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Faith Alive
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
1621 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia NC 28054
Phone: 704-864-2651
Website: www.fpcgastonia.org
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS TO
Next Deadline November 30, 2015
Volume 20 Issue 16
First Presbyterian Hosts Annual Community Thanksgiving Service ALL NEW DAY AND TIME—Wednesday, November 25th at 7 PM
The annual Community
Thanksgiving Service will
be held at 7 PM on
Wednesday, November
25th in the sanctuary of
First Presbyterian Church.
The service represents a
collaboration of several
downtown churches. Con-
gregations participating
this year include First
United Methodist, First
Baptist, St Mark’s Episco-
pal, St Michael’s Catholic,
St Stephens AME Zion,
Bradley Memorial United
Methodist and First Pres-
byterian.
Representatives of the
choirs of these churches
will also participate. A
brass ensemble will be
featured. The preacher for
the service this year will
be Asher J. Panton, Asso-
ciate Pastor of First Bap-
tist Church. Rev. Panton
serves as pastor to youth,
children, and families.
He is a graduate of South-
eastern University and
Fuller Theological Semi-
nary.
The churches have been
uniting for over 25 years.
Come, participate in this
celebration of all the
ways we have been
blessed by God for life in
our country and commu-
nity. An offering benefit-
ting As One Ministries and
Crisis Assistance Ministry
will be received during the
service.
CONGREGATIONAL
CARES
BIRTHS
Megan and Will Kieffer
On 10/30 a son, Ford.
Grandparents: Patty
and David Ratchford
CONDOLENCES
ON THE DEATH
of Margaret Craig’s
son Verne Edward
(Petey) Shive, Jr.
on 11/1.
of Henderson Wise’s
father, Thomas Wise,
on 10/6
of Eleanor Beasley’s
sister, Anna Cherry
Kreiner, on 11/1
of Sarah Park
Rankin’s father,
Alfred Stuart,
on 11/1
N O V E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5
ST P R E S S
First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, NC
1
2
You may have heard it said – “Don’t give until it hurts – Give
until it feels good!” At FPC giving feels good and the Missions
Ministry wants to share these expressions of appreciation.
Thankful for First Presbyterian Ministries
From flood victims in Columbia:
Thank you so much for the Walmart gift card! These last few weeks
have been difficult but I have felt the love and prayers of so
many! God is good….all the time. Yours in Christ. -Betsy
Frank and I want to thank the members of First Presbyterian Church
of Gastonia for the gift card your church sent us for assistance as we
recover from the recent flood. We have been touched by all the pray-
ers, love and support. We are living on the top floor of our house
while the basement and first floor are torn out and rebuilt. -Jane
I can’t thank you enough for the Target gift card. It will certainly
come in handy as we try to rebuild a home. Your generosity is greatly
appreciated and your prayers are certainly felt. -Jennifer, Lindsey &
Emma (single mom)
From Stop Hunger Now:
Thank you for your gift of $10,210.32*….. meals have gone to school
feeding programs like the one at St. Andre School in Haiti. “I am
really happy because sometimes this is the only meal I get for the
whole day” said Jonathan, a 6th grader. “My parents are not able to
buy me food.” -Rod Brooks, President and CEO *35,000 meals
Ashbrook High School:
With your monetary donation of $400, we were able to provide a
wonderful meal for our hard-working faculty and staff. Simply put, if it
wasn’t for the support of our faith communities, many of our public
community schools would not be able to provide special treats for our
school staff. Thank you for your continued support of our school .
-Tina Santiago, PTO President
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
Discipleship Opportunities
AT and BEYOND FPC
MISSIONS
PAK-A-SAK
Pack and deliver over 20
book bags filled with food
to Grier Middle School,
contact Betsy Summer.
RISE AND SHINE
Make a breakfast casserole
on Wednesday mornings
for those needing a hot,
healthy breakfast. Contact
Tom Avery.
