A Season of New Life at Providence!

Dear Providence Church Family & Friends,

The LORD’s Word in Isaiah 43:19 about new ministries – which introduced Providence’s initial Mission Statement – continues to inspire and guide Providence in 2013: “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The fruit from God’s new-beginnings mission at Providence this spring and summer included: (1) life-changing conversions to Christ for several of the new members who have joined our church; (2) life-changing and community-changing mission trips by Providence groups to Nicaragua, Nashville and Jacksonville; (3) Good News work for our local community by our VBS Middle School Group; and then several weeks this summer, Adventures in Mission groups were hosted on Providence’s East Campus; (4) a wonderful Providence VBS that involved over 70 children either being introduced to faith or growing in their faith; (5) yet another “new thing” – two weeks of Summer Children’s Camp added to our Children’s Ministry; and (6) enhancements to our physical facilities for ministry – including TWO new children’s playgrounds and the base for TWO new sand volleyball courts added this summer for Family Ministries on our East Campus.

Now we look to God’s further new-mission blessings this fall. As I think about the baptisms we celebrated this summer, I am reminded of God’s further promise: “Anyone who is in Christ is a New Creation: the old has gone; the new has begun.” [2 Corinthians 5:17-18] I invite you to believe and get involved this fall, serving and learning in the Good News of your baptism into Christ Jesus. Be part of God’s New Creation this fall at Providence!

Finally, looking to new chapters of God’s blessings, we give thanks for (and say short-term farewells to) Children’s Ministry Director Jennifer Jenkins, Chris Jenkins, Rachel and Jacob Jenkins, as they move to St. Augustine to be closer to Chris’ new job. We also give thanks for other Providence members and recent key volunteer-leaders, including Joe & Kathy Alexander and Jeff & Sara Kurtz. We will miss them, but we trust in God’s blessings for them, and we know God is working through and within us all in powerful ways, according to His perfect plan. As we say goodbye to faithful volunteers, I invite you to be one of many who “steps into the gap” – helping and serving in new ways. God calls us to His new mission and blessings this fall.

Your pastor and friend in Christ, Martin Lifer

Providence Today

CONTENTS

Membership

Discipleship

Children’s Ministry

Youth Ministry

Women’s Ministry

Music Notes

Building & Grounds

Leadership

Get Connected

Associate Pastor Report

Providence Missions

Outreach

Sunday Morning Schedule

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August/September 2013

Membership2

Welcome to Our New Members! Great news! So far in 2013, we have added 63 new members (including children) to our Providence family. Our goal for the year is 100. Keith, Sandy, Candler,

Jordan & Carmen Key

Cliff, Erin & Isla McMackin

Kevin, Valerie & Finley Thompson

Barbara Ash

Eric Anderson (no photo)

Naomi Dickhoff

Yvonne FodenGrant & Mia Evans

Carolyn KazelBarb Heenan

The popular TruthSeekers series will begin in mid-October with Dr. Lifer and Rev. Benek alternating weeks. Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. is a Bible Study for men, led by Ray Hardy and a Bible Study for women led by Jo Ann Meier and Nancy Lifer. We also offer monthly Bible Study groups:Ruth Circle, led by Jo Prange, meets the first Monday of the month at 10:00 a.m.Mary Martha Circle, led by Nancy Bossart, meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10:45 a.m. Please call the Church Office at 842-5673 for more information about these discipleship opportunities.

Starting in September:

Adult Sunday School Classes:9:30 am: Working the 5x5x5 with Keith Walston

and Let’s Read and Discuss the Bible Together with Kate Keep

10:45 am: Christ-Centered Life with Jim Webb

Youth Sunday School Classes:10:30 am kids worship10:30 am middle school youth10:45 am high school youth11:45 am confirmation class

--Shirley LucasDiscipleship

Emily Crick with Dr. Lifer for her July 21st Baptism

Children’s Ministry

Kids Sunday School Classes: 9:30 amWe are very excited to offer a comprehensive rotation curriculum. It is unique and will enable our children to study all the stories in the bible on a three-year rotation. This means a few things for your child. First, the kids will have gone through the bible two times by the time they reach the end of fifth grade. Second, since it is a comprehensive curriculum, missing Sunday School would be missing an important piece of the puzzle.

Sunday Mornings for PreK-5th Grade

Kids Worship Service: 10:30 amPreK-1st Grade students. KWS is a worship service with music, fellowship and a brief bible lesson, just for kids.

Our Midweek Miracle... LOGOS!

We need your help!

Mark your Calendar!

Join us Wednesdays throughout the academic school year for all students grades K -5th.

Registration is available online at CauseGodJoy.com or call 842-5673.

Please prayerfully consider becoming

a volunteer on Wednesday and/or Sunday for the nursery, Sunday

School or LOGOS!

The 2nd Annual Fall Festival on East

Campus will be Sunday, October

27th! It was a wonderful day of

fellowhip last year!

VBS2013

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It is an honor and privilege to be able to share in the journey of spiritual discovery with the youth of this church! God is continuing to show me more and more about His character and His love through the faith-shaping questions of our students. Thank you all for your continued support of our youth missions trips. These experiences allow us to see the Kingdom more clearly all around us and shape the church for future generations. The amazing thing about serving others is that oftentimes we find our own healing through it. When we take our focus away from ourselves and place it on the tangible needs of others, we start to see ourselves, as well as others, in

outh Ministry Update

CREATIONFEST

August - October Event Calendar

JAM &YROCKevin BruchertY

9/4: First JAM & YROC on East Campus. We have an awesome year of games, lessons and leaders - Wednesday nights will be epic! Hope to see you there. JAM at 4:30 and YROC at 6:30.

9/17: Parent Meeting in Fellowship Hall. JAM at 5:30pm and YROC at 6:30pm. All youth and parents are asked to attend a meeting to review events, activities and policies for the upcoming year. We’re so thankful for your support of the ministry and your student!

10/13: JAM & YROC Fall Adventure to the Corn Maze. We will leave at noon from PPC and travel together to Ottawa Farms in Pooler. The cost is $20 to cover transportation and entry. Please bring money for food. We will return around 5pm. It’s going to be a blast!!

10/30: YROC Reverse Trick-or-Treating. Instead of collecting goodies, we’ll be giving! Join us at YROC at the regular 6:30 time.

the same light that God sees us. We are His creation and He is passionately in love with us all! Many of us that participated in the youth mission trips allowed ourselves to be mobilized as the hands and feet of Jesus. Through these opportunities of relationship and service, many of us discovered the healing power of Jesus, not only for others but also for ourselves. Praise God! Please, pray for our students as they transition back into a new school year. We’re looking forward to a great time in our YROC and JAM groups Thank You for Your Love and Support of Our Student Ministries!

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J A C KSONV I L L E

Do you enjoy meeting new people? Would you like to welcome our visitors to our worship service and make them feel at home? If so, please consider becoming a “Visitor Angel”! All that is needed is a friendly smile and a desire to engage our visitors in conversation, finding out a little about them while telling them about our Providence Church family. If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing, please call Susan Wilson, (843) 785-8801, for more information.

The Women’s Ministry is planning an exciting season of Fellowship Events, Spiritual Retreat, Bible Study, Christian Book Club, and Mission Service. The purpose is to meet the spiritual needs of Christian women and to help them grow in their faith in Jesus Christ. Today like never before, women are hurting and need Christian fellowship and love to cope with the pressures of everyday life. Due to heavy responsibilities and dissolving families, many women feel isolated and lonely. We want to provide a community of women, gathered together to live more whole-heartedly, to sharpen, challenge, love, and inspire one another to then go back out to our worlds bearing God’s love with intention.

Keys To Victory: Unlocking the Doors of Faith, Power, Knowledge, Happiness, Success, Learning, Living, Prayer and God’s Blessings!

Acts 14:27 | John 10:9 | Revelation 3:20

Statement of PurposeForgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to:

• Nurture our faith through prayer and Bible Study

• Support the mission of the church in our community

• Support the mission of God’s kingdom worldwide

• Increase the depth and breadth of knowledge, love and service.

Women’s Ministry

We have two events with scheduled speakers. One speaker, Deb Copeland, is an author, motivational speaker, world-class entrepreneur and adoptive parent who survived the unthinkable. Her best selling book “Attitude Therapy” is a way to overcome any and all of life’s challenges. She is a founder of Live to Give, a God thing that secures funds to help children know about Christ both at home and abroad. She will be speaking at our October event. The second speaker, Theresa Gernatt, AKA “Coach TAG”, is currently on a sabbatical from her eighth season as the top assistant coach for the Florida State women’s basketball program. She is a “get down in the trenches” type of coach who, while compassionate off of the court, instills fierceness in her players on the court. Coach TAG has a passion for Christian Women’s Ministry and will have much to share at our retreat in February 2014. More events are being scheduled and will soon be announced in our new Women’s Ministry brochure. It will outline the many activities scheduled for the 2013-2014 Women’s Ministry season. We are excited and ask that you pray and plan to be involved and blessed. -- Carolyn Martin, Moderator

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Barbara Blankenship and her daughter greeting visitors.

Visitor Angels Needed

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We look forward to another exciting year full of musical events to glorify God, to encourage our church family and to bring more people to the Lord! Chancel Choir: Regular Wednesday night practice will resume September 4. We will have another workshop by Laura Floyd in September. Your voice would be welcomed! Handbell Choir: We are currently welcoming new bell ringers. We play regularly at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service. Reading music and counting skills are very helpful to playing the bells. Have a heart to make beautiful harmonies for the Lord? Please join our handbell choir! Children’s Choir: All children from pre-K through early elementary are welcome to join our children’s choir. Meeting days and times will be decided with the children who enroll in the program. We plan to sing regularly in Sunday worship. Please contact JooSoo Son at our church office for more information. Providence Presents Music Program: We are excited to have a musical “Providence Presents” planned almost every month. We will open our Fall programs with a very special duo harpsichord recital, played by JooSoo Son and Anne Acker from Savannah. A cello and oboe will add the beauty of chamber music. Mark your calendar for Friday, October 25, at 5:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more news on upcoming Providence Presents concerts!

Music Notes -- JooSoo Son

6Special Organ Concert

Mark Your Calendar!

JooSoo is playing at the American Guild of Organists

Concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at noon on Friday, September 13.

Let’s support this outstanding community event!

Congratulations Martin & Nancy - Here’s to 30 more!We had such a wonderful afternoon in fellowship on August 4th celebrating the Lifers’ 30th Wedding Anniversary!

Thank you to all who contributed their time, their musical talents, event planning skills

and culinary mastery. It was truly a special occasion. We were completely surprised and overwhelmed

with your love. Thank you all for your gifts

and cards.

Love, Martin & Nancy

When most church members think of East Campus, AKA Camp Fraser, they think of dark, damp woods swarming with mosquitoes and jumping with ticks. Times have changed! This summer, East Campus was blessed with swarms of missionaries and with jumping children. Amen! Thanks to a cabin renovation led by Pam White and Sue Anderson, we were able to host two groups of orphans from Thornwell, three teams of missionaries from Adventures in Mission (AIM), and several weeks of children’s camp from Bethelwoods. Brian Burns led the mission teams in removing all the debris from

the old camp cabin sites. He also led the prep work for the installation of several new playgrounds and two sand volleyball courts this August. With more improvements to East Campus facilities scheduled for this Fall and a jam-packed schedule of missions for 2014, it’s safe to say that the Spirit is alive and well on old Camp Fraser!

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Thanks for your work, so the kids can play!Top: A wonderful group from

ThornwellLeft: A gift from the Marriott

Grande Ocean ResortRight: A gift from Temple

Beth Yam

eadership June-July Session Actions

JUNE• Accepted 16 new members.• Adopted Finance Manual.• Designated Carolyn Martin

(chairperson), Leah Ortega, Kevin Courtney and Anne Montgomery to conduct annual financial review.

• Approved capital expenditure form.• Approved expenditure of up to $1500 to purchase a defibrillator for the sanctuary.

JULY • Accepted two new members. • Motion passed to participate in the “Back to Church Sunday” event on September 15. -- Ron Montgomery

LYear to Date

Budget Year to Date

Year to Date

2013 2013 2012

Total Revenue $ 543,548.81 $ 548,844.00 $ 586,738.65

Total Expenses $ 578,414.57 $ 566,642.00 $ 587,943.63

-- Jack Daly

Get Connected

Women’s Wednesday Night Bible Study

This popular Bible study will resume in September in the church parlor. It is held Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. No homework or outside study required. Watch the Sunday bulletin for more details. Contact JoAnn Meier or Nancy Lifer.

