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Dec. 2015
First On Third News
In this Issue:
Pastor’s Post 2
Year-End gifts and Stock
Transfer instructions
3
Advent Festival Fun 3
Connecting and Sharing
Scenes around the Church
4
Averette Lecture Jan.17
featuring Rodger Nishioka
56
Children’s Worship and
Wonder
66
History of Kenan Chapel 8
‘Tis the Season for
Giving! Thank you for all the ways
you help to make the
season brighter! Shown
here, Nancy Woolwine
expresses her joy by
holding up a few of the
150 stockings for The Sal-
vation Army Christmas
drive effort.
The subject of
“gifts” is at the top
of everyone’s mind
during this time of
year. Children make
out their lists for the
gifts they hope to
receive and send
them on to the
North Pole. Adults
make lists of family
and friends and
head out to the
stores to buy them
gifts that might be a
small reminder of just
how much they are
loved and
appreciated. We
here at the church
are also thinking
about gifts as well.
First and foremost
we are thinking
about the gift of
Jesus Christ whom
we worship and
adore. During the
season of Advent,
we prepare
ourselves for
the coming of
Christ. We gather
together for
worship, we light
the candles of our
Advent wreath,
and we share in
song and prayer in
anticipation of
Christmas Day,
when we celebrate
the birth of our
Savior. I hope you
will join us in one or
many of these
Advent practices
during this season
and involve your
entire family.
We are also
grateful for the
generosity of this
congregation and
for all of the
financial gifts you
have made and
continue to make
in order to support
the ministries of this
church. We
appreciate your
strong record of
giving in 2015 and
encourage you all
to be generous in
your year-end giving
to the church and
faithful in the
fulfillment of your
pledges. Many of
you have already
made your 2016
pledges and we
thank you for your
continued support!
If you have yet to
make a 2016
pledge, we ask that
you prayerfully
consider doing so
and turn it into the
church office as
soon as possible.
You may also submit
a secure pledge on-
line at http://
www.firstonthird.org
/pledge-2016.
A few of you have
inquired about the
status of the Pastor’s
Pastor’s Post
Page 2
Fund as you consider
a year-end gift. The
Pastor’s Fund is still a
crucial part of the
ministry of this
church. Even with
staff transitions and
our new partnership
with the Help Hub,
we continue to
provide direct
assistance to those in
need through this
fund.
Finally, I am grateful
for the gift of this
congregation.
Each one of you is a
gift to this
community of faith.
Your God-given
talents and passion
enable this church to
be a vibrant place
where God’s grace
is experienced and
God’s love is shared
in service to others.
Thank you for all you
do to make this
congregation what it
is.
Your pastor,
Charlie
Transition Team Update
Search for the Interim Pastor has begun
The Transition Team is beginning its search for an Interim Pastor, and
would appreciate any suggestions or recommendations from the
Congregation for this position. The Interim Pastor will serve until a new
Senior Pastor is called by the congregation. If you know a pastor that
you would like us to contact, please contact any member of the
Transition Team.
Members of the Team are: Terry Coffey, Chris Daughtry, Sarah Beth
Deans, Dennis Decker, Billy King, David Martin, Joyce Southerland, and
Betsy von Biberstein.
Page 3
brokerage account and
usually arrive within 3
business days.
The delivering firm will
need the Church’s
account information:
NFS account number
H2Y143260, NFS DTC
number 0226 and
account t i t le, First
Presbyterian Church.
Fun for all at the 2015 Advent Festival
Stock Transfers and Year-End Gifts Stock gifts to the church are
simple and easy.
Simply email Veronica at
to inform her of your stock
name, # of shares and
designat ion (p ledge,
pastor’s fund, etc.)
Stock Transfers can be sent
electronically from your
For all year end gifts that
need a 2015 receipt,
please make sure they
are postmarked by Dec.
31. The office will be
closed at 2:00pm that
day for New Year’s Eve.
Thanks to all who made this year’s Advent Festival
a hit! From sparkle boxes to graham cracker
creches to advent wreaths, those who came
picked up some Christmas spirit and took away
some meaningful presents and reminders of why
we celebrate. Special thanks to our Youth and
parent volunteers!
Page 4
Below: The Top Dogs had a fantastic time packing shoeboxes for
Operation Christmas Child.
