Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, September 13, 2023

 

From:

The News Desk

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

September 13^th, 2023

Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!

 

·         REMINDERS

·         CELEBRATION OF LIFE

·         TIME FOR TEA

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         PPM UPDATE

·         FURNITURE TO SHARE

·         FALL GREAT BANQUET

·         REACHING INTO HISTORY

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

Reminders:

Liturgist for September is Margi McConnaha. Elder of the month for September is Amy Morrison.

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.

Prayers:  Please keep in your prayers the McConnaha family and the McConnell family. Both of these families are dealing with very difficult issues right now. We treasure each member of our FPC family. We find comfort by supporting one another in a number of ways, prayer being an important part of that support system.

Celebration of Life: Kathy McConnell's Celebration of Life will be next Monday, September 18th, 11AM at Myers Mortuary.

 

Time for Tea: Tuesday, September 19^th, at 11am in the Church Library. Contact the office with your intentions of attending. Thank you.

 

Celebrations: Happy Anniversary, Rob & Nancy Williams, 9/19. May you know God’s great love for you both.

PPM Update: Happy Fall ! I know it's a few days early but the slight change in temperatures is getting me excited for the change in seasons. Our classes are busy learning about farm animals, apples and community helpers this month. As I walk upstairs, I love  looking at all the activities the children are busy doing this time of year. If you have time, I encourage you to look at all the fun we are having. 

This month I am asking you to pray for Miss Ashton( Toddlers) and Miss Kelly's( Pre-1) classes. These teachers are always on the go and so are the little ones they care for. Together with Miss Suzy these ladies are kept busy and loved by 11 children. We are so grateful for the love and patience that Kelly, Ashton and Miss Suzy have for the children and families. I am always amazed at how much these children learn from these wonderful ladies. 

A few exciting things are coming up for PPM. We are finally getting our outdoor learning items. The kids will enjoy  having items out there to learn and play with. We are adding child size picnic tables, a reading area, outdoor drums and much more. I hope that the children from the church can enjoy this space as well. 

Friday the 22nd, we are hosting our first family night of the year. Our families will enjoy the chance to get to know each other. The classes will have science activities set up for the children to do with  their families. 

Hope you enjoy this wonderful new season( my favorite)  Blessings, Lori Rowe  

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 they 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: “Gentlemen, I’m going to fly.”

“Gentlemen, I’m going to fly.” So said Wilbur Wright, and so he did. Both he and his brother astounded the world with what they accomplished in the skies.

There was a man who had waited thirty-eight years to step into a pool which he believed, hoped, would make him well.  When Jesus saw him, He asked: “Do you want to be made well? . . . .  Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The text does not record the man saying anything. But if he did say something, perhaps he would have said, “Gentlemen, I’m going to walk.” (see John 5:1-9)

A storm arose. Jesus’s disciples were in a boat in the midst of strong winds and waves. Jesus walked out to them on the water. When Peter saw that it was Jesus, he said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus responded by inviting Peter to: “Come.” The text does not record Peter saying anything before he climbed out of the boat, but if he had spoken, perhaps he would have said: “Gentlemen, I’m going to step out onto the sea.” (see Matthew 14:22-33)

An angel visited a young woman in Nazareth and told her she would give birth to the Son of God. It is recorded that her first words in response to this announcement were: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” The angel explained, and her second recorded response is: “Behold the maid-servant of the Lord! Let it be according to your word.” In other words, to sum it up, in response to the angel’s announcement, Mary declared, “Angel, I’m going to believe you.”  (see Luke 1:26-38)

Jesus knew the time of His crucifixion was drawing near. Eventually, He pulled His disciples aside and warned them what was going to happen: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” In other words, Jesus said, “Gentlemen, I’m going to be put to death. But three days later I am going to rise again.” (See Matthew 20:17-19)

Is there something on your heart to do? Is there something you want to declare in faith that you will accomplish? Scripture encourages us that: “Therefore we also, since are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . .”  (Hebrews 12:1) The Wright brothers could never have taken to the skies if they had not laid aside the weight that could have held them down. So . . . is it your turn to fly? 

           

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.  

 Dear Heavenly Father, We have great aspirations. We can look to the skies and hope to soar . . . and

then we can look down and see the waves swallowing us and feel the wind buffeting us and we begin to sink rather than rise. We can be stuck, like the man at the pool who waited for almost forty years. We can also be confronted with a miracle and the immediate choice to believe or doubt. Whether it is grief, sickness, stress, or the humdrum of ordinary life, how do we shake off the weight that can pull us down? How do we lay aside the sins that ensnare us? Your Word tells us to look unto Jesus, “The author and finisher of our faith.” Why? Because He endured. He endured the ultimate! “Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) So help us, dear God. Help us endure, not just for the sake of enduring, but for joy! Help us to declare: “God, I am going to fly.” And then be our wings! Amen.