UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS:

The GMPC Wednesday Night Summer Picnics (Covered Dish) are always a delightful treat! Bring your favorite dishes - enough for your family plus one. Remaining date: August 8th at 6:30 p.m. Chairs: Ann Johnson & Allison Brock. We thank our Presbyterian Women chairs and committee members for hosting these fellowship opportunities.

GMPC Summer Concert Series (all at 4:00 p.m.): Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for our 2nd Annual Summer Concert Series for the Clinton community. Refreshments will be served following each concert. *Remaining Dates: August 12th: Fletcher Stubbs, saxophonist & Leah Stubbs, pianist; September 9th: Strings.

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: (Sunday’s at 9:45 a.m., thru September 2nd) Adults: Group discussion on, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, by Tim Keller. Led by Rev. Steve Wilkins. Youth: Discussion on The Gospel According to Star Wars: Faith, Hope, & the Force, by J.C. McDowell. Led by Holly Weaver & Will Dodson. K-2nd & 3rd-5th: Faith Builders 2.0, Building Faith Brick by Brick. Learning about God’s Word through creative play with LEGO bricks.

Coffee Hour at GMPC is held each Sunday, between Sunday School and worship, in the fellowship hall. We hope everyone will come for a time to visit before worship.

GMPC Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, August 12, 2018: We are sending GMPC’s students, teachers & school support staff back to school with our prayers & blessings! We encourage anyone who would like their bags blessed to bring them to worship on the 12th. *See MISSION BUDDIES, pg. 2, for info. on how you can bless those in need through our “Back to School Backpacks” mission supply drive.

Calling all Men! The Graves Memorial Men's Chorus will be singing during worship on August 26th. Rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays, August 1st, 15th, and 22nd, 7:00-7:30 p.m. Please consider lending your voice to the Chorus for this event. See Sean or Lara Capparuccia after worship if you are interested and would like more information.

Fall Breakfast Kick-off: We cordially invite everyone, adults, youth, and children, to a Fall Breakfast Kick-off on Sunday, September 9th at 9:00 a.m., in the GMPC Fellowship Hall, to celebrate the beginning of a new program year here at GMPC! Please make plans to attend.

September 9, 2018 is Promotion Sunday! This is a special time when we commission our leaders for the coming program year. This is also a time to recognize our children and youth as they are promoted to new Sunday school classes. Bibles will be presented to our first graders; Prayer Books and Hymnals are given to Worship Readiness children who are entering second grade and will now remain in the sanctuary with their parents during worship. The Bibles and prayer books are a gift from the church and the hymnals are funded by the GMPC Music Fund. Rising ninth graders who have served as acolytes will also receive recognition.

Volume XLI, No. 7

Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church Newsletter 201 Fayetteville Street . Clinton, NC 28328

Phone: 910-592-2677 . Fax: 910-592-3100 . Website: gravesmemorial.org

Email: Steve Wilkins: RevSHW@ymail.com; melissagriffin@embarqmail.com

OUR KNOWN ILL:

Martha Dunn Margaret Register Julie Stefanovich Annabelle Fetterman Erma Faircloth– Southwood; Rm. 310

Doc Fields- Southwood; Rm. 109

Frances Hubbard- GlenAire Margaret Faircloth- MaryGran; Rm. 701

Tink Purcell- The Cardinal at North Hills

Betty Heaton- MaryGran; Rm. 204 Ted Lockerman- MaryGran; Rm. 110

Betty Hairr-(Mother of Vickie Pope)

Juaweese Franklin-(Mother of Melissa Nimmo) Christine Stacey-(Mother of Lara Capparuccia)

Joe Kozel-(Father of Kristi Williford)

Kathryn Whitley-Jordan-(Former Choir Dir.) Hewitt Fulton-(Father of Bill Fulton) Bobby Stanley-(Brother-in-Law of Ted Qualls)

Hank Waters-(Father of Carol Wilkins)

Becky Hughes-(Sister of Bill Scott)

Joan Bartlett-(Sister of Annette Newton)

Ricky Bell-(Uncle of Mark Harrell)

Eleanor Sharp-(Great-niece of Laurie Vreugdenhil)

Kaye Wilkins-(Father of Steve Wilkins)

Doug Shaw-(GMPC Flautist)

July - August 2018

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Matthew and Ashley Bristow on the birth of their son,

Lucas Owen Bristow, born June 29, 2018. Grandparents are

Boyde and Susan Bristow.

