Winter 2019
INDEPENDENT Presbyterian Church
WINDOWS
He who was rich beyond all splendor
In this issue: ALL FOR LOVE’S SAKE | MEMPHIS UNION MISSION | RECESS
A New People. A New Memphis.
My dear Friends: There is a chill in the air (finally). Already the stores are putting out their Christmas decorations. Before we know it, we will be getting ready to welcome family home for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. As we head into these special months in the life of our church, I trust that you’ll remember the heart of the Christmas story. Windows is a publication of Independent Presbyterian Church. Go to ipcmemphis.org to view online.
I tell that story a bit in the opening article in this issue of Windows magazine. It is the story of the Lord of glory who left his Father’s home and came to this world, not to live in palaces or enjoy power, but to work as a carpenter and serve the weak and wounded. It is a story that we
In this issue:
remember as we sing, “He who was rich beyond all splendor/all for love’s sake became poor.” What we see in this Christmas season is the steadfast
2 ALL FOR LOVE’S SAKE
love of God displayed in Jesus Christ.
4 IT’S rEcess!
While God doesn’t need our good works, our neighbors surely do: all for
8 TO LOVE THE LEAST OF THESE
The two feature articles tell of how our church members demonstrate this
And it is love that we as his followers embody as we live in this world. love’s sake, we care for those whom our world may not notice or love. love as they care for “the least of these”—those who have special needs, whether physical or circumstantial. Yet we are mindful of Jesus’ own words: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). As we love others in Jesus’ name, we demonstrate
ON THE COVER: The Adoration of the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ. Etching by G. Barri, 1667, after Paolo Caliari, il Veronese.
our love for him and for others: all for love’s sake. I trust that God will refresh your heart and spirit as you read this issue of Windows and that you will join us in this Christmas season. Come, let us adore him!
In the grip of God’s grace,
Sean Lucas Senior Pastor
4738 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, Tennessee 38117 901-685-8206 | ipcmemphis.org
Martin C. Shea
Music of Christmas He Is Born
6:15 p.m. | Wednesday, December 4 Pre-Elementary, Children’s, Junior High & Senior High Choirs Sanctuary
31st Annual Christmas Service
of Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 8
6:00 p.m. | Adult Choir, Children’s Choirs, and Junior & Senior High Choirs with members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra
Messiah Sing-Along
6:00 p.m. | Sunday, December 15 | Sanctuary
Family Christmas Carol Sing 6:00 p.m. | Sunday, December 22 | Sanctuary
Christmas Food Baskets Setup Friday, Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m. Assembly & Delivery Saturday, Dec. 14, 9:00 a.m. $50.00 for each basket
Purchase baskets and sign up to help in the IPC Rotunda.
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All for Love’s Sake H Sean Lucas
e was newly
ordained as an Anglican deacon
and priest just as World War I was ending. He served two curacies, one in Liverpool and the other in Preston, and was already known as an evangelical in a church that was becoming ritualistic. But in 1920, his life changed forever when he picked up a copy of the life of Hudson Taylor, the famous founder of the China Inland Mission. Fired by the challenge of international missions, he willingly left everything in England and went to China over the objections of his doctor, who worried over his heart issues.
The Shepherds Adore the Newly Born Christ. Etching by M. Piccioni, 1641, after P. Caliari, il Veronese.
After a forty-day trip at
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sea, he arrived at Shanghai. Immediately, he was shocked by the unbiblical paternalism exhibited by his English colleagues, who refused friendship to their Chinese brothers and sisters who served beside them. He was determined to go a different way and related to everyone as a brother in Christ. Four years after he arrived, he became principal of the Theological College in Paoning, Sichuan Province, and would also edit
the newspaper China’s Millions. It was in this role as editor of a religious newspaper that he began to write verse. One such poem that would be The Adoration of the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ. Etching by G. Barri, 1667, after Paolo Caliari, il Veronese.
