E-CHIMES

A Weekly Update of Joys, Concerns and Ministry with

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday Worship Hour

10:30 a.m.

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Pastor's Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

(Fridays: Pastor's day off, office closed)

OUR MISSION

We are committed to inspiring a

sense of identity and belonging

through love, faith, and service in Jesus Christ

September 2, 2010

Our email is churchoffice@fpcmp.org

Our website is www.fpcmp.org

Church Phone 989-773-9609

Pastor Hanna’s phone 989-317-0820

Email address Revslhanna@gmail.com

In This Issue:

  • Prayer concerns
  • From the Pastor Nominating Committee/Mission Study Task Force (NEW)
  • Red Cross Blood Drive (NEW)
  • PW Fall Gathering (NEW)
  • Ray Day (NEW)
  • Sunday School Begins again (NEW)
  • J-Walkers and Youth Group Fall Get-Together (NEW)
  • PW Fall Color Tour (NEW)
  • Peacemaking Offering
  • CROP Walk
  • Keep Connected with your Church Family
  • Thank you from Ronald McDonalds House
  • Music and Worship:  An Exploration of Liturgical Sound
  • Heidi Zwyghuizen Mission needs
  • Lectionary Readings
  • A Glimpse at The Week Ahead
  • Looking at Events in the Church, Around the Town and Beyond
  • Birthdays and Anniversaries
  • Web Links of Interest

PRAYER CONCERNS

  • Prayers of Concern for  Dorothy Scheibner,  Shelly Roy,  John Kingsnorth (Nancy Klunzinger’s brother), Sarah Cox, Dorothy Nugent,  Sue Blodgett , Maxine Tanner, Roy Klopcic, Samantha Papa, Barbara Nisbet, (Joyce Nisbet’s daughter-in-law) and Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia.

Dear God, help us to recognize who indeed is our neighbor and to remember that seemingly invisible folks are not invisible to you.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Prayer taken from the 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.

From the Pastor Nominating Committee/Mission Study Task Force

 

Be a part of the process! You are encouraged to complete a Congregational Survey on Sunday 19 or September 26 immediately following worship.

 

Our mission study will be a three phase process. Your input and participation will contribute to our learning and growing as the body of Christ. These three phases include:

 

Readiness (survey): Gathering information regarding (a) our community, (b) our congregants, (c) the ministries and programs of the congregation and (d) the characteristics of a senior pastor

 

Reflection: Biblical reflection sessions for the congregation

 

ReVision: Task force develops mission and ministry plan to share with the congregation based on the lessons learned through the survey and reflection sessions

Red Cross Blood Drive

September 7, 2010

Central Michigan University

Center Rotunda Room

12 – 5:45 pm

 

There is a critical need for blood donors now .  All blood types are needed, but type O negative donors can make a difference between and adequate blood supply and a shortage.  Be sure to contact your American Red Cross representative with any questions or requests for assistance.

PW Fall Gathering

October 23rd at Bay City-Westminster
The Presbyterian Women of Lake Huron Presbytery are holding their annual Fall Gathering on Saturday, October 23rd from 9:30am to 2:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bay City.

"Share God's Love"

Guest Speaker: Elder Chris Wolf, Vice Moderator for Justice and Peace Churchwide Coordinating Team for the GAMC and CLP at Marlette-First and Marlette-Second

Come share fellowship with others, learn more about the work of the CCT Experience, an inspiring worship service, and share information on mission projects throughout the presbytery.

Rally Day

Sunday, September 12 is Rally Day. Join us as we kick off our Fall programming and celebrate God's call to all of us  -- young, old, and in-between! Worship will include an anthem by the children's choir, the return of the chancel choir, and a message by Mary Jo Cox: "The Church of All Ages: Growing Together" A Picnic in the courtyard will follow the service. See you there!

Sunday School Begins September 19

Sunday School classes for children and adults will begin on Sunday, September 19. Adult Bible Study will meet at 9:30 in the Witherspoon Room. Children's classes for preschool through grade 6 will meet during the 10:30 worship service (children will be dismissed to go to classrooms after the children's sermon). Sunday School for children includes games, activities, singing, and bible study that focuses on the key Sunday lectionary scripture. The worship service and especially the children's sermon will act as an introduction to the topic that will be focused on in class. Adults will be focusing on the same scripture during worship. You are invited to take part as we grow together in Christ!

J-Walkers and Youth Group Fall Get-Together

J-Walkers and Youth Group members will get together at Deerfield Park on Saturday, September 11 for a picnic and bonfire. Time is 4 pm (this may change -- if so, we'll let you know by next week). All youth in grades 5 and up (and their parents) are invited! We'll have hot dogs and s'mores. Bring a dish to pass.

