may 2017 more news from the pews - second presbyterian church€¦ · month's letter, we have...
TRANSCRIPT
W W W . A D A T U M . C O M
There is a garden within each and every one of us. Some people spend a great deal of time cultivating the flowers that grow there. Others nurture the weeds and briars. Many of us don’t pay any attention to our inner spiritual spaces and absolutely nothing is cultivated as a result. The garden that is being discussed here is an inner reality. It is a place which, all too often, is thought of as a kind of last resort, when our world begins to tumble down around us. Many people in recorded history have written about this inner world. It has been called “the practice of the presence of God,” “meditation,” “spiritual exercis-es,” or “contemplative prayer.” People refer to it today as our “quiet time” or “devotional life.” No matter what we choose to call it, we need to cultivate it in order to live. It is true that we can exist without an inner life. However, to live fully and abundantly, we require a personal spirituality.
Individuals take drugs or overdose on alcohol or sex because they have traded in what they really need for an inadequate substitute. This writer will maintain that we have been created with a need to commune with the Lord God. Our creator made us in order to “glorify God.” Any other of our enterprises provide distractions which are able to amuse us in a temporary fashion. Nothing else but a solid relationship with the Almighty will quench the thirst of the human soul. Anyone who seeks an open relationship with God can attain this blessing. In the magnificent sphere of grace, this writer believes that a small effort on our part will yield overwhelming love from our God. If we will but invest ourselves to a small degree in this quest for a meaningful spirituality, our efforts will be rewarded beyond what we can even imagine.
God’s blessings are not handed out by the thimbleful. Most of us have encountered people who were deeply in tune with their Creator. While physicians have not developed instruments to test our spiritual development, anyone who has met a person with a developed spiritual life can perceive certain manifes-tations. We can spot persons of deep faith because they have probably given us something. They tend to touch our lives and bring a contagious joy and peace. Admittedly, this writing is not scientific. It relies upon the reader to stretch the imagination and vision. We are invited to think now about people that were in tune with the Lord God. Some of them were wealthy. Some of them were living in material poverty. Yet, more often than not, the people we are trying to describe were filled with a sense of joy. This is because the inner world is not affected by what goes on outside. It is a sanctuary of peace and harmony. No outward events can change this inner being because it is constructed of eternal substance. James hinted at this when he wrote that we are to “consider it all joy.” This doesn’t mean that spiritual people are schizophrenics who laugh while the world around them is in sadness. It means that “neither life, nor death, nor hunger, nor nakedness, nor powers, principalities… will separate us from the love of Christ.” One may cry at a sad event and yet maintain a deep reserve of peace in the inner sanctum of the heart.
This process begins in the knowledge that the Lord God is sovereign. This is easily spoken but not easily
burned in our beings. It is difficult for us to admit that we are not the supreme creatures of the universe. We are certain that the harm and the good that we do is what controls the destiny of the planet. It is true that the Lord of Life has given us much power. However, the ultimate power and destiny remains in a place well above the mortal sphere.
700 Pine Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 423.266.2828 [email protected]
Second Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga
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May 2017
The Disease by Sofia Bean
“Sorry for interrupting your favorite show, but there is breaking news! Many people are getting sick with a new disease!”
At that moment the TV went blank. Cessna looked out the window, and saw people running for their life. He knew he had to try and save his family. His first thought was to get the car and drive to their cabin. He realized that he had to get everyone to a safe place. Then he remembered that his Uncle Eddie worked for the CDC (Center for Disease Control). THAT WAS IT! He could call Uncle Eddie to see what this disease was and what he could do to save his family.
In the meantime, he carried his sisters, Mom, Day, Granny, and TT to their cabin on the mountain. He told them, “Do not open any doors or windows. Keep the doors locked and you should be safe until I get back!”
Cessna’s Mom said, “I am worried about you being alone, please take Bear with you.” Bear was the family dog. Cessna set out on the trip to find Uncle Eddie and hopefully the cure for the disease. He knew he had to protect himself, so he put on a mask and gloves. Cessna took a chance and called Uncle Eddie’s phone. Uncle Eddie actually answered. Cessna found out that Uncle Eddie and the other doctors were close to finding a vaccine for the disease. Cessna got directions to the lab in Atlanta and drove even faster.
