JJ White MemorialPresbyterianChurch

July 2014 Newsletter

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church... Colossians 1:15-18a

a word from our pastor...

The Reverend Bob Phelps

a word from our pastor...

You Do What For a Week?

By the time you read this, Deanna and I will be in Montreat, North Carolina for the Worship and Music Conference that happens there each summer. This conference always brings hundreds of people of all ages and interests who plan, direct, and participate in worship together for a week of inspiring preaching, challenging music, and sustaining relationships. Being nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina for a week is reason enough to go, but the Conference adds so many other reasons to go. We look forward to it each year and hope that sometime some of you will get to experience it, too. When we tell people about the week, we sometimes get some strange responses. Try telling some of your normal friends that you go spend good money to go somewhere so you can get up early, go to choir rehearsal twice a day, go to worship EVERY day, hear lectures and go to workshops and other classes, pick the brains of worship planners and preachers, go to concerts and recitals, and start and end each day with prayer and see what kinds of reactions you get.

We have another special place in the mountains where we sometimes go for a getaway. There is very little to do there, although it’s near enough to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for those who want to go. We had friends in Huntsville who had heard us talk so much about our place that they decided to go. They left after one day, bored out of their gourds. I guess I would react the same way if someone offered me a week of golf lessons or skateboard camp.

However you’re spending your summer, I hope you are finding time for some renewal and refreshment. Don’t apologize for it. We all need it. If you get the chance while you’re away, visit someone else’s church just to see what goes on in different places. Before we turn around, it’ll be time for us to gear up for another year of teaching, serving, and worshiping in the church here. Planning for much of that is already underway. Most of us will continue to be in worship and other activities here through most of the summer. That’s renewing, too. However you find renewal this summer, be thankful for it and refreshed by it.

Grace and Peace,Bob

“Clean Water for All God’s Children”

(A Curriculum from Living Waters for the World)

Monday-Thursday, July 14-175:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Supper at 5:00

(Please send a plain white T-shirt in your child’s size)

JJ White MPC Vacation Bible School is

coming soon!

Ascension Sunday with the Children

The children appear in silhouette as they gather under the east window of the JJ White sanctuary on a recent Sunday during the “children’s sermon”. They listen as Reverend Phelps talks to them about the Ascension of Jesus as depicted by the window. The children’s sermon is a regular part of each Sunday morning worship service with the adults benefiting from it as well as the children.

JJ White MPC Welcomes New Member

Artis Brown was already considered to be a part of our church family, but she officially became a member of JJ White MPC on June 6, 2014, and was welcomed by the congregation on Sunday, June 15, during the morning worship service.

Artis is employed by the City of McComb as Waste Coordinator-Program Manager. She is enthusiastic about her work and has plans to expand the opportunities for recycling in the city.

She is also a talented vocalist and performs regularly in various venues throughout the area.

We welcome Artis into our membership and look forward to having her continue as a part of our congregation.

Artis Brown and Rev. Bob Phelps

Presbyterian Women of JJ White to Begin New Study.

. Presbyterian Women of JJ White will begin a

new Bible Study soon. There will

be an overview of the study at the July meeting and books will be available. As stated in promotional material: “This study invites us all to ask whether or not we understood Paul’s writings clearly

in the past and to read his letter afresh in light of

the issues we face in our time. Concepts of shared

partnership, power in weakness, healing,

reconciliation, love, and a new apostolate all

figure prominently in Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty’s reading of Paul.” Come join this group on Tuesday, July 8, in

the Fellowship Hall for a light lunch and a

relaxed, friendly time of study and discussion of Paul’s writings.

Summer Mission Emphases

Thank you so much for your response to our calls for help for various ministries. Your gifts of hygiene packs for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and filling the baby bottles for the local Crisis Pregnancy Center will help many.

Don’t tell the kids, but Back to School is right around the corner, so during July and early August, we invite you to begin to look for school supplies. We will be gathering supplies here to s e n d t o c h i l d r e n s e r v e d b y C . U . P. S (Communidades Unidas Pro Salud/Communities United for Health) one of the ministries we support along the Texas/Mexico border. If our collection is big enough, we can divide it between C.U.P.S and local needs. You may bring school supplies any Sunday or drop them by the church office through the week.

Also during July, we will be gathering extra food for the MICA Food Pantry. The demand goes up in summer, so MICA will benefit from any extra help we can provide. We will distribute grocery sacks for you to fill. You may bring your food gifts any time during July, and we will get them to the MICA food pantry. If you’d like to help out at the Pantry on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, see Rick Penick or Bob for more information.,

After untold hours of work by Bill Mitchell and Bill Jones, co-chairs of our Property Committee, repairs are underway on our roof. B e aw a re o f t h i s ongoing work as you are in and out of the building through the week.

The small parking lot outside the elevator door will be unavailable from time to time. Join u s i n e x p r e s s i n g appreciation to Bill and Bill for coordinating this work. Pray for the workers who complete this work in the heat.

Roof Repairs Begin at JJ White

Notes from Deanna Phelps, Music Director

I hope you’re missing the choir while we’re off for the summer. We’ll resume rehearsals in early

August, and we look forward to being back in the loft to lead our congregation in singing. For now,

it’s nice to be out in the congregation and add our voices to yours there. Summer gives us wonderful opportunities to hear friends and colleagues from around our community who graciously bring their

musical talents to share with us. We have a wonderful lineup of friends, some old and some new, who

will contribute to our summer worship. You’ll want to be here each week to hear them.

