The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

of Waynesburg

April 2016

“The purpose of the First Presbyterian Church is to glorify Almighty God as we bring people to Jesus Christ, welcome them into our Christian family, nurture one another to Christ-like maturity, and equip

members for their ministry and mission in the world.”

The Spire

First Presbyterian Church 169 W. College Street

P.O. Box 446 Waynesburg, PA 15370

Phone: 724-627-6006

Fax: 724-852-2502 firstpreswbg.com

9:15 a.m. G.R.O.W. 10:30 a.m. Worship

Bill Sukolsky, Pastor

Becky Juliano, Director of Discipleship and Ministry

Josh Sumpter,

Director of Youth Ministry

Tome Custer, Director of Music Ministry &

Director of Children’s Ministry

Nelson Fox, Organist

Sara Christner, Pianist

Ben R. McCracken, Treasurer

Patrecia Baily,

Financial Secretary

Administrative Assist. Maribeth Coote

Vicki Cline, Custodian

From the Pastor Spire – April 2016 One of the many conversations staff has concerns the ways we communi-cate our life together as the congregation and in the community. In addition to personal contacts and ‘word of mouth’, we currently speak to each other through the weekly worship bulletins, the website, group emails, different forms of social media, and this medium – The Spire. After talking with other congregations, and tracking the amount of time and effort involved in collating and bulk mailing a monthly newsletter, we are going to make some changes beginning with The Spire’s May edition. It will still be published monthly, with the following differences: *a link to The Spire will be added to our website (www.firstpreswbg.com) making it available for reading at any time. *a group email with The Spire attached will be sent to members and friends of the congregation. *printed copies of The Spire will be available at the church building, to be picked up during the week or after worship. *most significantly, a copy of The Spire will be mailed to those (locally & out of town) friends who request it . Members and friends will simply need to contact the church office (call 724-627-6006 or email wbgprsby@windstream.net), and ask to receive a paper copy of The Spire. We will create a smaller mailing list incorporating all who would like to re-ceive a mailed copy; we will no longer do a bulk mailing to every member and friend of the congregation. The intent of these changes is to both increase the variety of ways we com-municate, and decrease the amount of time and cost associated with the monthly printing, sorting, and bulk mailing of The Spire. Please feel free to give me a call if you have any questions! Blessings, Bill Sukolsky

Wednesday Night Dinners

@ First Pres

Take advantage of a cheap dinner out with all your First Pres friends and family! Enjoy

a delicious meal for just $3/person and $2/child ($10 family max and university students are $1). The meal will be served starting at 5:30 PM. If you have children in Pathways, our after school program, your whole family is welcome to stay for din-ner. Our last Wednesday dinner will be on April 27th.

Main Stage VBS

Cave Quest is coming to First Pres and we will be creating decora-tions to set the stage for kids. We want to welcome them in a big way

and so we need your help! Starting in May we will begin to put some decorations together to transform the church into an underground adventure. No artistic skill is needed, but if you have some that would be a great bonus! Please contact Becky Julinao if you are willing to give some time (an hour or two a week or a Saturday morning) to making some decorations. Duties may include painting, cutting foam board, tracing, glu-ing, and forming stalactites and stalag-mites.

Join a Table Talk discussion group! You can join whenever

and there’s no required time commitment.

Table Talk discussions are groups of 4-5 people that meet on Sunday mornings during the

GROW hour.

The group gathers to share highlights from the scripture each person has been reading through-out the week. Table Talk discussions begin at 9

AM and conclude by 10 AM.

Contact Becky Juliano or Miriam Wentzel for more information.

Sunday Schedule 9:00 a.m. G.R.O.W 10:30 a.m. Worship

The Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church April 2017

Upcoming Events

April 10: Crossroads April 17: Crossroads April 24: Celebration & Fundraiser Dinner 6-7:30

May 1: Fire Pit @ Sumpter House 7-9 PM (S’Mores/Hot Dogs) May 8: No CRoads (Mother’s Day) May 15: Sumpter House Hangout 7-9 PM (Fire Pit)

Why Laser Tag Matters? An adult recently said to me, “I’m not sure what you do for your job, but the kids seem to have a fun time…” I laughed, and then explained the variety of opportunities we have for students to grow in faith and how they only get stronger when we build trust with one another. One of the best ways to build trust is to spend time together outside of the church building. We get to spend time laughing, yelling, running, sweating, competing, and building trust by “being ourselves.” This is why the Laser Tag event on March 18th with 20 high school students mattered. Our relational hang-out time creates memories, connections, and trust that will impact small group conversation, Bible study depth, and the time we spend together in the church. Plus - having fun together matters! PS: Laser Tag is exhausting & is great exercise!

Senior, Nick Fox, at the plate for the Waynesburg Central HS

Baseball Team. Nick plays 1st base for the Raiders! Let’s go Nick!

Pursuing Godly Wisdom (Rather than the wisdom of our culture)On April 1st & 2nd, 8 Crossroads leaders (Josh, Jon, Zahn, V, Amber, J-Bo, Alaina & the Hulk) went to Pittsburgh, PA for a youth leader training event. The focus: Leading students to choose Godly wisdom. More than ever, our youth are being bombarded with cultural “truths” about relationships, what success looks like, and how they should make decisions. It is our job to partner with parents to encourage teens to seek the wisdom that comes from having an identity in Christ. Wisdom that comes from seeking God’s Word. Wisdom that stems from a life rooted in prayer and fellowship with other believers in Christ. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (or the world ’s understanding); in all your ways submit to God, and He will make your paths straight.” May we seek the Lord for wisdom as parents, leaders, and students. - Amen.

Crossroads Youth

Pray for the following service personnel: Casey Parsons, Jason Cowart, Edward

Wagner, Jake Wilson, Mark Conaway, Brandon Brown, Daniel Calvario, Andrew Cowell, David Calcek, Drew McConville

Pray for these friends and loved ones in nursing homes: Clara Baird, Bill Hardisty,

Jim Burns, Mary Jane Dick.

Contributions have been received in memory of Lucinda “Toddy” R. Greenlee

From Lynn Norris & Joseph Greenlee

We rejoice in the birth of Laila Crisleidy King April 1, 2106

The daughter of Daniel & Cristina King

We rejoice in the baptism of Isaac Edson Mertz April 10,2016

He is the son of Thomas and Melissa Mertz

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April Dates to Remember: 3 Communion 3 Discipleship Meeting 4 Grief Share 5 Session 11 Grief Share 14 Worship Team meeting 18 Grief Share 19 Deacons Meeting 24 Crossroads Family & Friends 25 Grief Share 26 Mission Team Meeting 29 Good Neighbor Dinner

April 1 Gary Gernert Fred Waine Kat Lynerd 2 Marion Berryhill William Winters Carolyn McGrath Tamara Cerra 4 Thomas Camps Vincent Camps Myles Cramer 5 Barbara Andrew Chuck Baily Jr. 6 Daisy Robinson 8 Gianna Stephenson 9 Jeffery Klinefelter Margo Allison 10 Glenn Toothman Cathie Giachetti 11 Russell Williams 13 Ashley Baily 14 Justin Stephenson 14 Avery McConville 16 Brynn Bortz 17 Jackson Fox 18 Bill DeWeese Madison Blair 19 Josh Sumpter 21 Tara Bortz Harold Barrett Hannah Kalsey 22 Aiden McGrath 23 Katy Shultz Zachary Pollock 24 William Wentzel Grant St.John 25 Kathleen Brown Dianne Toothman Joshua McCracken 26 Janette Kline Katie Kline Leo Christner 28 Robert Fox

If you don’t see your birthday listed, or if it is

incorrect, please contact the church office.

April Helpers

Ushers: Dick Bortz, Matt Blair, Craig Cerra,

Charlie Huffman, Ben T. McCracken, Beth Zeth

Nursery Helpers: 3 Eleanor Cerra

10 Mitchell Wentzel 17 Elliott Wentzel 24 Ethan Maxwell

Deacon of the Month:

Daniel King

. Managing God’s money

Our church-wide purpose is: “Bringing Hope to Life in Jesus’ Name”

If giving is a part of your life you hope to change this year, realize financial stewardship is a basic step toward a spiritual relationship with Christ. “If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” Luke 16:11 NLT. A powerful truth, God stating there is a direct relation-ship between the ways we manage our money and the fullness of our spiritual life.

Financial stewardship is a fundamental part of our per-sonal spiritual relationship with Christ - One of those

exceptional times when the giver is the principle benefi-ciary of the gift. All that is required is obedience to trust

in God’s promises when giving.

“Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be

put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38 RSV).

Financial update… Your prayers and support in meeting the financial needs of our church are making a difference. Ben McCracken

Faith Promise Actual

2016

Christian Missions - Crow 600 Interserve - Nicky Stock 600 Interserve - Paul & Pat Stock 600 Caribbean Youth Network 600 Equip International 600 Krasnodar, Russia Church Wycliffe Bible Translators JAARS Christian Bible Ministeries CBM 750 Habitat for Humanity - Greene 750 Pine Springs Camp 750 CBM - Judy Virgili 600 CCO 600 Waynesburg Christian Outreach 600 Crisis Pregnancy Center 600 Resurrection Power - Washington Presby 300 Jubilee - WU Washington City Mission Fellowship of Christian Athletes Corner Cupboard Food Bank Celebrate Recovery 300

total expense $8,250 Pledged Giving 9,318 Balance 12-31-2015 1,046 total $10,364 Balance $2,114

Actual Budget 3/31/16 2016

Staff

$53,969 $240,778 Property 9,414 46,500 Christian Ed 4,730 18,900 Evangelism 95 2,300 Fellowship 148 3,600 W & S 573 2,500 Office 5,769 15,500 Deacons 2,000 total expense $74,698 $332,078 Giving

65,630 274,000 Investments 9,535 60,575 Other 489 1,050 total income $75,654 $335,625 Surplus $ 956 $ 3,547

Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage

PAID Waynesburg, PA

Permit No. 68

Save the Date VBS June 13-17, 9:30-12:00

First Presbyterian Church 169 West College St., P.O. Box 446

Waynesburg, PA 15370 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED