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Some of you may have heard of an animated movie a couple of years back entitled “Inside
Out.” It is the story of a young lady who moves from her settled existence in a small Midwestern town
to a large, bustling city in California. And the different emotions she encounters in that transition…
among which are Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness. While it is intended to be a children’s film, I have heard
from a chaplain/counselor that it actually is of great value to adults who are dealing with losses,
changes, transitions in their lives.
As this congregation has dealt with much change in recent years, this movie might also hold
significant meaning for FPC as well. And as we come to the summer months, I would lift up for you
some ways that you might be able to experience that first, and most rewarding, emotion… that of JOY.
Experiences ‘inside’ our church community, and ‘out’ in the larger one that will make this journey we
are on much more JOYFUL… both to us and to God.
Most of these occur in the month of June. With regards to events inside our fellowship, first is
our celebration of Pentecost is June 4th. As we celebrate the Spirit that first ‘burned’ in the hearts of
that first ‘church’ community, may we physically… with our clothing… and spiritually… with heart,
mind, and voice… rekindle that ‘fire’ for Jesus that we are all called to share with others.
Two days later, on June 6th, the larger body of Presbyterian believers in south Louisiana will
gather in nearby DeRidder for its summer Presbytery meeting. While a number of you have already
volunteered to go and help our sister church (THANKS!), we have also been asked to help provide
refreshments, such as pastry, cookies, snacks, fruit, etc. If you can assist in this way, please call the
church office first thing Monday morning (June 5th). And to you, THANKS as well!
Then Sunday, June 11th, after worship we have an opportunity to continue in fellowship at
“Lunch Bunch,’ that regular gathering to go to lunch together at a local restaurant. This month we
will be meeting in the private dining room of “Jason’s Deli.” Y’all come!
There are also some special events to interact with those ‘outside’ of our church community.
Originally scheduled for June 3rd, but moved due to weather concerns, on Saturday, June 17th, from
noon to 3:00, there will be a “Summer Kickoff Celebration” at MorganField, in their Community
Commons Area in “The Villages of MorganField” (NW corner of E. McNeese at Corbina). There will
be food, music, and activities for children. Come and wear your ‘F.P.C. Blue’ shirts to meet our ‘new
neighbors’ (to be).
The ‘feature event’ of this month’s varied activities is the return of the Shallowford
Presbyterian Church (Atlanta) Youth Choir. They will be singing at Historic Calcasieu Marine
Bank in downtown Lake Charles. The concert in June 15th at 7:00 p.m. A number of you have already
volunteered to serve as a host family. If you have not, and would like to, please call the office by
Monday, June 5th. Regardless, please make a special effort to be there, and to extend an invitation to
your family and friends! This will be a wonderful opportunity to BE the church outside the four walls of
the physical building…. Blessing them with the gift of beautiful music from 70 equally beautiful young
people.
And finally, I want to thank the diligent efforts of the Board of Directors of “First Church
United.” Most of us know how involved a process it is to buy a private home… building a church
home makes that pale in comparison! Thanks to Lenn for both his leadership and communication skills,
and all those who have given of themselves for the church’s future. (continued on page 2 )
Volume 48, Issue 5
& 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
Message from the Pastor 1/2
Summer fun at Morganfield 2
Summer Office Hours 2
In Touch with Outreach 3
FPC News/Announcements 4/5
Summer Party—Morganfield 4
Pentecost Sunday 4
Lunch Bunch 4
Men’s Breakfast 4
Women’s Bible Study 5
Pictorial Directory Info 5
Our New Mission 6
Birthdays/Anniversaries 7
Prayer List 8
Session Report 9
Calendars 10/11
Church Information 12
First Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 4665
Lake Charles, LA 70606-4665
Office: 337-433-4667
Wendy Dees, Publisher
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.firstpres-lc.org
In closing, I would remind you of the final words of his report found later in this newsletter:
“Begin to think of what you may do to have a vital mission in our new home.”
I would add to that statement that such thoughts… and actions… concerning a ‘vital mission’ must NOT
WAIT for our ‘new home.’ We need new ‘workers’ for that ‘field’ that lies ahead of us NOW! In those
familiar words of Luke 10:2, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the
Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” You ARE those ‘laborers’… so keep
praying and working to get some help with your labors. How to do that? By showing others a faith
in the ‘Master Builder’ that comes from the ‘Inside Out’…
Your Co-laborer in Christ,
Chan
Message from Pastor Chan (continued)
FPC Summer Office Hours
May 31st – August 14th
The office will be open
Monday—Wednesday 9:30 am—12:30 pm
Closed Thursday & Friday
Page 2 June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5
Wendy will be on vacation June 5th- 19th While Wendy is away office hours will be limited
to Tuesday & Wednesday
Sally Taylor will be on the office on Tuesday & Wednesday
10 am – 12 pm
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Morganfield community
Summer Kick-Off Celebration
noon to 4:00 p.m. music, food, waterslides
and fun for the kids
Wear your FPC Blue Shirts
Thank you to everyone who helps collect the Box Tops and
Community Coffee labels !
Mid-May saw the conclusion of another successful year of tutoring at Oak Park
Elementary School. Twelve tutors assisted thirteen students and helped them improve
their reading skills and occasionally worked on math, as well. Many thanks to all the
tutors for your time, effort, and concern for these children. We are making a difference
in their lives and the future.
We have some exciting events in June. On June 6, DeRidder Presbyterian Church will
host the Presbytery of South Louisiana Meeting. Like us, they are a small congregation
and need our help to pull this off. If you are able and interested, please consider join-
ing several of us to volunteer and attend.
On June 15, the Shallowford Choir returns from Atlanta for a concert, which will be
held at the Historic Calcasieu Marine Bank. We are assisting Nick Villaume in this
effort by helping to coordinate housing and putting up several choir members in our
homes. Thank you to all the hosts!
On June 17, the Morganfield community will host a Summer Kick-Off celebration,
noon to 4:00 p.m. There will be music, food, waterslides and fun for the kids. Our
congregation should plan to be an active presence at this event, in an effort to get to
know our future friends and neighbors. (Wear your blue FPC shirts!) While not yet
confirmed, I would like to host a table where people can come and ask us questions
about our faith and our church. I can hear it already. “What’s a Presbyterian and what
do y’all believe?” Have we got some answers for them! And a brand new church on
the way!
If you have any ideas for outreach/mission, please talk with myself (Angie Dilmore),
Maura Mize, Mark Judson, or Willie Bellard.
June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5 Page 3
In Touch with Outreach by Angie Dilmore
OAK PARK
ELEMENTARY
Box Tops for
Education
Please keep clipping Box Tops and Community Coffee labels all summer.
Thank you to all the Tutors!!!
You help make a difference in the
lives of children in our community!
Will YOU consider becoming
a tutor next school year ?
Want to know more about it ?….talk
with Angie, Chan or one of the tutors
about their experiences with the
OPE students ...
SATURDAY JUNE 17th 8:00 a.m.
Guest Speaker: TBA
Come to Men’s Breakfast at Greater St. Mary Missionary
Baptist Church – 1801 2nd Avenue Fellowship Hall
First Presbyterian News & Announcements
Lunch Bunch!!
Please join us after
worship
on Sunday, June 11
at Jason’s Deli.
We have reserved their party room,
and are looking forward to
some good food and fun!
July Men’s Breakfast
Saturday, July 15th at 8 a.m.
Guest Speaker: TBA
Page 4 June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5
JUNE 4, 2017
Wear RED to Church
Pentecost Offering
A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support minis-tries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency: Young Adult Volunteers, Ministries for youth and Children-at-Risk. For more information see bulletin Inserts and go to http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/pentecost.html.
POSTPONED
to June 17
Due to Weather
SIGN UP for a Pictorial Directory
Photography Session Now!!
Appointments are available….
Friday, June 30th 2 pm—9 pm
Saturday, July 1 10 am—5 pm
For showing up to take a picture, families will receive a directory, an 8x10, and a $10 purchase credit.
An additional $5 discount on purchases will be given to anyone who brings a donation for the church.
Donations for FPC …. Please bring a canned good for Fairview Elementary Food Pantry or add a $ donation to the food box. A box for donated canned goods & the food box will be set up for the June 30 & July 1 photography sessions, in the Centennial Room. These donations will help feed families in need in LC.
Fliers with Information about what to wear …. and pricing available on the sign up
table in the Centennial Room. Pick up yours TODAY!
The next meeting of the Women’s Bible
study group will be held at the church on
Thursday, June 22
at 1:30 p.m.
Horizon’s Bible Study 2016-2017
Who Is Jesus?
What a Difference a Lens Makes Lesson 9 - According to
Contemporary Cultural Interpretations
All women welcome!
We will take a summer break and
resume in September with the
2017-2018 Horizon’s Study
Cloud of Witnesses
The Community of Christ in Hebrews by Melissa Bane Sevier
Church Directory The FPC directory is available
for pick up now!
We will be working on a
Pictorial Directory
that will include
First Presbyterian Church and
First Christian Church
Lifetouch Photography will be here to take
pictures on June 30th & July 1st
Pastor Chan will be out of the
Office July 3 — July10th. In case of Emergency, please
call the Church office 433-4667
or the Clerk of Session,
Dorothy Strait at 479-0400. The church phone messages will
be monitored daily, even on the
weekends, during this time, so
please leave a message and your
call will be returned.
