THE PRESBYLETTER

a newsletter of

Fountain City Presbyterian Church500 Hotel Road

Knoxville, TN 37918

March 2013Phone: 865-688-2163

Fax: 865-281-0300E-mail: fcpcoffice@comcast.net

Web address: fountaincitypres.orgSunday morning worship services

8:55 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: If you have an emergency and do not reach anyone at the Church Office or on weekends, please call one of the ministers at their home: Max Reddick at 219-9262 or Darryl Baker at 803-4158.

FROM THE PASTOR :Annual Congregational MeetingPastor’s MessageFountain City Presbyterian Church is a wonderful church. It is a caring church. It is a missional church. It is a learning church. It is a dynamic church. It is a faithful church. In a word, FCPC is a special place, and we

can thank God for its many blessings. The good things of Fountain City Presbyterian are something that we all know, sometimes maybe even something we take for granted, but our church is also something that we can share. We know that we have something good here, that God is doing something good here, and we want others to experience the same blessing this church has given us. Our motivation is the gospel: sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We have an accepting community, filled with love, which offers a grace-filled Presbyterian theology to many who may have only heard about law and judgment. FCPC is not the only place, it is not necessarily the best place to be, but it is a faithful place, which means it is a good place to be. We want others to share in the same goodness that we have received.As we begin a new year, so we have an opportunity for focus. I would share three things for focus in 2013: Church Growth, Church Growth, Church Growth.

Church Growth can be a dangerous term, a self-serving term even, if limited only to a narrow understanding of numerical growth. Church Growth is more than numbers.When considering Church Growth, the question to answer is What. What is Church Growth? It can include numerical growth, but numbers are the end result of a prior growing, a spiritual growing. Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” We grow and produce fruit to the extent that we are connected to Jesus Christ, and His love is a part of us. Spiritual Growth is happening when people seek out worship, Sunday School, or places of service for the express purpose of growing in Christ. People want more God, more Jesus, and more Holy Spirit in their lives. Our responsibility is creating an environment that is most conducive for people to meet God and grow in God. We have done well, but we can continue to be intentional. Are the things we are doing growing people in their relationship with God? Yes or No. If Yes, How? If No, why are we doing what we are doing? This kind of self-appraisal is helpful in maintaining a sense of direction.Numerical Growth is a part of Church Growth. A football stadium has numbers of people, and the TN Theater attracts a number of people, but the church is different in that instead of an audience, it has a congregation. In many ways, we are a family. Adding to our numbers means adding to our family, the Body of Christ, and entails a spirit of hospitality. When a guest comes to our home, we make them feel welcome and delight in their company; the same goes for the church. In a time of dwindling numbers across the country, I want to underscore a note of urgency here. Hospitality is an imperative; it is a must-do. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor in vain,” but the people are laboring to build the house; Church Growth takes effort.It is a congregational effort. As the pastor, I can point in a certain direction or I can cast a vision, but for dreams to become reality, it takes the congregation to own the urgency with a commitment to Growth. Your welcome of new comers, your care, and your follow-up make all the difference. In addition, your enthusiasm for what God is doing here creates an excitement that others can sense and will want to be a part of. Greeting, sharing, caring, calling, inviting, praying, welcoming, introducing, and being a friend happens only to the extent that you are a part of making it happen. You are the face of FCPC; you are the lasting impression. Do you accept this responsibility? If Church Growth is to happen, then all of us are the ones that God uses. Pastors and staff are important, particularly when it comes to a first impression, but for others to sense God’s community, it takes all of us. We need everyone to have a focused, committed involvement in Church Growth.This is a three prong strategy:

1. Be growing spiritually yourself. Be a part of the life of the church, involved, and seeking for

God to meet you in a significant way. Pray for our church. Pray for its vitality and pray for its growth. Take seriously your walk with God and a little bit of God will rub off on those around you.

2. Work to make sure that the church is doing all that it can do in helping people to grow spiritually. Evaluate the Fountain City Presbyterian experience not just for yourself, but take time to think how others perceive and experience us. Where needed, work for change.

3. Be a roving one-person presence of hospitality. You don’t know if someone has been in the church thirty years, you only know that you do not know them. Say, “I don’t believe we have met before.” You see someone sitting alone; move from your pew to their pew. A congregational rule, a congregational norm ought to be “no one sits alone.” Get in the habit, without prompting, to let others see the friendly, caring, loving church that we are. Let them see it in you.

Church Growth is a concerted effort of the entire church community. Though God is the one to grow the church, God chooses to work in and through us. Our responsibility is to engage new people. As church demographics shift generationally, as younger generations drift spiritually, as mainline churches are but one choice of many worship opportunities, we need to grow. We need to reach out and touch this world, and we need others as much as they need us. In many ways, our commitment to Church Growth is a blueprint of our future. Big or small in size, Fountain City Church will always be a wonderful community, but we have an opportunity to share our future with others. What will that future look like? I am suggesting that now is the time to decide. “If we are growing spiritually and challenging others to grow, then we are doing something that God can bless.”

WOW Dinner at 5:30 pm. Dinner cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 4 years to 5th grade and 3

years and under are free. Family cap is $15. If you would like to be added to the master list for dinner

please contact the church office.

Children’s Wednesday night Choir practice: Melody Makers (2nd - 5th grade) meets from 5:15-6:00p.m. Cherub Choir (age 3 – 1st grade) meets from 6:00 -6:30 p.m. Both Choirs meet in the children’s music room on the 2nd floor.

NEWSLETTER NOTICEIf you have information for the next newsletter, please call, email, or drop a note by the church office.

CHRISTIAN LOVE & SYMPATHY

is extended to Bob Eubanks and family on the loss of his father, Robert Eubanks. is extended to Rick Mixon and family on the loss of his sister.is extended to Don Lucas and family on the loss of his step-brother. is extended to Connie Decker and family on the loss of her mother, Henrietta Greer.is extended to Donna Hager and family on the loss of her sister, Cecilia.is extended to Tibor and Anne Kovalovsky on the loss of his father.

Holy Week Services The Chancel Choir will present special music on

Palm Sunday, March 24 at 8:55 and 11:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 12:00-12:20 Services in the

Chapel Good Friday Services begin at 7:30 PM on

Friday, March 29 Worship services are at 8:55 AM and 11:00 AM

on Easter Morning, March 31

EASTER LILIESIf you would like to donate an Easter lily in support of our beautiful Easter Lily Cross on Easter Sunday, the

cost is $7.50 each. Checks are to be made payable to FCPC and mark “Easter lilies” in the memo section. Also please attach the “in honor of” or “in memory of” information along with your name to your cash or check. Turn money and information into the church office or

to Karen Sheddan or Robin French by Sunday, March 24.

PAIRS & SPARESWe will leave at noon for lunch to Aubrey’s in Powell on Thursday, March 28th.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPWe are going to Captain’s Galley on Thursday, March 14. Meet in the parking lot at 6:15 to leave at 6:30 on the bus. Sign up sheet on the fellowship board. Any questions??? Call Lee and Phyllis Donison.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

1 Diane Taylor2 Courtney Saylor, Melissa McKenzie 4 Terry Rouse6 Tracy Chain-Smith 8 Matthew DeForrest, Abigail Bell9 Jan Tarver, Jonathan Decker, Dawn

Headrick, Levi deVente10 Seth Harbin11 Sylvia Payne, Kay Eastman12 Johnny Biddle, Ruth Hundley13 Mary Beth New, Karen Sheddan, Les Mills14 Louise Silvius, Thomas Calloway, Donna

Hager15 Lee Donison 17 Tom Bjorholm, Mike McCoy, Otis Beal 18 Tyler Reed, Mike Lamb19 Robin Rohwer, Darrell Oakley, Del Lee,

Leia Riehl, Miller Sullivan 21 John Holladay, Daniel Sexton, Melissa

Sexton23 Debbie Johnson, Harry Hall, Lisa Mixon,

Spencer Terry, Dennis Wood, Chris Griffeth24 Jimmy Sexton, Todd Dunnavant, John

French, Lainy Cox25 Jan Armstrong, Sue Kryder26 Maribeth Arthur, Grace Keith28 Sarah Fansler, Ella Riehl29 Ron Humphrey, Amy Dale 30 Betty Thacker, Gayla Huffaker

Davis Center News for your information –A key pad with a code accessible to parents and staff only has been installed at the main entrance to the Davis Center for Child Development (near the playground). This key pad has been installed in order to address safety concerns expressed by parents, staff and the Davis Center Board of Directors. We regret any inconvenience that the installation of this keypad may cause regarding access to the church building by church members after office hours. Thank you, Board of Directors, Davis Center for Child Development.

