News April 2019 firstpresathens.org

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Ryan’s ReflectionsDear friends in Christ,

My cousin is a Certified Public Accountant who specializes in tax preparation, and April is always a very busy season. He puts in many extra hours in and out of the office to ensure that each of his clients is served ahead of the tax filing deadline.

Here at First Presbyterian Church, April is a busy season, too. Your church staff and volunteers are putting in many extra hours in and out of the office planning, preparing, and rehearsing to ensure that the people of God are served faithfully and well. First Presbyterian Church is served by

an incredibly gifted, loyal, and loving staff, and I am honored to serve Christ alongside them.

As we enter the final stretch of Lent in preparation for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, I’m hoping you’ll do three things:

1. Pray for your church staff and volunteers, that they may serve the people in this busy season with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

2. Make every effort to be present. This is the greatest story ever told, and your presence is truly a gift to all of us.

3. When church staff members and volunteers serve you well, take a moment to send an e-mail or jot a hand-written note. These simple acts of acknowledgement and affirmation are worth their weight in gold.

On a personal note, thank you again for the wonderful welcome you have extended to Amy, Nathan, Daniel, Joshua, and me. We are so delighted to be a part of this amazing congregation!

Peace be with you,Ryan, Senior Pastor

Save the DateApril 3 & 10

Lenten Suppers & StudyApril 7

Food SundayNew Members Introduced

to CongregationPW Birthday Luncheon

April 10 & 24Bookless Book Group

April 13Women’s One-Day Retreat

April 14Palm SundayApril 14-21

IHNA Host WeekApril 15-20

Prayer StationsApril 18

Maundy Thursday April 19

Good Friday ServiceApril 20

Easter Egg Hunt & PicnicApril 21

Easter Services & BrunchApril 28

Piedmont College SingersBooks for Keeps

Book Drive begins

April 7, 4:00 p.m.

Holy Week Services & ActivitiesPalm Sunday, April 14, 10:40 a.m., Upper Parking Lot

Prayer Stations, April 15 - 20, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Tinsley Stern Building Maundy Thursday, April 18, 5:45 p.m.Dinner and worship around the tables with a drama & the Lord’s Supper, Fellowship Hall

Good Friday Tenebrae Service, April 19, 7:00 p.m.Community Service, Covenant Presbyterian, 1065 Gaines School Rd.

Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 20, 11:00 a.m., The Hill

Easter, April 21 8:45 a.m. Worship Service 9:30 a.m. Easter Brunch, Fellowship Hall 11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Valarie Kaur

An Invitation for WomenI write this in the wake of yet another hate crime, the horrific massacre at the mosques in New Zealand. I join you if you feel at a loss about how we can stem the growing tide of hated and intolerance in our society.

While attending a conference won’t solve the world’s problems, it may help sensitize you to the issues and perhaps inspire a path forward. We are getting up a group to attend the annual Women’s Connections Conference at Montreat, August 9-11. The theme this year – always timely but needed now more than ever – is “The

Greatest of These Is Love.” The keynote speaker will be Valarie Kaur, a seasoned civil rights activist, award-winning filmmaker, lawyer, faith leader, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, which champions love as a public ethic and wellspring for social change. I have heard Valarie speak before. She is delightful, engaging, and powerful. She is a Sikh with degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and Yale. If she had given an altar call, I may have come forward and become a Sikh! Amy Grant will lead the music for the closing worship.

Register at Montreat.org for the conference only (commuter rate). The cost before June 28 is $237. FPC has reserved use of the Georgia Lodge. Cost for two nights is $60. Register for this at the FPC website. Meals will be extra.

In addition to challenge and inspiration, we hope this retreat will be a valuable time for relaxation and to connect with women both from our congregation and across our denomination. Please let me know if you have questions, are interested in going, or need scholarship aid (cstrickland@firstpresathens.org or 706-543-4338). I hope you’ll come!

Carol Strickland, Associate Pastor

Music NotesCarols are not just for Christmas. One of my favorite anthems for Easter is the carol This Joyful Eastertide. I have to resist the temptation to have the choir sing it every year. This year, among other pieces of music our choirs will be singing, is an arrangement of the carol Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day. It is one of many carols that trace the whole life of Christ. The original version has eleven stanzas covering the birth of Christ, his baptism, time fasting in the desert being tempted by the devil, and Christ’s facing those who opposed him “because they loved darkness rather than light.” Our Easter anthem picks up with stanza seven, when Christ is betrayed by Judas, tried by Pilate, condemned by the people while Barrabas is released,

hung on the cross, and finally rising on the third day, “Up to my true love and the dance.” The refrain after each stanza is, “Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love. This have I done for my true love.”

