Our Vision – A Community where people are FINDING, GROWING, LIVING,

AND EXTENDING the love, grace, and compassion of Jesus Christ.

FAITH TIMES

Inside this issue:

Message from

Pastor Jim

Fun and Fellowship

New Members

Monthly Calendar

Joys and Concerns

Coming Soon

Birthdays

Music Ministry &

Events

Adult Ministry &

Events

Children, Rising

Disciples, Youth

Ministry & Events

Pictures

2

2

2

3

4

4

4

5

5

6

7

Sundays at FaithSundays at FaithSundays at FaithSundays at Faith Sunday School & Bible

Study begin at

9:15 a.m. Worship begins at

10:30 a.m.

Childcare is provided

301 Bailey Ranch Rd. Aledo, Texas 76008

Office Hours Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00 Phone: 817/441-6262 Fax: 817/441-1565 E-mail: info@faithaledo.com

On the Web at

www.faithaledo.com

Volume 8, Issue 5 May 2011

THE GRACE

OF

GREAT THINGS

May is always a time of life transition—especially for school age children, youth, and college students. In fact, one of the hardest adjustments in life is when the annual tempo of our education systems is replaced by the less certain timing of big events in life that lie beyond our formal education. Whatever life-stage we’re in, though, learning remains necessary for life—and is arguably the primary purpose for life. God is preparing us

for something beyond life and that preparation involves learning. Parker Palmer is a leading author, educational consultant, and Christian who understands the deep spiritual connections between education and faith. Parker believes that every time we learn something it is a great thing. No matter how small or important that thing is, when that thing becomes knowledge to someone, it is a great thing that God wants known. Great things are the truths of God’s creation. There are small truths and large truths but everything in God’s creation is a great thing, small or large. A lot of stuff we are required to learn can be pretty boring. Maybe it wouldn’t be so boring if we could tune into the great thing that God wants known by this boring stuff. As students we move from one grade to the next. There’s also the more exciting events of our graduations through the big phases of our formal education. Through each of these transitions we carry with us many great things of learning—each one is a gift of grace. Another Christian educator calls our knowledge, “God’s Wisdom Incarnate.” There is power in learning and knowledge—

The Grace of Great Things.

SPRING SERMON SERIES CONTINUES

Page 2 FAITH TIMES

Fun and Fellowship at Faith During the Month of May there are several Fellowship opportunities for our faith family to eat, hangout, and have some fun together. We hope everyone will find their way to one or more of these fun events. Check the calendar for a complete list of dates and times.

Confirmation Sunday April 17 The church invited the Confirmation Class of 2011 into full membership in the Body of Christ.

Please welcome our new members:

Cameron Allen Mary Bolf Molly Bolf Bayley Bollin Grace Demers Zach Dobbins Delaney McLaughlin Ward Studdard Carter Tillman

Yes, another academic year is coming to an end. For children, youth, and college students there will be many sighs of relief and acts of celebration. And, then there is summer! School age years are stressful years and one of the most important things we will ever learn is how to manage that stress. Stress is contagious. Parent stress feeds student stress and student stress feeds parent stress. So, the first thing we need to learn is whose stress are we dealing with. It’s very easy for parents to transfer their ambitions and

expectations onto their children without even knowing it. When our students don’t meet those expectations parents often experience the stress of

personal failure. The student senses his or her parents’ frustration and ‘feels’ their parent taking it very personally. What inevitably happens is that the focus of all the emotional energy of stress becomes directed toward the parent (anger does this, draws attention to itself) when it’s really the student’s struggles socially and/or academically that are in need of attention. As parents it is so important for us to not make our student/children’s struggles our struggles. We can be a much greater source

of help, guidance, comfort, and support when we can keep just one degree of separation between our troubles and our student/children’s troubles. Many student/children wake up every morning caught between the stress ‘out there’ and the stress they’re ‘causing’ their parents in the home. Stressing all the time does not have to be a way of life. A wonderful way for parents to share stress with their

student/children is to pray about their stress together. God will help you sort things out: God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you be able to endure it. 1Corinthians 10:13

God is Good and Grace is Amazing! Pastor Jim

You can contact

The Rev. Jim Witherow

by e-mail,

pastor@faithaledo.com

or

call 817-441-6262.

Exams, Proms, Promotions, Graduations

Growing Our Family of Faith

Please join us in welcoming Derek and Claire Armstrong as new members of Faith!

If you are visiting Faith we hope that you experienced the Faith Hospitality that we want to extend to all whom God brings our way. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to fully participate in everything we do at Faith—membership is not required—but if you are looking for a church home, we encourage you to consider our Faith family. Information about becoming a member, Journey to Faith, is available at the Hospitality Desk. Please contact Pastor Jim if you are interested in or would like more infor-

mation about joining our Faith family!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 8:00 am Praise

