March 2018

First Presbyterian Church 650 Summers Avenue Orangeburg, South Carolina 29115 803-534-0088

www.1stpresbyterian.org

This is a wonderful time of the year. March gives us the first real glimpse of Spring, days of rain and sun, slightly

warmer temperatures and life begins to burst forth from apparent decay. I look around and realize that we are part

of something greater; a system of balance and order, of rhythms and harmonies that invite us to wonder, to imag-

ine, to participate, to belong.

We also belong here, at First Presbyterian Church Orangeburg, South Carolina. We are family. We are friends. This

month, I have included a card of belonging for each of you. I hope you will fill it in and carry it with you or place

in a prominent location. It is simply a reminder, that on good days and bad days, there is One you can turn to-

wards - our Lord Jesus - and that you are part of a community that will help you, pray for you, support you and

encourage you as we journey together.

This card is really about belonging… It says, first, that you belong to this church. It means you have a seat at our

table either at Wednesday night suppers or other events of fellowship. It also means that you are welcome at that

other table, the one set with bread and cup and hope and prayer, and approached with trembling hands and rever-

ent hearts. There is something sacred about having a place prepared for you at the tables of faith, whatever their

context. Think of your membership card as your engraved invitation to the fellowship of the table.

It says, also, that you belong to me, and I to you, and we to one another. It means you have the privilege of family.

You can share your hopes and heartaches, your dreams and disappointments, the various celebrations and crises

that compose life; and it means that you can share mine, too. And that somewhere in the sharing of our victories

and vulnerabilities, we find ourselves born anew and again into the people of God. Think of this membership card

as a sort of birth announcement.

It says, finally, that you belong to the missio Dei, God’s engagement with the world to transform both individual

lives and the whole creation into the new reality God intends. By your baptism, by your membership you have

been called, claimed and commissioned to serve that divine engagement with the world. More than that, you, we,

have been called to teach others the meaning of that divine mission and to help prepare them for their own part in

it - using words if we absolutely must.

On the journey with you,

Pastor Darren

FROM THE PASTOR

The PRESSbyterian

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First Presbyterian Church

Orangeburg, SC

Name:__________________________

Your are loved and a vital member

of our community of faith…

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LUNCH WITH THE PASTOR AT THE OAKS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 11:30 A.M. THE OAKS DINING ROOM

To minimize the disruption of resi-

dents and guests and insure adequate

seating arrangements, reservations

must be confirmed by noon on Tues-

day, March 6. Call Norma Shaffer

(516-6135) if you wish to come. Tick-

ets may be purchased at the Reception Desk in

Woodard Commons.

HOLY WEEK

March 25 Palm Sunday

Breakfast 9:30 a.m.

We have a puppet Easter story, good

food, fellowship and more. Plan to

join your church family for this event

and bring friends.

Service of Worship 11:00 a.m.

March 29 Maundy Thursday 7:00 p.m.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

March 30 Good Friday 12:00 p.m.

Devotional Service

April 1 Easter Sunday 11:00 a.m.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

MARCH CIRCLE MEETINGS

Circle 1: Wednesday, March 14 8:15 a.m.

Youth House Circles 2 & 4: Tuesday, March 13 10:30 a.m.

Conference Room Circle 3: Monday, March 12 6:00 p.m.

Candace Fowler

330 Brewton Street

BEREAVEMENT TEAM

The Bereavement Team needs additional volunteers

to assist with bereavement receptions and lunches.

This ministry draws our church family together in

service and care for our bereaved members. You can

become the hands and heart of Jesus at a time when

our church friends need our support and care the

most. If you would like more info and/or would like to vol-

unteer, please e-mail deacons Laura Hewitt : laura@recspecialists.com OR

Candace Fowler: jaf@sc.rr.com.

EASTER LILIES Lilies will beautify our sanctuary on Easter Sunday.

If you wish to order a plant please use an envelope

found in the pew racks. Deadline is Monday, March

12. Lilies are $13.00 each; make checks payable to

First Presbyterian Church. Orders

cannot be taken by telephone.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible School

June 11 - 15

Join First Presbyterian June 11-15 for Rolling River

Rampage VBS for a fun filled time of learning about

Jesus! All children 3K (completed) - 5th grade

(completed) are invited.

Please register online at

https://rrr.cokesburyvbs.com/1stpresbyterian/

by June 1, as the registration website will be closed

after that date.

The cost is $15 per child with a $30 maximum per

family. This includes a T-shirt and one CD per family!

Money can be turned in to the church office or mailed

(536 Stanley Street, Orangeburg 29115). Please make

checks payable to First Presbyterian Church and in-

clude VBS in the memo line. Once you've paid, you

can pick up your VBS CD, so your child can begin

learning all of the fun, new songs! If you want to en-

sure that your child gets a certain shirt size, you need

to register by May 1. We also need youth and adult volunteers! If you’d like

to help during VBS, please sign up at https://

rrr.cokesburyvbs.com/1stpresbyterian/. Sarah Coggins

Youth and Children’s Director

BIBLE STUDY

If you would be willing to host a home Bible study,

please contact Gaye Lanier, 536-1199 or Kaye

Borgstedt, 707-2225. Day, time and number of partici-

pants will be up to the host. We will help with the

study.

BETHELWOODS CAMP-IN-A-VAN JULY 16-20

Bethelwoods Camp-In-A-Van will be

July 16-20 (9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on

Monday-Thursday and 9:00 a.m. until

noon on Friday).

All children 5K (completed) – 5th grade (completed)

are invited to join us for an exciting day camp at the

Centre. The camp will be led by counselors from

Bethelwoods Camp & Conference Center and will in-

clude games, Bible stories, songs, crafts, and fun!

There are only 30 spaces available, so register soon!

Registration forms are available on the church web-

site, and you can drop off registration forms at the

church office or email them to Sarah at scog-

gins@1stpresbyterian.org. The cost is $25 per child,

and this includes lunch each day.

Make checks payable to First Presbyterian and put

"Bethelwoods" and your child's name on the memo

line.

Sarah Coggins

Youth and Children’s Director

3/02 Campbell Delaney

3/05 Mike Strong

Gregg Frierson

Brison Ardis

3/06 “M. C.” Evans

3/07 Mark Hutto

3/08 Rocco Cassone

Rachel Lorick

3/10 Renn Guthrie

3/15 Ginger Weigle

3/16 Jimmy Smoak

T Riley

3/17 Katherine Smith

3/18 Becky Smith

Kelley Wannamaker

3/19 Sara Turner

Kathy Wilkes

3/20 JoAnn Kelley

3/22 Jane Holladay

3/23 Julie Bruner

3/24 Jeb Brailsford

3/27 Katherine Campbell

Kelly Ridley

3/28 Davis Turner

3/29 Charlotte Dixon

3/30 Shane Burroughs

Mary Legare Delaney

Theology according to a three

year old.

One of our three year old

members was “reading “me a

story one Sunday morning.

“Mary and Jesus were riding a

donkey to heaven.” This struck

me as profound. Jesus came and made heaven possible

for all those who believe. We know what happened in

between his birth and His ascension but, to me, she had

the gospel in a nutshell. She was reading as if this was a

simple fact of life, no doubts, no questions, just LOVE.

As the Bible says, “unless you have faith like a

child” (Matt. 18).

Joyfully on Christmas we celebrate the love of Jesus’

birth. Thankfully we celebrate the love for us that

caused the sacrifice of Jesus’ death. We praise God with

Hallelujahs for the Resurrection and His promise of His

eternal love and life with him. We receive grace along

with this Love. So, let’s stop, not just during this

Lenten season, but every day. Take a deep cleansing

breath. Tune out all distractions. Turn toward the Light

of Christ, remembering His light and love shine anew

each and every day. We just need to pause and see and

listen and then be His light. Pray and act. One light

shining alone can break the darkness. Many lights

together shine even brighter for Him and accomplish

more for Him.

Challenge: Renew, restore, refresh, and refocus on the

Light of Christ. Now go out and let your rekindled light

shine for all to see.

Prayer: God, help us stop, take a deep cleansing

breath and ask you what you have planned for us

today. Help us follow your plan. Thank you for loving

us.

May you experience the joy, love and peace that only

comes from Christ.