By the time Cessna got there, the vaccine was ready. He asked, “How will we get this to everyone?” Uncle Eddie said that it was shipped by planes, trucks, and trains, but that Cessna should take it straight back to the family.
Cessna drove as fast as he could back to the cabin. His sister was already showing symptoms of the disease. She had a fever and a rash inside her mouth. He panicked, “Oh no! Am I too late to save Marilyn?” He quickly called Uncle Eddie and told him what had happened.
Uncle Eddie said, “No worries. She is in the beginning of the illness. Give her two Tylenol and the vaccine, and give everyone else the vaccine including yourself and Bear”. So Cessna gave them all the vaccine. They stayed at the cabin for a month until the disease was under control. Thanks to Cessna’s quick action, and Uncle Eddie and the other doctors at the CDC, many lives were saved.
Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, the PW Sunday offering proceeds were $687.00, and the luncheon proceeds were $129.67. Thank you for your support!
We extend Christian sympathy to the family and friends of Second member
Mrs. Dottie Oslin.
Born: January 25, 1936
Died: April 5, 2017
As I mentioned in last month's letter, we have been invited to participate in St. Paul's VBS. The date is
June 19th-23rd. Preschool-5th grade. Please tell me if your children or grandchildren are interested. Ms. Hutchins encourages our young people to be helpers.
Debra and I want to thank you for all the comments about our "Son Rise" presentation. Our church is truly blessed to have these talented children and youth. We will be singing for Mother’s Day. Be sure to be there for another blessing in song!
If you have new neighbors, remember to invite them to visit. Just tell them, "we will treat you so many different ways, you're bound to like one of them". Remember us in your prayers. Love in Christ,
Linda May
A Note
From Linda
Children’s Ministry
YOUTH NEWS May 7 - Guardian Angel reveal brunch
and Senior recognition
May 14 - Mother’s Day and Youth
Sunday
The Southwest Virginia Children’s Choir will join us in worship on May 28. They have traveled to perform by invitation at the Virginia Music Educa-tors Conference in Norfolk and again at the Homestead in 2013, and to such venues as the Duke Chapel, and large historic churches in At-lanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Durham, NC. They also performed the national anthems of both the United States and Canada at an Atlanta Braves game. This fall, the children’s choir has grown to nearly 100 talented children. Director, Joseph Trivette states, “This year’s Children’s Choir is not only about the largest, but one of the best Children’s Choirs we have ever had!”
The JPG Chattanoo-ga Harp Ensemble will give a live con-cert at Second Pres-byterian Church on Saturday evening, May 6 at 7:00 PM. The concert will in-clude multiple harps playing tunes from
broadway to Hollywood musicals. In addition to the select pieces performed by the ensemble, there will be a duet involving other instruments, a piano medley, and a story/song about a great composer. This concert is free and open to the public, so please bring your friends. We thank our host church, Second Presbyterian, for opening their doors to us to help us reach our mission, which is advancing the education and playing of the harp across this country. The program will last one hour.
The final concert of the Choral Arts of Chatta-nooga's 2016-17 season will be on Thursday, May 18th at 7:30 PM with the theme "Falling in Love"! It will be led by Choral Arts' own Artistic Director, Darrin Hassevoort, and showcase vari-ous lighter music pieces celebrating joy, life, and love. Admission is $20/adult and $10/student.
Juliette Blais is graduating from Collegiate High, Chatt State. She will be attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville as a Music Perfor-mance major and planned second major in Educational
Policy. She will graduate with a minor in Lead-ership as part of her admission into the Lead-ership Honors program. Juliette was very for-tunate to have been awarded several scholar-ships -- from the UTK Music program, UTK academic scholarships, and the Chattanooga Music Club scholarships. She appreciates all the love and support from the church over the past four years. Although she and her mother are relocating back to Knoxville, Juliette looks forward to returning to visit her church friends over the next years.
The Chattanooga Boys Choir will present their spring concert, Finale!, here in our sanctuary on May 11 at 7:00 PM. See - and hear! - all five Chattanooga Boys Choir ensembles as they pre-sent their concert wrapping up the 2016-2017 season. Each ensemble will present selections and all will combine at the end of the program.
Congratulations to Dakota Carney, who was selected for membership in the National Honor Society!
