix College in Conway, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Washington University in St. Louis. Our church is blessed to be able to award financial assistance for higher education through our endowment fund. These scholarships were made possible by the planned gifts from Ruth May Wassell Gibb in 1961 and Lamar Deal in 1993. The committee awarded a total of $24,200 for the 2015-2016 school year to assist students with higher education.

SPY Summer Events • July 25 - August 1 - Senior High Montreat Youth

Conference • July 29 - 11:30 a.m. Lunch Bunch to the Trampoline

Park • August 4-7 - Middle School Mission Week • August 5 – Shactivities to Big Rock Mini-golf • August 12 – 6:00-8:00 p.m. All SPY Barbecue

Sign up now for Middle School Mission Week!

This year's Middle School Mission Week will be held August 4-7 and we hope that all students who are entering 6th grade through 9th grade will attend! On August 4 and 5, we will do a number of mission projects here in Little Rock, from about 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. each day. On August 5, we will join our senior highers for a rec activity in the evening at Big Rock (mini-golf, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts). On August 6, we will go to Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis to work at their soup kitchen on Thursday night, and then go to the Memphis Zoo before coming home on Friday evening. Sign up today and bring a friend! Brochures are available outside Heather's office.

Second Presbyterian All-Church Trivia Night

Coming Friday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is available online at www.secondpreslr.org or by calling the church office at 227-0000. If you are 10 years old to 110 years old, you are invited to gather around tables with an intergenerational group of folks to answer trivia questions with your team and to win prizes! Join us Friday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall for fun and fellowship! Teams will play in honor of one of our community Outreach partners.

When a loved one dies, one of the most common early reactions is an intense yearning, a sense that part of you is missing, and a hunger to have the person back. Sharing stories often provides solace and helps ease the heartbreak. Our church is providing a place to share those stories.

On the third Tuesday of every month, our church will host a Faith and Grief Luncheon from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Second Hall. Participants will experience:

• a supportive community of persons who have experienced the death of a loved one

• comfort through scripture and prayers • encouragement through personal stories • hope in sharing your feelings and experiences.

Registration for August 18 can be made by visiting www.faithandgrief.org or by calling (469) 251-9612. If you are interested in receiving more information about Faith and Grief Ministry, contact Karen Akin at (501) 227-0000 or karenakin@secondpreslr.org or go online to www.faithandgrief.org.

On Sunday, August 30th, Second Presbyterian Youth (SPY) will host our annual Parking Lot party from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall and parking lot and we hope all 6th-12th graders and their families will join us! This is a time to turn in all your paperwork (coming in the mail early August), have your photograph taken for our SPY directory, play on the inflatables, play 9 square and gaga ball, and eat together! Come and join us for a great kick-off to our SPY School Year!

PARTNERS IN MINISTRY…..WE NEED YOU! The Children’s Ministry is working to complete our staff of volunteers in Bible Village. We are looking for three Bible Village Shepherds. The shepherds greet the children upon arrival, visit with the children, help them get connected and involved, and accompany the age-levels to their workshop each Sunday and provide hands-on assistance for the workshop leaders. The lessons are taught by the workshop leaders, which change each month. The role of the shepherds is to provide continuity and build relationships. Children’s faith is nurtured through these relationships and faith-sharing. Our faith community is rich with folks of all generations who have much to offer our children. There are at least two shepherds (hopefully three) for each age-level in order to provide flexibility for travel, etc. If you would like to serve as part of our Bible Village team and get to know some wonderful children please contact Jeannie Ford (jeannieford@secondpreslr.org, 227-0000). You may also contact Jeannie if you would like to serve as a workshop leader during the coming year!

Preschool Sunday School…Growing in Grace and Gratitude. The Children’s Ministry is excited about launching a new Sunday School curriculum designed to help our little ones learn about their church family and experience God’s love. If you would like to be part of the “team” helping to nurture the faith of our two or three year olds each Sunday morning, please contact Jeannie Ford (jeannieford@secondpreslr.org, 227-0000) or Marie Holder (mariemooreholder@yahoo.com) to find out more about leading in our Sunday School program.

More information about specific workshops can be found at www.presbyteryofarkansas.org. Printed brochures are available in the church office. Please call Karin Howze in the church office (227-0000) to register.

