A Publication of

First Presbyterian Church

2101 N. Herritage St. Kinston, NC 28501 252-522-1921 (phone) 252-522-1922 (fax) info@fpckinston.org www.fpckinston.org

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Pastor’s Page 2

Worship in

December 3

Children/Youth 4

Advent

Calendar 5

Advent

Wreath 6

Presbyterian

Women 7

Outreach 8/9

VIP 9

Messiah 10

Past Events 12

Calendar 13

Prayer

Requests 14

Leadership &

Church News 15

The Carillon D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2

Saturday,

December 3

7:00 p.m. $7.00 donation

Sunday, December 11—10:55 a.m.—Children & Youth led Worship

Sunday, December 18 –10:55 a.m.— Lessons & Carols

Christmas Eve, December 24

Candlelight Communion Services with the Lord’s Supper and Sharing the Light

5:00 p.m. at FPC Sanctuary— Family Friendly Service including

opportunities for children, any age, to participate. Childcare is available.

7:00 p.m. at Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 1752 U.S. 258

Service led by Wanda Neely and John O’Brien

11:00 p.m. at FPC Sanctuary—A traditional service with special music and

musicians

Christmas Day Service—December 25, 10:55 a.m.

P A G E 2

T H E C A R I L L O N

From Your Pastor

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, Born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Dear First Presbyterian Church Family,

On November 20, I shared with the church Session and then with the congregation by email and church Facebook a letter sharing that I would be leaving at the end of 2016 to take a call as transitional pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, NC. The opportunity and the change has surprised me as much as anyone. It has come a year earlier than I expected, as my husband, Bill, will not be retiring from his position until the end of 2017. Many of you are asking about the timing and other specifics of this move.

This has been a difficult decision, as I have come to love each one of you dearly. You have accepted me, let me be your pastor and worked hard alongside me, while offering me generous compensation.

Because of my generation and my gender, calls to pastorates have been a long time coming. This call offers an opportunity to serve one more congregation before retirement. It will also help us transition to an area closer to our children and grandchildren and particularly our son with disabilities.

For the transition time, Bill and I will arrange temporary housing near our ministries. We are not separating, as rumors may suggest. And neither of us will be living in a RV trailer in the church parking lot, as Bill has suggested in his campaign to buy one for retirement.

I plan to serve here until the end of 2016. My last Sunday with you will be Christmas Day. I have asked the Session to call a congregational meeting for Sunday, December 4 to dissolve the relationship between myself and the congregation. The Session will be securing a transitional pastor to begin as soon as possible. In the meantime, pulpit guests will be scheduled.

At my installation in 2010, I asked the choir to begin the service with a hymn that was for me a message for our journey together. I share the words again for us:

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard.

Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road; We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night time of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear

I trust in the providence of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I

believe that God is in the provision of this new ministry. It is with that same assurance that I know that God is already at work preparing the heart and mind of your next pastor. Please know that you have given me more than I could have ever given you, and the gift of being your pastor has been life transforming for me.

With love and gratitude, Wanda

“the gift of

being your

pastor has

been life

transforming

for me.“

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2

Looking for a way to center your thoughts

on Jesus this Advent & Christmas season?

Choose one or more of these options!

Advent calendar (An advent calendar and wreath is included in this newsletter)

Option 1: Each day write down a person or situation you’d like to

pray for. If you’d like, doodle or decorate each daily square as you

pray for that person/situation. (Visit prayingincolor.com for more ideas on how to do this!)

Option 2: If you are doing a daily devotional/bible reading during Advent, each day write down a phrase or word that resonates with

you, then doodle around it as you meditate on its meaning.

Join “d365,” an online devotional that incorporates Scripture, prayer, and meditative thoughts.

Each devotion takes less than 5 minutes a day.

To participate: download the d365 app for your smartphone OR visit d365.org to subscribe to receive

the daily devotions via email.

Families with Children - Pick up an Advent envelope in the welcome center. It has lots of resources

to help you with faith-filled, no-prep activities at home.

Advent I— Sunday, November 27, 10:55 a.m. Greening of the Church

Rehearsal Times: 10:00 a.m.—Choir (vestments) 10:15 a.m.—Youth (candles)

10:30 a.m.—Men & Women (Chrismons & wreaths) 10:40 a.m.—Children & Parents (Nativity scene)

Advent II—Sunday, December 4, 10:55 a.m. Congregational Meeting

Advent III —Sunday, December 11, 10:55 a.m. Worship led by Children/Youth

Congregational Soup & Sandwich Meal Follows with Youth Fundraiser.

