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The women of First Presbyterian are planning a taste-tempting project – a cookbook featuring favorite recipes from our members, friends and Winter Texans. We need your recipes!! Remember all those great dishes your mom or grandmother made? Share them with our church by putting them in our new cookbook. Recipe sheets are on hand at church in the North and South Narthex. We are planning two tasting parties: Sunday, March 2, from 3 to 5 PM, a “Taster’s Tea” Sunday, April 6, right after the Worship Service a “Sampling Luncheon” for the whole family after church. Please join in this exciting project. Watch your mail for an important letter about our project. Anna Bohart is Chairman and Pat Moyer, Co-Chairman. (posted February 25, 2003)
Wednesday Morning Bible Study Continues: Would you like to learn more about The Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament? Why was it written? What does it say about the first century church? Come and learn more about a people called Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit to give unstoppable, universal witness to Jesus, in spite of every conceivable obstacle, while they wait for his return.From first (Acts 1) to last (Acts 28), this would seem to describe a people as they are portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles. We meet in the parlor at 10:00 am each Wednesday. Join us as we explore this remarkable book. (posted February 25, 2003)
The church has brochures on summer camp at both John Knox and Mo Ranch. These brochures along with the camp/conference scholarship forms are posted on the bulletin board upstairs (north end of the hall) or are available from Rebecca. The CE committee has made some changes in the policy for camp scholarships so listen up. A deadline of May 1st has been set to be considered for a scholarship. This means that you need to have a copy of your deposit and a copy of your camp registration form into the office of the financial secretary (Paula Dreyer) by May 1st in order to be eligible for a scholarship. If a scholarship is awarded, you will be responsible for ½ of the camp fee and it will be due to Paula by May 15th. If you don’t have your money in by this date you will not receive a scholarship. This deadline applies to any John Knox or Mo Ranch camp in June, July, or August. We want to sponsor as many church members as possible so please make plans to send your kids to camp! (posted February 25, 2003)
Perhaps you have wondered how “natural talents” differ from “spiritual gifts.” Dr. Lawrence F. Selig in his book Finding Your Spiritual Motivations offers this explanation. “Natural talents are given to every human being as part of their personality. It is what John Calvin calls ‘common grace.’ Spiritual gifts are given by special grace only to Christians to do Christ’s work here on earth...When a person with natural talent is regenerated by the Holy spirit, certain natural gifts are redeemed, energized, set free for the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ and edifying His church.” How have your talents been touched by God’s spirit and set free to bring honor an glory to Jesus Christ? We rejoice daily as we use these gifts in our small corner of the world, both at home and at work, and in our faith community (posted February 25, 2003)
Everyone of us is blessed with one or more spiritual gifts—endowed by the Holy Spirit to be used for the benefit of the faith community and the world. For several months, the Session and the Spiritual Gifts committee have been encouraging church members to learn more about their unique combination of spiritual gifts. Members of Sunday morning classes and other groups (such as the choir and youth groups) have taken a spiritual gifts inventory and participated in a one-hour workshop developed by the spiritual Gifts committee. Now the Spiritual Gifts Committee invites every member who has not yet done so to pick up a Spiritual Gifts inventory after church on Sunday, March 2, and sign up to attend the same workshop on one of the following dates/times: Thursday, March 6th at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 6th at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 9th at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 9th at 6:00 p.m. (posted February 25, 2003)
We have hired a Children’s Choir Director! Her name is Shari Matz and she’s a music teacher at Jackson Elementary here in McAllen, TX. On February 26th Shari will be meeting in the church parlor at 6:00 p.m., with kids grades 1st-5th, and their parents. Pizza and drinks will be served. Any elementary aged child is welcome to participate in our children’s choir so invite your friends and neighbors! We are excited about the ministry that Shari will be providing to our church, and see this as an opportunity for “Outreach” to other families. We’ve got high hopes for Shari and her work with our kids so please plan to come and meet her! (posted February 25, 2003)
Hey, so how are y’all doing? Things are going well. Classes are very interesting. In New Religious Movements we’re studying The Branch Davidians (1993 Waco TX incident) and Heaven’s Gate (AC Alumn was leader of the cult) and various others. In our Outdoor Pursuits class we are getting ready for a kayaking trip next week. We are also going to go to Snowdonia, mountains used to practice for the big ones like Himalayas. I’ve met a lot of cool people. Oh, we won our first soccer game since I’ve been here. Won 1-0, so that felt good. This weekend I’m planning on making a trip to Oxford to see the school and several other things around town. Other than that things are pretty routine. Class/practice/library/internet/and such. Oh, one interesting thing. I’ve been doing my laundry by hand since I’ve been here in order to save money. Not a good thing. Alright, hope to hear from ya’ll soon. Happy Valentine’s day for those in relationships and those that aren’t, enjoy, we don’t need the hassle of it. Alright...ttyl Pablo Davila (posted February 25, 2003)
