First Presbyterian Church
2/1/2015
Volume: 22 Issue: 6
FIRST NEWS From the pastor Joshua
L. F. Bower
At this time last year we’d already had 1 snow storm here in Southeastern North Carolina. It shut down my children’s preschool for 3 straight days. I remember because I wrote about it in my February newsletter article. What I didn’t know when I wrote that article is that, just a few days before Valentine’s last year, a massive ice storm would hit…and hit it did! I, and most of you, stayed huddled around our gas log fire while our food sat in a cooler out back, without electricity all the way into the weekend. But why is it that I so vividly remember that it was just before Valentine’s Day that the storm hit? Well, it’s because I hadn’t done my Valentine’s shopping yet. I knew that I wanted to get something for my wife, but didn’t know exactly what. But there were still 4 days until Valentine’s! I planned on doing my usual, which was not planning anything at all, then the day before I’d pick up a card, shop around some local shops that sell things women like, and I’d be good to go. But the storm hit. And I couldn’t go to a store. And things didn’t get better. And so Valentine’s Day arrived and I had absolutely nothing to give my wife! Nothing says “Be my valentine” like peanut butter sandwiches by candlelight! It didn’t go over well. Needless to say, I’ll be shopping earlier this year! But there’s a lesson here for us, too. How often do we go through life expecting a tomorrow? We’ll get around to doing that thing later. No time to do such-and-such; I’ll do that some other time. I don’t want to beat a sense of urgency or undue fear into anybody, but if something’s important enough to do later, do it now! The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:29, “What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.” He was writing about marriage, but his point was that Christians shouldn’t live as if they had all the time in the world to do what they wanted to do. They were to order their lives as if Jesus could return at any second. We’ve lost some of that belief because…well…Paul wrote that almost 2,000 years ago and Jesus hasn’t come yet. His writings indicate that he believed Jesus would be coming back within his readers’ lifetimes. Clearly that didn’t happen. But it’s not a bad idea to live the way Paul talked about, whether or not his timetable worked out. Your personal faith in Jesus (wherever you are with that relationship) is not something to be put off until “later;” work on it now! If you’re already firm in that relationship, strengthen it: go deeper into Jesus’ teachings, reflect on what he’s calling you to do, and move in that direction. Is there someone in your life whom you love and appreciate? Let them know it today. If you have children, the time to love, nurture, and build them up is today. The time to teach them about Jesus and how amazing he is is immediately. Is there a relationship in your life that needs repair? Mend it now. For all of these things, you may have years to accomplish these tasks…or you may not. Better to take action today. I wish somebody had given me this advice a year ago! This year, ice storm or not, I’ll be ready for Valentine’s Day. No matter what needs doing in your life of faith, I hope you’ll be ready, too!
Your Brother in Christ, Josh
January 2015 Worship Schedule Head Usher: Jason Klara February 1st Scout Sunday Preaching from: Mark 1:21-28 and Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Hymns: Blessed Jesus, at Your Word; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Worship Assistants: the Scouts of Troop 512 February 8th 5 Sunday after Epiphany Celebrating the Baptisms of Liz, Layton, Luke, and Madison McLean and Matt McLean’s reception into our membership, and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper! Preaching from: Isaiah 40:21-31 Hymns: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; How Great Thou Art; O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Worship Assistant: David Smith Communion Servers: Butch Row (bread), David Smith, Paul Pope (juice), Rick Hedgecock, Jim Brooks th
February 15st Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday Hymns: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory; I Danced in the Morning Worship Assistant: Paul Pope February 18th Ash Wednesday We join with our brothers and sisters from Lake Waccamaw and Westminster Presbyterian Churches to observe the beginning of the season of Lent. This service of repentance, reflection, and the placing of ashes (“From dust you came and dust you shall return”) will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6pm. February 22nd 1st Sunday in Lent Beginning our Lent Sermon Series: “Following Jesus” “The Final Sacrifice” (The Book of Hebrews) Hymns: The Church’s One Foundation; Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine! My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less Worship Assistant: Rick Hedgecock
BIRTHDAYS February 1 Rick Hedgecock, Beth Owens 2 Todd Burney, Caroline Hawthorne Don Smith 4 Tim McColskey 5 Gayle Kindschuh 7 Jack Hooks, Jennifer Williamson 9 Bob Crutchfield 12 Sara Thompson 13 Larry Thomas, Mike Tyndall 14 Kelly Love 16 Abigail Owens, Jayme Tyndall Bookie Trogdon 17 Gail Hedgecock, Jason Klara 18 Erin Thompson 19 Justin Smith 20 Lee Hinnant 21 Rayne Dufour 24 McLean Thompson, David Trogdon 25 Kathryn Scott 26 Scott Wayne Crabtree 28 Ed Shelburne, Byrne Stocks March 1 3 4 6 9 11 14 18 19 20 21 23 24 26 31
Joe Kamberger Sidney Gibson, Diane Scott, Mary Anne Tyndall, Rob Waldron Steve Smith Will Spivey Phyllis Farley Wyche McColskey, Will Neisler Derik Williams Bill Turner, Kim Smith Kate Meekins Doug Spivey Ann Coburn Coke Gray III, Barbara Grigsby Walter Munroe, Chandler Thurston Ginger Scott Omar Ramoz
Happy Birthday!
Church Calendar February 2015
COMMITTEE MEETINGS Worship Committee, Wednesday, 2/4, 7:00 p.m. Session, Wednesday, 2/11, 6:30 p.m. Spiritual Development Committee, 2/15, 5:00 p.m. MVE Committee, 2/17, 5:30 p.m. Outreach Committee, 2/18, 6:00 p.m. Facilities & Property Committee, Monday, 2/23, 6:00 p.m. Administrative Committee, Wednesday, 2/25, 7:00 p.m. Congregational Life Comm., Wednesday, 2/25, 7:00 p.m. If your committee meeting is not listed here, please check with your committee chair for meeting dates and times.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES Evening Circle – Monday, 2/2, 7:00 p.m. with Emily Owens Morning Circle – Tuesday, Seniors Valentine Luncheon, 2/8, 12:00 noon Communion – Sunday, 2/1, 11:00 a.m. Family Night Supper – Wednesday, 2/25, 6:00 p.m.
Handbell Rehearsal – Sundays, 6:00 p.m. Ladies’ Bible Study – Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. CIRCLES of Hope – Tuesdays, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Adult Choir – Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Please clip and save Box tops for education! There are receptacles for these on the table under the mailboxes outside the church office! Whiteville primary received $1900.00 from this program and it was used to purchase books and much needed supplies for the Library!
FPC - Whiteville First Presbyterian Church 511 North Thompson Street Whiteville NC 28472