The First Edition
Newsletter/ First Presbyterian Church
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Serving Christ from the Heart of Tuscaloosa
FROM THE PASTOR
Church Staff
From the youngest Charlie to the oldest, it was a marvelous night in the
Family Life Center with all the foods I shouldn’t eat (not to mention the
wonderful desserts) and plenty of activities.
Rev. Lou Ann Sellers
Associate Pastor for
Congregational Care
And Mission
Four-Square is one of my favorite indoor games. Again, all ages stood in
line to have their chance at victory. While my victories were few and
momentary, it was great to play with my grandson and to be in the shadow
of the “Queen” of Four-Square, Frances Lehman.
Rev. James Goodlet
Associate Pastor for
Campus Ministry
Rev. Kathy Wolf Reed
Associate Pastor for
Young Adults/Families
Dr. Todd Prickett
Director of Music
Rev. Dr. Thomas Herwig
Parish Associate
Bill Pool
Church Administrator
Jenny Thagard
Director of Christian
Education
L. Jeffries Binford
Organist
Dr. Pamela TrueloveWalker
Preschool Director
Missy Pilkington
Administrative
Assistant
Libby Hagler
Financial Manager
Susan Goddard
Music/Media Assistant
900 Greensboro
Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone: 752.3531
Fax: 752.3885
www.fpctusc.org
Charlie Durham
What a party!
Dr. Charles M. Durham
Pastor
Rev. Nick Reed,
Associate Pastor for
Youth and Families
November 2014
Then there were the dual inflatable obstacle courses that reached almost to the walking track
around the second floor. While I barely edged out my grandson in a head-to-head, I lost
miserably to college intern Madison Vaughn. I am glad I didn’t try the 1,000’s of children
streaming up and down at the speed of light!
The greatest gift of all was the overall sight of what is happening in the life of this church. A
great deal of the credit goes to Nick and Kathy Reed. They have fostered a wonderful sense of
community among the youth group and have drawn in countless number of devoted adults/
parents. Gone are the days when parents just drop off their children on Sunday nights. In fact,
many parents stay to cook, to informally visit with the youth and to encourage them; and many
also lead small group discussions as well as attend youth retreats. This will be the continuing
legacy for Nick and Kathy. A good example is Jim Rosenfeld who, although his own children
and grandchildren are gone, became a LOGOS table parent in. Each year when his LOGOS
table kids graduated, he did too! Now “Mr. Jim” is with the youth each Sunday night!
Our Campus Ministry has sent some outstanding college students to lead on Sunday nights as
well. A plan that has been sent to all the youth and their parents for Sunday night activities
through May as well as for the Confirmation Class. The Reeds leave us not only in good shape
but also with an enhanced Youth Ministry that is a blessing not only to this church but also to
the leadership of our Presbytery. We can’t begin to say enough thanks for the ministries that
they have provided, but we can say Godspeed and may the Lord bless you always (well,
perhaps with the exception of Iron Bowl Saturdays).
Our prayers do go with them (in this missionary endeavor) that their labors will bring about at
least the same and maybe more joy than is evident.
While the “Charlie Party” was well known in advance, the only surprise was how well-attended
and fun it was. However, Session completely stunned Sandy and me with the naming of the
Presbytery’s Living River Youth Chapel for us. The thought of our grandson being joined by so
many from this church and others in the Presbytery to worship there on the banks of the
Cahaba River gives us great, great joy! Also, looking at each one of the holes that Hugh
Summerville drove, thinking of Bill Pow’s omnipresence on every work trip, Tom Patton, Norris
Leavelle, Davis and Chris and the list goes on of those who gave their time and effort to make
this chapel such a blessing for years to come.
What a party!
NOVEMBER 2014 BIRTHDAYS
11-01
11-02
11-03
11-04
11-05
11-06
11-07
11-08
11-09
11-10
11-11
11-12
11-13
11-14
11-15
11-16
11-17
11-18
11-19
11-20
11-21
11-22
11-23
11-24
11-25
11-26
11-27
11-28
11-29
Mary Anne Meredith, Jacqueline Morgan, Charlies Spurlin, Phillip Ward
James Mize
Gene Alldredge, John Bowers, Olivia Amason
Thomas Meriwether, Katherine Heslop, Emmett Meyer, Jr.
