joy bedford to retire after 20 years augustcowan, gary nelon, magen smith and theresa mckenna. in...

In her letter of resignation, Joy said,“I will miss being a part of this wonder-ful, caring, loving staff. I will miss all ofyou. I am honored that I have had theopportunity to know you. I will miss thechildren and youth. I will miss learningand growing under Bobby’s leadership. IfGod found Bobby for us, I know there isan amazing person who will take my job.”

She added, “I say it all the time and itis so true: This congregation is the best;they are family. They love deeply; they careand give from and of their hearts. I ampraying for the one who is called to takemy job. How very blessed they will be towork for you. Thank you for letting mework for you and with you all these manyyears. Thank you for loving me and myfamily so well.”

Joy has moved into the home of her97-year-old mother-in-law in Burnet tohelp take care of her. She reminds the con-gregation that she will be “only a phonecall away.”

(See more stories pages 9 to 16)

With a” full heart,” Joy Bedford notifiedthe church in June of her retirement as Edu-cation Director after 20 years in that posi-tion. An effective date has not been set,pending the naming of her replacement,according to Pastor Bobby, who said plansare being made to celebrate and thank Joyfor her long service.

A search committee for a new Educa-tion Director has been formed and is al-ready receiving applications for theposition, which has been revised from 30to 40 hours a week and now includes theduties of LOGOS Director. Committeemembers are Dawn Bookert, Chair, JaimeCowan, Gary Nelon, Magen Smith andTheresa McKenna.

In retiring, Joy cited the needs of herimmediate and extended families and thefact that “I am not as young as I once was.”She feels strongly that it’s time for thechurch “to have someone with new in-sights, a new set of skills, plenty of energyand love to share with this amazingchurch family.”

August 2020

FIRSTWORD G E O R G E T O W N , T E X A S

RRRRR O OO OO OO OO O T E D .T E D .T E D .T E D .T E D . R E FR E FR E FR E FR E F O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D . R E L E VR E L E VR E L E VR E L E VR E L E VA N TA N TA N TA N TA N T.....

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Inside2 Congregational Meeting

Financial ReportAugust Celebrations

3 August WorshipPastor Bobby on LeaveFlowers in Worship

5 Digital Communications7 ODTAP Update on

In-Person Worship8 First Ringers9 - 16 Stories of Joy

16 August Calendar

Christian Education4 Plans for Fall

New Job Description forJaime

Youth Ministry5 DL’s Column

Alvin Gusman Honor

Mission6 CASA of Williamson

CountyThe Caring PlaceSupport for Wehmeyers

Fellowship4 Presbyterian Women

Compassionate Care2 Among Our People7 Points from Parish Nurse

Senior SeminarStephen Ministry Program

Joy Bedford to retire after 20 years

VacationBible Schoolhas always

presented anopportunityfor the little

ones at FPC toreceive lots

of hugs from Joy.

16 F I R S T W O R D

AUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUST

Dear Church Family:

On August 1, l begin my new role asEducation Director for you and ourchurch. I cannot begin to tell you howmuch your words of encouragementand support have meant to me. You of-ten overwhelm me with your kindness.Please continue to offer me your wis-dom, ideas, and concerns as we worktogether to make our education programwhat God wants it to be. I get so excited

about what we asa family can do foreach other and ourcommunity. Weare blessed with allthe gifts that weneed to accom-

plish God’s work. We have a great teamto guide us through our many tasks: pas-tors, interns, Nurture Committee, YouthMinistry directors and teams, SundaySchool teachers, LOGOS Board andStaff; Kids’ Day Out Director and Board,and childcare coordinator and childcarestaff. Please keep the team in yourprayers as we begin a new year of edu-cation.

NOW—Your job is not only to pray, butalso to be here, and if you have childrenor youth, bring them and all of you be-come a vital part of our education pro-gram at First Presbyterian Church.

I can hardly wait for us all to belearning, playing and working together.My office hours at the church will beMonday-Thursday, 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00.

I will be keeping you in my prayers.

In anticipation, Joy BedfordEducation Director

From theAugust 2000

2000 Christian Education News

FIRSTWORDJoy’s first monthas newly hired

Education Directorfor First

Presbyterian Church

Robert, Joy, Katyand Robby Bedfordat a church retreat

SUNDAY

26Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFHBobby on Paternity Leave thru Aug.14

2CommunionDr. John Carswell Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

9David Lee Hulsey Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

16Dr. Bill Pederson Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH12:00pm CongregationalMeeting

23Pastor Bobby11:00am Worship-WCFH

30Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

MONDAY

27

3

10

17

24

31

TUESDAY

2810:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Meeting


1110:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Meeting6:45 pm Executive Comm

1810:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Planning4:30pm Newsletter Deadline7:00pm Diaconate

2510:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Meeting7:00pm Session


FRIDAY

31Church Officecloses at noon






THURSDAY

308:00am RightPath Health

Screenings

6

13

20

27

3

WEDNESDAY


Screenings

5

12

19

26

2

2 F I R S T W O R D

2 Craig & Ashley Riley3 Doug & Jamie Arnold4 Marcus & Kayla Collick6 Bill & Lois Stanley7 Marv & Sandy Hulshizer8 Larry & Helen Burk

Tracy Jackson & Jullee Mapes9 George & Linette Harwell11 Jim & Kaye Bishop13 Conley & Cathy Leloux14 John & Sue Rose15 Guy & Cynthia Guidici18 Jay & Jean Allison19 Eric & Anne Hoke

Bill & Betty Anne PoeHubert & Evelyn Syler

20 Rick & Shirley GallowayJim & Courtney Root

23 Dustin & Sarah HammitGreg & Amy Hunt

24 Bob & Ramona Kissner25 Mark & Ruth DeRuyter26 Larry Buchanan & Betsy Hughes27 Keith & Sue Renard28 John & Elizabeth Decker30 Dave & Alison Harrison31 Mike & Kathleen Wenzel

1 Barbara CaudleMariette MugfordRiley Spruiell

2 Jim Briggs3 Elizabeth Decker4 Susan Bell

Linda Stephenson6 Alexandra Crenshaw

Tim LewisBill McKenna

7 Chuck Helmka9 Guy Guidici

Luke MillerLinda Morgan

10 John Rose11 Thomas Isenhour

Maya Spruiell12 Dawn Bookert13 Richard Dorr14 Paul Gipson15 Cassie MacClean16 Ben Butler

Sue RenardBonnie Stump

17 Katie BradfordTristan Hammit

18 Faith BaechtelJennifer Vara

19 Emily Littleton20 Helen Burk

Session has called a virtual meeting of thecongregation for Sunday, August 16, fol-lowing the 11 o’clock worship service. In-structions with the Zoom link and tele-phone number will be sent with the weeklye-mail (that has links for the morning’s ser-vice) and the packets mailed to memberswith no internet service. A quorum of atleast 56 members is required.

There are two motions on the agenda:election of the 2020 Church Officer Nomi-nating Committee and election of formerpastor, Dr. Michael A. Roberts, as PastorEmeritus in gratitude for his 30 years ofservice to FPC.

Committee nominees and the areas theyrepresent are: Ben Nichols, Chair, andMarty Curtis, Vice Chair, session; MintaMcIntosh, deacons; Jana McCown, trust-ees; Lenice Smithwick, PresbyterianWomen; Gary Cox, Men's Fellowship;Tricia Osborne, Music Ministry; ElizabethDecker, LOGOS/Youth; and Cathy Shirley,Sunday School.

Session voted in March to bestow thehonorary title on Mike and to present hisnomination to the congregation for a vote.The honorary position has no pastoralauthority or duties.

ANNIVERSARIES

Boldface indicatesa member of

First Presbyterian Church

Among Our People

BIRTHDAYS

(continued on next page)

Called congregationalmeeting on Zoom forSunday, August 16

Actual AnnualBudget

YTD %AnnualBudget

Income and Expense ReportYear to Date - June 2020

General Operating Fund

Income Pledges $480,022 $841,881 57% Other $72,493 $105,180 69% TOTAL $552,515 $947,061 58% Expenses Validated Mission $30,092 $57,593 52% Local/Other Mission $13,125 $29,802 44% Ministry of the Word $71,324 $148,501 48% Program/Support Staff $231,767 $468,710 49% Christian Education $10,987 $39,350 28% Music and Worship $11,804 $21,756 54% Evangelism/Care $3,323 $11,115 30% Property $44,386 $90,500 49% Stewardship/Finance $8,567 $19,700 43% Other Oper Expenses $15,928 $43,970 36% Debt Retirement $48,777 $97,548 50% TOTAL $490,080 $1,028,545 48%

In the hospital last month: Robert Bed-ford, Judy Bond and Roger Taylor.

Our sympathy to: Freda Ditzler on the death of her daugh-ter, Candi Ditzler, June 30 in California. Kathi Davenport and Edna Malone onthe death of Kathi’s aunt and Edna’s sis-ter-in-law, Virginia Crow, July 3 in RoundRock. Florence Gould on the loss of her hus-band, Barry Gould, April 19. Barry hadbeen a member of our congregation sinceApril 2019. Services are planned for a laterdate.

Congratulations to: Gene & Carolyn Gregory on the birthof their great-grandson, Bobby DeanLewellen, born July 10 in Dallas. Timothy & Anna Roberts on the birthof their daughter, Austin Elizabeth Rob-erts, born July 14 in Boston. Proud grand-parents are Mike & Cindy Roberts andRon & Liz Weaver. Bobby & Michelle Hulme-Lippert onthe birth of their son, Logan Samir, July 21in Houston. Austin Moreno on his wedding to JennyEvans July 25 in Lubbock. Proud parentis Susan Moreno and proud grandfather,Fred Hilgeman. Austin will teach andcoach at Southland while Jenny is in hersenior year at Lubbock Christian University.

Serving in the military: Col. Brian Burk,Larry Burk’s son; Maj. Josh Daleiden,Betty Bradford’s grandson-in-law; JohnDecker; Jared A. Gross, Robert Bedford’snephew; Brian Hall; Capt. Daniel Ham-mond, Keith & Sue Renard’s grandson-in-law; Garrett Herbst; 1st Staff Sgt.Matthew L. Johnson, son of Glen & AnnKaiser; Brandon Keith, Phil & JeanneSmith’s son-in-law; Nicolaas Leloux; Tech.Sgt. Robert McClanahan, grandson ofMinta McIntosh and nephew of Lee McIn-tosh; Lt. Colonel Mark Pratt, Jeff Pratt’sbrother; Sgt. 1st Class Paul Rayburn;Nicholas Stamos, Larry & Helen Burk’sgrandson; and Christian Winckel, grand-son of Sandy Hayes.

F I R S T W O R D 15

I join with you in celebrating theministry of Joy Bedford. Her 20 yearsof service as Education Director hasmade a profound impact upon thechurch.

In thinking over these two dec-ades, I remember several strengths ofher unique ministry: Her amazing welcome of childrenand their parents. Again and again,year after year, I heard from our fami-lies that they were members here be-cause of the welcome and supportthey received from Joy. Her encouragement of our Sun-day School teachers. There has beenan amazing longevity among ourteachers that I attribute to Joy’s en-couragement, training and support.She developed a committed team of

teachers who impacted an entiregeneration of children. This encouragement extended toour teachers of adults. Joy has sup-ported, equipped and helped orga-nize adult teachers over two decades.She also has coordinated all theteachers who took part in the adultelective series, including all of theseminary professors. All-Church Retreat. We beganthis ministry in 2002, and for theremainder of her ministry she hascoordinated, motivated and ar-ranged speakers, led the ministrywith children, and planned thiscritical ministry. Confirmation Class for youth.For 10 years we taught this classtogether, with Joy taking on increas-

ing responsibility for teaching andorganization. What an important,nurturing ministry!

Like so many of you, I am mostgrateful for Joy’s support and encour-agement in my own life and ministry.She has expressed that same love andacceptance to my wife Cindy and mychildren, Jonathan, Timothy andElizabeth.

I think of all the people she hastouched over the years. Her gifts ofencouragement, empathy and com-passion have infused life and heartinto the church’s ministry. I join withall of you in giving thanks for JoyBedford.

—Yours in Christ, Mike

Joy Bedford is the main reason I de-cided to join First PresbyterianChurch. We moved to Georgetownand visited several churches buthadn’t really found a place to callhome. We visited First Presbyterianbecause I had been an active memberat University Presbyterian in Austinduring my college years.

The first time we came, Joy wasthere to greet us in the lobby. Sheseemed so excited to meet my chil-dren, who were still toddlers. We feltvery welcomed but didn’t want tocommit right away. We continued tosporadically visit other churches butkept coming back to First Presbyte-rian. It just felt right.

We started to attend regularlyjust before Vacation Bible School.When we decided to join, I remem-ber stating that it was hard for me toleave Rachel at VBS that summer forthree hours and not be able to stayand help out. I had worked in VBSat other churches. I think it took lessthan a week for Joy to call and ask ifI would be willing to help withLOGOS.

I was asked to be one of the ro-tating Bible study leaders. That be-gan my true participation in the lifeof our church. Joy soon asked meto join the LOGOS board as BibleStudy Coordinator. I later workedclosely with Tricia Osborne as abackstage hand for several musicals.

One year, I was at the churchpreparing props and costumes fora LOGOS musical when Joy askedme to come in her office and sitdown for a chat. She said, “Youknow that Jan is retiring andCindee is going to take her place,which means I will no longer havean Education Administrative Assis-tant. I want you.”

Joy sought and was granted ap-proval to provide childcare at thechurch for the months when mychildren were out of school so thatI could come to work part-time atthe church. While it was not some-thing I had planned to do, I amthankful that God put my name onJoy’s heart in 2007.

Since then, I have workedclosely with Joy on many projectsas well as the regular programs of

FPC. I have served on boards, on taskforces and on staff with Joy for almost15 years and she has become a goodfriend.

Joy has made a deep impression onmy children and my family. Week af-ter week, her smiling face has wel-comed an untold number of familiesinto our church home as though theywere the most important people in theworld. She has always made it herbusiness to have a relationship withevery child who walks through ourdoors.

We will be hard-pressed to findanother Education Director with asbig a heart as Joy’s. That being said, Iam happy for Joy and her family fi-nally to have time for each other. Joyhas given everything to this church—more than she should have and morethan we deserve.

I am thankful to her for makingmy children feel loved in this church.I am thankful for her leadership andher thoughtfulness. I am thankful forher heart and her friendship. I amthankful that God brought Joy intomy life.

—Christina BondesenFPC Office Manager & Former Educa-

tion Administrative Assistant

“Joy Bedford is why I joined this church”

On Joy: From former pastor Dr. Michael A. Roberts (1988-2018)

F I R S T W O R D 3

BIRTHDAYS(continued from previous page)

A U G U S T W O R S H I P(on YouTube at 11 a.m.)

August 2CommunionPreaching: Dr. John CarswellFrom Cadzow Parish ChurchHamilton, Scotland

August 9David Lee Hulsey Preaching

August 16, 2020Preaching: Dr. Bill PedersonFrom San Gabriel Presbyterian ChurchCongregational Meeting following service

August 23Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert Preaching


22 Jacob PilcherSteven Robinson

23 Brian Hall24 Alex Wagner25 Jamie Arnold

Garrett Herbst27 Julie Culver28 Kailyn Bailey29 James Caskey31 Bill Caudle

Linda Johnson

Flowersin Worship/

August

2 Nelson Barrett9 This could be you!16 This could be you!23 This could be you!30 Dave & Alison Harrison

During this pandemic, whenwe are not worshiping in per-son, the flower arrangementsyou are providing continue tobe used by CompassionateCare staff in our Flower Min-istry. The arrangements aredivided into smaller bouquetsand put into bud vases, thentaken to our shut-ins andmembers in the hospital. Ifyou want to take your ar-rangement home, contactChristina Bondesen priorto that Sunday and makearrangements for someoneto leave it outside or giveyou a temporary entrycode.

Pastor Bobby began three-week paternityleave July 24 as he, wife Michelle and sonLeo headed to Houston to meet their newfamily member, son Logan Samir. The fam-ily planned to spend the first week or twoof Bobby’s paternity leave in Houston atthe home of Michelle’s parents.

He pre-recorded hissermon and prayers forJuly 26 in order to leadworship even though hewas in Houston.

While Bobby is onleave, Dr. Ken Peters willbe the emergency pastoralcare contact. Check theAugust worship schedulebelow for who will bepreaching while our pas-tor is on leave. WhenJenny Carswell’s son Johnpreaches from Scotland,Dr. Peters will preside overcommunion.

Guest preachers in AugustYou can learn more about John Carswell’schurch in Hamilton, Scotland, at https://www.cadzowchurch.org.uk. He was born in Scot-land to Jenny and the lateBob Carswell, who cameto the U.S. when Johnwas a baby. Forty yearslater he went back to Scot-land with his wife and sixchildren and has beenminister at Cadzow since 2009. John wasa minister in the Presbyterian Church(USA) for 12 years and served congrega-tions in Missouri and Texas before mov-ing to Scotland. He earned a bachelor’sdegree at the University of Texas and amaster’s degree at Austin Seminary. Heholds a doctorate in practical theologyfrom the University of Glasgow, with afocus on adult baptism. John plays gui-tar, flute and bassoon and leads his churchworship band, “J.C. and the Disciples.”

Dr. Bill Pederson isa native Texan andholds degrees fromTexas A&M, AustinSeminary and Pitts-burg Theological Sem-inary. He has pastoredchurches in Weather-ford and Round Rockand North Carolina,

and is now pastor of San Gabriel Presby-terian in Georgetown.

It’s a boy for the Hulme-Lippert family!


Ms. Joy makes lasting memories for FPC’s kidsMary recalled that Ms. Joy was

always excited to see her, and everyinteraction included a hug with an“I love you.”

“Ms. Joy helped me learn theLord’s Prayer and the Apostles Creedduring Confirmation Class and ledthe most amazing children’s pro-grams at the annual All-Church Re-treat,” Mary said.

Since Mary and Tess were in theGeorgetown High School Eagle Bandwith Katy and Robby Bedford, theyhad the added bonus of seeing Ms.Joy at football games and marchingband competitions.

One of Mary’s favorite memoriesof Ms. Joy was the presentation ofBibles to third graders. “Other thanmy mother, I had never seen anyonecry tears of happiness for me. Shetreated Tess and me like the stars of

the show every time we performed apiano duet during a church serviceor sang solos during the LOGOSmusicals.” Mary said she loved howMs. Joy led the singing of “HappyBirthday” every year on ChristmasEve at the birthday party for Jesus.

When the situation with a groupof little ones would start to get cha-otic, Ms. Joy could calm and refocusby encouraging them to sing withher ‘Jesus Loves Me” or ‘This LittleLight of Mine’. Tess will never for-get when they were little how Ms.Joy “used to say ‘Robby, that’s one!’when he got into mischief. I admirethe way Ms. Joy has always lovedand cared for her family. I value thefact that she leads by example. As aChristian educator, she not only“talks the talk”; she also “walks thewalk,” said Tess.

Mary considers herself extremelyblessed to have grown up at FPC,“experiencing countless special mo-ments that were made possible byMs. Joy. She is someone I have al-ways admired and looked up to. Sheis incredibly generous, loving andkind. She treats everyone as a childof God.” —Marty Curtis

Photo: The 12-year-old McKennatwins, Mary and Tess, share a hugwith “Ms. Joy” at the 2004 All-ChurchRetreat at Mo-Ranch.

From Tess and Mary McKenna:Twins Tess and Mary McKenna are28 years old and were just toddlerswhen the Bedfords joined the churchin October 1993 and Ms. Joy becameinvolved in children’s activities, in-cluding Sonshine Kids, a Wednesdaynight program during LOGOS for kidsfrom birth to 4 years of age.

As long as they can remember“Ms. Joy” was their teacher. Theylooked forward to seeing her smil-ing face at Sunday school, Children’sChurch, Sunshine Kids, LOGOS,Vacation Bible School and all-churchevents like Family Night Suppers andChristmas Night Together.

“When we were little, she usedto get so excited when she could tellus apart!” Mary recalled.

“She will always be a role modelfor me,” Tess said. “I cannot thankher enough for the light that shebrought to my childhood memories.I remember when Ms. Joy told methe story of Palm Sunday for thefirst time. We were in what I believeis now the Homebuilders’ room be-fore the 11 o’clock worship service,and she gave the other children andme palm branches for us to be in theprocessional. She has an incrediblegift for telling Bible stories in a waythat engages children, makes themwant to know more, and inspiresthem to develop a deeper relationshipwith God.”

Pastor Bobby, Michelle and Leo, with the newaddition to their family, Logan Samir, born July21 in Houston, weighing 5 lbs. 9 oz. and mea-suring 19 inches.

Paternity leave begins

4 F I R S T W O R D

C H R I S T I A N E D U C A T I O NJoy BedfordEducation Director

[email protected]

The annual HorizonsBible study leader train-ing at the Austin Semi-nary, by Lynn Miller, willbe online, Saturday, August22, via Zoom.

The morning session willbe from 9:30 to 11. After alunch break, training will befrom 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Thecost is $25, and you canregister at https://www.austinseminary.edu/lifelong-learning. Under “Work-shops,” click on “Into theLight: Finding Hope throughPrayers of Lament.”

FPC Presbyterian Women circlemembers gave generously—and whatmay be the biggest amount in recentyears—to the annual Birthday Offering:$695. Last year’s total was $448, and in2018, less than $300.

The Birthday Offering funds up to fiveprojects each year, in amounts of $75,000to $150,000 each. The recipients are selectedbefore the offering is received, so grantamounts depend on the gifts received.Grant recipients this year were projects inGeorgia, Arizona, Minnesota and Davy-dovo, Russia.

Once a new Education Director is namedand takes over LOGOS, Jaime Cowan willdevote all of her time to being Communi-cations Director. For the past five years shehas split her time between LOGOS andCommunications Director responsibilities.Now she will work closely with the pas-tor and church leadership to manage allchurch digital communications.

“Jaime has done a wonderful job asLOGOS Director these past five years, andshe will ensure that the program remainsstrong and vital throughout the transi-tion process,” Pastor Bobby said. He alsonoted how much more crucial the com-munications role has been during this pan-demic when we have relied heavily on digi-tal communication, email, social media,podcasts, web page and YouTube record-ings and videos.

Communications willtake up all her time

Jaime Cowan and Joy Bedford share a royalLOGOS moment.

The Education and Nurture Committee,Mrs. Jaime and Mrs. Joy are making plansfor fall. For our children, we will have RallyDay August 23, and everyone will receivetheir certificates and Bibles. We are alsoplanning virtualand Zoom timesfor Bible study/Sunday Schooland LOGOS. Wehope you will signup your child.More details soon.

We are watching ODTAP’s numbers, lis-tening to what schools are doing andprayerfully making decisions that will keepour children and other members of ourchurch family safe during this strange sea-son of our lives.

Adult Sunday School classes will con-tinue on Zoom beginning August 30, andwe will send details in the weekly email aswe get closer. When it is safe to be togetherindoors we will resume in person classesbut hope to continue Zoom for those whocan’t come to church. Lots of details to beworked out when that happens.

The Men’s Wednesday Noon BibleStudy will continue its study of Matthew

through August. TheWomen’s WednesdayNoon Bible Study fin-ishes its current studyon August 12 andthen takes a break,

coming back together on Zoom startingin September.

Please continue to watch our websitefor other resources to help you and yourfamily continue to grow your relationshipwith Christ during these days—and don’tmiss our meaningful and sustaining wor-ship on Sunday mornings. My heart achesto see you all: It helps to know that we arein this together and that Christ is stand-ing with each one of us, filling us withwhat we need to get through each day.

“See” you soon.—In Christ’s love, Mrs. Joy

Plans for this fall:Message from Mrs. Joy

Fellowship


range of topics: improving one’s relation-ship with Jesus, discipleship, parenting,learning new habits, and discussions ofbooks.

Bill Stanley recalls that he and wifeLois came to Georgetown and FPC at

about the same time asJoy, and he was asked tobe part of the NurtureCommittee. “This al-lowed me to becomehighly aware of our edu-cation programs. Joy wasthe committee leader.” Billhad just completed the

Disciples Program at his former church inOhio. He later approached Joy and offeredto become a trained facilitator for that pro-gram at FPC. “It took us about 15 yearsto make this a reality but we did,” he said.

Surveyors ClassAt Joy’s suggestion the Stanleys joined theSurveyors Class and when the class leaderleft, “we were concerned about whetherwe would continue to exist since he wassuch a talented spiritual leader. We havenot only stayed in existence through theyears, we have grown, in both numbersand spiritual strength,” Bill said.

He credits Joy for guiding the class’ssuccessful path for the past 20 years. “Herunderstanding of the spiritual gifts of ourclass members helped her select people toserve as leaders/facilitators. I don’t thinkanyone said no as she started her rebuild-ing, and our class went from one leaderto a team of four. “I was reluctant to sayyes but I knew it was a calling. Joy addedmore people to fill spots as teachers left.The present team is myself, Gary Nelon,Phil Smith and Celeste Frost. It has been

a blessing to be a part of the Surveyorsteaching team.” Bill has taken a sabbati-cal this fall to work through medical issues.

Bill said on many occasions he hasasked Joy to suggest topics for the class.“At other times she has come to me withproposed topics that fill our overall goals.”

In addition to Bible study, the eveningclasses have included topics such as thechurch in America and Georgetown, ev-eryday ideas to build lasting faith in ourkids, parenting teenagers, and cooking/nutrition/gardening (with the help of theWilliamson County and Cities HealthDistrict).

Wanting to try Sunday morning edu-cational programming in the summer, Joyin 2019 led several intergenerational Sun-day School classes and scheduled a seriesof book reviews. Her innovative ideas alsoincluded “cross training” in 2010, an as-sembly time at the beginning of the Sun-day School hour with children as well asjunior and senior high youth. The vol-unteer education banquet that she startedin 2001 continues to the present.

—Marty Curtis

Joy helps the children getready for a Palm Sundayprocessional.

Three women (continued from page 11)

for me. It became a non-problem, andI think it was good for her, too. Itgave her an avenue for her talentsand involvement for her own chil-dren.”

Cathy and Joy later comparednotes and realized they went to thesame high school in San Antonio.“She’s a little younger than I am butduring our time there she led a pro-test over students being required tostay at school for pep rallies and notleave campus. It just so happened I

was head cheerleader and in chargeof the pep rallies! We have laughedabout that for years.”

She added, “The Bedfords havebeen our friends for what seems likeforever. It will seem strange to walkinto church at 7:30 on a Sundaymorning to prepare communion andnot find her there getting the churchready. Hers are very big shoes forsomeone to fill.”

Theresa said she has been blessedto know Joy since 1993 and serve to-

gether on Nurture/Education Com-mittee for 20 years. Joy recruited herto serve with VBS, LOGOS, theBirthday Party for Jesus, high schoolgraduation receptions, all-churchretreats and many other events.“There was one thing I knew forsure: I could always count on Joy.She made time to listen to my con-cerns and share many pearls ofwisdom. I am especially grateful forthe role she played in Tess’s andMary’s lives throughout their timeat FPC and to the present day.”

—Marty Curtis

F I R S T W O R D 5

Y O U T H M I N I S T R Y David Lee HulseyYouth Director

[email protected]

Alvin Gusman,one of the six FPC youthsgraduating from high schoolin May, received a $10,000scholarship, the first to beawarded from the Don andDebra HigginbothamFoundation. The scholarshipwas endowed by the lateGeorgetown Judge DonHigginbotham. Thefoundation partnered withthe Rotary Club.

Alvin’s essay for thescholarship was about hisweek-long experience in2018, as one of severalyouth from FPC to make amission trip to Memphis,where they worked in ahomeless shelter and soupkitchen.

“I had never been to ahomeless shelter,” Alvinsaid. “Even though theywere homeless, they hadjobs. They live there. Theyhave church. A lot of themeventually work their wayout of it. I was impressed byhow beneficial it is.”

Alvin plans to attendTexas A&M University thisfall and major in businessand economics.

I have a prayer request for our congrega-tion. And I’m confident in asking you all(church family), because I know of themany prayers that we have been lifting upto God during this challenging season.Whether it is COVID-19, social justice orfamilies going through hardships, thischurch has been in prayer.

And that is why I ask for a prayer forYouth Ministry. Like many of our churchgroups, Youth Ministry is pivoting fromour normal way of doing things this fall,while still meeting the needs of our youthand families. We do not have a full pictureof what that looks like, but God has prom-ised to be faithful. We take hope and en-

couragement in His Word, and we lookforward to His providence through thisseason.

So please pray for our youth that theywould have a desire to seek the Lord. Prayfor our parents that they would haveconfidence in spiritually leading theirchildren. Pray for our leaders and volun-teers that we would allow the Holy Spiritto creatively work through us as we con-tinue to work in ministry.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what isgood. At just the right time we will reap

a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”—Galatians 6:9, NLT

—David Lee Hulsey

A prayer request for our youth and ministry

One of the greatest challenges (I believe)in our world today is finding ways to con-nect with each other without having theability to physically BE together. The staffand leadership at FPC are continuing totry and find creative digitalways for our members to stillfeel that connection duringthis time of physical separa-tion. Just to name a few: Wecurrently offer: Weekly “Vir-tual Coffee” meetings are being held onWednesday morning, some adult SundaySchool classes are being held via Zoom,Pastor Bobby is leading a “Race, Racismand the Church” meeting via Zoomthrough early August, and FellowshipTime is being held via Zoom followingworship service on a few Sundays.

The best way to find out about theseopportunities is the weekly church email.These go out every Friday and give infor-mation about the upcoming Sunday wor-ship service, as well as highlightingmission opportunities, fellowship oppor-tunities, educational resources, StephenMinistry events, children and youth ac-tivities and much more. If you aren’t re-ceiving these emails, please contact me [email protected] to be added tothe list.

Another great place for information isour church website, fpcgeorgetown.org.The “Worship” page on the website is agreat place to find a wide variety of infor-mation. We also share quite a bit of infor-

mation via our social mediaoutlets. If you use Facebook,you are invited to join our“First Pres Georgetown”Facebook Group. This is aclosed group where updates,

announcements and general church infor-mation are shared with our members andfriends. We also have a Twitter account(@FPC_Georgetown) and an Instagrampage (fpc_georgetown) that you can fol-low for much of the same information.

You are also invited to subscribe to ourchurch YouTube channel, where each weekwe share the livestream worship service,church videos and recorded messages fromPastor Bobby, as well as the LOGOS Livevideos from the spring. Just search FirstPresbyterian Church, Georgetown, TX,and click on the subscribe button.

If you have questions on how to doany of these, or maybe suggestions ofthings you would like to see, please reachout to me at [email protected].

—Jaime Cowan, Communications Director

Staying connected as a church—digitally


When a young couple, Robert and JoyBedford, joined FPC in 1993, transferringmembership from a Presbyterian churchin San Antonio, their daughter Katy was4 and son Robby six months old. It waslogical that Joy would become immersedin what the church had to offer babies andpre-K kids.

The next year, 1994, as the nurserymoved to a new room, Joy was asked toserve on a nursery committee with threeother women to focus on the needs andconcerns of parents with infants through18 months of age.

And it didn’t take long for her to be-come involved with the “pre-LOGOS”class: children of volunteers and staff whowere too young for LOGOS. In 1996 Joy’snursery class held a Birthday Party forJesus, an event that continues today atChristmas. Next she volunteered as anoccasional LOGOS Bible study leader, aleader for the Children’s Moment and VBSdirector. And in February 1996 Joy washired as part-time staff Child Care Coor-dinator, interviewing, hiring and super-vising a pool of child care workers forvarious church classes and functions.

A search was announced in May 2000for a full-time Education Director, andprobably to no one’s surprise Joy was hiredalmost immediately, effective August 1. Herduties were broad: general education,LOGOS, Sunday School for children andadults, midweek educational opportuni-ties for adults, and helping develop an all-church retreat (which became a reality in2002). When her hiring was announced,Pastor Roberts noted that Joy had alreadyserved the church as Child Care Coordi-nator, VBS director, Sunday Schoolteacher and superintendent, and LOGOSregistrar-treasurer and board member

“Selling” Sunday SchoolIf anything, Sunday School for childrenand adults has been Joy’s main focus formany years.

In 2000 she could often be found sit-ting downstairs during the SundaySchool hour at a table covered by a redcloth. “Almost everyone asks me what Iam selling. I am selling Sunday School foreveryone. I truly enjoy being a part of ourSunday School ministry. I know that God

is working in the lives of our teachers,children, youth and adults.”

Besides recruiting teachers for ongo-ing children, youth and adult SundaySchool classes, Joy is responsible for lin-ing up a host of teachers and leaders forboth the Sunday morning adult electiveSunday School class and special adultevening classes.

As the ongoing Sunday School classeschose their topics for discussions, Joy’simagination is reflected in the lessons, top-ics and speakers for the adult elective.Those varied from week to week or monthto month as she signed up faculty fromAustin Seminary, FPC members, outsidespeakers, and retired ministers who wor-ship with us to lead the class.

Responding to Joy’s call to lead inter-esting, relevant and creative topics for dis-cussion were, to mention a few, MikeCarson, Sam Matthews, Guy & CynthiaGuidici, Tim & Katherine Kubatzky, Dougand Judy Bond, Fred Hilgeman, staff mem-bers Sarah Hulsey, Penny Leone, Chris-tina Bondesen and Mike Roberts, retiredministers Bill Poe, Tom Currie and KenPeters, and others.

From Buddhism to poetryThe array of lessons included classes(again, to mention just some) on theol-ogy and biblical themes, parables of Jesus,prophets, our PCUSA confessions, JohnCalvin and the Reformation, Islam/Juda-ism/Buddhism, Lucifer, Christ’s images inart, psychology and biblical perspectives,faith and poetry, biblical archaeology, hos-pitality in the scriptures, Christian per-spectives on work and money, theScrewtape Letters of C.S. Lewis, a biogra-phy of God, racism, learning from churchhymns, science and Christianity, historyof Christmas, denominational responsesto Word War I, lessons from American his-tory, a class to prepare for hearing the can-tata Elijah performed at our church,understanding the enneagram system ofnine personality types, and the witness tothe faith by novelists and a poet.

Joy also secured commitments fromleaders such as Bill Stanley, SturdyWanamaker, Cindy Roberts, Courtney HillRoot, Bill Stanley and Cliff Snyder to leadevening classes at the church on a wide

A familiar sight:A smiling “Miss Joy”

in the Fellowship Halllobby ready to greet

children and theirparents before

Sunday School.

Looking back at 20-plus years of Joy

6 F I R S T W O R D

are open from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday. However, you must makean appointment an hour in advance atwww.caringplacetx.org/shop to shop at

Second Helping.To drop off items for sale,

bring them in a bag or box,unload them on a cartprovided since limited helpis available. A receipt is onthe counter at drop off.

You can get up-to-dateinformation about what’s

happening on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecaringplace/, or the web page,www.caringplacetx. org/. Or you can call512-943-0700.

Thanks again, friends. —Jenny Carswell

M I S S I O N

Don Wehmeyer, whosemissionary ministry wasfeatured in the July issue ofFirst Word, wrote in hisrecent newsletter about hischurch providing carepackages for 30 needyfamilies in Yucatan.

This has stretched hissmall congregation’sbudget, and he wouldwelcome our help over andabove the support we givefrom the mission budget.

If you would like to help,send your check to theChurch Office with “DWMeals for Mission” on the“For” line. The church willsend the money to AntiochPartners so it can beconverted to pesos beforesending to the Wehmeyers.

The Wehmeyers wereinadvertently left out of thechurch budget in 2019 and2020 in the mistaken beliefthey had retired. Plans areto include them again in the2021 mission budget. LastDecember, FPC approvedmoney from our TexasPresbyterian Foundationmission funds to be sent forsupport in 2019 and 2020.

Help the Wehmeyerssupport familiesin Yucatan

There are many changes at The CaringPlace in response to the current pandemic,but food programs remain open to neigh-bors in need. Please do not leave food itemsat the church because the or-ganization is not accept-ing nonperishable food now.The food being handed outcomes from the Central TexasFood Bank in Austin, avail-able at minimum cost to TheCaring Place. Most staff andvolunteers are not working atpresent; a small staff is keeping it open.

Hours for drive-through food distri-bution are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday,Thursday and Friday, and for Fresh Foodfor Families 9-10 a.m. Monday. The shops

Want to be a superhero for childrenwho’ve been abused and/or neglected? Youcan by taking part in a virtual CASA ofWilliamson County Superhero 5K andkids 1K run/walk, costume contest andfundraiser.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Ad-vocates, supports abused and neglectedchildren by empowering community vol-unteers to advocate for them in findingloving, safe and permanent homes. Formore information about the event, goto www.casasuperherorun.com.

CASA of Williamson County, sup-ported by FPC’s mission budget, began in2009 at the request of local judges whowere hearing court cases involving chil-dren in the county who were in fostercare, most having experienced abuse and/or neglect that endangered their well be-ing. The judges’ caseloads were growing,and several of the judges had worked withCASA programs in other counties. Advocates trained by CASA staff, andappointed to cases by judges, provide the

court with a complete and clear image ofchildren’s needs and what is in the bestinterest of each child. The volunteer ad-vocate becomes an extra set of eyes andears for the judge and often is the moststable and consistent person in the child’slife, navigating the court and foster caresystems with the goal of ensuring thechild’s placement in a safe, permanenthome as quickly as possible. Last year, 282 children ages four daysto 21 years were served by 136 trained ad-vocates. If you would like to advocate forthe most vulnerable of our population,contact CASA of Williamson County,www.casawilco.org or 512-868-2822. Youcan get information on dates of virtualgatherings and training sessions and findout about other needs of the organization.

—Angie Harris

Be a CASA superheroat a 5K and kids 1K

Williamson County, Texas

Changes in programs in response to COVID-19


hree women have long associationswith Joy Bedford, dating to beforeshe became our Education Director.

Long-time Sunday School teacherLenice Smithwick was staff Sunday Edu-cation Director, recruiting teachers and or-dering curriculum materials for adult andchildren Sunday School classes. CathyRamsey was staff LOGOS Director. AndTheresa McKenna was a volunteer LOGOStable parent from 1993 to 1995, when shebecame the church’s Kitchen Ministry Co-ordinator, feeding LOGOS kids Wednes-day nights with cook teams.