———————————————————-

Frank & Kristin Bradshaw on the birth of their son,

Hampton McNeill Bradshaw, born July 14, 2018. Grandparents are

Glenn & Mac Spell.

SYMPATHY TO:

Mac Purcell and family on the pass-ing of his aunt, Elizabeth Graham Purcell Newton.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 2

PASTORAL PONDERING… Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Dear Friends,

When our great forefather of the Presbyterian tradition, John Calvin, would call the people of Geneva to worship, he

would use the verse from Psalm 124, printed above. The verse is a reminder of what worship is to be about: worship is

first and foremost about God. The Directory for Worship (which is part of our Book of Order) says this in its introduc-

tory chapter:

Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God. In worship

the people of God acknowledge God present in the world and in their lives. As they respond to God’s

claim and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, believers are transformed and renewed. In worship the

faithful offer themselves to God and are equipped for God’s service in the world.

At Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, we strive to fulfill that spirit every time we gather to worship. Indeed, our

worship is planned and structured with the goal of honoring God and seeking to draw ourselves closer to God.

One of the things of which I have become aware over my 25 years of ordained ministry is that while congregations are

familiar with the patterns and rituals in our worship services, we are not always aware of the meaning behind them.

Why do we do what we do?

With this question in mind, I would like to dedicate my space in the newsletter over the next several months to an ex-

amination of the various elements of our worship, to help us understand the meaning behind what we do. It is my hope

to address not only the meaning of what we do in worship, but also questions and concerns that I have heard over the

years. Also, I would like to invite you to come to me with questions of your own in regard to worship, so that my arti-

cles will address the concerns and queries that are currently on your mind. We won’t necessarily address the elements

in the same order that we find them in our worship bulletin, as there may be months when some of the discussions are

more timely.

I look forward to this time of exploration and explanation. I am convinced that informed worshipers will translate into

worship that more effectively glorifies and honors God!

Faithfully yours, Steve

OUR CHILDREN: We hope everyone is having a GREAT summer!

~ PresbyCrew is just around the corner! We will kick-off our adventures on Wednesday, September 12th. PresbyCrew is a unique program for children in Kindergarten thru 5th grade, and meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. going with the school calendar. *Welcome back letters and registrations will be mailed soon.

~ ACOLYTES NEEDED: Any of our children (grades 3 through 8) who might be interested in serving as an Acolyte during Sunday worship, please contact Brenda Nordin (990-1668). We hope each child will consider this wonderful opportunity!

~ Worship Readiness volunteers are needed for the 2018-2019 program year. If you are able to assist please contact Tami Warren at twarren@ncdoj.gov or the church office.

~ MISSION BUDDIES: (PreK—12th Grade, as part of Sunday School) *Mission Buddies will not meet during July.

August 12th Mission: BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACKS! (Supplies collected thru Friday, August 10, 2018.) ITEMS NEEDED: Pencils (Ticonderoga are the best), Erasers for Pencils, Pink Erasers, Colored Pencils, Zipper Pencil

Pouches, Pens, Highlighters, Markers, Expo Markers (big and skinny), Crayons, Children’s Scissors, Glue Sticks, Single Subject Notebooks, 3 Subject Notebooks w/ Plastic Covers, Composition Books, Large Ruled Paper, Post-It Notes, Index Cards, Plastic Pocket Folders, 1.5” Binders, Back Packs, Earbuds, Boxes of Tissue, Monetary Donations.

*A Mission Buddies donation bin is located in the fellowship hall.

An interest meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, in the Fellowship Hall, for the potential establish-ment of a chapter of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) organization here at GMPC. TCF is a national organization established to comfort and give hope to parents, grandparents, stepparents and siblings after the death of a child. The cause or the time of death or the age does not matter. All in our community are invited to this organizational meeting.

Graves Memorial Presbyter ian Church Newsletter Page 3

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

~ Thank you, Graves Family, for our trip to the Montreat music conference. The NC mountains are still beautiful and our stay was enjoyable. We welcome anyone who would like to discuss what goes on at the conference. It might be helpful to know that this conference is not a "retreat" in the sense of vacation, but it is a week-long seminar on what is trending in the PCUSA in regards to current/new worship patterns. In other words, in what direction does the PCUSA want to go and how can congregations implement it? Sean & Lara Capparuccia

~ Copies of These Days (July - September) are available in the narthex and outside the church office.

