ICHTHUS
April 2015
In This Issue:
The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield, North Carolina
Did You Know
Easter Egg Hunt
Finance Report
Holy Week Schedule
JOY Connection
PALM SUNDAY
Sunday, March 29
Kids Page
Membership Team News
Memorials
Nursery Needs
One Great Hour of Sharing
Noon to Noon
March 30—March 31
Paraments
Prayer Concerns
Presbyterian Women
Relay for Life
SECU Hospice
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Meal, 6:00 p.m.
Service, 7:00 p.m.
Session Highlights
Smithfield Rescue Mission
Thanks
Vacation Bible School
Yes We Can
Youth Fundraisers
April Calendar
Lectionary
Building Officers
Fellowship Time
Flower Calendar
Ushers
Lay Readers
Acolytes
Trinity Ringers
Time with Children
Shepherds
Birthdays
Anniversaries
A publication of
First Presbyterian Church
215 S. Third Street
PO Box 1159
Smithfield, NC 27577
919-934-0988
[email protected]
www.fpcsmithfield.org
EASTER EGG HUNT & HOT DOG LUNCH
Noon
Home of Stan and Kelly Coats
COMMUNITY SUNRISE SERVICE
Easter Sunday
6:45 a.m.
The Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park
EASTER WORSHIP
11:00 a.m.
FLOWERS ON THE CROSS
following Worship
Prayerful Support for
Mary Alice Thomas who is in Charlotte.
Jane Cunningham who is in Wilmington.
Helen Godwin who is at Smithfield Manor.
Ellen Rogers who is in Raleigh. Her updated contact
information is Sunrise of Raleigh, 4801 Edwards
Mill Road, #210, Raleigh, NC 27612; 919-977-1977.
Martha Rogers who is in Norfolk, VA.
Mable Surles who is in Fayetteville.
Hazel Whitehurst who is at Carolina House.
Nor Bell who is at Barbour Court..
Marie Atkins who is home.
Eula Brown who is home.
Charlie James who is home.
Bernice Johnson who is in Rehab at Barbour Court.
Eddie Perkinson who is home.
Devon and Phyllis Pollard who are home.
Nelson Vaughn who is home.
Betty Welch who is home.
Hilda Worsham who is home.
Bill Leist who is in rehab. You may send cards to 1575 John Knox
Drive, Apt. A-205, Colfax, NC 27235.
Marie Maddox, Shelley Maddox’s mother, who is home.
of March Session
Approved a request from the Relay for Life team to
display and raffle a quilt as a part of their team fundraising
projects.
 Approved Nichole Booker as Education Team chair in the
Educational Development Quadrant.
 Approved our church’s participation in a Johnston County
mission project in partnership with Mosaic Church in
Clayton on August 1-3, 2015.
 Approved an evaluation process for the Educational
Development Quadrant and Spirituality Quadrant for this
year’s youth activities and internship.
 Approved the dates of July 17-23, 2015 for Vacation Bible
School and Kelly Coats and Shelley Roberts to serve as
the co-directors.
 Approved the final disposition of preschool items.
 Presented a change in the pastor’s terms of call for 2015 at
a Congregational Meeting. The change was approved.
If you have items you wish to be brought before Session, contact
an elder or Debbie Jacobs, clerk.
—Debbie Jacobs

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for
your recent kindnesses. The cards, calls, visits and food are
greatly appreciated. With your prayers and God’s love,
Norwood and I knew we were not alone these last months.
Our family deeply appreciates all you did. We are
blessed with a wonderful church family.
Jean Worley
Did You Know . . .
John Booker, Tom Howerton, Ann Huckenbeck,
Rich Huckenbeck, and Myra Wallace participated
in the recent Heritage Center Banquet and/or the
Bentonville Celebration.
Twenty First Presbyterians attended and/or
participated in the Johnston County Arts Council Arts
and Food Festival.
The Frank Creech Art Gallery at JCC is exhibiting the illustrations
of Emily Wallace through April 9.
Will Jones was accepted at UNC-Wilmington; he will begin there
in the fall.
Kenny Duncan participated in a welding course offered by the
American Welding Society in Richmond. Fourteen were in the
class, but 42 took the test, 28 for the second or third time. Kenny
passed with flying colors on the first try and is now a certified
welding inspector and a certified welding educator! Way to go!!
Dwight Dockery conducted the Concert Choir of the Greenville
Choral Society and the New Carolina Sinfonia in War and Peace
featuring music by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Wilberg. Shelley
Maddox sang in the choir. The concert was attended by First
Presbyterians Joe Hester, Wayne Dockery, Ellen Adams and
Myra Wallace.
The Hand Bell Choir has moved into its new music room. The
room upstairs which was its former home is now used to store
Christmas and JOY Connection decorations.