set to music was “Facing a Task Unfinished.” Later, in 1934, after John and Betty Stam were martyred, he determined to visit the various missionary centers to make sure that all was well. As he traveled over the mountains of Szechwan, he meditated on 2 Corinthians 8:9, “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.” And as he thought on those words, Frank Houghton would write the following verse: Thou who was rich beyond all splendor, All for love’s sake becamest poor; Thrones for a manger didst surrender, Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor. Houghton knew this Jesus who was rich beyond all splendor, who for love’s sake became poor, dwelt among his own, suffered, bled, and died that we might be rescued. And because Houghton knew Jesus lived this way, he followed in Jesus’ path: he too forsook thrones,
If that wasn’t humiliation enough, he was born in a low condition. A stable floor, a feeding trough, a migration from
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake becamest poor; thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
churches, and courts to tell the Chinese about Jesus. He did it all for love’s sake. When we think about Advent and Jesus’ incarnation, we must never rush past the fact that the God of glory, the Lord of Creation, “became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14 The Message). When the eternal Son of God took on human flesh, took on the role of a servant, he condescended from the greatest imaginable heights. And he did it all for love’s sake. Our Catechism talks about Christ’s condescension, his humiliation, in these terms: “Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time” (WSC Q27). During this season, we remember the first part of the answer: the Lord of glory was born. He was in the womb of the virgin Mary; he came through the birth canal; he was a helpless child. The God upon whom we are all dependent was himself dependent upon Mary for life itself.
Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt—in his first two years, that is what Jesus knew. The God who rules the universe, who sits upon the throne of heaven, was ignored and then threatened by the earthly powers over whom he reigned. This is the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, claimed the diamonds yet to be discovered in Zimbabwe, knew where the deepest gold mines of South Africa were, had
every oil reserve on this planet in his portfolio and every waterfall and aquifer mapped in his mind. How rich—beyond the richest corporation in this world today!—was this God. And yet, he took on flesh and blood as a Palestinian Jew, as a child of a man who worked in wood and stone, in a forgotten town called Nazareth. And thirty years after he was born, he would make his way to Jerusalem, riding on a donkey as the true King of God’s People. He would be tried on false charges, convicted by two courts, and crucified between two thieves for the sins of the world. The richest possible Being in the world became abandoned, destitute, poor—and he did it for you, for your salvation, for your transformation, for your eternal rest. And he calls you to follow him, to do the same—even if it means forsaking everything and going to a faraway place with only the Gospel in hand. Like Frank Houghton, who would serve in China for thirty-three years. All for love’s sake.
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It’s rEcess!
For Mom, Dad, children, brothers and sisters By Annie Howard
Softballs bounce. Hands dig into playdough. Building block towers go up and come down with a crash. Sneakers patter from room to room. It’s kickoff night for rEcess, and there’s a joyful noise up and down the hall. At just over a year old, rEcess is IPC’s first ministry geared exclusively towards children with special needs and their families. On the first Friday of each month during the school year, parents drop off their differently abled children along with their brothers and sisters. Each child gets a trained volunteer buddy on check-in at the church rotunda; then they’re off to explore crafts, games and activities together. The program is open to children ages twelve and under. rEcess, a ministry model created by the nonprofit 99 Balloons, provides safe fun for children and a night off-duty for parents. “Each one of these children is special and unique and made by God the way they are. We have the opportunity to love and encourage them,” says IPC member and special ed teacher
Children get to direct what they do throughout the night with their “buddies.” (volunteers Lydia Fisher and Casey Hansen)
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The night is much more than babysitting. It is fostering relationships with the children, encouraging them, and having a blast. (volunteers Natalie Francis and Clare McCreery)