What does all this dancing and talk of “my true love” have to do with Easter? That’s not in the Bible! It’s a poetic telling of the story that, frankly, is difficult to understand even when read from scriptures. There are biblical descriptions of Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. In the Song of Songs, imagery of the “lover” and the “beloved” have been interpreted as Christ and the Church. In 1 John 4:19 we read, “We love because he first loved us.” God is love. On Easter, and on every other day, love wins.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the Glory),John Coble, Director of Music and Organist

Installation ServiceSunday, April 7

The Northeast Georgia Presby-tery invites you to the Service of Installation of Dr. Ryan J. Baer on Sunday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Athens. Reception to follow.

The Wayne F. Middendorf Memorial Concert Series presents

Piedmont College SingersDr. C. Wallace Hinson, Conductor

Sunday, April 28, 4:00 p.m.First Presbyterian Church of Athens

185 E. Hancock Ave.

IHNA Host WeekApril 14-21

Our next host week is coming soon! We still have some volunteer openings. If you are interested in helping, please

sign up on the calendar in the Atrium or contact us at ihnafirstpresathens@gmail.com for more information. Please also save the date for our remaining weeks (see box).

IHNA TrainingApril 4, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. & May 2, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with IHNA or if you want to sharpen your volunteer skills, please attend one of the upcoming training sessions at the IHNA Day Center at IHNA’s new location in Athens First Baptist Church, 355 Pulaski St.

Susan Boatwright and Frank Sherrill, IHNA Co-Coordinators

Food SundayApril 7

On Sunday, April 7 we will col-lect items for the Athens-Area Emergency Food Bank.

This month they request:

w pork & beansw rice

w dry spaghettiThank you for donating 457 items in March!!!

Remaining 2019 Host Weeks:

August 18-25

October 28-November 3

One Great Hour of Sharing

Easter, April 21

A gift to OGHS on Easter enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, food to the hungry, and empowerment to the poor and oppressed.

Your gift of $25 can provide up to 10 cans to help families transport clean water to their homes, $40 a piglet, and $50 can buy a water filter to reduce contaminents in drinking water and keep 300 bottles out of landfills. Thank you for giving generously!

Maundy Thursday April 18, 5:45 p.m.

On Maundy Thursday we will share a meal in Fellowship Hall and remain around the dinner tables for worship. The service will include a short drama directed by Cheryl Gazlay titled “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” performed by 14 of our members with the Chancel Choir.

Music will be the theme that will tie the characters’ reflections of the crucifixion together. Characters such as disciples, politicians, convicts, and residents of Jerusalem will share their reactions and memories of the first Good Friday. We will ask all children and youth present to help distribute bread and juice to the tables for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

While there is no charge for the dinner, reservations are requested on the Fellowship Pad, online, or by contacting the church office by Monday, April 15 at 12:00 p.m. A Nursery will be provided.

Mardi Gras Mission Gala Update

Thank you to all our supporters! We raised $14,106 for the 2020 Honduras Mission trip!

Good Friday Worship ServiceApril 19, 7:00 p.m.

This year’s Good Friday Presbyterian community service will be hosted by Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1065 Gaines School Rd. It will be a Tenebrae Service, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” and will feature prayer, Scripture, and song.

Books for Keeps Book DriveApril 28 - June 9

Help make sure no child in our community goes a summer without great books to read. Please bring your used books to the bins in the Atrium or church

office. Books of all kinds will be accepted, then sold by Books for Keeps with proceeds used to buy new children’s books. Learn more at booksforkeeps.org.

Last year’s Maundy Thursday drama, “Is It I, Lord?”

Children’s Ministry Update

Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministries

“Now is the time for the color purple. It is the time for preparing. Purple is the color of kings. We are preparing for the coming of a king and his going and his coming again. We are preparing for the Mystery of Easter.”

– The Mystery of Easter, Godly Play story

During Lent, the children have been experiencing the Godly Play story Faces of Easter. After listening to a new part of the story, remembering the life of Jesus as he grew from a little boy into a man, the children have been creating their very own Prayer Garden outside in the courtyard. Be sure to come take a peek on Easter at this special place the children have created.