Junior High Jubilee at Mo-Ranch! From July 4 - 9, our Middle Schoolers spent time at Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas at the Junior High Jubilee conference! During this time, our group was with about 200 other Presbyterian middle schoolers, learning about God, participating in worship, participating in small groups, having recreation time and deepening our faith through keynote, sermons and small group discussion. The theme of this year's Junior High Jubilee was "Just Dance: Jesus Edition" and we focused on "dancing with God" and how that looks through scripture and in our own lives. We again partnered with St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas, making our "back home group" 32 people strong! It was so much fun to share our week closely with this other church, in addition to making other new friends! Thank you to our congregation for being so supportive of all of our youth trips and for making Mo-Ranch a possibility for us!

Second Presbyterian Drives Ferncliff's Summer Day Camp Growth

For the past three summers Second Presbyterian Church has allowed Ferncliff camp use of one or two of our vehicles to transport children to their Day Camp programs. This makes missional use of our vehicles when they are not needed at the church. During day camp registration parents can select the "Camp Caravan Transportation" option. Each day during the camp week, parents that select this option can drop off campers at the church between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. where Ferncliff camp counselors and staff are waiting to greet them at the fenced playground. After all the children arrive, they are driven to camp and then back to the church at the end of the day to be picked up between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. Transporting campers to Ferncliff from Little Rock can take about 25 minutes. Counting the return trip that's about 50 minutes. Multiply that by 2 trips a day and 5 days a week that's 500 miles and about 8 hours of driving. The hours spent on the road to camp can be an obstacle for many families. By partnering with Ferncliff and lending the use of the vehicles, Second Presbyterian is helping Little Rock families save time, money and the environment. "We couldn't provide this service without the partnership with Second Presbyterian" says Joel Gill, Associate Director at Ferncliff Camp. He continues, "It is such a huge benefit for our programs and the families that participate in our day camp program. We've had over 350 campers use this service, many of which I believe would not be able to attend our programs if we were unable to provide this option for them." Ferncliff's day camp program has grown each of the past two summers by over 40% and this summer it is on track to grow by 40% again. Gill says, "Our day camp ministry continues to grow and I think that being able to provide the transportation option is a big reason why. I want to thank the Second Presbyterian staff, session and members for lending us the use of the vehicles so we can provide our day camp programs to more families."

All Women of Second Pres! You are invited to the Presbyterian Women's Reunion Tea

on Sunday, August 30th at 2 p.m.

You don't have to belong to a circle or intend to be active, but we hope you will. Come savor the snacks and fellowship. Pick up your new Bible Study book for $10 and your free Yearbook with so much information packed inside. And visit the special exhibit in the Heritage Room about the history of women at Second Presbyterian!

Save

the Date

Sunday, August 30

Sunday School Kick-off

Everyone is invited to join the celebration as we “kick-off” another great year of

Sunday School at Second Presbyterian Church!! 9:50 a.m. in the Great Hall

• Continental Breakfast available beginning at 9:30 a.m. • “Official Promotion Activities” will begin at 9:50 a.m.

(Children and Youth classes and leaders will be introduced and invited to go to their classes.)

• An Overview of Adult Education Opportunities will begin at 10:10 a.m. (Representatives from each adult class will give a brief presentation.)

Come and greet familiar faces, meet new friends, and find out how you can be involved in the many opportunities for study and spiritual growth in the coming year.

Watch for the coming Christian Education brochure with details of classes and opportunities for all ages!! For more information, contact Jeannie Ford (jeannieford@secondpreslr.org, 227-0000).

Summer Up-Coming Young Adult Events

We hope you can join us! Please contact rachelshepherd@secondpreslr.org or 227-0000 for more information. • Lunch after worship: July 26, August 16, August 30. Meet outside the sanctuary. • July 23 - 7:30 p.m. Tap Talk at the Oyster Bar • July 26- 5:00 p.m. Pool party at Marie and Ryan Holder’s home, 12227 Fairway Drive. Kids welcome. Bring a side dish or

dessert to share! • August 2 - Brunch for all young adults in Youth Building after 10:00 a.m. service. Come share your ideas and hopes for this

ministry! • August 11 - 5:30 p.m. One-time book club: The Giver. Guillermo’s Gourmet Grounds. • August 17 - 7:00 p.m. Game Night in Room 60 (Conference Room/Men’s Bible Class) • August 27 - 7:30 p.m. Tap Talk at Pantry Crest

Join us Wednesday, August 5, for our first-ever yoga workshop at

Arkansas House of Prayer! Datta Kriya Yoga Workshop

Wednesday, August 5, 5:30 - 8:30 P.M.