If you’ve thought about singing with us, start up in August is a good time to begin. Come see me for

more information. We’re always happy to welcome new singers.Deanna

Summer is a good time to try out new things. On Pentecost, we gathered for an intergenerational Sunday School experience in Fellowship Hall.

We experienced Pentecost in new and fun ways. We’ll do another of those gatherings on Sunday, July 6. We’ll look at the story of Isaac and Rebekah from Genesis 45. All ages will

experience this story together. Hope you’ll be here.

We had 19 kids here for our first summer mid-week event. We had fun with Dr. Seuss and Scripture. The kids made a Dr. Seuss-like book of their own. On Wednesday, July 9, we’ll have fun with music, beginning at 4:30 pm. Invite

friends to join us. Then plan to stay for supper afterwards.

Join us for fun ways to learn together during summer.

Christian Education Summer News

This way to JJ White forsummer learning and fun!

A Note from Will-

We received the following note of thanks and appreciation from Will Ratcliff recently. Will graduated from Columbia Seminary in May and will soon begin work as a Chaplain at Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues the process that will lead to his ordination.

! Thank you all for all the love and support you have shown me all these years. I don’t think I could have made it as far as I have without knowing that all of you were right behind me. I don’t know what plans the Lord has in store, but wherever I end up I know J. J. White will always be with me.

Yours in Christ, Will Ratcliff

2014 Confirmation Class Completes Course with Reverend Phelps

Pictured are members of the 2014 Confirmation Class at JJWMPC. Reverend Phelps recognized the group on a recent Sunday for completing the course of study of the class. The next step, church membership, will be done on an individual basis.

Shown l.to r. are Steven Allred, Gracie Senner, Rev. Phelps, and Phillip Nance. (not pictured-Thaddeus Russell)

We are proud of the commitment of this group of young participants in learning about their faith and their church.

MEN’S INTERDENOMINATIONAL BREAKFAST GROUP

2 Jimmy Carroll Robertson, Whitney Rawlings9 Bill Mitchell, Jim Alford, Tom Dupree16 Randy Burris, Tommy Ratcliff23 John Drummond, Randy White30 Phil Terrell, Kennon Singley

USHERS/GREETERSTommy Ratcliff, CaptainRobbie DeCouxJohn DrummondStacey MoakMark StathamJohnny NancePhil Terrell

ELDER of the MONTH: Wayne Hutchison

FLOWERS6 Beverly and Ron Yates13 Donna and Darrell Smith20 JoAnna and Nicky Barr27 Rusty Whittington

CHILDREN’S CHURCH6 Sara Beth Williams, Alison Allred13 Libby Simo, Lee Williams20 Susan White, India Warshauer27 Linda Miller, Carol Rawlings

2 John Drummon

d

6 (Laris Mitchell)

7 Suzi Drumm

ond

12 (Carolyn Ray)

13 Lydia William

s

20 June Hart

22 Lisa Sibley

25 Rachel Catch

ings

Kylee McGehe

e

26 Thaddeus Rus

sell

28 Linda Miller

29 Conner Simmo

ns

30 Nicole Faucet

t

July

Schedules and Lists

August

4 Keith Sanders6 Spike Simmons10 (Whitney Jones – janitor)13 Deanna Phelps14 Jane Walman 16 Phil Terrell17 (Kyle Phelps)18 Beverly Yates19 Ron Yates21 Martha Simmons25 Drew Parker26 John Boyd27 (Gary Russell) 30 Eileen Cato

SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST6 Intergenerational Sunday School, FH13 Mary Ann Ratcliff20 Sharon White27

5

Girl Scouts host special prom

1 2

7:15 am Men’s Breakfast 5:30 Wed. Night Fellowship

3

Bible Study with Rev. Phelps

10:30 am

Knutty Knitters7:00 PM

4

Independence Day (Church

office closed)

5

6

9:00 Breakfast9:30 SundaySchool10:30: Worship Communion

s

5:30 vespers

6:00 Session

7 8

PW Noon Bible Study

Circle

11:30

97:15 am Men’s Breakfast 4:30 Children’s Special activity followed by supper for all at 5:30

10

Bible Study with Rev. Phelps

10:30 am

Knutty Knitters7:00 PM

11 12

13

9:00 Breakfast9:30 SundaySchool

10:30: Worship 6:00 Session

14 15 167:15 am Men’s Breakfast5:30 Wed. Night Fellowship

17

Bible Study with Rev. Phelps

10:30 am

Knutty Knitters7:00 PM

18 19

20

9:00 Breakfast9:30 SundaySchool

10:30: Worship

21 22 237:15 am Men’s Breakfast

5:30 Wed. Night Fellowship

24

Bible Study with Rev. Phelps

10:30 am

Knutty Knitters7:00 PM

25 26

27

9:00 Breakfast9:30 SundaySchool

10:30: Worship

28 29 307:15 am Men’s Breakfast

4:30 Children’s Special activity followed by supper for all at 5:30

31

Bible Study with Rev. Phelps

10:30 am

Knutty Knitters7:00 PM

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

July 2014

Bible School July 14-17 5:00 p.m. (supper) - 8:00 p.m.

“Then followed that beautiful season...Summer....Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;

And the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow