April 2016 - Faith Presbyterian Church EPC

F a it h P re sb yt e r ian Ch urc h ( EPC)
Faith Speaks
V o l um e 20 16 , Is s ue 4
A pr i l
C h ur c h S t aff
Interim Pastor
Walter Turner
Financial Secretary
“I have been crucified
with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live
in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave
himself for me.”
~ Galatians 2:20
Christ was all anguish
that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be
brought in, trodden
down as an enemy that I
might be welcomed as a
friend, surrendered to
hell's worst that I might
attain heaven's best,
stripped that I might be
clothed, wounded that I
might be healed, athirst
that I might drink, tormented that I might be
comforted, made a
shame that I might inherit glory, entered
darkness that I might
have eternal light. My
Savior wept that all
tears might be wiped
from my eyes, groaned
that I might have endless
song, endured all pain
that I might have unfading health, bore a
thorned crown that I
might have a glorydiadem, bowed his head
that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach
that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in
death that I might gaze
on unclouded brightness, expired that I
might for ever live.
By: Unknown author
Reference: The Valley of
Vision, ed. Arthur Bennett,
1975, p. 42, by permission
Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA
“For God so loved the
world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever
believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life.”
~ John 3:16
The extent of God’s
love at Calvary is seen
in both the infinite cost
to Him of giving His one
and only Son, and in the
wretched and miserable
condition of those He
loved. God could not
remove our sins without an infinite cost to
both Himself and His
Son. And because of
Wylene Eason
Treasurer
Jim Allsobrooks
Pianist
Nancy Lowry
their great love for us,
both were willing—yes
more than merely willing—to pay that great
cost, the Father in giving
His one and only Son,
and the Son in laying
down His life for us.
One of the essential
characteristics of love is
the element of selfsacrifice, and this was
demonstrated for us to
its ultimate in God’s
love at Calvary.
By: Jerry Bridges
Reference: Trusting God,
1988, p. 138. Used by permission of NavPress –
www.navpress.com
I nsi d e thi s i ssu e:
Building News
5
Choir News
8
Fellowship News
3
Financial News
4
General News
6
Prayer and Praise
2
Missionary News
7
Session News
4
2 01 6
Ses s i o n Me mbe rs
Moderator
“Looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter
of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before
him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and
is seated at the right
hand of the throne of
God.”
~ Hebrews 12:2
Susan Norton
(Christian Education)
Steve Norton
(Clerk of Session)
Mark McClelland
(Outreach)
Matthew Echols
(Administration)
Bob Smith
(Worship)
Gray Brannan
(Congregational Nurture)
(Continue on pg. 5)
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V ol u me 201 6 , I ssu e 4
Prayer Needs and Praise News
Lydia Ham Allen
Herman Miller
Roger Allen
Jeff Miller
Delores Anderson
Leslie Miller
Mark Miller’s son, Paul
Nelle Baggett
Stacy Bailey
Mrs. Ball - Randy’s mother
Nancy Beck
Kayla Blockmon & family
Jenny Bogan
Jeff Braid
Bob and Ellen Brown
Catherine Bruce
Andy Burch
Betty Burch
Nancy Burch
Keesha Coggins
Jerry Colby
Jimmy Cook
Allison Davis
Johnny Davis
Jake Dibel
Carson Dodd
Wayne Dowda
Dyer family
Beverly Echols
June Echols
Nicholas Echols
Tom Edwards
Cheryl Elleweyan
Stan Evans
Shirley Everett
Fred Fletcher
Chris & Casey Foreman, baby Flossie
Greg Fowler
Annabelle Geisman
Nolan Greene
Bo Hatchett
Kerri Hensley
Pat (Wayne) Hightower
George & Maggie Hodges family
Jim Horn
Randy Huddleston
Cohen Hurley
Andy Johnson
Maggie Lake
Jack Lindler
Corrie Lovern
Brian Lowe
Nancy Lowry
Ron Manley
Rose Miller
Rudy & Patricia Miller
Harper Kate & Camden Mills
Luke & Shelley Mills
John Morris
Amanda Ocherbauer
Family of David Patterson, Sr.
Barrett Pilcher
Junior & Lisa Pippin
Anna Roden
Don Roper
Brad Rowland
Pat Ryle
Nathan Sexton
Bob Sims
Amanda Smith
Peg Smith
Rick & Aiden Stancel
- Gary and Jackie Burnett
- Chris and Debbie Gibson
- Keith and Rachel Keller
-Our new missionaries going to Southeast Asia
- Reflections Ministries - Bill and Margaret Frisbee
Copies of the April
Prayer and Praise handout
are available on the table at
the entrance to the sanctuary.
