TABLE OF CONTENTS

Deepening our Discipleship 1

Lenten Focus ........................ 2

Day School News .................. 3

VBS Announcement ............. 4

Triennial PW Gathering ...... 4

Presbytery News .................. 5

One of Many ......................... 6

Missions ................................ 7

Youth ..................................... 8

Christian Education ............. 9

Upcoming Events ................. 10

Midweek Meal Schedule ..... 11

Session Report ...................... 12

Acolyte Schedule .................. 12

Birthdays .............................. 12

Rev. Rebecca Luter

Deepening our Discipleship

We have a hard time imagining the fear the disciples of Jesus

faced. They had been students and followers of a man who had been

executed for his teaching and activity. Now they were hiding,

waiting until the uproar settled. Eventually, the disciples of Jesus

would leave their hiding places. They didn’t know what they would

do. Perhaps they would go home. Perhaps they would start over.

Hope was lost. Jesus was dead.

What happened to transform these despondent, hiding

followers? They became witnesses. They saw Jesus,

resurrected. Each Sunday of April, we will hear their stories in

worship and in them consider our own faith and doubt.

On the Emmaus road, two of the disciples met a fellow

traveler. They only recognized him as they shared a meal

together. When do we recognize God’s presence?

Jesus appeared to the disciples one evening while they were locked

up together, hiding. Thomas wasn’t with them and would not

believe until he had touched Jesus’ wounds. How can we believe

when we can’t see and touch for ourselves?

Saul persecuted Jesus followers and executed them. Then, he met

Jesus on the road to Damascus and began preaching that Jesus is the

Son of God. He became a wholly new person, the Apostle Paul. Does

being believers transform our lives?

(Continued on page 2)

April 2016

We have all had our doubts about the risen Christ. We will explore the doubts of some of the followers of Jesus

Earthly Alone Root Restore Cup Remember

Bread Humble Doubt Water Injustice Trust

Blessing Dream Glory Silence Wind Receive

Praise

Weep

Crowd Believe See Night Tomb

Rejoice

He is Risen! Halleluiah!

O ver the season of Lent, members of

Farmington took part in a Lenten Focus

project. Participants took a picture of

objects, people, and places that related to a given

focus word each day. All the pictures received

were posted outside the sanctuary for the

congregation to enjoy. One for each day of March

is posted here.

This project also set up our Remind

communications program. Those that sign up can

receive instant updates from the church via text

message. If you would like to receive instantly

reminders and details from the Farmington

Family, text “@FARMFAM” to 81010. Text

“LEAVE @FARMFAM” to stop receiving messages.

Jesus said to the disciples, “You are witnesses of

these things” and promised the power of God

would clothe them. What does it mean to be

filled with the Holy Spirit today?

Each of us has doubts. Over the coming weeks,

we invite you to come and worship with us as we

explore these stories and what they mean to our

faith.

Preschool and Before & After Registration

Day School News

Reading to Children of All Ages

O ur world has become more and more

technologically savvy and we have access

to abundant educational tools.

Computers, tablets and phones all have apps for

all age learners, from sight words to math

tutoring in Calculus. Knowledge is now at our

finger tips! While this is helpful and definitely

fun, nothing replaces reading with your child.

This is a common practice when children are

toddlers but, all too often, reading with children

is forgotten as they get older.

Reading aloud is widely recognized as the most

important activity in language development.

Language development does not stop when

children become verbal. Vocabulary, sentence

complexity and complex grammar structures

continue to develop well into middle school.

Reading gives abundant background knowledge,

which helps children make sense of what they

see, hear and read. The more adults read to their

children, the more they will know about the

world around them.

Reading aloud to children also helps foster and

nurture a relationship with your child. The one-

on-one attention is important for emotional

development. You will soon find that your child

looks forward to not only hearing what exciting

thing is happening next in the story from the day

before, but they are looking forward to spending

time with just you.

Let the Adventure begin...

All Pirates and Princesses are invited to

Farmington Presbyterian Day School

“Nighttime Storytime”

Thursday, April 21st 6:30-7:30

3 yr., 4 yr., and 5 yr. olds will listen to fun stories and make

crafts in the classroom. Come as you are or dress in a

costume. Since this is our first time for this event, we are

limiting this to our current preschool students, not

including siblings.

Meanwhile in the Sanctuary

Parents of the Pirates and Princesses will be our guests as

FPDS Teachers present topics that will help in your child’s

educational development.