Christian Women’s Book Club If you are looking for a book club that focuses on Christian novels and nonfiction, fellowship with other believing women, and have your second Saturday of the month free, you will be most welcomed! We meet in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30-11:00 a.m. We share a light breakfast, have a really short meeting and begin our discussion by 10:00 a.m. Call JoAnn Meier at 671-6290 if you have any questions.Book List for September - December 2013September 14. 2013 - Two BooksHer Mother’s Hope: The first in an epic two-book saga, this sweeping story explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters over several generations, from Europe to California into the drama of WWII.Her Daughter’s Dream: In the dramatic conclusion to the New York Times best seller Her Mother’s Hope, Francine Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.October 12, 2013 - Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis: At the age of 19, Katie Davis left the upper-middle-class life to move to Uganda, start a nonprofit organization, and begin the adoption process for 13 daughters who needed a mother. She is an inspiration and a testament to what God will do when one is willing to be used by Him.November 9, 2013 - While We’re Apart by Lynn Austin: In an unassuming apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, three lives intersect as the reality of war invades each aspect of their lives. These characters will find themselves growing and changing in ways they never expected--and ultimately discovering truths about God’s love...even when He is silent.December 14, 2013 - The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancy. In this book, Philip Yancey reveals the real Jesus beyond the stereotypes, offering a new and different perspective on the life of Christ and his work--his teaching, his miracles, his death and resurrection--and ultimately, who he was and why he came.

Betty Jo PolkBroad Creek

Myra ClementsBroad Creek

The Visitation Ministry Bouquet The Visitation Ministry calls on these members of Providence Church to let them know they are still in our hearts and our prayers. If you would like to be a part of the Visitation Ministry or know of someone who would appreciate a visit, please call Ruth Brown at 342-1612. There are Visitation brochures in the narthex if you would like to know more about the ministry.

Sarah AllenBroad Creek

Louise PeacherHome

Jinny DavisTidepointe

Peggy TaylorBroad Creek

Naomi Dickhoff

Indigo Pines

Jane MechlingBroad Creek

Jennifer GrindrodLife Care Center8

It’s Shoe Box Time!

Myra ClementsBroad Creek

Associate Pastor Report

Over the past semester here at Providence, we have been immensely blessed. We have experienced one of the largest periods of membership growth in our history. We now have more children, youth and families than we have had in years. This summer we sent numerous students and adults out in the Spirit, seeking to follow the commands of Jesus’ Great Commission both internationally and regionally. Locally, we hosted over 130 missionaries on our East Campus, along with groups from the Thornwell Home for Children. Furthermore, we hosted a new outreach to local children through our His Kids Camp, as part of our Bethelwoods affiliate program, that taught children right here in the Lowcountry the love of Jesus. Recently, volleyball courts and two large-scale playgrounds have been built on the East Campus as part of growing ministry plans.

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All of these advancements were part of expanded or new ministries and were made possible by your love and care for our community and world in Jesus. Not enough Good News? Here is some more. We are far from done because God is far from done with us. There are great things coming to Providence this fall. But as with all of Christ’s commands, these new ministries and outreaches will come with a call to an increased commitment in prayer, service, giving and love by all of us. As such, I would ask each and every person in our congregation to pray how the Lord may be directing you personally to grow in the Lord as we head into this new academic year. In humility and in faithfulness, I believe that we as a community will rise to these coming occasions and opportunities to glorify God. How blessed are we to live in such a time as this!

How do you say “Merry Christmas” in a language you’ve never heard? You can, by packing a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. Share the glorious message of Christmas with suffering children all over the world. Make it a family project. Shop with the children, then wrap the shoe box (bottom and top separately), fill it with your goodies, and we will do the rest. If you would prefer to give a donation of $20 per box, make your check payable to Providence Church. In the coming weeks, you will have the opportunity to sign up to fill a shoe box or two or more at the table outside the narthex doors of the church. Make sure you pick up a brochure with instructions for filling the box(es) and the girl/boy labels. All boxes must be returned to the church no later than Sunday, November 10, 2013. Please place your completed box(es) in the mail room in the Administration Building. For more information, call Ruth Germany at 843-689-6160.

A Season of

Blessing -- Rev. Chris Benek

TidePointeShepherding Group

Dr. Lifer enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship with the TidePointe Shepherding Group on Tuesday, August 20th. Other Shepherding

Groups will be planning fall gatherings - contact your group

leader for details!

Missions As many of you have heard, our Nicaragua mission trip was a huge success. Our Providence team coupled with Pratt and Ashley Butler and several Nica Young Life leaders to introduce Young Life on the UPOLI campus. Our mornings were filled with group activities where students practiced English, and in the afternoons, we joined the Young Life club. The UPOLI students were very excited that we were there to help them practice English. Being able to speak English in Nicaragua opens many doors of opportunity for their lives. At the Young Life club, not only did our English partners join us, but also several other students who were interested. The auditorium where the Young Life club was held was packed! Praise God! Many of the students were impacted by the time we spent

Praises from the Nicaragua Mission Triptogether and were excited to return to Young Life after we left. Since returning home, several of us have been in contact with our English partners and the good news continues to pour in about how our visit and Young Life changed their lives. Not only did this mission change the lives of the UPOLI students, but it also changed the life of every Providence team member. Our faith and resolve in Christ was strengthened, and we brought back a desire to serve God faithfully in our church and community. Thank you to everyone who supported this mission financially and through prayer. We couldn’t have done it without you! We look forward to returning to Nicaragua in June 2014 where we will be blessed to continue to Cause God Joy. -- Lisa Walker

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gracias

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Providence Presbyterian Church has joined churches across the country in celebrating Back To Church Sunday on September 15. This is wonderful opportunity to increase our commitment to Christ by making it a point to attend church AND invite a friend, neighbor or relative to come with us to Providence. Please consider bringing a friend with you and plan on staying for our wonderful fellowship time following the service. This is also a great time of the year to get involved in Providence through Sunday morning bible study or one of our small group studies. In addition, Wednesday evening family dinner, youth programs and bible study will be resuming and we need YOU there. Christ is calling us all to a deeper commitment to Him in our lives. Fellowship with Providence members is great way to achieve that. -- Keith Walston

For the past three years, Adventures in Missions (AIM) has hosted volunteer teams from churches across the United States on Providence’s East Campus for local mission outreach in our community. The number of participants has grown each year, with families, individuals, and youth groups totaling 24, 43 and over 50 for three weeks this past July. Groups arrived on Sunday afternoon and departed Friday before lunch. The teams worked with Providence members Sandy Haines at Carolina House and Rita Jones on Deep Well projects. This year, teams also helped at Hilton Head’s Children’s Center and Sandalwood Pantry, did door to door outreach in area neighborhoods, beach ministry and service projects at Providence. Participants this summer came from SC, Michigan, Florida, Missouri, Maryland (Korean Church group), Nebraska, Ohio, Alabama, New York, and Georgia.

Local MissionsAdventures in Mission Recap

< A group visiting Deep Well

Happy helpers at Sandalwood Pantry

An AIM group on Providence’s East Campus

>-- Lynn Clanton

>

OUTREACH Back to ChurchSunday

171 Cordillo ParkwayHilton Head Island, SC 29928843.842.5673 phone843.842.8394 faxprovidencehh@hargray.comwww.CauseGodJoy.com

Sunday Morning Schedule

Chapel Service Mills ChapelFellowship to follow outside ChapelContemporary Worship Fellowship HallFellowship Time to immediately followSunday School for Adults & Children Mills BuildingChancel Choir Rehearsal SanctuaryTraditional WorshipSanctuaryJunior High Sunday SchoolLibrarySenior High Sunday SchoolMills Conference RoomFellowship TimeFellowship Hall

Visit www.CauseGodJoy.com or phone the church office

(843-842-5673) for topics, times and other information on many additional

offerings during the week.

Dr. Martin LiferSenior Pastor

Rev. Christopher BenekAssociate Pastor of Family Ministries

Kevin BruchertDirector of Youth Ministries & Contemporary Worship

Dr. JooSoo SonDirector of Music

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