June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5 Page 5
OUR NEW MISSION
When I first composed this article, I believed that First Presbyterian and First Christian
would be the new owners of the Morganfield property, under the new entity’s name,
First Churches United, Inc., a Louisiana non-profit corporation by the time you received
this. However, one of our due diligent actions was to get a survey of the property. It re-
vealed a problem with the initial legal description, so both parties have joined to extend our
closing date until July 1, 2017 in the case of our church property and until January 6, 2018
for the Detention Pond property (the new construction will require a drainage plan). Your
representatives on the new board are George Swift, Ben Taylor and myself.
Despite this delay, things are moving rapidly along, so I wanted to share my excitement
with all of you. We have received our preliminary title opinion from our attorney,
John Pohorelsky; that as mentioned above, we have received our preliminary report
from our surveyor, Kevin Aucoin; and an environmental assessment prepared by Arabie
Environmental. With the exception of the survey, everything looks as a go for the purchase.
While this due diligence in the transfer was occurring, formal Articles of Incorporation
of the new entity were prepared for final execution and have now been sent for recording.
The By-Laws were drafted and approved, A Buy-Out Agreement was reviewed and
approved, and the Session has approved moving approximately $300,000 out of our build-
ing account to cover the purchase price and the due diligence costs (survey, environmental
assessment, and attorney and title opinion and closing costs).
First Christian has sold the small home that they had behind their church and is contributing
now $82,000 in cash toward the purchase price for the property. Once First Christian sells
the property at 2525 Second Ave, those funds will also be contributed to the building fund.
Please continue to keep the church, our Session, and all of the Board Members of the new
entity, First Churches United, Inc. in your prayers. Also, please ask God to direct us to a
vital mission in our new home.
Lenn Knapp
President, First Churches United, Inc.
Page 6 June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5
June 2 Robbie Aguillard
June 9 Linda Texada
June 10 Theresa DeRouen
June 14 Dorothy Strait
June 19 Caroline Garrett
June 20 Harold Carr
June 20 Chan Willis
June 21 Adam LeBlanc
June 22 Sally Fenet
June 28 Leahanne Abernathy
June 29 Randy DeRouen
June 1 Bill & Marilyn Wadsack (1974)
June 5 Billy & Heidi Fisher (2004)
June 6 John Arthur & Alice Adams (1998)
June 9 Chris & Lana Tyler (2007)
June 12 James & Margaret Wright (1999)
June 12 Donald & Mary Ann Booth (1964)
June 21 Scott & Martha Livanec (1997)
June 24 Kirk & Sarah Harmon (1995)
June 27 Jack & Louise Simpson (1984)
June 29 Courtney & Sally Fenet (1968)
July 1 Daniel Wadsack
July 2 John A. Adams III
July 7 Barrie Willis
July 7 Trey Duffel
July 10 Madison Swift
July 11 Tom Cole
July 11 Charlene Aguillard
July 13 Elton Williams
July 13 Scotty White
July 15 Sarah Harmon
July 18 Victoria Wheaton
July 19 Scott Booth
July 25 Evalyn Fuller
July 23 Amari Bellard
July 30 K.B. Lake
July 31 Sarah Elizabeth Booth
July 8 Chan & Barrie Willis (1977)
July 12 Willie & Naomi Bellard
July 20 David & Carla Washburn (2001)
July 29 Mike & Karen Garber (1972)
July 30 Ben & Sally Taylor (1985)
June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5 Page 7
Page 8 June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5
In Sympathy Henderson Family
Kay Gilliland (recent loss of her sister, Ann)
Picheloup family
Family & friends of Mark Schram
Jill Zachary & family (recent loss of her father)
Family of Rose Holland Family & friends of Dorothy Cook
Encouragement Ekwendeni Congregation & Rev. Isaac Malongo
(our Sister Presbyterian Church in Malawi)
Scott Allen & Family— Lori Kerr’s Son & Family (prayers of hope at a difficult time)
Robin Callahan (job search after over 20 + years with same company)
Jeanie & Frank Catania– prison Ministry in Italy (Lori Kerr’s sister)
Lesley Jefferson & family
Brian & Derrick Robinson
George & Pat Swift
Jon & Sarah Emanuel (considering a change in ministry)
ALL Caregivers, Pastors & Teachers
All those affected by the tornadoes in NOLA Presbytery of South Louisiana—Olive Tree Housing
