INSPIRE SEPTEMBER 2017

Wednesday, September 6 ChurchFamilySupperKick‐off

withEllenandAlSmith,MissionCo‐workers

Sunday, September 10 10a.m.FallSundaySchoolBegins

11a.m.Ordination/InstallationofOf icersand2ndGradeBibles

3‐6p.m.ChurchFamilyDayintheCity

Wednesday, September 13 5:30p.m.ChurchFamilySupperMinistryOpportunitiesFairVBSMinistrybyDebbieSpear

SERRVMinistrybyJeniferMcCoy

Sunday, September 17 Rev.ConnieHappelltopreachatbothservices

Wednesday, September 20 5:30p.m.ChurchFamilySupperMinistryOpportunitiesFair

LunchBunchMinistrybyVirginiaPeeblesSackLunchMinistrybyStacyWelchYouthMinistrybyChrisMunro

Sunday, September 24 StainedGlassWindowCelebrationDuringBothServicesintheSanctuaryReceptiontofollow11a.m.service

Wednesday, September 27 5:30p.m.ChurchFamilySupperMinistryOpportunitiesFair

PrisonMinistry/SafeHousebyChaplainNeilRichardsonWomen’sJailMinistrybyCammyCurrie

Joel’s Jottings

AteachmonthlySessionmeeting, Iask forvolunteerstorespondtooneofthreequestionsattheendofthemeeting.Theresponsesaretobebasedonthehappeningatthemeeting:

Whatarewethankfulfor? Whatdoweneedtoprayfor? HowhasGodbeenatworkamongus?

Thesearesimplequestionsinmanyways.Yettheyalsocanbechallenging.The results are alwaysuseful. Sometimes they reveal thingsof concern.Atothertimestheyaremomentsofcelebration.Oftenoneresponseisusedtoanswermorethanonequestion.

If you are seeking direction in your spiritual life, I’d suggest you consideryourrepliestothesequestions:

WhatamIthankfulfor? WhatdoIneedtoprayfor? HowhasGodbeenatworkwithmetoday?

Thiscanbedoneaspartofadailydevotionalwhenyoutakestockofwherethingsareorhowtheyaregoing.Itrustthatyouwill indthingstocelebrateaswellasbeconcernedfor.Thethingsyouuncovermayneedtobespokenofwithfamilyorfriends.Ortheymayjustbeheldinyourheart.

However, you use them, allow yourself to see God’s grace through JesusChristinyourlife.

BellTowerUpdateAs work on the stained‐glass windowprojectnearsitscompletion,theOperationsMinistry continues to be engaged inendeavors designed to maintain ourhistoric building. During a recent belltowerinspection,itwasdiscoveredthatthemortarwas disintegrating and falling fromthe brick joints. The result is that manybricksinthetowerhavebecomeloose.OurministrycontactedWrightEngineeringandfoundthatthisistypicalofstructuresbuiltin this era and repair requires what iscalled “repointing,” whichistheprocessofreplacingthe crumbling mortar.Currently, the OperationsMinistry is working with

Batson‐Cook Construction Company to schedule repair work,whichwilloccurinphases.

So,overthenextcoupleofmonths,youwillcontinuetoseeworkperformedaroundthechurchaswecontinuewithmuchneededrepairs to the steeple. Thisworkwill secure the structure andensureourpresenceforfuturegenerations.

ChurchFamilySupperPrograms

andSpeakers

ChurchFamilySuppermeetsweeklyonWednesdayevenings at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Eachweekwehaveaguestspeakerorprogramfollowingthe meal. Reservations are required by Monday atnoontoKimberlyinthechurchof ice,706.322.4523or kmoseley@columbusfpc.org. Reservations canalsobemadethroughtheSundaybulletininsert.

September6FallKickoff

EllenandAlSmith,PC(USA)MissionCo‐workersinRussiaandEasternEurope

September13MinistryOpportunityFairVBSwithDebbieSpear

andSERRVwithJenifer&CaryMcCoy

September20MinistryOpportunityFair

LunchBunchwithVirginiaPeebles,SackLunchwithStacyWelch,

andYouthMinistrywithChrisMunro

September27MinistryOpportunityFairBreakBreadwithScottBryan,WeesieLaney&BillArrington

andFoodPantrywithSusanBoyter

October4MinistryOpportunityFair

PrisonMinistry/SafeHousewithNeilRichardson,ChaplainandWomen’sJailMinistry

withCammyCurrie

October11StewardshipTailgate

LookfordetailsintheOctobernewsletter

October18OperationChristmasChildpresentedbyCathyDriver

October25TrunkorTreatFallFestival

September10,17,24andOctober1LedbyRev.ConnieHappell

This Old Testament book ofJonahisoneofourfavoritebigish stories. Perhaps it is afavorite because it has muchto teach us about God andabout ourselves. Over fourweeks, we will read the book

of Jonah and consider how this familiar tale still speaksthe Good News of God’s grace, mercy and hope for ourlivesandforChrist’schurch.

First Presbyterian Church

Stained Glass Window Dedication

will take place in the sanctuary

during both services

on Sunday, September 24th

Reception to follow the 11 a.m. service

ChristopherMunro joined usas Youth Director at thebeginning of June. He wasborn and raised in CorpusChristi, Texas, where he methiswife,Madeleine. In 2016,Chris was awarded HarvardBusinessSchool’sCredentials

of Readiness in Accounting, Economics, and BusinessAnalytics and is currently inishinghis last semesterofhisMaster’sDegreeintheFieldofFinanceatHarvardUniversi‐ty.Chrisholds aBachelorofBusinessAdministration fromTexas A&M University and professional certi ications inHumanResources,Accounting,andFinance.PriortomovingtoColumbus,heservedas theDevelopmentandMarketingManager for Incarnate Word Academy’s Spirit Centerdivision and was Founder and CEO of James 2:17Ministries.InadditiontoservingasYouthDirector,ChrisisaSeniorFinancialAnalystatAspirionHealthResources.

If youhaven’tmetChris yet, please introduceyourself andwelcomehimwhenyouseehim.

Children’s Sunday School

“Growing in Grace and Gratitude”

BeginsSunday,September10th@10a.m.UpstairsintheJohnsonWing

Can’twaittoseeyouthere!

September 7th Early Release

September 25 & 26 Picture Days

September 26th Johnny Appleseed Day

September Youth Calendar SundaySchooleachweek@10a.m.WednesdayNightDinner@5:30p.m.followedbyBibleStudy@6:20p.m.

● ● ●

Sunday,September103‐6p.m.ChurchFamilyDayintheCity

Food,FunandFellowship!DunkTank,ScavengerHunt,BounceHouse

● ● ●

Sunday,September175p.m.YouthChoirParentMeeting5p.m.Dinner&ThirdNightWorship

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Sunday,September2412to5:30p.m.

WhitewaterRaftingandZip‐lining

(SeeSundayBulletinforadd’ldetailsontheseevents.)Mark Your Calendars for October 25th

Candy Donations will be needed in October.

Areyouandyourfamilyreadytochange

1child+1friend+1family+1community=4eternity

LookfortheopportunitytopackOperationChristmasChild

shoeboxesstartinginOctober!

www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

SeptemberBusTripThe first Fall Bus Tripwill takeus to visit Atlanta's HistoryCenter on Thursday, September21. The bus will depart at9a.m.Thetourcostis$13forseniors and $18 for adults.WewillhavelunchatSouperJenny so please bringmoneyfor food and travel. Toreserve your spot onthe bus, please contactUlla Booth, 706.718.6543 orullabooth@knology.net.

16 ZakMcCall

17 RosetteMillerMaryCaseyPowers

18 MildredBuieCaseyOrlando

19 TomGeorge,Jr.

20 Jake&AnnPurvisEmilyJohnsonBeverlyYarbroughHunterDegon

22 WillHadden

23 SaraHatcher

24 JuneVeenstraKimAdamsEleanorTurner

26 HwaYongCof inPetePease,Jr.

27 CliffBathIV

29 Kevin&AmandaHerritMargaretMcCallHeatherMcLeodStewartQuinn

30 MontineWelchGlenJohnston

SESSIONMEETINGRECAPOFAPPROVEDACTIONS

AUGUST22,2017STATEDMEETING

1. Approved2018VacationBibleSchooltheme.

2. ApprovedstudymaterialsforInItTogetherSundaySchoolclass.

3. ElectedMaryBruceandEleanorBurnhamascommissionerstoOctober,2017meetingofPresbytery.

4. Receiveddraftofchurchby‐lawsforcommentpriortoadoption.

5. Approvedspendingupto$106,000.00forbelltowerstrengtheningandrepairofmortarandstucco.

6. Approvedoffertopurchasevacantresidentialbuildinglotat1411StarkAvenuefor$40,000.00.

7. Providedreimbursementof$10,317.68toDaySchoolforequipmentandfurnishingsforMon‐tessoriclassroomson3d loorofeducationalbuilding.

8. ReceivedfaithstatementofincomingelderKelleyMcElroy.

SeptemberBirthdaysandAnniversaries1 CathyDriver

BobHinsonIIIRoslynChristian

2 ZacharyWright

4 Ralph&EmilyJohnsonAnnPurvisAllieJohnson

5 John&MargaretPageGraceHemmingsElissaFielder

6 PerkSwift

8 BillHeard,Jr.WendyElliottThomasKempIIIJocelynPeebles

9 ChuckWilliamsVandyMiddleton

10 HeatherStanleyGeorgiaBartonRyleeBathTaftMiddleton,Jr.

11 ClareBowlesKimberlyMoseleyEllieDaf in

12 BettyLawrenceCathyFranklin

13 Michael&CaryDegonChristineMoye

15 Michael&KayHarrisKinnLoomisTimBaulerT.Z.CanterberryClayMillerRachelHemmingsKathleenSway

1100 First Avenue 

Columbus, Georgia  31901 

 

Phone:   706.322.4523 

Fax:       706.596.8531 

Web:  www.columbusfpc.org 

Share God’s  Love:    First Presbyterian, a historic church  located  in uptown Columbus, Georgia, seeks to minister to all people  in Christ’s  name  through  an  inclusive,  caring,  and  faithful  community  that  joyfully  shares  the  gi   of  salva on  from  a  loving  and                 forgiving God. 

 INTER IM  PASTOR  

The Reverend  Joel L. Alvis, Jr., PhD  

CH ILDREN’S  MIN ISTRY  DIRECTOR    

Mrs. Debbie Spear  

YOUTH  MIN ISTRY  DIRECTOR    

Mr. Christopher Munro  

CHURCH  ADMIN ISTRATOR  

Ms. Suzanne McCary  

ORGANIST  AND  CHOIRMASTER  

Mr. Thomas H. George, Jr.