First Presbyterian Church 100 Silver Creek Rd.

Morganton, NC 28655 828-437-1811

www.fpcmorganton.org

May 20–June 9, 2018

THE SPIRE LIGHT

Confirmation Sunday May 20, 2018

Confirmation Class Dionte S. Code

John Calhoun Collett

Caitlyn Rebecca Eagan

Wonhee Kim

Madison Patricia Lowry

John Wesley Port

Tabitha Elizabeth Rapp

Owen Michael Streppa

Lead Teachers Pastor Adam Bowling

Jonathan Lowry

Pastor Wanda Neely

Michael Streppa

May 20 Is Pentecost Sunday—Wear RED!

Coming fifty days after Easter, Pentecost is the day we remember and celebrate the gift of God’s Spirit and the birth of the Church. Red is the liturgical color for the day, sym-bolizing the power and warmth of the Spirit in our midst. We encourage all wor-shipers to wear red on this day. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.

Recently, when I was leading the Lord’s Prayer in worship, I said, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” The two churches where I previously served use those words, and I slipped back into old habit. Indeed if you look at the Service for the Lord’s Day in the front of our hymnal, you will see the words “sins” and “sin” used in the Lord’s Prayer. When I apologized for my slip up, folks said, “Well, teach us about that.” I love that about this church. I remember once before a memorial service I was conducting, I went to check with the guest organist. She was playing that remarkable way organists do, turning pages, switching books, working fingers and feet, talking and nodding all at the same time. When I shared that the soloist would be singing the Lord’s Prayer, without looking up or missing a note, she asked, “Methodist or Presbyterian?” What is the difference, and what difference does it make? Well, there is the urban legend and then the more accurate story. The urban legend goes like this: The Scots were merchants, and the English were landowners. To sin against a Scot meant that you had not paid your debts, so Presbyterians and others within the Reformed tradition pre-ferred having their “debts” forgiven. On the other hand, the English, being landowners, believed that the chief sin was trespassing on their property, thus their preference was for the forgiveness of “trespasses.” It is a nice story, but it is only a legend. The more reliable explanation has to do with history and tradition and more specifically a difference in transla-tion. When Thomas Cranmer wrote the Book of Common Prayer, the prime liturgical source for Anglicans, Episcopalians, and Methodists, he followed Tyndale’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, which translates the Greek word as “trespasses.” The Scots, on the other hand, followed the King James Version, which they say translates the word used in the prayer by Jesus as “debts.” And thus the difference has been passed down all the way to us. Today, just as we no longer use the Old English words “thee,” “thou,” “wilt,” and “shalt,” we seek to pray in words that reflect accurately what Jesus is saying. And what Jesus is literally telling us to do is pray, “Forgive us for our sins the way we are forgiving others of theirs.” However we translate the word from the Greek, we can know it means we have committed wrongs, we are in need of forgiveness, and we need to forgive others. During this period of transition, let’s try sometimes the updated translation and ask God to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Call it debts, trespasses, or sins, there are a lot of ways we commit wrongs for which we need forgiveness. May we seek that forgiveness, and may we practice it toward others. Wanda Neely, Interim Pastor (mobile: 828-929-5001)

Sponsor a Child at Ebenezer Institute, Malawi Ebenezer Institute of Learning is a private Christian primary school, founded in 2008 when a local mission hospital in rural Malawi began struggling to find well-trained doctors and nurses willing to serve in a location without quality education. Since its small beginning, Ebenezer has grown to a pre-kindergarten through 7th grade (last grade before high school) school. Ebenezer serves children on the Nkhoma Mission Station as well as surrounding villages. By some international agencies, Malawi is considered the poorest country in the world.

To sponsor a child for one year of school is $300 (0.82/day). If you would like to sponsor a child at Ebenezer Institute of Learning, please obtain a form from the church website (fpcmorganton.org) or the church office and return it along with your payment to either the church or the presbytery office.

