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THE Cornerstone
“Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house...” 1 Peter 2.4
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Volume CXXXIX
November 2014
www.rspc.org
A Note from the Pastor
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Happy Anniversary Rock Spring!
Our 144th is just around the corner — November 9, 2014.
We will have the Kirking at the 11:00 service and a catered luncheon
— don’t forget to call or email the office and make reservations for
lunch!!
As we celebrate our history, we also look forward to the new things God is calling us to
do. Our intent is to SHINE in our church, in our neighborhood, and into the whole
world.
This time of celebration and fellowship rejoices in God’s planting his mission in this field,
and acknowledges God’s continuing plan to have us serve in this spot as agents of Christ’s
love and reconciliation.
When the New Year turns, we will be giving extra attention to just exactly what shape that
will take as John Holloway leads us through the CAT scan (a Church Assessment Tool
from Holy Cow Consulting), and your session begins their work with Mike Piazza, the
consultant the Presbytery is GIFTING to us! (Mike is the author of, among other books,
Liberating Hope: Daring to Renew the Mainline Church).
Anniversaries are special. We celebrate lastingness; we renew covenant; we rejoice that
God isn’t done with us yet.
I look forward to celebrating with you!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Devotional for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 16, 2014
Risking the Talents—Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents is a story Jesus tells while teaching about the end time. Immediately
preceding this text is the admonition to be watchful, for no one knows the hour. The servants in
the story had no idea when the master was coming back, just as we have no idea when Jesus will
return. It's unfortunate the measure of wealth the master leaves with his servants translates into
English as “talents.” We think of talents as abilities. Here it is a measurement of money, actually
a weight. If the talents are gold, the master left a tremendous amount of wealth with his servants.
A talent of gold would equal about 20 years of wages for the average worker. The master did not
entrust the servants with ability, rather he gave to them according to the ability they already had.
What he entrusted to them was wealth.
This parable, while it tells us something about the end times, tells us more about Christian
stewardship—how we manage the things that God has entrusted to us. Everything that we have,
we have received from God. Whatever wealth we have, is an entrusted gift. Our abilities and
talents are also gifts from God to be used wisely, as is the time allotted to each of us on earth.
In the parable two of the servants invested and used wisely, which gave a return to the master.
The third servant dug a hole and buried the talent for safe keeping. Apparently, the master was
not looking for safe keeping; he was looking for the risk of investment and a return.
What does this mean?? This parable deals with the most valuable thing that God has entrusted
to us: the gospel message of God’s love for us in Christ. It is more valuable that all of the silver
and gold in the world. It is more valuable than all of our abilities, talents, and time.
If we risk ourselves by sharing the gospel message, there will be a return on that investment for
our master: others will come to know Jesus. Some of us will be more successful in our
evangelism than others, but we are all called to share the message. Some may want to play it safe
and simply hold onto the message for themselves. But as with all our gifts, we will be held
accountable when the master returns. We will all be called to account regarding how we
managed the gifts that God entrusted to us. Our efforts will show how much we want to hear
God’s voice say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Adapted by E. Murphy from: sundayeducation.com/2011/07/17/risking-the-talents-matthew-2514-30-daily-devotional
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Gospel At the Rock
Bluegrass, Bible, and Some Pretty Fine Coffee
9:00 am Sundays - Loudermilk Center (behind the church)
“What we know about God and what we do for God have a way of getting broken apart in our lives. The moment the organic unity of belief and behavior is damaged in any way,
we are incapable of living out the full humanity for which we were
created. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians joins together what has been
torn apart in our sin-wrecked world….Like a surgeon skillfully setting
a compound fracture, Paul “sets this belief in God into our behavior
before God so that the bones—belief and behavior—knit together
and heal. Once our attention is called to it, we notice these fractures
all over the place. There is hardly a bone in our bodies that has escaped injury, hardly a relationship in city or job, school or church,
family or country, that isn’t out of joint or limping in pain. There is
much work to be done.” Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Ephesians, The Message p. 1715
Join us as we walk through the book of Ephesians … and consider what it means for us at Rock
Spring today. Are we really “saints”?! What does it mean to be “chosen before the foundation of
the world to be holy”? When we say “Lord,” are we really putting Jesus in charge of our WHOLE
life? Come and be challenged, come and be comforted, come and grow in your faith!
Youth Group FUNraiser: Talent Show and Cake Auction
The Question: What talent did God give you
that you can use to increase God’s harvest?
The Book: Matthew 25:13-30
The congregation is invited to come out and
support our fantastic Youth Group at a their
Talent Show and Cake Auction at 7:00pm on
Sunday, November 23rd in the Fellowship
Hall.