Team 9:15 am Church

School/Bible Study 10:30 am Worship/

Communion 11:30 am First Sunday Fellowship

Lunch

11:30 am Music Advisory Team 5:00 pm Youth

2

9:30 am Women’s Morning Bible

Study

3 6:30 am Coffee and

the Bible

4 6:15 pm Wed To-gether/Wed 4 Kids

Theme: Potluck 6:00pm Fellowship

Team meeting 6:50 pm Journey

through the Bible 7:30 pm Choir

5 Cinco De Mayo National Day of Prayer

6 7 8:00 am Men’s

Breakfast

8 Mother’s Day 8:00 am Praise

Team 9:15 am Church

School/Bible Study 10:30 am Worship

9

6:30 pm Girl Scout

Troop Meeting 7:00 pm Women’s

Evening Bible Study

10 6:30 am Coffee and

the Bible 6:30 pm Worship

Advisory Meeting

11

6:15 pm Wed To-gether/Wed 4 Kids

Theme: Picnic 6:50 pm Journey

through the Bible

12 6:30 pm Deacon

Meeting

13

14

15 8:00 am Praise

Team 9:15 am Church

School/Bible Study 10:30 am Wor-

ship /Communion 12:00 pm Bell

Choir Party 4:00 pm Journey to

Faith 5:00 pm Youth

16 9:30 am Women’s Morning Bible

Study

17 6:30 am Coffee and

the Bible 6:30 pm Session

Meeting

18 6:15 pm Wed To-gether/Wed 4 Kids

Theme: Mexican 6:50 pm Journey

through the Bible 7:30 pm Choir

19 20

21

22 8:00 am Praise

Team 9:15 am Church

School/Bible Study 10:15 am Choir 10:30 am Worship 3:00 pm Youth

event

23

6:30 pm Girl Scout

Troop Meeting 7:00 pm Women’s

Evening Bible Study

24 6:30 am Coffee and

the Bible

25 6:15 pm Wed To-gether/Wed 4 Kids

Theme: Italian

26

27 28

29 Youth Sunday 9:15 am Church

School/Bible Study 10:30 am Worship

30 Memorial Day 31 6:30 am Coffee and

the Bible

May 2011

Page 3 FAITH TIMES

Ruth Shook 5/01 Meagan Dobbins 5/02

Glenn Seay 5/03 Maddox Woods 5/04

Joanna Pope 5/08 Mason Ray 5/08

Bree Bollin 5/10 Aus&n Lindsey 5/11

Joan MacWhirter 5/12 Ian MacKenzie 5/14

Samantha Edwards 5/15 Aus&n Ferrell 5/15

Claire Demers 5/16 Joanne Lo2 5/21

Traci Jernigan 5/22 Bambi Cartmill 5/24

Natalie Peak 5/28 Don Wilhelm 5/28

Paul Garrison 5/29 Susan Overcash 5/29

Mary Taylor Tillman 5/31

Page 4 FAITH TIMES

Joys and Concerns

May Birthdays

Coming Soon

We raise our prayers for all the lives impacted and losses experienced in the recent wildfires in Texas and the se-

vere storms and tornadoes throughout the South. We continue to pray for Connie Suchocki’s family and for the

fragile health of her mother. We continue to pray for Gene McLaughlin’s health (father of Natalie Peak, Michelle,

and Heather McLaughlin). We pray for Paige Wilhelm’s mother’s continued recovery.

If you have joys, concerns, or prayer requests please let us know. Call 817-441-6262 and leave

messages on Pastor Jim’s voice mail or send an email to Pastor Jim at: pastor@faithaledo.com

Page 5

Music Ministry & EventsMusic Ministry & EventsMusic Ministry & EventsMusic Ministry & Events

Adult Ministry & EventsAdult Ministry & EventsAdult Ministry & EventsAdult Ministry & Events

FAITH TIMES

Page 6

Children Rising Disciples Youth Children Rising Disciples Youth Children Rising Disciples Youth Children Rising Disciples Youth Ministries & EventsMinistries & EventsMinistries & EventsMinistries & Events

CHRISTIAN UPBEATS SWIM PARTY & COOKOUTCHRISTIAN UPBEATS SWIM PARTY & COOKOUTCHRISTIAN UPBEATS SWIM PARTY & COOKOUTCHRISTIAN UPBEATS SWIM PARTY & COOKOUT Sunday, May 5

12:00 pm—2:30 pm

YOUTH SCHEDULE:YOUTH SCHEDULE:YOUTH SCHEDULE:YOUTH SCHEDULE: Sunday, May 1 5:00 pm—7:00 pm Youth Sunday Planning Sunday, May 8 No Youth due to Mother’s Day Sunday, May 15 5:00 pm—7:00 pm Youth Sunday Planning Sunday, May 22 3:00 pm—8:00 pm Presbytery event Sunday, May 29 Youth Sunday

** Service Project for Youth Sunday** Service Project for Youth Sunday** Service Project for Youth Sunday** Service Project for Youth Sunday Please bring small toiletries in a gallon size Ziploc baggie. Place the bag on the Communion table. The youth will deliver the bags to the Presbyterian Night Shelter

FAITH TIMES

FAITH PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL FPDS had a hip hoppin’ good time at our egg hunt and Easter celebration. In May we will celebrate Mother’s Day by having our Pre-K class serve their mothers at a “Muffins for Mom” breakfast. Our Spring semester will end with a water play day complete with a water slide, wade pools, shaving cream galore . . . . . . .

and a lunch fit for a pirate: octopus stew, whales and fish, sail boats and pirate punch

We have limited space available for the fall. Go to our website for more information concerning enrollment.

Pictures from AprilPictures from AprilPictures from AprilPictures from April

FAITH TIMES Page 7

JAMIE SLOCUM CONCERT

FAITH PRESBYTERIAN EASTER EGG HUNT

pastor@faithaledo.com—Jim Witherow info@faithaledo.com—General requests for information finance@faithaledo.com—Finance team treasurer@faithaledo.com—Treasurer (Jon Coon) faithadmin@faithaledo.com—Administration team events@faithaledo.com—Fellowship team & Event requests faithtimes@faithaledo.com—Faith Times publication information music@faithaledo.com—Director of Music (johna beth Mohr) dce@faithaledo.com—Director of Children’s Ministry (Lisa Connolly) youth@faithaledo.com—Director of Youth Ministry (Josh deSteiguer) dayschool@faithaledo.com—Director of Day School (Sheree Carter)

FAITH TIMES Page 8