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October 2007Head Usher... Chris Brown Nursery Volunteers
NOTE: If the Sunday assigned to you is not convenient, please exchange Sundays with someone else. If you notice any supplies needing to be replaced, please let me know. Thank you for your assistance and suggestions. Donna TePoel, Nursery Volunteer Coordinator
There’s Something In The Air At TPC ! ! No, the sewer pipes did not rupture. We have wireless Internet. The Session voted last month to install high speed DSL Internet and to provide Wi-Fi coverage in the chapel and fellowship hall for meetings and events. In the process, Phyllis now has an e-mail address of secretary@tazpreschurch.org. If you have any news for the Lamplighter, important dates for the calendar, prayer requests and concerns, or anything else, please feel free to send her a message night or day! If you have the need to use the Wireless connection at the church, it has been secured with a security key - so please contact Phyllis or Gary Sergent (webmaster@tazpreschurch.org) for this code. We ask that once you have it that you keep it private and only share this with church members or visitors from the Presbytery. We are very excited about this new means of communication and hope it will help our church family be closer in the Lord!
WEBSITE TROUBLES The server that the church website is on has recently failed so if you have tried to access it lately, you may have found it missing. It is back up again but all birthdays, anniversaries, etc. are lost from the calendar. If you would like to help us out, please send a message to Gary Sergent at webmaster@tazpreschurch.org with any information you would like added to the calendar. This also goes for any events you would like shared with the church throughout the year. Simply send a message to Gary and he will be glad to add it to the site calendar.
(September, 2007 Update from Michael & Rachel Weller, Addis Alaba, Ethiopia) Dear Friends, Greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia...The past three months have been busy laced with a few stressful elements. I suppose it is at times like these that I don’t want to tell you what’s been going on because I don’t want you to feel sorry for us. It doesn’t occur to me till later that I really was denying you the opportunity to offer your support and prayers. If you have written us and not received a response, it could have been because we were overwhelmed with whatever was going on at the time - or it could have been because you don’t have our current email addresses and we never received your message. We now have only two email addresses: wellerrachel@gmail.com and msweller@gmail.com. Those are the only two addresses we have access to now, so be sure to change your records so that we have one less reason to lose touch. Life for the past three months has just been busy for us. Michael’s job as the Presbyterian Church Regional Liaison for the Horn of Africa has taken him on several trips both in and out of the country, while I was home trying to manage the kids’ various educational endeavors and continue to stay in touch with the Gambella health work. Our visas and work permits expired and we had to work through that - not a big deal, just time consuming. And every now and then we have to take the car into the garage for repairs. (We have a miracle working mechanic who can make any spare part we need. The company we bought the car from several years ago no longer imports the parts for the car, so he’s had to make quite a few.) So it’s been little things like that going on. Those are the things which keep me from thinking clearly enough to write a decent letter. Though life is looking very busy, we both sense God’s hand guiding us through it. He has provided school situations for each of our kids that fit their needs specifically. We can see how each of the assignments we have had has prepared us for the next one. So, as we look at all the markings on the calendars for the next several months, we are confident that He will be there guiding us, nurturing our children, and providing everything we need to do His work and enjoy doing it...Before I close, I must ask you to consider participating in Mission Challenge ‘07. This is an effort by our denominational mission office, now called World Mission, to communicate with congregations about PC(USA) mission work around the world and to raise funds to support projects and mission co-workers like us. Michael and I feel privileged to be part of the team supporting the work in the Bethel Synods of the EECMY (our partner church here) and we pray that God will bless you as you search and pray about your role locally and in the world. Michael and Rachel Weller
SESSION DIGEST...MEETING 1. The meeting was opened with a devotion and prayer given by Betty McClanahan. 2. The minutes of the August 28th Session Meeting, September 3rd Session Meeting, and September 9th Congregational Meeting were approved and Anne Sergent was thanked for serving as Clerk. 3. The Treasurer’s reports from Black’s Chapel and the Town Church were received as information. 4. A letter was presented from Brookhaven Mississippi Church regarding their 150th anniversary and bulletin. 5. The Session was asked to approve the transfer of membership of Melissa Moore Sutherland to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Clifford, Virginia; motion approved. 6. Prayer Concerns: Scott Campbell, Doug Oatley, Matthew Kanne, Kelly Necessary, T. C. Bowen, Mary Witten, Bill Osborne, Susan Altizer, Grace Barnes, Charles Asbury, Anne Bishop, Karen Wasilewski, Susie Bell, June Rutherford, Alicia McLimans, Ruth Steele (Barbara Wilson’s Mother), Coulson Wright, Pam Irvin, Elizabeth Lockhart, and Steve Cooper. 7. The Christian Education Committee is currently working on guidelines for the scholarships available for the preschool students. October, 2007 Lamplighter Tazewell Presbyterian Church Session Digest...continued... 8. The Fellowship/Missions Committee discussed the shoe boxes for children and reported they are also getting ready for the Guest/Host dinner in November. 9. The Property Committee discussed the possibility of renovations to the front steps of the church. They also discussed the renewal of the janitorial contract. 10. The Pastor Care Committee informed the Session that they have reviewed the list of members in need and/or visits, and that cards are being sent out and visits are being made every two weeks. The next meeting is September 25th, at 7:30 P.M. 11. The following Elders asked to be excused: Carolyn Kitts 12. The meeting closed with prayer given by Dennis Hoffman.