Sunday, May 20—Confirmation and Pentecost Sunday Come to worship and wear RED to celebrate the birthday of the Church and our Confirmation Class! There will be a reception in the breezeway following worship. Join us!

Sunday, May 20, 6:30-8:00 PM—Bahamas Mission Trip Meeting Please bring your payments, completed health/permission forms (two original copies!), health insurance cards, passports, and questions about the trip. A notary will be at this meeting to notarize your forms!

Wednesday, May 23, 6:30 PM (5:15 PM Meal)—First Presbyterian's Got Talent Youth and children, sign up to show us your gifts and talents by filling out the back of a “First Presbyterian’s Got Talent” flyer and returning it to church by Sunday, May 20! You can sing, dance, play an instrument, display some art—you name it! This showcase is open to all children and youth through 12th grade. Contact Pastor Adam with questions!

Sunday, May 27, Noon-6:00 PM—Lunch and Trip to see “Ragtime” at the Hickory Community Theater Sign up online today to eat lunch after worship on Sunday, May 27, and then travel to the Hickory Community Theater to see “Ragtime” the musical [Rated PG]. This powerful musical, set at the dawn of the 20th century in America, blends three different worlds: suburban, wealthy whites, African-Americans from Harlem, and Eastern European immigrants. These disparate characters confront the contradictions of wealth and poverty, of freedom and prejudice, of hope and despair. This is one of Pastor Adam’s favorite top ten musicals! The curtain goes up at 2:30 PM, and tickets for lunch and the show are only $10. We plan to be back to church by dinner time. Contact Pastor Adam to sign up today!

Saturday, June 2, 1:00-5:00 PM—End-of-the-Year Lake Party at the Sharp’s Lake House Grab your youth group friends and meet at church at 1:00 PM for a ride to Will Sharp’s Lake House (6379 N. Shore Dr., Nebo) for a 1:30-4:30 PM Lake Party! If you don’t need a ride, just meet at Will Sharp’s House at 1:30 PM. Wear your bathing suit and bring $4.00 for a Subway dinner. Also, bring a towel, sunscreen, a change of clothes, and an extra life vest (PFD) if you have one. If your last name starts with the following, please bring: A-H: snack to share, I-P: dessert to share, Q-Z: 2-liter drink to share. If you need a ride, please RSVP to Pastor Adam and meet at church at 1:00 PM. We plan to return to church by 5:00 PM.

Student Ministries

Rev. Adam C. Bowling 828-448-8914

adam@firstpresmorganton.org

BBQ Fundraiser Lunch on June 3 to Support Youth Mission As you may have heard, our Youth Mission Team to Abaco Island this July was unable to secure a flight back on a weekend for twenty-four team members. Therefore, they must stay an extra two unplanned nights on the island and return on July 23. So the team is trying to raise the $4,875.00 needed to cover the extra costs associated with this unexpected delay in travel. How can you help? We want you and yours to save the date for the BBQ Fundraiser Lunch after worship in the fellowship hall on Sunday, June 3.

Meal Includes: Ribs slow-cooked by Richard Turner on his “Sweet Lucy” cooker,

red slaw OR white slaw, green beans, potato salad, roll, dessert, and drinks. A child's chicken finger meal will also be available.

Suggested Minimum donation: Adult Meal: $15.00 per person Child Meal: $5.00 per person

Carryout meals will also be available! Invite your friends to come to church and stay for a great meal!

The Youth Mission Team thanks you for your support!