CAM
At Crisis Assistance
Ministry. Please call
704-867-8901.
FAITH HEALTH GASTON
Assist frail church or
community members who
need our help. Contact our
Parish Nurse, Lisa
Marissiddaiah at 704-616-
4023 for details.
Men’s Fellowship — Start Your Day Right!
Wednesday, Dec 2 and 9, at 7 AM the men of our church meet together
to enjoy fellowship and a delicious breakfast and to participate in a Bible
study led by Dr. John Frye. The study this year is Women of the Bible.
All men are welcome and encouraged to share this hour together in the
PAD to start their day with fellow Christians. Come and bring a friend.
DEACONS HOST FALL FESTIVAL AND KIRKIN’ DINNER
3
as well as prepare our Giving Christmas Tree
and Christmas shopping for 20 very deserving
children at the Black Mountain Home for Chil-
dren. Please look for the Giving Christmas Tree
and make your important donations to very de-
serving and needy children during our Season
of Giving!
The Deacons, under the leadership of Becky
Voorhees, completed Operation Christmas
Child shoeboxes, which were dedicated
Sunday, November 15th.
The Deacons are very fortunate and blessed to
have Hoppy Sell step forward as the new
Moderator of the Diaconate for 2016. Cynthia
Anderson is the Vice Moderator and Betty
Davenport, the new Secretary! Please
congratulate these dynamic leaders as they
move our Diaconate forward in its exciting
discipleship for the coming year!
The Deacons have been very busy this
month in exciting fellowship events. The
church’s annual Fall Festival and Picnic
was a great time of inter-generational
camaraderie featuring a barbecue dinner,
games for children and the very first
outdoor television viewing of a critical
Carolina Panthers’ game!
The Deacons followed with a chicken din-
ner after the Kirkin’ Service and welcomed
both church members and visitors alike!
Both of these great fellowship events were
planned and orchestrated by Luke Buchan-
an and the Fellowship Committee of the
Deacons, and we are all grateful for their
hard work and dedication!
The Deacons continue to provide volun-
teers and food for up to 150 hungry chil-
dren at the Boys and Girls Club of Gastonia
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Faith & Fiction
Sunday, Dec 6, 5PM
at the home of Sarah
Wentz. We will be
discussing One
Mountain Away by
Emilie Richards.
December 7
2-6 PM
Walk-ins or By
Appointment
704-864-2651
Yoga
Blood Drive
NEW SESSION
Nov 12 and 19
Dec 3 and 10. Cost
$24. Thursdays
from 8:45-10 AM
Blue Christmas
Tuesday, Dec 8
12:15PM and 6PM
Chapel of First
United Methodist
ROADRUNNERS visited Baker Buffalo Creek Winery Oct. 29. Ann and Charles Edwards
were our delightful hosts. They have a beautiful vineyard with wonderful amenities and scenery.
Charles took us on a wagon tour of the property which included views of the old homestead and
outbuildings, as well as the winery. They even have a chapel! We all had lots of fun!
Join us on one of our next excursions:
January 23 to see "The Fourth Cross" at the Narroway Theater in Ft Mill
March 17 to the Bob Jones University Art Museum
ROAD
RUNNERS
4
The Henderlite Bible Class
meets in the Chapel each
Sunday at 9:15 AM for
Sunday School fellowship,
followed by hymn singing
and a scripture-based lesson.
Class members teach the
Uniform Lesson Series.
Currently the class is study-
ing the Acts of the Apostles
in the Fall Quarter.
Beginning in December the
Winter Quarter will be a
survey series entitled
"Sacred Gifts and Holy
Gatherings."
While excellent teaching of
the scriptures is our main
goal, the class is known for
its warm fellowship and
caring ministry among it
members.
Attendance offers an
opportunity to broaden and
deepen relationships with
fellow church members and
to become more connected
with the life of the church.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
NOTES
SEEKERS
CLASS
The Connections Class is
comprised of adults ranging in age
from 40 to 60-somethings.