Ellen Herrington
Brynne Allison, Jon Drake, Forrest Haynes
Susan Haynes, Anne Land, Bill Henry
Paige Mize, Julie Jamison, Gentry Williams
Christeen Corson, Gloria Nettles, Sarah Griswold
David Beck, Leslie Miller, Danny Taylor, Bunnie LaMoreaux
Grace Leiter
Jeannie Thomley, Mary Jane Harbin, Jim Rosenfeld, Alden Barron
Mary Frances Weatherly, Tara Howell
Rachel Loper, Olivia Russell, John Bone, Ashley Hull
Melinda Leavelle, Alan Dennis, Allice Rowley
Bebo Patton, Elizabeth McGiffert, John Caldwell
Erica Durham, Tommy Snow, Eileen Katz, Susanne Hibbard, Todd Agee, Richard
Bradt, Jane Brilbeck, Kellen Tucker
Ann Hickman, Kathryn Kaylor, Kristen Durham, Katie Bates, Shirley Marklin
Vicki Holt, Babs McCurley, Mary Morgan Phillips, Camille Ward, Josie McCants, Steve
O’Donnell
Nathaniel Roach Trost, Jay Sterling, Ardis Hancock, Elizabeth Wright, Jimmy Duncan,
Suzie Duncan, Harry Pruett Jr, Wesley Robertson, Emily Leigh
Sallie Davidson, Susan Campbell, Christopher Creek, Judith Sawyer
Trey Singleton
Joseph O’Neal, Lisa Underwood, Kathy McLeod, Camden Smith, Eric Yates, Leon
Sadler, Ellen Sadler
Bill David Wagner, Spencer Patton, Johnny Maxwell, Liz Obradovich, John Hibbard
Joe Wright, Alexander Hayslip, Caroline Boxmeyer
Katie Ball
John Weldon Voltz
Bill Deal, Millie Christian, Alice Arrington
Drew Bardenwerper, Louise Bailey
2
Sunday November 23
”Happy Durham Day” celebrating
Sandy and Charlie’s last Sunday
after early and late services
NOVEMBER SOUP BOWL
VOLUNTEERS
11-10 Genie Buchanan, Alice Summerford
11-11 Ree Almon, Shannon Wright
11-12 John Snider, Larry Pierson
11-13 Fay Taylor, Robert Nicol
11-14 Dottie and Harvey Kline
3
A WORD FROM NICK AND KATHY REED
Dear Members of FPC Tuscaloosa,
Over the last three and half years, it has been our privilege to
serve First Presbyterian Church, walking together in faith and
doing our best to answer God’s call to ministry in this place.
Tuscaloosa has been an amazing place to serve and we will
forever be grateful to God for calling us here. Since announcing the acceptance of our new call to serve as the Co-Heads
of Staff Pastors at First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, AL,
we have been overwhelmed by your gracious support and
encouragement.
The process of discerning and accepting a new call has not been easy. During our time in Tuscaloosa, this
church has been far more than just “the place where we work.” This church has been our home. As you
opened your lives to us and allowed us to minister to you in times of joy and sorrow, you have also ministered to us as our family experienced births, deaths, challenges, and changes.
While there is great sadness in our hearts as we leave this place, we have no fear for the future of this
church or any of its ministries. We have had the pleasure of watching the youth grow into fine young leaders in the faith and trust that they will continue their dedication to worship, service, and fellowship. Looking
at our newest class of officers, it is exciting to see how our own generation of young adults is stepping up
into ordained leadership in the church. And of course, there are all of you with far more life experience
than we ourselves have who, from day one, have inspired us with your wisdom and faithful commitment to
this church.
