...news and tidbits from the church office
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Palm Sunday was the first time for our Children’s Choir to sing in front of the congregation. Their voices blessed us all. A big thank you goes out to Sheri Matz for the super job of leading this group of kids. (posted April 24, 2003)
Second Annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Thicket 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 10th until 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11th Back by popular demand Jan Seale Who will lead us in GROWING IN THE SPIRIT $25.00 includes Air conditioned lodging Meals by Carol Moore Dinner Friday night Breakfast and lunch on Saturday A wonderful, stimulating time of female fellowship Call Mimi Rhea, 687-6441, for info. (posted April 24, 2003)
A happy heart makes the face cheerful. (Proverbs 15:13) Ever wonder why there are so many smiling faces around our church, not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. Maybe, as the writer in Proverbs insists, it's because there are so many happy hearts beating inside these walls. We on the Worship Committee believe that a happy heart is an active heart. Consequently, the rest of April's calendar showcases a very busy slate for our church. By the time this newsletter arrives in your mailbox, the church will be in the midst of Holy Week. A service and communion is planned for Maundy Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. Good Friday follows with a short, but very special service at noon. Then, the most important day of a Christian's spiritual life is celebrated on Easter Sunday with a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. and the regular worship celebration at 10:30 a.m. The later service features special music including a brass ensemble and handbells. In between the two services, from 8-10 a.m., the Senior Highs will prepare and serve a Pancake Breakfast in an effort to raise funds for their annual trek to Montreat, a youth conference in Colorado, in June. The cost of the breakfast is $5 per person or $10 per family. What a great way to let someone else cook you breakfast while helping out a great group of young people and simultaneously avoiding those long lines at Shipley's, Country Omelette or even IHOP. Whew! If you're heart isn't pumping with joy by the end of this week, you might want to see a cardiologist ... quick. But wait, there's more. And as fate would have it, the month couldn't end on a more upbeat note. On Sunday, April 27, the always fun-filled Church Picnic is planned for later that day at the Cook 480 Game Preserve north of Edinburg. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. A map will be available for anyone wishing to attend what should be an extraordinary event for our church family. Not only will you get to spend a day in the great outdoors with family and friends, but a sight-seeing tour is planned to view the exotic animals roaming the preserve. Games specifically for the kids are also in the works as is a volleyball match for the "bigger folks." Of course, it wouldn't be a Church Picnic without the picnic so expect to eat plenty of "chicken with all the fixins" for a small cost of $5 per person. That's chicken feed when you realize how stuffed with happiness your heart will be by the time you're ready to head back home. The Worship Committee (posted April 24, 2003)
The Elks of Texas choose one child a year to sponsor. This year they have chosen Victor Alvarez and they will collect tabs statewide which Reynolds Aluminum will exchange for cash. A box will be set out by the coke machine so we can deposit our tabs there. Pledge cards will also be in the Narthex if you or your corporation would like to make a cash donation. The money collected will be used to help cover the cost of the 24 hour caregivers needed for Victor. Thanks for your help. (posted April 24, 2003)
Just a reminder that May 1 is the deadline for a child or youth to be considered for a camp scholarship.Please bring a copy of your deposit and a copy of your camp registration into the office of the financial secretary.If a scholarship is awarded, you will be notified and your ½ of the camp cost will be due into the church by May 15. Your paperwork and money must be in by May 15 to receive a scholarship. (posted April 24, 2003)
Our last First Wednesday dinner of this Spring is scheduled for May 7 and promises to be something special. Karen Hunke will be our guest speaker. Her topic is coastal wildlife and beaches to set the stage for our summer VBS program, “Lighthouse Kids”. Beef fajitas will be served and the proceeds will help with our Build-A-Bus campaign. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Plan to come and enjoy the program and the company! (posted April 24, 2003)
The church picnic is scheduled for Sunday, April 27 at 4:00 PM at the 480 Ranch. Fried chicken and all the fixins’ will be served and games will be provided for the kids. Tickets will be sold on Easter Sunday and are available through the church office. Hope to see you there! (posted April 24, 2003)
Our Build-a-Bus campaign is underway and our Sr. High Youth are offering several opportunities for you to help out! They are involved in several activities; Pancake Breakfast, First Wednesday Fajita Dinner, and a raffle to gain the support they need to attend the Montreat West Youth Rally this summer. So come, take part in the fun and help support our kids in this effort! (posted April 24, 2003)
The finance committee presented its first quarter (January - March) report to the Session April 8. First Presbyterian had a good quarter, and the committee would like to highlight some of the items in the report.