Woody Berry, Pastor of Webster Presbyterian Church, Houston TX, has written a human sexuality curriculum for kids in grades 2-5. He will be presenting to the children and parents of our church on March 7-8. Children in grades kinder and up get training inhuman sexuality in the public schools and this is our opportunity to give our kids that Christian perspective. Letters will be going out to parents so please make plans to attend this workshop (posted February 25, 2003)
On Sunday, March 30, 2003 the “Kirken O the Tartans” will be a part of the regular church service. Jesse Thornton, pastor and the Reverend James McLeod, will lead the service. In 1746, following the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Culloden, the Scots were forbidden by their conquerors (The English), to wear Kilts, bear firearms, or play bagpipes...as they were considered by the English to be instruments of war. Legend has it that each Scot carried to church a piece of tartan in his pocket. The minister, during the service, would cleverly but obscurely bless the tartans In 1941, Dr. Peter Marshall, a native Scot, chaplain of the Senate and minister at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., held a Kirkin O’ the Tartan. Each year until his death this continued. Following that the St. Andrew’s Society took over annually holding a kirking at Washington Cathedral. The custom has spread with kirkings being held in many places in the United States. This service has become an occasion when “Scots away from Scotland” would ask God’s blessing. The Presbyterian Church has deep roots in the land of moors and heather. Much of our form of government and discipline and one of our confessional statements. (The Scots confession, 1560) came out of the Church of Scotland (the Presbyterian Church). Today the congregation of First Presbyterian Church is rich in diversity, as it should be. However, probably more members have a Scots-Irish background than any other. March 30th all of us are honorary Scots. With this in mind, if you would like to be a part of the service, please contact the church office for more information. Following the church service, there will be a reception in the fellowship hall. (posted February 7, 2003)
Have you felt it? There’s an excitement in the air. The folks here at FPC don’t sit around waiting for new ideas to be brought to them – no sir! We’ve got some movers and shakers here and they have a desire to make this church a place of fulfillment and encouragement for God’s people. Plans for several activities are in the works but there are two I want to let you know about now. To begin with, the halls are (about to be) alive with the sound of music! We are starting a children’s choir and plan to have our first performance around Easter. Anna Bohart has assisted with this endeavor and her enthusiasm is contagious. The choir is for children in 1st-5th grade so bring your children, bring the neighbors children! Dates and times for rehearsal to be announced. Also, VBS plans are being set and those of us on the CE committee are excited about this years theme “Lighthouse Kids, Shining God’s Light.” You will be getting something in the mail about it soon. Please prayerfully consider your involvement in this event. It’s going to be a great time for young and old, so come on along! Opportunities abound and as we meet the needs of God’s people, our own needs get met. We all have something to give, be it great or small, think about it. (posted February 7, 2003)
Many in our church family have taken the spiritual gifts assessment survey and become aware of gifts they may or may not have known they have. Perhaps to some it was similar to a Briggs-Myers personality test. Our diversity of gifts shared in worship and at work strengthens our community. Every Christian is given a gift, a charisma, a grace, a favor, divinely granted. Paul writes ”The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.” (1 Cor. 12:7, GNV) The church family is the soil in which we nurture and develop these gifts that are used by God to build His Body. Enjoy your gifts! Rejoice in the Giver! (Note: New opportunities to take the “Spiritual Gifts assessment” or to develop them are being planned. Keep your personal calendar handy.) (posted February 7, 2003)
Ladies, we invite you to attend our Presbyterian Womens' Group Luncheon of Love We will be meeting in the church Fellowship Hall on February 15th at 12:00 noon. Valentines may be brought in for Puentes de Cristo-money gifts appreciated. We will have music provided by the McAllen High School students Bring your favorite salad! Come and enjoy a wonderful time of fellowship with the Women of First Presbyterian Church. (posted February 7, 2003)
On February 16th we will celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of our church members and express our love to our Winter Texan friends during a reception immediately following worship. Plan to join us for Celebration Grande! (posted February 7, 2003)
The following are events and meetings scheduled to plan and prepare for the first ever FPC Cookbook! Cookbook Meeting Monday, February 10, 2003 4:30 PM- church parlor Taste Test Tea Sunday,March 2, 2003 5:00 PM Sampler Luncheon Sunday, April 6, 2003 After Worship Service Bring a salad, vegetable, casserole, a special sauce (posted February 7, 2003)
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