A common benediction in our worship services here at FPC comes from Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who
by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine….” In the time we have shared together, it has been our privilege to see God at work within each one
of you. You have inspired us to stronger faith, greater vision, and deeper love of Jesus Christ. Thank you,
for all that you do and all that you are. We will miss our FPC Tuscaloosa family so much.
Grace and Peace,
Nick and Kathy
AN EARLY THANKSGIVING OPPORTUNITY
Join the M & Ms for a trip to Marion to pack bags with Thanksgiving foods to be given to those in need
through Sowing Seeds of Hope, our Perry County Mission partner. The van will leave the church at 9 AM
on Wednesday, November 19, for the trip to Marion.
After packing the bags, we will enjoy a Soup Lunch & Bake Sale at St.
Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church and a tour of the courthouse square and
photography gallery.
The trip will conclude with a
tour of Reverie, a Greek revival house built in 1858 for
Joseph Thompson Whitsitt,
and its garden, which is
home to Alabama’s oldest
wisteria vine.
We expect to return to church about 4 PM.
4
COUNTLESS BLESSINGS
Todd Prickett, Director of Music
As I sit down to write this newsletter
article, I am overjoyed by the countless blessings here in this
place! Worship continues to be enhanced each
week by our dedicated and talented Sanctuary Choir
and Jeff Binford’s superb musicality at the organ. It
is easy for any of us to grow accustomed to such
quality musical offerings, but step outside these
walls and you will see how God has blessed us beyond our deserving.
The exquisite beauty of Joan Lippincott’s organ recital on October 26 was such a pleasure to hear. To
host such an influential American organist was a
true honor for our congregation. The excellence of
her artistry was evident from the clarity and precision of the Bach fugues to the brilliant virtuosity of
the Liszt. As we spoke after her recital, she expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality that
she received from so many of you in the congregation. Special thanks to Nancy Newton, Susan
Elmore, and Shelley Hancock for the beautiful and delicious reception!
Finally, I am pleased to announce that the contract for our pipe organ refurbishment has been
signed. Once again, God has blessed us beyond measure. The faithfulness of the organ-subcommittee
has been inspiring. For more than ten years, they have served this church with love, patience, and energy. Members of this team (past and present) include Daniel Potts (chair), Mark Byars, Vicki Holt, Sylvia Lake, Ann Land, Hugh Lee, Robin Maughan, John Orr, and Jeff Binford (consultant). Their service
and your generous financial contributions to the capital campaign will ensure beautiful music for many
more generations in our pews.
The timeline for the organ installation is also exciting! Here is a rough outline of the anticipated schedule:

The Skinner Organ (currently stored in Laurel, MS) will be transported to the organ builder
in Canada in the next several months.

The Casavant Organ (currently used in the sanctuary) will be removed between January 5
and February 28, 2015.

The Organ will be completed in the builder’s workshops by September 11, 2015.

The Organ will be disassembled, packed, and shipped to us by the first week of October.

The Organ will be installed and finished on or before December 11, 2015.
I know you will join me in praising God for his bountiful blessings! Hallelujah!
5
SAYING GOODBYE
Lou Ann Sellers, Associate Pastor
for Congregational Care and Mission
I still remember the uncomfortable feelings I had when I heard the news. My
parents called to tell me that our minister was leaving. Now he had served at
my home church for over twelve years. This was the pastor who confirmed me
as a teenager and the pastor who had encouraged me to go into the ministry.
Even though I no longer lived in the town in which I grew up, I still found it hard to imagine my home
church without him! How could he desert us now?!
The prophet Isaiah spoke to a people who felt deserted. Carried off into exile in Babylon, the Israelites
felt cut off from God and the place they had worshipped. In the midst of these feelings of turmoil, the
prophet voiced God’s promise to hold onto the people:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you
pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm
you…For I am the Lord your God.” (Isaiah 43: 1-3)
This month we will be saying goodbye not to just one beloved pastor who accompanied us for twentyfive years, but also to two associates who walked along side of youth and young adults in this congregation. This may bring forth all sorts of feelings.