~ La Leche League of Sampson County: Breastfeeding? Or pregnant and planning ahead? Join us the 1st Thursday of every month, in the GMPC Nursery, at 10:00 a.m. The La Leche League of Sampson County, led by Lucy Lockamy, will offer valuable breastfeeding support and information for all women within our community. Next Date: August 2, 2018

~ MISSION OPPORTUNITY: Christian Food Bank of Salemburg, every third Saturday, monthly, bags of food are giv-en to those in need beginning at 9:00 a.m. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items Through-out the Year! *(Donated food is also given to those who stop by the church in need of something to eat. Please help to keep the box supplied. Thank you.) Next Food Bank: August 18, 2018

~ Mission Opportunity: Diaper Bank of Sampson County. Donations of diapers (all brands and sizes, to include adult diapers), diaper wipes and diaper rash cream are collected. A collection bin is located in the GMPC fellowship hallway.

~ First Baptist Soup Kitchen is on “summer break”, and will resume on September 6th.

PRESBYTERIAN MEN (PM) OR PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN (PW) NEWS:

~ The Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast Meetings will resume September 9th, 8:15 a.m., at First Baptist Church.

~ We are always so appreciative of the PW Committees and the assistance of the PM for our social events.

The remaining Wednesday Night Summer Picnic @ 6:30 p.m. is as follows: August 8th (Chairs: Ann Johnson & Allison Brock), Debbie Sinclair, Diane Westerbeek, Lisa Spell, Hollis White, Mariana Sanderson, Debbie Martin, Melissa Nimmo, Joan Lee, Shannon Sinclair, Natalie Sanderson-Sutton, Mary David Morris, Joan Carr, Susan Westerbeek, Mary Carol Todd.

~A PW Coordinating Team Organization Meeting & Salad Dinner is scheduled for August 27th at 7:00 p.m. PW Circle Meetings will resume with a Quarterly Gathering on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. PW Handbooks and the 2018/2019 Horizon’s Bible Study books will be passed out at this time. Plan to attend.

GET INVOLVED SPOTLIGHT: Back Pack Buddies *(We ask that you please give regularly to these outreach mission programs in need of your help.)

GMPC has been a part of the Backpack Buddies Food Ministry since 2010. Backpack Buddies is a Christian, non-profit program organized by the First United Methodist Church of Clinton, N.C. in the fall of 2008. Backpack Buddies provides weekend food to over 250 “food insecure” Clinton City School children, ages PreK - 8th grade, weekly. Volun-teers meet at Sunset Avenue School every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. (following the school calendar) to sort and pack the bags. What you can do to help: Volunteer Your Time! Donate Food Items! (canned soups, juice boxes, raisins, fruit cups, pudding cups, granola bars, pop tarts, trail mix & individual cereal boxes)

*A collection bin is located in the GMPC fellowship hallway throughout the year for your convenience.

Youth 411: *Youth Group (6th-12th grade)

GMPC Youth and Parents,

We invite you to attend the GMPC Youth, Hopes and Dreams 2018-19, before-school gathering, on Sunday, Au-gust 5th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. The Youth Coordinating team will provide dinner. Following dinner, youth and parents will divide as we begin sharing our hopes and dreams for the coming year. We want to hear from everyone! Please come and share your thoughts. RSVP to the church office by Friday, August 3rd.

Upcoming Presbytery of Coastal Carolina sponsored events, 6th—12th grade: *(Registration forms and information sheets are available in the church office. Please note RSVP dates.)

- All Girls Slumber Party, “God’s Girls in Pearls”, August 17—18, Beulaville Presbyterian Church, RSVP by August 10. - Guys Only Event, “Steadfast”, September 15 –16, Raeford, N.C. (Recreated Afghan Village), RSVP by September 4.

EDUCATIONAL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUGUST 2018:

05 12 19 26

Crib/Toddler Nursery: 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Sunday Mornings Jan & Ella Faison Allison & Ruthie Brock Linda Williamson Diane Viser Acolytes: (Brenda Nordin) Jewell Carr Rebekah Bryan Walker Spell Open: “Retiring Acolytes” Julian Beaujeu-Dufour Trey Bryan Ava Williford Open: “Retiring Acolytes” NO Worship Readiness: (Tami Warren) *Summer Break. To resume September 9th.