Currently, we are studying the
Uniform Lesson Series, “The
Christian Community Comes
Alive” based on the book of Acts.
Dr. Richard Rankin has been our
instructor and has engaged us in
several lively, thought-provoking
conversations based upon the texts
of the lessons. We have also used
other sources for our weekly
lessons, such as video; but, no
matter the content or the format of
the lesson, we always find time
for discussions!
The Connections Class strives to
participate in the local mission
work of FPC with various class
members regularly participating in
ministries such as Rise And Shine,
Stop Hunger Now, Gaston Family
Promise, and Samaritan’s Feet as
close as Black Mountain and as
far away as Malawi and Guatema-
la.
We have four Committees-
Curriculum, Nurturing, Social,
and Administrative. We encourage
communication, The weekly
newsletter is emailed to class
members to keep everyone
informed about the life of FPC
Gastonia as well as our group.
“Then Sings My Soul"
Seekers Class Explores
Our Familiar Hymns
Did you know Martin Luther au-
thored "A Mighty Fortress Is Our
God" over 500 years ago? Were
you aware that "Crown Him with
Many Crowns" originally had six
eight-line stanzas and was based
on Revelation 19:12?
Memories of familiar hymns stir
our soul and often reawaken mem-
ories of childhood. During the
second quarter, the Seekers Sun-
day School Class will peek be-
tween the lines of our most famil-
iar hymns and explore the richness
of their origin. Robert J. Morgan's
book, Then Sings My Soul, covers
the origin of 150 of the world's
greatest hymns and recounts the
stories behind the lines.
During the Advent season, the
class will review best-loved
Christmas hymns. The lesson plan
covers the entire quarter and is
designed so each Sunday is an
independent unit.
Please join us and learn more
about those wonderful hymns that
have inspired us for years! The
quarter begins December 6.
CONNECTIONS
CLASS HENDERLITE
CLASS
CELEBRATE 90’s
Phyllis Tucker is our oldest
member and Margaret
Upchurch is the oldest
lifetime member.
Left to Right: Wilson Dunn,
Betty Kiser, Edith Warren,
Phyllis Tucker, seated
Margaret Upchurch
Children’s Ministry — NEWS & UPDATES
5
The Children’s Ministry of FPC is having
a great Fall! We continue our Wednesday
Night Alive - fellowship, music and fun
through the month of November. We’ve
been raising our voices in praise and
thanksgiving and will be participating in
worship through song on Sunday, Novem-
ber 22 at 10:30 AM. We will share with
the congregation during the Time for
Young Disciples. Parents please mark
your calendars. The children will meet
Ms. Jill in the Parlor at 10:15 AM to
warm up and we will sit together in the
first row of pews. We need a few
volunteers willing to sit with us on either
end or in the pew behind.
This year’s Advent Adventure will sing
carols at a retirement community, deco-
rate cookies, and make advent wreaths to
take home. Please meet at the PAD at
3:30 PM to load up on the church bus.
Parents are welcome to join us. Please
RSVP to Jill Kimbirl by Nov. 24th.
Some of you may have recently
seen the youth running around at
the Fall-Picnic or dancing at Stop
Hunger Now in some new tie-
dyed shirts. While some of these
shirts may be more brown than
colorful, I hope you have also
had a chance to notice the verse
displayed on the back, because it
is key to what the youth at First
Pres have been up to lately.
Written on the back of the shirts
is Hebrews 10:24, “Let us
consider how we may spur one
another on towards Love and
Good Deeds,” a verse I read this
summer and decided to use as a
theme for the youth in this
season. My hope is that through
nurturing, strengthening and
growing the youth as a commu-
nity, the community becomes
the source of strength for faith
in action, especially as we move
into the holiday season.