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

May 20, 2018 Rev. Dr. Wanda Neely

Scripture Lessons Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-35b

Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-16:15

Greeters Ken and Catharine Corn

Anne Gamble, Mary Frances Young

Nursery Gabby Putt

Grace Ridge Bus Driver Scott Davis

Usher Captains Dick Peck, John Port

Visitors Table Debbie Wellmon

May 27, 2018 Rev. Dr. Wanda Neely

Scripture Lessons Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29

Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17

Greeters Lewis and Jane Rigsbee

LeRoy and Barbara Wall

Nursery Amanda Peck

Grace Ridge Bus Driver Eric LeGoullon

Usher Captains Greg Carpenter, Lisa Roller

Visitors Table Debbie Wellmon

June 3, 2018 Rev. Dr. Wanda Neely

Scripture Lessons I Samuel 3:1-20; Psalm 139:1-18 II Cor. 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6

Greeters Mary Lou McDaniel

George and Donna Roth

Nursery Maggie McKinney, Happy Nagy

Grace Ridge Bus Driver Ken Corn

Usher Captain Scott Davis

Visitors Table Lynn Garrett

The next newsletter covers June 10-July 7 events (a four-week period). Please submit your church news to the church office by noon on Monday, June 4.

See pages 5-8 below.

Elective Adult Sunday School Class—9:30 AM in Room 102 Downstairs May 20: Questions You Have Always Wanted to Ask—Rev. Dr. Bob Lowry will again lead a question and answer session. This is an opportunity to have puzzling theological concepts discussed. May 27: The Commandments of Jesus—Rick Leissner will continue this series as we again compare and contrast Old Testament “Law” versus New Testament “Law.” We will look at some of the 38 “commandments” Jesus gave us, in His own words. We will see that the teachings of Jesus are much more than “love, love, love”—although love is

surely the cornerstone. This out-of-the ordinary approach should lead to some fresh contemplation, perspectives, and lively discussions, as we continue our journey. June 3: Amy Coley will lead the class as she shares information about the Burke Augustine Literacy Project. We will discuss pursuing what is meaningful, not what is expedient.

NEW DATES!! God's Backyard Bible Camp: Shipwrecked!

July 30-August 3, 2018! Doors open: 8:30 AM

Program: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM For ages 3 ½ (toilet trained) to rising 6th graders.

We need volunteers! Contact Pastor Adam today to sign up to help!

Join Us for Wednesday Summer Bible Study Format: 6:00 PM—Simple supper, such as deli sandwiches: $5/person (adults and children) Sign up on the friendship pad or by calling the church office before 10:00 AM Tuesday mornings. 6:30-7:15 PM—45-minute Bible study on text(s) for upcoming Sunday

Location: Simple meal in room 200 (men's bible classroom) Bible study in room 200 or church parlor

Schedule and Leadership: June 6: Lynn Webber

June 13: No Bible Study (Committee Night) June 20: Wanda Neely June 27: Jan Krouskop

July 4: No Bible Study (Holiday) July 11: Lynn Webber July 18: Jan Krouskop July 25: Rick Leissner August 1: Lynn Webber

August 8: No Bible Study (Committee Night) August 15: TBD August 22: TBD August 29: TBD

Summer Sunday Fellowships—Sign Up to Host Sundays During the summer, our congregation enjoys lingering in the breezeway for a brief time of fellowship following worship. Volunteer hosts are needed, at least two per Sunday. Hosts do the following: Divide responsibilities with other volunteers for your day(s). Bring enough cookies or other small pick-up food items for 75-100 people (about two items each). Small and

simple please; store-bought is fine. Prepare ice water and a sweet drink for serving. Leave worship service in time to put out food items and fill some cups with drinks. Serve and replenish items during fellowship. Afterwards, put inside any items that might blow away before the church custodian arrives. More specific instructions are available upon sign up. So study your summer calendar, and then sign up for any Sunday(s) starting June 25 and ending August 20. See the sign up in the church entrance area or contact the church office at 828-437-1811.

Sunday, May 20 Confirmation & Pentecost Sunday 9:30 AM Christian Education Hour 9:30 AM Session Meeting with Confirmands 10:00 AM Chancel Choir 10:55 AM Worship Service with Communion 6:30 PM Bahamas Mission Trip Mtg.

