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Volume 1, Number 9
February 2018
PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
3323 Transou Rd.
PO Box 130
Pfafftown NC 27040
Phone: 336- 924-9925:Fax: 336- 924-2501
E-mail: [email protected]
www.pfafftownchristian.org
Church Staff
The Rev. Gerald Thomas
Pastor
The Rev. Tim Shoaf
Minister of Music & Programs
Jane K. Hoover, Office Administrator
Inside the PCC Visitor
Page 1: Connect Groups
Elders Ministry
Welcome New Members!
Page 2: As Way Leads to Way
Ash Wednesday Gathering
Ministry Meetings
Page 3: Crisis Control
Goodtimers
Ash Wednesday Service
Notes from Tim
Page 4: CWF
WOC Offering
Page 5: February Servers
Yearbook Updates
Prayer List
Page 6: July-November 1917
Financial report
Page 7: February Calendar
The Lord’s Prayer:
A Lenten Study
The Lord’s Prayer is a steady presence in
worship at Pfafftown Christian. During the
season of Lent, we will examine the prayer
as it comes to us through Matthew’s and
Luke’s gospels as well as the responses of
Christians from across the centuries.
Utilizing a new Lord’s Prayer commentary
by New Testament professor Nijay Gupta,
we will come to a deeper appreciation of
our shared confession in Morning Worship.
9:45 a.m., Downstairs Fellowship Hall
Sunday, February 4
Introduction: “Rabbi, teach us to pray...”
Sunday, February 11
Our Father in Heaven
Sunday, February 18
Let Your Name Be Sanctified
Sunday, February 25
Let Your Kingdom Come, Let Your Will Be
Done on Earth as in Heaven
Sunday, March 4
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Sunday, March 11
Forgive Us Our Sins
Sunday, March 18
Lead Us Not into Temptation, Deliver Us
From Evil
There will not be printed lessons to pick up
before each Sunday. Bring your Bibles and
join with us!
There are also Children’s and Nursery
Connect Groups meeting in the Education
Wing.
New Elders Ministry
is Underway
The Elders share in ministry to
Pfafftown’s members. With Gerald and
Tim, Elders are concerned and will offer
help in every way possible. In January,
every PCC household was mailed a
letter describing our Elder’s ministry
and denoting your personal Elder. The
PCC households have been divided into
groups, with each group overseen by an
Elder. This means that you have an
Elder who works with Gerald and Tim
to care for you. When might you need
care? Look to your PCC Yearbook for
ways to make the most of Elder care,
specifically the page titled When Should
I Contact My Pastor and Elders?
Please do not hesitate to call our Pastor,
Tim and/or your Elder as celebrations
and needs arise in your life.
__________
Welcome New Members!
Dan and Sharon Binkley
4601 Stimpson Ridge Drive
Pfafftown, NC 27040
336-287-8878
Joined by Transfer of Membership
Sunday, January 28,2018
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As Way Leads on to Way
Most of my life as a pastor has been wonderfully and
terribly focused. Like the old mule that once stood in the lot
next to my grandparent’s barn. Put him in front of a plow
within a row and he would walk and pull and break the soil so
food would grow. Take me and put me in a local congregation
or a local hospice or the sixth floor of a cancer care center and
I become focused on the needs of the people within that row.
Not a bad thing, mind you. Some of those folks have been
cared for with good nurture and encouragement in a way that
makes the use of one’s life a gift. I’ve cared for folks and
folks have cared for me in the way that happens in narrow
expressions of the Body of Christ.
Still, one gets badgered. One sees and hears things that are
going to demand busting sod across rows and these are not
happy things. When I was a child, some well-meaning folks
hitched me to the Bible. “In all thy ways acknowledge [God]
and he will direct your paths.” Paths. Rows.
Problems became apparent. The private school built in the
county to keep white children from going to school with black
children—I couldn’t find this path in the Bible. Telling God
who she can and cannot call to do God’s will, that, too, wasn’t
a row I could justify. The more I read the Bible, the more
sins of race, gender, nationalism, denominationalism,
and politics became apparent. Somehow, I don’t think
everyone who harnessed me to the Bible expected me to
read and pull the weight of what I found there. We can read
and know something and act like we don’t know it, but in
time, that will become a burden a mule cannot pull.