Advent IV —Sunday, December 18, 10:55 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols

Christmas Joy Offering Received

Candlelight Communion Services

with the Lord’s Supper

and Sharing the Light

Christmas Eve, December 24 5:00 p.m. at FPC Sanctuary

Family Friendly Service including opportunities for chil-dren, any age, to participate.

Childcare is available.

7:00 p.m. at Rivermont Presbyterian Church

1752 U.S. 258 Service led by Wanda Neely and John O’Brien

11:00 p.m. at FPC Sanctuary

A traditional service with special music and musicians

A mission offering will be received at the services for Hurricane Matthew Long-Term Recovery Work.

Dress warmly; if weather permits, we will go outside for the sharing of the light.

Christmas Day Service—December 25, 10:55 a.m.

P A G E 4

Sunday, December 4

9:45—10:45 a.m. Help us decorate cut-out cookies that will be sold as a fundraiser for our Summer 2017 Youth trips. Breakfast is provided! Meet in Hamilton Hall.

4:00—5:30 p.m. Children’s Nativity Play Preparation: Toddlers through 5th graders are invited! (Parents of young children are encouraged to attend with their child.) Dinner is provided.

5:00—7:00 p.m. PYC for 6th—12th graders: Join us as we prepare to lead worship (on Dec. 11) and get ready for our annual Christmas play. Dinner is provided.

Sunday, December 11 9:30 a.m. Rehearsal for worship service. 11:00 a.m. Children & Youth Worship Service—We need readers, greeters, special music, and more. Let Rachel Benton know if you would like to participate!

12:00 p.m. Congregational Meal and Summer 2017 Youth Fundraiser

Friday, December 16 5:30—8:30 p.m. PYC Progressive Dinner

For Children and Youth

Do you enjoy hosting and hospitality? Would you like a chance to get to know

our youth a bit better? If your answer to either question is yes, please read below!!

On Friday, December 16th from 5:30-8:30pm, our PYC group (6th-12th grades) will be having a Progressive Dinner. They will travel from house to house to enjoy a 4 course meal as we celebrate this special season. Would you consider hosting one course (appetizers, salad, or main dish) at your home? We promise it’ll be a wonderful evening of fellowship and fun! Contact Rachel if you are interested (rbenton@fpckinston.org or 252-522-1921, ext. 102), or sign up in the narthex.

Faith Café with a Twist

Sunday, December 4th Instead of going to Bojangles this week, we’ll bring breakfast to you as we put our faith into action. All 6th-12th graders are invited to meet in the fellowship hall to help decorate cookies that will be sold to benefit our 2017 mission trips! All CCC & Montreat participants are

asked to attend this fundraising event (if you have a schedule conflict, please let

Rachel Benton know).

Enjoy Fellowship & Support

our Youth! Join us Sunday, December 11th at Noon in

Hamilton Hall for a congregational lunch hosted by the Fellowship Committee. Holiday items,

including cutout cookies decorated by our children/youth and scarves made by our own

Knit and Crochet group, will be for sale. All proceeds will go toward our 2017 Carolina

Cross Connection Mission Trip & Montreat Youth Week.

T H E C A R I L L O N

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g. V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 5

T H E C A R I L L O N

P A G E 6

P A G E 7

Circle 1 - Wed., December 7 and 21, 7:00 p.m. at home of Mary Catherine Williams, 3433 Lakeview Trail

Circle 2 - Mon., December 5, 2:30 p.m. at FPC Circle 3 - Tues, December 6, 10:00 a.m., at Eleanor Mallard’s, Herritage Elite Circle 4 - Wed, December 7, 11:30 a.m., at Queen Street Deli Circle 5 - Tues, December 6, 11:30 am, at Queen Street Deli Circle 6 - Mon, December 5, 11:30 am, at Queen Street Deli

Attend

any Circle group that works

for you.

You will be welcome!

Circle 2 meets the first Monday of each month in the

Conference Room at First Presbyterian Church. This

year the Circle is using the Presbyterian Horizon Bible

Study, “Who Is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes”

by Judy Yates Siker.

For a mission project Circle 2 chose to assemble an

Emergency Clean-up Bucket. Most clean up buckets are

distributed through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance or

Church World Service.

Emergency Clean-up Bucket Assembly Supplies: One 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid Five scouring pads Seven sponges, assorted sizes One scrub brush Eighteen cleaning towels (reusable, like Easy Wipes®) One 50-78 oz. box dry laundry detergent One 12 oz. bottle of liquid concentrated household cleaner (like Lysol®) One 25 oz. bottle liquid disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn) Fifty clothespins, Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft. Five dust masks Two pairs latex gloves (like Playtex) One pair work gloves One 24 to 28 count roll heavy-duty trash bags (30-45 gallon, remove from carton) One 6-14 oz. bottle insect repellant (pump, drops or lotion; not aerosol)

V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2

P A G E 8

T H E C A R I L L O N

Once again, your Mission & Outreach Committee will be doing the Angel Tree project for Christmas. The Mission & Outreach Committee has selected eight families, consisting of 18 children and 8 single parents (moms). The children range in age from 4 months to 7 years old.

The Angel Trees with tags on them will be available to pick a tag AFTER church on Sunday, December 4 and December 11. Please be sure to sign up with a committee member for which tag you have taken. The tags will have all the information you need. There will be three tags for each child—one for pants, one for shirt or jacket, and one for a favorite toy. The tags will include specific information about the child. If you choose a tag for clothing, it will give the child’s size. For the toy item for some of the younger babies, the tags will say “age-appropriate.” There will be a number on the lower left corner of the tag—this is very important, as it identifies which family the gift (or gifts) is for. Included on each tag will be the DEADLINE date of December 15. This is the day when all Angel Tree gifts must be returned to the church office.

Please select your tag, sign up with a committee member, purchase the appropriate item on the tag, wrap the gift, affix the tag to the OUTSIDE of the wrapped gift, and return the package to the church office. If you choose more than one tag, you may put all wrapped gifts in a large trash bag, with the tags affixed to each package, but please write on

the bag or on a slip of paper taped to the bag your tag numbers.

Your Mission & Outreach Committee is counting on you, and we know you will generously respond. Thank you!

SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Please pick up a Christmas stocking or several from the Welcome Center or the church office to fill for

a child. Fill it with anything needed for birth to 12 years old, such as t-shirts, socks, undershirts, toys,

small books, Bibles or Bible stories, etc. (no sharp or breakable objects). Suggestion lists are also

available. Stockings should be returned to the church office by Wednesday, December 7.

V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 9

“In 1967, after 20 years of marriage, college, four

sons, and twelves moves in six states, Jim and I

moved to Kinston to begin a new life. At FPC, we

found people of faith who would inspire, educate,

accept, encourage, comfort, share, understand

and give us ways to work as part of God’s plan in

this place and through the world.”

Mary Neal Mills

P A G E 1 0

Handel and “Messiah”

by Carolyn Crossland

G eorge Frideric Handel was born in Halle, Germany, in 1685 into a religious, well-to-do

household. By the age of 18, Handel had composed his first opera, “Almira.” During the next five years, he was employed as a musician, composer, and conductor at courts and churches in Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, and in Germany. In Germany, Handel was the Court Composer for the Elector of Hanover who would later become King George 1 of England. In the 1730’s, the emotional and financial toll of producing operas, as well as changing audience tastes, contributed to Handel’s growing interest in oratorios—which did not require elaborate scenery or costumes, or the hiring of expensive foreign stars. In 1732 Handel revised an earlier work, “Ester,” and represented it at the Haymarket Theatre. Though it can be said that Handel “invented” the Oratorio, he inadvertently had a little help from the Bishop of London. As “Esther” was scheduled to open (in a tavern!), the Bishop proclaimed from the pulpit that the church banned the use of a Biblical story for any form of acting, costuming, or singing on stage, no matter where the performance was held. This was no problem for Handel! To comply with the censorship, Handel took out ALL acting, scenery, and costumes and discovered that there was, in fact, an audience for unstaged, sung Bible dramas. Thanks to the Bishop’s censorship and Handel’s music, “Esther” was a hit! Handel’s sixth oratorio, “Messiah” was composed in 1741 at an astonishing rate, somewhere between three and four weeks, as he literally wrote from morning to night, barely stopping for food or