Arkansas House of Prayer and St. Margaret's Episcopal Church

20900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72223

Cost for workshop is $35.

Registration available online at arkansashouseofprayer.org/events

by clicking the link on that page.

You’re Invited!!! to any or all of these events

Who? ALL 4 year olds-5th graders

What?

Craft Night

Tuesday, Sept 8, 5:30-7:30 In Bible Village Art Room

Movie Night

Friday, Sept 11, 6:30-8:30 In Bible Village Movie Room

Popsicles in the Park

Saturday, Sept 12, 10:00-noon At Maumelle Park

Why? Time to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, meet Miss Mary, get ready for fall programs, and HAVE FUN!

All events cost $3.00

RSVP: maryibis@secondpreslr.org

YOUNG ADULT BRUNCH: As the young adult ministry grows, we want to keep the important traditions and look ahead to changes you want. We invite all young adults to come share ideas, or just listen, to help shape this vital ministry’s future. You will have a chance to share in writing, out loud, or both. We will talk about starting new things, what to keep the same, how best to communicate, and more. Join us Sunday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m. in the Youth Building. RSVP to rachelshepherd@secondpreslr.org or 227-0000. Reserve child care with karinhowze@secondpreslr.org or 227-0000.

• Isaac Arnold, Sage & Joe Arnold’s nephew – Air Force, stationed in Papillion, NE

• Andrew Delo, Jeanne Lloyd’s grandson - Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland

• Martyn Delo, Jeanne Lloyd’s grandson – stationed at the Naval Base in Bahrain

• Sean Garrett, friend of Sandra Rogers – deployed Navy • David Henry, son of Mary Helen & Joe Henry –Joint Base San

Antonio • Jonathan Johnson, grandson of Helen Scott, nephew of Clarke &

Cindy Scott Huisman – stationed at Warner Robbins, GA. • Daniel Jones, Jean Munger’s grandson, Marjorie Watkins’ nephew –

stationed in El Paso, TX • Jonathan Miller, son of Patrice & Stan Miller – Navy pilot in strike

fighter squadron - USS George H.W. Bush • Matthew Powell, grandson of Dorothy Powell, deployed to

Afghanistan • Matt Powell, son of Holly Powell – serving at Camp Pendleton, CA • Hank Rector, son of Dell Fogleman – serving at the U.S. Embassy in

Baghdad, Iraq • Chris Rookey, member & son of Hallie & Craig Rookey – deployed

to the Middle East • Kyle Rought, Mary Ibis’ cousin – deployed to Afghanistan • Evan Wallace, Heather Rey’s brother – stationed in Tuscon, AZ

** If you have a family member serving in harm’s way, please contact Sharon Hughes in the church office or email sharonhughes@secondpreslr.org with new or updated information. We want to keep this list current.**

In Harm’s Way

USHER/GREETER VOLUNTEERS

ALWAYS APPRECIATED Those who serve as ushers and greeters for our

worship service are providing a ministry of hospitality

for members and visitors to our church. Along with

providing an important leadership role for worship,

those who serve as ushers and greeters are also

afforded a wonderful opportunity to meet and work

alongside other members of the congregation. You

may contact the following deacons who serve as

usher captains to volunteer as ushers or greeters:

August Nine O’clock worship usher captain:

Bob McCarley, emccarley@gmail.com

August 10:00 a.m. worship usher captain:

Mollie Birch, me@molliebirch.com

Alex Pickell, calexp@sbcglobal.net

Support for Alzheimer's Family Members/Caregivers Thursdays, August 6 and August 20 at 1:00 in the Library

This is an open group and new members are always welcome. Care-giving is an incredibly significant gift you give those you

care for, and caregivers need care, too. Please consider joining this group of folks who will share your concerns and joys in

care giving. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Akin at 501-227-0000 or email karenakin@secondpreslr.org.

Stewpot Cook team 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Servers 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Friday, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14 Our House Cook Team, 3:00 p.m. Pastoral Care Ministry delivers and serves 5:30-7:00 p.m. the 2nd Friday of each month. Friday, 8/14 Rice Depot Volunteers box and deliver food to older adults 8:15-11:00 a.m. the 4th Saturday of each month. Saturday, 7/25 For more information . . .

