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THE TOWER
First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas
Volume XLXIII, Number 4
Space for our Hearts to Be One in Christ
Over 65 different church members made trips to our
Fellowship Hall over a month’s time. The invitation
was to speak with intention and love from our shared
convictions and our disagreements. We began by
talking about the church’s stand on divestment. This
action was taken at the 221st General Assembly. We
then reviewed Jack Haberer’s book, GodViews. This book gave an
appreciation for the various ways that we understand God’s call upon
our lives. In our last discussion, we spoke candidly about the
marriage amendment which redefines marriage as between “two
people.” This last discussion was populated by people who were “for”
a change in the definition of marriage and people who were not in
favor of changing the definition. The small group and large group
discussions were direct and loving. As people spoke there was both
compassion and challenge. As your pastors, Dee Dee and I
were amazed by the sense of The Spirit at work in the room. It lifted
us to a place of hope and vision for our future.
Our thanks go out to John Palmer for his strong leadership and
talent in leading difficult discussions. Thanks also to Julie Wells who
came as a visitor and left a friend in awe of our communal strength
and maturity of spirit at First Presbyterian.
As our church and culture continue to challenge us to explore our
faith, we have a tie that binds us lovingly together for the task.
Perhaps, if it is requested from among those 65 (or by any who may
have missed these opportunities), we can arrange for more space in
which our hearts can continue to be one in Christ. Until then, I look
forward to our Called Congregational Meeting on April 12. By then,
we will have arrived into the season of the most powerful energy we
know, God’s Resurrecting Energy.
Faithfully, Leslie
April 1, 2015
April Service
Coffee Fellowship Hosts:
April 5—Virginia & Mac Bates
April 12—Jana & Loyd Hamilton
April 19—Joanne Bristol & Jim
Pettit
April 26—Sharon & Charlie Stern
Sanctuary Guild:
Sara Odajima, Chair
Barbara Kidwell, Beverly
Sterling
Called Congregational
Meeting
April 12 at 11:45 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
Lunch will follow as we help our
youth group break their 30-Hour
Fast. The purpose of the
meeting is an update from the
Denominational Matters
gatherings and to elect our
2015 Nominating Committee.
Holy Week
Maundy Thursday (April 2) service in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday (April 3) service in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.
Prayer Walk preceding the Good Friday Service at 6 p.m.: You are
invited to join us for a prayer walk around downtown. Meet at the
church at 6 p.m. with your walking shoes on. We will pick up our
dinner from one of the downtown food trucks and make our way back
within the hour. This is part of our continued First Friday efforts in
conjunction with downtown businesses.
The deadline for the next edition of the Tower is noon Tuesday, April 14. Please e-mail submissions to
[email protected] or bring to the church office. The next edition of the Tower will be mailed April 22.
Editor: Karen Fleuriet, First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701, 254-752-1665
www.firstpreswaco.org The Tower is published monthly by the First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas.
THE TOWER
PAGE 2
April Calendar
Wednesday, April 1
 Uncle Calvin’s, noon
 Youth Study Hall, 6 p.m.
 Book of Confessions study, 6 p.m.
 St. Cecilia handbells, 6 p.m.
 Adult Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 2
 Maundy Thursday service, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 3
 Prayer Walk, 6 p.m.
 Good Friday service, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 5—Easter
 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Leslie King
preaching
Monday, April 6
 Office closed for holiday
Wednesday, April 8
 Uncle Calvin’s, noon
 Disciple Study informational meeting, 5 p.m.
 Youth Study Hall, 6 p.m.
 Book of Confessions study, 6 p.m.
 St. Cecilia handbells, 6 p.m.
 Youth Advisory meeting, 6 p.m.
 Adult Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.
 C.E. meeting, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
 Youth 30-hour Famine
 Ride for Relief, 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 12
 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Leslie King
preaching
 Youth at Church Under the Bridge, 9 a.m.
 New member photos for directory, 11:30 a.m.
 Congregational Meeting & Fellowship Lunch, noon
Monday, April 13
 Presbyterian Women, 1:30 p.m.
 Session meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14
 Tower deadline, noon
 Faith on Tap, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15
 Uncle Calvin’s, noon
 Outreach committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.
 Youth Study Hall, 6 p.m.
 Book of Confessions study, 6 p.m.
April Lectionary Readings
April 5—Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;
1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18
April 12—Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John
1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
April 19—Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7;
Luke 24:36b-48
April 26—Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24;
John 10:11-18
 St. Cecilia handbells, 6 p.m.
 Adult Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 17
 Men’s Breakfast, 7:15 a.m.
Saturday, April 18
 Service Saturday at World Hunger Farm, 9 a.m.
Sunday, April 19
 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Leslie King
preaching
 New member photos for directory, 11:30 a.m.
 Youth group, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21
 Church Ladies, 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 22
 Tower mailed, 9 a.m.
 Uncle Calvin’s, noon
 Youth Chaperone Training, 6 p.m.
 Youth Study Hall, 6 p.m.
 Book of Confessions study, 6 p.m.