Carol Stokes, who helped start the program in 2018. “And we’re also able to offer a gift to the parents. They can have a night to themselves and know their kids are in a safe, nurturing environment. The desire is to allow a family that has a hard time getting out to be comfortable.” A nurse is on site at all times; volunteers are backgroundchecked and trained on topics like hand-over-hand learning and eye contact, putting children with special needs at ease. A quiet room is on standby for children sensitive to noise. On sign-up, parents fill out a thorough packet on their child, briefing volunteers on any medical needs that might come into play. A nurse reviews that packet, ensuring the volunteer crew is equipped to care for the child. The packet also helps parents and volunteers network on behavioral needs. “Sometimes, parents will let us know in the packet if there’s an area [they’d like to work on],” says Casey Hansen, an IPC member and rEcess volunteer with speech pathology experience. “They might say, ‘If the volunteers can encourage my child to play with other kids, that would be great.’ We can do that. It’s about helping kids socialize but also keeping them happy and content.” The ministry served six families in its first year. At the start of year two, that number is up to eight families from within and outside IPC, and two more families who have expressed interest in joining. Stokes hopes to grow the volunteer team by 5 to 8 people to accommodate the growing need. Children with special-needs and their families are a “huge
mission field,” says Sean Lucas, IPC’s senior minister. The everyday world isn’t often designed with individuals with disabilities in mind; it can be overwhelming when viewed through their eyes. Colors, sounds, and smells are often perceived more intensely, triggering sensory overload and distress. “How do we care well for children who might, for example, find a traditional Sunday school classroom setting upsetting?” asks Lucas. The whole family also benefits from support. Parents may be looking at a lifetime of involved care; at the same time, their different experiences can be isolating. “They may not be in the mainstream of what most families experience with their children,” says Lucas. “When Bob and Sally and Jim and Jane are talking about their boys’ football team, that might not be something a special-needs parent can connect to. Parents are also outside the mainstream for a long time, because children with special needs often don’t graduate from needing more sustained care.” Siblings, too, are in a unique situation. They’re sometimes referred to as “glass children,” says Janet Leavell, who partnered with Stokes to begin and continue this ministry. “People don’t see them. Everything revolves around the other sibling; they can be overlooked.” rEcess helps alleviate those stress points in the family. Parents have an evening to relax; siblings get their own volunteer buddy for the night; and special-needs children have an attentive, comfortable space for play. “The genius of rEcess is in caring for the entire family system,” says Lucas. “Mom, dad, children, brothers, sisters.” For children with special needs, whose lives are often “structured with therapies and appointments,” says Stokes, rEcess doubles as an invaluable time for play. Stokes’s vision for the ministry grew from her connection to Play, Do, Learn, a special-needs preschool hosted at IPC. While substitute teaching there, she noticed a gap in awareness. “I realized that very few people around IPC even knew about the school,” she said. “We really weren’t connected, and I had that on my heart.” She began exploring ways to pull IPC, Play, Do, Learn, and the special-needs population closer together. Her lightbulb moment came in 2017, when a Sunday school guest speaker mentioned 99 Balloons, a nonprofit focused on lifting people with disability. One of its ministries was rEcess: a fully-realized model for church special-needs outreach. “They have it all laid out. They’ve got safety requirements, a curriculum, a recommended schedule—they take you from step one,” says Stokes. “I was like, ‘Okay. God put this in my lap.’ This was it.” The flurry of activity up and down the hallway is proof rEcess met a need. Volunteers tag along with their children, bouncing from playroom to quiet room to gym. They toss balls back and forth, create animals out of play-dough, and take breaks in the quiet room or kick back on quilts spread on the floor. “It doesn’t take long to realize they’re children just like any other children,” says Stokes. “They love to play, love attention, laugh. You see their delight in just having a buddy for the night to play with.” Volunteers run the gamut of experience with special needs; for
“Each one of these children is special and unique and made by God the way they are. We have the opportunity to love and encourage them, and we’re also able to offer a gift to the parents.” Carol Stokes, IPC member who founded the program in 2018
(volunteers Kelly Turner and Lance McGee)
Janet Leavell has co-led rEcess with Carol Stokes since the ministry began.