Kim Sweat
Adel Thalos
Dorothy Toal
Walter (Margaret) Turner - interim pastor
Chris Turner
Everyone is invited Wednesday nights for our weekly
prayer meeting at 6:10 at
Faith Presbyterian Church.
Margaret Turner
Helen Van Eaton
Foster Veazey
Larry Wadsworth, Jr.
Jimmy Wages
Mike Wallace
Lester Waters
Tyler Weeks
Janet Williams
Beverly Wills
Don Winberg
“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel, who
have been borne by me from before your
birth, carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
will carry and will save.”
~ Isaiah 46: 3-4
Edith Wood
Mike Woods
Eddie Young
Joleta Zerban
Victims of domestic violence
Body of Faith EPC
Members of Providence Reformed Presbyterian
Church & Pastor Wayne Rogers
Faith’s pastor search committee
Faith’s building committee
Military families
Dorothy Miller
- Phil and Diane Thrash
Doug Strickland
Jeanette McClure
Al & Claudia Middlebrooks
* Please keep the following missionaries in your prayers:
Elizabeth Rubiez
Haddie Mae McClelland
Mike McCormick
* As a part of our Armor Bearers ministry,
please continue to pray daily for our Elders on Session: Matthew Echols, Steve
Norton, Mark McClelland, Bob Smith,
and Gray Brannan.
Children in foster care
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
CLASSES
Bob Smith’s adult Sunday
School Class meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. Bring your Bible and
come join us. There’s a cup of
coffee waiting for you.
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F ai th Sp eaks
Book News
Fellowship News
God in the
Whirlwind:
How the
Holy-love of
God Reorients Our
World by
David Wells
Building on
years of research, writing, and cross-cultural ministry, renowned author and theologian David
Wells calls our attention to that which
defines God's greatness and gives shape
to the Christian life: the holy-love of
God. In God in the Whirlwind, Wells explores the depths of the paradox that
God is both holy and loving, showing
how his holy-love provides the foundation for our understanding of the cross,
sanctification, the nature of worship, and
our life of service in the world. What's
more, a renewed vision of God's character is the cure for evangelicalism's shallow theology, with its weight-less God
and sentimental gospel. Written by one
of evangelicalism's most insightful minds,
this book will help you stand firm in your
faith despite the changing winds and raging storms of the modern world.
Newton on
the Christian
Life: To Live
Is Christ by
Tony Reinke
John Newton is
famous for his
legendary hymn
"Amazing Grace."
Many have celebrated his dramatic conversion from a life in the slave trade to
his eventual work to end it. But often
overlooked are Newton's forty years as a
pastor ministering to parishioners and
friends unsettled by the trials, doubts,
and fears of life. Newton is perhaps the
greatest pastoral letter writer in the
history of the church. He took up his pen
day after day to help others fix their eyes
on Christ, which, he writes, is the under-
lying battle of the Christian life.
Through a careful study of scores of
letters, Tony Reinke brings together
Newton's brilliant vision of the Christian life in one accessible place.
The Smith Community fellowship
group will meet on Monday, April 11th
at 6:30 p.m. The group will meet at the
home of Teresa Harvey.
****
All men are invited to our Men’s Group
which meets each Sunday morning at 8:30
a.m. They are beginning a new study C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. Come
join us. There’s an open seat and a cup of
coffee waiting for you.
*****
Girlfriends in Faith
“As for me, I would seek
God, and to God would I
commit my cause,
9
who does great things and
unsearchable, marvelous
things without number:
10
he gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the
fields;”
Faith’s “Girlfriends” did not meet for our
monthly dinner during the month of March. Our
next gathering has been set for April 23rd. We
will be having a brunch at the church at 10:00
am. Wonderful breakfast casseroles, grits, biscuits, jellies and fruit will be on the menu. Please
contact Teresa Harvey or Vicky Rodgers with
your plans. Thank you again, ladies, for making
these gathering so special.
~ Job 5: 8-10
“Therefore do not be anx-
New Adult Sunday School Class
ious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for
itself. Sufficient for the day is
its own trouble.”