JOYS/Praise Dr. Anatole Karpovs (JOY- recently received a good report on his cancer treatment), friend of Maura Mize
Tom Rusnack—Recovering better than expected (Angie Dilmore’s step-father)
Warren Jennings (at home & making good progress)
Safety Nick Duffel – travel to Europe, Iraq (6 month deployment)
Nolan Graham (missing), and his family, especially his
mother Barbara (Nolan is the grandson of Joyce Carr) All of our Troops serving at home & abroad
Our First Responders All those traveling
Health Concerns Edie Ausmus (hip surgery)
Harold & Joyce Carr Sara Dennison (foot surgery)
Trey Duffel (car accident) Bob Emanuel (back surgery)
Lois Ferguson Margaret Fontenot
Evalyn Fuller Annabella Gorham Lori & Tommy Kerr
KB Lake Ashley Lyons (& Miles) – pancreatic cancer
(daughter-in-law of Bob & Vicky Lyons)
Warren & Paulette Mercer Betty Lou McKellar (broken pelvis – at home)
Cissie McLeod George & Pat Swift
Elton (and Karen) Williams Mason Broussard (Jill Zachary’s Grandson)
Crystal Butler – Lung Cancer (friend of the Judson’s)
Sarah Emanuel (continuing cancer treatment) Barbara Karkalits (lung cancer friend of Billie Morris)
Wilda Moon (friend of Billie Morris) Bryan Kingsnorth (colon cancer)
Larry & Sue Parker Dan Plauche (knee replacement)
Debbie Serra Cammie Shaddock (friend of the Taylor family)
Kathy Fontenot (Lupus & RA) (Daughter-in-law of Margaret Fontenot)
Faye Scott (friend of Joyce Carr)
NaTasha Carr (Harold Carr’s niece Breast Cancer)
Nancy Draughn (Kidney failure) Marilyn Kudla
Dr. Francis McBride (Lung Infection) (Friends of Virginia Gayle)
Marie Young (blood clot)
Jeffery Simmons & family (daughter Mary Kate very ill)
(Classmate of Mark Judson)
In the Hospital Michael Jackson (and his family, friends of C. McLeod) Christie Ragusa King (severe trauma, car accident)
MAY SESSION UPDATE
1. The Session received a report from First Churches United, Inc. A closing date
for purchasing the MorganField property is scheduled for June 15, 2017.
2. Pentecost is June 4. Everyone is asked to wear red that Sunday.
3. According to the Nurture Committee, Sign-up Suppers (Dinner with Friends)
will be held during May and June.
4. The Outreach Committee announced that the grief support group led by Willie
Bellard is going well. Teacher appreciation gifts were taken for the second
grade teachers at Oak Park Elementary School.
5. Plans are being made for the Shallowford Choir visit on June 15. It will be held
at the Calcasieu Marine Bank. Anyone who can help with housing for the 75
students that night should contact the church office as soon as possible.
6. The Presbytery of South Louisiana is meeting at DeRidder’s First Presbyterian
Church on Tuesday, June 6. Angie Dilmore will be our commissioner for the
meeting. Our church will help with snacks (cookies, muffins, brownies, etc.) for
meeting. Please let the church office know if you can help with providing
snacks.
Submitted by Dorothy Strait, Clerk of Session
Session Report
Recycle Ink Cartridges and help the church save on office supplies.
THANK YOU!
June/July 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 5 Page 9
2017
JUNE SERMON TOPICS
June 4 – 1 Cor. 12:3-13; John 7:37-39 – “Each One Brings One”
Pentecost Sunday, Communion
June 11 – Gen. 1:1-5, 26-27, 2:2-4; 2 Cor. 13:11-13; Mt. 28:16-20 –
“Beginning to End” Trinity Sunday
June 18 – Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5-6, 14-20, 22 – “Marching Orders” Fathers’ Day
June 25 – Matthew 10:24-39 – “Difficult Discipleship“
10 am - 5 pm
Postponed
12 pm—4 pm
Summer
Celebration at
Morganfield
2017
JULY SERMON TOPICS
July 2 – Genesis 22:1-14 – “The Freedom of Sacrifice”
July 9 – Pulpit Supply
July 16 – Genesis 25:19-34 – “Mom Always Loved You Best!”
July 23 – Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, 24-25, 37-39 – “What’s In YOUR Soil?”
10 am - 5 pm
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Lake Charles, Louisiana
Office: 337-433-4667
Summer Office Hours:
Monday - Wednesday
9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
2525 Second Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 4665
Lake Charles, LA 70606 –4665
E-mail: Office: [email protected]
Website: www.firstpres-lc.org
SESSION
Rev. Chandler M. Willis, Moderator
CHURCH OFFICE: 337-433-4667 Dorothy Strait, Clerk of Session
Class of 2017 Ann Knapp Sara Judson Angie Dilmore Class of 2018 Ruth Andrus George Swift Maura Mize Class of 2019 Dorothy Strait Inci Glover Edie Ausmus