SAVE THE DATES – VBS @ FCPC

June 23, 24 & 25 More details to follow

CONGRATULATIONSCongratulations to Matthew Lloyd, grandson of Susan and David Lloyd, on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Matthew received his award at a ceremony Saturday, February 9, 2013 at Concord United Methodist Church. Matthew’s parents are Peter and Ellen Lloyd.

Congratulations to Amelia Lufkin who has been accepted into The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts in the area of vocal music.  After a competitive audition process and teacher recommendations, students are selected into this month long summer program for rising 11th and 12th grade students in Tennessee.

Congratulations to Hannah Hancock who has been accepted into The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts in the area of visual arts. After an interview and teacher recommendations, Hannah, who will be a rising junior, will spend a month in this program at MTSU.

Inasmuch United Knoxville (Operation Inasmuch)

Mark Your Calendars!! Announcing Inasmuch United Knoxville's 2013 date: Saturday, April 13, 2013. What is Inasmuch United Knoxville? It's a single day when all kinds of churches all around Knoxville set out to serve people in need in our area through a variety of projects. This event has taken place yearly or twice a year since 2008. Even though the event is three months away, we need your help now! We need project ideas. Some of the past projects have been: cleaning up Fountain City Park, delivering goodie bags to nursing homes/senior centers, paying bus fare for KAT riders, cleaning up/painting a school. Ron and Beth Humphrey are the project coordinators for our Church. If you have any ideas for projects, please contact Ron or Beth. They can be reached via email at humphrey.beth.a@gmail.com or phone 755-2428.  

 IN MEMORIAMJacob deVente

Member of this church1981-2013

FCPC STAFFThe people of FCPCSenior Minister Max Reddick

f1gp@comcast.netParish Associate Darryl Baker

darrylfcpc@comcast.netDir. Chr. Ed. & Mission Lyn Oakley

lynfcpc@comcast.netDirector, Youth Alfred Huffaker

alfsmart@yahoo.comDirector, Music Bob Eubanks

beubanks@usit.netOrganist: Matt McCurry

mjm70742@aol.comOffice Admin. Cindy Ricker

fcpcoffice@comcast.netAdmin. Asst & Tammy Reed bookkeeper tamfcpc@comcast.netCustodian Terry RouseAsst. Custodian Ron FrenchCo-Dir. Davis Ctr for Child Dev. Angela McNutt

Marianne NicelyTreasurer Dawn HeadrickCo-Treasurer Pat ArmstrongLibrarian Paula RheaClerk of Session David NoelParish Assoc Sr. Care Bill & Dorothy WadsworthModerator, Board of Deacons David Decker

2013 Flower CalendarIf you would like to place flowers in the sanctuary please sign up on the flower calendar hanging in the office hallway. Let the church office know of any special memory or honor note you would like listed in the bulletin by calling or e-mailing the office. Cost increase is $55.00.

GIFTS AND MEMORIALSMemorial Fund gifts have been given in honor of Chuck and Joan Bowers by Janice and James Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bowers. A gift has been given, to the Musicians Fund, in memory of Robert Eubanks by the Choir.A Memorial Fund gift has been given in memory of Henrietta Greer and Cecilia Pence by Wanda Dye.

 

Youth Director: Alfred Huffaker – 386-0832

Fun / Fellowship, Missions, and Spiritual Growth

MarchMarch 1- 3-Sr High Youth Summit Trip, GatlinburgMarch 3- Middle School Event 5-7March 6-WOWMarch 10-Mission Meal, youth activity 2-4March 13-WOWMarch 15- 16 Cross Point-Jr. High Confirmation March 17-TBA 5-7March 20-WOWMarch 24- Be at church at 3:00 to hide eggsMarch 27- No WOW- Knox Co. Spring BreakMarch 31- No youth, Happy Easter

FELLOWSHIP EVENTSMarch 17-Skate Party at SkateTown USA on Broadway from 5-7p.m. Pizza and drinks provided. Admission will be $3 per person. Please sign up on the fellowship board in the church office hallway outside Cindy’s office or call or email the church office so we may plan for the food.

March 24-Meet for the church Easter Egg Hunt at 4:00 in the fellowship hall. Please bring your baskets and a snack to share. Lemonade will be provided.

MELODY MAKERS

Our Melody Maker children sing during the worship service on February 3.