In that spirit and with that moti-
vation we have been busy! We
have gathered in fellowship for
pumpkin carving and bonfires,
raced through the church in the
dark at the lock-in and played
countless ridiculous games. We’ve
served by cooking dinner for the
Gaston Women’s Shelter, writing
notes to those who attend the
weekly Rise & Shine breakfast and
being servants to the church when-
ever we can. I am glad to see the
youth grow closer to one another as
they serve the community and am
excited to see the ways God contin-
ues to work through the youth!
You Shop While We Sing! Parents, this one is
especially for you! Sports seasons are
complete and you still have some last minute
shopping to do. What are you going to do?
Plan to drop off your child(ren) ages 4 through
5th grade on Wednesday evenings in Decem-
ber. The children are invited to dinner and
carol singing at 5:30 – 7:00 PM on December
2, 9 and 16. We will prepare some special
Christmas music during our time together to be
shared at the 10:30 AM. Worship Service
Sunday, Dec 20.
Christmas Pageant – Sunday, Dec 13 at 5 PM
Our annual Christmas Pageant will take place
on Sunday, December 13th at 5 PM. Rehears-
als will take place in the Fellowship Hall on
Sunday, Dec. 6th from 3-5 PM and Sunday,
Dec. 13th from 3-5 PM. The Christmas
Pageant is open to all children age 4 through
5th grade. No costume is needed. Program
attire will be announced.
Christmas Eve Service – Just for Children 11
AM. Our special children’s Christmas Eve
Service is December 24th in the chapel. All
are welcome to attend this service especially
for children.
UPCOMING
CHILDREN’S
ACTIVITIES
Advent Adventure
Sunday, Nov 29
Worship Sing
Sunday, Nov 22
Carol Singing
Dec 2, 9, 16
Worship Sing
Sunday, Dec 20
Christmas Pageant
Dec 13
Christmas Eve Service
Just for Children
Sunday, Dec 24
YOUTH
RUN FOR
LOVE &
DEEDS
6
The Microloan Project for
the women of Guatemala
is exciting and growing
all the time. It has been
reported that 100% of the
first group of recipients of
the Mircroloan Project
have repaid their loans
with interest. Positive self
esteem, independence and
a growing faith have been
additional outcomes to
the economic endeavors
of the women as a result
of this project.
The Presbyterian Wom-
en’s magazine Horizons
contacted the Presbytery
of Western NC and asked
for an article highlighting
this new project, and it
will be featured in the
Nov/Dec issue. Presby-
terian Women are making
a difference!
Excitement is abound in Circle
5! This year, under the leader-
ship of Josie Conner, we have
embarked on a Lysa TerKeurst
book study, The Best Yes: Mak-
ing Wise Decisions in the Midst
of Endless Demands. We have
been having some engaging
discussions as we discover how
we can make more intentional
decisions and what our “best
yes” really is.
In addition to our monthly book
study, our members participate
in Stop Hunger Now, Gaston
Family Promise, the semi-
annual blood drive, as well as
many other FPC activities! Cir-
cle 5 would love to have you
join us! We meet on the 2nd
Monday of each month at 7 PM
in the homes of our mem-
bers. Please see Kate Buckles,
Tyler Bullock or any Circle 5
member for more details!
November 2015 Volume 1, Issue 3
Presbyterian Women News
Circle 5 Learning Our ‘Best Yes’
DATES TO REMEMBER:
November 23 — Women’s Council
November 24— PW Scholarship Packets Available
December 7— Bloodmobile
MICRO-LOAN
FOLLOW-UP
7
Practicing faith at home allows
children, youth, and adults to
connect with God and put faith at
the center of their lives. Along
with church and other communi-
ties, the household is where faith
is formed, nurtured, and passed
on. Practicing faith at home is
fun! Even a few minutes a day,
or one faith practice per week
can have strong and lasting
impacts.
If you are looking for ways to
live out your Christian faith at
home, we suggest “Home Prac-
tices” from the website Building
Faith. (www.buildfaith.org/home
-practices) Building Faith is a
trusted site, published by the
Center for the Ministry of
Teaching at Virginia Theologi-
cal Seminary.