Letter to the Church From “Young Life” Dear Friends of Young Life, As many of you know, hopefully from talks with me, I have decided to move on to a new chapter of my life. Unfortunately, this chapter does not include serving as the Area Director of Young Life in Tazewell. My seven years on staff in Tazewell have been filled with so many memories and I have truly been privileged to serve the Lord and the students and families in Tazewell. I have seen lives changed, folks serving the Lord with their life, and a program that has grown some deep, strong roots in the community. None of this fruit could have happened without you and your faith in what has been going on here and will continue to happen here... Again, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve been to me over the past seven years. As you know, Young Life was here and strong before me and thrived because of the support of people like you who love kids and the Tazewell community. I hope that you will continue to support Young Life even after my service here so the next generation of kids will have a chance to hear the truth about how our Father truly loves them. Your friend in Christ,
CHURCH PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT The Church Property Committee has been very busy this year. Some projects that we have been able to complete during the past few months include: Cleaning up, organizing books, and painting of the Church Library, as well as installing carpet and a window blind; sponsoring two very successful Work Days - resulting in cleaning out closets and other rooms of much clutter, including the removal of old copy machines, piano and other junk from the premises; also spring cleaning of kitchen, nurseries, chapel, parlor, men’s classroom, narthex and various other areas of the building, including washing windows and cleaning up of outside debris, replacement of broken tiles on the porch, and installing bulletin boards. Stripping and waxing of the kitchen, fellowship hall, restrooms and hallway was contracted out in order to get the floors clean and presentable for the Easter Fellowship Breakfast. Gutters were cleaned and damaged gutters replaced and new guttering installed around the tower. Temporary brick work was done on the sanctuary entrance steps to make them more secure. Replacing of all metal windows on the Educational Wing with vinyl storm-screened windows on all three levels of the building was completed by Elk Garden Aluminum. Painting of the nursery restroom, ICY room, kindergarten and primary rooms and the pastor’s study has been completed. Air-conditioners have been purchased and installed in program coordinator’s office, the middle school Sunday School classroom and the choir room. Most of this work has been done by committee members and other volunteers, with the exception of the window replacement and some of the painting (most of which was volunteer work also). The cost of the windows, new carpeting, painting supplies, stripping and waxing of basement floors and cleaning of carpets in nursery, etc. have almost depleted our special funds and part of the budgeted money. There is much more refurbishing needed to get the whole building up to par. (Over) Any monetary contributions to the Special Maintenance Fund are very much welcome and appreciated. An option for your memorial contributions could be directed to the Special Maintenance Fund when deemed appropriate. A big thank you to all of you from the Church Property Committee for your past contributions to this Special Maintenance Fund and we trust that we have used your money wisely thus far. Please do not hesitate to bring to our attention any repair or other items of concern in the realm of maintenance. The Committee consists of the following members: Jerry Cromer and Ward Lester, Co-Chairmen Our Committee and, indeed, the whole Church, were shocked and saddened by the death of our valuable member, Bruce Clifton. Bruce was very active on the Property Committee and was always performing handyman jobs around the church - as well as keeping the church lawn mowed and perfectly manicured. He is sadly missed by all!
A flower fund has been established to help with sanctuary flowers whenever needed - funded by Judy Rasnick Barry to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Jennings Lockhart, Linda L. Bowen, Mary Jane and Bill Sillers and Ellen Sorah Yost. Our thanks to Judy for this generous gift. If anyone else would like to add to this fund, you may do so.
Our thanks to Louise Northrup Mackrill for making a contribution to help with the expenses of the Lamplighter.
There is a sign in town that says something like this: “During the hardest times of your life, God is at His best.” It is during these hard times, we need to trust God the most because He will help us make the right choice. The right choice is often the most difficult one. What kinds of situations make you turn to God? Is it when life is great or is it when everything seems to be crumbling in around you? “You who fear Him, trust in the Lord - He is their help and shield.” (Psalm 115:11) If the hard choices you face are in your home, at school, in your workplace, on the sports field, or in your church, you know that you will find your answer in prayerful times with the promises that are found in God’s Word. Isaiah 26:3-4 reminds us: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord is the Rock eternal.” Kim McGraw & Joan Flynn
We would like to say thank you so much for your support of our hot dog lunch on Sunday, September 16th to help with our expenses to attend “Resurrection”. Thanks to the generosity and caring of our church family, we raised $730.00 to help with our trip. Kim, Matthew & Pam
GUEST/HOST DINNER SIGN-UP The annual Guest/Host dinner will be Sunday, November 4th, 2007. Please pickup a sign-up sheet and return it to the church office by October 14th, 2007.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe and boot boxes and the Good News of God’s love. This program of Samaritan’s Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ! It’s a heartbreaking reality. Millions of boys and girls around the globe live in difficult circumstances and are in desperate need of hope. Whether they are slum dwellers in New York or Calcutta or orphans in Johannesburg, children long to know that they are loved. Operation Christmas Child is one way you can make a difference in a young person’s life. Since 1993, this Samaritan’s Purse project has shared the Good News of God’s love through the simplest of gifts - shoe boxes! ! Filled with school supplies, toys and personal items that are packed by caring people, these boxes help introduce children to JESUS CHRIST. Local believers follow-up with evangelistic programs, and many precious boys and girls later receive Jesus as their Savior. This year, collection day for the “Shoe Boxes” will be Sunday, November 18th, 2007, during the regular worship service. Please prayerfully consider what or how you can help. Our goal this year is 100 boxes. Last year, we collected 70. If you would like to make a box for the children and can’t get out, you may send a donation to the church office marked for Operation Christmas Child - to the Fellowship and Missions Committee, with the following instructions: Boy or Girl with the following age brackets (2-4), (5-9), (10-14). We’ll do the rest. The average cost to fill a box is around $20.00. Thank you for all for your participation in this very worthwhile project. God’s Peace, (Randall Cooper, Chm.; Carolyn Kitts, Vicky Rinehart, Dora Barnes, Harriet Beavers, Charlotte Grant, Pam Irvin, Nancy Sisco) |
