...news and tidbits from the church office
|
Past
News February 2008 April 2007 March 2007 July 2006 June 2006 April 2006 March 2006 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 |
We have several families who will serve as hosts for our series of Lenten Bible Studies in March. Members of our congregation need to sign up as soon as possible to attend one of these meetings. The dates are March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Most of the meetings will be in the evenings at 7 or 7:30. One family will hold the meeting on these dates in the afternoon at 3:00 pm for those who like to meet at that time. In the narthex of the church there are pads with the names and addresses of the families. Please choose where you would like to meet. Ideally, we want 8-10 people in each home. This is a wonderful way to grow spiritually during Lent. We will be reading a small book by Peggy Rosenthal, Praying the Gospels through Poetry: Lent to Easter. On Wednesday March 31 we will have our First Wednesday meal together in the fellowship hall as a conclusion to our study during Lent. Sign up now! If you have questions please call the church office at 682-2836. (posted February 23, 2004)
OUR ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE WILL BE FERUARY 25, 2004 AT 7:OO PM (posted February 23, 2004)
Our next Taizé Service will be held at 6:00 pm in the fellowship hall on Sunday evening, February 29, 2004. This is a time of quiet reflection, prayer, and music. Come, worship and pray with others of the congregation. (posted February 23, 2004)
Witness Committee Meeting, Tour & Lunch: Tuesday, February 24 at Hope Clinic from 11:00 until approx. 12:30. Meet at the church at 10:45 AM and we will caravan it to the clinic. Call Patti if you have any questions or if you are not on the committee and want to join us! Pkoo 631-5391. From your Witness Committee: Stay tuned for more details on these upcoming tours: Notice they are scheduled during Spring Break so some of you might actually be able to go!! Monday, March 8 Mujeres Unidas-new transitional housing facility 10 AM Tuesday, March 9 Puentes de Cristo-a tour of this Reynosa border ministry by the Medinas (morning). (posted February 23, 2004)
Please make a note in your calendar that The Savvy Sage Series for March 18th has been canceled! (posted February 23, 2004)
Whether you’re young, or simply young at heart, the following two weeks at the First Presbyterian Church-McAllen might just be for you. On Sunday (February 22), our youth will help lead the morning worship service. The congregation is asked to bring canned foods to this 10:30 a.m. service because the youth will also push a grocery cart down the aisle to collect the donations during the offering. The collected cans go to the Rio Grande Valley Food Bank. Other activities planned for the rest of February include: February 25 – Ash Wednesday Service, 7 p.m. February 29 – Sunday Cinema, 3 p.m./Taize Service, 6 p.m. The “Last Supper” reenactment set for Maundy Thursday (April 8) inside our sanctuary is up and running and teeming with youthful enthusiasm. There’s still a lot to be done throughout the next two months, however, and if you want to add to the zeal surrounding this unique production, talk to director Dave Tucker, or contact the church at 682-2836. There’s also still time to join the Lenten Bible Study groups that begin in March. Eight families have volunteered their homes to use when the study groups commence next month and meet every Thursday for four weeks. There are pads in the narthex of the church with each family’s name where you can sign up. – the Worship/Evangelism Committe (posted February 23, 2004)
The Mid Winter Youth conference has come and gone and the youth in our church have experienced living in the G.A.P. (God’s Awesome Power). Adults and youth alike were blessed by the experience. The hill country environment worked in conjunction with the ministry that occurred there. The music, the worship service and the teachings were all geared towards our young people and the kinship in that place was apparent. All weekend the message from Mark 9:14-29 was taught and several themes emerged. The first was to “keep the faith”. Teenagers are faced with some serious challenges and beliefs can wane. We, as the church, have the charge of supporting and encouraging them. A second theme was fighting evil. The kids themselves will tell you that standing up for what’s right and not getting in with the wrong crowd can be a constant battle. Through both of these themes, prayer was the one source of solace. On Saturday evening there were prayer stations set up and it was moving to see kids wait in line to have someone to pray with them. Powerful stuff, prayer. Yep, I think we all got a lesson in God’s Awesome Power. by Rebecca Villarreal, DCE (posted February 23, 2004)
We need to know about you if you have limited mobility and would like to have a member of this ministry drop by occasionally to visit with you. Last Sunday we reinitiated the practice of celebrating communion with church members who cannot make it to our regular services, and would be glad to extend this celebration to you too. We need you if you feel led to participate in any of the Ministry's activities, such as visiting those with limited mobility and those in the hospital, distributing the altar flowers to individuals and institutions after services each Sunday, or sending cards to congratulate church members as they celebrate important events in their lives. Finally, we provide meals or receptions to support grieving families and to honor those who have passed away. Help is always needed in that function. Please contact the church office or any member of the Pastoral Care Ministry if you need or would like to receive any of our services, or to volunteer to work in this important function of our church. Members of the Ministry are James Barnes, Jan Brown, Bob and Eileen Chandler, Carol Crosby, June Fry, Carol Moore, Pat Moyer, Pat Myers, Gin Offerman, and Peggy Steiner. We need workers and there is plenty of room for your name on the list. We Need You!!! (posted February 23, 2004)