sleep. Charles Jennens, a well-known librettist (the person who writes the lyrics of an opera or oratorio), wrote the text for “Messiah,” using selected passages from the old and new testaments. Unlike most oratorios, “Messiah” has no real plot, but offers the loosest of stories. Part I prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ; Part II exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and the final section heralded his resurrection. In most of Handel’s oratorios, the soloists dominate the performance and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in “Messiah,” the chorus takes a much larger role, commenting on the action and moving the story forward with a great emotional impact and uplifting messages. Due to Handel’s superstar status in England, “Messiah” burst onto the stage when it was performed in Dublin in 1742, with audiences of over 700 in a room that seated 600. Ladies were asked by management to wear dresses “without hoops,” and men were asked to “leave ceremonial swords at home” in order to make “Room for more company.” Abroad, Handel’s reputation, and that of his best-known composition, continued to grow. By the early 19th century, performances of “Messiah” had become an even stronger Christmas tradition in the United States than in Britain. “Messiah” is a fixture of the Christmas season that still awes listeners more than 250 years after the composer’s death and is considered by many musicologists to be the most performed, and most recognized work, in all of music literature. The musical giant Mozart confessed himself to be humble in the face of Handel’s genius. Mozart said, “When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt.” The great Ludwig van Beethoven also cited “Messiah” and said, Handel was the “greatest composer that ever lived.”

T H E C A R I L L O N

V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 1 1

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MESSIAH PERFORMANCE

Let the Church Office Know What You Can Do or sign up in the back of the sanctuary!

Anytime Week before (Nov. 27– Dec.3) Prepare luminaries (put cups in bags, candles in cups, bags on carts) Help prepare space (set up chairs, move small items, “spruce up” areas) Saturday, Dec 3 4:00 PM – Luminary Duty (put out candle holders) (3-4) 5:00 – 7:30 PM – Parking Directors to maximize parking (4) 5:00 – 7:30 PM - Greeters at doors (3) Donation Collectors at tables by entrances (4 - 1 station at each entrance with 2 people) Runners for needs (2) 5:00 – 8:30 PM – Ushers to help maximize seating, monitor doors during performance Sanctuary (4), Loft (to help people with steps) (1) 8:00 PM – Luminary Duty (light candles) (3-4) 8:30 PM – Cleanup Crew – pick up programs, prepare the sanctuary for Sunday worship, collect luminaries & put on carts for Christmas Eve

All volunteers will be asked to wear nametags.

All worshippers are invited for lunch on

Sunday, December 11

following the service led by our

children and youth.

Meal hosted by the Fellowship Committee

The menu consists of soup and sandwiches. The children and youth will be kick starting their fundraisers for summer missions by selling cookies that they have decorated. The knit and crochet group is assisting with this fundraiser by donating scarves they have made to be sold. Be sure to stop by, have some hot soup and pick out a scarf or some cookies as a gift for a friend or yourself.

P A G E 1 2

T H E C A R I L L O N

In Case You

Missed It!

Recent Events

V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 1 3

Members Gertrude Dalzell Jeanette Marshall Clara Smith Margaret Henderson Gwen Orr Hope Shackelford Herbert Manning Fran Parker Pamela Williams

In Kinston:

Herritage Elite Eleanor Mallard Spring Arbor Nancy Cherry Billie McLawhorn State Veterans Home

Fred Antonowich Leo Smith

In Greenville:

MacGregor Downs Fred Hodge

Family &Friends Robert Hansen Josie Mills Reece Smith Adrian King Edith O’Brien Bryant Taylor Judy Lane Haywood Smith Glenwood Waters

Sympathy and Prayers to Herbert Sugg in the death of his cousin, Eleanor Glenn Sugg Petteway on October 24.

to Mitch Cooper in the death of his stepfather, Henry Rich, on Nov. 7, in Trenton, Georgia.

to John Roberts in the death of his grandmother, Eleanor Roberts, on Nov. 19 in LaGrange.

to Pamela Williams in the death of her brother- in-law, Gary Walters, on Nov. 19 in LaGrange.

To Mickey Cooper in the death of her sister-in- law, Cathy Hansen on Nov. 20.

In Memoriam

Myra Earle Watson Holder October 21, 1924 - November 17, 2016

“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes

in me will never die.”

