Midweek Newsletter: Thursday, September 7th, 2023.

From:

The News Desk

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

September 7^th, 2023

 Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!

 

First off, I apologize for this coming out late. I came down with covid over the weekend. It was quite a surprise, since, as some of you may recall, I had it just earlier this summer. I’ve been hit rather hard with it this time. Hence the delay in communication. Thankfully, I am on the mend – slowly, but it is coming along. Mine is not such a unique case – I’ve heard covid is on the rise again this fall, so please keep one another in prayer and be careful, my friends. You are each precious and worthy of the utmost care. Love to you all, Gretel.

·         REMINDERS

·         LOVE INC’S FUNDRAISING BANQUET

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         FURNITURE TO SHARE

·         FALL GREAT BANQUET

·         REACHING INTO HISTORY

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

Reminders:

It’s a new month! Liturgist for September is Margi McConnaha. Elder of the month for September is Amy Morrison.

No Communal Lunch this Sunday! Seeing as how there was an extra fellowship lunch on Mission Sunday, there will be no communal lunch this Sunday. You are all of course welcome to linger after the service and enjoy fellowship over coffee. If anyone wishes to bring a treat to share, feel free to do so. Sweet surprises are some of the best surprises!

Live for Life Sunday is this coming Sunday. This is a reminder of the types of items they appreciate. You can leave items in the box in the lobby:

        New Pillows

        Personal Hygiene Products

        Feminine napkins

        Gently used or new shoes

        Zip closure sandwich bags, quart and gallon, regular plastic and freezer bags

        Large trash bags

        Cleaning supplies

        Laundry supplies

 Live & Learn! Come with a Bible and an interest to learn. Meet at 11:30 Saturday morning in the church library. Lunch is part and parcel with this deal – a fun time together – consider coming and joining in the fellowship.

Today is the Day of Love INC.’s Fundraising Banquet: This banquet will be held at Zionsville Fellowship Church. This banquet is the annual fundraiser for Love INC. There will be a coffee bar, silent auction, and dinner, among other activities. Doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner begins at 6pm. Please register at: wwww.loveincbc.org/banquet. Again, the Love INC banquet is at Zionsville Fellowship Church, 9090 W. Oak St, Zionsville. Bonus feature: Provide an item for the Silent Auction and receive a discount on a table reservation!

Celebrations: Happy Birthday, Rob Williams, 9/11!

May God bless your days in all His ways

Be it morn or night, He will guide you right and keep you by His side. Amen.

 

Furniture to Share! If you have been in the church recently, you have noticed there are a few extra pieces of furniture in the lobby. Why are there? We would like to share them with you! They are items from the church library that are no longer needed. The church library is being refurbished, under the leadership of a few very talented members of FPC. We have set items in the lobby to share with the family of FPC and PPM. If you know of anyone who might benefit from said pieces, please take them and share them. Thank you.

Fall Great Banquet: The Zionsville Fall Great Banquets are just around the corner!  The Women's Banquet is September 21 - 24, and the Men's Banquet is September 28 - October 1.  The Banquets are held at Zionsville Presbyterian Church.  Come enjoy food, fellowship, and the love and grace of Jesus Christ for 72 hours.  Complete the Guest Application at zionsvillegb.org.  There is room at His table, and you are invited!

Reaching into History: A friend of George Piper, David Rodgers, is working on a book that will be about Boone County World War I Veterans. In his research, he has discovered there were veterans which were members of this Presbyterian church. This church office will be looking into what we might have on this topic. If you know anything and wish to share it with this gentleman, he would be most appreciative. The following excerpt is from Mr. Rodgers:

“I’m working on/toward a book telling the story of five Boone County boys who served as Marines in WWI. Two of them, Lyle Stephenson (LHS ’13) and Searle Comley (LHS ’17) were members of the Presbyterian Church, along with 11 others who served. I’m looking for any information the church might have about them, including memorabilia or pictures. In particular, I know that at the service on November 18, 1917, the “Industrial Society” of the church presented a service flag with 13 stars on it to hang in the church. I know it’s a long shot, but maybe that flag still exists?” 

If you have anything you can share, you may pass that on to Gretel in the office, or to George Piper II. Thank you!