Kindergarten—2nd Grade & 3rd—5th Grade Combined Summer Sunday School Class: (Hollis White) Darby Scott MISSION BUDDIES Najshula Lassiter Lucy Lockamy Jr. & Sr. High Youth Summer Sunday School Class: (James Dodson) Leaders: Holly Weaver & Will Dodson

Adult Combined Summer Sunday School Class: (Rev. Steve Wilkins)

Meals-on-Wheels: 1st, 3rd, & 5th Tuesdays, Pickup Between 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. (Anne Price) 08/07 Barbara Taylor & Melissa Fulton 08/21 Whit & Jan Tart Meals-on-Wheels Summer Route: Thursday & Friday, Route 4, Pickup Between 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. (Anne Price) 08/02 Barbara Taylor; 08/03 Nancy Heath; 08/09 Melissa Fulton; 08/10 Anne Price; 08/16 Joan Carr; 08/17 Linda Williamson; 08/23 Mary Doyne; 08/24 Barbara Taylor Ushers: (Stan Mertz) Note: A yearly list is posted on the bulletin board outside the office Bill Aiken, Gary Wayne Hall, Henry Lamb, Linda Lamb, Jason Williford, Tommy Tucker Lay Readers: Justin Lockamy TBA Bill Aiken Lizzy Tart Flower Committees: (Mac Spell) 08/05 (Communion) 08/12 Memorial for Mr. Hebern W. Sanderson by Mrs. Mariana Sanderson, children and grandchildren 08/19 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Newton by Tommy and Annette Newton, children and grandchildren 08/26 Memorial for Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Britt, Mrs. Jean Britt Plyler and Mrs. Mary Ann Britt Adams by Mrs. Betty Blue Britt Packard and family

Happy Birthday During August: 01) Doc Fields; 02) Lauren Sink;

03) Peter Stefanovich; 06) Tim Howard, Will Heath; 07) Diane Barwick, Doris Hollingsworth; 08) Wilbert Faircloth, Vickie Boyette, John Thomas Newton, III; 09) Shaun Webster; 10) Delores Murphrey, Brooke Blanchard; 11) Monie Sue Spell, Sim Green, Justin Lockamy, Carter Louise Harrell; 13) Britt P. Ammann; 14) Najshula Lassiter; 15) Connor Johnson; 16) Virginia Broadwell, Sallie Adams, Nicole Spell, Wiley Lane; 17) Martha Dunn, Ruthie Brock; 18) Trey Fetterman; Thomas Lockamy;19) Tim Shankweiler, Frances Hubbard, Beth Bryan, Jr.; 21) Seth Harrington; 23) Hal Price; 24) Lucy Lockamy; 27) Neal Matthews, Susan Fox, Doran Bouchard, Henry Newton; 28) Olivia Wilmot; Ian Parker; 29) Patsy Kennedy, Jeff Heath, Terrell Webster, Lara Capparuccia; 30) Nancy Perry, David Nordin, Reese O’Quinn; 31) Warren Sinclair, Kyle Held

Lectionary Text for August:

05) Ps. 5:1-12; 2 Sam. 11:26-12:13a; Eph. 4:1-16; John 6:24-35; 12) Ps. 130; 2 Sam. 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Eph. 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51;

19) Ps. 111; 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Eph. 5:15-20; John 5:51-58; 26) Ps. 84; 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43; Eph. 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

I will be loyal to GMPC and support it with:

My Gifts: July 22, 2018 Year-To-Date Tithes and Offerings $173,737.01 Building Fund Offerings $ 30,181.00

Needed for Budget: Year-To-Date Operating Budget $172,318.00 Building Fund $ 19,140.00

A “Lost and Found” Dishes Box is located in the Ice Room here at GMPC. Please stop by and check it regularly for any of your dishes that you may have left behind.

PICTURES NEEDED! If you see a special moment here at GMPC, take a picture and e-mail it to the church office, or print it and add it to the “Watch Us GROW” bulletin board in the Education Building hallway. We thank you in advance for participating in this project.