In Memory of Norwood Worley, Clem and
Mikki Sharek, Robert Backner, Richard Moore,
Thelma Jo Smith, Kitty Lippitt, Linwood Nixon,
Harvie Jean Gower, Marveline Lee, James
House.
Donors: Jim and Debbie Henderson, Benny
and Pam Pope, Frank and Lisa Deans, John and Maxine McFadyen,
John and Shirley Booker, Lamm Media Group LLC, David and
Beth Johnson, Wingate and Susan Lassiter, Debbie Collins, Ray
and Billie Peal, Neil and Lucy Watson, Mabel Yelvington and
family, David Ewing, Kornegay Family Farms, Lib Radford and
family, David and Joyce Lee, Greg and Ruth Bell, Earline
Richardson and the NC Department of Transportation, Dot
Ellmore.
Nancy Lee and Will Jones for moving the
Christmas and JOY Connection decorations to a
new room and for organizing them.
Stan and Kelly Coats for once again hosting
FPC’s Easter Egg Hunt.
Evans Horne for being the chief cook and bottle
washer at the Oyster Roast.
Martha Taylor for heading up our Prayer Chain.
Jimmy Hooks for mowing our church lawn.
Kathy and David Rice for preparing the lawn cross for flowers.
Ken Allen and Evans Horne for putting up the crosses in the
sanctuary and on the lawn.
Judy and Hubert Schmidt for taking care of our shrubs, flowers
and plants.
Sandy Perkinson, Shelley Roberts, Benny Pope, Jennifer
Templeton, Starr Henderson, Camille Boone, Kathy Rice, Joe
Hester, Jane Allen and Nichole Booker for volunteering for Time
with Children.
But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust.
—Sir Walter Raleigh
Christendom has had a series of revolutions, and
in each . . . has died. Christianity has died many
times and risen again, for it has a God who
knows the way out of the grave.
—G.K. Chesterton
Fund Raising Success!
On behalf of the PYC members and their
parents, a heartfelt thank you goes to all of you who
came out and enjoyed oysters, chili, baked spaghetti
and yummy meatballs. Oh . . . and let’s not forget the
awesome desserts provided by some of FPC’s best
bakers! A huge thank you to our chefs and outside
stinky crew: Evans Horne, Roger Horne, Ken Allen,
Jake Jacobs and Scott Holzshu. Additional thank you’s to all of the
parents and PYC members who worked so hard collecting shells,
waiting on tables and cleaning up. Stay tuned for another oyster roast
when the weather gets cold!
Nichole Booker, Ruth Bell and Pam Pope met with these
groups on March 22 to gather information. These results will be
reported to Session at their April meeting. There is currently
$17,623.78 which has been separated from the budget to use for
future youth programs once we have a permanent youth leader in
place. If you would like to add your opinion about what
leadership is needed for the youth program, please feel free to
contact Nichole Booker, Ruth Bell, Joe Hester or Pam Pope with
your comments.
We see a lot of renewed energy and progress with our youth
programs this year and hope to continue that forward motion as
we move to the fall!
—Pam Pope
Egg Hunt and Hot Dog Lunch
Get ready to hop along the bunny trail at
noon on Saturday, April 4, at Stan and Kelly
Coats’ house! PYC will be hiding prizes and
candy for our younger crowd.
This is a
wonderful opportunity to join in the fun and
fellowship, so invite your grandchildren, friends,
and neighbors to enjoy some hot dogs and
fellowship after the egg hunt.
If you would like to attend, there
is a sign up sheet in the old parlor. We would like to ask for
donations of side dishes to go with hot dogs, including mustard, chili,
onions, chips, baked beans, deviled eggs and other yummy items.
If you need directions to the Coats’ house, please contact the
church office. Please note that PYC members should be on site no
later than 10:00 a.m.
Liturgical Space — Paraments
The Lectern Bible markers have small dowels in one
end which are correctly called registers. Some of these
have been removed from various markers and cannot be
located. New ones have been purchased, at considerable
cost, and are not to be removed for any reason other than
having the paraments cleaned. Betsy Olive, as one of the
leaders on the Sacred Spaces Team, takes care of the
paraments, and only she or the pastor change them.
Please do not remove the knobs or the entire register
from any marker. Your help with this is greatly
appreciated.
—Pam Pope
Youth’s Great Year!
As we start to gear up for summer and
the end of another year of our PYC and KICKS
programs, this is a perfect time to look back,
reflect and evaluate what the youth and our
youth intern have accomplished over the past
few months.
· PYC began the year by attending a
Christian rock concert at Triangle
Presbyterian Church.
· They participated in our stewardship
campaign by actually making Jacobs Ladder.