If you’ve never tried Sunday School,
now is a great time to start. The “Choir
Room” class began a new study on January 10th. They are viewing and discussing a DVD series by James McDonald
entitled “The Vertical Church.” Join us at
9:30 am on Sunday mornings in the
room to the right of the choir loft. If you
have any questions, contact David and
Vicky Rodgers.
~ Matthew 6:34
BOOK NOOK
We have lots of excellent books for sale on display in the sanctuary.
If you would like to purchase one, simply put the money in the bowl
on the display. Prices start at $1.00 and go up.
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Session News
Highlights
Financial News - March, 2016
Stated Session Meeting
Donations: $ 20,217
Faith Presbyterian EPC
Expenses: $ 9,081
March 13, 2016
Present: Mark McClelland, Steve Norton,
Bob Smith, Walter Turner, Gray Brannan
Devotion: Gray Brannan
Old Business:
Pastoral Search Committee:
There are two
more candidates being reviewed. Both candidates will be back for a second interview
session.
New Business:
 Combined adult/youth Sunday School on
April 10th.
Ministry Committee Reports
 Congregational Nurture - Gray Brannan –
Nurture committee reached out to several
members this month.
 Outreach:
Psalm 23
Building Fund
to date: $ 208,908
“Honor the Lord
with your wealth and
with the first fruits of
all your produce; then
your barns will be
filled with plenty, and
your vats will be bursting with wine.”
~Proverbs 3: 9-10
Mark McClelland - no report.
Administration - Matthew Echols - no report.
Worship:
Bob Smith - List for worship
leaders has been sent out for April and May.
Christian Education - Matthew Echols/Gray
Brannan - G. Brannan reports the new meeting schedule started. Meeting minutes were
presented.
We are so excited to have Walter and Margaret Turner as a part of Faith EPC for this
interim period. They have graciously
provided their phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and home address for us.
Walter - 404-697-6654
walter.turner@beulah.edu
Calendar

March 20 Congregational meeting to
approve 2016 budget.

March 24
Maundy Thursday Service
with Lord’s Supper at 7:00 pm. (G.
Brannan, S. Norton, M. McClelland will
be in attendance.)

April 10 Session meeting at 12:30 pm.
(Devotion by Walter Turner)
The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not
want.
2
He makes me lie
down in green pastures. He leads me
beside still waters.
3
He restores my
soul. He leads me in
paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of
the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the
house of the LORD
forever.
Margaret - 404-697-6655
mgtmuslu@gmail.com
Their address is: 20 Dawn Drive SE
Cartersville, GA
30121
“
And Jesus answered them,
“Truly, I say to you, if you have
faith and do not doubt, you will
not only do what has been done
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Norton, Clerk of Session
to the fig tree, but even if you
say to this mountain, ‘Be taken
up and thrown into the sea,’ it
will happen.
22
And whatever
you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
~ Matthew 21: 21-22
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F ai th Sp eaks
Building News
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee
and Samaria had peace and
was being built up. And
walking in the fear of the
Lord and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
~Acts 9:31
“It should not come as a surprise that the design of the new
church facility must be driven by
the following factors: 1. Vision –
What is God’s vision for your
church? What is the church going
to be when it “grows up”? 2.
Mission – What is the church
trying to accomplish for the community and congregation? 3. Financial Ability – What can the
church afford to build and how
will it be paid for? 4.Needs –
What does the church need to
build in order to become the vision and accomplish the mission?”
By: Stephen Anderson
Reference: Stephen Anderson Preparing to Build, AMI, 2006, p. 59.
Bridal Showers
Please join us at the church on
Sunday afternoon, April 17,
2016, at 2:30 p.m. for a Miscellaneous Bridal Shower honoring
Katie Smith, daughter of Bob
and Bev Smith. Katie and Captain Rob Swanson, United
States Army, will be married on
May 7, 2016. Katie and Rob are
registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond and Amazon.com. Pat
Beard and Laurie Brannan are
hostesses.
Also, David Donehoo, Jr. and
Sarah Lamb will be getting married August 13, 2016. David is
the son of David and Connie
Donehoo. The ladies of the
Continued from pg. 1
“For the word of the cross is
folly to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the
power of God.”
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18
Every time we look at the cross,
Christ seems to say to us, "I am here
because of you. It is your sin I am
bearing, your curse I am suffering, your
debt I am paying, your death I am dying." Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the
cross. All of us have inflated views of
ourselves, especially in selfrighteousness, until we have visited a
place called Calvary. It is there, at the
foot of the cross, that we shrink to
our true size.
By: John Stott
Reference: Taken from The Message of
Galatians by John R.W. Stott. Copyright(c)
1968 John R. W. Stott. Used by permission
of InterVarsity Press, PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515. www.ivpress.com.
http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/
code=288, p. 179.
church will host a bridal shower for
the couple. More information will
come on a date and time for the
shower.
Thank You!
Baby Shower
Paula, Dan, David, Carrie
Ann & Cooper greatly appre-
The ladies of the church will host a
ciate the prayers, visits, food
baby shower for Lily Skelton Wright
and hugs extended to all of our
on April 24, 2016 at 2:30 pm at the
family during the death and
church. Lily and Michael Wright are
homecoming of our father and
Papa, David Patterson. We
are so fortunate to be part of
the Faith family.
expecting a baby boy in mid-May.
Lily is registered at Babies R Us and
Target.
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General News
Listen to R.C. Sproul’s daily 30 minute broadcast at www.ligonier.org. It’s a great source
of teaching and food for the soul. While
you’re there, check out a wealth of online
resources that will deepen your faith and
walk with Christ.
Outreach News
Youth News - continued :
April Events:
Updates to come throughout the month
via announcements and email.
There will be a group going to Jesus’
Place on April 3rd. Please feel free to
join in on this inspirational visit. Speak
with Steve Norton or Janice Baggett for
details.
~ 2 Timothy 4:17
Wednesday nights are set aside
for “Youth Fellowship Bible
Study” with fellowship, snacks,
games beginning at 6pm. The
Youth will be beginning Catechism classes with the curriculum geared towards they're age
group. Come enjoy this great
time and bring a friend!
We will be collecting donations for the
Baby Bottle Offering.
********
“But the Lord stood by
me and strengthened
me, so that through me
the message might be
fully proclaimed and all
the Gentiles might hear
it. So I was rescued from
the lion's mouth.”
YOUTH NEWS
Our Mission of the Month for April and
May: Pregnancy Resource Center
of Henry County. (www.prchc.org)
“Now the word of the Lord came
to me, saying, “Before I formed
you in the womb I knew you, and
before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet
to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah,
Lord God! Behold, I do not know
how to speak, for I am only a
youth.” But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you
shall go, and whatever I command
you, you shall speak. Do not be
afraid of them, for I am with you
to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
~ Jeremiah 1: 4-8
We are in need of volunteers to provide
refreshments (simple cookies/juice nothing fancy) for our fellowship time
between Sunday School and worship.
Please speak to or email Laurie Brannan
if you have any questions. The sign up
sheet is posted on the bulletin board by
the hall doorway.
lbrannan@co.henry.ga.us (work)
graybrannan@yahoo.com (home)
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he
will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with
the temptation he will also
provide the way of escape,
that you may be able to endure it.”
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
American Heritage Girls and Trail Life
for Boys meets Sundays from 6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm with dinner being served at
6:00. Please pray that we will be able to
reach our community. Please contact
Amy or Mark McClelland at 678-8186635 with any questions.
On the bulletin board in the
back of the sanctuary is a flip
chart with emergency phone
numbers. Please consult it if
there is an emergency or problem at the church.
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F ai th Sp eaks
The Kellers:
able to start a new community this year.
March 22nd marks four years
since we landed in Prague!
Thank you for your giving, prayers and
partnership in the gospel to see new
communities of disciple-makers started and multiplied!
As I type I’m on a train from Berlin to
Prague. I could have waited, but it
seemed like fun to send an email update
from a train. I’m also listening to Johnny
Cash, so you can hum along as you read
if you like.
This is my third trip to Berlin over the
past month, the second in the past 3
days. The good news is we received our
visas and the bonus news is that instead
of giving us the typical 6 month visa
(which means we would have to apply
for long-term visas immediately) they
issued us one year visas in a very short
period of time.
The trees outside my window are a blur
as the train keeps on rolling. It looks like
my calendar pages from the past 2
months. I can imagine the days ripping
off the pages and swirling past. Time has
not been dragging on for us, it is going
faster than we can get our hands around.
The boys are on Spring Break and we
took the opportunity to get away for 3
days to Austria for some skiing. The
boys and I joined two other dads and
their kids for the trip. Luke earned the
nickname “Full Throttle.” Luke has two
speeds, sonic boom and falling. He is
good enough to stay up for a long time
which means he builds lots of speed until
he rolls to a stop. Trying to keep up with
him on the last run I took a hard fall that
had my skis crashing into my ribs. One
week later I still can’t take deep breaths
or lay flat on my stomach. You might be
able to hear my pleas for mercy after a
sneeze.
Between trips to Berlin we met with our
Czech friends in a town about 60 miles
from Prague. This is the group we do
Speak and Ski with and monthly Discovery Bible Study. We changed the format
some to include family games and songs
before dividing up to do DBS with the
adults and a program with the kids.
There were several new teenagers there
and new families. I was very encouraged. It was also fun to see Rachel lead
some songs, if only briefly. She is so
talented and it is a gift she doesn’t get to
use much here. I know she misses it,
and I miss hearing and seeing her in this
capacity as well.
We are praying that spiritual curiosity will
continue to grow and that they will be
By His Grace,
For His Glory,
The Kellers
********
We continue to have new students and young
professionals each week at English club. It has
been an interesting semester because of all
the new people. We did the Triumphant Entry
this past week and after Easter we will do a
three week DBS to see if any interest is stirred
for full-length DBS.
Please pray hearts would be stirred
through His word.
This month there was a team of college students from Midway Church in Carrolton, GA
here shaking the bushes looking for new spiritually interested contacts. Through people they
met we had a few new people show up at Mud
and a few new contacts. The testimony of
many Czechs is that they are in relationship
with a believer for 7 years before they put their
trust in the Lord. Relationships were started
and we’ll keep praying to see the fruit of their
investment one day.
Three of my greatest joys is meeting with Martin weekly in order to spur one another on
toward love and good deeds, meeting with
David and Sylvie in a discipling DBS, and
meeting weekly with Peter to talk about life
and spiritual questions he has. Because of my
schedule, I haven’t been able to do any of
these for a couple of weeks. My heart is heavy
for each of them as they grow in seeing Christ
as their greatest treasure.
But... I’m leaving again. The day after Easter
I’m headed to South Africa for two weeks to
help facilitate a group going through the Battle
for the Heart process with the Wellspring
Group. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to help
multiply something that has had such a transformational impact in my life. I’m also nervous
and wondering if I’m really ready to facilitate a
group. I’m praying for a heart at rest, not going
in to impress, and allow the Spirit to write the
impact of whatever comes out of our time
together.
It is impossible to thank you enough for the
opportunity to serve here among one of the
least religious countries in the world. When we
read the Triumphant Entry this past week, not
one person in my group had ever read or even
heard of this part of Christ’s life. In English
class last week the students said that they
didn’t know one single person who goes to
church much less is a believer.
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and
my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my
shield, and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
3
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be
praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
4
The cords of death encompassed me; the
torrents of destruction assailed me;
5
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to
my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
“You worship what you do not
know; we worship what we
know, for salvation is from the
Jews. 23 But the hour is coming,
and is now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to
worship him. 24 God is spirit,
and those who worship him
must worship in spirit and
truth.”
~ John 4:22-24
Happy
April
Birthdays!!
Choir News
Keith Lovern
4/4
Shirley Connell
4/5
Debbie Stephenson
Haskell Thomas
4/9
Jonathan Hunt
4/22
4/5
Note from Nancy…
Psalm 96 says, "Sing to
the LORD a new song; sing to
the LORD, all the earth.
To the glory of God, Faith
Presbyterian Church has been
called together to faithfully
proclaim the Gospel, to make
and equip disciples for Christ,
2 Sing to the LORD, praise
his name; proclaim his salvation day after day!"
Come join us!!
“For I know that my Redeem-
and to advance God’s
er lives, and at the last he will
Kingdom in our families,
stand upon the earth.”
community, and world.
~ Job 19: 25
Our church’s website:
www.faithpresbyterianepc.org
Faith Presbyterian Church, EPC
5916 East Lake Parkway, Suite 250
McDonough, GA 30253
Please join us for a beautiful time of
praise and worship through music. The
Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings,
7:15-8:30 pm.
“He is my steadfast love and
my fortress, my stronghold
and my deliverer, my shield
and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under
me.”
~ Psalm 144:2
Church Membership
Faith Presbyterian Church is a
congregation of the Evangelical
Presbyterian Church (www.epc.org)
and the Presbytery of the Southeast
(www.epcsoutheast.org).
If you are interested in joining Faith Presbyterian Church (EPC), you may do so
by a profession of your faith in Jesus Christ, by a re-affirmation of your faith, or
by a transfer of your membership from another church. Please speak with the
Pastor or an Elder concerning your desire.