CORNERS AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

MAJOR GIFTS & ENDOWMENTS

Rutledge Fund

The purpose of the Rutledge Fund is to enhance building care and needs, and program needs not met by other more specific funds or to supplement the income from those funds. The fund was created by a bequest from the estate of Eleanor Cauffiel Rutledge, received in 2001, and is a continuing memorial to Cam and Eleanor Rutledge. Cam served the church as a Trustee and Eleanor as an Elder.

The uses of the fund shall not be applied in general just to underwrite or balance the budget, but shall be used for designed projects or purposes. Annual allocation from this fund shall be available 50% for use at the discretion of the Session and 50% for use at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. However, in any given year, by mutual agreement of the two boards, the percentage division of the fund allocation may be altered according to need.

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College Scholarship Fund

This endowment was established to provide scholarships to students who are enrolled in a brick-and-mortar college or university studying in the sciences, the ministry, or the humanities.

This year we are planning to award two scholarships of $300.00 each. Students who are members or have family who are members of FPC will have preference, but all students who apply will be considered.

Applications may be picked up in the church office

The Messenger March 2015

or high school guidance office and completed applications must be returned to the church office by April 15, 2015.

PARISH LIFE

Fellowship Time

If you would like to host a Fellowship Time some Sunday, please call Rose Houper, Susan Sheldon, or the church office. It is not difficult. Help is available and expenses are covered.

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Maundy Thursday Soup Supper

Please join us for a delicious soup supper at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 2nd, to be followed by the meaningful Maundy Thursday worship service. Bring your own table service or use disposable. If possible, please make a reservation by March 30th to help us plan to have plenty of soup! Several different types of soup will be served, as well as bread, beverages, and dessert.

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Ladies Night Out

Our traditional Ladies’ Night Out will be held on Wednesday, April 30th, at 6:30 p.m. at Sorge’s Restaurant on Market Street. Reservations, please, by Monday, April 28th. Meet us at Sorge’s or call the church office if you need a ride. Hope to see you there!

MISSION & OUTREACH

Corning Community Food Pantry

We are entrenched in winter weather --- gloomy dark days, low temperatures, snow and ice. However these weather conditions have not impacted the activities at the Corning Community Food Pantry. Our 2014 annual statistics are reflective of the increasing numbers of food insecure individuals in our area. Total households served - 7,613 (a 1.17% increase from 2013); total children served - 9,156 (a 1.5% decrease from 2013); total adults served - 15,813 (a 2.8% increase from 2013); total elderly served -1,854 (a .1% decrease from 2013); total individuals served in 2014 - 26,823 (a 1.5% increase from 2013). Noteworthy: We distributed 265,150 pounds of food from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, and we distributed over 53,780 pounds of food from local churches, schools, organizations, individuals, annual Postal Collection, annual Boy Scout Drive, and area businesses. The continued support of the community is of utmost importance to CCFP and to those who suffer from hunger issues. Our January 2015 statistics were: 645 households served, 778 children served, 1,322 adults served, 141 elderly served, 2,241 total individuals served. CCFP is an all volunteer organization with no paid staff. Please consider making a donation to the Pantry and support its mission. CCFP, PO Box 1255, Corning, NY 14830. Approximately 93.1% of all donated money goes directly toward the purchase of food for those in need. Additional Pantry needs include plastic bags for packing groceries. Tuna and canned soups such as tomato or chicken noodle would be welcome. We could also use toilet paper and dish soap.

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Spring Fling Easter Event

The Mission and Outreach Team is hosting a Spring Fling Easter Event on Sunday, March 29th, at 3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. We will play group games and host an Easter Egg Hunt, followed by a Church Family Potluck Dinner. Please bring your little friends and their parents (and grandparents) and join us for a fun afternoon. Donations of filled plastic eggs are welcome ... can be filled with wrapped candy, stickers, small toys, Bible Verses, etc. Please call Bonita Coates, Chair of the Mission and Outreach Team, for more information or to volunteer.

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Rummage Sale

The Weekday Preschool will be holding a rummage sale on Saturday, March 21st, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. In conjunction with the rummage sale, there will also be a bake sale, snack bar/refreshment stand, and face painting for the kids. A $1.00 admission fee will be collected at the door. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Kathy Harlacker at: 814-517-4106 or email her at: remark_able@yahoo.com.

Fall Registration

The Weekday Preschool is now accepting applications for the 2015 - 2016 school year. We have openings in both the 3-year old and 4-year old classes. Please call the church office for more information or an application. It’s not too early to enroll your child now.

for the leadership of the following people who led worship during the month of February: Rev. David Kilgore, Albert Johnson, Curt Neuner, and Bethany Rudolph.

PRAYER CORNER He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. - Philippians 1:6 Why do many Christians fail to experience real joy, which is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22? In his book Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll suggests three common “joy stealers” - worry, stress, and fear. He defines worry as “an inordinate anxiety about something that may or may not occur.” (And it usually doesn’t.) Stress, says the author, is “intense strain over a situation we can’t change or control.” (But God can.) And fear, according to Swindoll, is a “dreadful uneasiness over danger, evil, or pain.” (And it magnifies our problems.) Swindoll says that to resist these “joy stealers” we must embrace the same confidence that Paul expressed in his letter to the Philippians. After giving thanks for the Philippian believers (1:3-5), the apostle assured them “that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ: (v.6). Although our joy will wane at times from worry, stress, and fear, God keeps on working in our heart and tells us He is near.

Our Daily Bread

The Corning-Painted Post High School Color Guard is collecting old or unwanted shoes. If you would like to donate your old and unwanted shoes, please bring the shoes (tied together) to the box outside the church office until March 1st.

WORSHIP & LITURGICAL LIFE

Kirkin’ O’ th’ Tartans

Bagpipes, drums, banners, and people wearing tartans will be featured at Sunday morning worship on April 26th.

After the Risin’ of 1745, it was illegal to wear tartans. It was also a crime to play the pipes or sing hieland songs. These laws played a unifying factor among Scots. Clans people walked to kirk (church) in a reverent and orderly fashion. At a certain time during the service, a signal known only to clergy and clans people, would be given. Then they would touch a piece of their tartan concealed on their person. The clergy would then bestow a blessing on clans and families.

In modern times this service was continued as an occasion when “Scots away from Scotland” would ask God’s blessing. The custom started in the United States during World War II. The Presbyterian church has deep roots in the land of moors and heath. Today the Presbyterian church is rich in diversity, as it should be. At the Kirkin’ “everyone is at least an honorary Scot.” The service will include a blessing of the tartans.

* * * * * * * * * The Worship and Liturgical Life team is excited about worship in the upcoming months. In addition to ordained ministers and lay preachers, we have this special opportunity to draw on the unique God-given gifts that our own people have been blessed with. Let's support and encourage each other as we continue to grow together as a worshipping community. You won't want to miss a Sunday! Here’s what we can look forward to in March:

1st - Rev. Virginia Murray, a retired pastor from Bath (Communion Sunday) 8th - Ernie Danforth (A Visit From Mary) 15th - Denise Allen (A St. Patrick’s themed message) 22nd -Youth Sunday “Colors of Easter” 29th - Curt Neuner (Palm Sunday) The Worship and Liturgical Life Team is grateful

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 3 Kathy Strack 5 Bob Dates 9 Marcia Creelman

Andy Sebelle Kelly Reppert 11 Bill Sebelle Ashley Taylor 12 Tom Speciale 13 John Keech Bonita Coates 15 *Connor McEwen 19 Kyle Landin 20 John Fisher 21 Bob Boell

Bill Sebelle, Jr. 27 *Abby Chang 28 April Millhollen Members, *children under 18, and non-member participants for whom we have birthday and anniversary information.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO 15 Bob & Mona Behrens If we miss your special day, please let us know so we can include the information on our calendar.

MONTH OF MARCH

THE MESSENGER First Presbyterian Church

1 East First Street

Corning, New York 14830

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1 EAST FIRST STREET

CORNING, NEW YORK 14830

Church Phone: 607-937-5419 Church Fax: 607-937-9731

Church Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon & 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Church Email: office@corningpresby.org Visit us on the web: www.corningpresby.org

Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time: 11:30 a.m.

2015

The Messenger is published monthly.

DEADLINE for April Messenger articles is March 15th. Articles may either be emailed to the church or left in the church office. Any information received after the 15th will appear in the May issue.

Jesus Is Our

Focus In All We Do