November
2014
NON-PROFIT
ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 142
Volume 18
Issue 11
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
801 SOUTH HIGH STREET
COLUMBIA, TN 38401
Heard on High
Heard on High, the newsletter of First Presbyterian Church, published monthly
by First Presbyterian Church, 801 South High Street
Sometimes we all look at the world critically, and it’s hard to snap
out of it. It can be good to look in the mirror for issues that need
to be corrected before you leave the house: do your socks match,
is your nose hair too long, did you miss a spot shaving?
Sometimes I look at our house the same way: I need to cut the
grass, it’s time for a fresh coat of paint, and how did all the toys
get in the front yard?
It could go without saying that this kind of criticism is important,
but if you want to live a joy filled life then you need to know
when to turn it off.
If you look at your children or grandchildren the same way you
look at yourself in the mirror (his clothes are too dirty, she runs in
the house, and why are her grades so low) he or she may never
know how proud you are that she can say the Pledge of
Allegiance, tie her shoes, and be kind to her friends. If you look at
your house and are only mindful of what you don’t have than
Walmart will love you for it and so will the credit card
companies, but you will so easily lose sight of what you do have.
And if you always look at yourself the way you do when you are
about to leave the house, looking closely in the mirror to see what
still needs to be fixed, you risk failing to see yourself the way God
does, as a child of God, chosen and precious.
We all look at ourselves, our church, and our community
critically, but take time this Thanksgiving to be thankful for who
you are and for all that is great about our church and our
community. If you do you will realize that we have much to be
thankful for.
Joe
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
801 SOUTH HIGH STREET
COLUMBIA, TN 38401
Giving Thanks
Save your change!
November 30th is our 5th Sunday
offering for the hungry in Maury County.
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Memorials
Worship with Bethel AME
Last November we were invited to a joint worship service at Bethel
African Methodist Episcopal Church. This year we are returning the
invitation, inviting the congregation of Bethel AME to worship at First
Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, November 23rd at 5:00 PM. Their
pastor, Rev Trent Ogilvie, will preach and their choir will sing. We
will all eat together in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 PM. This will be the
perfect start to your Thanksgiving.
Our Fall Festival was held on Sunday, October 26 at
Woodland Park. Our Chili Cook-Off winners were
1st Place-Argie Satterwhite, 2nd Place-Jeff Baxter,
and 3rd Place-Nicole Stallcup. Thank you to our
judges; Marcy Lay, Edie Sutter, and David Locke.
Our costume contest winners were 1st place-The Allred Family(Dressed
as Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter and the Rabbit), 2nd PlaceHattie Hedrick(“Hattini” the Magician), and 3rd Place-MJ Stallcup
(Olaf from Frozen). Thank you to our costume judges: Patty Ridley,
Cindy Baxter, and Cleo Mayfield. We would also like to thank the
Fellowship Committee, led by Bill Handy, John & Joan Jackson, and
Sue Dunnebacke for all of their hard work and our hot dog cooks:
Andrew Hickman and John Hill. Thank you to our Youth Fellowship
Committee chair, Lisa Hargrove and our youth for making, setting up,
and running the games for our children.
The Christian Education Committee will be
hosting a Safe Sanctuary Training Event on
Sunday, November 9th at 3:30. Our church has
adopted certain policies and procedures to
provide a safe sanctuary for our children and youth. We are required
by our insurance carrier and the Presbytery to provide training for
staff and volunteers who supervise children and youth in the
prevention of child abuse. Those of you who are currently working
with children and youth or our Timesharers program will receive a
letter in the mail reminding you of the date and time. If you are a
teenager that volunteers in the church nursery or provides childcare
for church events, or if you would like to do so in the future, you are
required to attend as well. The meeting will last less than one hour
and we will meet in the Fellowship Hall.
In memory of Margaret Von Siegel (mother of Carey Powers) by:
Dr. Ralph & Donna Barr, Kay Curtis.
In memory of Bill Sutter by:
Rick & Kathy Day, Dr. & Mrs. Ralph Barr, Kay Curtis, Mr. &
Mrs. Bob Duncan, Mr. & Mrs. Waymon Hickman, Mr. & Mrs.
Campbell Ridley, Jr., Joe & Carroll Kilgore, R. Daniel Sutter,
Partners and Staff of Morrison & Smith, LLP., Mr. & Mrs. Tom
Patton, Mr. & Mrs. John Cotham, Mr & Mrs. Patrick Flynn.
In memory of Beth Dubois (sister of Lynne Hendrickson) by:
Jack & Cindy Baxter.
In memory of Marsie Alderson (mother of Lynne Hendrickson)
by: Mr. & Mrs. Tom Patton.
A First-Class Success
A group dedicated to helping couples succeed in their second or
third marriage will be starting at Maury Hills Church this month.
Whether you have been remarried for many years or are just
deciding if…this 5 week class may help you find answers.
Eddie & Sue Miller, who believe God can take a broken road and
make it straight, are leading this group from their own experience
with compassion, humor and honesty.