But in the midst of this, I think it is helpful to remember how Jesus approached things. The way of Jesus is to look forward to face what needs to be faced. Jesus did not ignore realities; rather he went with
others through their experiences. Jesus told his disciples shortly before his death, “The Holy Spirit will
teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you.” (John
14:26,27)
Several years back, Mary Mrosowski developed a method of prayer to help Christians experiencing
difficult feelings and emotions. The practice is known today as Welcoming Prayer. It is both simple yet
can be transforming.
The first step of a Welcoming Prayer is to name the negative or uneasy feelings which you are experiencing. Before one can release a feeling, one has to acknowledge – and name – its existence rather
than keep pushing it away.
The second step is to literally say, “Welcome feelings of __________,” (speaking the feelings named in
step one). When resistance to a feeling is replaced by welcome, we take away the power of unchosen
event(s) to disturb our peace.
The final step is to let go of the feeling and give it to God. One could even say, “I have no control over
you. God does. I release you to God.” Giving something to God is not easy work. We may cling to what
we think is our cross to bear. Our life in Jesus tells us differently. God loves us, sends the Spirit to
share our joys and our burdens with us.
When we give our unwelcome feelings to God, we remind ourselves that we belong to the God of
grace and mercy. Thanks be to God!
6
A THANK YOU NOTE
James Goodlet
Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry
In a recent children's sermon, I talked to the kids about thankfulness. Specifically,
how thankfulness is something we don't do just in November; it's an 'all-the-time'
kind of thing. But it is nice that we set aside the fourth Thursday of this month to
take stock of what we have and all for which we have to be thankful.
This month, it seems a bit more poignant. That's what happens when three of your colleagues are
called away from this place. More than colleagues, though. Friends.
I've had the good fortune of working with some amazing people in this place. Two of my groomsmen
were associates here. I was also in the Reeds' wedding back in 2009. Charlie married Margaret and
me and baptized our son, Sam. I guess it's one of those things that's easy to take for granted. But I've
tried not to do so. I've tried to appreciate the gift of working with friends.
There's no doubt I will miss Charlie and the Reeds. We will miss them. I am thankful for them and all
they've done for this church. I am thankful for their gifts, their sense of humor, their love for the call. I
am thankful.
With that said, I am also thankful for what we have at First Presbyterian even as pastors like Charlie,
Nick and Kathy come and go. I am thankful for Lou Ann and her passionate care for the community
and this congregation. I am thankful for the support staff-- Libby, Missy, Susan, Mike, and Sherry-- who
work diligently to make things happen here. I am thankful for the music of our choir led by Todd and
Jeff. I am thankful for Jenny Thagard's amazing gifts in Christian Education. I am thankful for Thomas
Herwig's spirited leadership of First Presbyterian Deutsch. I am thankful for the amazing leadership we
have with our church officers. I am thankful for the hospitality of this church as you have hosted and
fed our college students. I am thankful for our students, our youth, and our children. I am thankful for
the wisdom and guidance of our mature members.
I am thankful for this place. More so, I believe in this place. And, for that reason, I know the future is
bright. We will move forward. We will follow God's lead into something far more than we could ever ask
or imagine. We will be the Church of Jesus Christ together, serving Christ from the heart of Tuscaloosa.
And, for that, I am forever thankful.
Colossians 3: 15-17
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you
do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.“
7
M and M Trip to New York, New England, and Canada
Some would call Carole and Bill Henry simply “trip planners” – or “coordinators,” but that is an
understatement of monumental proportions! We – Atlantic Ocean’s “11” – did not go on a trip.
We went on an adventure! And I don’t know how Carole orchestrated all the events and happenings, but somehow we all left as “folks” – folks you know from Sunday School and church,
and came back as “friends” – friends you have shared part of your life with. It was fun – and I
thank all who shared a part of themselves with me.
