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FIRSTPRESBYTERIANCHURCHWaynesville

A publication of First Presbyterian ChurchWaynesville, North Carolina

“Love God and love our neighbors”

305 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 8928-456-3243 Rev. Holly Davis, Pastor Vol 1, Num 13, Jan 2018

HELLO 2018!The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

his mercies and compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23Every year, every day, every hour and every minute God pours out his steadfast love on his people. Nowthat’s a great reason to greet the New Year with hearts full of praise!Our church family has a lot to look forward to this year…. We are sograteful to outgoing elders Lee Galloway and Hughes Roberts. Their “job well done” paves the way fornew elders Lynn Kelley and Drew Schrader, now fully ordained and installed! We are also thrilled tohave Pat Briggs stay on for another term!Are you looking for an opportunity to grow spiritually and build relationships? If so, please come to theLunch & Bible Bunch! This group gathers every Monday at 12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall to discussSunday’s Scripture and enjoy fellowship with each other. Come on by and check it out…and don’t forgetyour Bible and your lunch!A New Members Class is scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 28, February 4 & 11 at 9:30 am in Class-room 2. Please let Pastor Holly know if you plan to come, or call Kristi in the church office.Go ahead and mark your calendars for our second annual presentation of the “Living Last Supper” onMaundy Thursday, March 29. This dramatic portrayal of Jesus and his disciples literally brings the mes-sage alive. Rehearsals begin on January 25 with our Minister of Music Joel Lillethun as Director!Our church currently has 3 open job opportunities right now. We are looking for a 20-hour/week churchsexton and 2 nursery/child care workers. Please spread the word and direct applicants to our website orto the church office for job descriptions.Have you met our new clergy colleagues? Jim Hanna, recently retired Methodist minister moved from theAtlanta area. Paul Koptak, recently retired professor at North Park Theological Seminary Chicago is anordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Keith Morrison, PCUSA minister honorably re-tired, recently moved here from South Carolina. I am overjoyed these fine clergy are with us, along withour own Bill Alexander, Riley Covin and John Lindsey. Jim, Paul, Keith & I will be leading worship onJanuary 7th. What a great way to greet the New Year. Hope to see you there!

Blessings and love,

Pastor Holly

Ron Morrow,Chairperson

Financials at aGlanceNancy Thompson, CPAFPCW Treasurer

Through November 30th

Box rapid access devices mounted. He is working with thetown’s Fire and Police Departments on this. We continue toimplement various security objectives (of which the Knox Boxinstallation in one), including installation of a telephone in theparlor food prep area. This phone is now installed and opera-tional (no ring). We have also ordered hardware to add rapidexit devices on our bell tower doors. Lee is investigating theimpact of our manse being included in the Historic Districtdesignation, and how this would affect any future actions. Thenews that the NCDOT would not infringe on the churchproperty/Walnut St. to S. Main St. intersection as part of theRuss Avenue traffic project was good news. Any anticipatedwork along this area would stay within the existingasphalt/sidewalk footprint according to the DOT. The approved2018 B&G budget was reviewed.Next meeting is Wednesday, Jan 3, @ 10:00 am. Happy NewYear!!

The Building & Grounds Team met Wednesday, Dec 6th, in theparlor. Attending were Paul Mann, Larry Oakley, Lee Gallowayand BJ Morrow. BJ opened with prayer. November spendingwas $3819. We are running about 93% of budget YTD. TheAsset Replacement Fund balance was reported to be $19,599.The landscaping major planting has been accomplished. Whata beautiful complement to our renovated church. The smallerperennials will be planted in the spring. Mary Weber was thedesigner and Haywood Landscapes provided the plants andlabor. This funding for this project was provided by donors. TheAED has been installed in the breezeway between the sanctuaryand fellowship hall. Susan Taylor and Beverly Benson arrangedfor certification for four of our members (Beverly Benson, StanBriggs, Judy Covin, and Van Davis). Susan and Lee Galloway arecertified as well. More communication to the congregation isforthcoming! The L.E.D. conversion for the sanctuary lightinghas been completed. Lee is in the process of having the Knox

SessionNotesRon Tingle,

Clerk of Session

The December meeting of Session occurred at the home ofPastor Holly on December 11th. Elder-elect Drew Schraderattended along with elders’ spouses.

Elders joined Pastor Holly in prayer for those in our congregationfor the world around us. Due to the cancellation of the churchservice on December 10 because of snow, Pastor Holly led thedevotional on what would have been the scripture pertaining toZechariah and Elizabeth and the appearance of the angel Gabrielto proclaim that a child would be born to them. In his disbeliefof the prediction, Zechariah is unable to speak again until thechild is born, remaining in silence those nine months. PastorHolly urged each one present to look for times of silence in ourlives when God is sending us a message, encouraging us to beopen to what God is saying. She referred to the hymn, ‘Let AllMortal Flesh Keep Silent’.

Acting Clerk Lee Galloway noted that a quorum was present.November meeting minutes were approved, as was the agendafor the current meeting. Church Treasurer Nancy Thompsonpresented the financial report through the end of November,2017. She advised that for the eleven months, revenues wererunning a little behind expenditures but noted that Decemberrevenues are typically higher than normal and she expects thechurch to end the year in the black. She noted that the FinanceCommittee has sent letters to members who are behind onmeeting their pledge for the year in hopes that this will assist thechurch in meeting annual expenditures through year end contri-

Session Notes (continued)

butions. On the Building Fund, she pointed out that pledgesand contributions are running ahead and will more than coverloan payments. Nancy advised that if all pledges to the Build-ing Fund come in, there will be more money than is due on theloan on the renovation project, and the Session will need toconsider what to do with the excess.

Lee Galloway asked that the Session consider a policy of clos-ing the Church offices for the week following Christmas. Thisled to discussion about how such a policy would be imple-mented when December 25 falls on different days of the week.Session left it to the Personnel Committee to determine justwhich days to close, given different days where Christmas falls.

Drew Schrader has been heading up the work of the Commu-nications Committee in the development of a new web site forthe church as well as updating the Facebook page. He had astatistical report on the web site for the first 28 days that it hasbeen active. There have been 1,487 hits on the web site witheach hit for an average duration of about three minutes.When someone visits the web site, they will look at an averageof three different pages, with one of the most active pages theSermons on line. The report included the most accessedpages, and it was interesting to note that the Pastor’s Blog hadreceived a number of hits. Drew noted that most people findthe web site on Google Search rather than direct entry to thesite by typing www.fpcwaynesville.org. On the Facebookpage, he noted that the Church needs to promote this more,to encourage people to “Like” the page and to have moreposts to the site. Items to be posted go through the Adminis-trators of the site (Pastor Holly, Pat Briggs and Stan Briggs) forreview prior to posting. Finally, Drew noted that throughMinistry Design, the company which developed the web site,our church web site is very secure.

Pastor Holly noted that requests had been received for dis-missal from membership in our church to the following: Dickand Lyn Nygren to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, NorthCarolina; and Emily Crews, to Covenant Presbyterian Church,in Mississippi.

Pastor Holly moved that these members be dismissed andtheir membership transferred as requested. This was second-ed by Judi Crane and passed unanimously.

Pastor Holly noted that a sign-up sheet was being passedaround so that each elder could volunteer to serve as Elder ofthe Month during 2018. She advised that incoming elderswould have orientation training during early January as to the

duties of an elder particular during the month in which theyserve as Elder of the Month.

Drew asked about the Time and Talent Sheet that memberscompleted. Pastor Holly advised that those were being finalized.She also informed the Session that outgoing Elder Hughes Rob-erts had agreed to help with a new committee being formed tohelp assimilate new members into the life and activities of thechurch.

Pastor Holly expressed her thanks and that of the church to PatBriggs, Hughes Roberts and Lee Galloway, the three Elders rotat-ing off the Session. She noted that Pat Briggs had agreed tocontinue in a new three year term. Lee expressed his apprecia-tion to Pastor Holly and to other Session members for their workand dedication and for working together for the good of thechurch.