Stewpot – Campbell McLaurin,

campbellmclaurin@gmail.com

Rice Depot – Mike Tharp, michael.tharp@sbcglobal.net

Our House– Linda Humphries,

LCHumphries@comcast.net

July/August 2015

Yoga class will not meet in August. We will resume classes on Thursday, September 3.

We are looking for some volunteers to teach Youth Sunday School, starting this fall. We have a specific curriculum that we are going to use for Junior High, and another for Senior High. I am planning to teach Middle School and High School Sunday School classes this year, at different times but am looking for teachers for the following:

1. Middle School - January - March 2. Middle School - April - June 3. Senior High - Sept - October 4. Senior High - November - December (getting them prepped to teach Bible Village and then being there to supervise in December when they actually teach Bible Village) 5. Senior High - January 6. Senior High - February 7. Senior High - March

Please let me know if you are interested in any of these opportunities! We will have a Youth Sunday School teacher training dinner in August.

Hospitalized *Discharged Bella Brown, *Ruth Johnson, *Charles Hill, Charlie Calkins, Betty Ray, Russ Jackson Our Sympathy to Jean Wills Lynn and family on the death of her daughter, Kathleen Jean Wills Chandler of Memphis . The family of Anne Canaday Jones Sloan. The families of Johanna and Price Gillenwater, John and Georgia on the death of mother and grandmother, Mary Ann Glenn We Rejoice with Melissa Laney and Tim Elliott who were married July 15 in Portland, OR. Melissa is the daughter of Peggy Sullivan. Stamp Our Hunger Project: Presbyterian Women are collecting cancelled postage stamps which are in turn sold to a dealer. The money they receive is donated to Church World Service, Bread for the World and Atlanta’s Open Door Community, all non-profits working to alleviate hunger. Tear or cut stamps from your envelopes, leaving at least 1/8” all around; place stamps in collection box in narthex. Campbell Soup Labels Needed: Please remove entire labels, including UPC code, from Campbell Soup and bring to collection box in narthex. Presbyterian Women are collecting them to help Goodland School in Hugo, Oklahoma receive a free 7 passenger van once they have collected 1.5 million Campbell Soup can labels. Their goal is finally in sight so please keep supporting this simple gift. We would appreciate your help…..In keeping the church office informed when there is a sickness in your family, when someone is in the hospital, or a death has occurred. Please also keep us updated on the sickness or concern so that the information we have on our Care and Concern line is accurate. Members and friends can call the Care and Concern Line, 227-6117, on weekdays to receive information about prayer concerns in our church family. We will honor all requests for confidentiality, but in order for us to offer pastoral care, we need to be aware of your situation. We also want to know about the joys, accomplishments and achievements of members of the church. Please call Sharon Hughes or Karen Akin in the church office with information, 227-0000, or email sharonhughes@secondpreslr.org or karenakin@secondpreslr.org. Thanks for your help! Heritage Committee Seeks 2nd Pres Memorabilia. Do you have old certificates, bulletins, newsletter, programs, or other documents from earlier days in the history of our church? The Heritage Committee would like to copy such to help fill in some of the gaps in our church records. Please contact Betty Jean Moore, 224-5313.

Sundays: Worship Services 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. (Communion) and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:50 a.m.

Newsletter Articles may be emailed to robinderossitte@secondpreslr.org Next deadline: Thursday, July 30 and Thursday, August 13

Pastor Rev. Steve Hancock Associate Pastor Rev. Karen K. Akin Associate Pastor Rev. Lindy Vogado Interim Associate Pastor Rev. Rachel Shepherd Parish Associates David Gill Dr. Robert Williamson Church Educator Jeannie Ford Youth Director Heather Rey Director of Music and Arts Dr. Bevan Keating Associate Director of Music Mary Ibis Organist Adam Savacool 9 O’clock Music Coordinator Sarah Jane Guzman Business Administrator Aileen Moore Director of Planned Giving Malinda Kirchner Facilities Manager David Beach Administrative Associates Sage Arnold Robin De Rossitte Sharon Hughes Tracy May Administrative Associate and Child Care Coordinator Karin Howze Sextons Guy Howze Kim Terrell

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