· Next, the PYC and KICKS members participated in October
in gleaning sweet potatoes and raising money through the
Souper Bowl of Caring in February to feed the hungry.
· Our middle school youth, enjoyed fellowship and learning at
Camp Don Lee. They did a little bit of canoeing, too!
· In November, the youth enjoyed attending Duke Youth Day
at Wallace Wade Stadium and seeing the Blue Devils play
football.
· They enjoyed spreading Christmas joy to our elderly and
those who are shut in before Christmas by caroling to them.
February also brought the Cross m\Mission Project for our
kids to participate down in Charlotte through Myers Park
Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed meeting new friends
from Wilsons Mills Christian Church who joined our crew.
The Cross mission provided our youth and their leaders the
opportunity to sort coats which had been donated (1,000+)
and then play games with the homeless.
· Our high school youth and their chaperones, Jane and Ken
Allen, experienced the fun and fellowship of the High school
Retreat at Camp Willow Run in March.
· Youth Sunday will be May 31, so make sure to join us for
worship.
· The PYC and KICKS are looking forward to the Johnston
County Mission Project coming up August 1-3. We hope to
work side by side with many of our members for this project.
There have been wonderful lessons learned when not out doing
the “fun” stuff. Our Duke intern, Samuel Best, has brought excitement
to our youth programs, assisted with worship and led worship from
the pulpit on two Sundays so far. Additionally, Sam has worked with
our Scouts and also our Confirmation class. Although we are only
able to enjoy Sam’s presence and help on Sundays, we have learned
from Sam, and we hope he has learned from us as well. Sam’s last
day with us will be May 3.
So what are we doing about a Youth Director, Youth Intern
or some other variation to oversee the youth program for the fall?
The Session has requested a post-evaluation be conducted with our
youth, parents and youth leaders.
— continued next column
First Presbyterian Church
Operating Results: January—February 2015
Actual vs Budgeted
Jan—Feb 2015 Jan-Feb 2015
Actual
Budgeted
Revenue
General Offering
Disbursements
36,608.66
43,850.00
Education Quadrant
Mission Outreach Quad.
Spirituality Quadrant*
Stewardship Quadrant
Total Disbursements
222.50
2,183.60
22,630.11
16,289.09
41,325.30
649.98
2,585.48
26,713.10
18,006.22
47,954.78
Net Income/(Deficit)
(4,716.64)
*Adjusted for Youth Intern prepayments
Want to pledge?
Need giving envelopes?
Contact Beth Daniel at 919-630-3654
or [email protected]
(4,104.78)
Vacation Bible School
Sunday, July 19—Thursday, July 23
Many opportunities to volunteer: Teaching, Donating Supplies, Decorating,
Making Snacks, Helping with Crafts
Please see Shelley Roberts or Kelly Coats if you can help!
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
APRIL 2015
First Presbyterian Church
PO Box 1159
Smithfield, NC 27577
NON-PROFIT STD MAIL
US POSTAGE
SMITHFIELD, NC 27577
PERMIT #93
Fliers and Registers, Bulletin Boards and Bookmarks
The Membership Team will deliver flyers to two
different areas, Chandler Ridge in Clayton and Forest
Oaks in Smithfield. The fliers will have information
about our church on one side and will invite families to
attend our Vacation Bible School on the flip side.
These will be delivered in a time for families to sign up
for VBS. If you wish to help deliver, please contact
Ann Huckenbeck or Judy Schmidt.
A new attendance register has been developed, and the
membership should see it very soon. We hope that it will be easier
to use for our visitors and members.
Our bulletin board will be retired in May until the new school
year at which time it may have a new face, so be sure you look for
it in August.
Bookmarks are being designed for use in the pew Bibles so that
you can find and mark the appropriate scriptures before worship.
There will be other bookmarks that will be available to all members
and guests for personal use. We hope to give them to visitors who
attend our special events such as our Fireworks cookout.
—Judy Schmidt
New Toys Needed
Our baby nursery is in need of a few new push/pull type of toys
for our toddlers. This is the nursery for our
youngest members, ages birth to two. Frances
Churchill lovingly and faithfully attends this
nursery each Sunday.
—Ruth Bell
Hospice Meal
The Mission Outreach Quadrant collaborates with area
churches and the Smithfield Hospice House to give
our church an opportunity to provide a meal for the
families visiting patients at Hospice House four
times a year. Our next meal is on Sunday April 12.
Thanks to Liz Craig, Tom Roberts, Ann
Huckenbeck, Tom Barwick, Hubert and Judy
Schmidt, Greg Knoll, Betsy Olive and Ann Ragland for signing up
for this meal.
—Joyce Knoll
Presbyterians may find it meaningful to
give something up for Lent - but it is not
required.
It’s good to be Reformed—being Presbyterian
means we are not required to give up anything,
nada, nothing during Lent, let alone fast. To all our
Catholic friends—eat your hearts out.
No obligation to fast or sacrifice means eating steak throughout
Eastertide, eating anything but fish on Fridays, enjoying that bowl
of Cherry Garcia without regret, sipping on that delicious glass of
red wine with no guilt, watching plenty of television. Yes, indeed!
It’s good to be reformed . . . still Christian though. So what’s the
party line for Lent.?
According the PC(USA), “the idea of giving something up for
Lent came out of this tradition, when fasting—abstaining from food
as an act of discipline in solidarity with others in the community—
was used to raise one’s spiritual consciousness and empty oneself
before God. Fasting or giving up something for Lent can be a good
way to explore a deeper expression of faith, if not adopted as a
show of piety, martyrdom, or moral righteousness. Some disciples
may find a more valuable spiritual exercise in taking something on
during Lent—a more Christ-like attitude toward others, a humble
spirit at work, or a feeling of gratitude in the midst of
scarcity.”
(http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/
curriculum/lenten-practices-101/)
If this is what our faith requires, let’s squeeze the most out of it
and spiritually let’s kill two birds with one stone: fast or give
something up and take on something new. Go to your own pantry,
give something up—a can of corn, macaroni and cheese, mushroom
soup, a bag of rice. NOW, turn your sacrifice into something
positive. Take on our Hunger Missions and bring your sacrifice to
church and place it in the shopping cart. Lent IS a time to reflect
on Christ’s sacrifice for us; let us, than, sacrifice for others. He’d
want it that way.
—Tom Barwick, Chairman, Yes We Can
Expanding Our Mission Services
The Mission Outreach Quadrant members
have voted to expand services to Smithfield
Rescue Mission. We will be working with them
to install a much-needed emergency exit door to
their kitchen. Funds will be provided for the
equipment and installation, and we will replenish
our budget with the donations collected at our
It’s at 11:00 in Fourth of July Food and Fireworks cookout.
JOY Connection Time Change for April Meeting
The Mission staff is also in need of wire
April 2, 2015, is right around the corner. That’s the April!!
shelving that can be installed in both their kitchen and clothing
first Thursday of the month, and we will meet
disbursement areas. If anyone in the congregation knows where
as usual in the church fellowship hall for our
we can obtain used wire shelving or shelving at a discounted
monthly JOY Connection. Don’t forget that
price, please contact Greg Knoll at 919-550-5710 or Ann
we will meet at 11:00 on that day due to our
Huckenbeck at 919-359-2760.
speaker’s busy schedule.
Please remember these dedicated servants at the Mission who
We will first of all enjoy our program at
help those less fortunate.
11:00 with WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze,
—Ann Huckenbeck
and then after the program we will enjoy lunch
together. So put on your toboggans and your furry boots, or put on
your sundress and your sandals, or put on your raincoat with your
matching umbrella, and join us at 11:00 on Thursday, April 2, to
Relay for Life Fund Raiser
learn about this crazy weather we have been having!
FPC’s Relay for Life Team is selling tickets for a lovely quilt
As always we ask that you reserve a place by signing the sheet
made by Judy Schmidt. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and may be
at the reception desk or by calling the church at 919-934-0988.
purchased from Martha Taylor, Joy Worsham, Betsy Olive or at the
church desk. The drawing will be at Relay on June 6. In April we
And of course you are welcome to bring a dessert to share if you
will also be selling tickets on the three beautiful afghans that Becky
would like. I look forward to seeing you at 11:00 on April 2 come
Peele made for us. Those tickets will be the same price.
rain, shine, sleet, or snow!
We thank you for your support to help us find a cure for
—Ann Ragland
cancer! Most of the money stays right here in the Triangle for
cancer research.
We would also love to add members to our
Presbyterian Women’s Spring Gathering Missions
team. If you are interested, please contact
Presbyterian Women are collecting money for Barium
Martha Taylor or Joy Worsham. Johnston
Springs and Living Waters (wells) and bras for abused
County Relay will host a Survivor Dinner on
women (women rescued from trafficking!) to donate at
April 14, and we hope some of our survivors will
the Spring Gathering on April 18. The PW circles and any
attend.
PW women may participate. There is more information on
—Martha Taylor
the bulletin board.
—Lee Johnson
KIDS
PAGE
As Jacob used a rock for a pillow — later to become a pillar honoring God — which of the
following did he experience in a dream?
A. Angels going up and down on a ladder between earth and heaven.
B. The Lord promising that Jacob’s family would be a blessing to all nations.
C. God’s assurance: “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.”
D. All of the above.
Answer: D (See Genesis 28:10-19.)
Bible Quiz