Reading Readiness

Writing Skills Language Development

2016 TRIENNIAL GATHERING

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN SYNOD OF

LIVING WATERS

June 8-11

A time to share joys and concerns,

successes, challenges with other

Presbyterian Women. A time for

worship, Bible study, learning, sharing,

reflection, fellowship with old and new friends.

All workshops and plenary sessions will be held

at First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN.

Farmington’s own Bonnie Blair will be leading a

workshop on Spirituality in Leadership.

Information about the Retreat is available on

the PW bulletin board.

Vacation Bible School

June 13—17

9am—12pm

S pring is here and Summer is right around the

corner. Time to break out the swim wear, kites,

and surf boards for a fun filled trip to the coast.

Enjoy the burning sands, the taste of saltwater, and the

costly hotel fees. OR volunteer and send your kids to

Farmington’s Vacation Bible School, Surf Shack! June

13—17 we will catch the wave of God’s amazing love

for a whole week of fun in the sun. You can register

your kids or volunteer at

http://2016.cokesburyvbs.com/farmingtonpres or get a

form from the bulletin board outside the preschool

hall way.

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

The Service Committee will host a spaghetti supper during VBS on Thursday

night, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of raising funds for the Mexico Cistern

Ministry. Come enjoy a delicious meal and give what you can to the Mexico

Mission Trip.

Presbytery News

Missions

A 2 hour event to pack 10,000 meals for the

hungry.

Sunday, April 17 at 2:00 pm.

Raw ingredients will be delivered to Farmington

Presbyterian to be packed, stacked, and loaded as nutritious

meals for delivery to hungry people all over the world. This

event is fun, meaningful, and made available to adults and

children 7 and up.

To participate, call the church office (901)754-2794 or sign up

outside the Fellowship Hall for one of two time slots. Help us

Stop Hunger Now, April 17.

If you would like to help fund the event, donations are

accepted in the black buckets all around the church and day

school. Each meal costs 29 cents.

Farmington Youth Fellowship (FYF)

Montreat Youth Conference.

“A World of Difference”

July 17-23 @Montreat, NC Cost: $255

This year, Farmington will be attending Montreat

Youth Conference in Black Mountain, NC. Be-

cause this is our first time back in 10 years we are

only requiring the youth to pay the registration

for the trip! Don’t miss this incredible retreat

with the Farmington Youth Group.

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See RISEN as a group of Adults & Youth.

April 3rd at 3:50pm.

Youth and Adults are invited to gather at the

Cordova Malco Theatre on Germantown

Parkway to see “Risen”. We will have dinner

afterward at the IHOP to discuss the film.

SYNOPSIS

Roman military tribune Clavius (Joseph

Fiennes) remains set in his ways after serving

25 years in the army. He arrives at a crossroad

when he's tasked to investigate the mystery of

what happened to Jesus (Cliff Curtis) following

the Crucifixion. Accompanied by trusted aide

Lucius (Tom Felton), his quest to disprove

rumors of a risen Messiah makes him question

his own beliefs and spirituality. As his journey

takes him to places never dreamed of, Clavius

discovers the truth that he's been seeking.

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Upcoming Events

Join us for dinner at Mellow Mushroom on

Forest Hill Irene. A percentage of your total bill

will go to Farmington Presbyterian to support

our Mission to Mexico. Last year we raised $750

for the mission by this event! Come, eat and

help us provide clean water for families in

Mexico.

PW Bake Sale

Mark your calendar!

The Presbyterian Women will have their annual

Bake Sale on Wednesday, April 20, 12—6pm. All

baked items will be greatly appreciated. A signup

sheet is on the Presbyterian Women bulletin

board. Please have baked items at the church by

11am on the day of the sale. Proceeds from the

sale will go to fund the outreach mission projects

of Farmington PW. If there is no time for baking,

money donations are always greatly welcomed.

Thank you in advance for your support of

Presbyterian Women.

Any questions, contact Charlene Still—(901)754-

5559 (jcmstill@aol.com

Men’s Prayer Group

FPC Men's group met on March 11th for breakfast,

fellowship, prayer, and viewed Billy Graham's sermon on

Jesus and Jonah.

FPC Men meet next on April 8th and will study Billy

Graham's sermon entitled "Choices". Join them at 6:30am

in the Youth Room. Coffee and McDonalds breakfast are

available.

“Welcome!” we said. On

twelve Saturday evenings

between November and March,

we said “Welcome.” Our

welcome was sometimes met with

lowered eyes or jaded attitudes,

but by the time we had eaten

together our guests knew we

meant “Welcome!” when we said it.

Over the course of the winter months, 56

volunteers from Farmington Presbyterian

showed the love of Christ to 169 homeless guests

in whom we saw the face of Christ. Some of our

guests spent the night more than once, and we

always had a joyful “Welcome!” when we saw

each other again. Many of our guests were

without a place to sleep because of personal,

temporary circumstances. They shared how

humbling it was to learn what being homeless

really is like. Others of our guests have struggled

for years with mental illness, disability, and

other factors that inhibit their ability to provide

housing for themselves. All of our guests were

thankful for our hospitality.

Thank you to all who volunteered with Room in

the Inn this past season. We look forward to

welcoming guests again next November with

delicious food, hot showers, engaging and fun

fellowship, and a safe, warm place to sleep on a

freshly-made bed. We made new friends,

listened to their stories, and rejoiced as we saw

Christ in them and they saw Christ in us.

Christian Education

12:30 pm Sunday, April 3

Elder Nominating Committee

1:30pm Sunday, April 3

Congregational Care

10:00 am Tuesday, April 5

Property and Grounds

7:30am Friday, April 8

School Board

5:30 pm Monday, April 11

Service

6:30 pm Monday, April 11

Worship

12:30pm Sunday, April 17

Session

6:00 pm Monday, April 18

Administration

6 pm Tuesday, April 26

Committee Meetings

April 6- Beef Stroganoff Programs for Adults and Children

April 13- Baked Chicken Programs for Adults and Children

April 20 - Quiche Night Program for Adults and Children

April 27 - Meatloaf Life App Wrap

Feed Fayette Food Pantry

SPRING CLEANING! Please donate Clorox wipes,

magic erasers, sponges and paper towels. We

will give these items to the Fayette County Food

Bank for distribution to those in need. If you

would like to help distribute food, call Bonnie

Blair at 901-493-2344. Thanks to Jon, Charlene

and Melissa Still for their work with the Fayette

County Food Bank each month.

Sundays at Farmington

Sunday School is at 9:30 am and Worship is at 11:00

am. Join us!

Children gather in the Sanctuary with music and then proceed

to their classroom (A6)

Youth gather in the youth room at 10 am for The Story: Finding

yourself in the narrative of the Bible.

Adults choose between Hosea in the Interpretation Bible Study

in the East Room and a study of the Book of Luke in the room

Farmington Presbyterian Church and Day School 8245 Farmington Blvd. Germantown, TN 38139

www.Farmingtonpres.org

If you have content for the May edition of New Vision, please email Doug Barr no later than April 25

at Doug@farmingtonpres.org

Acolyte Schedule

April 3 Elizabeth Luter

April 10 Ethan Simpson

April 17 Mia Mittag

April 24 Olivia Mittag

May 1 Nicholas Luter

Session Members

Administration – Kirsten King

Christian Education – Laurinda Ingram

Clerk – Melanie Oest

Congregational Care – John Hazen

Fellowship – Mary Shelley Ritchey

Property and Grounds – Jerry Hosier

School Board – Susan Bryant

Service – Bonnie Blair

Worship – Sandy Wann

Staff Extensions

Rev. Rebecca Luter, Pastor, Ext. 23

Doug Barr, Director of Christian Education, Ext. 29

Cyndi Bevington, Administrative Assistant, Ext. 21

Rhonda Pearsall, Bookkeeper, Ext. 22

Jenny Howell, Executive Director of Day School, Ext. 28

Linda Turner, Managing Director of Day School, Ext. 24

Gretchen Burch, Program Director of Day School, Ext. 32

Anthony Jones, Maintenance Technician

If your birthday is not listed, please contact

the church office to be added. We would

like to celebrate with you.

2 Bailey Wann

12 Roger Rhodes, Sr.

13 Jack Ingram

15 Kasi Wann

16 Aline Bendall

22 Maureen (Mo) Smithers

23 Emily Rhodes

27 Elizabeth Williams

April Birthdays

Session Report A congregational meeting was held on

March 13th following worship for the

purpose of electing the 2016 Elder

Nominating Committee.

The ENC of 2016

Laurinda Ingram Chair,

MaryShelley Ritchey Elder

Paul Bourassa Presbyterian Men

Sara Millar Presbyterian Women

Camille Young Youth

Becky Hutchins Choir

Doug Barr Congregation at Large

If you are interested in serving as an elder

or would like to nominate someone, please

speak with one of the members of the Elder

Nominating Committee.