With Home Practices, you’ll
find free household activities
and practices that are do-able,
adaptable, fun, and meaningful.
The two-page guides, by authors
who have done the practices
themselves, include easy-to-
follow steps, along with help-
ful guidelines, and even materi-
als and resources. For example,
there is “Make a Sacred Space
at Home,” and “Birthday Pray-
ers and Blessings.” You will
also find seasonal offerings for
Advent, Lent, and more.
Who is it for?
Home Practices can be used
by all households, regardless of the
size and form: singles, friends, cou-
ples, children, teens, and parents.
Likewise, most of the practices can
be adapted for use with all ages,
whether your household has young
children, older children, teens, or
adults.
How does it work?
Go to www.buildfaith.org/home-
practices. Click on a faith activity
that interests you, and enjoy the
free, easy-to-follow guide. You can
view the guide on your computer,
tablet, or smartphone; or you can
print it out. The pdf format is espe-
cially easy for printing and sharing.
Elegant Spinach
2 packages of frozen chopped spinach
½ cup melted butter
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 lemons squeezed
1 can artichoke hearts, drained
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Paprika
Cook spinach and drain. Add melted butter to cream cheese
and beat. Add spinach. Mix. Add lemon juice. Grease bak-
ing dish 8x10 or 8x8 inch. Put artichoke hearts cut side
down on bottom. Pour spinach mixture over artichokes.
Sprinkle with cheese and paprika on top. Bake at 350 de-
grees for 30 minutes.
Mrs. Pete Carruthers (Fran)
Bet’s Spinach Casserole
1 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 egg, beaten
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
2 dashes nutmeg
Pepperidge Farm herb stuffing
Cook spinach according to directions and drain well, press-
ing out most of the water. Combine mushroom soup, the
beaten egg, grated cheese, and nutmeg. Add the well-
drained spinach, mixing well. Pour into 1 quart casserole,
lightly sprayed with Pam and top with stuffing. Bake at 350
degrees for 35-40 minutes. Serves 4.
Mrs. Charlton Torrence, Jr.
(Mary Elizabeth Torrence)
FAITH
AT
HOME
Kirkin, Cookin, and Thanksgiving
On Kirkin Sunday we had a wonderful covered dish meal provided by our membership but who made the spinach casserole? Discussion
at one table centered on the spinach casserole as delicious, different, sort of like spinach dip but not the same. So, who made it and
where did the recipe come from? Maybe the recipe came from the One Hundred Years of Cooking cook book. The cookbook reveals
two spinach casserole recipes; neither is quite the one but either is a good choice to add to your Thanksgiving table.
FAITH AT HOME—It is never too late to bring faith into your household. Jesus’
promised gift of the Holy Spirit means that we have strength and guidance to live and
share our faith. Suggestions and tools for faith practices at home can encourage us along
the way.
V E S P E R S S C H E D U L E
First Press
1621 E Garrison Blvd
Gastonia, NC 28054
Return Service Requested Dated Material
Nov 29 - 5:30 PM, Chapel
Dec 6 - 5:30 PM, Chapel
Dec 13 - 5:00 PM, Fellowship Hall
This special vespers service is a partnership between Children's
Ministry & Music Ministry. The festive children's pageant will
begin at 5 PM, immediately followed by a joyful musical vespers
of Christmas carols, scripture and prayer led by our music and
pastoral staff. Refreshments provided.
Dec 20 - 5:30 PM, Chapel
US POSTAGE
PAID
Gastonia, NC
110 Volunteers
35,208 Meals packed
211,248 People will be fed
2 Hours
FA S T
FA C T S :
During Advent, in
addition to Sunday
morning worship opportu-
nities, evening Vespers
will guide our hearts
toward Bethlehem. Please
join us for the meaningful
times of prayer and
devotion as we anticipate
the birthday of our Savior.