Congratulations to Sofia Bean for being chosen as a winner in the prose division for the Young Southern Student Writ-ers contest sponsored by the Southern Lit Alli-ance and UTC! Her win-ning submission is fea-tured on the back page of the newsletter.
The Second Outdoors group took a trip to the Chattanooga Zoo on March 26.
Treasurer’s Report
Saint Matthew’s Shelter Monthly Report
The late Christian singer Keith Green once said, “God can’t cash out of state checks in heaven; He
needs you.” By saying this, he wanted to express that while it was good to send your money to other
places to support the work of ministry, there was a lot that could be done by individuals getting in-
volved in ministry themselves.
We want to thank you for your continued support and interest in the work of St. Matthew’s Shelter.
From the weekly meals and words of encouragement to your interest in meeting their daily needs, it is
truly appreciated. The overnight volunteers have also been enjoying the improvements made to their
sleeping quarters. Both the men who stay in the shelter and the volunteers have commented how it
means a lot to know that you are concerned and involved in the shelter.
Saint Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi, said, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Each time you do something to help supply a need or lend an ear to hear from one of our men, you
help to make a lasting investment in their lives and create a lasting memory that they will take with
them always. Thank you.
March 2017 Service Stats:
Bed Nights Used 237 YTD 433
Percentage of Capacity 76% YTD 48%
Available Beds 310 YTD 900
Number of New Residents 8 YTD 17
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS Your Fellowship Committee has arranged for the following presentations at our Wonderful Wednesday
gatherings. Please make every effort to join us so we may all learn something new regarding the
scope of caring for our brothers and sisters in the community and share a fine repast with one
another. Dinner is at 5:30 PM, followed by our guest presenters.
DATES
PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS
May 3, 2017 David Costellow from the Community Kitchen and (hopefully) a few
men from St. Matthew’s Shelter will describe their personal journeys.
May 10, 2017 Mercy Junction’s Beth Foster and others will provide information re-
garding this justice center’s functions and needs.
May 17, 2017 CADAS (Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services) represented by
Mary Kay (Huskins) Roberts, will share information regarding CADAS
functions and services.
May 24, 2017 Welcome Home’s Sherry Campbell will return to update us about the
services provided and future needs
May 31, 2017 Metropolitan Ministry represented by Rebecca Whelchel, who will
share information about their work in the Chattanooga Area.
March Year-to-Date Year-to-Date Over/(Under) 2017
Actual Actual 3/12 Budget Budget Budget
INCOME
Tithes/Offerings $10,751.00 $40,412.92 $38,936.00 $1,476.92 $155,745.00
Meacham Trust $62,873.43 $62,873.43 $62,874.00 -$0.57 $251,494.00
Interest & Dividends $1.75 $1,024.75 $3,750.00 -$2,725.25 $15,000.00
Rental & Fees $400.00 $4,569.46 $4,450.00 $119.46 $17,800.00
Marie Bennett Trust $0.00 $595.18 $375.00 $220.18 $1,500.00
Fund Transfers $408.20 $1,214.20 $4,263.00 $3,048.00 $17,050.00
Other Income $0.00 $2,462.50 $0.00 $2,462.50 $0.00
TOTAL INCOME $74,434.38 $113,152.44 $114,648.00 $4,601.24 $458,589.00
EXPENSES
Salaries & Wages $20,621.54 $55,536.09 $60,556.00 -$5,019.91 $242,224.00
