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“People ministering to people for Christ’s sake.”

Thank you for all your kind words and expressions as I marked my 25th anniversary as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Rockport. Twenty-five years... what a long, strange, and wonderful journey it has been to this point. I find myself thinking about what it might have been like for Moses and the people of “First Wilderness Church” at the twenty-five year mark of their meandering in the wilderness. They knew they were on their way somewhere, but some days it must have seemed like they were not getting any closer, at least not at any appreciable speed. I am sure some days were filled with a sense of progress, however slight, perhaps alternating with days of desperate regress. Along the way, they were sometimes hungry almost beyond imagining, but then manna appeared and they thanked God and they ate their fill, even as they planned on establishing an ill-fated “manna bank” where they could save up the leftovers. They were always just a bit thirsty for a sip of the good old days, and they marked the passage of time by the comings and goings of members of the community. They daily put one foot in front of the other, hoping that this journey would lead somewhere worth the effort, even as they doubted

the God who seemed sometimes to lead them and other times to desert them. And always there was Moses who, before he was charged with leading them through this part their life's journey, could not seem to manage his own. Twenty-five years is a long time... especially when there is no real end in sight. I imagine that by the time their forty year trek was over, the twenty-five year mark had drifted away into the collective consciousness of “back in those days.” Twenty-five years... what a long, strange, and wonderful journey it has been to this point. We have come so far together, sometimes sure of our course and pace, sometimes without any real sense of God-given direction. Sometimes it has seemed like a slippery slope, and we have felt ourselves sliding away, losing ground; sometimes it has been one step forward and two steps back, sometimes... well, you know because you have been on the journey, too, for some or all of the last twenty-five years. We have received manna just when we thought we would starve to death, and sometimes we have foolishly tried to store it away for ourselves, only to find it gone bad. We have longed for the good old days; there have been lots of hellos and goodbyes along the way. But always, it has been an adventure, risky and rewarding, exciting and entertaining, and I thank you all for allowing me to journey along with you. It has been my honor and my privilege to serve with you these twenty-five years, and I look forward to what lies ahead for us as we seek to follow the way God is leading us.

* Stuff from the staff : Charlie *

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Session Organization, 2016: Meeting January 21, the Session reorganized for the coming year and made the following work assignments:

Clerk of Session: Sally Reynolds Church Treasurer: Kay Stanley Church Officer Nominating Committee: BJ Edens, Tom Jaggard

Operations Committee: Maintenance & Repair (Oversees condition & work done to physical facilities & equipment) Finance (Oversees all aspects of church finances, including Memorial Fund) Grounds (Oversees condition and care of all church property) Insurance (Maintains proper insurance coverage) Memorial/Honorary Personnel (Oversees work of all staff members) Stewardship (Promotes year-round stewardship and oversees annual campaign) Elders: Dwight Edens, Ingrid Little, Sally Reynolds Meets: 3rd Thursday, 5:00 P.M.

Program Committee: Camps & Conferences (Promotes participation by all members) Christian Education (Provides opportunities, recruits teachers, approves curriculum) Community Table Library (Oversees maintenance and expansion of church library) Mission (Oversees mission activities in community and world) Nursery (Maintains facility, recruits attendants; Child Protection Program) Vacation Bible School (Prepares for & oversees annually) Youth Ministry (Oversees leadership & programming for youth fellowship) Elders: Scott Hime, Tom Jaggard, Kelly McNeely Meets: 2nd Wednesday, 4:30 P.M.

Outreach Committee: “Evangelism” (Provides for church to be known in community & communicates with visitors) First-time Visitors, Frequent Visitors, Winter Visitors, New Member Prospects Elders: B.J. Edens, Nancy Melcher, Jo Smith, Meets: 2nd Thursday, 4:30 P.M.

Inreach Committee: Member Care (Implements & oversees plan of care for all church family members) Regular Attendees, Irregular Attendees, Resident Inactive, Non-resident Inactive, Non-member Attendees Home, Hospital & Nursing Home Visitaion Elders: Lois Atwood, Pete Chamberlain, Janet Gaskamp Meets: 1st Thursday, 9:30 A.M.