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some, it’s new territory. bit of encouragement.” Leavell, for whom special-needs Every rEcess night, volunteers ministry is a “brand new” experience, meet beforehand for dinner, a refresher mentions different skills she’s picked on tips and pointers, and a match-up up during volunteer training. “Carol’s between buddies and children. The covered things like hand-over-hand team also reviews each child’s packet in learning, getting on their level for preparation. eye contact, simple things you don’t As rEcess grows, Lucas hopes think about,” she says. Leavell’s the spark for special needs ministry also found her stride working with will catch on. Several members have siblings. stepped forward with ideas, from “You don’t have to have any creation of a wheelchair basketball kind of special-needs experience as team to special Sunday school classes long as you have a heart for these molded to the needs of differently abled IPC rEcess founder Carol Stokes (left) provides rEcess volunteers kids and a heart for the Lord. All children. Greater inclusion will, he thinks, with all the training they need. you need is a lot of energy,” laughs nurture the congregation as a whole. Hansen, “because these kids are excited. They’re ready to have Reflecting on a member of his prior congregation with Down fun and play.” syndrome, he mentions a word several times: “joy.” 99 Balloons provides training videos for new volunteers, and “The day she professed her faith and joined the church, it was other rEcess members are always on hand to answer questions. a massive celebration,” he remembers. “She was utterly joy filled, “Once you get here, you’re provided with all the training that and the gifts that she brought with her joy and gentleness and you need,” says Hansen. Some volunteers are special educators, lack of inhibition gentled and shaped us as a congregation. It’s the speech pathologists, or occupational therapists. “There are same thing here. These folks who are differently abled have gifts to tons of people who can answer questions and give you a little give us, just as we have gifts to give them.”
“You don’t have to have any kind of special-needs experience as long as you have a heart for these kids and a heart for the Lord. All you need is a lot of energy, because these kids are excited. They’re ready to have fun and play.” Casey Hansen, rEcess volunteer
In addition to being a buddy paired with a child, volunteers can help in other roles, such as greeting families as they arrive, working as a floater assisting other volunteers when needs arise, and serving as a designated onsite medical professional. (volunteers Sarah Grace Rogers and Kate Stukenborg)
For the story of Eliot Mooney and history of 99 Balloons rEcess, go to 99balloons.org. 6
mark your calendar
Dr. John Dunlop January 25, 2020 “Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia” April 25, 2020 “Wellness to the Glory of God”
We all want to finish life well. Unfortunately, we do not always understand what that means, and even more, we don’t know how to do it. From his years of experience as a geriatrician and student of the Scriptures, Dr. John Dunlop will introduce strategies by which God can be glorified as we age successfully. These seminars are intended for those facing these issues themselves, their children, and other caregivers.
New Pathway Weekend February 7-8 | Taught by Dr. Sean Lucas
STARTS JANUARY 23
Thursdays 6:30 -7:30 a.m.
Visitors interested in joining IPC are invited to attend our upcoming Pathway Class Weekend.
Taught by Dr. Sean Lucas ipcmemphis.org
All Ages | Fellowship Hall | Coffee Provided I N D E P E N D E N T
P R E S B Y T E R I A N
C H U R C H
For more information or to register, please contact Tameria Rackley, Trackley@ipcmemphis.org, or call (901) 685-8206. 7
W
e pass them every day: a woman on the sidewalk, a teenager in the library, a man waiting at an intersection. “One of the things you notice when you drive around Memphis, including East Memphis, is the number of homeless in our city,” says Sean Lucas, IPC’s senior minister. In 2018, a Point in Time census counted 1,226 homeless people in the Memphis/ Shelby County area. Each one has a story; job loss, substance addiction, mental illness, and flight from domestic abuse are just a few reasons people might find themselves destitute. On the street, already vulnerable individuals face weather exposure, robbery, stigma, and assault. Memphis Union Mission, a ministry IPC has supported for over a decade, stands ready to help. Since 1945, MUM has supplied the city’s homeless and underserved, offering shelter, clothing, recovery programs, food, and spiritual guidance. “Memphis Union Mission is part of the social fabric of our city,” says Lucas. The Mission operates six ministry facilities throughout the Greater
Memphis area, from the emergency shelter downtown to a 160-acre addiction recovery and transitional housing campus near Shelby Forest. Its programs target an array of at-risk groups: a short-term emergency shelter for homeless men, a residential recovery program for women and their children, a long-term recovery program for men wrestling with addiction, a
in touch with people and experiences we’re often tempted to avoid. Pushing back at that avoidance, Lucas says, is vital. “We go not to people who look like us, but to people who are outside our comfort zone,” says Lucas. “Jesus puts the onus on us, the command, to love the least of these; to care for those whom society would see as less than or worthless, because they’re made in the image of God.” Don Taddia, an IPC member who has served on MUM’s board for over a decade, got his start pursuing that command in a breakfast line. “God first opened my heart to the homeless when our family began serving breakfasts at the Neighborhood Christian Center, another IPC ministry,” he said. “People came through the line, and some people would say ‘thank you,’ and some people would say, ‘is that all you’re gonna give me?’” In line, Taddia encountered “how people were, their personalities, their approach to survival.” What might seem threatening was often a defense mechanism, a byproduct of an unstable situation. “The approach some people have is to be strong-willed,” he says. “Some of that is a mechanism to
To Love The Least of These B Y A N N I E H O WA R D
re-entry program for incarcerated men, and transitional housing for intact, homeless families. In 2018, the Mission provided 339,913 meals and 126,363 nights of lodging across all programs. Perhaps best known is the short-term emergency shelter at 383 Poplar Avenue, which provides overnight shelter for men, daily hot meals, clothing, hygiene kits, and a free mobile medical clinic on Mondays, hosted in partnership with Christ Community Health. MUM’s ministries put volunteers
Founded in 1945, Memphis Union Mission ministers to hurting, homeless Memphians by providing food, clothing, shelter, and Christ-centered recovery programs.
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In 2018, the Mission provided 339,913 meals and 126,363 nights of lodging across all programs. protect themselves on the streets.” Taddia also began to realize the sheer number of homeless in Memphis. “You’re standing there serving breakfast, and oh my goodness, that’s a lot of people in line. And they’re still coming.” When one of his coworkers mentioned MUM to him a few months later, he jumped in, quickly joining the MUM board. After a decade in that role, he’s gotten a bird’s-eye view of MUM’s many ministries, and a feel for the soul of the Mission. “The gospel is the driving force behind all that’s done at MUM,” he says. MUM’s ministry reaches beyond physical shelter; it also addresses spiritual and psychological needs. “If you don’t do that, it’s like taking somebody and putting them in a rowboat,” says Taddia. “Yes, they’re
holds worship services before meals and throughout the day; it also has six pastors on staff who minister to clients. In its various longer-term recovery programs, emphasis is always given to spiritual growth, from Bible studies to discipleship courses. “Our faith in and calling from God is central to all that we do,” says Howard Terada, MUM’s Communications and Donor Relations Director. “We believe that following
Women whose lives have been shattered by domestic abuse, drug addiction, depression, and prostitution can receive wholeness and restoration at Moriah House in Bartlett.
God is the key to freedom from drug addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, and rehabilitation into a healthy lifestyle.” Broadly, Memphis’ plight appears to be improving; according to the 2018 Point in Time report, Memphis homelessness has dropped 41 percent since Don Taddia, IPC member and 10-year MUM board member 2012. When we wade into individual lives, however, we discover wounds that still need safe, they don’t have to swim in the healing. water. But then you take the rowboat “You meet some people and just and push it out there, and they’re going cannot imagine how they’ve survived downriver without anything to grab what they’ve been through,” says onto. There’s no oar, no rudder. The Elaine Pacello, an IPC member and things they need, like psychological MUM volunteer. For 25 years, Pacello and spiritual help—the Mission dives has led Bible studies for residents at into that.” Moriah House, the Mission’s residential At the emergency shelter, MUM
“You’re standing there serving breakfast, and oh my goodness, that’s a lot of people in line. And they’re still coming.”
recovery program for women. Moriah House helps women rebuild in the wake of domestic violence, prostitution, homelessness, and drug addiction. Up to fifteen women, along with their children, can stay in the building at once; after being accepted via referral, each woman is provided a private suite, counseling, Bible study support, and classes on topics like parenting and budgeting. Though residents can remain up to two years,
the program is voluntary. Women can graduate, or leave, at any point within that timeframe. Pacello is honest about the challenges of ministry; it’s a raw experience. She also communicates the urgency. “God works through the body of Christ to reach into the lives of people who are desperate,” she says. “And it’s the only hope they have.” She’s worked with girls as young as sixteen. She’s seen women leave, returning to violent partners and destructive habits. Sometimes, they drop the program because adjusting to Moriah’s rules—no smoking, no drinking, and no men—is tough to handle. Sometimes, Pacello says, they drop because the drugs are too powerful. “They lock themselves into a
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prison that is so hard to break out of,” she says. “I’ll never forget, we were sitting around the table talking and this girl was there; she was doing great. But she said, sometimes, I lie down in my bed at night and I remember what it was like to do those drugs. And it’s what I want.” In these cases, Pacello hopes Moriah House has planted a seed. “You hope for it and you trust God for it,” she says. “Sometimes they come back. If they’ve left and returned to where they were before, they realize what they’ve lost.” For some, Moriah is the latest entry in a string of attempts to change. According to Pacello, many clients arrive after going from one rehab program to the next. “They know they’ve got to get out of this hole they’re in,” she says. “But it doesn’t seem to work for them. So many times, when they finally get to Moriah House, if they stay they find that they have to change from the inside out. Nothing else works.” When women first arrive, they’ve been thrown into an environment with strangers while handling their own pain; they’re often “really scared,”
Volunteer-led Bible studies help residents discover new life through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
says Pacello. “The privilege is watching as the weeks go by. You see the demeanor change, the response to what you say to them change. The lights come on. You see hope.” Volunteer-led Bible studies and personal counseling begin to heal invisible trauma. One constant but unassuming volunteer need at Moriah House: babysitting. “Women with children can’t take their kids into the Bible studies, so they have to miss and they’re not fed,” says Pacello. “Babysitting sounds like such a nothing job, but people volunteering to come babysit for an hour, that’s huge.”
Babysitters are needed Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Moriah House askes for a yearlong commitment. Moriah House yields a clear vision of the trajectory of recovery, and the weight of MUM’s purpose as a whole. “When you know these people and you look in their eyes and you know their deepest needs, it tears you apart. But the privilege that you have of reaching into somebody’s life is worth the pain you carry with you,” says Pacello. “...That’s what the body of Christ is for.” MUM welcomes volunteers in a variety of roles, from serving meals to babysitting, leading Bible studies,
Moriah House accommodates up to 15 women in individual suites. Residents have a structured schedule consisting of chores, exercise, meals, counseling, and Bible studies; they also learn practical skills like managing a budget, pursuing an education, and raising a family.
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“When you know these people and you look in their eyes and you know their deepest needs, it tears you apart. But the privilege that you have of reaching into somebody’s life is worth the pain you carry with you ...That’s what the body of Christ is for.”
landscaping, mentoring, and assisting with painting, cleaning, and small repairs at facilities. MUM accepts various donations: clothing, blankets, hats, gloves, and items for hygiene kits are only a handful. A complete list is available on the ministry’s website. MUM also accepts monetary support, and remains afloat entirely via donations. “We know that God has called MUM to serve homeless and destitute Memphians, so we trust Him to provide the funds to accomplish His mission,” says Terada. The Mission receives no government funds and is not affiliated with United Way. “We rely on the benevolence and generosity of individuals, churches, and organizations in Memphis.” MUM especially appreciates support in light of continuing work
Elaine Pacello, IPC member and 25-year MUM volunteer on its new facility, the Opportunity Center, at 600 Poplar Avenue. MUM’s emergency shelter at 383 Poplar was constructed in the early 1960’s. It’s had a “useful life,” says Taddia, but suffers from limited space and outdated infrastructure; the Opportunity Center will ultimately replace it. Phase 1 of construction is scheduled to be complete in late
Now Available!
New IPC App ____________ Features include:
2020.The Center will progress through three phases, each adding different wings and facilities; on completion, it will expand bed capacity to 350 men, whereas the current emergency shelter functionally houses 65 but as many as 325 during extreme weather. The new center will also provide updated dining facilities, a worship center, and dedicated room for third-party supportive services like medical care, GED and literacy education, and case management. As MUM forges ahead in its mission to treat the underserved with dignity, Lucas hopes we’ll continue to come alongside that vision. “Each person we come across has been crowned with glory and honor, Psalm 8 tells us, and made a little less than the gods,” says Lucas. “That’s true of every one of us.”