With no further business, Lee Galloway moved for adjournment,seconded by Ruth Caldwell and passed unanimously. PastorHolly closed the meeting with prayer. The next stated meetingof Session will be at 1:00 p.m. on January 8, 2018.

(My sincere thanks to Lee Galloway for taking notes and compil-ing the meeting minutes in my absence! Ron Tingle)

ChristianEducationJoan Schrenk,Chairperson

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your ownunderstanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will makeyour paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.2018 has arrived wrapped securely in the unknown. As Christfollowers we have nothing to fear. These words from Proverbsdirect us to a safe and confident path to follow this year. Why notread Psalms and Proverbs this year? You will unearth rich trea-sure that gives renewal and strength for each day.

The Seekers Sunday School class will resume the study entitled‘A Geography of God’.The Isaiah class will embark on a study of heaven.The lunch bunch Bible study will continue. Bring a lunch andcome each Monday at noon to the Fellowship Hall.We are without our two nursery workers. We are in need ofvolunteers to care for the children during the service. Please letus know if you would be available.The Christian Education Committee will meet next on January22nd at 3:15 in the Church parlor. Come join us with needed freshinput for the Christian Education program.

BoomersGene & DeniseButler

HospitalityJudi Crane,Chairperson

Happy New Year!Before I get started with the January 2018 announcements, Iwant to take this opportunity to thank the members of theHospitality Team. Janet Tingle, Marilyn Rowe, Margaret Rice,and Edda Mann worked tirelessly throughout the year, andSusan Taylor was extremely helpful when she was in town.Because of their behind-the-scene support, 2017 was an event-ful, fun and successful year. Thank you all so very, very much!I also want to thank everyone who provided refreshmentsthroughout the year for the after-church fellowship time. Isn’tit wonderful how much we enjoy getting together each week?!Having goodies to munch on while we chat just makes thegathering so much better. Many thanks to each and every oneof you!Okay, so now we’re into January and you know what thatmeans (other than trying to stick to those New Year resolutionsyou made), it’s Soup, Stew and Chili Time! The covered dishluncheon will be on January 14 so pull out those savory soup,hardy stew and spicy chili recipes. Or if you prefer, you canbring corn bread (biscuits too) or a dessert. Oh, my mouth iswatering already just thinking about it….yum!As always the Hospitality committee will meet the Friday be-fore the luncheon, on 12 January at 10:00 to set up. Being thatthis is the first meeting of the year, we will also start discussingnew and different ideas for the upcoming year. Anyone inter-ested in participating in “hospitality activities” is invited andencouraged to come to the meeting. The more ideas we have,and the more hands we have to make it happen, will result in abetter hospitality program for everyone.

January 2018 Boomers will be held at Boojum Brewing onNorth Main Street, Downtown Waynesville, Thursday, Janu-ary 11th at 6:00 pm.  Come join us for a evening of great funand laughter. Please contact Gene or Denise or the churchoffice for more information and to RSVP. And guess what?You don’t have to be a boomer!

MissionPat Briggs,

Chairperson

Sunglasses

Stan Briggs is going down tothe Honduras Eye Clinic inEl Progresso, Honduras inmiddle of February. The

clinic has requested that we bring sunglasses for the patients.

Honduras is close to the equator, and the sun is very intense.Also, many times after procedures at the clinic, the patientsare required to wear glasses when they leave. The clinic usedto give disposable glasses, but found that the patients werekeeping them to wear all the time. As you have probably ex-perienced, the lenses in the disposable glasses are not verygood.

The clinic would like to give glasses to patients. They do nothave to be expensive, but can be the type typically bought atWalmart, or a fuel stop. Please leave them in the protectivepackaging, if they come that way.

There will be a collection box in the hallway between thesanctuary and the office.

Congratulations to new Ruling Elders Drew Schrader (L) andLynn Kelley (R). Also to returning Elder Pat Briggs (C).