Holy Week for Children and Families Palm Sunday, Meet the donkey and join the Palm Procession, April 14, 10:40 a.m. Children and families are invited to come meet the sweet donkey and join the Palm Pro-cession outside the Weekday School entrance of the upper parking lot. Children who sing in the St. Andrew’s and Cherub Choirs will rehearse at 10:20 a.m. in the choir room and then join the Palm Procession. Both children’s choirs will be singing during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. We will not have Sunday School. Children, Pre K - 5th Grade, are invited to a special Palm Sunday Children’s Church in the Children’s Ministry Suite during the 11:00 a.m. worship service.

Maundy Thursday Dinner and Worship, April 18, 5:45 p.m. Children, Pre K - 5th Grade, are invited to participate in our Maundy Thursday Dinner and Worship. We will begin by sharing a meal in Fellowship Hall and remain around the dinner tables for worship. The service will include a short drama titled “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” Children and youth will be invited to help distribute bread and juice to the tables for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Nursery will be provided for our little ones during worship.

Easter Egg Hunt & Picnic Saturday, April 20, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Join us at Lee Epting’s beautiful family property, The Hill, 1800 Crescent Lane. It’s the perfect setting for an Easter Egg Hunt and picnic! Don’t forget to bring your Easter Basket, picnic basket with lunch, and blanket for your family. Please RSVP to Natalie.

Easter, April 21, Services at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. & Easter Brunch, 9:30 a.m.Please join us for Easter worship. During worship, children, ages Pre K - 5th Grade, are invited to remain in the Sanctuary as we celebrate as a church family the risen Christ. We will not have Children’s Church. Nursery will be available for infants - four year olds during worship. All are invited to enjoy Easter Brunch during the Sunday School hour in Fellowship Hall.

VBS 2019, ROAR! Don’t forget to register your children at the church website for Vacation Bible School, Tuesday, May 28, - Friday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This year our VBS theme is, “ROAR! Life is Wild! God is Good!” During this fun week at FPC, the children will explore God’s goodness and learn how a ferocious faith will help power them through this wild life!

Over the past few years, we have had over 100 children attend VBS, which means WE NEED ADULT and YOUTH VBS VOLUNTEERS. We have a variety of VBS volunteer needs including help with set-up, snack duty, and Godly Play storytelling. If you are available to lend a hand, for one day or for the entire week, please contact me at natalie@firstpresathens.org or 706-543-4338.

Also, we are still in need of empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls and empty (cleaned out) metal coffee cans with lids. Please bring these items to the Children’s Ministry Suite and place them in the storage containers labeled “VBS Supplies.” Thanks so much for your help!

Youth Ministry News

Confirmation Class of 2019This year’s confirmation class used the new PC(USA) curriculum, Big God Big Questions. We opened the year with a team-building retreat at the UGA high ropes course, met for twelve sessions during Sunday School, participated in Youth Sunday, attended the Presbytery meeting where Dr. Baer was examined, prepared the ashes for Ash Wednesday, cooked

lunch for the Mardi Gras Mission Gala as our service project, and wrote personal statements of faith that we presented to Session.Throughout the year, we were supported by a wonderful team of mentors who shared their own faith journeys and encouraged confirmands to ask ques-tions and own their faith. On March 24, we celebrated these ten youth on Confirmation Sunday. Read their faith statements by clicking “Youth Ministry News” on the church website home page.

Prayer Stations, April 15-20 You are invited to visit the Tinsley Stern Building during Holy Week to experience Lenten prayer stations prepared by our youth. This year our theme is the five senses. God speaks to us through what we touch, smell, see, hear, and taste. We know this intuitively, but to think about it consciously is a powerful form of prayer. May your time this week help to draw you closer to the love of God through Jesus.

Taste: Bride’s RoomSmell: ParlorTouch: Upper HallwaySee: LibraryHear: Children’s Chapel Kim Ness, Director of Youth Ministries

Youth Group This Month April 7 April 21 Dinner & Worship, Presbyterian Student Center Happy Easter 6:00-8:00 at PSC No youth group tonight

April 14 April 28 Lenten Prayer Stations End of Year High School Party MS (4:30-5:30) and HS (6:15-8:00) No MS youth group; HS (6:15-8:00)

Youth from Covenant, First, Madison, and Oconee Presbyterian Church youth groups came together for the 5th Annual Frozen Chosen Cup at Athens Skate Inn

2019 Confirmation Class

JULIAN ATTAWAYRandy Dudley, Mentor

REID BANGLEJimbo LaBoon, Mentor

ANNIE BLANKSGreta Covington, Mentor

CULLEN BRUNERTodd Miller, Mentor

ELLEN CORRYMelinda DeMaria, Mentor

PRATT FERGUSONBo Thurston, Mentor

HENRY MARETTBen Davis, Mentor

ADDIE MIDDLETONJody Pope, Mentor

HENRY SMITHMickey Register, Mentor

WALLACE TRAPNELLDick Ferguson, Mentor

Snapshots from the 5th Frozen Chosen Cup on Wheels!