New York welcomed us immigrants from the deep South with the hustle and bustle of big city
life and the bright lights of Broadway! Some of us took our free day and visited the humble beginnings of those who came to America through Ellis Island. Others toured the sights of the
city, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero…. Some spent time with relatives and caught up
on the family news. Many partook of the shows on Broadway, and some even got to be on the Today show!
(Well, at least in the audience….) I think we all found the food fare more than fair.
First day on ship – Now, that’s an impressive picture screen! And speaking of pictures – it was
so comforting to know that if anything happened to our pictures, we would still be able to have
excellent photo memories of our adventure – for we had Robert Nicol with us, and he had his
camera wherever he went. Thank you Robert for your pictures. Thank you for the peace of
mind, too!
Two things get mentioned in regard to cruises – entertainment and of course, FOOD. We
heard – we “SAW” – for the visual was as much as, if not more impressive than the music –
one of the most entertaining pianists. Of course, others went google-eyed over the spectacular
song and dance shows, while some even liked the comedian act. On one night, we got our
own special show: Can you imagine Philippine waiters serenading, “Happy Retirement to you, Happy Retirement to you, Happy Retirement, dear Barbara, Happy Retirement to you?” Newport, Rhode Island is known as a playground of the rich and
famous. It sports the summer homes of the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Morgans. It is
also home to the famous Newport Regatta. Folks who went ashore took rides along
the ocean scenic drive or perhaps toured one of the fine mansions. But what would I
know about all that? My tour consisted of the view from my stateroom balcony, and all
I saw was a bunch of sailboats blowing in the wind. (I can tell you that those ship people are really serious about quarantining folks who eat too much rich food on an empty tummy….)
Boston, Massachusetts is hailed as the “Cradle of American Independence.” The
most popular excursions took one on a Freedom ride through streets where giant skyscrapers surround and dwarf such sites as the old North Church where lights were
hung to warn of the British coming and Faneuil Hall where leaders of the Revolution
met. History buffs among us enjoyed this tour, while the Navy man stared through the
chain link fence to glimpse the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship
in America. Of course, the shoppers among us took on the shops in the Quincy Marketplace. The clam chowder wasn’t bad, either.
Bar Harbor, Maine is a quaint little picturesque fishing village – visualize “Cabot Cove” without the murders. And
finally, leaves are turning! The harbor is about 20 miles from Acadia – America’s first national park east of the
Mississippi. Here one ascends to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic coast. From this
point, he or she can be the first person to see the sun rise in the east….
But what are leaves – or even sunrises to a seafood lover on the coast of Maine?
Sunrises and leaves pale when there is a fresh mouth-watering 3-pound Maine lobster in your plate. But the fun wasn’t over yet. The geologist among us had his day,
too. Thunder Hole is a naturally formed inlet where when an ocean wave arrives in
full force, it may splash into the air as high as 40 feet - with a roar! Too, there is Bar
Island, an island for only 21 hours a day. At low tide, the island becomes accessible
by foot across a natural gravel land bridge. And then the water rushes back in – and
all the Egyptian army perished under the waters…. Oops, I mean the island is an
island again. Now, if the sleepy little village of Cabot Cove could have excitement,
one could expect a little out of the ordinary here too.
8
And we were not disappointed, for close to the shore, the Tiger Shark, a fishing boat, had crashed on the rocks.
Even the Coast Guard was there. A fire truck, with sirens wailing, rushed to the scene to assist passengers. And
yes, I think Robert did get pictures.
St. John, New Brunswick is an industrial town with a twist of nature. Again we have
the high and low tides putting on a show for us in the course of the day. This time,
they make the St. John River flow backwards. They call this “reversing falls.” Some
were very excited about being here, for they recalled pictures of the Bay of Fundy in
their high school science book.
Halifax, Nova Scotia is Canada’s largest city in its Atlantic
provinces and the gateway for over 1,000,000 immigrants
to Canada. It is home to the maritime museum which
houses more of the Titanic’s relics than any other museum. Some chose to visit there. In Pier 21’s Immigration museum, Richard discovered
that his grandfather came to America with $30 in his pocket and landed at St. John,
New Brunswick.
