THE TOWER First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas February 1, 2020

Volume 63, Number 2

The deadline for the next edition of the Tower is noon, Thursday, February 6. Please e-mail submissions to office@firstpreswaco.org or bring to the church office. The next edition of the Tower will be mailed February 19.

Editor: Laura Streetman, First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701, 254-752-1665 www.firstpreswaco.org The Tower is published monthly by the First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas.

Don’t miss our new take on the annual All Church Retreat on February 21-22! We will

gather in Valley Mills, Texas at the Olson Vineyard and Ranch for fun, fellowship, and

education. We have lowered the costs and made the travel to and from a bit easier so

that more of us might be able to attend, and we hope you will come enjoy the new

format with us. You have the option to participate on both Friday and Saturday, or just

one or the other, so choose the time frame that works for you and come join the fun.

If you missed the registration deadline (Jan 19) and would like to attend, contact Dee Dee Carson to see if there

is space available.

Suzy’s Prayer On the first day of the New Year, a dear friend of mine

came through Waco. I knew her first as a member of the

Pastoral Nominating Committee that called me to First Pres

Osawatomie. She led Christian Education with a humility

and optimism that grew our program robustly. During one

summer when we were studying Jonah, she helped

construct a giant whale for our church lawn. Children and

adults crawled into and out of the belly of that whale. She

has been a ‘whale of a Presbyterian’ all her life!

I met DJ, her and her husband in the Franklin parking lot

and we hugged a good long while….eight years is a long

time to not see a friend. We caught up on family, friends and life. Suzy is doing a lot of traveling with her

unflappable husband, Arlen. They are tending to their bucket list as she has been diagnosed with ALS. She said to

me there are two things that will fast track your Medicare: hospice and an ALS diagnosis. I know you can imagine

how tender and important it was to be with her. She and Arlen walked into your Sanctuary with their heads back

and eyes wide for its beauty. They were so complimentary and gracious about the building you have stewarded

here in Waco. It was by the font that the three of us bowed our heads and prayed for stamina, endurance and a

sense of connection across the miles. DJ met us in Chapel Parlor with Kleenex. We needed them!

Before she left, Suzy looked at me, chin high with a faithful defiance. She said, “you know, Leslie, I may have

ALS, but it does not have me.” As if to say ALS does not have the “real” me.

As they prepared to leave, we hugged at the top of the Franklin parking lot stairs, at the base of them, by the

portico, and again at her car. She made her way back to Kansas and I returned to work here in Waco. But the

prayer…her prayer lingers like an aura that informs my life and perhaps has something to say to all of us. Come

what may, from the wisdom of Romans 8:38-39, “… neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things

present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to

separate us from the love of God.” May her prayer, that our lives may have to carry certain burdens, but those

burdens don’t define us, be our prayer, even before we are urgent for it.

Faithfully, Leslie

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Calendar Sunday, February 2- Communion Sunday Art Show Begins Worship at 8:30am and 10:30am, Dee Dee Carson

preaching Sunday School, 9:15amMonday, February 3 Baylor Lifelong Learning, 10:30am Diaconate Committee Meeting, 5:30pmWednesday, February 5 Graduate Bible Study, 3:30pm Youth Study Hall, 6pm St. Cecilia Bell Rehearsal, 6pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7pmThursday, February 6 March Tower DeadlineSaturday, February 8 Service Saturday @Compassion Ministries, 9amSunday, February 9 Worship at 8:30am and 10:30am, Dee Dee Carson

preaching Sunday School, 9:15amMonday, February 10 Baylor Lifelong Learning, 10:30am Presbyterian Women, 1:30pm Outreach Committee, 5:30pmTuesday, February 11 Faith on Tap, 6pmWednesday, February 12 Graduate Bible Study, 3:30pm Youth Study Hall, 6pm St. Cecilia Bell Rehearsal, 6pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7pmThursday, February 13 College Lunch @ Baylor, NoonSaturday, February 15 Sanctuary Guild Meeting, 10am

Sunday, February 16-Art Show Reception Worship at 8:30am and 10:30am, Leslie King

preaching Sunday School, 9:15amMonday, February 17 Baylor Lifelong Learning, 10:30am Session Committee Meeting, 5:30pmWednesday, February 19 March Tower mailed Graduate Bible Study, 3:30pm Youth Study Hall, 6pm St. Cecilia Bell Rehearsal, 6pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7pmFriday, February 21 Men’s Breakfast, World Cup Café, 7am All Church Retreat Begins @ Olson RanchSaturday, February 22 All Church Retreat @ Olson RanchSunday, February 23 -Youth Sunday Worship at 8:30am and 10:30am Sunday School 9:15amMonday, February 24 CE Meeting, 5:30pm Global Mission Task Force Meeting, 5:30pm Youth Advisory Board, 6:30pmWednesday, February 26 - Ash Wednesday Graduate Bible Study, 3:30pm Youth Study Hall, 6pm St. Cecilia Bell Rehearsal, 6pm Ash Wednesday Service, 7pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7:30pmThursday, February 27 Retirees on the Road, Kissing Tree Vineyards, 1pmFriday, February 28 & Saturday, February 29 Rainout Date for All Church Retreat

The Deacons invite you to look up an address on Realm and send a note

or text in celebration to those you know or are beginning to know.