Worship Committee: Live Nativity (Prepares for & oversees annually) Greeters (Recruits, trains & schedules greeters for all services) Music (Supports music staff & oversees selection of music for all services) Pulpit Supply (Recruits as needed) Sacraments (Oversees scheduling, equipment & supplies, preparation & observances) Ushers (Recruits, trains, & schedules ushers for all services) Elders: Lois Atwood, Veronika Camehl, Adelaide Marlatt, Pati Vincent Meets: 2nd Thursday, 5:00 P.M

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And Study

Scripture Readings and Sermon Topics: February 07 Luke 9:37-43 “The Next Day” February 14 Luke 4:1-13 “Weakness And Power” February 21 Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 “Who Is In Charge Here?” February 28 Luke 13:1-9 “A Little More Time" Wednesday Night Supper and Devotional Join us each Wednesday at 5:30 for supper and at 6:00 for study: On February 03, we will finish our study “Observing The Ordinaries.” On February 17, will begin a Lenten study of “24 Hours That Changed the World” by Adam Hamilton. as we continue our review of “Making Sense of the Bible” by Adam Hamilton. Ash Wednesday We will observe Ash Wednesday, February 10, with a Soup Supper at 5:30 and a Service of Worship in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00. Please let us know if you plan to bring a pot of soup; bread and beverage will be provided. Adult Sunday School Come join us each Sunday morning in the Café area at 9:30 as we continue to review the book, “The Ten Commandments From The Backside” by J. Ellsworth Kalas. Boy Scout Sunday: On Sunday, February 07 members of our Troop 49 will assist with the Worship Service. Mission Presbytery Our Presbytery will meet Friday and Saturday, February 26-27, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. Session Commissioners Adelaide Marlatt and Sally Reynolds will attend, along with Charlie.

* Stuff from the staff : More from Charlie *

TROOP 49

* Stuff from the staff : The Church Lady *

Office Hours - Thursday & Friday, February 4th & 5th The Church Lady is taking a couple vacation days

to visit her dad on his 91st birthday and recharge her batteries

Office Hours -

Thursday, February 4: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM - VeeAnn Wright is desk sitting

Friday, February 5: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM - VeeAnn Wright is desk sitting

Monday, February 8: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Church Lady is back = Regular office hours resume

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It’s gonna get    HOT…!!    

HOT … !!   

    HOT … !! CAUSE WE’RE HAVING  Chili !!     

 

 is  CHILI TIME!  The  congrega on  is  invited  to bring a 

delicious  pot  of  warm,  hot,  spicy,  non‐spicy,  beans  or  no‐

beans, meat or no‐meat CHILI on Sunday, February 14.  No compe on … just a fun  me tas ng chili recipes.   

 

For the non‐chili cooks, we will have a sign‐up sheet for bringing sides and  condiments  like desserts,  cornbread,  salad, onions, cheese, etc.  

 

Come and enjoy some really good CHILI    in the Youth Center  on Sunday, February 7th a er the 11 o’clock worship service. 

Holy Smokes 

Church

 Goin’ 

Chili 

Choir’s Lament Chili

Flaming  

Fellowship  

Chili   

Holy Smokes chili

PIPING HOT PULPIT CHILI 

COMMITTEE REPORTS : Fellowship Committee

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : Worship Committee

worship was enhanced by the following folk and their contributions:

Ushers: Kim Thompson, Adelaide Marlatt, Ingrid Little and Pati Vincent Scripture Readers: Kelly McNeely, Tom Carl, Jon Gaskamp, Sara Rempe, Barbara Eckelmann Collection: Thank you to all who helped collection the offering …. Great job!! Communion :

Preparer: Debbie Shedden Servers: 8:30 Lois Atwood, Pati Vincent 11:00 Nancy Bolks, Pete Chamberlin, Janet Gaskemp, Katie Henderson Wine provided by: Sally Reynolds

Other Stuff We are known as a tourist, summer, and vacation town and summer time is a wonderful time for our

church...but when winter comes, we know what that means... the other half of our church slowly trickles down from "up north". With them comes their ever so willing bodies and spirit ready to help us locals. These are just a few of their contributions to FPC of Rockport.