So if we demand that in these days we will put “America
first,” I am struck hard by the possibility that the richest nation
in the world would demand to sit at the head of the table and
demand only what will benefit a people who already have am-
ple profits. How can we, with the ability to insure every part
of our nation has more than adequate food, clothing, shelter,
and medical care now demand to be first and foremost? How
much is enough?
Jorge Garcia, living in our country for thirty of his
thirty-nine years and the father of two children, is forced onto
an airplane and demanded to live in a country that he knows
little to nothing about. What does this say about “America
first?” “Papers! Show us your papers, Mr. Garcia!” Those
were the demands of Nazis insuring a demented nation first,
not the call of God who said,“Be kind to the foreigners among
you, for you, too, were once foreigners...”
Like some of you, somewhere, far back down the row, some-
one hitched me to a Bible. It’s been a wonderful burden. It has
been a terrible weight. So many days I want to break and run
for the barn where life would be easier. Just stand in the shade
forming words that sound so much like justice and righteous-
ness, planning events that keep us in the rows of propriety.
But for as long as we have the breath of life, any of us, all of
us, are too young in Spirit to stand in comfort and demand our
feed. — GT
Church Board Meeting Sunday, February 11, 2018
2:00 pm
Downstairs Fellowship Hall
____________
Elders’ Meeting Tuesday, February 13, 2018
7:00 pm
Education Wing, Room 104
____________
The Gathering & Ash Wednesday Service Wednesday, February 14, 2018
6:00 pm and 7:00 pm
DFH and Sanctuary
____________
Congregational Council Sunday, February 18, 2018
Following Worship
___________
Pastor Relations Committee Thursday, February 22, 2018
7:00 pm
Education Wing, Room 104
___________
“Pulling Over...Traveling On,”
An Ash Wednesday Observance Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...
For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
7:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Join us for a meal in the Downstairs Fellowship Hall at
6 p.m. followed by our gathering to prepare our lives for the
Lenten season. See page 3 for more details.
4 5
February CWF Meeting
The CWF will meet on Tuesday,
February 20th at 6:30 pm, in the
Downstairs Fellowship Hall.
A huge thank you to all the ladies who contributed new
kitchen towels and dish cloths to replace our sad, well-
used worn out ones. Thanks to you the kitchen shower
was a tremendous success. __________________
PCC
Chili Cook-Off & Dessert Bake Off
Sunday Evening, March 11, 2018
5:30 pm Upstairs Fellowship Hall
COOKS AND BAKERS NEEDED!
Now is the time for all good cooks and bakers to
display their skills! You’ve got the talent, it is your
time to shine and show off your culinary talents with a
little friendly competition. Go wooden spoon to wood-
en spoon with your family and friends as you cook up
your prize-winning home-made chili and/or baked
dessert for our PCC family to savor and choose who is
the master chili and baked dessert cooker.
If you do not want to compete, that is just fine….
eaters are an important part of this event, too! Bring
your family and friends for this evening of fun,
fellowship and exceptionally good food.
Mark your calendar, brush off your prize-winning,
mouth watering, supercalifragilistcexpialidocious chili
and dessert recipes and tune them up for the PCC Chili
Cook-Off / Bake Off. More details of this yummy
event will be available in the March newsletter.
Have questions? Want to enter the competition?
Contact Lorrie Bennett.
February 18 & 25, 2018
"IT'S STILL IN THE DREAM"
Choose Your Own Adventure books allow the reader to
decide how the story will end. In the story of life in West
Timor, Indonesia, the logical, woeful progression of how
one problem of access creates systemic, far-reaching prob-
lems for people in many villages across West Timor would
not have a good ending.
When you do not have reliable, consistent access to water,
you have to prioritize how to conserve and use the little
water you do have.
For their story the choices are:
—Use that little water to drink more in your hot, arid
climate, but plant less and wash even less.
—Use that water to plant more in your subsistent, fairly
remote farming village to ensure that you'll have food to
eat, but drink less and wash even less.
—Use the water to prioritize good hygiene so that you don't
risk disease, but drink less and plant way less.
None of these choices offer a positive ending. Each creates
more problems that compound and complicate the lack of
both resources and good solutions. Regardless of which
ending the people within a village choose, a lack of access
to safe water contributes to food insecurity, malnutrition,
spread of disease, and a decreased capacity for generating a
local economy, because there are no extra resources to put
into farming or raising animals.
This is the need, what story ending will you choose?
Read the bulletin insert written by a DOC pastor who visit-
ed one of the villages our contributions will support. She
gives more insight into the need.
To learn how your WOC offerings impact this ministry and
others visit: www.weekofcompassion.org/special offering
SERVERS for FEBRUARY, 2018
If you are unable to serve, please call
Lynda Bryant, Jo Stanley.
ELDERS: Lynda Bryant, Ken Davis
DEACONS: Gerald Fletcher, Ann Fletcher
Robert Flynt, Susan Smith
COMMUNION: Ken and Vicki Davis
OPENING/CLOSING: Gerald Fletcher
Thank you for your part in ministry at PCC!
__________________
Remembering in Prayer
Pruitt Health, Elkin: Martha Williamson
Rose Tara: Vallie Cline
Salemtowne: Beth Haddock (Sharon Binkley’s mother)
Recovering: Pat Barber, Betty Clodfelter, Hailey Burns,
Kent Doub, Chuck Kolstad: Evelyn Nifong’s son-in-law,
Connie Snuffer, Wade Tuttle, Jill Robertson’s uncle
Bereavement: Family of Carolyn Bennett, (Aunt of Mark
Bennett, Stepmother of Rita Bennett, friend of the congre-
gation.)
Church Family: Bud Barker, Mary Ferguson,
Lee Terry, Edith Sprinkle
Others: Logan Andrews, Jane Hoover’s nephew
Patty Barber: Frank and Pat Barber’s daughter-in-law
Martha Blevins: Marlene Thomas’ family
Jennifer Durham: Irma & Fred Muetzel’s grandaughter
Geraldine Edwards: Ann Fletcher’s aunt
Bobby Johnson: Helen Johnson’s son
Cayden Kingsbury: Rodney Stilwell’s grandson
Lacy Mabe: Scott, Jill & Emma Robertson’s uncle
Sue Miles: Jo Stanley’s friend, Louise Davis Moore
Angela Joy Neal, Gennie Romanello Sinclair
Judy Sledd, Sue Terry’s cousin
Jamie Stanley, Jo & Skip Stanley’s daughter-in-law,
Darlene Stewart: Ann Fletcher’s sister
Joy Stokes: Jill Robertson’s sister;
Emory and Ella Thomas, Gerald Thomas’ parents
Teresa Tyndale: Edith Sprinkle’s friend
Jon Vickers: Jo & Skip Stanley’s friend.
Judy West: Ann Fletcher’s cousin
Loved Ones in the Military:
Sgt. Samantha Goliat, OH; PRAN;
Joshua Hughes, Norfolk, VA;
Chase Lee, Guam; USS Key West;
Captain Hope Poster, NG, Texas;
Captain John G. Van Hoy, IV, Fort Campbell, KY
Updates
for Life Together yearbook
Dan and Sharon Binkley
4601 Stimpson Ridge Drive
Pfafftown, NC 27040
- - - - - - -
Bob and Beth Faircloth
8120 Elkmont Drive
Clemmons, NC 27012
- - - - - - -
Rick Johnson
1793 Pinnacle Oaks Drive
Rural Hall, NC 27045-9173
- - - - - - - -
Ed and Connie Snuffer
4293 Yadkinville Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
- - - - - -
Martha Williamson
Pruitt Health
560 Johnson Ridge Road
Elkin, NC 28621
- - - - - - -
E-mail Changes/Corrrections
Betty Kiger: [email protected]
TonyBryant:[email protected]
Words/letters in bold indicate changes.
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Share the Food, Share the
Good News!
Thank you for your faithfulness to the
needs of our community through the
Crisis Control food pantry.
This month, the pantry most needs canned soup.
Super Bowl Sunday is February 4. I wonder how
much soup we can collect on Super Bowl Sunday?
Consider this our PCC “Souper” Bowl challenge!
Please place your cans of soup in the box outside the
Downstairs Fellowship Hall. Feel free to continue to
contribute soup the rest of February, too.
Questions? Please contact Jackie Romanello.
Thank you! ____________
Valentine Luncheon for the
Goodtimers The Goodtimers will be meeting on Monday,
February 12, at 11:30 a.m. in the Lower Fellowship Hall. A
special themed lunch will be served by Evelyn Nifong, fol-
lowed by an exciting and special Valentine program pre-
sented by Tim! Come and join us, invite a friend for an
enjoyable time of fun and fellowship! If you need a ride,
please call Jane at the church office. Thank you!
______________
Ash Wednesday Service, February 14 At 7:00 pm, following the
Gathering, we will gather in the
sanctuary to open our hearts to
God in a time of reverent worship.
This quiet and reflective service concludes with
the imposition of ashes—the marking of one’s fore-
head with the sign of the cross. While the use of
ashes as a sign of mortality, humility, and penitence
may be new to you, it has a significant history in
Christian worship.
The imposition of ashes is a powerful nonverbal
and experiential way of participating in the call to
repentance. All who desire may come forward for
the imposition of ashes at the appropriate place in
the worship service.
This service provides inspiration for the begin-
ning of our Lenten journey which concludes with
the joyous resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Please come and invite a friend.
- Tim
Notes from Tim It is startling for me to realize that the second month
of 2018 is already upon us! The fascinating thing of
a new year is our anticipation of the unknown. We
do not know where or when---but we do know that
we will all experience good times and some bad
times in the days and months ahead...happiness and
sorrow...mountaintops of joy and dark valleys of
heartache.
The truth which stabilizes us all, in an emotional
sense and---perhaps more importantly---in a spiritual
sense is the assurance that the Lord is with us in and
through it all. As we celebrated the birth of Jesus and
are now in the midst of the Epiphany season we once
again affirm the gospel---"Emmanuel," meaning "God
with us." In just a few weeks, we will begin the
season of Lent as we remember the events of Christ's
ministry and ultimate sacrifice for us.
Physical pain, death, loneliness, hardships, natural
disasters, traumatic experiences among loved ones,
neighbors, relatives and friends can plague our lives,
but the light and warmth and renewing power of
God's grace can continue to strengthen us and restore
our souls.
About the only certainty we carry into the coming
months is that God in Christ will continue to be with
us. Actually, that is about the only certainty we need
in this life. Some words come to my mind that James
Cowden Wallace wrote which express this truth and
which can make a significant difference in how we
face the future:
There is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts
When sinks the beams of light.
There is an arm that never tires
When human strength gives way;
There is a love that never fails
When earthly loves decay.
That Eye unseen overstretches all;
That Arm upholds the sky;
That Ear doth hear the sparrows call;
That Love is never nigh.
God is with you and me.
Tim 3
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 Crisis Control Most Needs Canned Soup Sunday, February 4, Super Bowl Sunday will be
PCC’s Official “Souper” Sunday.
How many cans can we collect?
4 9:45 am Connect
Groups
11am Worship
“Souper Sunday”
5
7pm Handbells
Scouts
6 6pm
Girl Scouts/
Daisy Troops
7 7pm Chancel
Choir
8 9 10 10am—1 pm
DFH reserved
11 9:45 am
Connect Groups
11am Worship
2pm Church
Board Meets
12 11:30 am
Goodtimers
13 6pm
Daisy Troop
7pm Elders
14 Ash Wed.
6pm-Gathering
7pm Ash Wed.
Service
15 16 17
18 WOC Offering
9:45 Connect Groups
11am Worship
After: Church Council
3-5 Eagle Scout
Ceremony
Sanctuary & DFH
19
7pm Handbells
Scouts
20 6pm
Girl Scouts/
Daisy Troops
6:30 pm CWF
21 7pm Chancel
Choir
22 7 pm
Pastoral
Relations
Committee
23 Noon til…
Pack 918
Pinewood
Derby
24 All Day
Pack 918
Pinewood
Derby
25 9:45 am
Connect Groups
11am Worship
WOC Offering
26
7pm Handbells
Scouts
27 6pm
Daisy Troop
28 7pm Chancel
Choir
February 2018
4 - Erleen Rhein 17—Meghan Bryant
6—Dan Showers 17 - Jerry Edwards
10– Ruth Saalweachter 21 - Betty Tilley
12– Marlene Thomas 23 Connie Snuffer
14 - Amanda Davis 24 Caila Luper
16—Julie Tilley
February 10
Ed & Amanda Davis
7