Women’s Conference
March 27-28, 2020 | Fellowship Hall Guest Speaker:
Paige Benton Brown
Membership Directory Easy Access to Sermons Event Calendar & Registration Giving Fast Pass Check-In And More!
____________ Download instructions at ipcmemphis.org
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IPC Missions Conference 2020 February 19 - 23
_______
Our Mission to Midsouth Colleges
: 2020 MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES : Manchester, England | First week of February (exact dates TBD) Workshops and discipleship opportunities concentrating on how to engage a post-modern culture Leader: Ed Norton San Juan, Puerto Rico | Date: February 14-21 Construction trip for men and women Contact: Parker Tenent Athens, Greece | February 14-23 Women’s ministry with those coming out of sex slavery and working with gypsy families Leader: Kathy Garrett
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Musoma, Tanzania, Africa | Date: May 21-June 2 Pastoral conference, women’s conference, possible medical mission Leader: Mike Malone Glasgow, Scotland | Date: July 31-August 8 Holiday Club and youth outreach Leader: Emily Daffener Bogota, Columbia | Date: TBD Construction and children’s ministry opportunities Leader: Avery Bridges
Any member in good standing who desires to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is invited to go on a mission trip through IPC. The Short Term Missions Committee will give partial financial help if a person is unable to pay the full fare to go on the trip. Contact the leader or Tameria Rackley, trackley@ipcmemphis.org, for more information.
Save These Dates in 2020 Jan 7 Men’s Prayer Breakfast begins Jan 8 Wednesday Evening Teaching & Activities begin Jan 14 Women’s Bible Study begins Jan 19 Sunday Evening Praise begins Jan 23 In The Word Men’s Bible Study begins Jan 25 IPC Scouts Pinewood Derby Jan 26 Souper Supper Feb 9 Troop & Pack 81 Scout Sunday Feb 8-9 Pathway Weekend for Prospective Members
Feb 15-17 Senior High Spring Retreat, Nashville Feb 19-23 IPC Mission’s Conference Mar 27-28 WOC Spring Conference with Paige Benton Brown Apr 5 Palm Sunday Music Program Apr 11 Maundy Thursday Communion Service, Sanctuary Apr 10 Good Friday Service, Sanctuary Apr 12 Easter Sunday Apr 22 Junior High Choir Commissioning Concert, Sanctuary
Apr 24-26 Junior High Choir Spring Trip Apr 28 WOC Spring Dinner with Mitch Maher April 29 Children’s Spring Program May 2 IPC Ballet Recital May 22-27 Camp Palmer May 28-June 4 Senior High Choir Summer Tour Jun 4 Senior High Choir Homecoming Concert, Sanctuary Jun 8-12 Vacation Bible School
Good Christian Men and Women, Rejoice! (Don’t miss this special Christmas offer! )
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All books are always 20% off! Offer expires December 23, 2019. Excludes consignment and special orders, may not be combined with other coupons.
BOOKSTORE HOURS: Sunday 9:30– 11:00 a.m. | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Wednesday 9:30 a.m.– 6:30 p.m. | Closed Friday and Saturday ipcmemphis.org/resources/ipc-bookstore | 901-763-3932 | covenant@ipcmemphis.org The bookstore will be closed December 24-January 1.
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November
13, 14, 15
Covenanters’ Corner Bookstore Holiday Open House
He Is Born
Pre-Elementary, Children’s, Junior High & Senior High Choirs
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Women's Ministry
8
31
Decorate the Church stAnnual Christmas Service of Lessons & Carols
TBA Women's Ministry
15 Children’s Sunday School Parties PreK-5th Grade
15 Gingerbread Contest 4th & 5th Graders
December
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13 Food Baskets Set-Up 14 Food Baskets Assembly & Delivery
Christmas Caroling
15 Messiah Sing-Along
22 Family Christmas Carol Sing 24 Christmas Eve
Family Service 4:00 | Fellowship Hall Communion Service 5:30 | Sanctuary
& Lots of Community Parties
and Christmas Shopping at
Covenanters’ Corner Bookstore
The church offices will be closed November 28, 29; December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1.
Oh come all ye faithful!