Coming on Sunday, February 22-- we will try something new to help those less fortunate in the Rio Grande Valley . When we take up the offering, our youth will follow the ushers down the aisle with a grocery cart. (THANK YOU TO THE OLD HEB ON N.10TH ST!) Please bring canned goods or other non-perishable food items to donate to the cart. This month's collections will go to the food bank. We plan to do this every month, so stock up. Kids, remind your parents to grab a can as you leave for church on Sunday, February 22nd. (posted February 23, 2004)
God tends to teach me so many neat lessons through our children here at school. Maybe that is one of the reasons that I love being around the kids besides the obvious high energy level. I love Chapel with the kids. To see them so excited to tell God how much they love Him and to hear stories out of His word, I am blessed each week. Last week in chapel my eyes were opened a little more. I had a red construction heart to talk about love and I told the children that when we treat each other mean or ugly that it tears God's heart and I would tear up the heart. On of the little girls started to scream and cry out "No, No, Miss Pat, don't tear up God's heart" At first I thought she was just being loud. Then I realized what she was saying and that this had really impacted her. I told the children that we could not put the heart back together, but that God could give us a new heart if we were sorry for being ugly and I pulled out a new red construction heart. That same little girl just cheered with joy when she saw the new heart. I was impressed that the kids really listened to my words. But the more I thought about it and how cute she was, the more I realized that is the way God wants us all to respond to the sin in our lives. He wants us to scream and cry and say "No, No, I don't want to tear up God's heart." And then He wants us to be thrilled when He gives us a new heart. I pray the kids are learning about God at chapel, I know I am. Pat Simpson Director, Lynn Flowers Preschool (posted February 23, 2004)
There are only two more Savvy Sage Series that will be taking place at First Presbyterian Church. February 19th,10:00 - 12:00 noon Jan Seale will be leading the series titled 'Great Things About Getting Older'. You will hear from former President Jimmy Carter (on tape, that is!) on the virtues of aging. Explore 50 ways older people are superior to the rest of the population, and sample 1,003 great things about getting older! March 18th,10:00 - 12:00 noon Ken and Carolyn Landrum will lead the series titled 'Communicating With Your Adult Children'. How do we talk to, understand, get along with, and love our adult children? How do we receive from them gracefully when it's time for them to be the givers? What can we do to understand their complicated lives and work? What can we do to maintain good relations with our grandchildren. There is a small light meal provided after the session ($3.00 donation). Please call the church office to reserve your place and let us know if you will be staying for the lunch. (posted February 11, 2004)
You are invited to bring your mother, daughter, or another woman near and dear to you and drop by for tea on Saturday, February 14 in the Church Fellowship Hall. Sylvia Clark will play harp music as you sip your tea and sample scones with lemon curd or marmalade, cucumber sandwiches, fruit tarts and other "high tea" culinary delights. Come and go between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. or stay the entire time. The price of admission is a baby item or items for Su Casa de Esperanza. Baby Outfits Small gift bags Receiving blankets Q-tips and cotton balls Washcloths and clothespins Newborn shirts, socks, and bibs Newborn pampers and baby wipes Plastic baby bottles and bottlebrushes Baby powder,lotion,shampoo,& soap Hand knitted blankets, caps & sweaters New and used baby clothes (All sizes) And car seats are always needed. Gwyn Kozma & Elizabeth Gearhart (posted February 11, 2004)
There’s a lot to feast on during the next two weeks at the First Presbyterian Church-McAllen. For instance, casting calls for the Last Supper, a theatrical reenactment being produced by the First Presbyterian Church-McAllen as part of our Maundy Thursday observance, were held this past Monday and Tuesday inside the sanctuary. The production staff, led by director Dave Tucker, auditioned for 13 males to be cast in the roles of Jesus and the 12 apostles.However, if you missed those dates and want to be a part of this exciting production, don’t fret, there’s plenty of other work available. Set construction and design are high among the list of priorities along with makeup, costume design and sound and lights. In addition, people are needed to help out during rehearsals as well as deliver posters and fliers advertising the play to the community.If you would like to be a member of this extraordinary team, call the church office at 682-2836. Speaking of plays, our youth gladly take center stage this week when the Senior Highs host the “First Wednesday” Dinner and the Junior Highs travel to Mo-Ranch for their Mid-Winter Conference.A delicious Mexican entrée of chalupas will be the main dish at the “First Wednesday” (of the month) Dinner which begins at 6 p.m. inside the Fellowship Hall. On Friday, it’s the Junior Highs’ turn to leave for a weekend of spiritual nurturing in the hill country. The Reverend Tom Martinez of FPC-New Braunfels is slated to be the keynote speaker. The Junior Highs are expected back Sunday evening. Then, a week later on Sunday, February 15, a couple of important events take place at our church. The Winter Texan Celebration follows the Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall that morning while a Taize Service will be held there again later that evening at 6 p.m. Full? We hope not because there’s plenty more to be served in the coming months. The Worship/Evangelism Committee (posted February 11, 2004)
We have several families who will serve as hosts for our series of Lenten Bible Studies in March. Members of our congregation need to sign up as soon as possible to attend one of these meetings. The dates are March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Most of the meetings will be in the evenings at 7 or 7:30. One family will hold the meeting on these dates in the afternoon at 3:00 pm for those who like to meet at that time. In the narthex of the church there are pads with the names and addresses of the families. Please choose where you would like to meet. Ideally, we want 8-10 people in each home. This is a wonderful way to grow spiritually during Lent. We will be reading a small book by Peggy Rosenthal, Praying the Gospels through Poetry: Lent to Easter. On Wednesday March 31 we will have our First Wednesday meal together in the fellowship hall as a conclusion to our study during Lent. Sign up now! If you have questions please call the church office. (posted February 11, 2004)
Our "Food for the Soul" cookbooks are still available. Great for birthdays or anniversaries. Please fill out a pink card (found in the church office) and place along with $15.00 in the Women of the Church in box.The cookbook will then be in the church office the following Sunday or you may see Shirley Pippin, Sandy Pierson, Pat Moyer or Carol Moore. Thanks. Ladies, our next Bible study meeting will be February 12th at Gracie Caballeros home at 6:00 PM. This year the annual Presbyterian Women of Mission Presbytery Mo Ranch Spring Gathering will be March 19 - 21, 2004. Applications are available in the church office. Reservations needed soon. May 7-8, 2004: First Presbyterian of McAllen, Women's Retreat at The Thicket, Weslaco. Call Pat at 682-8542 for additional information. (posted February 11, 2004)
It's hard to believe that here we are already beginning to think about registration for school for next August, 2004. I bring this up to you as a church because some of you have children or grandchildren that are interested in our preschool.We teach 2's, 3's, and 4's and even us adults learn a thing or two sometimes.Our program is a morning program only. (9:00 - 12:00 and 12:45 on lunch days). As Lynn used to say, "A childs' job is to play." At our preschool we do play as we learn. We have a very loving and fun atmosphere here for both our kids & our teachers. If you know someone interested in preschool, registration begins for current students and church members on Feb 23rd. For new students, registration will begin on March 15th. You can also find additional information about Lynn Flowers on the First Presbyterian Church web site: www.fpcmcallen.com. Click the 'Missions' tab on the home page and that will lead you to our site. I truly am proud of our school and thankful I have such a wonderful place to share God's love Pat Simpson Director, Lynn Flowers Preschool (posted February 11, 2004)
A big Thank you to Carolyn Patterson for donating a Lexmark Printer to our Christian Education classes. Muchas Gracias! (posted February 11, 2004)
I like to cook and I’m always looking for that key ingredient that changes a recipe from just so-so to a culinary masterpiece. Finding it can change your dish into something people take interest in, even rave about. In the church, the ingredient is connectedness. After all that’s the thing that makes marriages work and businesses successful. If a couple is connected to each other they can work through any differences they have and if a product is marketed in such a way that people feel the need for it, it sells. A sense of connection was what Rene and I were looking for when we came to FPC. We wanted someplace that we could be a part of. We know that, as Christians, we’re called to be in communion with one another. Christianity doesn’t work when we go it alone. Our faith is about being together; for worship, for learning, for supporting each other, and just for fun. When I see people visiting our church for the first time I’m reminded of how vulnerable you feel when you come into a place where you’re an outsider. Some churches talk about the need to get people “plugged in” to a class or ministry. The Fellowship Committee was the connection for me. There are lots of chances to talk and get to know people when you’re setting the table or washing dishes together. Building connections in a church is key to people wanting to be here. All kinds of studies have been done on why people choose a church. It’s no surprise that the main objective is having ones needs met. Some folks are looking for a good Sunday school class for their children, others pick a church because it’s the religion they were raised in, but one thing’s for sure; they can’t experience the work of the Holy Spirit within the church if they’re not here. Our connectedness to God becomes stronger when we have a relationship with those around us, kind of like all rooting for the same team. So how do we do that? How do we build connectedness into the classes and ministries and socials we offer? For one, we need to hear from you. As I make plans for this summer, I would welcome your ideas and suggestions. Should we have Sunday school or should we try a new approach to Bible Study? Second, we need to respond to new folks who come in to assure they feel welcome. The work of the Holy Spirit is about making things new: new beginnings, new wisdom, and a new reconciled community. by Rebecca Villarreal,DCE (posted February 11, 2004)
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