Flower Dedications The following dates are available to dedicate flowers for Sunday worship: April 14 and July 14. The cost for two arrangements is $100. Please contact Lucy Bell Johnson, lbell@firstpresathens.org or (706) 543-4338 to schedule a date.

May 5Scottish Reformation Sunday

May 8 & 22Bookless Book Group

May 12Mother’s Day OfferingHigh School Graduate

Recognition

May 26Summer Schedule begins:

10:00 a.m. Worship No Sunday School

May 28 - 31Vacation Bible School

June 9Pentecost

Pentecost OfferingBooks for Keeps Book Drive

dropoff deadline

February FinancialInformation

Total Feb. Revenue $107,071Budgeted Feb. Revenue $92,532Total Revenue YTD $245,772

Total Feb. Expenses $112,080Budgeted Feb. Expenses $108,213Total Expenses YTD $221,387

Looking Ahead

Receptions with RyanDear friends,

Our Receptions with Ryan are off to a great start! These 90-minute gatherings in homes are a wonderful way for me to get to know you in a more relaxed setting. If you haven’t signed up yet, there are still a few slots available this month and next, and a new date has been added on May 7. You can learn more and register through the church web site or call the church office.

Peace be with you,Ryan

Wednesday Lenten Suppers & StudyThrough April 10, Fellowship Hall

Supper: 5:45 p.m.$8/adult, $5/child (12 and under), $20 max per family. Please make reservations for dinner on the Fellowship Pad, online, or with the church office by Mondays at 12:00 p.m. Study: 6:30-7:30 p.m, “What’s the Deal with Presbyterians?” led by Dr. Ryan BaerApril 3 - Why isn’t the Presbyterian pastor’s picture on a freeway billboard?

What do we mean when we talk about “stewardship”?April 10 - Do Presbyterians really believe in “total depravity?”

What do we mean when we talk about “justice”?

PW Birthday LuncheonApril 7

All women are invited to the Presbyterian Women’s founding birthday party at 12:30 p.m. in the Moses Waddel Room. We will share a salad luncheon and Bible study. Bobbi Epting, retired Presbyterian minister, will present, “God with Us as the Holy Spirit.” Please RSVP to the church office by April 2.

Bookless Book GroupApril 10 & 24, 11:30 a.m.

A group of women meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month to enjoy lunch and conversation. We meet at a variety of restaurants and invite anyone interested to join us. Our next meetings will be: April 10, Heirloom Cafe & April 24, South Kitchen + Bar

HONDURAS MISSION TRIP

Informational MeetingSunday, April 28 @ 12pm, Fellowship Hall

Daily “SOAP” BibleReadings* for April

Our Church FamilyCongratulations to:

Lee Epting, who won the Catersource Spark Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.Vera Lee-Schoenfeld, one of the recipients of the 2019 Richard B. Russell

Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.Kate Ness, who won the district-wide Feeding Hope Award at the

2019 Empty Bowl Luncheon for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Sue Ellen Patterson and David Fell Lewis, who were married on March 16, 2019.

Christian Sympathy to:Linda Childers and family on the loss of her mother, Gwen Wines.

Dan Trier and family on the loss of his mother, Amy Noonan Trier.

Apr 1 Judges 11-12; Psalm 50 2 Cor. 1Apr 2 Judges 13-16; 2 Cor. 2Apr 3 Judges 17-18; Psalm 89 2 Cor. 3Apr 4 Judges 19-21; 2 Cor. 4Apr 5 Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2 Cor. 5Apr 6 Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64-65; 2 Cor. 6Apr 7 1 Sam. 1-2; Psalm 66; 2 Cor. 7Apr 8 1 Sam. 3-5; Psalm 77; 2 Cor. 8Apr 9 1 Sam. 6-7; Psalm 72; 2 Cor. 9Apr 10 1 Sam. 8-10; 2 Cor. 10Apr 11 1 Sam. 11-12; 1 Chr. 1; 2 Cor. 11Apr 12 1 Sam. 13; 1 Chr. 2-3; 2 Cor. 12Apr 13 1 Sam. 14; 1 Chr. 4; 2 Cor. 13Apr 14 1 Sam. 15-16; 1 Chr. 5; Matt. 1Apr 15 1 Sam. 17; Psalm 9 Matt. 2Apr 16 1 Sam. 18; 1 Chr. 6; Psalm 11; Matt. 3Apr 17 1 Sam. 19; 1 Chr. 7; Psalm 59; Matt. 4Apr 18 1 Sam. 20-21; Psalm 34; Matt. 5 Apr 19 1 Sam. 22; Psalm 17, 35; Matt. 6Apr 20 1 Sam. 23; Psalm 31, 54; Matt. 7Apr 21 1 Sam. 24; Ps. 57-58; 1 Chr. 8; Matt. 8 Apr 22 1 Sam. 25-26; Psalm 63; Matt. 9Apr 23 1 Sam. 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chr. 9; Matt. 10 Apr 24 1 Sam. 28-29; Psalm 109; Matt. 11Apr 25 1 Sam. 30-31; 1 Chr. 10; Matt. 12Apr 26 2 Sam. 1; Psalm 140; Matt. 13Apr 27 2 Sam. 2; Psalm 142; 1 Chr. 11; Matt. 14 Apr 28 2 Sam. 3; 1 Chr. 12; Matt. 15Apr 29 2 Sam. 4-5; Psalm 139; Matt. 16Apr 30 2 Sam. 6; Psalm 68; 1 Chr. 13; Matt. 17

Daily Bible Readings*The scripture readings follow the Life Journal daily Bible reading plan and are available on the YouVersion Bible app and in downloadable PDF form. They will take us through the Bible in one year. You are invited to join me in a daily Scripture reading and journaling discipline called SOAP: how the scripture spoke to you, observation, application, and prayer. Learn more on our website at firstpresathens.org/soap.Ryan Baer, Senior Pastor

Apr 1 April McLeanApr 2 Keith Guest III, Paige Otwell,

Chase ParkerApr 3 Mary Campbell Cobb, Matt

CrimApr 4 Dyann Calvo, Sloan ShermanApr 5 Allen Crowell, Robert Davis,

Sebastian Frias, Dewitt Pittman II, Harvey Ryder

Apr 6 Greg Daniels, Nancy Dove, Harper Havick

Apr 7 Scott Collins, Kevin Johnston, Andy Osborne

Apr 8 Greta Chromiak, Karen Middendorf

Apr 9 Randy Calvo, Jr., Charlotte Moser

Apr 10 Joshua Baer, Mike Bascle, Collier Cobb

Apr 11 Beverly HromalikApr 12 Judy Harrell, Sammy Pope,

Pattie Thurston, John Turner V, Tom Wilfong

Apr 13 Julie Osborne, Diana OwenApr 14 Katherine Downs, DeDe

Guest, Andrew MillerApr 15 Jill CrimApr 16 Svea Bogue, David Hally,

Stephen Simmons,

Apr 16 Patty WhiteheadApr 17 Sherry Beck, Chris Drew,

Ronda Estes, Jane Powell, Paige Simmons

Apr 18 Erik NessApr 19 Sara Cotton, Melinda Miller,

Dan Myers, Alex Saunders, Mary Stephens

Apr 21 Nancy Bowen, Bill Buckley, Jane Mann

Apr 22 Nan Cantrell, Jolene Maxwell, Carol Strickland

Apr 23 Eleanor Bradwell, Alexander Stephens

Apr 24 Jim Braswell, Happy Dicks, Thad Padgett, Graham Blanks, Susan Thackray

Apr 25 Lewis Hudgins, Jo Anne Lowe, Heather Roberts, Martha Shenesey

Apr 26 Eva Simpson, Cynthea WilsonApr 27 Patti ReedApr 28 Phyllis Childs, Cate Farley,

Don HillApr 29 Cynthia McCullers, Lydia

Miller, Emily NoakesApr 30 Hollye Colbert, Emily

Griffeth, Rosemary Lukasiewicz

185 E. Hancock Avenue • Athens, GA 30601(706) 543-4338

Return Service Requested

Sundays at First Presbyterian Church

Sunday, April 7A Tradition Unlike Any Other

Dr. Ryan Baer PreachingCommunion Sunday, Food Sunday

Sunday, April 14Two Parades

Dr. Ryan Baer PreachingPalm Sunday

Sunday, April 21An Idle Tale

Dr. Ryan Baer PreachingEaster

Sunday, April 28The Rev. Margaret Davis Preaching

Worship Schedule8:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School for All Ages9:45 a.m.

Children’s ChurchChildren Pre-K through Grade 2 may leave with Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministries,

during the 11:00 a.m. service for Children’s Church held in the Children’s Ministry Suite.