When both Lenice and Cathy steppeddown in June 1996, Joy assumed theirresponsbilities, becoming Sunday SchoolSuperintendent and LOGOS Co-director(serving with on-site directors Linda Sealsand Anne Cameron). Those two rolesdeveloped into duties of Education Direc-tor, and Joy was hired for the job in Au-gust 2020.

As a children’s teacher, Lenice had in-corporated a Seder meal for her pupils inher class each year. She taught classes for1st through 6th grade for years.

“I was so impressed with how Joywanted to hold on to the traditions we haddeveloped through the years,” Lenice said.“For years after I quit teaching, she con-tinued the Seder meal tradition, even us-ing the same script I had typed on my IBMSelectric typewriter! We just ran off morecopies.” Lenice had started the meal in her5th-6th grade class and then it was expanded

to include 3rd-4th and 7th-12th gradeclasses. ”We had some big crowds, and thechildren always looked forward to it, andI think they learned a lot.”

Lenice said one of the most impressivethings about Joy was something she andothers discovered when asking memberswhat drew them to our church in the verybeginning.

She said, ”I can’t tell you how manycouples said ‘Joy Bedford is the reason wechose this church!’ They would tell ses-sion about visiting the church with theirkids, little or teens, and the kids automati-cally were drawn to Joy. It was like theparents didn’t have a choice once the kidsmet Joy. She has been such an enthusias-tic educator and planner for the ChristianEducation ministry of this church and shewill be difficult to replace!”

LOGOS began in 1989 and by the timeJoy joined the church in 1993, Cathy said,“It became very apparent that we neededsome help with the younger children (nowthe Sonshine Kids), children of the vol-unteers. I don’t remember what we had inplace before Joy came to us but I remem-ber it didn’t work very well.”

As LOGOS Director, Cathy said she“hired” Joy. “I say ‘hired’ because it seemedto just happen. One minute she wasn’tthere and the next she was! Before Joy ithad simply been a babysitting situation,and she turned it into a learning setting.What a blessing for the children—and also

These women have long associationswith Joy in Sunday School, LOGOS

(continued on page 13)

Top left: Joy has help with a skit during Vacation Bible School; middle,Theresa McKenna in the church kitchen; and Lenice Smithwickand Cathy Ramsey being honored as they stepped down as Sunday School Education Director and LOGOS Director in 1996.

TTTTT

Katy and Joy Bedford on anEaster Sunday.

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.fpcgeorgetown.org

First Presbyterian ChurchDr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert

Pastor703 S. Church Street

Georgetown, TX 78626

FIRSTWORDpublished monthly by

Phone: 512-863-3381Fax: 512-868-1226

F I R S T W O R D 7

C O M P A S S I O N A T E C A R E M I N I S T R Y

Penny Leone, RNParish Nurse

[email protected]

Music therapist Nancy Robohn, FPC member and elder, will talkabout the powerful healing effect of this therapy at 7 p.m. Mon-day, August 17, via Zoom. Everyone is invited to participate inthis program sponsored by the Stephen Ministry. The Zoom linkis https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83000431169?pwd=dUE1amFaNTdVeC80UHRSMUoxRXFFQT09

Music therapists use music to address physical, emotional,cognitive and social needs of individuals. Nancy plays the harpin her therapy sessions.

She was scheduled to present this program in March but itwas canceled when the church suspended in-person gatheringsbecause of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nancy holds degrees in music education and music therapyand did an internship in music therapy at San Antonio State Hospital, later workingthere as a registered music therapist after being board-certified. She also was choir di-rector at a Presbyterian church in Emporia, Kansas. She is an elder on Worship Com-mittee and a Stephen Minister. She also sings with the Sanctuary and Chancel Choirs.

Music therapy program rescheduled for August

A Gift of Time, the nonprofit working toprovide an adult day care center inGeorgetown, is collaborating with theAlzheimer’s Association to offer virtualcaregiver support meetings for those whoare supporting a person with mild to se-vere memory problems. All participantsmust register for the support group meet-ings or education classes by calling theAlzheimer’s help-line, 800-272-3900.

Virtual meeting times during themonth are 10 - 11 a.m. on these days: 1st Tuesday—All Female 2nd Tuesday—All Male 3rd Tuesday—Adult Children with a Par-ent Living with Memory Loss (New at 6:30 p.m.) 1st & 3rd Thursday—Evening general support group

Have you recently been diagnosed withmild memory loss? Are you wonderingwhat to do now? On Saturday, August15, Teresa Shapiro of the Rainey & RaineyLaw Firm will offer information aboutwhat kind of conversations to have withyour family, how to protect your assets,etc. Register for this free call by [email protected].

Are you looking for expert guidance onall things “senior”? Try looking at at thisweb page, www.caring.com. Click on “Ex-pert Guidance.” While it is a for-profitwebsite, it also offers a wealth of free in-formation. Some of the headings are “ABeginner’s Guide to Medicaid,” “A Care-giver’s Guide to Coping with Stress andBurnout,” “Medicare” (with tabs for PartA, B, C and D), “The Best Tablets (Elec-tronic) for Seniors,” “Tough Conversa-tions with Aging Loved Ones” and “TheBest Hearing Aids for Seniors.” In total, Icounted 52 different topics! Call your Par-ish Nurse Penny if you need help Mon-day - Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Points from Parish Nurse Penny

“Probates, Wills and Trusts:What You NEED to Know”is the next topic of SeniorSeminar, still virtual andgoing strong. It is set forThursday, August 20, at 10a,m. The purpose is toequip, educate and inspireseniors to make informedchoices. Register at SeniorsLivingSmarter.com/seminar,or call 512-818-0988 to beinvited to the Zoom webinar.

Virtual SeniorSeminar Aug. 20

“A Caregiver’s Guide to Coping with Stress andBurnout” at www.caring.com


them how to love like Jesus taught us tolove. One of the neatest things that hap-pens for me is at times like Easter or Christ-mas, or other times throughout the year,those kids who have gone off to collegewalk in the door at church and see my face.You can just see this all over their faces:‘I’ve come home. This is my home.’ I am soglad we’ve been able to provide that.”

Memories that stand out for her havecome during the annual church retreat,which started in 2002 with her overseeingits planning and execution. “I always dothe children’s programming and the firstnight we have a prayer time to close outour session. They have to be quiet for oneminute. They can’t make any noise as theylisten for the sounds of God. What is sorewarding is after a minute is up, they go,‘Oh, Miss Joy, can we do it again?’”

She added, “Over 20 years, the prayersof the children are, for the most part, beau-tiful gifts to God and all of us. I wish I hadrecordings of them. Our church family andtheir parents would be amazed at the depthand the spirit of these children.”

The church retreat is probably the big-gest event and perhaps the greatest accom-plishment she tackled, along with PastorMike. When Mike hired Joy, he told her hewanted an all-church retreat. “I said, ‘Okay,for real. I don’t know anything about re-treats.’ I had never been to one. I think it’sa wonderful time for our church family tobe together. Right now, we’re not sureabout this year’s retreat, but we will see asit gets closer to September.”

Keeping the LOGOS program strongover the years is something she also takespride in. “Watching that program staystrong, and to see what it has meant toour families, has been very important tome.” She is also proud of the leaders of thefour adult Sunday School classes and twomidweek classes—and that the classes re-main strong. “That is not always the casein other churches. I’m just so proud ofthem. There have been so many amazingteachers of adults and children over theyears. Our children, youth and adultshave been blessed by their presence. I havelearned so much from each one, and manybecame not only friends but mentors as Igrew into my job.”

As Joy leaves her position at FPC, shewill devote more time to family, knowingthat sometimes over the years, her dutiesat church sometimes meant she wasn’t al-ways there when family needed her.

Before leaving on a vacation to Colo-rado in July, her husband Robert hademergency surgery to implant four stentsin his heart to clear veins with 80% and90% blockage. “I was really lucky to keepthat man. Thank God and modern medi-cine. He is just doing fantastic,” Joy said.A few days later, in the same week, theBedfords were on their way to Colorado.

The Bedfords’ son Robby, who was 6months old when they joined the churchin 1993, his wife Gabrielle, and their twodaughters, Sophie, 3, and Presley, fourmonths, have been living with Joy andRobert in Georgetown as their family feelsthe effects of job loss in a coronaviruseconomy.

Daughter Katy lives in Austin and iscompleting a chaplain residency at SetonHospital. She is looking for a chaplain po-sition and hopes to be ordained to thatministry by Mission Presbytery. She wasfour when the Bedfords joined FPC.

Joy is living in Burnet with her 97-year-old mother in law, who has lost all of hershort-term memory. Joy is replacing a paidcaregiver who had been staying at night.“We promised her that we would keep herin her home. She needs someone with her,and it’s easier for me to do that. Robertmay move here, too, and commute to work,but he hasn’t decided yet,” Joy said. Untilshe leaves her position, Joy said she plansto spend Wednesday and Friday at workat FPC and working remotely from Bur-net the rest of the week.

—Marty Curtis

“I am most happy

when I see our people

together as family—

working, playing and

worshiping with each

other. Sometimes,

during worship, I get

very quiet and just

listen to the Lord’s

Prayer as it is being

said by all: Those

moments fill my soul.

It is the same feeling I

get when I walk into

LOGOS dinner and

just stand back and

watch all the talking

and sharing going on

at each table, or when

you’re teaching a class

and all of sudden you

can see in their eyes

that they get it—they

really do understand

what you’re teaching.”

In August 2013 KatyBedford was honored at a

church reception thatincluded a scholarship

presentation as she left toenter Princeton Theological

Seminary. She graduated in2016. With Katy are Pastor

Mike and her parents, Joyand Robert Bedford.

Memories & joy(continued from previous page)

—JOY BEDFORD

Unfortunately, the outlookfor returning to in-personworship has not improved.However, we are makingprogress in identifying thesupplies that will be neededwhen we do. One thing thatis allowed now: outdoorgatherings limited to 10participants with masks.We are looking at additionalworship services in thecemetery once the tempera-tures start dropping.

Family-only funeralservices with video live-streaming are being consid-ered.

—Karen Rayburn, Chair“Open the Doors and

There’s All the People”task force of the Safety &

Security Committee

Updatefrom

ODTAP

8 F I R S T W O R D

To make music for worship during COVID-19 crisisFinding a way...

Susan Isenhour had just settled intoher new role as FPC Handbell ChoirDirector when she was hired March1 as the new Associate Music Direc-tor. Two weeks later, the coronaviruspandemic put a stop to in-personworship and choir and handbell re-hearsals and performances.

When that happened, Susan be-gan thinking of a way to record ahandbell piece and include it as avideo in the Sunday livestream ofworship.

Those of us who saw and listenedto the First Bells’ performance of “LetThere Be Peace on Earth,” duringthe offertory on July 12, had no ideahow much time was invested inpreparation for recoding and pro-ducing an audio and video tape ofit. Susan estimates it took about 40hours of her and Music DirectorPhilip Smith’s time from conceptionto final product. Susan said, “Wewere thrilled with the final video, andI know the ringers were so happyand blessed to contribute to themusic offerings that we share in ourlivestreamed worship.”

The project began in early Junewhen Susan found an arrangementof a well known favorite, “Let ThereBe Peace on Earth,” which would

work with ringers being recordedseparately.

Philip began producing a “guidetrack” to help the individual ringersin counting and give them recordedinstructions before, during and af-ter the piece.

Susan proposed the project anda timeline, June 21 to July 1, to the10 First Bells members. “To my sur-prise and delight, all of them wereenthusiastic, willing and available tomeet me for a recording time.”

She explained, “I emailed thesheet music and guide track to eachringer to study at home. Theymarked their music for the particu-lar bells they ring, so they couldstudy or practice with woodenspoons while listening to the guidetrack. Each ringer scheduled a one-hour block to meet me at church fortheir individual recording session.There were 10 ringers to record, sothis took the better part of a week.”

When the ringers arrived at thechurch, individually, at their ap-pointed times, they retrieved theirhandbells, set up their music andpracticed for 10-20 minutes. “Thenthe recording session began,” Susansaid. “There was a handbell table and

music stand set up in the chancel ofthe Sanctuary, with two cameras torecord the sessions. Each ringerplayed his or her part three to fourtimes to make sure we had a goodtake.”

Susan listened to each recordingto choose and download the bestfrom each ringer, and also down-loaded the audio. She sent the 10audio recordings to Philip to mixthem into one combined audio re-cording.

While he worked on audio, Su-san compiled the video to be shownover the livestream, with softwareshe and Philip use for creating andediting videos for worship. “I neededto get them all in the timeline so theywere perfectly ‘in-sync’ with the startof the downbeat of the music. Next,I sized and arranged them to fit ontothe screen at the same time, addedthe master audio track from Philip,and played through it.”

The First Ringers’ performance isan example of how Philip and Su-san continue to think of ways thatmusic and opportunities for musi-cal involvement can be part of ourlivestream worship through qualityaudio and video recordings.

—Marty Curtis

Members of First Presby-terian Church’s First Bellshandbell choir, directed bySusan Isenhour, whichperformed for the July 12service, are: top, from left,Joan Lawrence, BeverlyJones, Monica Koenig,Celeste Frost and ZachHowell; and bottom,Virginia Reid, CarolynPursley, Tricia Osborne,Joel Lawrence and KathyJones.

F I R S T W O R D 9

Pastor Bobby said, “Joyhas served with suchenergy, creativity andlove for 20 years, andour congregation hasbeen the recipients ofher gifts. Countless arethe ways she hasserved, encouraged, ledand equipped, allwhile also rejoicing inour joys and mourningalongside us in oursorrows.” He calls it “achallenging time forthe church to behiring,” and forcandidates to beinterviewing. “Wetruly believe that ashard as this is, it is alsoGod’s timing, and Godwill lead the rightperson to thisopportunity to loveand shepherd ourdisciples of every ageinto God’s future.” He asked for prayers:“specifically for Joyand her family, thecongregation, thesearch process itself,and the person God iscalling to serve in thisposition. I am confidentGod hears our prayersand can and will domore than we couldever ask or imagine.”

he coronavirus pandemic might notbe the biggest challenge she has facedin her 20 years as Education Direc-

tor. It’s the longest lasting challenge but,says Joy Bedford, there have been others,such as sometimes not being able to findenough Sunday School teachers. The big-gest challenge for now, she thinks, is “nothaving all the answers, trying to figureout how to deliver an education programwhen we can’t be together in church be-cause of COVID-19. I thought I had seenjust about every problem we could possi-bly encounter, and then this happened.”

The much loved woman who hastouched the lives of children and familieshere since 1993, and as Education Direc-tor since 2000, began packing up her of-fice in late July but will stay on staff untila replacement is hired. “I know God hasthat person out there.”

Joy said the time is right for someoneyounger and with more energy, and moretechnological skills and experience, to takeher place. “There is so much technologyout there and I don’t know how to useit.” She said she has been trying to learn,going to other churches’ web pages andseeing what they are offering.

When former Pastor Mike Robertsasked if Joy would consider being the Edu-cation Director she had no idea what that

meant. “I was honored that he trustedme to do the job. Over the years the jobhas changed and many of the faces havechanged, but the purpose—to teach andhelp others teach about the love of JesusChrist—has remained the same. I am soglad Mike saw something in me that I didnot know was there and guided me alongthe way. It has been an honor and privi-lege to work for and with this churchfamily. I truly love these people.”

During this pandemic, Joy is saddenedby the fact that she can’t stay in touchwith the children she has loved andshepherded since they don’t have phones.“But when I do get to talk to a child or afamily, or anyone in the church, there isstill very much a sense of connection, thatwe’re in this together and we’re still fam-ily.”

Looking back over the past two de-cades, Joy is emotional and cries when shetalks about what has brought her themost joy: “knowing the children, theirfamilies and church members. Being partof their lives has been such a reward andto be there for them if they needed me.Seeing the kids’ faces year after year is thething that keeps me going. Seeing themgo out into the world, it lets me knowtheir parents and this congregation aredoing the right thing. We’re teaching

Joy, husbandRobert andgranddaughterSophie Bedfordon EasterSunday.

She’s given us many memories and joy

TTTTT


F I R S T W O R D 7

C O M P A S S I O N A T E C A R E M I N I S T R Y

Penny Leone, RNParish Nurse

[email protected]

Music therapist Nancy Robohn, FPC member and elder, will talkabout the powerful healing effect of this therapy at 7 p.m. Mon-day, August 17, via Zoom. Everyone is invited to participate inthis program sponsored by the Stephen Ministry. The Zoom linkis https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83000431169?pwd=dUE1amFaNTdVeC80UHRSMUoxRXFFQT09

Music therapists use music to address physical, emotional,cognitive and social needs of individuals. Nancy plays the harpin her therapy sessions.

She was scheduled to present this program in March but itwas canceled when the church suspended in-person gatheringsbecause of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nancy holds degrees in music education and music therapyand did an internship in music therapy at San Antonio State Hospital, later workingthere as a registered music therapist after being board-certified. She also was choir di-rector at a Presbyterian church in Emporia, Kansas. She is an elder on Worship Com-mittee and a Stephen Minister. She also sings with the Sanctuary and Chancel Choirs.

Music therapy program rescheduled for August

A Gift of Time, the nonprofit working toprovide an adult day care center inGeorgetown, is collaborating with theAlzheimer’s Association to offer virtualcaregiver support meetings for those whoare supporting a person with mild to se-vere memory problems. All participantsmust register for the support group meet-ings or education classes by calling theAlzheimer’s help-line, 800-272-3900.

Virtual meeting times during themonth are 10 - 11 a.m. on these days: 1st Tuesday—All Female 2nd Tuesday—All Male 3rd Tuesday—Adult Children with a Par-ent Living with Memory Loss (New at 6:30 p.m.) 1st & 3rd Thursday—Evening general support group

Have you recently been diagnosed withmild memory loss? Are you wonderingwhat to do now? On Saturday, August15, Teresa Shapiro of the Rainey & RaineyLaw Firm will offer information aboutwhat kind of conversations to have withyour family, how to protect your assets,etc. Register for this free call by [email protected].

Are you looking for expert guidance onall things “senior”? Try looking at at thisweb page, www.caring.com. Click on “Ex-pert Guidance.” While it is a for-profitwebsite, it also offers a wealth of free in-formation. Some of the headings are “ABeginner’s Guide to Medicaid,” “A Care-giver’s Guide to Coping with Stress andBurnout,” “Medicare” (with tabs for PartA, B, C and D), “The Best Tablets (Elec-tronic) for Seniors,” “Tough Conversa-tions with Aging Loved Ones” and “TheBest Hearing Aids for Seniors.” In total, Icounted 52 different topics! Call your Par-ish Nurse Penny if you need help Mon-day - Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Points from Parish Nurse Penny

“Probates, Wills and Trusts:What You NEED to Know”is the next topic of SeniorSeminar, still virtual andgoing strong. It is set forThursday, August 20, at 10a,m. The purpose is toequip, educate and inspireseniors to make informedchoices. Register at SeniorsLivingSmarter.com/seminar,or call 512-818-0988 to beinvited to the Zoom webinar.

Virtual SeniorSeminar Aug. 20

“A Caregiver’s Guide to Coping with Stress andBurnout” at www.caring.com


them how to love like Jesus taught us tolove. One of the neatest things that hap-pens for me is at times like Easter or Christ-mas, or other times throughout the year,those kids who have gone off to collegewalk in the door at church and see my face.You can just see this all over their faces:‘I’ve come home. This is my home.’ I am soglad we’ve been able to provide that.”

Memories that stand out for her havecome during the annual church retreat,which started in 2002 with her overseeingits planning and execution. “I always dothe children’s programming and the firstnight we have a prayer time to close outour session. They have to be quiet for oneminute. They can’t make any noise as theylisten for the sounds of God. What is sorewarding is after a minute is up, they go,‘Oh, Miss Joy, can we do it again?’”

She added, “Over 20 years, the prayersof the children are, for the most part, beau-tiful gifts to God and all of us. I wish I hadrecordings of them. Our church family andtheir parents would be amazed at the depthand the spirit of these children.”

The church retreat is probably the big-gest event and perhaps the greatest accom-plishment she tackled, along with PastorMike. When Mike hired Joy, he told her hewanted an all-church retreat. “I said, ‘Okay,for real. I don’t know anything about re-treats.’ I had never been to one. I think it’sa wonderful time for our church family tobe together. Right now, we’re not sureabout this year’s retreat, but we will see asit gets closer to September.”

Keeping the LOGOS program strongover the years is something she also takespride in. “Watching that program staystrong, and to see what it has meant toour families, has been very important tome.” She is also proud of the leaders of thefour adult Sunday School classes and twomidweek classes—and that the classes re-main strong. “That is not always the casein other churches. I’m just so proud ofthem. There have been so many amazingteachers of adults and children over theyears. Our children, youth and adultshave been blessed by their presence. I havelearned so much from each one, and manybecame not only friends but mentors as Igrew into my job.”

As Joy leaves her position at FPC, shewill devote more time to family, knowingthat sometimes over the years, her dutiesat church sometimes meant she wasn’t al-ways there when family needed her.

Before leaving on a vacation to Colo-rado in July, her husband Robert hademergency surgery to implant four stentsin his heart to clear veins with 80% and90% blockage. “I was really lucky to keepthat man. Thank God and modern medi-cine. He is just doing fantastic,” Joy said.A few days later, in the same week, theBedfords were on their way to Colorado.

The Bedfords’ son Robby, who was 6months old when they joined the churchin 1993, his wife Gabrielle, and their twodaughters, Sophie, 3, and Presley, fourmonths, have been living with Joy andRobert in Georgetown as their family feelsthe effects of job loss in a coronaviruseconomy.

Daughter Katy lives in Austin and iscompleting a chaplain residency at SetonHospital. She is looking for a chaplain po-sition and hopes to be ordained to thatministry by Mission Presbytery. She wasfour when the Bedfords joined FPC.

Joy is living in Burnet with her 97-year-old mother in law, who has lost all of hershort-term memory. Joy is replacing a paidcaregiver who had been staying at night.“We promised her that we would keep herin her home. She needs someone with her,and it’s easier for me to do that. Robertmay move here, too, and commute to work,but he hasn’t decided yet,” Joy said. Untilshe leaves her position, Joy said she plansto spend Wednesday and Friday at workat FPC and working remotely from Bur-net the rest of the week.

—Marty Curtis

“I am most happy

when I see our people

together as family—

working, playing and

worshiping with each

other. Sometimes,

during worship, I get

very quiet and just

listen to the Lord’s

Prayer as it is being

said by all: Those

moments fill my soul.

It is the same feeling I

get when I walk into

LOGOS dinner and

just stand back and

watch all the talking

and sharing going on

at each table, or when

you’re teaching a class

and all of sudden you

can see in their eyes

that they get it—they

really do understand

what you’re teaching.”

In August 2013 KatyBedford was honored at a

church reception thatincluded a scholarship

presentation as she left toenter Princeton Theological

Seminary. She graduated in2016. With Katy are Pastor

Mike and her parents, Joyand Robert Bedford.

Memories & joy(continued from previous page)

—JOY BEDFORD

Unfortunately, the outlookfor returning to in-personworship has not improved.However, we are makingprogress in identifying thesupplies that will be neededwhen we do. One thing thatis allowed now: outdoorgatherings limited to 10participants with masks.We are looking at additionalworship services in thecemetery once the tempera-tures start dropping.

Family-only funeralservices with video live-streaming are being consid-ered.

—Karen Rayburn, Chair“Open the Doors and

There’s All the People”task force of the Safety &

Security Committee

Updatefrom

ODTAP

6 F I R S T W O R D

are open from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday. However, you must makean appointment an hour in advance atwww.caringplacetx.org/shop to shop at

Second Helping.To drop off items for sale,

bring them in a bag or box,unload them on a cartprovided since limited helpis available. A receipt is onthe counter at drop off.

You can get up-to-dateinformation about what’s

happening on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecaringplace/, or the web page,www.caringplacetx. org/. Or you can call512-943-0700.

Thanks again, friends. —Jenny Carswell

M I S S I O N

Don Wehmeyer, whosemissionary ministry wasfeatured in the July issue ofFirst Word, wrote in hisrecent newsletter about hischurch providing carepackages for 30 needyfamilies in Yucatan.

This has stretched hissmall congregation’sbudget, and he wouldwelcome our help over andabove the support we givefrom the mission budget.

If you would like to help,send your check to theChurch Office with “DWMeals for Mission” on the“For” line. The church willsend the money to AntiochPartners so it can beconverted to pesos beforesending to the Wehmeyers.

The Wehmeyers wereinadvertently left out of thechurch budget in 2019 and2020 in the mistaken beliefthey had retired. Plans areto include them again in the2021 mission budget. LastDecember, FPC approvedmoney from our TexasPresbyterian Foundationmission funds to be sent forsupport in 2019 and 2020.

Help the Wehmeyerssupport familiesin Yucatan

There are many changes at The CaringPlace in response to the current pandemic,but food programs remain open to neigh-bors in need. Please do not leave food itemsat the church because the or-ganization is not accept-ing nonperishable food now.The food being handed outcomes from the Central TexasFood Bank in Austin, avail-able at minimum cost to TheCaring Place. Most staff andvolunteers are not working atpresent; a small staff is keeping it open.

Hours for drive-through food distri-bution are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday,Thursday and Friday, and for Fresh Foodfor Families 9-10 a.m. Monday. The shops

Want to be a superhero for childrenwho’ve been abused and/or neglected? Youcan by taking part in a virtual CASA ofWilliamson County Superhero 5K andkids 1K run/walk, costume contest andfundraiser.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Ad-vocates, supports abused and neglectedchildren by empowering community vol-unteers to advocate for them in findingloving, safe and permanent homes. Formore information about the event, goto www.casasuperherorun.com.

CASA of Williamson County, sup-ported by FPC’s mission budget, began in2009 at the request of local judges whowere hearing court cases involving chil-dren in the county who were in fostercare, most having experienced abuse and/or neglect that endangered their well be-ing. The judges’ caseloads were growing,and several of the judges had worked withCASA programs in other counties. Advocates trained by CASA staff, andappointed to cases by judges, provide the

court with a complete and clear image ofchildren’s needs and what is in the bestinterest of each child. The volunteer ad-vocate becomes an extra set of eyes andears for the judge and often is the moststable and consistent person in the child’slife, navigating the court and foster caresystems with the goal of ensuring thechild’s placement in a safe, permanenthome as quickly as possible. Last year, 282 children ages four daysto 21 years were served by 136 trained ad-vocates. If you would like to advocate forthe most vulnerable of our population,contact CASA of Williamson County,www.casawilco.org or 512-868-2822. Youcan get information on dates of virtualgatherings and training sessions and findout about other needs of the organization.

—Angie Harris

Be a CASA superheroat a 5K and kids 1K

Williamson County, Texas

Changes in programs in response to COVID-19


hree women have long associationswith Joy Bedford, dating to beforeshe became our Education Director.

Long-time Sunday School teacherLenice Smithwick was staff Sunday Edu-cation Director, recruiting teachers and or-dering curriculum materials for adult andchildren Sunday School classes. CathyRamsey was staff LOGOS Director. AndTheresa McKenna was a volunteer LOGOStable parent from 1993 to 1995, when shebecame the church’s Kitchen Ministry Co-ordinator, feeding LOGOS kids Wednes-day nights with cook teams.

When both Lenice and Cathy steppeddown in June 1996, Joy assumed theirresponsbilities, becoming Sunday SchoolSuperintendent and LOGOS Co-director(serving with on-site directors Linda Sealsand Anne Cameron). Those two rolesdeveloped into duties of Education Direc-tor, and Joy was hired for the job in Au-gust 2020.

As a children’s teacher, Lenice had in-corporated a Seder meal for her pupils inher class each year. She taught classes for1st through 6th grade for years.

“I was so impressed with how Joywanted to hold on to the traditions we haddeveloped through the years,” Lenice said.“For years after I quit teaching, she con-tinued the Seder meal tradition, even us-ing the same script I had typed on my IBMSelectric typewriter! We just ran off morecopies.” Lenice had started the meal in her5th-6th grade class and then it was expanded

to include 3rd-4th and 7th-12th gradeclasses. ”We had some big crowds, and thechildren always looked forward to it, andI think they learned a lot.”

Lenice said one of the most impressivethings about Joy was something she andothers discovered when asking memberswhat drew them to our church in the verybeginning.

She said, ”I can’t tell you how manycouples said ‘Joy Bedford is the reason wechose this church!’ They would tell ses-sion about visiting the church with theirkids, little or teens, and the kids automati-cally were drawn to Joy. It was like theparents didn’t have a choice once the kidsmet Joy. She has been such an enthusias-tic educator and planner for the ChristianEducation ministry of this church and shewill be difficult to replace!”

LOGOS began in 1989 and by the timeJoy joined the church in 1993, Cathy said,“It became very apparent that we neededsome help with the younger children (nowthe Sonshine Kids), children of the vol-unteers. I don’t remember what we had inplace before Joy came to us but I remem-ber it didn’t work very well.”

As LOGOS Director, Cathy said she“hired” Joy. “I say ‘hired’ because it seemedto just happen. One minute she wasn’tthere and the next she was! Before Joy ithad simply been a babysitting situation,and she turned it into a learning setting.What a blessing for the children—and also

These women have long associationswith Joy in Sunday School, LOGOS

(continued on page 13)

Top left: Joy has help with a skit during Vacation Bible School; middle,Theresa McKenna in the church kitchen; and Lenice Smithwickand Cathy Ramsey being honored as they stepped down as Sunday School Education Director and LOGOS Director in 1996.

TTTTT

Katy and Joy Bedford on anEaster Sunday.

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.fpcgeorgetown.org

First Presbyterian ChurchDr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert

Pastor703 S. Church Street

Georgetown, TX 78626

FIRSTWORDpublished monthly by

Phone: 512-863-3381Fax: 512-868-1226

F I R S T W O R D 5

Y O U T H M I N I S T R Y David Lee HulseyYouth Director

[email protected]

Alvin Gusman,one of the six FPC youthsgraduating from high schoolin May, received a $10,000scholarship, the first to beawarded from the Don andDebra HigginbothamFoundation. The scholarshipwas endowed by the lateGeorgetown Judge DonHigginbotham. Thefoundation partnered withthe Rotary Club.

Alvin’s essay for thescholarship was about hisweek-long experience in2018, as one of severalyouth from FPC to make amission trip to Memphis,where they worked in ahomeless shelter and soupkitchen.

“I had never been to ahomeless shelter,” Alvinsaid. “Even though theywere homeless, they hadjobs. They live there. Theyhave church. A lot of themeventually work their wayout of it. I was impressed byhow beneficial it is.”

Alvin plans to attendTexas A&M University thisfall and major in businessand economics.

I have a prayer request for our congrega-tion. And I’m confident in asking you all(church family), because I know of themany prayers that we have been lifting upto God during this challenging season.Whether it is COVID-19, social justice orfamilies going through hardships, thischurch has been in prayer.

And that is why I ask for a prayer forYouth Ministry. Like many of our churchgroups, Youth Ministry is pivoting fromour normal way of doing things this fall,while still meeting the needs of our youthand families. We do not have a full pictureof what that looks like, but God has prom-ised to be faithful. We take hope and en-

couragement in His Word, and we lookforward to His providence through thisseason.

So please pray for our youth that theywould have a desire to seek the Lord. Prayfor our parents that they would haveconfidence in spiritually leading theirchildren. Pray for our leaders and volun-teers that we would allow the Holy Spiritto creatively work through us as we con-tinue to work in ministry.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what isgood. At just the right time we will reap

a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”—Galatians 6:9, NLT

—David Lee Hulsey

A prayer request for our youth and ministry

One of the greatest challenges (I believe)in our world today is finding ways to con-nect with each other without having theability to physically BE together. The staffand leadership at FPC are continuing totry and find creative digitalways for our members to stillfeel that connection duringthis time of physical separa-tion. Just to name a few: Wecurrently offer: Weekly “Vir-tual Coffee” meetings are being held onWednesday morning, some adult SundaySchool classes are being held via Zoom,Pastor Bobby is leading a “Race, Racismand the Church” meeting via Zoomthrough early August, and FellowshipTime is being held via Zoom followingworship service on a few Sundays.

The best way to find out about theseopportunities is the weekly church email.These go out every Friday and give infor-mation about the upcoming Sunday wor-ship service, as well as highlightingmission opportunities, fellowship oppor-tunities, educational resources, StephenMinistry events, children and youth ac-tivities and much more. If you aren’t re-ceiving these emails, please contact me [email protected] to be added tothe list.

Another great place for information isour church website, fpcgeorgetown.org.The “Worship” page on the website is agreat place to find a wide variety of infor-mation. We also share quite a bit of infor-

mation via our social mediaoutlets. If you use Facebook,you are invited to join our“First Pres Georgetown”Facebook Group. This is aclosed group where updates,

announcements and general church infor-mation are shared with our members andfriends. We also have a Twitter account(@FPC_Georgetown) and an Instagrampage (fpc_georgetown) that you can fol-low for much of the same information.

You are also invited to subscribe to ourchurch YouTube channel, where each weekwe share the livestream worship service,church videos and recorded messages fromPastor Bobby, as well as the LOGOS Livevideos from the spring. Just search FirstPresbyterian Church, Georgetown, TX,and click on the subscribe button.

If you have questions on how to doany of these, or maybe suggestions ofthings you would like to see, please reachout to me at [email protected].

—Jaime Cowan, Communications Director

Staying connected as a church—digitally


When a young couple, Robert and JoyBedford, joined FPC in 1993, transferringmembership from a Presbyterian churchin San Antonio, their daughter Katy was4 and son Robby six months old. It waslogical that Joy would become immersedin what the church had to offer babies andpre-K kids.

The next year, 1994, as the nurserymoved to a new room, Joy was asked toserve on a nursery committee with threeother women to focus on the needs andconcerns of parents with infants through18 months of age.

And it didn’t take long for her to be-come involved with the “pre-LOGOS”class: children of volunteers and staff whowere too young for LOGOS. In 1996 Joy’snursery class held a Birthday Party forJesus, an event that continues today atChristmas. Next she volunteered as anoccasional LOGOS Bible study leader, aleader for the Children’s Moment and VBSdirector. And in February 1996 Joy washired as part-time staff Child Care Coor-dinator, interviewing, hiring and super-vising a pool of child care workers forvarious church classes and functions.

A search was announced in May 2000for a full-time Education Director, andprobably to no one’s surprise Joy was hiredalmost immediately, effective August 1. Herduties were broad: general education,LOGOS, Sunday School for children andadults, midweek educational opportuni-ties for adults, and helping develop an all-church retreat (which became a reality in2002). When her hiring was announced,Pastor Roberts noted that Joy had alreadyserved the church as Child Care Coordi-nator, VBS director, Sunday Schoolteacher and superintendent, and LOGOSregistrar-treasurer and board member

“Selling” Sunday SchoolIf anything, Sunday School for childrenand adults has been Joy’s main focus formany years.

In 2000 she could often be found sit-ting downstairs during the SundaySchool hour at a table covered by a redcloth. “Almost everyone asks me what Iam selling. I am selling Sunday School foreveryone. I truly enjoy being a part of ourSunday School ministry. I know that God

is working in the lives of our teachers,children, youth and adults.”

Besides recruiting teachers for ongo-ing children, youth and adult SundaySchool classes, Joy is responsible for lin-ing up a host of teachers and leaders forboth the Sunday morning adult electiveSunday School class and special adultevening classes.

As the ongoing Sunday School classeschose their topics for discussions, Joy’simagination is reflected in the lessons, top-ics and speakers for the adult elective.Those varied from week to week or monthto month as she signed up faculty fromAustin Seminary, FPC members, outsidespeakers, and retired ministers who wor-ship with us to lead the class.

Responding to Joy’s call to lead inter-esting, relevant and creative topics for dis-cussion were, to mention a few, MikeCarson, Sam Matthews, Guy & CynthiaGuidici, Tim & Katherine Kubatzky, Dougand Judy Bond, Fred Hilgeman, staff mem-bers Sarah Hulsey, Penny Leone, Chris-tina Bondesen and Mike Roberts, retiredministers Bill Poe, Tom Currie and KenPeters, and others.

From Buddhism to poetryThe array of lessons included classes(again, to mention just some) on theol-ogy and biblical themes, parables of Jesus,prophets, our PCUSA confessions, JohnCalvin and the Reformation, Islam/Juda-ism/Buddhism, Lucifer, Christ’s images inart, psychology and biblical perspectives,faith and poetry, biblical archaeology, hos-pitality in the scriptures, Christian per-spectives on work and money, theScrewtape Letters of C.S. Lewis, a biogra-phy of God, racism, learning from churchhymns, science and Christianity, historyof Christmas, denominational responsesto Word War I, lessons from American his-tory, a class to prepare for hearing the can-tata Elijah performed at our church,understanding the enneagram system ofnine personality types, and the witness tothe faith by novelists and a poet.

Joy also secured commitments fromleaders such as Bill Stanley, SturdyWanamaker, Cindy Roberts, Courtney HillRoot, Bill Stanley and Cliff Snyder to leadevening classes at the church on a wide

A familiar sight:A smiling “Miss Joy”

in the Fellowship Halllobby ready to greet

children and theirparents before

Sunday School.

Looking back at 20-plus years of Joy

4 F I R S T W O R D

C H R I S T I A N E D U C A T I O NJoy BedfordEducation Director

[email protected]

The annual HorizonsBible study leader train-ing at the Austin Semi-nary, by Lynn Miller, willbe online, Saturday, August22, via Zoom.

The morning session willbe from 9:30 to 11. After alunch break, training will befrom 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Thecost is $25, and you canregister at https://www.austinseminary.edu/lifelong-learning. Under “Work-shops,” click on “Into theLight: Finding Hope throughPrayers of Lament.”

FPC Presbyterian Women circlemembers gave generously—and whatmay be the biggest amount in recentyears—to the annual Birthday Offering:$695. Last year’s total was $448, and in2018, less than $300.

The Birthday Offering funds up to fiveprojects each year, in amounts of $75,000to $150,000 each. The recipients are selectedbefore the offering is received, so grantamounts depend on the gifts received.Grant recipients this year were projects inGeorgia, Arizona, Minnesota and Davy-dovo, Russia.

Once a new Education Director is namedand takes over LOGOS, Jaime Cowan willdevote all of her time to being Communi-cations Director. For the past five years shehas split her time between LOGOS andCommunications Director responsibilities.Now she will work closely with the pas-tor and church leadership to manage allchurch digital communications.

“Jaime has done a wonderful job asLOGOS Director these past five years, andshe will ensure that the program remainsstrong and vital throughout the transi-tion process,” Pastor Bobby said. He alsonoted how much more crucial the com-munications role has been during this pan-demic when we have relied heavily on digi-tal communication, email, social media,podcasts, web page and YouTube record-ings and videos.

Communications willtake up all her time

Jaime Cowan and Joy Bedford share a royalLOGOS moment.

The Education and Nurture Committee,Mrs. Jaime and Mrs. Joy are making plansfor fall. For our children, we will have RallyDay August 23, and everyone will receivetheir certificates and Bibles. We are alsoplanning virtualand Zoom timesfor Bible study/Sunday Schooland LOGOS. Wehope you will signup your child.More details soon.

We are watching ODTAP’s numbers, lis-tening to what schools are doing andprayerfully making decisions that will keepour children and other members of ourchurch family safe during this strange sea-son of our lives.

Adult Sunday School classes will con-tinue on Zoom beginning August 30, andwe will send details in the weekly email aswe get closer. When it is safe to be togetherindoors we will resume in person classesbut hope to continue Zoom for those whocan’t come to church. Lots of details to beworked out when that happens.

The Men’s Wednesday Noon BibleStudy will continue its study of Matthew

through August. TheWomen’s WednesdayNoon Bible Study fin-ishes its current studyon August 12 andthen takes a break,

coming back together on Zoom startingin September.

Please continue to watch our websitefor other resources to help you and yourfamily continue to grow your relationshipwith Christ during these days—and don’tmiss our meaningful and sustaining wor-ship on Sunday mornings. My heart achesto see you all: It helps to know that we arein this together and that Christ is stand-ing with each one of us, filling us withwhat we need to get through each day.

“See” you soon.—In Christ’s love, Mrs. Joy

Plans for this fall:Message from Mrs. Joy

Fellowship


range of topics: improving one’s relation-ship with Jesus, discipleship, parenting,learning new habits, and discussions ofbooks.

Bill Stanley recalls that he and wifeLois came to Georgetown and FPC at

about the same time asJoy, and he was asked tobe part of the NurtureCommittee. “This al-lowed me to becomehighly aware of our edu-cation programs. Joy wasthe committee leader.” Billhad just completed the

Disciples Program at his former church inOhio. He later approached Joy and offeredto become a trained facilitator for that pro-gram at FPC. “It took us about 15 yearsto make this a reality but we did,” he said.

Surveyors ClassAt Joy’s suggestion the Stanleys joined theSurveyors Class and when the class leaderleft, “we were concerned about whetherwe would continue to exist since he wassuch a talented spiritual leader. We havenot only stayed in existence through theyears, we have grown, in both numbersand spiritual strength,” Bill said.

He credits Joy for guiding the class’ssuccessful path for the past 20 years. “Herunderstanding of the spiritual gifts of ourclass members helped her select people toserve as leaders/facilitators. I don’t thinkanyone said no as she started her rebuild-ing, and our class went from one leaderto a team of four. “I was reluctant to sayyes but I knew it was a calling. Joy addedmore people to fill spots as teachers left.The present team is myself, Gary Nelon,Phil Smith and Celeste Frost. It has been

a blessing to be a part of the Surveyorsteaching team.” Bill has taken a sabbati-cal this fall to work through medical issues.

Bill said on many occasions he hasasked Joy to suggest topics for the class.“At other times she has come to me withproposed topics that fill our overall goals.”

In addition to Bible study, the eveningclasses have included topics such as thechurch in America and Georgetown, ev-eryday ideas to build lasting faith in ourkids, parenting teenagers, and cooking/nutrition/gardening (with the help of theWilliamson County and Cities HealthDistrict).

Wanting to try Sunday morning edu-cational programming in the summer, Joyin 2019 led several intergenerational Sun-day School classes and scheduled a seriesof book reviews. Her innovative ideas alsoincluded “cross training” in 2010, an as-sembly time at the beginning of the Sun-day School hour with children as well asjunior and senior high youth. The vol-unteer education banquet that she startedin 2001 continues to the present.

—Marty Curtis

Joy helps the children getready for a Palm Sundayprocessional.

Three women (continued from page 11)

for me. It became a non-problem, andI think it was good for her, too. Itgave her an avenue for her talentsand involvement for her own chil-dren.”

Cathy and Joy later comparednotes and realized they went to thesame high school in San Antonio.“She’s a little younger than I am butduring our time there she led a pro-test over students being required tostay at school for pep rallies and notleave campus. It just so happened I

was head cheerleader and in chargeof the pep rallies! We have laughedabout that for years.”

She added, “The Bedfords havebeen our friends for what seems likeforever. It will seem strange to walkinto church at 7:30 on a Sundaymorning to prepare communion andnot find her there getting the churchready. Hers are very big shoes forsomeone to fill.”

Theresa said she has been blessedto know Joy since 1993 and serve to-

gether on Nurture/Education Com-mittee for 20 years. Joy recruited herto serve with VBS, LOGOS, theBirthday Party for Jesus, high schoolgraduation receptions, all-churchretreats and many other events.“There was one thing I knew forsure: I could always count on Joy.She made time to listen to my con-cerns and share many pearls ofwisdom. I am especially grateful forthe role she played in Tess’s andMary’s lives throughout their timeat FPC and to the present day.”

—Marty Curtis

F I R S T W O R D 3

BIRTHDAYS(continued from previous page)

A U G U S T W O R S H I P(on YouTube at 11 a.m.)

August 2CommunionPreaching: Dr. John CarswellFrom Cadzow Parish ChurchHamilton, Scotland

August 9David Lee Hulsey Preaching

August 16, 2020Preaching: Dr. Bill PedersonFrom San Gabriel Presbyterian ChurchCongregational Meeting following service



22 Jacob PilcherSteven Robinson

23 Brian Hall24 Alex Wagner25 Jamie Arnold

Garrett Herbst27 Julie Culver28 Kailyn Bailey29 James Caskey31 Bill Caudle

Linda Johnson

Flowersin Worship/

August

2 Nelson Barrett9 This could be you!16 This could be you!23 This could be you!30 Dave & Alison Harrison

During this pandemic, whenwe are not worshiping in per-son, the flower arrangementsyou are providing continue tobe used by CompassionateCare staff in our Flower Min-istry. The arrangements aredivided into smaller bouquetsand put into bud vases, thentaken to our shut-ins andmembers in the hospital. Ifyou want to take your ar-rangement home, contactChristina Bondesen priorto that Sunday and makearrangements for someoneto leave it outside or giveyou a temporary entrycode.

Pastor Bobby began three-week paternityleave July 24 as he, wife Michelle and sonLeo headed to Houston to meet their newfamily member, son Logan Samir. The fam-ily planned to spend the first week or twoof Bobby’s paternity leave in Houston atthe home of Michelle’s parents.

He pre-recorded hissermon and prayers forJuly 26 in order to leadworship even though hewas in Houston.

While Bobby is onleave, Dr. Ken Peters willbe the emergency pastoralcare contact. Check theAugust worship schedulebelow for who will bepreaching while our pas-tor is on leave. WhenJenny Carswell’s son Johnpreaches from Scotland,Dr. Peters will preside overcommunion.

Guest preachers in AugustYou can learn more about John Carswell’schurch in Hamilton, Scotland, at https://www.cadzowchurch.org.uk. He was born in Scot-land to Jenny and the lateBob Carswell, who cameto the U.S. when Johnwas a baby. Forty yearslater he went back to Scot-land with his wife and sixchildren and has beenminister at Cadzow since 2009. John wasa minister in the Presbyterian Church(USA) for 12 years and served congrega-tions in Missouri and Texas before mov-ing to Scotland. He earned a bachelor’sdegree at the University of Texas and amaster’s degree at Austin Seminary. Heholds a doctorate in practical theologyfrom the University of Glasgow, with afocus on adult baptism. John plays gui-tar, flute and bassoon and leads his churchworship band, “J.C. and the Disciples.”

Dr. Bill Pederson isa native Texan andholds degrees fromTexas A&M, AustinSeminary and Pitts-burg Theological Sem-inary. He has pastoredchurches in Weather-ford and Round Rockand North Carolina,

and is now pastor of San Gabriel Presby-terian in Georgetown.

It’s a boy for the Hulme-Lippert family!


Ms. Joy makes lasting memories for FPC’s kidsMary recalled that Ms. Joy was

always excited to see her, and everyinteraction included a hug with an“I love you.”

“Ms. Joy helped me learn theLord’s Prayer and the Apostles Creedduring Confirmation Class and ledthe most amazing children’s pro-grams at the annual All-Church Re-treat,” Mary said.

Since Mary and Tess were in theGeorgetown High School Eagle Bandwith Katy and Robby Bedford, theyhad the added bonus of seeing Ms.Joy at football games and marchingband competitions.

One of Mary’s favorite memoriesof Ms. Joy was the presentation ofBibles to third graders. “Other thanmy mother, I had never seen anyonecry tears of happiness for me. Shetreated Tess and me like the stars of

the show every time we performed apiano duet during a church serviceor sang solos during the LOGOSmusicals.” Mary said she loved howMs. Joy led the singing of “HappyBirthday” every year on ChristmasEve at the birthday party for Jesus.

When the situation with a groupof little ones would start to get cha-otic, Ms. Joy could calm and refocusby encouraging them to sing withher ‘Jesus Loves Me” or ‘This LittleLight of Mine’. Tess will never for-get when they were little how Ms.Joy “used to say ‘Robby, that’s one!’when he got into mischief. I admirethe way Ms. Joy has always lovedand cared for her family. I value thefact that she leads by example. As aChristian educator, she not only“talks the talk”; she also “walks thewalk,” said Tess.

Mary considers herself extremelyblessed to have grown up at FPC,“experiencing countless special mo-ments that were made possible byMs. Joy. She is someone I have al-ways admired and looked up to. Sheis incredibly generous, loving andkind. She treats everyone as a childof God.” —Marty Curtis

Photo: The 12-year-old McKennatwins, Mary and Tess, share a hugwith “Ms. Joy” at the 2004 All-ChurchRetreat at Mo-Ranch.

From Tess and Mary McKenna:Twins Tess and Mary McKenna are28 years old and were just toddlerswhen the Bedfords joined the churchin October 1993 and Ms. Joy becameinvolved in children’s activities, in-cluding Sonshine Kids, a Wednesdaynight program during LOGOS for kidsfrom birth to 4 years of age.

As long as they can remember“Ms. Joy” was their teacher. Theylooked forward to seeing her smil-ing face at Sunday school, Children’sChurch, Sunshine Kids, LOGOS,Vacation Bible School and all-churchevents like Family Night Suppers andChristmas Night Together.

“When we were little, she usedto get so excited when she could tellus apart!” Mary recalled.

“She will always be a role modelfor me,” Tess said. “I cannot thankher enough for the light that shebrought to my childhood memories.I remember when Ms. Joy told methe story of Palm Sunday for thefirst time. We were in what I believeis now the Homebuilders’ room be-fore the 11 o’clock worship service,and she gave the other children andme palm branches for us to be in theprocessional. She has an incrediblegift for telling Bible stories in a waythat engages children, makes themwant to know more, and inspiresthem to develop a deeper relationshipwith God.”

Pastor Bobby, Michelle and Leo, with the newaddition to their family, Logan Samir, born July21 in Houston, weighing 5 lbs. 9 oz. and mea-suring 19 inches.

Paternity leave begins

2 F I R S T W O R D

2 Craig & Ashley Riley3 Doug & Jamie Arnold4 Marcus & Kayla Collick6 Bill & Lois Stanley7 Marv & Sandy Hulshizer8 Larry & Helen Burk

Tracy Jackson & Jullee Mapes9 George & Linette Harwell11 Jim & Kaye Bishop13 Conley & Cathy Leloux14 John & Sue Rose15 Guy & Cynthia Guidici18 Jay & Jean Allison19 Eric & Anne Hoke

Bill & Betty Anne PoeHubert & Evelyn Syler

20 Rick & Shirley GallowayJim & Courtney Root

23 Dustin & Sarah HammitGreg & Amy Hunt

24 Bob & Ramona Kissner25 Mark & Ruth DeRuyter26 Larry Buchanan & Betsy Hughes27 Keith & Sue Renard28 John & Elizabeth Decker30 Dave & Alison Harrison31 Mike & Kathleen Wenzel

1 Barbara CaudleMariette MugfordRiley Spruiell

2 Jim Briggs3 Elizabeth Decker4 Susan Bell

Linda Stephenson6 Alexandra Crenshaw

Tim LewisBill McKenna

7 Chuck Helmka9 Guy Guidici

Luke MillerLinda Morgan

10 John Rose11 Thomas Isenhour

Maya Spruiell12 Dawn Bookert13 Richard Dorr14 Paul Gipson15 Cassie MacClean16 Ben Butler

Sue RenardBonnie Stump

17 Katie BradfordTristan Hammit

18 Faith BaechtelJennifer Vara

19 Emily Littleton20 Helen Burk

Session has called a virtual meeting of thecongregation for Sunday, August 16, fol-lowing the 11 o’clock worship service. In-structions with the Zoom link and tele-phone number will be sent with the weeklye-mail (that has links for the morning’s ser-vice) and the packets mailed to memberswith no internet service. A quorum of atleast 56 members is required.