Monday, May 21 10:00 AM Mind, Body, Spirit Class

Tuesday, May 22 7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast 1:30 PM Staff Meeting

Wednesday, May 23 5:15 PM Meal— Adult Menu: country-style steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll Kids: chicken fingers, veggies, roll 6:30 PM Gifts & Talents Show 7:15 PM Chancel Choir

Thursday, May 24 9:00 AM BUCM Soup Kitchen

Sunday, May 27 9:30 AM Christian Education Hour 10:00 AM Chancel Choir 10:55 AM Worship Service 12:00 PM Youth Lunch & Trip— “Ragtime”

Monday, May 28 Office Closed

Tuesday, May 29 7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast 1:30 PM Staff Meeting

Wednesday, May 30 No Meal/Program 7:15 PM Chancel Choir

Saturday, June 2 1:00 PM Youth Lake Party— Sharp’s Lake House

Sunday, June 3 Ordination & Installation 9:30 AM Christian Education Hour 10:00 AM Chancel Choir 10:55 AM Worship Service 12:15 PM BBQ Fundraiser Lunch

Monday, June 4 10:00 AM Mind, Body, Spirit Class 12:00 PM Spire Light Deadline

Tuesday, June 5 7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast 11:45 AM Staff Birthday Lunch 1:30 PM Staff Meeting

Wednesday, June 6 10:30 AM Spire Light Volunteers 6:00 PM Simple Meal 6:30 PM Bible Study w/Lynn Webber

Thursday, June 7 9:30 AM Primetimers Board Mtg.

Friday, June 8 8:30 AM Admin. Committee Mtg.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CALENDAR

Giving to FPC on Church Website The church website, fpcmorganton.org, provides you with an easy way to give to our General Fund, Building Preservation Fund, and Youth Mission Fund via PayPal. Just open the Giving page or click on the quick link at the bottom of the webpage to access the PayPal options.

Wednesday Night Programs Wednesday, May 23—

Final Celebration First Presbyterian’s Got Talent

Gifts and Talents Show!

Member Giving Through April 2018

Budgeted Received Budget/Actual Pledged Giving $171,190.32 $150,609.31 ($20,581.01) Non-Pledged Giving $21,166.68 $22,585.10 $1,418.42

The Presbyterian Women of Circle 3 invite church family & friends to a Reception & Shower welcoming

Lily Paige Bowling —daughter of Erin & Adam Bowling

—sister of Parker & Chase born on May 3, 2018.

Drop in on Sunday, June 10, in the church parlor, between 2:00 & 4:00 PM.

A table will be provided for cards or gifts.

High School Graduates Luke Brazinski is graduating from Christ School, Arden, NC, and will continue his education at UNC Chapel Hill in the fall.

Hunter Lee Butler is graduating from Patton High School and will attend UNC Chapel Hill in the fall, majoring in orthodontics.

Carly Carpenter is graduating from Burke Middle College with a high school diploma and Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) with an Associate in Arts Degree and in the fall will continue her education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Douglas Coley is graduating from Freedom High School and will attend Lees-McRae College in the fall.

Adam Leigh Davis is graduating from Patton High School and will attend WPCC in the fall.

Ethan Hawkins is graduating from Freedom High School and will attend Wake Forest University in the fall.

Victoria Kirby is graduating from Freedom High School and will continue her education at WPCC in the fall.

Mary Helen Mooney is graduating from Freedom High School and will continue her education at the University of South Carolina.

Grace Anne Ramsey, daughter of Bill and Lauren Ramsey and granddaughter of Tom Starnes, will graduate from Patton High School and will continue her education at Appalachian State University in the fall.

William Robert Schuford, son of Robert and Marie Lewis-Schuford and grandson of Leon and Elinor Lewis, is graduating from Woodberry Forest School and will attend Clemson University in the fall, majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

College and Graduate School Graduates Annie Franklin Arvin is graduating from Union Presbyterian Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree.

