June 2015 - First Presbyterian Church, Pulaski, Virginia

THE
PRESBYTERIAN
NEWS
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
408 N. Jefferson Avenue
Pulaski, VA 24301
Office: (540) 980-2131; Fax: (540) 980-3000
E-mail: firstprespulaski@verizon.net
Web Site: firstpresbyterianpulaski.org
Pastor: Melissa McNair-King
Editor & Layout: Doreen Latimer
NO. 573
JUNE 2015
****
Friends,
Many of you know that Baby King’s arrival is approaching quickly (due June 16)! I have been
overwhelmed with all of your prayers and support as Andy and I prepare to become parents. We
cannot wait to introduce him to all of you, and we are thrilled to be bringing our child into such a
special church!
Unless the baby comes early, I will begin maternity leave on Monday, June 15, and will return to the
office on Monday, August 17. Thank you for giving me this time to adjust to parenthood. You will be
in great hands during my absence. Rev. Shirley Larson, who has served several churches throughout
the New River Valley and most recently retired from serving the Narrows and Pearisburg Presbyterian
Churches, will be filling the pulpit for the bulk of the summer. Shirley is a wonderful pastor – you will
enjoy getting to know her, just like I know she will enjoy you. Please remember that there are many
of you, and only one of her – so introduce yourself often! She wants to know your names!
Two of our neighboring pastors, who many of you know, will be “on call” for us in the event of
pastoral emergencies (deaths or life-threatening illnesses). Rev. Terrie Sternberg of Trinity Lutheran
Church, and Rev. Andrew Taylor-Troutman of New Dublin Presbyterian Church, have graciously
offered their help. Their contact information is as follows:
Andrew Taylor-Troutman
Terrie Sternberg
(540) 674-6147 – office
(540) 980-3624 – office
(540) 239-7060 – cell
(540) 230-3139 – cell
taylortroutman@yahoo.com
trinitypulaski@gmail.com
I would love to hear from you during my maternity leave – and I do want to know the joys and
concerns in our congregation. Know that even if I am slow to respond, you all will be in my daily
prayers. We welcome brief visits, but ask that you call or text Andy first (577-0295). Like any new
parents, we aren’t entirely sure what to expect those first few weeks – but are overjoyed at the
journey ahead!
In Christ,
Melissa McNair-King
Page One
NEWS FROM PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
From Day Circle by Phyllis Vice:
Day Circle will be meeting on June 15th, which is the third Monday of the month. We will finish up
our Bible study on 2 Corinthians. We will not be meeting through the summer. Bring a sack lunch and
stay for fellowship after the meeting.
We will begin the PW 2015-2016 study in the fall entitled Come to the Waters. Biblical images of
water is the theme of this study. There are more than 800 references to water in the Bible from the
chaotic waters of creation to the River of Life in Revelation. If you would like a book to be ordered for
you, please let Phyllis Vice know. Books are $8, large print are $12.
Presbyterian Women –
Praying, Studying, Loving, Serving
*****************************************************************
Summer Opportunities for Children: save the dates! We have two wonderful opportunities for
children to learn and grow in their faith this summer. Registration forms for each of these weeks are
available in the church office. Friends are always welcome.
 “Camp Peaks” is held at New Dublin Presbyterian Church July 6-10, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
each day. Children will enjoy Bible stories, music, and games each day, with leadership
provided by the Presbytery staff and college-aged camp counselors. The cost is $35 for the
week.
 Vacation Bible School is held at First United Methodist Church (Pulaski) the week of August 3-7.
There is no cost to register. Volunteers from our church are needed, and there are many ways
to get involved! We will conclude the week of VBS by worshipping together with our
downtown neighbors at Jackson Park on Sunday, August 9.
Page Two
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND HAPPENINGS
BAPTISM: Avery Elijah Posillico, son of Joe and Kristi Posillico, was baptized on May 3, 2015.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES will be suspended during the summer months. Starting May 31st, there
will be no Sunday School and worship will be at 10 a.m. The first Sunday of fellowship gatherings
following worship at 10 a.m. will be June 7th. Committee assignments for the after worship
fellowships in June are:
June 7th: Relay for Life Brunch in Fellowship Hall and
Graduates Reception
June 14th: Personnel
June 21st: Christian Education
June 28th: Property
PLEASE SUBMIT ITEMS to the church office for the July newsletter no later than Monday, June 15th.
THE ADULT CHOIR will be taking a well deserved break during the summer. We are in need of special
music for our worship services. If you or anyone you know would be willing to share their musical
talent for special music during our worship service please see Mardia Long or Phyllis Vice.
CHECK IT OUT!
Do you like games? Do you like to test your knowledge? Are you good at trivia? How much do you
really know about what is in the Bible? Below are a few fun quiz books in our church library. They
will be on display in the church parlor through the month of June. Check them out! (Don't cheat!)
220.07 HON Bible Quizzes: one-thousand Bible games, questions and puzzles by Mildred Olive
Honors. Includes answers.
220.07 JAC Bible Quiz Book: true and false tests, quizzes, drills and games by J. Vernon Jacobs.
220.07 JAC New Bible Quizzes: true-or-false test, clues and games by J. Vernon Jacobs. Includes
answers.
220.3 HON Bible Quotations: questions and queries by Mildred Olive Honors. Includes answers.
If there is a book you would like to read from our church library but are unable to get it, give Phyllis
Vice a call (980-3106) and she will be happy to get the book to you.
To check out a book write your name and the date you are taking the book on the card that is in the
pocket in the back of the book. Place the card on the black and white spotted box (the card catalog)
on the shelf nearest to the windows.
Page Three
Montreat Worship and Music Conference
Come and join us for a week of fellowship and relaxation in the mountains of western North
Carolina!
For over 20 years our church has rented the Hickory Lodge in Montreat, NC for the 1st week of the
annual Montreat Worship and Music Conference. This lodge is located in very close proximity to the
Anderson Auditorium, where daily worship services are held during the conference. The Lodge is
about a 5 minute walk to the Anderson Auditorium and all choir classes and other seminar lectures
and classes which are in nearby buildings.
We now have about eleven persons planning to attend this conference. But, we still have room to
accommodate nine more people. Most have registered to participate in choir and other classes, but
you do not have to register to enjoy the conference and some good fellowship. The daily worship
services are open to all in Montreat. This year's conference theme is - You are My Beloved –
Baptism to Transfiguration.
The conference concludes with a Friday evening concert which the adult choir (typically over 600
members) and the children's, middler and senior high school choirs participate along with several
hand- bell choirs. A Tuesday evening talent show, Wednesday evening hymn sing, and Thursday
evening performance by the adult and high school Chamber choirs are highlights of the week at
Montreat. (All of these events do not require registration to attend.)
We have the lodge rented for Sunday night, June 21 through Friday night June 26, returning to
Pulaski on Saturday, June 27. But, you do not need to stay for the entire week if you would like to
come to Montreat for a shorter visit. The group takes turns preparing the evening meals and we eat
very well all week for less than $30 per person (including breakfast and lunch each day). Beds are
available in two person rooms for about $160 for the entire week.
Please contact Mardia Long or Phyllis Vice for more information about this year’s Montreat Worship
and Music conference.
For many who return each year, Montreat is a special place where their faith is strengthened
and their spirit is renewed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Relay For Life Update - June 2015
Thanks to all for attending our first six after church American Cancer Society – Relay for Life
benefit dinners over the past seven months. Thus far the First Presbyterian Church Relay for Life
Team has received nearly $2,200 in donations. This includes $72 donated for the spaghetti lunch on
May 3. Our team captain, Martha Moody has also raised an additional $100 for this great cause
bringing the total to just over $2,300. Martha has now completed out-patient radiation treatment for
cancer at the Pulaski hospital. Please keep Martha in your prayers.
The Relay team is planning another after church dinner on Sunday, June 7. This will be another
Breakfast Brunch featuring Joe Makolandra’s almost famous sausage gravy (it’s good!), scrambled
eggs, biscuits, fruit, etc. Mark your calendars and join the Relay Team for some good food and
fellowship.
The Relay for Life team encourages sign up for team membership which is $10 per person. We
have already signed up 14 folks to join the team! The team will also be receiving $10 donations for
luminaria to honor those who have battled cancer or as a memorial to those who have passed away.
These will be displayed at the annual Pulaski County Relay Event will be held at the Pulaski County
High School and is scheduled this year for Saturday, June 27, 2015. This year’s Relay event will
begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning and will be completed early Sunday morning around 2 a.m.
