Church News
Click on any of the bold items below for the corresponding regular monthly announcements.

CHURCH CALENDAR | BIRTHDAYS | MEMORIALS
MONTHLY WORSHIP ASSISTANTS | SESSION UPDATE

A family of disciples, touched by God’s grace, called to share Christ through worship, ministry and outreach

Ash Wednesday

Ashes to Ashes

Lent begins on the seventh Wednesday before Easter, a day known as Ash Wednesday. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from burning the previous year's Palm Sunday palm branches. Burning the withered palms to use as ashes reminds us how quickly we, too, switch from praise to condemnation in our journey of faith.

The symbolism of the ashes has many facets. The ashes call us back to the dust of creation: "Then the Lord God formed [a human being] from the dust of the ground" (Genesis 2:7). God refers to this same dust as God banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden: "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (3:19)

Why Forty?

A forty-hour vigil, a forty-day season-why does the number forty take on such significance during Lent?
In the Bible, forty is the number of fullness-it marks the time needed to complete a task or journey. Forty is such an important number theologically that we even stretch the calendar a bit to make it work for Lent. An actual count of days from Ash Wednesday to Easter gives forty-six. Christian tradition does not count the Sundays, however, thus keeping the wholeness of "forty."
For Everything a Season
Kathleen Long Bostrom

Our Ash Wednesday Service will be held on February 6th, at 6:00 pm. Please plan to join us for this special time of worship.

SESSION UPDATE
Kay Moore, Clerk

At the first meeting of the new year, the members warmly welcomed the Class of 2010. Judith Austin, Will Davies, Steve Grant and Kelly Smith have all served on Session before. Pam Douglas and Felecia Cain will be serving as new Elders. Committee assignments were made and everyone is eager to serve.
We received a report form Phyllis Kidwell about the success of the Christmas Benevolence Program. There were 65 families and individuals served as well as 24 nursing center residents. In addition, church family members who are living in nursing centers and assisted living facilities received visits and gifts. A big thank you to all who participated in this wonderful ministry.
Will Davies gave us an update on the Stewardship drive for this year.

The Youth Director Search Committee, headed by Claire Grant, will soon begin the process of searching for a candidate to fill that position. Brandon and Brittany Allen and Brandon and Amy Smith continue to serve as volunteer leaders. They have provided interesting and innovative programs to the youth that have been well attended. Please continue to pray for the Allen's and Smith's. They have been so generous of their time and talents.
Our two worship services continue to grow in number. In fact, the space in the parlor for the early service seems to be getting smaller and smaller. A good problem to have!

Please continue to pray for your
Church Elders and Staff

Kay Moore
Clerk of Session

 

 

The Elder Class of 2010
Judith Austin
Felicia Cain
Will Davies
Pam Douglas
Steve Grant
Kelly Smith

The 2007 Retiring Elders
Mittie Beaird
Tommy Downing
Marshall Endsley
Oliver (Bub) Murray
Jim Shatzsall
Mary Lynn Smith

BROWSINGS
FROM THE LIBRARY
Dr. Martin Wagner

The library has three new books that will be of interest to everyone wanting to make sure that visitors to our services are welcome and will come back again and join our congregation. These books can be valuable resources for any of our church committees concerned with worship, evangelism, witness, Christian education and stewardship
Our church wants to be known as a friendly church. But this friendly attitude needs to go beyond just greeting other members. Visitors-one book reminds us they are "guests"-need to be made welcome with friendly faces, warm handshakes, and invitations to classes and other groups. Systematic follow-ups-phone calls or visiting during the week, even a postcard noting they were at church (their names and addresses need to be registered) and inviting them back-should all be part of a church's outreach.
Membership classes should be well-designed, especially for members coming from other denominations, and scheduled regularly. One book includes models for classes and examples of class schedules and lesson outlines.
The authors are pastors, church consultants, and seminary professors, all experienced in the problems of attracting, keeping and assimilating new members.
The books are on the study table in the library for anyone to browse or check out to take home to read. Food for thought!
The books are:
Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church (Gary McIntosh)
Membership Matters: Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation (Chuck Lawless)
Finding Them, Keeping Them: Effective Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation in the Local Church (Gary McIntosh and Glen Martin)

Grief Support Group
Sara Carlson, of Genesis Hospice Care, provides Grief Support Sessions, open to the public at no charge, on Wednesdays at FPC at Noon. For more information, please call 903-675-4730 or 903-675-3530.

 

 

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HAPPY FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY!

1 Libby Lindsey
3 Felecia Cain
5 Dylan Lindsay
6 Sara Carlson
7 Andrea Meadows
7 Harold Rash
8 Janet Skelton
9 Ali Mills
10 John Mark Solomon
10 Lou Sutton
11 Rosalie Babler
11 Jack Ward
14 Carmen Hunt
14 Betsy Smith
15 Dolores Herrington
16 Jean Caldwell
16 Lynda Espy
16 Si Robson, V
18 Shirley Jones
19 Sheri Robson
19 Susannah Smith
20 Donna Dunbar
20 Neal Velvin
24 Marnell House
24 Damon Douglas
25 Arlton DeVaney
27 Jane Barton
27 John Kidwell
28 Madison Rhodes
29 LEAP DAY!

Many blessings to you on the day of your birth,
May sunshine and gladmess be given.
May our dear Father prepare you on Earth
For a beautiful birthday in Heaven!

Anonymous

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Memorials

Mrs. Nick (Ditty) Woodward

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Adams
Jackie Albers
Donna Bennett
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Brinkman
Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Budke
Ms. Carol Burton
Mr. and Mrs. Milton Chandler
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Clough
Mrs. Charles Cole
Mr. and Mrs. Don Copeland
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Coy
Mr. and Mrs. Richard David
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davies
Mr. and Mrs. Damon Douglas
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Dwelle
Mrs. Bess Gray
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Grymonprez
Mrs. Dwight A. Jones
Mary G. Ledbetter
Reverend and Mrs. Bill McNatt
Mrs. Jewell Pearcy
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Robertson
Mrs. Jenny Rogers
Mr. and Mrs. Ken Scott
Dr. and Mrs. Joe Ed Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith
Reverend Lynette and John Mark Solomon
Glenna Sparkman
Mrs. Mabel Stoltz
Mrs. Cliff Turner, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Neal Velvin

We Need Your Help

It's great to be so busy in our Church! We are asking for your help. When you want to schedule a meeting for your group (PW Circle, Committee, etc.), please call or come by the church office so we may have the event approved, identify the location, and then schedule the event on the "master calendar". This will prevent double booking the available spaces. Thank you for your help as we strive to serve our church family