Michael Brazinski graduated from College Charleston with Political Science Degree and a minor in geography.

Amber LeGoullon is graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She will continue her education in the summer at Lenoir-Rhyne and will enter the Master of Arts in teaching program.

Mackenzie Mooney graduated from Cleveland Community College with a Medical Assisting Degree.

Marie Penina Ritchie will graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and will continue her education at Lenoir-Rhyne and enter into the masters program for Occupational Therapy immediately after graduation. Her grandparents are Henry and Penina Ramseur; her aunt is Nina Ramseur Warren.

Freddie Sherrill graduated from Queens University of Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services Studies. He was a former church sexton here at FPC, hired by former pastor, Rev. Steve Eason.

Thomas Singley is graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and will be an ensign in the United States Navy on the USS McCampbell, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

Riley Elizabeth Turner graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology. Riley is the granddaughter of Mary C. Turner.

Sarah Catherine Vanderbloemen will graduate from Episcopal High School in Houston and will continue her education at Baylor University in the fall. Mary Vanderbloemen will graduate from Texas A&M and will begin pursuing her Masters in Education, specializing in Applied Mathematics. Sarah Catherine and Mary are the daughters of William and Adrienne Vanderbloemen and granddaughters of Tamra and Tom Starnes.

Other Graduates Rick Leissner will graduate from the Church Leadership School of the PWNC on May 26, 2018.

Madison Lowry is graduating from 8th grade at Morganton Day School and will attend Asheville School in the fall.

Food Needed for Habitat Meal The time of year is quickly approaching when we feed our Habitat friends from Virginia. They have been so faithful in coming to work on First Presbyterians projects, and we are so grateful for the response from our church in feeding them!

This year we will try a repeat from last year’s menu of barbeque and chicken fingers with a variety of vegetable side dishes. The church will provide the meat, and we, the families of FPC, are being asked to enter a challenge to provide the side dishes. Keep it simple and plentiful! We hope to have at least the following:

Three 9x13 dishes of vegetables (i.e. baked beans, green beans, veggie pasta salads) Three 9x13 dishes of some type of potato (i.e. potato salad, au gratin potatoes) Two 9x13 dishes of red slaw and white slaw Two cakes or brownies

Please let me know what you are bringing so we can keep things balanced and not end up with all the same dish. We are preparing for approximately 30 for dinner. Dishes should be brought to the FPC fellowship hall kitchen between 3:00 and 4:30 PM on June 19. Donna Benner and Holly Restel will be there to receive them. Bless you for your generosity and hospitality to our visiting crew!

Debbie Greene Wellmon, for the FPC Habitat Team Cell: 828-433-4814; Email: dwellmon@aol.com

Birth Announcements Congratulations to former member Elaine Udstuen on the birth of her first great-grandchild, Elodie Hope Largent, born April 19, 2018, to Colleen and Jeffrey Largent.

Congratulations to Erin and Pastor Adam Bowling and big brothers Parker and Chase on the birth of their daughter and sister, Lily Paige Bowling. Lily Paige was born on May 3, 2018.

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Congregational love and sympathy are extended to:

-Ronnie and Anne Thompson and Ellen Settlemyer at the death of Ronnie’s mother and Ellen’s step-grandmother, Colene Cobb Thompson, on May 1, 2018.

-Larry and Patricia Clark and family at the death of Larry’s father, Lewis Clark, on May 11, 2018.

Congratulations, Freddie Sherrill! Freddie Sherrell, former FPC sexton and current sexton at Myers Park Presbyterian church, recently graduated from Queens University of Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services Studies. Check out www.charlotteobserver .com/news/local/article210207924.html to learn more. If you would like to send him a note of congratulations, his address is 3171 Mannington Drive, Charlotte, NC 28270.

Our Church in Mission First Presbyterian Church has received expressions of gratitude for recent gifts of time, talents, and treasure in support of these local ministries: Burke United Christian Ministries and Habitat for Humanity.