Thanks to the good work by the property committee, the roofing project is well under way and should be completed this week. The total costs will run about $100,000, and the materials ($47,420) were bought with monies generated by pledges to the capital account for the roofing project. The labor charges for this project will be covered by a $50,000 loan from the Presbytery via the H.M. King Memorial Fund. This very favorable note is for a 10-year period at an interest rate of 2.25%. By fulfilling our roofing pledges during 2003, 2004 and 2005 approximately $70,000 will be added to the current $30,018 balance in the capital fund. The combination of the long-term, low-cost loan from the King Fund, and a growing balance in the capital account will enable the church to do several important things. First, it would allow us to pay off our current loan with Texas State Bank. This 4.25% note has a balance of $32,612 with monthly payments of $1,000. The monthly payment on the King loan will be $466, and by retiring the current bank note, the total payment will be reduced by $534 each month. A growing capital balance and reduced debt also allows us to better plan for and meet future infrastructure needs such as air conditioning upgrades and repairs. Other projects can be addressed as well. The roof section over the kitchen area is actually gravel and is not part of the current project. It, too, is in need of replacement. Finally, reducing debt payment and continuing to meet our capital pledges this year and in 2004 and 2005 may allow us to consider restoring some of the benevolence budget, either later this year or in planning for 2004. The finance committee wishes to thank the congregation and the staff for a very positive response to the financial challenges faced by FPC. Let’s continue to meet our challenges by honoring our regular and capital account pledges. As a community of faith, we must also continue to thank God for the many evidences of His grace. John Graham (posted April 24, 2003)
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Ahh, to dream…Dreams are a subject I’ve had a strong interest in for some time now. You see I’ve always been a big dreamer, when asleep and awake. I’m studying dreams and their meanings, people like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung have their theories on the matter. According to Freud, “Whatever be the pursuit to which one clings with devotion, whatever the things on which we have been occupied much in the past, these we seem to encounter in our dreams.” Jung says, “Dreams express unconscious memories and instincts, and dreams indicate the way to self actualization.” I believe we can learn a great deal about ourselves from examining our dreams, the sleeping and waking kind. From a spiritual perspective I believe that our God who loves us so deeply has a vested interest in the dreams we dream, for ourselves and for The Kingdom. I will continue to pray for direction in the dreams I dream and I would ask that you seek His will as you pray about your dreams for our church and what your role in that would be. Rebecca Villarreal CE Director (posted April 24, 2003)
Helen Gustafson was recently awarded the First Humanitarian Award for her work at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Helen volunteers 2 days a week in the Pastoral Care department where she has worked since 1990. We’re really proud of you Helen! (posted April 24, 2003)
The Jr. High Youth Group does several service projects each year. For the final project this school year they are collecting items for 3 families at Su Casa. Below is a list of clothing needed. Donations will be collected during April and there will be boxes in the Narthex for the clothing. Thank you so much for your support of Su Casa and our Jr. High Youth!
(posted April 8, 2003)
We are planning our 2003 Easter Egg Hunt for Palm Sunday , April 13th. We are requesting help from our congregation in donating Easter eggs for this event. We still need more eggs, so if you can please bring in 3 dozen regular size plastic eggs filled with pieces of wrapped candy. If you are donating hinged eggs please make sure they are taped shut. Make sure all eggs are filled before bringing them in. Please only provide wrapped candy. Thanks for your help in making this a fun event! (posted April 8, 2003)
Calling all kids ages 3 to 12 years old to our Annual First Presbyterian Easter Egg Hunt. WHEN Sunday April 13, 2003 TIME 4:00 PM WHERE At the field west of the Bentsen’s house. (512. E. Houston) (posted April 8, 2003)
As of Monday, March 31 the recipe Committee have approximately 175 recipes in. The break out is 15 vegetable, 45 main dishes, 6 breads, 24 salads, 13 appetizers and 65 Desserts. Blank forms are available in the narthex and the church office. Winter visitors, Thanks for sharing your contributions. (posted April 8, 2003)
On Easter morning from 8:00-10:00 AM we will be having a pancake breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. Tickets will be available after church on April 13th. So whether you'll be coming for the sunrise service at 7:00 or the regular service at 10:30 let us do the cooking and come enjoy breakfast here. (posted April 8, 2003)
Our annual church picnic will be on Sunday, April 27th at 4:00 PM at the 480 Ranch. The menu will consist of fried chicken with all the fixins' and dessert. Tickets will be sold on two Sundays, April 13 and 20. You must have a ticket to attend so plan to get them in advance and join us for an afternoon of fellowship and fun! (posted April 8, 2003)
On Sunday, May 18, the Youth will be leading our worship service at 10:30. This is always a great event so make plans to attend and stay for the luncheon afterwards to honor our graduating seniors. (posted April 8, 2003)
...for its faithful service of delivering Sunday flowers to our shut-in members. You can help June Fry continue this service by returning any vases you are not likely to use again or donating empty wine carafes. Please deliver these to the kitchen area and our new custodian, Joe, will store them appropriately. Thanks. (posted April 8, 2003)
Patrick halted in his steps as the news reporter showed the picture of Edgar Hernandez, Prisoner of War and Valley native. Both my kids have questions about Iraq; where it is, why we’re there, and if the fighting will come here to McAllen. When they look at it on a map and see that it’s ½ a world away they seem to settle, but then comes a report of a local kid, like Edgar and Patrick’s ears perk up. “Where did he go to school and how old is he?” “He went to school in Mission and he’s 21.” Twenty-one isn’t that old, even to Patrick. It’s those moments of connection that bring the war into our homes and hearts. On Saturday I was at the Youth Rally in San Antonio and Lita told the group of a young man, Reid Kirkpatrick . Reid is 20 years old. He worked on the National Presbyterian Youth Ministry Council and was not unlike other typical teenagers. He cut up, liked to dance and had an aversion to shoes. Reid is now a Marine serving in Iraq as a Medic. A couple of Reid’s letters were read to us and some pictures of him passed around. I’ve never met him but his letters and his plight hit home. He told of the relentless sand, it gets into everything, your hair, your teeth… a layer of sand covers your coffee moments after it’s poured. And about the rarity of foods we take for granted like Doritos and Coca-Cola. But mostly he talked about the march into Baghdad, how they’d prepared for it and how they coveted our prayers as they move forward. And I, like Patrick, was halted; moved to tears, proud and angry all at the same time. All of us who heard Reid’s letters agreed that regardless of our personal position on the war we need to support all of the Reids over there keeping them in our prayers, and waiting for their safe return. (posted April 8, 2003)
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