This Week: September 28, 2019

WORLD MISSIONS MISSIONARY MAILINGS Write handwritten notes of encouragement to our missionaries around the world on Sunday, October 6, 12:15–1:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall. Lunch and children’s supplies provided. Donations for lunch appreciated. PCPC shuttle service will be extended to 2:00 p.m. Please RSVP. cindy.rhea@pcpc.org or 214-224-2551

SENIOR ADULTS TRIP TO THE STATE FAIR Come out to the Stae Fair of Texas on Thursday, October 10, 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. We'll board the vans in the Oak Lawn West parking lot at 9:30 a.m. to be at the Fair by 10:00 a.m. Entrance is free to senior adults, but food will cost extra. Enjoy the Fair on your own schedule, and please bring a cell phone for communication or emergency purposes. At 2:30 p.m., we will meet back at the vans and return to PCPC. Please RSVP to reserve your seat on one of the vans. Bring a friend and plan to enjoy the day! jane.beasley@pcpc.org or 214-224-2771

COST OF POVERTY EXPERIENCE

VOL. XXX, NO .17 | SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRICIA COTHRAN, EDITOR 4124 OAK LAWN AVENUE DALLAS, TX 75219-3152

COPE will provide an opportunity for us to walk in the steps of low-income individuals and families living in our community and experience the obstacles that are faced, the decisions that are made, and the consequences that impact these families every day. Join us Saturday, October 19, 8:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m., COPE Simulation Center, 5470 Ellsworth Avenue. Registration is required. Sign up at pcpc.org/events. This event is limited to individuals aged 18 and up. charlotte.medley@pcpc.org or 214-224-2715

GLOBAL LOCAL MISSIONS CASA DEL LAGO BUS TOUR Are you interested in learning more about how Casa Del Lago serves the Hispanic families living in the Bachman Lake neighborhood? Join us on a bus tour on Wednesday, October 16, 9:00 a.m.–Noon. For more information and to sign up, contact Sarah Morrison. sarah.morrison@pcpc.org or 214-224-2524

GLOBAL TABLE REFUGEE DINNER

214-224-2500 pcpc.org facebook.com/parkcitiespca twitter.com/parkcitiespca

THISWEEK@PCPC

CITY MISSIONS

Come to the table and experience flavors and stories from around the world on Saturday, October 19, 6:00 p.m., Mars Hill Farm. Get to know some of the refugee families that have been impacted by PCPC. Cost is $30 per person, and includes a full sit-down dinner. Seats are limited. Please RSVP. sarah.morrison@pcpc.org or 214-224-2524

FOR THE NATIONS BUS TOUR

THISWEEK@PCPC

VOL. XXX, NO. 17 | SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

Are you interested in learning more about how For the Nations serves the refugee community here in Dallas? Join us on a bus tour on Wednesday, October 30, 9:00 a.m.–Noon. For more information and to sign up, contact Sarah Morrison. sarah.morrison@pcpc.org or 214-224-2524

BAPTISMS

September 15, 2019

OUR FAMILY

deaths • Barbara A. Pogue (CC#14), mother of Alexis Hall (CC#14) on August 17, 2019.

sympathies • Blake & Kristi Woodall (CC#06) on the loss of her father; Brandes Woodall (CC#06) on the loss of her grandfather, Daniel Charles McIntyre, on August 21, 2019.

As I sat on my back porch in East Dallas during the fall of 2000, I asked the Lord to show me how to make sense of Halloween with the teenage girls just across the railroad tracks. I was sad and a bit disturbed by the darkness that enveloped me as I drove into their trailer park and saw the spooky decorations they used. I had never thought much about it, but now as a new mom, I grappled with teaching these girls, as well as my own, about celebrating Jesus in every holiday.