Above left and right: Friends at First enjoy their Christmas
party and listening to the Hanover Singers from New Hanover High
School. Below far left and Center the Visitation committee arranges
poinsettias and gift bags to take to shut-ins and nursing homes. Right
Center: Thank you to the Christmas Decorating committee for our
beautiful Chrismon Tree and other decorations around the church!
Celebrating the Season of Advent
The 2016 Averette
Lecturer, Dr. Rodger
Nishioka, a nationally
known speaker and
holder of the Benton
Family chair in
Christian Education at
Columbia Theological
Seminary, will be with
us on Sunday, January
17, 2016 with a
morning lecture, the
sermon during a
combined 11:00 joint
worship service, and
again for a follow up
lecture with dinner
that evening.
Rodger Nishioka
teaches in the area of
Christian Education
and Practical
Theology. He
specializes in ministry
with youth and young
adults and has
completed a research
project comparing
the participation of
young adults in
mainline Protestant
congregations and
non-denominational
independent Christian
movements.
Prior to his joining the
faculty at Columbia,
Rodger served for 12
years as
denominational staff
in Youth & Young
Adult Ministry for the
Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.). Rodger
Averette
Lectures
Sunday, Jan. 17
Lecture at
With
Dr. Rodger Nishioka
Benton Family Chair
At Columbia Theological
received his
undergraduate
degree from Seattle
Pacific University, his
master’s degree in
theological studies
from McCormick
Theological Seminary
in Chicago, a
Doctorate of Divinity
degree from Austin
College and his Ph.D.
from Georgia State
University in Atlanta.
He has published
several articles,
chapters, and books
largely focused on
ministry with youth
and young adults and
the educational
ministry of the church
as spiritual formation.
9:45 Sunday morning
for combined adults
and youth.
Title: Nurturing a Faith
that Matters -
Research from the
National Study of
Youth and Religion
I will share the latest
research from the
largest longitudinal
study of American
young people on faith
and will identify ways
we can help nurture a
vibrant, sustaining
faith in our young
people and their
families.
Page 5
Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Chair at Columbia Theological Seminary
2016 Averette Lecturer Rodger Nishioka, Jan. 17 11:00 joint
worship service
Sermon
Title: New Ways
of Knowing
Texts: Jeremiah
31:31-34 and
Acts 20:7-12.
In the Jeremiah
text, the prophet tells
the people that a new
way of knowing God is
coming. In the Acts
text, we read a story
about Paul and a youth
named Eutychus. Both
will help us see that the
Church today is being
called to new ways of
proclaiming the good
news of Jesus.
5:30pm Sunday
evening.
Title: Being Christ's
Church in New Ways
Continuing with idea
that God is calling us to
new ways of being
faithful and proclaiming
the gospel, we will
explore some trends
and challenges that
are shaping how we do
ministry in the 21st
century.
A reminder that there
will be no 8:45 or 9:00
worship on this special
day. Sign up online at
our website (available
soon) if you plan to join
us for the Sunday
evening dinner.
Brief History The Averette Lecture is an
endowed annual lecture
series at First Presbyterian
Church. This annual
lecture provides the First
Presbyterian Church
family with exposure to
issues outside of the
Wilmington area and
facing the Church today.
Background: In 1984,
Geneva Averette and
other members of the
extended Averette family,
gave money to First
Presbyterian Church to
endow a lecture series in
Christian Education in
memory of Geneva’s
husband, George, who
had been a leader here in
Adult Christian Education.
When Geneva died in
2000, the extended
Averette family agreed to
continue what she had
begun and so the
Averette Lectures continue
at First Presbyterian
Church nearly thirty years
later. The Averette Lecture
Endowment has enabled
the church to bring in
noted scholars and
leading preachers for over
three decades.
Sample CWW
Service of Worship
Assemble in God’s Name: The Call To Worship
The Greeting
Songs of Praise
(children get to suggest)
Proclaim God’s Word Hearing the Word of God
(story and wondering
time)
Scripture Reading
Responding to the Word of
God (individual work time
with art materials, sacred
story objects and more)
Give Thanks to God Prayers and songs of
Thanksgiving
Go in God’s Name Songs
Kathy’s Advent
Reading list for
Children & Families
The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie
The Other Wise Man By Henry Van Dyke
The Crippled Lamb By Max Lucado
Worship and Wonder is wrapping up its second exceptional year
here at First Presbyterian Church and that is something to
celebrate.