However, the most popular attraction of the day was Peggy’s Cove, where, like millions who had gone before, I
took pictures of the most photographed lighthouse in the world.
“At Sea”: The day was punctuated by Baked Alaska, and it was good. Real good. But
what did we do all day? Well, we could always find Martha and Becky in the Wheelhouse BAR lounging, listening to enchanted piano music. We found Lena and Hugh
sometimes at supper. But we never found Marjorie….
Saturday: We expected a routine flight with a 1-hr layover in Charlotte and to arrive in
Birmingham before halftime of the AL-Ole Miss game. What a miscalculation of timing!
We just didn’t know Charlotte. Weather shut down the airport, and we had to land (and
gas up) in Greenville, SC. Though we never left the plane, we were well-entertained
with the constant buzz of football scores and updates. (Thank goodness for cell phones!) After a few hours, we
took off again for Charlotte. This time, we could touch down and approach the gate. Oops, spoke too soon. The
pilot apologetically announces, “the airport is closed.” If there were groans, we couldn’t hear them for the burst of
laughter that rang out. The reason for the closure was off to the right – a plane had lost its hydraulics and was
stranded on the runway. This was second U.S. Air incident of the evening. Just hours before, a plane had had to
make an emergency landing because it had lost cabin air pressure. Thankfully, we were not on those two planes,
but it gives one an idea of how many passengers would be stranded for an evening – or longer.
The airport reopened after a long while…. At this point, AL was holding onto a 1-point lead, and many cell phones
had run out of charge. Usually, airport arrivals send folks scampering to make connections or to grab a bite to eat.
But ballgames can change all that, and charging stations reign!
Carole, our fearless leader, competed with hundreds for customer service
and a way home. (U.S Air was NOT having a good day.) Okay, so we could
get home the next day, but only by changing planes in Atlanta. Or at least
“some” of us could. (When there is a problem, Carole is a good intercessor!)
Then there was NASCAR. Now that in itself is not a big deal to most of us.
BUT, what it means is that there are NO hotel rooms left in town. The U.S.
Air people did find four rooms in the red light district. They weren’t pretty,
nor did they smell good, BUT they had running water, beds, and doors that
locked. And we were tired. In the meantime, Bill and Carole sought a good
spot in the lobby of the airport to bunk down. They were given cots and mats
to sleep on, a pillow, and a thin blanket – courtesy of the Red Cross (who
had shown up for the earlier possible emergencies). Now Bill and Carole have a good story of the stranger who
cuddled next to their heads while they slept, but that’s for them to tell. Home finally.
Thank you Bill Pow for getting us there and Mike Till for arranging the van to get back.
And to all of you who made our trip fun and exciting – Thanks for the memories!
Eileen Katz
9
.
M & M’S UPDATE
Carole and Bill Henry, Coordinators
As you have heard from Eileen Katz (pages 8 & 9), we enjoyed being together
as a family in Christ. It was a beautiful area and I just kept thinking of Claire
Nichols. I always enjoy her posts on FB showing the whaling ships and New
England area.
Bill and I have been working with the M & M’s to try to make their retirement
years fun and to be the driver when they have stopped driving out of town. We
both can say that this has been a great blessing to us. We have met members
whom we did not know and some we had never seen at church because we did not go to the same service.
When we were contacted about starting a Mature Member Program, we did not know we would be involved for this long. We thought a minister would be hired at some point. Most of our programs and trips
are from requests by our members. I have learned a lot about planning trips and we have just always
been blessed. I have said many times that God is with us. He knows I need help!
On our return flight home from New York, we had some problems. As Eileen mentioned, we were ready
to land in Charlotte when the pilot said the airport was closed due to bad weather. We were rerouted to
Greenville, SC to refuel and wait for the airport to open in Charlotte. After a good while, we were given
the OK to head to Charlotte. The pilot came over the speaker and said to put the seats and trays up for
landing. In his next breath, he says the airport is closed again for an emergency landing of a US Airplane. We head back to the sky to wait for clearance to land.
Then the pilot told us that a plane had lost cabin pressure and had to drop below 10,000 ft. Their oxygen masks fell down and I am sure no one had a good feeling on that plane. We were given permission
to land and when we could see the runway, there were a lot of blinking lights on rescue equipment near
another US Airplane. The pilot told us that it had lost hydraulic pressure and ran off the runway, blocking our only way to the terminal. We waited for a long time along with many other planes before we
could disembark.
When we got inside and saw that our plane was not on the screen, I knew we were in trouble. I got in
the long line for customer service. It only took two hours to get to a representative! Not really sure of the
time, but it was 12:00 before our group was picked up for the ride to the hotel. The lady first told me that
they had no hotel rooms available because of the Nascar races and airport closing. I explained our situation and the need for a place to stay. I said she had to help us! She said there were no flights out the
next day that were not already booked. I told her that they had made us check our carry on because the
plane did not have space over head and that meant we didn’t have our medicine or our PJs. She
worked longer and said she could get us to Atlanta and then on to Birmingham the next day. I told her
we liked Atlanta. She told me to come around to the other side away from everyone. She handed me
four vouchers for rooms close by. She said she was sorry but that was all she had. I was proud of the
four rooms anywhere!
Our group left to go to the area to be picked up by the hotel shuttle. Security told us where we should go
to wait out the night. He said that the Red Cross had called this a disaster and were going to bring in
cots. Bill decided to go over to a far side between a row of seats to set up camp. We had just enough
room to put our cots side by side with no room for anyone to pass by us. We put our belongings under
our cots to protect them while we were asleep. We were trying to find a plug not being used to charge
our phones. About the time we were about to lie, down there was an announcement for anyone who
wanted a mat for their cot to come to a designated area. Bill went and lined up for us a mat. He got back
with them and we tried to decide our next plan. We did not want to leave our phones plugged in while
we were asleep. Announcements that were automated were being made all the time, so I did not think
we would get any sleep. Then another announcement that pillows and blankets were available, so Bill
was off to retrieve us blankets.
10
It was so cold in the airport and the blankets were really thin. It was around 3:00 AM so we covered our
heads and tried to rest. I had just dozed off when I heard movement close to us, but I was too tired to
get up. At 4:00 AM I set up to try to turn over without the mat squeaking. Yes, every mat in there was
hard and made a noise every time anyone moved. When I sat up, I saw something that really scared
me. There was a cot next to our heads turned to touch both our cots at our heads. I could not tell if it
was a male or female because he/she had a mat on top of his/her body. I punched Bill and pointed to
our visitor. There were people sitting up because there were not enough cots to go around. We laid
back down to figure out our next move. We heard a movement and the lady had moved her cot about
four feet away from us. I later talked to her and she said she was alone and afraid and thought we
looked honest and safe. OUR heads were covered so I am not sure by what she was going.
We started trying to find an airline worker so that we could make sure our people could get back in
through security and would know where to go. We were not given anything but a small slip of paper
which had all of us flying US Air except two of us flying American. Customer service finally opened up
at 7:30 AM and I was in line. Thank goodness there was someone working I recognized that had
worked the night before. I told her they had been great in getting us some rooms but there was a problem with the tickets. She said she remembered me and would see if she could fix the problem. She
said US Air had merged with American but the computers did not know it yet. She told me to call my
group and to give them a number to get them through security. Then she printed our boarding passes.
When the rest of our group got a boarding pass in hand, there were smiles on their faces. Now, I have
to tell you that this group was great! They didn’t fuss but they had a story to tell themselves. You will
have to ask them about their night! Did I say THIS GROUP HAD A GREAT ATTITUDE?
Someone asked at church if I still had the same attitude about HIM taking care of us. My answer was
there were two US Airline planes that had an emergency landing at the Charlotte airport before us. We
were also flying US Air. One of the planes left from LaGuardia just before we did. YES, HE HAD HIS
HAND ON US! God is good and we thank Him for our wonderful experiences together.
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OCTOBER SESSION NOTES
Charlie Durham
The October meeting of Session began with a devotional by Mojo Weaver focusing on the peace that
God alone can give especially in times of transition. Spiritual concerns were offered along with extended prayer. The minutes were approved and membership stands at 1,089.
The Session approved a resolution to authorize Mike Echols as treasurer and one of the three trustees
to sign the documents for a line of credit provided by First United Securities Bank as approved by the
congregation at its congregational meeting.
The College Committee continues to look at options for a coffee shop at the Student Center and received approval to spend some of their funds to secure the advice of an architect. It was announced
that the $100,000 grant from the Lilly Foundation will fund three interns per year in a program developed to help students explore a sense of vocation.
The Long-Range Planning Committee made a request that all committees turn in their annual reports
as soon as possible.
The Personnel Committee received approval for their recommendation that the Reverends Nick and
Kathy Reed preach on November 2nd with their last day in the office being November 7th and their final
day at the church being November 20th. They then presented information about the candidate for interim pastor and received approval for his contract/covenant. He will begin January 10th for at least one
year. At his request his name will not be released until next month because he is currently serving with
another congregation.
The Strengthening of the Church Committee received approval to move Beau and Sarah Sams to the
inactive list along with Katie Curry. The Mission Committee reported that the Haiti Mission Team is preparing to leave in early November. The Worship Committee recommended that there be two Christmas
Eve Candlelight Communion services this year, one at 5 PM and one at 11 PM. The Children’s Christmas Pageant will be prior to Christmas Eve. These two services will be identical except that the full
choir will sing only at 5 PM.
The Youth Committee presented their plans for the future including receiving authorization from Session to be the committee to search for a non-ordained Youth Minister to begin as soon as possible. The
Endowment Committee received approval to transfer $2,000 from the Patton Family Trust to the Mature Member Reserve Account for future use.
The Finance Committee presented the financials with the encouragement that everyone fill out pledge
cards and return them as soon as possible and that we become current on our operating budget pledges for this year. The Board of Deacons reported the Valet Service will begin at the end of October.
They are looking forward to that with great anticipation.
The Session approved calling a Congregational meeting for Sunday, December 7th to elect a PastorNominating Committee upon recommendation of the Congregational Nominating Committee and to act
upon the request that the pastoral relationship between Dr. Durham and this church be dissolved effective December 30 and that Presbytery grant him honorable retirement.
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CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE 2014
Once again the Presbyterian Women will provide our congregation with an opportunity to bring joy to those less fortunate this holiday season.
You can help PW share the spirit of Christmas!
On November 16 and November 23 visit the PW tables located in Warner Hall
and select an angel tag.
Return your wrapped gifts with the angel tag to the Family Life Center
on Sunday, December 7th.
Gifts will be delivered by PW the following day.
Thank you! Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
DECORATING THE CHURCH
The Worship Committee is requesting assistance from Church members to help decorate the church on Tuesday November 25th at 5:30 PM. Any assistance would be
greatly appreciated. Pizza will be provided.
ANNUAL PRESCHOOL THANKSGIVING PROGRAM
Please join us on Friday, November 20th at 10:00 AM in the Church Sanctuary for
our Thanksgiving Production. The 2, 3, and 4 year olds will present a slice of historic
Thanksgiving (Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indians) through song and dramatization.
THE PRESCHOOL WELCOMES MRS. SARA BATES TO
OUR STAFF
Mrs. Sara Bates has been hired as our new Early Childhood Specialist/Asst. Director. Mrs. Sara completed her B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education from The
University of Alabama and received her Master’s Degree in Continuing Studies with
an Early Childhood Education emphasis area from The University of West Alabama.
She has worked as a Lead Teacher at the University’s Children’s Program for the
past seven (7) years (infants, toddlers, & Preschool) and served as a teachermentor and intern supervisor for students. She also has direct experience with
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and the accreditation process. We are delighted to have her join our staff!
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First Presbyterian Church
900 Greensboro Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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