Kaye Borgstedt

Christian Education Coordinator

G F GROWING THROUGH FELLOWSHIP

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION LIVING FAITHFULLY SERVING BOLDLY

BELIEVING DOING CELEBRATING GOD’S LOVE

Supper: 6:00 p.m.

Program: 6:30 p.m.

(GTF will not meet on Wednesday

of Holy Week—March 28.)

EASTER EGG HUNT Sunday, March 25, 2018

Meet on the patio

following the

service

of worship.

MEMORIALS

In Memory of

Mrs. Cindy Burckhalter Mr. George “Sugar” Hill Mrs. Mary Ann Cannon

Dr. Fulton Gasper Mr. Franklin “JR” Kell, Jr. Mrs. Mary Gressette

Mr. Arnie Smith

Given by

Dr. and Mrs. Spencer Dixon Mr. Robert Emerson, III Dean and Alice Flansburg

Dr. and Mrs. L. P. Thackston, Jr. Mrs. Margret Snow Gayle Sheriff

Margaret Livingston Linn and Russell Blanchard Mr. and Mrs. Ewart Irick

Mr. and Mrs. Kurt von Besser Merle Cox Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Till, III

Bob and Pam Utsey Hugh and Cheryl Smith Mr. Charles Gerber

Hundley Law, LLC Mr. E. L. “Bert” Pooser Ms. Katherine Zeigler

McGregor and Company Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Frierson Mr. and Mrs. John Shuler

Dr. and Mrs. Randolph Smoak Mr. and Mrs. William Covington Dr. and Mrs. Steven Patterson

Sandy and Caroline Bryant Dr. and Mrs. Spencer Dixon Ray and Felicia Hudson

Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Smith Nell M. Taylor and Family Mr. and Mrs. Bill Tumblin

Henry and Burley Rutland, Jr. The Oyster Club McGregor and Company

Palmetto Retina Center Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell Rocco and Carol Cassone

Townsend and Pennie Sifly Dr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson, Jr. Mrs. Nancy Hudson

Rogers and Tammy Smith Circle 1 of First Presbyterian Joe and Carol Livingston

Dr. and Mrs. Dawes Edwards Dr. and Mrs. Steven Patterson Longwood Plantation-FHE

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Axson Mrs. Frances Lytch The John Knox Class

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Mr. and Mrs. John (Megan) Dangerfield

Emmaline and Davis

394 Nansbrook, Orangeburg Mr. Rick Leonard

1871 Broughton St., 29115

960-3044 Mr. Zack Leonard

907 Riverside, 29115

614-0123 Mr. and Mrs. John (Dawn) Strickland

John Colston and Jackson

621 Amber Road, North, SC 29112

534-5538

NOTE OF THANKS

The [Sugar] Hill family would like to thank the First

Presbyterian Church family for all they did to help us

through the past weeks. Hosting the reception after

Sugar’s funeral was such a gift! Thank you Church

Ladies and Trudy. All of your thoughts, payers and cards were so com-

forting. We have felt surrounded by your love and

God’s love through you.

Sincerely,

Connor Hill Gantt

RIVELON SCHOOL CHILDREN SEND THEIR THANKS

Rivelon is our partner school. In January they celebrated “100 Days of School” in our Centre. We received many

thank you notes from the children, a small sample of which is printed below and on the next page.

First Presbyterian Church

650 Summers Avenue

Orangeburg, SC 29115

Return Service Requested

March 2018

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

All classes will meet together on Palm Sunday,

March 25, for breakfast and lesson.

Pre school

March 4, 11, 18 Tracy and Robbie Myers

Elementary

March 4 Joni and Lawrence Thackston

March 11 Jane Holladay

March 18 Susan and Jimmy Smoak

Youth

March 4 Katherine and Craig Smith

March 11 Catherine and Lyn Cuttino

March 18 Kathryn and Josh Nexsen

PRESCHOOL NURSERY SCHEDULE March 4 Borgstedt

March 11 Bramblett

March 18 C. Smith

March 25 Axson

CHILDREN’S CHURCH SCHEDULE March 4 Sanders

March 11 Gue

March 18 Riley

March 25 Delaney