 

Weekly Devotional: Look to the Hills

Monday September 21^st, 1908, at Camp d’Auvours, France, in front of ten thousand spectators, Wilbur Wright flew one hour, thirty-one minutes, and twenty-five seconds, covering a distance of forty miles and setting a sensational world record. That very same day, on the other side of the Atlantic, Orville Wright lay in a hospital in Fort Myer, Washington, having survived a crash on September 17^th. An investigation later confirmed the reason for the crash – much as Orville had come to suspect: a propeller blade had cracked, inevitably causing a stray wire to come loose and wrap around the blade. In short, the plane was brought to an abrupt stop, plunging head down. The first fatality in flight occurred that day. It was not one of the Wright brothers, but it caused both brothers much anguish, and Orville was seriously injured in the accident. The crash did not alter respect for Orville and Wilbur, nor for their achievements in flight, but it did remind the world of the danger of this endeavor.

As I have been ill again this week, my plans greatly changed – at least paused, for the time being, I thought about the opposite experiences the brothers were having on that day so many years ago. One brother was up in the air, literally flying, the other suffering in a bed. One was receiving congratulations and well deserved praise, the other receiving medical care and well deserved wishes for improved health and spirits. Extreme opposites though these are, the two brothers’ felt closely both the joy and the pain which the other experienced. There was one key element which, despite their compassion for one another and the deep bond they shared, connected them during this time. And that was another Wright sibling – Kathrine. It is she that holds my attention today.

Despite their successes and, by now, fame, the Wrights were not wealthy people. They had little funds to spare, especially for those at home holding down the fort. Katherine was just such a one, “holding down the fort.” When the achievements of the Wrights are discussed, I’m not sure how often mention of Katherine comes up, but her support was a fundamental element, in my opinion, of the success, and here the survival, of the brothers. As soon as Kathrine learned of Orville’s accident, she scraped up what meager funds she had to spare and left immediately to be by Orville’s side. Eventually, she would stay at the hospital by his side night and day. It was she who saw to it that his every need was met, that correspondences were kept, and the many visitors who came to call were graciously received. Though not a nurse (she was a teacher by trade), she was faithfully by her brother’s side so much that it was assumed by the press that she herself was a nurse.

As I’ve read of the brothers’ exploits, their struggles, the ups and downs of their journey into flight, I have also read of their sister’s devotion, her faith in her brothers, her undying encouragement for them, as well as her own hard-working example of perseverance, practicality, and determination. When faced with the examples of such extraordinary individuals, I ask myself, do I have those qualities? I cannot imagine myself ever doing what they did, but the spirit with which each of them lived is inspiring. Do you feel that way? Do know of/read of/hear of examples of people whose stories inspire you? Do you long to reach for the heights they did? Do you desire to emulate the character with which they lived their lives? How do we do this? I have this one thought in mind today, and it does lift my spirits. With all my heart I am comforted to say that what follows inspires me more than any other human tale can: “I lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1,2)

Sometimes the trials of life come hurtling at us and it seems that all the world is aching, breaking, hurting with a pain we cannot ease. And perhaps it is. Perhaps it is beyond us to ease the pain of this world, but there is One for whom it is not too much. The Wright brothers lifted their eyes not just to the hills, but beyond it to the skies. In doing so, they pulled the gaze of innumerable others, including that of their sister Katherine, upwards as well. Katherine did not take to the skies on September 21, 1908, like her brother Wilbur. She sat by the bedside of her brother Orville, writing to brother Wilbur and their father. I believe that both carried out their actions with a lift of heart and spirit that comes from a faith nothing on earth can match and a help that is above all things this world has to offer. I shall lift my eyes to the hills, my friends, and I invite you to do the same. We shall see the Lord there. For He is alive. Hallelujah.

Prayer Room:

Here at FPC, prayer is important to us. Are you interested in joining the prayer chain? Would you like to learn more about the role of prayer in our lives? Please contact Phyllis Duff, Prayer Coordinator, at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.  

The following prayer is based on Psalm 121.

Dear Heavenly Father, May You be the keeper for each one who has come here to pray. May You be the shade on their right hand. May You preserve their soul, as well as their going out and coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore. Amen.