There are two motions on the agenda:election of the 2020 Church Officer Nomi-nating Committee and election of formerpastor, Dr. Michael A. Roberts, as PastorEmeritus in gratitude for his 30 years ofservice to FPC.

Committee nominees and the areas theyrepresent are: Ben Nichols, Chair, andMarty Curtis, Vice Chair, session; MintaMcIntosh, deacons; Jana McCown, trust-ees; Lenice Smithwick, PresbyterianWomen; Gary Cox, Men's Fellowship;Tricia Osborne, Music Ministry; to benamed, LOGOS/Youth Ministry; and to benamed, Sunday School.

Session voted in March to bestow thehonorary title on Mike and to present hisnomination to the congregation for a vote.The honorary position has no pastoralauthority or duties.

ANNIVERSARIES

Boldface indicatesa member of

First Presbyterian Church

Among Our People

BIRTHDAYS


Called congregationalmeeting on Zoom forSunday, August 16

Actual AnnualBudget

YTD %AnnualBudget

Income and Expense ReportYear to Date - June 2020

General Operating Fund

Income Pledges $480,022 $841,881 57% Other $72,493 $105,180 69% TOTAL $552,515 $947,061 58% Expenses Validated Mission $30,092 $57,593 52% Local/Other Mission $13,125 $29,802 44% Ministry of the Word $71,324 $148,501 48% Program/Support Staff $231,767 $468,710 49% Christian Education $10,987 $39,350 28% Music and Worship $11,804 $21,756 54% Evangelism/Care $3,323 $11,115 30% Property $44,386 $90,500 49% Stewardship/Finance $8,567 $19,700 43% Other Oper Expenses $15,928 $43,970 36% Debt Retirement $48,777 $97,548 50% TOTAL $490,080 $1,028,545 48%

In the hospital last month: Robert Bed-ford, Judy Bond and Roger Taylor.

Our sympathy to: Freda Ditzler on the death of her daugh-ter, Candi Ditzler, June 30 in California. Kathi Davenport and Edna Malone onthe death of Kathi’s aunt and Edna’s sis-ter-in-law, Virginia Crow, July 3 in RoundRock. Florence Gould on the loss of her hus-band, Barry Gould, April 19. Barry hadbeen a member of our congregation sinceApril 2019. Services are planned for a laterdate.

Congratulations to: Gene & Carolyn Gregory on the birthof their great-grandson, Bobby DeanLewellen, born July 10 in Dallas. Timothy & Anna Roberts on the birthof their daughter, Austin Elizabeth Rob-erts, born July 14 in Boston. Proud grand-parents are Mike & Cindy Roberts andRon & Liz Weaver. Bobby & Michelle Hulme-Lippert onthe birth of their son, Logan Samir, July 21in Houston. Austin Moreno on his wedding to JennyEvans July 25 in Lubbock. Proud parentis Susan Moreno and proud grandfather,Fred Hilgeman. Austin will teach andcoach at Southland while Jenny is in hersenior year at Lubbock Christian University.

Serving in the military: Col. Brian Burk,Larry Burk’s son; Maj. Josh Daleiden,Betty Bradford’s grandson-in-law; JohnDecker; Jared A. Gross, Robert Bedford’snephew; Brian Hall; Capt. Daniel Ham-mond, Keith & Sue Renard’s grandson-in-law; Garrett Herbst; 1st Staff Sgt.Matthew L. Johnson, son of Glen & AnnKaiser; Brandon Keith, Phil & JeanneSmith’s son-in-law; Nicolaas Leloux; Tech.Sgt. Robert McClanahan, grandson ofMinta McIntosh and nephew of Lee McIn-tosh; Lt. Colonel Mark Pratt, Jeff Pratt’sbrother; Sgt. 1st Class Paul Rayburn;Nicholas Stamos, Larry & Helen Burk’sgrandson; and Christian Winckel, grand-son of Sandy Hayes.


I join with you in celebrating theministry of Joy Bedford. Her 20 yearsof service as Education Director hasmade a profound impact upon thechurch.

In thinking over these two dec-ades, I remember several strengths ofher unique ministry: Her amazing welcome of childrenand their parents. Again and again,year after year, I heard from our fami-lies that they were members here be-cause of the welcome and supportthey received from Joy. Her encouragement of our Sun-day School teachers. There has beenan amazing longevity among ourteachers that I attribute to Joy’s en-couragement, training and support.She developed a committed team of

teachers who impacted an entiregeneration of children. This encouragement extended toour teachers of adults. Joy has sup-ported, equipped and helped orga-nize adult teachers over two decades.She also has coordinated all theteachers who took part in the adultelective series, including all of theseminary professors. All-Church Retreat. We beganthis ministry in 2002, and for theremainder of her ministry she hascoordinated, motivated and ar-ranged speakers, led the ministrywith children, and planned thiscritical ministry. Confirmation Class for youth.For 10 years we taught this classtogether, with Joy taking on increas-

ing responsibility for teaching andorganization. What an important,nurturing ministry!

Like so many of you, I am mostgrateful for Joy’s support and encour-agement in my own life and ministry.She has expressed that same love andacceptance to my wife Cindy and mychildren, Jonathan, Timothy andElizabeth.

I think of all the people she hastouched over the years. Her gifts ofencouragement, empathy and com-passion have infused life and heartinto the church’s ministry. I join withall of you in giving thanks for JoyBedford.

—Yours in Christ, Mike

Joy Bedford is the main reason I de-cided to join First PresbyterianChurch. We moved to Georgetownand visited several churches buthadn’t really found a place to callhome. We visited First Presbyterianbecause I had been an active memberat University Presbyterian in Austinduring my college years.

The first time we came, Joy wasthere to greet us in the lobby. Sheseemed so excited to meet my chil-dren, who were still toddlers. We feltvery welcomed but didn’t want tocommit right away. We continued tosporadically visit other churches butkept coming back to First Presbyte-rian. It just felt right.

We started to attend regularlyjust before Vacation Bible School.When we decided to join, I remem-ber stating that it was hard for me toleave Rachel at VBS that summer forthree hours and not be able to stayand help out. I had worked in VBSat other churches. I think it took lessthan a week for Joy to call and ask ifI would be willing to help withLOGOS.

I was asked to be one of the ro-tating Bible study leaders. That be-gan my true participation in the lifeof our church. Joy soon asked meto join the LOGOS board as BibleStudy Coordinator. I later workedclosely with Tricia Osborne as abackstage hand for several musicals.

One year, I was at the churchpreparing props and costumes fora LOGOS musical when Joy askedme to come in her office and sitdown for a chat. She said, “Youknow that Jan is retiring andCindee is going to take her place,which means I will no longer havean Education Administrative Assis-tant. I want you.”

Joy sought and was granted ap-proval to provide childcare at thechurch for the months when mychildren were out of school so thatI could come to work part-time atthe church. While it was not some-thing I had planned to do, I amthankful that God put my name onJoy’s heart in 2007.

Since then, I have workedclosely with Joy on many projectsas well as the regular programs of

FPC. I have served on boards, on taskforces and on staff with Joy for almost15 years and she has become a goodfriend.

Joy has made a deep impression onmy children and my family. Week af-ter week, her smiling face has wel-comed an untold number of familiesinto our church home as though theywere the most important people in theworld. She has always made it herbusiness to have a relationship withevery child who walks through ourdoors.

We will be hard-pressed to findanother Education Director with asbig a heart as Joy’s. That being said, Iam happy for Joy and her family fi-nally to have time for each other. Joyhas given everything to this church—more than she should have and morethan we deserve.

I am thankful to her for makingmy children feel loved in this church.I am thankful for her leadership andher thoughtfulness. I am thankful forher heart and her friendship. I amthankful that God brought Joy intomy life.

—Christina BondesenFPC Office Manager & Former Educa-

tion Administrative Assistant

“Joy Bedford is why I joined this church”

On Joy: From former pastor Dr. Michael A. Roberts (1988-2018)

In her letter of resignation, Joy said,“I will miss being a part of this wonder-ful, caring, loving staff. I will miss all ofyou. I am honored that I have had theopportunity to know you. I will miss thechildren and youth. I will miss learningand growing under Bobby’s leadership. IfGod found Bobby for us, I know there isan amazing person who will take my job.”

She added, “I say it all the time and itis so true: This congregation is the best;they are family. They love deeply; they careand give from and of their hearts. I ampraying for the one who is called to takemy job. How very blessed they will be towork for you. Thank you for letting mework for you and with you all these manyyears. Thank you for loving me and myfamily so well.”

Joy has moved into the home of her97-year-old mother-in-law in Burnet tohelp take care of her. She reminds the con-gregation that she will be “only a phonecall away.”

(See more stories pages 9 to 16)

With a” full heart,” Joy Bedford notifiedthe church in June of her retirement as Edu-cation Director after 20 years in that posi-tion. An effective date has not been set,pending the naming of her replacement,according to Pastor Bobby, who said plansare being made to celebrate and thank Joyfor her long service.

A search committee for a new Educa-tion Director has been formed and is al-ready receiving applications for theposition, which has been revised from 30to 40 hours a week and now includes theduties of LOGOS Director. Committeemembers are Dawn Bookert, Chair, JaimeCowan, Gary Nelon, Magen Smith andTheresa McKenna.

In retiring, Joy cited the needs of herimmediate and extended families and thefact that “I am not as young as I once was.”She feels strongly that it’s time for thechurch “to have someone with new in-sights, a new set of skills, plenty of energyand love to share with this amazingchurch family.”

August 2020

FIRSTWORD G E O R G E T O W N , T E X A S

RRRRR O OO OO OO OO O T E D .T E D .T E D .T E D .T E D . R E FR E FR E FR E FR E F O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D .O R M E D . R E L E VR E L E VR E L E VR E L E VR E L E VA N TA N TA N TA N TA N T.....

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Inside2 Congregational Meeting

Financial ReportAugust Celebrations

3 August WorshipPastor Bobby on LeaveFlowers in Worship

5 Digital Communications7 ODTAP Update on

In-Person Worship8 First Ringers9 - 16 Stories of Joy

16 August Calendar

Christian Education4 Plans for Fall

New Job Description forJaime

Youth Ministry5 DL’s Column

Alvin Gusman Honor

Mission6 CASA of Williamson

CountyThe Caring PlaceSupport for Wehmeyers

Fellowship4 Presbyterian Women

Compassionate Care2 Among Our People7 Points from Parish Nurse

Senior SeminarStephen Ministry Program

Joy Bedford to retire after 20 years

VacationBible Schoolhas always

presented anopportunityfor the little

ones at FPC toreceive lots

of hugs from Joy.


AUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUST

Dear Church Family:

On August 1, l begin my new role asEducation Director for you and ourchurch. I cannot begin to tell you howmuch your words of encouragementand support have meant to me. You of-ten overwhelm me with your kindness.Please continue to offer me your wis-dom, ideas, and concerns as we worktogether to make our education programwhat God wants it to be. I get so excited

about what we asa family can do foreach other and ourcommunity. Weare blessed with allthe gifts that weneed to accom-

plish God’s work. We have a great teamto guide us through our many tasks: pas-tors, interns, Nurture Committee, YouthMinistry directors and teams, SundaySchool teachers, LOGOS Board andStaff; Kids’ Day Out Director and Board,and childcare coordinator and childcarestaff. Please keep the team in yourprayers as we begin a new year of edu-cation.

NOW—Your job is not only to pray, butalso to be here, and if you have childrenor youth, bring them and all of you be-come a vital part of our education pro-gram at First Presbyterian Church.

I can hardly wait for us all to belearning, playing and working together.My office hours at the church will beMonday-Thursday, 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00.

I will be keeping you in my prayers.

In anticipation, Joy BedfordEducation Director

From theAugust 2000

2000 Christian Education News

FIRSTWORDJoy’s first monthas newly hired

Education Directorfor First

Presbyterian Church

Robert, Joy, Katyand Robby Bedfordat a church retreat

SUNDAY

26Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFHBobby on Paternity Leave thru Aug.14

2CommunionDr. John Carswell Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

9David Lee Hulsey Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

16Dr. Bill Pederson Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH12:00pm CongregationalMeeting

23Pastor Bobby11:00am Worship-WCFH

30Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert Preaching11:00am Worship-WCFH

MONDAY

27

3

10

17

24

31

TUESDAY



1110:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Meeting6:45 pm Executive Comm

1810:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Planning4:30pm Newsletter Deadline7:00pm Diaconate

2510:30am Pastoral Care11:00am Staff Meeting7:00pm Session


FRIDAY







THURSDAY


Screenings

6

13

20

27

3

WEDNESDAY


Screenings

5

12

19

26

2

joy bedford to retire after 20 years augustcowan, gary nelon, magen smith and theresa mckenna. in...

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