John 11:25-26

Memorial Service Thursday, Dec. 22, at 2:00 p.m.

T H E C A R I L L O N

P A G E 1 4

Remember in Prayer

During the week, please remember these individuals of the church family in prayer

Dec. 4 Tommy and Laura Pressly; Jim and Teresa Dobbins

Dec. 11 Jimmy Pressly; John and Patsy Erwin

Dec. 18 Bruce and Becky Pittman, Bruce, Phillip, and Elizabeth; Rod and Jan Evans

Dec. 25 Ely and Caroline Perry, Claire, Elyza, and Ely; Jimmy and Shirley Fields

In Raleigh:

Elmcroft of Northridge Dick Holder Magnolia Glen Betsy Barbee Whispering Pines Helen Rackley

Circle

of

Prayer

V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 1 2 P A G E 1 5

Serving in

December 4 11 18 25

Merry Christmas

Greeters Inez Dale Ben Harper Chris Henderson Ely Perry

Acolytes Grace Williams Sophia Jenkins Paige Davis William McPhaul

Lay Leaders Steve Jefferson Aaron Dale Inez Dale TBA

Lock-up John Hendrix John Erwin Ted Berry Larry Landry

Steward Scott Williams Scott Williams Scott Williams Scott Williams

2 Otha Lender

2 Timothy Murray

4 Kim Brown

4 Patrick Holleran

4 Pat Johnson

6 Kane Moore

9 John Archie

9 Al Gold

17 Maggie Cherry

17 Sophia Jenkins

18 Brinda Thomson

18 Grace Williams

19 Linda Brown

20 Ellie Cherry

21 Paige Davis

24 Rod Evans

24 Bill Neely

25 Helen Rackley

26 Mary Louise Smith

28 Inez Dale

29 Ben Harper

29 Braxton Mackey

30 Ken Crossno

Ruthie Stroud will have her 522-piece nativity collection on display from December 5 through the end of January. Please give her a call for

directions and a good time to visit. Home: (252) 939-9533; Cell: (252) 939-6216.

Sunday, December 11

5:00 p.m. Business Meeting at FPC

6:30 p.m. Covered Dish Meal at home of Greg and Frances Theodorakis, 3313 Quail Ridge Road

(Spouses and special friends included)

Bring a dish to share!

Special

Session

Schedule

for

December

Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Chick-fil-a, Hwy. 70

7:15 a.m. or when you can get there

Sunday, December 4, 10:55 a.m.

Bucket Brigade for Hunger Collection Children and Youth will be collecting this donation.

Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food for ICOR. Place food in carts located in the entrance areas.

COLLECTED IN NOVEMBER: $237.71

Offering will be collected in worship on Sunday, November 27.

The Mission is to provide a safe healing journey for hurting children and families. Support is provided to Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage.

To share a specific prayer concern or make known a particular

concern or suggestion, please see any of the members of Session

listed below who comprise the elected leadership of our church.

The Session

Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018

Mitch Cooper Ted Berry Inez Dale Rachel Hall Karla Grizzard Ben Harper George Jenkins David Mills Chris Henderson Larry Landry Ron Rouse Ely Perry Kelley Marshall Mary Louise Smith Frances Theodorakis Allen Summerlin Caroline Suddreth Teena Williams Tyler Johnson Jules Williams

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Wanda Neely, Pastor

Rachel D. Benton, Coordinator for Children/Youth

John O’Brien, Director of Music/Organist

J. C. Carraway, Assistant Choirmaster /Organist

Cookie Emory, Financial Administrator

Shelly Sparrow, Office Administrator

Jeff & Christi Boyd, Missionar ies to Cameroon

News Around FPC’s World First Presbyterian Church

2101 N. Herritage Street

Kinston, NC 28501-2221

NON PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE-PAID

KINSTON, NC

PERMIT NO. 248

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

CAROLINA CROSS CONNECTION

Sunday, June 25 - Saturday, July 1

All current 6th-12th graders are invited. We will also need adult chaperones (if interested, contact Rachel Benton at rbenton@fpckinston.org for more info).

Collected on our Sunday of Lessons & Carols, Dec. 18, this offering supports assistance to church workers in their time of need and students of Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. Giving to the Christmas Joy offering is a way to celebrate God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus Christ.