Weathervane THE First Presbyterian Church

101 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown, New Jersey (856) 235-1688

July 2010

Jonathan Miller, Pastor

O sing to the Lord, for He has done marvelous things. Psalm 98:1

Dear Friends, When the “storm” passes Psalm 98 is a wonderful song to sing! Since I’ve returned to the office, June 14, I’ve been singing! Thank you for your prayers and many encouragements over these past couple of months. I think I have gotten more rest and taken more naps than I can count. I’ve done something I’ve rarely done -- read books just for the fun of it ~ like The Last Yankee: the Turbulent Life of Billy Martin. The book took me back to many of my childhood heroes and was just fun to read. I hope that your summer will give you some “fun” reading.

I will meet the doctor at the end of June and we will determine if anymore treatments are necessary. At this time the medical team is confident that the cancer was contained.

I was overjoyed to join you in worship on June 13 as we welcomed Rev. Martha Jordan as our new Associ-ate Pastor for Families. You will find Martha to be a very gifted, gentle, strong, and visionary woman. Her oversight of our adult, youth and children’s ministries will bring a much needed boost to the work we are do-ing. I am especially appreciative of our elders’ vision and encouragement to fill this position, and do the addi-tional work necessary to continue our ministries in the absence of a pastor. Martha will begin with us Sep-tember 1. I would encourage us not to ask of her anything until she has begun with us. She will be very busy, with Bruce, getting situated and preparing for school for KD and Ellie.

We have received a wonderful gift in the person of Dr. Phil Jones. Phil is a friend of this congregation and has served superbly as our Supply Pastor in my absence. Phil’s preaching, leadership, and encouragement impacted the staff and congregation in many ways. The E-Blast is an example. On Friday’s I will be continu-ing what he has begun ~ sending out a brief update on the week and coming week ~ it will be a way to get important information to you quickly and directly. If you have not given us your email please forward that to Ann McBride at the office (amcbride@fpcmoorestown.org). Phil has also challenged us to take the “next step” that can maximize our ministries in our communities. We expect him to be back and share more of his thoughts with our session this summer. Please pray for Phil and Susan as they discern God’s next steps for them as a family.

May our Lord give you a “new song” to sing this summer. When you are away be sure to worship wherever you are. Begin to pray about someone you know that would benefit from your invitation to worship with you this fall (or summer).

With thanksgiving and a deep appreciation and love for this congregation!

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July 2010 Sermon Schedule

SUNDAY MORNINGS 8am in Fellowship Hall

10 am in the Sanctuary

JULY 4 Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible ESTHER’S COURAGE ~ FREEDOM

Esther 4 and selected verses

Dr. Jonathan Miller

JULY 11

Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible

SINGING AT MIDNIGHT Acts 16:19-34

Dr. Jonathan Miller

JULY 18 Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible

Bruce Main from UrbanPromise is preaching

JULY 25

Dr. Debby Brincivalli Executive Presbyter

West Jersey Presbytery

SUNDAY EVENINGS

5pm New Creation in the Commons

JULY 4 Studies in the Book of Mark

WHAT MATTERS ~ MATTER?

Mark 7:1-23

Dr. Jonathan Miller

JULY 11 JESUS STRANGE WORDS

Mark 7:24-30 Dr. Jonathan Miller

JULY 18 HE DOES EVERYTHING WELL

Mark 7: 31-37

Wes Allen, Director of Youth Ministry

JULY 25

LET’S FEED 4000! Mark 8:1-10

Elder Tom McBride

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am they God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” “The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

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SUNDAY MORNINGS 8am in Fellowship Hall

10 am in the Sanctuary

AUGUST 1 Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible FISH STORY OR WHALE OF TRUTH?

Jonah 1:1-3; 11-17; 2:1-10; 3:1-5

Dr. Jonathan Miller

AUGUST 8 Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible

HEARD ABOUT THE BONES? Ezekiel 37:1-14 Rev. Jim King

AUGUST 15

Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO GIVE UP YOUR DREAM

Genesis 22:1-15 Dr. Jonathan Miller

AUGUST 22

Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible GIDEON’S SURPRISE — 300 vs. 1000’s

Judges 6:11-18; 7:1-8 Dr. Jonathan Miller

AUGUST 29

Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible A WOMAN’S AMAZING GIFT

1 Kings 17:8-16

Dr. Jonathan Miller

SEPTEMBER 5 Series: Greatest Stories of the Bible

THE NEW JERUSALEM: BIGGEST AND LAST STORY

Revelation 21: 1-8, 22-27 Dr. Jonathan Miller

SUNDAY EVENINGS

5pm New Creation in the Commons

AUGUST 1 URBAN PROMISE PICNIC

Guest Preacher

AUGUST 8 HOW COULD THEY FORGET?

Mark 8: 11-21 Dr. Jonathan Miller

AUGUST 15

HAND IN HAND WITH JESUS

Mark 8: 22-30

Pam Main

AUGUST 22 WHEN THE DEVIL TALKS

Mark 8: 31-38

Dr. Jonathan Miller

AUGUST 29 CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

Mark 9:1-13 Dr. Jonathan Miller

SEPTEMBER 5

UNBELIEF THAT MOVES GOD’S HAND Mark 9: 14-29

Wes Allen, Director of Youth Ministry

August 2010 Sermon Schedule

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Welcome Rev. Martha Williams Jordan!

On Sunday, June 13 the congregation voted to approve the call of Rev. Martha Williams Jordan to serve as Associate Pastor for Families here at First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Jordan will join the staff on September 1.

Rev. Jordan is a graduate for Marist College and Union-PSCE. Martha has served as Direc-tor of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. She also held the position of Associate Pastor in Yorktown, Virginia; Co-pastor in Armenia, NY; and cur-rently, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Connersville, Indiana. Rev. Jordan has exten-sive experience in Christian Education and youth ministry.

Martha is moving to South Jersey with her husband, Bruce and two daughters, KD (age 9) and Ellie (5).

Please join the staff in warmly welcoming this godly family into our community. We look forward to getting to the know Jordans and sharing ministry together with them as a family!

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Returns This Fall – September 2010! If you make my word your home, you will be my disciple Jesus in John 8:31 (The New Jerusalem Bible)

After a great first year, the First Presbyterian Church DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE Bible Study ministry will enter year three this fall. Here’s what some of the participants in this year’s classes have said about the course:

The Lord wants to communicate with us through His Word, and that’s exactly what we do each week in Disciple. The biblical study in Disciple gives the benefit of an overview of the whole Bible. Believe it or not, it’s fun! Despite having been raised in the church, I learned so many new things. It was the fellowship of the group that made studying the Bible so meaningful.

The DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE Bible Study ministry grows stronger, more confident followers of Jesus Christ through the in-depth study of the Scripture. Each participant in a DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE Bible study small group has their faith built-up and finds guidance for practical ways to put their Christian convictions into action each day. And if YOU should decide to participate in the DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE Bible Study next year, you can expect to become more biblically alert, spiritually encouraged, and practically equipped to live effectively at a follower of Jesus Christ each day.

We assume in DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE that the Bible is essential for personal spiritual growth and genuine renewal in the church, and that God gave us the Scripture in order to clearly speak to us. Giving equal time to both Old and New Testaments, the study emphasizes the wholeness of the Bible as a revelation of God while drawing on the work of Biblical scholars to aid understanding of the Bible. The DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE program of disciplined Bible study aims to develop strong Christian disciples who are learners, believers, followers, proclaimers, and servants—and it does so in the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support, and servanthood.

Information meetings will be held by Leaders of this years Disciple I in August for those interested in discovering more about this new opportunity for spiritual nurture, growth and training.

Since this is a small group based ministry, there will be a limited number of openings in order to keep the group(s) to an optimal size (8-12 people). So—if you are interested in this chance to push your spiritual life to the next level, don’t delay in expressing your interest. For, as the Bible says, “He who hesitates is lost” … or at least left out of another chance to get in on DDDISCIPLEISCIPLEISCIPLE...

We are a Church ...DEVELOPING Christ-like Disciples --from The Mission Statement of First Presbyterian Church

Summer Sunday School Hour Schedule (9am –9:45am)

July 4th—NO Program for adults or children July 11, 18, 25—C.S. Lewis Narnia series: Prince Caspian (for adults and children) August 1, 8—C.S. Lewis Narnia series: Prince Caspian (for adults and children)

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Missions

UrbanPromise Picnic and Worship Evening – August 1

UrbanPromise anticipates the arrival of 50 college interns this summer to assist in leadership of summer camp programs for children and youth in Camden. One of the traditions of our partnership with UrbanPromise is to host the summer staff on a Sunday evening for dinner and worship. The evening set aside for our hospitality is August 1 when a buffet picnic dinner will begin at 4 pm, followed by worship with New Creation at 5 pm. Immedi-ately after worship everyone is invited to enjoy an ice cream social. Attend New Creation worship on 8/1 to be inspired by testimonies of young adults who are walking in faith to serve as His instruments of love in Camden.

Hekima Place (Kenya) founder, Mrs. Kate Fletcher will be our guest in worship on August 22nd. Kate travels to the U.S. in the summer to visit support-ers, sponsors, and ‘big sisters’ throughout the Northeast. When she arrives in Moorestown, her administrative assistant, Gladys, and two young girls from Hekima Place will have joined her from Kenya. We are looking forward to her greetings during worship and have planned a reception from 9-9:45 am to wel-come Kate and girls. All are welcome to attend this time of hospitality to meet a visionary leader. The April Mission Team spent several days at the new Hekima Place location getting it ready for construction.

Haiti Response

To date, over $3,500 has been raised for Haiti earthquake relief through offerings and activities like the family Bake Sale and March 6th Benefit Evening. Most of these funds were designated to the following relief agencies: World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, PDA and Medical Benevolence Foundation.

During the first week of August, a small investigation/work team from FPC will depart for Haiti. The objective of their journey will be to understand the ways that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in recovery efforts with HAITI OUTREACH MINISTRIES (HOM). HOM is a partner of The Outreach Foundation in Franklin, TN. David Hess is leading the team as he has extensive knowledge in restoration ef-forts in the Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina.

The ongoing priority of HOM is food and medical care for earthquake survivors. Where we believe we can be of the greatest help is with HOM community rebuilding support. Home rebuilding (pictured at left) and home repair is a pri-mary focus of mission teams, in addition to repairing dam-aged schools and churches. Please pray for the exploration team as they prepare for their journey. Contact Carol McWilliams (carol144@aol.com) for information about how to support Haiti relief and this journey.

HOM home rebuilding in Cite Soleil

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Stepping Stones Sharing the news from our Preschool

Spread the word about Step By Step... We still have spots available in our wonderful 2 1/2 year old classes and a few in our afternoon PreK class (for 4 year olds). The 2 1/2 year old class is perfect for children born between October 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008 and has been raved about by those who have had children in it.

We would love your help in finding new friends for these classes. Anyone interested can contact Amy Agger at aagger@fpcmoorestown.org or call 856-235-7105 with any questions or to schedule a tour.

SPOTS AVAILABLE IN OUR 2 1/2 YEAR OLD and PM PREK CLASSES !

OPEN REGISTRATION FOR 2010-2011

A Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown

101 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown Call 856-235-7105 for more information

Visit our website - www.fpcmoorestown.org/preschool

Established in 1964

Experienced Teachers

State Licensed

Newly Renovated & Expanded

Classes offered for children 2 1/2 to 4 years of age

Congratulations to Our Scholarship Recipients!

Thanks to a member of our church who has made monies available to encourage those who are graduating as they live out their Christian faith, we are happy to announce our college scholarship recipients for this year! Candidates are considered using the following criteria:

General Criteria 1. Recipient must be a member or active participant in FPC

programs, with emphasis on worship attendance. 2. Service and leadership within the congregation. 3. Service and mission outside the doors. 4. Need. 5. Recipient must be a graduating high school senior who is

planning post-high school education. Specific Criterion Recipient must have manifested Christian leadership and service through FPC, a love for Jesus.

This years’ recipients: Amanda Ayers (Moorestown High School) Elizabeth Baldwin (Doan Academy) Jarrod Clark (Moorestown High School) Jenna Dougherty (Moorestown High School) Christian Gepp (Moorestown High School) Sarah Gsell (Rancocas Valley High School) Gretchen Heim (Moorestown High School) Erica Mueller (Moorestown High School) Kyra Patel (Lenape Regional High School) Colin Proctor (Moorestown High School) Loren Pruitt (Moorestown High School) Michael Quann (Moorestown High School) Jimmy Roman (Moorestown High School) Alexander Shaffer (Moorestown Friends School) Kelly Volosin (Moorestown High School)

May God bless you and all of the Graduates as you move on to your new endeavors!

July 2010 List of Events

Narnia Coloring Pages—Lucy visits with Mr. Tumnus

August 2010 List of Events

Narnia Coloring Pages—Aslan

The Weathervane

101 Bridgeboro Road Moorestown, NJ 08057

First Presbyterian Church

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