Anyone who has a talent to share is welcome to
perform — sing a song, read a poem, do Shakespeare, turn somersaults!
Please call or email PK if you would like to be
on the program. ALL youth will be sharing a
talent, too! Between acts we will have an auction of desserts the youth have baked/decorated themselves.
Please join us for this wonderful evening of fun and fellowship.
Proceeds will be used to fund youth events and mission work. The youth are pulling together a special gift for
Nicholas House (picture above), the family shelter that we visited in October.
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ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Happy Fall Y’all! The air is brisk and we are feeling kind of
frisky here at the preschool! Our garden is planted, and our
classes are busy learning and talking about pumpkins, fall
leaves, acorns, squirrels, and Halloween costumes.
A BIG THANK YOU to Marianna Gebhardt and her family
for helping us with our garden. We’re growing lettuce,
spinach, cabbage, parsley, and rosemary. We will enjoy
tasting our crops later this year, so be sure to stop by and
check out our box gardens as they grow!
Just as with our garden, it’s very exciting to watch our
preschool students mature and grow. Most everyone is in a
routine and knows what to expect each day. Our threes are
journaling! Each day they have something to put in their
journals that they write, color, or glue in. Our 4s are writing
and learning sight words — truth be told, some of them are
already READING! Our two-year-olds are learning to follow directions and are practicing with
glue, tweezers, crayons and play-dough to increase their fine motor skill development. Our
toddlers are learning to sit at the table and feed themselves at lunch and snack time, and they
enjoy playground time very much! Our families are all enjoying drop off and pick up without
tears! This is a great time of year at RSP.
We will be gearing up soon for Thanksgiving and Christmas; it’s just around the corner. In the
meantime, thank you to the RSPC congregation for keeping us in your prayers, for being
supportive and encouraging when you see us in the hallway, and for all the volunteers who serve
on our board and who handle our finances. We are very blessed to have such a great
relationship between church and school!
With joy and thanksgiving,
Sally
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Service Opportunities For Sunday Worship
November 2
Greeters: Charlie Bogle, Tommy Eads,
Willard Odenwelder, Ben Adair
Nursery: Jennifer Del Bagno, Ben Adair
Sound: Blake Wesson
Counting: TBA
Coffee Host: Grace Quinn
November 9
Greeters: Mike & Maud Nugent, Andy &
Jenny Rutledge
Nursery: Susan Gilbreath, George Christy
Sound: David Christopher
Counting: TBA
Church Luncheon
November 16
Greeters: Keith & Diane Bumgarner,
Grace Quinn, Wendy Christopher
Nursery: Mike & Sally Swanger
Sound: Sandra Snyder
Counting: TBA
Coffee Host: Dea Adams
Presbyterian Women
November 23
Greeters: Mike & Claudia Walton, Elaine
Murphy, John Foy
Nursery: Diane Bumgarner, Carey Miller
Sound: Dea Adams
Counting: TBA
Coffee Host: Jenny & Andy Rutledge
November 30
Greeters: Mike & Sally Swanger, Mark &
Susan Gilbreath
Nursery: Elaine Murphy, TBA
Sound: Chas Gowing
Counting: TBA
Coffee Host: Jennifer Del Bagno
Church Luncheon
Sunday November 9— Don’t
miss out on the wonderful fellowship and a delicious meal.
Menu includes BBQ chicken
and pork, cole slaw, macaroni
and cheese, and dessert.
The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children under
12. Make your reservations with the church office
no later than Friday, November 7. Call 404-8757483 or email [email protected].
All ladies in the congregation are invited to join one of our PW circles for
Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Below are the meeting times and
contact information.
Sunday Circle (3rd Sun) meets November 16 after church in Room 211. Kate Brunson,
404-402-0368.
Monday Circle (3rd Mon) meets November 17, 1p.m. Ozmer Room. Sally Swanger,
404-233-3341.
Thursday Circle (2nd Th) meets November 13 at 7:30 p.m. in a member’s home. Susan
Gilbreath, 404-874-0742.
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Preschool Fundraiser
We would welcome the congregation joining us in our Uncle Maddio’s Pizza monthly
fundraiser: It’s easy — place your order form and payment in Sally LeSage’s mail slot in the
church mail room the week before delivery, and then cruise on through our carpool line on
Friday and pick up your order. Many choices, gluten free, wheat crust, salads, and desserts.
Every order gives 10% back to Rock Spring Preschool and you get a delicious ready to bake (it
only takes 10-15 minutes) Friday night supper! Order forms are on the little table outside the
Preschool office, or you can download one from the Parent section on our website
www.RockSpringPreschool.com The deadline for ordering in November is 19, with delivery/
pick up on November 21. Enjoy something different before you start in on the TURKEY.
Church-wide Potluck
Your Church Life ministry is having a church-wide potluck dinner, so all the members of Rock
Spring can enjoy each other's friendship…and food!…before the hectic holiday season kicks into
gear. Bring a little food to share and a big appetite to Jeff and Gail Dore's house Saturday,
November 8 at 6pm. It's an evening of fun, fellowship and…did we mention…food! 4985 Vallo
Vista Ct., Sandy Springs 30342. RSVP [email protected].
New Homecoming Tradition—November 9
We are beginning a new Homecoming tradition at Rock Spring. Every year on the second
Sunday of November, we will celebrate Rock Spring Presbyterian Church's anniversary with
the Kirkin' of the Tartans in our 11:00 worship service, complete with bagpipes, banners, and
a houseful of plaid. From now on, however, we will have the potluck dinner, to which we invite
everyone who's ever been a member of RSPC, every fifth year, on years ending in 0 or 5. So
THIS year…2014…we are having the Kirkin' on Sunday, November 9, followed by our regular
monthly luncheon. NEXT year…2015…we will have the potluck Homecoming
reunion. Reservations for the November 9 luncheon can be made through the church office:
adult $7; child $3.
Nativity set up—November 29
Calling all able-bodied members! On November 29 Chris Guest will be setting up the fencing
and scaffolding in preparation of this year's Live Nativity. Anyone who would like to help is
welcome. Let Chris know if you can help or if you have any questions: 770-906-8484 or
[email protected].
Food Pantry
Thank you for all your donations to the food pantry. Currently we are out of bottled water and
almost out of tuna and chicken salad and crackers. We are also preparing for cooler
temperatures and would welcome clean blankets to hand out to our homeless friends. If you
could donate to the pantry or have a blanket to spare, it would be greatly appreciated. The
people who receive these donations are always very appreciative of the generosity of the church.
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
PHCA Bridge Club
Do you like to play bridge? Would you like to learn? Some neighbors are in the process of
forming a weekly or monthly bridge club. If you're interested, please contact Jennifer Del Bagno
[email protected] or Jean Johnson [email protected] so you can be sent an
information survey.
2014 Public Policy Forum
A Public Policy Forum will be held on Thursday November 6 from 8:00—10:00am at the First
Presbyterian Church 1328 Peachtree Street Atlanta GA 30309. This is a free event, open to
everyone and presented by Presbyterians for a Better Georgia. RSVP to Karen Turney
[email protected]. For more information please click here or go to http://s3.amazonaws.com/
dfc_attachments/public/documents/3198793/2014_Public_Policy_Forum_Flyer3.pdf
Brother Hawk in Concert
Our Beloved Music Director Nick Johns and his band Brother Hawk
will open for Blackberry Smoke at the Tabernacle on November 28.
Come see some great live music and work off some of that pumpkin
pie. Click here or go to http://brothersandsistersmusicfestival.com/ for
more information and to buy tickets.
Not One More:
Ending Gun Violence in Georgia
A Multifaith Event of Advocacy and Action
Featured Speakers for Friday and Saturday:
Rev. Jim Atwood, Presbyterian minister and author
Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Friday, November 14th 6 p.m.
Shabbat Service at The Temple, Atlanta
followed by a presentation and Q&A with Rev. Jim Atwood and Josh Horowitz
Saturday, November 15th 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
● Presentations
● Workshops
● Networking
● A Service of Remembrance for victims of gun violence in Georgia
For more information, contact:
Laura Bordeaux
404-370-0945
[email protected]
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Volume CXXXIX
ROCK SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 2014
Sunday Schedule
ALL God’s Children
Are Welcome Here!
Weekday Schedule
Church Office Hours
9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
9:00 Gospel at the Rock
Bluegrass Gospel & Bible Preaching
In Loudermilk Center
9:45 Sunday School
For All Ages
11:00 Big Church
Traditional Worship
Communion served the 1st Sunday
of the month
1824 Piedmont Ave, NE
Atlanta, GA 30324-5256
Phone: 404-875-7483
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.RSPC.org
Preschool: 404-875-8270
The Cornerstone is published monthly by Rock Spring Presbyterian Church.
All articles and other information submitted to the church
office for publication are subject to editing for space, clarity,
and consistency.
Deadline for the December 2014 edition:
9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19.
November 19
19
WEDNESDAY