PW Fall Color Tour

The Presbyterian Women will be taking a Fall color tour Wednesday September 29 up to Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula.  A sign –up sheet will be available soon.  Seating is limited.

Peacemaking Offering

This offering is taken on World Communion Sunday.  Our congregation, through the Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee keeps 25% of this offering to help people in our community.  Another 25% is used by the synods and presbyteries and 50% is allocated to General Assembly ministries. 

World Communion Sunday is October 3, 2010.

CROP Walk

This even, brings together people of all ages and faiths to work for others.  In participating in the CROP Walk we join with people in over two thousand communities across the USA who want to make the world a better place. Help Stop Hunger, Assist after disasters, Help meet the needs of refugees.  Pleas support the CROP Walk by walking or sponsoring someone.  Together we can make a BIG DIFFERENCE!  Also Mt. Pleasant First Presbyterian Church has held the Golden Shoe Award for several years.  Help us defend the shoe.

Keep Connected with your Church Family

Please pick up your new 2010 – 2011 Church Phone Directory.  It is located on the table in the narthex just before you enter the Sanctuary. 

Thank you from Ronald McDonald House

Thank you so much for your generous and huge donation as pull tabs to our house.  We appreciate your thoughtfulness in thinking of us and so do our families.  Sincerely Janet Perron for Ronald McDonald House of Mid Michigan Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers

Music and Worship:  An Exploration of Liturgical Sound

Four Wednesdays Beginning September 8, 2010,

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Led by Mary Stewart Kiesgen and The Rev. Wayne Nicholson

The Center for Christian Spirituality at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Corner of Washington and Maple

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Please phone the church office (989-773-7448) to Register by August 30

 

There is no charge for this program, but a donation of $20 is much appreciated.

Heidi Zwyghuizen Mission Needs

Thank you to all who have made contributions of pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners.  We are in need of back packs.

I am allotted two suitcases at 50 pounds each. 

I will be flying to Costa Rica on September 15th to work and fellowship with some of the people of the churches we support through the 2 coins a meal program. 

Those churches will be distributing the items I bring to the children.    

 

Heidi Zwyghuizen

 

LECTIONARY READINGS for Sunday September 5,  2010

Jeremiah 18: 1-11

Psalm 139: 1-18

Philemon 1-21

Luke 14: 25-33

 

A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday - Thursday)

All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted

Sunday September 5

 

10:30 am  Worship Service

 

                                “Playing Hide & Seek With God”  by Rev. Sandra L. Hanna

11:30 am Lemonade on the Lawn

 

Monday September 6

Office Closed for Labor Day

 

Tuesday September 7

5:30 pm  Orientation for Consecration Sunday Mtg.

7:00  pm  Deacons Meeting

 

Wednesday September 8

5:30  pm  Bible Study

8:00 pm AA

 

Thursday September 9

6:30  pm  Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7:30  pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal

LOOKING AHEAD AT EVENTS IN THE CHURCH, AROUND THE TOWN AND BEYOND

 6th Annual Morey Senior Music Outreach Program

The School of Music at Central Michigan University is pleased to announce our 6th annual Morey Senior Music Outreach Program for senior citizens and their families.  On Sunday, September 26th 20140 at 2 pm., we will present a one-hour musicale, performed by CMU students and made possible by the Morey Foundation.  The performance is in our Staples Family Concert Hall and refreshments and entertainment for all in our beautiful School of Music lobby will follow the concert.

This is a wonderful occasion for seniors and their family members to get out and enjoy good music, food, and fellowship.  There is no cost to seniors or their families; this event is a gift to the community from the Morey Foundation.  You may contact the director for more details at 774-3738.

 

 

Mobile Food Pantry 2010 Schedule

 

 

September 11 - Commission on Aging

 

September 25 - First Presbyterian Church

 

October 9 - Location TBD

 

October 23 - Central Assembly of God

 

November 6 - Sacred Heart Parish

 

November 20 - Mt. Pleasant Community Church

 

December 4 - Location TBD

 

December 18 - Location TBD

 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

September Birthdays

4          Maxine Tanner

5          Jeff Domeyer

5          Elizabeth Staples

6          Keelan Florian

6          Rev. Sandra Lee Hanna

September Wedding Anniversaries

4          Waldo and Judy Sauter

5          Richard and Audrey Featheringham

8          Henry and Joan Griffendorf

 

LINKS

Presbytery of Lake Huron www.presbylh.org

Presbyterian Church USA www.pcusa.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/hurricanekatrina-index.htm