Children’s Worship and Wonder (CWW) opened for children
ages 3 through second grade on January 5, 2014. It combines
storytelling with worship in a meaningful way to nourish the
spiritual formation of children and allowing our youngest to
begin experiencing worship.
Based on the "self-teaching" principles of Maria Montessori, the
approach was developed by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna
Gobbi to help children discover God's love through stories,
songs and learning centers.
The late Sonya Stewart, who was an ordained Presbyterian
minister joined forces with Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest,
lawyer and educator who studied with Cavaletti at the Center
for the Theology of Childhood, in Houston, Texas. The two
together wrote the book, Young Children and Worship,
published in 1989 which is the foundation for the program.
Kathy Beach, Interim Associate Pastor explains, "Worship and
Wonder provides for our children an age appropriate setting to
both learn the stories of Scripture and the rhythms of worship. The
children who regularly participate are growing in their faith, their
knowledge of Scripture, and how and why we worship as we do.”
By helping children learn to worship in a special place apart
from the worshipping congregation, they become prepared to
do so when they join with the congregation. The room is set up
in a child size space with many of the same sacred articles you
find in the Sanctuary. According to the founders, this addresses
three main needs: for the children to experience and praise
God; to allow them their own sacred time and space as they
worship; and to build a community with love, security,
appropriate freedom, continuity, order and meaning through
the ritual of worship in that space.
An army of dedicated greeters and storytellers help organize
the time and make the stories come alive each week. They
include leaders Margaret Chandler, Glo Lynch, Hannah
Vaughan, and volunteers Elizabeth Anstett, Joyce Baldwin,
Beverly Ballard, Carter Benton, James and Joanna Grooms, Mimi
Hearne, Elaine Hogan, Mary Hultman, Jessica King, Linda Lane,
Carol Marzahn, Elizabeth Miars, Lil
Van Order, Julie Robey, Cara Ward,
Jan Wessell, Julia Wessell, Julia
Worth, and many other “retired”
storytellers and greeters.
We thank them all for giving our
children this excellent start to their
lifelong journey with Christ.
What Is Children’s Worship and Wonder?
Page 6
Holiday Office Schedule
The Church office will
be closed at 1 p.m.
Christmas Eve, closed
Christmas Day and
Monday, Dec. 28, 2pm
on New Year’s Eve and
closed New Year’s Day.
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to you
and Yours!
Youth Meetings for
December:
Thursday, December 10
– Come help with the
Gifts for Grandparents
Night. The children
need help making
muffin mix, ornaments,
and Christmas cards.
5:30pm-7:30pm Boney
Hall.
Youth Fundraiser
Also, don’t forget that
the Youth Tervis
Tumblers are “Wrapped
and Ready” for your
gifting this season.
Check them out near
Gilmour and in the
Welcome Center.
Proceeds go to the
Youth programs and
mission.
Connecting Women, a
new inter-generational
bible study for all
interested women,
meets on Thursday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. in
the Library at the
church. The next
gathering will be Dec.
17. The monthly
weeknight group meets
again Jan. 5 at 7pm.
Pageant sign ups
The Christmas Pageant
will be held during the
family Christmas Eve
service on Thursday,
December 24th at 4pm
in the Sanctuary.
Sign-ups for the
Christmas Pageant and
more details can be
found online. Or go to
www.firstonthird.org
and click on the sign up
page.
NEW—Youth Guys’ and
Gals’ Groups on Sunday
Mornings!
When: Sundays at 10:15a
Where: Gilmour Hall
Led by: John Shelton
and Freddy Butler and
Janice Clark.
Top Dogs Carriage Ride
Calling all Top Dogs! It's
time for our annual
Christmas Carol Carriage
Ride followed by
hot chocolate and
cookies. We will meet on
the playground
December 13 at 3pm
and will be back at 5pm.
Please RSVP here to
Betsy by December 4th.
Cost per child is $10.
Men’s Christmas
Luncheon
It's also time to sign up
for the Men of the
Church December
luncheon. Hoggard High
School choirs will perform
and lunch is always
great from MOI. Open to
all, please bring your
spouses to this beautiful
Christmas program. Help
us prepare for the right
number by signing
up here.
January Jumpstart combined Adult Classes will be offered along with our previously mentioned Averette Lectures (page 5) on January 10, 24 and 31 at 10:00 in Boney Hall. Teachers include: Ben David, Dr. Jennifer Coleman, Evie Niklaus of t h e G r a n d p a r e n t s Support Network, and our recent China Mission Team. More information will be online at our website soon.
Other Great Events Sunday, December 13
Third Sunday of Advent
*Worship at 8:45, 9:00
and 11:00
Monday, December 14
12:00 p.m. Men of the
Church Luncheon in
Gilmour Hall with
the Hoggard High
School Choir—Open to
all!
Tuesday, December 15
12:10 p.m. Organ Recital
& Lunch, Justin Smith
Sunday, December 20
Fourth Sunday of Advent
*Worship at 8:45, 9:00
and 11:00
*10:00 a.m. Christmas
Pageant rehearsal,
start in the Chapel
4:00 p.m. Youth
Christmas Caroling open
to all!
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve
*4:00 p.m. Family Wor-
ship Service with
Children’s Christmas
Pageant
*7:00 p.m. Candlelight
Communion Worship,
Soloists & Instrumentalists
10:30 p.m. Prelude
11:00 p.m. Candlelight
Communion Worship,
Chancel Choir &
Instrumentalists
* Nursery available.
News Briefs PWCT Circles
Circle 1: 6pm, Monday,
Dec. 14 home of Clayton
Fountain, 2909
Hydrangea Pl.
Circle 2: 7pm
Dec.14 home of Connie
Hawkins, 1200 Forest
Island Place
Circle 3: 10:30am,
Monday, Dec. 14 at the
home of Pam Bradley,
6522 Chalfont Circle
Circle 4: 10:30am,
Monday, Dec. 14, The
Carriage House
Circle 6: 10am,
Monday, Dec.14,
Plantation Village
Circle 8: 10:30am,
Tuesday, Dec. 15, The
Carriage House,
followed by lunch
Circle 9: 10am,
Monday, Dec. 14 home
of Jan Wessell, 23 Shore
Dr. Wrightsville Beach
Time Is drawing near!
Women’s 2016 Pinehurst
Retreat regi stration
deadline is Jan. 15. If you
are having problems
with online registration,
call Amy in the church
office. The retreat will be
Feb. 26-28 in Pinehurst,
NC. Questions: contact
E l a i n e H o g a n
Welcome back College
Students!
The Parents Sunday
School class, would like
to invite all returning
College Students and
parents as well as High
School youth to a
brunch/social gathering
on 12/20 at 10am in
Boney Hall. For more
information contact
Jennifer Coleman.
The Thompson Bell:
Donate toward the
Thompson Bell, in honor
of Ernie Thompson and
his family, at the website:
www.firstonthird.org/give
-now/
JOHN T. HOGGARD
HIGH SCHOOL
HOLIDAY CHORAL
CONCERT
Sunday, December 13,
2015, 5:00 p.m.
The Mixed Chorus, Advanced
Chorus and Voyagers of
John T. Hoggard High School
return for their annual concert
of music for the holiday
season.
Benjamin Horrell, conductor;
John Tabler, accompanist.
Page 7
Did You Know? History of Kenan Chapel
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Wilmington, North Carolina
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Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
Return Service
Requested
created by Owen
Bonawit of New York
City and represent
the twelve apostles,
along with the eight
petal rose window
over the reredos.
The two-manual, 13
rand organ in the
chapel was built in
1993 by Noack Organ
Company of
Georgetown, Mass.
Given in memory of
William A. Kenan, Jr.
this organ was
preceded by two
other organs given by
the Kenan family.
Originally completed
among the entire
complex of the
sanctuary and
educational building,
Kenan Chapel, tower
and steeple were
given in memory of
William Rand Kenan
and wife, Mary
Hargrave Kenan by
their children. The
chapel reflects a
Norman style gothic
architecture, 28,000
bricks were imported
from Holland to give
an orange tint to its
arches. The stained
glass windows were
The chapel is
used for Sunday
worship services,
concerts,
funerals,
weddings,
Sunday School
classes and
meetings. It seats 130
people with sense of
togetherness.
The Kenan family also
gave the Kenan
fountain at 5th
Avenue and Market
Street.
—Submitted by the
History Committee