Maury Hills Church, Wednesday November 5, 6:30pm.
Contact [email protected]
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Advent Begins November 30
Devotionals will be available November 9
Adults/Prepare ye the Way-In the midst of these troubled and
unsettled times in our world today, the prophet Isaiah
prepares the way for Christ with messages of comfort and joy.
In these daily devotions for Advent, seminary professor and
Isaiah expert Andrew Bartelt takes us through the readings of
Isaiah often used during this season to find triumphant news
that Christ is coming to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all nations, and for
all history.
Youth/It’s Advent-ageous! Christ's coming is solely for our
advantage. He comes to save! He comes to serve! He comes to
steer us back to our heavenly home. That's more than
advantageous, it's ADVENT-ageous! This devotion is for the
teens, tweens and college-aged members of our congregation
to spread that advantageous news in audacious, outrageous,
courageous, vivacious and contagious ways this season and each gracious
new day!
Children/Guess Who’s Coming for Christmas! Advent is a
season of expectation. In fact the word Advent means "to
come." We're waiting for something—or someone—to arrive
this Christmas. Can you guess who that might be? As Christmas
Day approaches, children will read names and clues that will
help them learn the identity of the One who truly comes at Christmas.
Family/Prepare Him Room-Like the rest of us, families make
their way toward Christmas in a world that is already
celebrating, if not the coming of Christ, at least the season of
parties and gift-giving. How do we keep a focus on Jesus and
the Incarnation amid the busy-ness of getting ready for
December 25? Author Amy Welborn offers families simple
ways to find the gospel message in what is going on all around
them, even in preparations that can get hectic at times. These brief but
pointed devotions will keep a family centered on what is most important
not only at this time of the year, but every day.
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“Jonah”
“(Jonah) prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this
what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I
fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a
gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”
-Jonah 4:2
The book of Jonah is made up of four very short chapters with a
total of forty-eight verses. Yet, in this brief book, there is a storm
at sea, the conversion of the sailors, a miraculous rescue, a song
of praise, the repentance of Israel’s archenemy, and intense
dialogue between God and Jonah, Israel’s most reluctant prophet.
Throughout the story, Jonah, the supposed model of faithfulness,
continues to do the opposite of what God wants him to do, while
those who were outsiders to the faith-the sailors on the boat and
the people of Nineveh-offer the true example of what it means to
be faithful.
The story serves to remind us, not only of God’s endless grace
and mercy, but also of what can happen when we try to make
assumptions about who is and who is not deserving of God’s
love. This is a three week rotation that begins November 9. We
will study the story using Art, Games, and Discovery.
Thanks to Dawn Taylor, Alicia Maddox, and Jennifer Richardson
for volunteering to teach our last rotation “The Great Dinner,”
and to our shepherds Cindy Baxter, Eva Crichton, Patty Ridley,
and Pat Smith.
We still need volunteers for Unit 4: “Advent-Mary’s Song” we
have the Art and Game workshops that need to be filled. The
dates are Nov. 30, December 7 & 14. If you would like to
volunteer for one of these workshops, or need more information,
please contact Susie Baxter at [email protected] or call the
office at 388-1985.
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Bible Studies
This fall the Presbyterian Women’s
Circles will be studying “Reconciling
Paul.” We have two active circles, one
circle meets on the second Monday of
the month at 10:00 AM in the church
Fellowship Hall and at various members’
homes. The second circle meets on the
third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship
Hall. If you would like more information about our
circles, please contact Mary Jane Miles at 987-2597 for the
second Monday circle and Cathy McDonald at 380-5290
for the third Tuesday circle. All women of the church are
welcomed. Study books are available in the church
office.
Wednesday Night Fellowship Dinners
November 5, 12 & 19
Dinner is served from 5:30 -6:15 pm
We look forward to seeing all of you for food, fun, fellowship and Bible
study. We are excited to announce this year that our meals will be
catered by Farmers Family Restaurant. The fellowship committee is
working very hard to have a diverse menu for all to enjoy. Prices will
remain the same this year. Please include your payments in advance
when you make monthly reservations. For weekly reservations you may
still pay in person on Wednesdays.
Family Name:________________________________
Number of Children 10 & under: __________ $4.00 each
Number of People 11 & up: _______________ $7.00 each
$20 Family Maximum
Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians,
by Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty. In the nine lessons of
Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians,
Elizabeth invites us all to ask whether or not we
understand Paul’s writings clearly and to read this letter
afresh in light of the issues we face today.
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Monthly Reservations
I would like reservations on November 5, 12,19 for Wednesday
Dinner: Yes ___
No ___
Or
Weekly Reservations
Call the church office by noon on Monday to make your reservation.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday several men of First
Presbyterian Church meet at 6:00 AM in the conference
room adjoining the MRH cafeteria for Bible Study. This
committed group just finished a study of Revelation and
started a new book on September 9th. This study meets
early so that those with busy schedules can still start
their day off on the right foot. Please join us as together
we’ll read A Chorus of Witnesses, a collection of some of
the greatest sermons of the 20th Century edited by Dr.