Addison Jean Bilbo daughter of Amanda and Brice Bilbo

Frances Mae Mitchell daughter of Frances and Noah Mitchell

Care Clusters – pcpc.org/care/care-clusters/ GENERAL FUND

During a sweet time praying about creative ways to reach the hearts of these girls, the LORD called my attention to the pumpkins I was decorating on my back porch and gave me the idea of The Pumpkin Gospel. Here it is…

I love all the pumpkins I see everywhere in the fall. My Dad always called me “Pumpkin,” and every time I see one, I smile thinking of him and how his love for me pointed me to the love of my Heavenly Father over and again. You see, God calls me “Pumpkin” too in a crazy sort of way. He has called me by name; I am His. (Isaiah 43:1) He never fails to remind me every time I look at His creation, including pumpkins, how my heart is in need of His divine intervention.

The pumpkins on my back porch are dead. They are separated from the vine.

(John 15:5) They look pretty good, but soon they will rot. Some sooner than others.

They are powerless to do anything about it. Even if they wanted to, they can never jump up on my table and say, “Make me alive again.” (Romans 3:23) In His mercy and grace, the Father sent His Son to bring me back into a right relationship with Him. (Romans 5:8) Through the Word and the Holy Spirit, He pierces my heart and enlightens my eyes so that I know the riches of His grace to me. (Ephesians 1:18) He dives into my yuck and cleans me out through the washing and rebirth of His Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) He removes the yuck that fills my soul and sends it as far as the heavens are above the earth (Psalm 103).

Now we know through Mary Flo Ridley and all her wisdom that “Inside every living creature is the material to make another creature just like it.” That applies to my sin as well. I can only breed more of me. Only God can remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh so that the seed inside me morphs to imperishable.

(I Corinthians 15:42) This is the great exchange. I give Him my sin. He gives me His life, The Holy Spirit, and His Word to guide me. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Invite family and friends out to Thackery Park on Friday, October 18, 5:30–7:00 p.m. as we carve pumpkins, eat dinner, and share the Pumpkin Gospel.

Register at pcpc.org/events.

No two pumpkins are alike aside from the yuck inside. We are all created in His image, but each is unique. (Psalm 139:14) He then begins to work on making me a light in a dark world. (Matthew 5:14) He employs the tools of His Word in conjunction with The Holy Spirit, painfully carving me into who He designed me to be to do the works He ordained me to do before the world began. (Ephesians 2:1-10) He gave me eyes to see the world as He sees it, full of dead pumpkins who are separated from the vine and need His penetrating love. He spreads through me the aroma of Christ to a dying world and to shed light in a dark world. (2 Corinthians 2:15) He gives me the grace to smile at trials and joy in suffering, so I look a bit different than the crazy images I see around me. (James 1) One day this pumpkin will rot, but the light and the life He puts inside me will live forever. ( I Corinthians 15:42-44) Thankfully, these luminaries decorate my home from Labor Day all the way through Thanksgiving reminding me of His great love for me, that when I was dead in my sins and transgressions and powerless to do anything about it, He made me alive in Christ. I hope and pray this story becomes yours, and you use it over and again to share your hope and faith to a dark and dying world.

• Matt & Sarah Ganier (CC#06) on the loss of her grandmother; Anna Grace, James, & Davis Ganier (CC#06) on the loss of their great-grandmother, Anne Goode Hamilton, on September 3, 2019.

budget

2019/2020 operating budget

Houston Sandefer Ridley son of Chelsea and Davis Ridley

Hopelynn Grey Stevenson daughter of Hannah and Logun Stevenson

$13,500,000

July 1—September 15, 2019 budget

$ 1,985,221

July 1—September 15, 2019 giving

$ 1,814,340

Budget Deficit

– $170,882

SAVE THE DATE SECOND GRADE BIBLES

Sunday, October 6 | 8:30–9:15 a.m. | Fellowship Hall

PRESCHOOL POP & PLAY

Monday, October 7 | 10:00 a.m.–Noon | 9201 Forest Lane

CITY MISSIONS DIGNITY SERVES WEEKEND INTENSIVE Friday, November 8 from 6:00—9:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

PCPC WOMEN: THE BRIDGE John Preston Wallace son of Kiki and Andy Wallace

Tuesday, November 12 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.

DEACONS: HELPING HANDS

Saturday, November 16 | 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Room 263