Celebration Notes from our Deacons:

16- Meredith Palm18- Barry & Laura Shank19- Pat Pattillo, Jason Dalrymple20- Matt Stottlemyre, Carolyn Maxwell, Karrie Kluge, Greg Palm,

Amanda Lassetter, Mae Ehlers, David Gray21- Pam Holmes, Dick Kettler, Asher Benton22- Lisa Weaver, Hunter Rollins23- Roger Kirk, Nancy Lacy26- Royce Duty28- Nancy Risinger, Cary DuPuy, Gabe Field, Sandra LeFevre;

J.P. & Elinor Davis

1- Bill & Dwana Nesbitt2- Becky Ward,

David Summers3- Don Risinger6- David Young

8- Joe Stubenrauch9- Mike Morrison, Eleanor Goodman11- Courtney Priebe12- Donna Black, Ocoee Morgan13- Abigail MacLemore14- Hutson Harper15- David Dow, Claire Drew;

Mark & Monica Anderson

Educational Opportunities:

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February 2020

February 16, bring your smart phones and preview the movie MegaMind as we consider Heroes in the Faith. This sermon series will highlight the relationship between Nathan and King David as well as Luke 24:44-49.

March 2020 (March 15 - April 12)

Lent as a Line Dance….don’t worry, we will be taking Lent very seriously as we consider Choreography in Cruciform in this series. Youth will help out in this series as we consider what it means to move forward, side to side, and back as we follow the road to Jerusalem.

April 2020 (April 19-May 3)

Artistry in Anastasis

This Easter season we will look at the Eastern church’s art work and their communal understanding of Resurrection. This series will include the traditional Risen-Christ narratives as well as Epistle readings from Romans, Hebrews and 1st John.

May 2020 (May 10-24)

Love Viscerally – Join us for a consideration of the Song of Solomon as an erotic text that opens more fully into intimacy with self, others, and God.

Welcome to our new class of Ruling Elders and Deacons who were ordained and installed to service on January 19.

When you get a chance, please thank them for their willingness to lead and serve.

Elder Class of 2020: Lily Coffman (Y) Elder Class of 2022: Bill Beaty, Craig Clarkson, Dan Francis, Phil Hering, Roane Lacy, Greg Palm, Scott Wagner, Lisa Weaver

Deacon Class of 2020: Mackenzie Anderson (Y), Mary Lynn Klingman Deacon Class of 2021: Shannon Field Deacon Class of 2022: Katherine Ehlers, James Hill, John Kerley, Janet Kettler, Ruth Kuhns, Michelle Plaskett,

Linda Reed, Brad Willis

Stewardship:

Stewardship Fantastic! Our congregation gave First Pres a powerful stewardship response for the upcoming 2020 year.

Here are some highlights:

2020 Pledges have hit a historic high of $600,132. 17 new pledges came in with an average amount of $2,500. Repeating pledges increased an average of 5.9%

Additionally, we received feedback from congregants that more personalized stewardship letters were helpful in their decision to increase their pledge.

Behind the scenes, your Session has been hard at work to steward your gifts in ways that are responsible and also visionary. Any of us would be happy to share more of our financial work with you. Each of you make a profound difference in our ability to lead well. Thank you for “having our back” and arriving so powerfully for the future of First Presbyterian and her ministry.

In Christ, Your 2019 and 2020 Session

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KidQuake for 1st – 6th graders is March 27-29. The cost of $125, which includes food, lodging, and a T-shirt, is due on February 23. Contact Kathryn at dce@firstpreswaco.org, for registration information.

Children and Youth:

Thank you to everyone who participated in both collecting coins for the Children’s Christmas Offering and the Reverse Advent

Calendar. The $ 574.22 offering was donated to Talitha Koum to help support their mission and programs for South Waco families, and the food collected (280 pounds) through participating in the Reverse Advent Calendar was given to Caritas. Thank you for walking alongside our children and teaching them how to give graciously and generously during the Christmas Season.

Following his recent visit to Texas, Cathy McPhee

received this delightful note from her 11 year old grandson, Trent.