Tom Long, who will be our Spiritual Renewal Speaker in
February 2015.
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Please make reservations to assist us in planning with
the caterer. You can make dinner reservations by
completing this form and dropping it in the offering
plate or by calling the church office by noon on
Mondays and making a verbal reservation. We look
forward to fellowship time with you all!
The Fellowship Committee
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Youth Ministry
Wednesday Night Fellowship Dinners
November 5 –Fried Chicken, Green Beans, Mac & Cheese, Roll/
Cornbread and Dessert
November 12 - Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Pinto Beans,
Okra, Rolls/Cornbread and Dessert.
November 19 - Spaghetti/Lasagna, Salad, Rolls and Dessert
November 26 - No Wonderful Wednesday Dinner
Children’s Sabbath
On Sunday, November 9, the children of our church will be
leading the liturgy in our 10:30 worship service. Our youngsters
in graders 2-5 will serve as leaders and readers of the liturgy,
ushers and as acolytes. Our Young Musicians Choir will lead in
the choral music for the day as well. We look forward to their
participation as our worship leaders as they share their gifts on
behalf of all of us.
October was a great month for youth ministry!
Be sure to stop by and see the pictures of our
youth having a great time at the Hay Ride, Fall Festival, and
Project Joy. The youth of First Presbyterian have several exciting
mission projects planned for the month of November. This month
we will be helping with more construction at the Boy’s and Girl’s
Club, planning for the annual Rake and Run! project, and polishing
the pews in the sanctuary while praying for members of our
church.
In addition to these projects, there are other opportunities for our
youth to participate in mission projects and get service hours.
November 21st and 28th we need volunteers to help serve at The
People’s Table, serving begins at 10:30 a.m. This year, we will host
the joint service with Bethel AME Church on Sunday, November
23 @ 5 p.m. and need youth to be servers for the meal. If you can
help, please be at the church by 5:30. If you can help with any of
these 3 service opportunities, please see Dakota to sign up.
Thanks to Jeff, Susie and Jillian Baxter
for taking the collection of clothes to
Priest Lake on October 12th.
Thanks to Bonnie Adams, Jillian
Baxter, Frank Dale, Rev. Joe Evans,
Kyle Hanners, and Elijah Hedrick for
going to Project Joy and distributing
the clothes, blankets and school bags
on October 24th & 25th.
Senior Adult Ministry
Monday, November 17, our Senior Adult Ministry
will meet for our regular monthly fellowship lunch
and program. This month, we are asking that
participants bring either soup or sandwiches, etc…. (or dessert!)
for our meal together. We will convene at 11:30 in Fellowship
Hall. The theme for our brief program will be Thanksgiving. All
are invited.
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Acolytes for November
November 2- Branham & Louis Maddox
November 9 - Ava & Christian Corbin
November 16 - Ava & Christian Corbin
November 23 - Sydney King & Zane Hargrove
November 30 - Grey Corbin & Will Franks
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The Bridge Club will meet at 1:00 P.M. on
November 24th at the church.
From your Deacons
The Boys and Girls Club has announced the annual Mule
Town Revue to be held Thursday evening, November 13 at
Cherry Theater. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by
calling Sharon at 490-9401, or stopping by the club at 210
W 8th Street. Proceeds from the fun-filled musical event
benefit Boys and Girls Club, and CASA.
The Men’s Bible Study will meet at 6:00
A.M. at MRMC on November 11th.
Reach Out and Help A School! McDowell Elementary
School is in need for daytime volunteers. You can help any
weekday during school hours by tutoring or reading to
students. For more information please contact Leigh Jones at
[email protected].
The Second Monday Women’s Circle will
meet November 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the
Fellowship Hall. The new book will be
Reconciling Paul, A Contemporary Study of
2nd Corinthians. Bring a sandwich and join
us for lunch.
First Presbyterian Church is responsible for facilitating the
People's Table during the month of November. Volunteers
will be needed to cook, serve, and clean-up. If you would
like to volunteer, please contact the church office or Bill
Handy at 381-4856.
The Third Tuesday Women’s Circle will
meet on November 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the
Fellowship Hall.
Also note that our annual Community Thanksgiving Meal
held on Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching. Sign up
sheets will be visible in the Gathering Space behind the
sanctuary soon. We will be looking for volunteers to help
with setup, serving, clean up and possible deliveries.
WANTED: USED VEHICLE AND HOPE
As “an extension” of the ministry being conducted at the Maury
County Jail, I am searching for a vehicle donation. One of our
three GED graduates was released in late May and has been
steadily employed since then. In order to improve her
employment prospects she requires transportation; she currently
walks to work 6 days a week for her 6:30 am shift. Through the
Maury United Ministries program a vehicle could be donated on
a tax-deductible basis, tuned-up, and given to this young woman
(age 23). It would be a life changer for her. If you’d like to
learn more, please contact Mary Khim at 615.294.8040 or
[email protected]
Please consider how you might volunteer or be of service
with one of these projects.
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