Other Administration $3,394.18 $7,325.73 $7,136.00 $189.73 $28,542.00
Building & Grounds $10,065.61 $25,801.53 $22,738.00 $3,063.53 $90,950.00
Christian Education $34.92 $892.26 $1,750.00 -$857.74 $7,000.00
Evangelism $408.20 $1,214.20 $1,762.00 -$547.80 $7,050.00
Fellowship -$616.99 -$1,813.05 $1,575.00 -$238.05 $6,300.00
Missions/Benevolences $1,629.01 $8,120.34 $11,465.00 -$3,344.66 $45,858.00
Worship $1,702.69 $6,836.69 $7,666.00 -$829.31 $30,665.00
TOTAL EXPENSES $37,239.16 $103,913.79 $114,648.00 -$7,584.21 $458,589.00
Profit/(Loss) $37,195.22 $9,238.65 $0.00 $12,185.45 $0.00
Checking Account
Opening Balance $40,893.87
Deposits for the Month $121,542.16
Withdrawls -$79,071.62
Ending Balance $83,364.41
Note: Trust Fund Income Quarterly
Other Income is amount made on Kitchen Operations
16 Ann Watson
17 Dick Brewer
18 Linda Langston
21 Katie Franklin Lundgren
23 Haley Rymer
24 Nic Peirano
Ron Oslin
26 Allyson Ford
28 Betty Whitaker
29 Julie Asciolla
30 Larry Cooley
May Birthdays
17 William & Sandy Lowery
28 Michael Lechner & Melissa Hamp
1 Cliff Duke
3 Jo Beth Kavanaugh
4 Al Whitbeck
5 Mary K. Roberts
6 Melissa Hamp
9 Casey Voy
Juliette Blais
10 Bob Dean
12 Anne Marie Ford
David Ford
14 Michael Lechner
15 Jack Raulston
Anniversaries
Update your phone directory
Anne Smith and Juliette Blais PO Box 323 Knoxville, TN 37901-0323
Bonnie Bryant 301 Oriole Dr. Chattanooga, TN 37411
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
Silent Meditation
9:00
Mini Tennis 9:30
Presbyterian Wom-
en’s Circle 10:30
ACA meeting 12:00
Staff Meeting 1:30
2
Tuesday Bible
Study 11:00
3
Tai Chi 9:30
Wonderful Wednesday
Dinner and Service
5:30 PM
Youth and Children’s
Choir 6:00
4
Knit Wits 10:00
Men’s Bible study with
Dr. Phoenix 12:00
5
6
9:00 AM Silent
Meditation
9:30 AM Mini
Tennis
7:00 PM Harp
Concert
7
Sunday School 9:45
Guardian Angel
brunch 9:45
Worship/
Communion/ Senior
recognition 11:00
Lunch 12:05
Evangelism/
Participation meet-
ing 12:05 PM
8
Silent Meditation
9:00
Mini Tennis 9:30
ACA meeting 12:00
Staff Meeting 1:30
9
Tuesday Bible
Study 11:00
10
Tai Chi 9:30
Missions Committee
4:30
Wonderful Wednesday
Dinner and Service
5:30 PM
Youth and Children’s
Choir 6:00
11
Knit Wits 10:00
Men’s Bible study with
Dr. Phoenix 12:00
Boys Choir Finale
Concert 7:00 PM
12
13
9:00 AM Silent
Meditation
9:30 AM Mini
Tennis
14
Sunday School 9:45
Worship/Youth Sun-
day/Mother’s Day
11:00
Lunch12:05
Session meeting
12:45
15
Silent Meditation
9:00
Mini Tennis 9:30
ACA meeting 12:00
Staff Meeting 1:30
Newsletter deadline
16
Tuesday Bible
Study 11:00
Presbytery meeting -
John Knox Center
17
Tai Chi 9:30
Wonderful Wednesday
dinner & program 5:30
Youth and Children’s
Choir 6:00
18
Knit Wits 10:00
Men’s Bible study with
Dr. Phoenix 12:00
Choral Arts Concert
7:30 PM
19
Friday Night
Out 6:00
20
9:00 AM Silent
Meditation
9:30 AM Mini
Tennis
21
Moccasin Bend
Worship Compan-
ions 9:00
Sunday School 9:45
Worship/ 11:00
Lunch 12:05
22
Silent Meditation
9:00
Mini Tennis 9:30
ACA meeting 12:00
Staff Meeting 1:30
23
Tuesday Bible
Study 11:00
24
Tai Chi 9:30
Wonderful Wednesday
dinner & program 5:30
Youth and Children’s
Choir 6:00
25
Knit Wits 10:00
Men’s Bible study with
Dr. Phoenix 12:00
26 27
9:00 AM Silent
Meditation
9:30 AM Mini
Tennis
28
Sunday School 9:45
Worship/SW VA
Children’s Choir
11:00
PW Birthday Lunch-
eon 12:05
29
OFFICE CLOSED
Memorial Day
30
Tuesday Bible
Study 11:00
31
Tai Chi 9:30
Wonderful Wednesday
dinner & program 5:30
Special thanks to the
Rushworths and every-
one who helped with the
Easter egg hunt!