Raccoons and the Bible At Children's Church recently, we reviewed the story of God calling to a sleeping Samuel. The discussion, possibly because God called to Samuel at night time, evolved into a discussion on raccoons. Each child became engaged to share their own raccoon story. Porter and Joey have raccoons in their front and backyards. Keats has raccoons somewhere in his home. Mae is glad she does not live in Waco due to the raccoon problem because she has chickens. After a lively raccoon discussion and remembering raccoons are God's creatures, Henry said he would say our prayer. Henry prayed, "I have raccoons in my front yard." (pause) I asked Henry if this was his prayer and he said, “Yes it is.” From God calling Samuel to raccoons, the amazing, wonderful children of FPC are always integrating God's message into their lives. Linda Reed, Children’s Church volunteer

On the way home from our annual Christmas Posada in December, Porter Carson was full of questions about the Christmas story he had just seen and heard. From the back seat, I heard a litany of questions. “Mommy, was Jesus born? Was he naked in Mary’s tummy? Is King Herod a bad guy? Is Mary taller than Joseph? Is Mary older than Joseph?” The questions continued for days as he sorted out all of his thoughts about Mary, Joseph, and the arrival of baby Jesus. I found myself incredibly grateful for all those who worked to make our Christmas Posada happen, because their presence helped Porter gain an interest in these sacred stories in a new way that reading his children’s Bible at home had not been able to accomplish. Dear old mom and dad have nothing on all of you innkeepers, shepherds, angels, wise men, and Mary and

Joseph who arrived to help our children live the story! Pastor Dee Dee Carson

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

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Upcoming Events:

Presbyterian Women will meet on Monday, February 10, at 1:30 in the Fellowship Hall. PW participate in the Fellowship of the Least Coin, a movement that has been in existence more than 60 years. The least coin of

a country is collected and in turn, the offerings support project grants around the world. Join us for fellowship, study of the Ten Commandments, and giving this February!

The Retirees on the Road are headed to Kissing Tree Vineyards in Eddy, Texas

on Thursday, February 27, at 1pm. Join the group for a wine tasting and fun

adventure to a new place. Sign up in the Narthex if you plan to attend.

Hidden Common Ground and USA Today

First Presbyterian has been honing our skills at Public Deliberation throughout the last

half of 2019. In 2020, USA Today will cover the groups across our nation who are

deliberating important topics. The partnership includes Public Agenda, the National

Issues Forum, and the Kettering Institute. First Presbyterian of Waco has enrolled as a

site for this partnership. Throughout 2020, we will hold Saturday deliberation forums

on important national topics. All in the community are welcome to these three-hour

events. There will not be an event in February; this is a correction from last month’s notice. We hope you will mark

your calendars for March 7, June 6, and October 3. All forums will be held between 1-4 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

The Outreach Committee invites you to a Service Saturday at Compassion Ministries on February

8 at 9am. Compassion Ministries is one of our downtown neighbors doing great work to provide

housing and support to vulnerable people within our community. We will work that day to help

them organize some spaces and move around larger pieces of furniture and equipment to help out

their staff. All ages are welcome to come join the fun! Sign up in the Narthex or on Realm.

This is First Pres Are you interested in learning more about First Presbyterian and

membership here? Join the pastors for conversation and information in the

Chapel Parlor on March 9 at 5:30pm. There will be tours of the building,

historic information and a chance to meet others who share your interest in

our church life. Text your RSVP to Leslie at 254.214.5999

Our annual art show will be on display in the Atrium from February 2-16, with a

reception celebrating the artists during Coffee Fellowship on February 16. Make sure to stop

to visit the art and appreciate the wealth of artistic talent within the congregation. Our

gratitude goes to Bill Franklin and Bill Beaty for setting up the art show.

Sanctuary Guild

Save the Date!

The first meeting in 2020 will be February 15. We’ll

polish the church silver, go over our new handbook,

learn about the paraments and get to know each other

better. Join us for a continental breakfast at 9am in

Fellowship Hall. Sarah Lieber, 2020 Moderator

The Tower

First Presbyterian Church

1100 Austin Ave.

Waco, TX 76701

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PAIDWaco, Texas

Permit Number 216

Office Hours: 9—12 and 1—5 Monday—Friday

Appreciation:

What a gift it was to round out the work of 2019 with two remarkable offerings into our

wider community! Our Christmas Eve offering supported the work of Meals on Wheels and

raised $7449, which is a large enough gift to cover the costs for Meals on Wheels to feed

FOUR senior adults for a year. Equally impressive is our Children’s Offering to Talitha

Koum, which accumulated $574.22 worth of pennies, dimes, nickels, and quarters. As we send these gifts into the

wider world, we are celebrating your generosity and your willingness to give attention to those around us in need

during such a busy holiday season.

Thank you to everyone who helped

make our rib fundraiser a success!

Our youth appreciate your support.

A financial update will be in next

month’s Tower.

February Service Coffee Fellowship Hosts: 2 - Craig & Kellie Clarkson 9 - Jeremy & Rebecca Mercer 16 - Pete & Sue Patrick 23 - Delores Horne &

Emily Bohn

Iron Yard Art Are you interested in a one of

a kind iron work of our

church façade for 40?

Carr DuPuy has designed

these timeless and durable

pieces. Proceeds will go to benefit the ministry of

the Diaconate. Order by calling the church office

at 752.1665 or by visiting our Presbyterian store

online at www.firstpreswaco.org.