 St. Cecilia handbells, 6 p.m.
 Adult Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 26
 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Dee Dee
Carson preaching
 Info meeting about Uruguay mission trip, noon
 Companions on the Journey, 4 p.m.
 Spring Choirs Concert, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
 “Texas Promise” at Jubilee Theater, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
 Uncle Calvin’s, noon
 Diaconate meeting, 5:30 p.m.
 Youth Study Hall, 6 p.m.
 Book of Confessions study, 6 p.m.
 St. Cecilia handbells, 6 p.m.
 Adult Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.
Spring Choirs Concert
Sunday, April 26 ~ 5 p.m.
Photo Directory
It is time to print a supplement to
our Church Pictorial Directory. If
you are a new member or were not
included in our directory two years
ago, please have your picture taken
on Sundays, April 12 and 19, immediately
following the 10:30 service. Church volunteers
will be calling to schedule your appointment. If
you do not receive a call but would like an
appointment, please call the church office by
April 10. Thanks to photographer, Karl
Stottlemyre, for giving his time to this project.
THE TOWER
PAGE 3
EducatIon OpportunItIes
Guest Theologian Paul Hooker
Reformed Theology
in a Changing Culture
May 3 & 10 in Fellowship Hall
9:15—10:20 a.m.
Mainline denominations have their challenges
within an increasingly non-denominational
church culture. What does it means to be the
carriers of Reformed Theology in such an
environment? Join us as Dr. Hooker from Austin
Presbyterian Theological Seminary travels to lead
us through conversation and dialogue.
Interested in participating in an in-depth bible
study beginning in 2015? Informational
meetings are (note date change):
May 17 @
11:30 am
April 8 @
5 pm
April Sermon Series April 5—19
Resurrection Perspectives
Join us Easter Sunday through April 19 to
consider how a perception of God’s resurrecting
energies can make a practical difference in our lives.
MISSION OpportunItIes
Service Saturday
Saturday, April 18 9am-noon
World Hunger Relief
Join the Outreach Committee for a
work day in the sunshine! We will
tend gardens, make repairs, prepare
fields for planting, and much more.
All ages are welcome. Sign up with Dee Dee
Carson or on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
Ride for Relief
Join our First Pres team for the World Hunger
Relief Ride for Relief 5k Saturday, April 11. Be
at World Hunger Farm at 8:30, to start at 9 am.
Open to walkers, runners, or bikers—come
support the great work of WHRI by stretching
your legs. Donation of $10 per participant—sign
up at https://whr.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Home/
SignUpFundraising/tabid/667182/Default.aspx?
joinme=39814. You may also make a donation at
this site. See Dee Dee Carson with questions.
Presbyterian Women will meet at 1:30, Monday April 13, in the Fellowship Hall for Bible Study, and
fellowship. The main activity will be the annual April Shower. This year the recipient will be the
apartment at Compassion Ministries. We will be stocking our supply closet with practical household
items, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, cup towels (white), paper towels, paper napkins. A
more complete list is in the top drawer of Presbyterian Women file cabinet.
Uruguay Mission Trip
An exciting opportunity is coming our way in
March of 2016…a spring break mission trip to
Uruguay to work with our missionary, Dennis
Smith! Join Dee Dee Carson for a brief
informational meeting in the Session Room on
Sunday, April 26, at 11:30 am.
Info packets will be
distributed and anyone
interested in attending will
need to pay a $200 deposit by
June 1. All ages are welcome
to join the team…anyone
under 16 must be
accompanied by a parent.
Engaging with local schools is an important part
of the way our congregation reaches out to the
community. On Tuesday, April 28, at 6pm, you
are invited to a screening of the documentary,
The Texas Promise, about the current state of
public education in Texas. We will gather at
Mission Waco’s Jubilee Theatre for this free
screening, followed by a Q&A afterward. This is
an opportunity to learn more about the state of
education and continue to be inspired and called
to serve our local schools well. Join Dee Dee
April 28 for an evening of learning together!
Non Profit Org.
The Tower
First Presbyterian Church
1100 Austin Ave.
Waco, TX 76701
U.S. Postage
PAID
Waco, Texas
Permit Number 216
Office Hours: 9—12 and 1—4
Monday—Friday
Youth News:
Summer Camp Dates:
Mo-TLC: June 7-12
Celebration: June 21-26
Jr. High Jubilee: July 5-9
Confirmation Camp: July 20-24
Stewpot Mission Trip: July 19-24
Camp final payments are due 5/15. Get them
in as soon as possible!
30-hour Famine April 11-12
To donate to our cause ask Emily, a youth, or
visit http://youth.worldvision.org/team/
firstpreswaco.
Children’s News:
“A Royal Summer” is the
theme for this summer’s
Children’s Sunday School.
June 7—August 30
Ages 4—5th grade
Journey off the Map with
us for VBS this year
June 15-19!
Thanks to all of those who
have agreed to lead and
teach.
Take Note . . .
We give thanks to God for the life and faith of
Bill Clarke, who died March 10.