Thanks again to all for supporting the Relay for Life. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer
Society. Please contact Martha Moody or Barry Long if you would like to sign up for the team.
Page Four
May 2015
THE CURRENT NEWS ON THE ARNDT'S MISSION IN KENYA:
Greetings from Loitokitok!
Audrey and I thank God for each and every one of you, and for your prayers, friendship and support
as we pursue the work that we feel called to do here. We have been so blessed and so watched over
in situation after situation, and many of our prayers have been answered and many obstacles
overcome. Thanks be to God for each of you and your faithful prayers and support as we navigate life
here. One of our first big answers to prayer is we now have a house and a place to call home. For the
first time since July when we moved out of our home in Radford, we now have a place to unpack our
bags and we are grateful to have such a space. A couple of days ago Audrey and I recorded a video of
us walking around the inside and outside of the house. This house has allowed us to safely study
language, engage in community with neighbors, settle down and even recently plant a small garden.
I have also recently recorded another video of us driving around our town of Loitokitok, Kenya (or
Ololoopon as the Maasai call it). This town is at the base of Kilimanjaro, as you can see from our
house video, however for this one the mountain is covered by clouds for all of our drive. I hope to
post a better video soon with the mountain in view. Additionally, we have just recently received word
that our work permits are in. This is another answer to prayer! We just received our confirmation
letter last week and have paid some fees and are now awaiting our passport stamp. In a few weeks
following, we will receive our national identification cards. We have seen God go before us in all
things and we are thankful for his people (you!) who so faithfully partner with us in doing this work.
Your encouragement and prayers mean more than we can say.
In addition to all the ways He has provided, we have been so thankful for our wonderful language
helper. James is a young Maasai man, about Chase's age, who has been working diligently with us the
last few weeks to help us progress enkiti, enkiti (little by little) with our language skills. We had a
brief scare that he would be leaving us for a work opportunity due to national security issues,
however, unfortunately for him, it fell through. While we are sad for him that this opportunity did not
work out, we are grateful to be able to continue working with him. We have been covering verbs,
vocab, grammar and such topics as farming and rainy days (which we have had many of recently)
which has been a blessing to farmers and herdsmen alike. We also have been able to go on a few
"field trips" to manyattas (traditional Maasai villages) and even had the opportunity to study some
different local trees, learning their Maasai names and uses recently. James has been an answer to our
prayers and we are so thankful for his help and his friendship.
While in Loitokitok we have already had many interesting experiences and some small venues to help
out. We've visited many churches, friends and evangelistic outreaches. Chase was able to introduce
Page Five
himself at a youth Bible gathering. We have even had the opportunity to use some of our training
knowledge in demonstrating different farming methods, and unique gardens, diagnosing small
medical issues and fixing a well for a local church. We are overwhelmed with thanks to be able to
help in some small ways that God has shown us and we are excited to see what opportunities He
continues to present in the days ahead.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Thank each and every one of you for your prayers. We would like to ask your continued prayer for
these things in the month ahead:
- Pray for our dear friends, the Chachas, as they are grieving the loss of their father and for the funeral
that takes place this month. Pray that God would comfort their family, as well as be present in this
time of transition at The City of Hope, the orphanage Chacha oversaw in Tanzania (where Audrey first
worked in East Africa in 2008/2011).
- Praise for our work permits as we are thankful to be past the first step but pray that they continue
moving along in this long, dreary, paperwork process.
- Prayers for fellow missionaries and wisdom on engaging in various ministry opportunities that have
been presented.
- Prayers for Audrey and I, as well as our teammates, as we struggle along with language learning and
seek God's will for the days ahead.
- Praise for our language helper, James, and his family as we continue to work together and see what
the Lord has in store.
- Praise Him for the provision of this house to study language as we begin engaging in our community
here.
Each of you are a vital piece to this mission and vision and we thank God for you. Thank you for
partnering with us!
Surrounded by His grace,
Chase & Audrey
theantiochpartners.org
Page Six
DATE:
LAY READERS:
CHILDREN IN WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS:
6/7/15
Jenny Makolandra
Ilene Compton
6/14/15
Joe Makolandra
Debi Fox
6/21/15
Jordan Phillips
Ashley Hale
6/28/15
Bonnie Spivey
Janice Holt
Page Seven