Our sanctuary and Fellowship Hall are much more full on Sunday mornings. Scripture readers and communion servers are very evident with their willingness to participate. Sunday School experiences overflow from the Café. Castaways is so blessed to have many more helping hands on Monday and Thursdays Tuesday nights at Community Table are much more manageable and FUN. Wednesday Night Supper and Study "dishes up" yummy things courtesy of our wonderful cooks. Time with Young Disciples is an adventure with Al DeGayner’s weekly stories and props. Our choir increases its heavenly sounds thanks to those returnees.

We so appreciate all the ways you help in the life of the church… where in the world would we be without you????

The Woship Committee has had two new members join our committee to lend their special talents..,Adelaide Marlatt and Kathy Green

As always, if you have suggestions for the committee, please contact one of us. Committee members are Charlie Schuler, Lois Atwood, Mindy Durham, Kathy Green, Yvonne Jaggard, Adelaide Marlatt, Pati Vincent, and Veronika Camehl

Stuff

Head Ushers : Ingrid Little and Pati Vincent Flower sponsorships : February 28 is open. And remember the 8:30 Early Service in the Fellowship Hall is an

option if a date you wanted has been filled for the sanctuary... National Scout Sunday is February 7th : Our Boy Scout

Troop 49 has again offered to assist at the 11:00 with worship service...make plans to attend and show your appreciation to this fine group of young men. TROOP

49

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee Chrismons Sunday, November 30, 2015

Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl

Narrator, Ingrid Little

Al DeGayner Carol Smith Susan O’Bryant

Jordyn Patterson Kasandra Ford Scott Hime

Karlee Friebele Kyler Friebele Kinsey Friebele

Bobby Jackson Jerry Hanson Mary _______

Mindy Durham Nancy Bolks Susan & Patrick Brown

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee

Advent Candle Lighters Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl

Advent Week 1: Tom and Yvonne Jaggard with their grand children Tatiana and Thomas Jaggard

Advent Week 4 Jad and Theresa Smith with their grandsons Ryan and Brayden Knostman

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee Candid pictures from the combined worship service at 11 o’clock on Sunday, December 18, 2015, for presentation of the Christmas Cantata followed by a reception honoring Music Director Yvonne Jaggard, Piano Accompanist Merlene Flournoy and members of the Chancel and Hand Bell choirs.

Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl

During the “Announcements” Caro Jackson and Mindy Durham “prepped” the congre-gation for a nativity skit to be included in the Christmas Eve Worship Service.

Ingrid Little and Pati Vincent collected the offering.

AND THEN, THE MAIN EVENT: “Sing We Now of Christmas”

Performed by the Chancel Choir under the direction of Mrs. Yvonne Jaggard

with Piano Accompaniment by Mrs. Merlene Flournoy

Then the reception ...

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee Highlights from the 1st Sunday after Christmas, December 27, 2015

Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl

“Reception of New Member, Mike Henderson” assisting Charlie, former Youth Elder (and an unsuspecting) Katie Henderson

Offertory - “All Is Well” Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick Haley Sheridan, Soloist (RFHS Choir Student) Merlene Flournoy, Piano Accompanist

Scripture Reading Acts 8:14–17

Tom Carl

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee Time with Young Disciples provided by Al DeGayner. He told stories each week using apples, paper clips, glow sticks, eggs, cookies and more as props to help make his point… it was delightful and intriguing

for the children.

Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl

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COMMITTEE REPORTS : More Worship Committee Ordination and Installation Sunday, January 10, 2016

A highlight during January is the ordination and installation of new and returning church officers. This is always a touching and moving experience...to recognize those members who have volunteered to lead our church for the next 3 years shows a commitment all members should applaud.

Pictures courtesy of Veronika Camehl