Come and See!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

November 2010 Calendar of Events

Tuesdays, November 2, 9, 16 & 30 
  • Elementary After School Program 3:30 - 5 PM
Wednesdays, November 3, 10 & 17
  • Youth group 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 6th 
  • Men of the Church Breakfast, 8 AM
Sunday, November 7th
  • Communion
Tuesday, November 9th
  • PW Circle, noon
  • Session, 6 PM
Sunday, November 14th
  • Congregational Meeting
Sunday, November 21st
  • Decorate for Advent – 5pm
Thursday, November 25th 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday, October 22, 2010

All About Sunday School

Dear Friends in Christ,

You are receiving this email from me today because you are either a member or a friend of First Presbyterian Church. I just wanted to let you know that we have a Sunday school program for all ages. We have three classes for children and youth starting at age 3 and we have a nursery staffed by Lisa Warden for younger children.

Laurie and I are teaching a survey class on the Bible in the Green Room where we are looking at the major themes and the history of the books that make up our Bible. This is a great way to gain some knowledge about the basis of our faith and discover what history and lessons are contained in some of the books that are probably less familiar to most of us. This is a good class for someone who considers themselves a beginner.

The Fun Bunch meets in the Fellowship Hall and is led by Walter Curry and each Sunday the class delves into the Scripture that will be used in morning worship.

This Sunday the Fun Bunch Sunday school class will be fixing breakfast, serving around 9:45, in the hopes that all the younger couples and younger adults in our church family will come. We hope to prepare a breakfast for you once a month to help you get to Sunday school and enjoy fellowship with each other.

The Parlor class is using a curriculum called This Present Word and is led by Jim Madary. The parlor class is made up of seasoned adults who enjoy fellowship and discussion of their Biblical text of the day.

So why come to Sunday school? 
  1. You delight in God and therefore want to learn more of Him and be around others who delight in Him. If your heart beats for God then your desire for learning more about him should be natural. 
  2. What else are you going to be doing at 9:45 AM on a Sunday? Redeem the time, don’t waste it. Figure out what is keeping you from being here and begin to think about giving an account of your life in light of that motivation and action.  
  3. It ensures you will be on time for the Worship Service and even helps in the preparation of your heart for that time.
If you are not part of a Sunday school class you may be missing out on a great “combo deal.” “Sunday school is the place where you are known at church,” said Chris Jackson, Christian educator at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. “Worship may be glorious and inspirational, but you cannot create discussions or develop interpersonal relationships while sitting in the pews,” he noted.

Sunday school is not just for kids. We are trying to create settings in which children, youth and adults can come to new relationships with God and each other that impel changes in their minds, hearts and lives and lead them into working for change in their community and the world. This is a big undertaking -- full of promise, but also fraught with the complexities of working in any organization full of people.

Pray for teachers, leaders and participants. Pray for church members who could be teachers, leaders and participants and pray for people outside the church who could find their home in God through the ministry of your Sunday school.

Please come join us Sunday mornings at 9:45 pick a class and let’s get to know God and each other better.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/24/10)

Announcement
We want to do something special just for you and your family!!! The "fun bunch" Sunday school class invites you and your children to come for breakfast this Sunday October 24th. We are fixing a light breakfast, serving around 9:45, in the hopes that all the younger couples and younger adults in our church family will come. We hope to prepare a breakfast for you once a month to help you get to Sunday school and enjoy fellowship with each other.

We have been there and know it is difficult to be everywhere everyday! So, in order to show you how much we love you and understand, we want to make it a little easier once a month!

Scripture for Sunday
Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV)
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. [35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" [37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Questions for Reflection
1. If you could give a four-sentence speech on worldwide television, what would you say in order to have the greatest possible impact?
2. How did Jesus answer the Pharisee’s question?
3. What important footnote did Jesus add to His answer? (Hint vs. 39)
4. How important did Jesus say these two principles were?
5. In what ways do we sometimes try to sidestep our responsibility to obey God?
6. What does it mean to “love your neighbor as yourself”?
7. Why do you think we like to debate what the Bible means, yet often resist changing our lives based on what it says?
8. How can we keep our focus on what really matters?

Friday, October 15, 2010

Announcement, Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/17/10)

Breakfast Announcement
We want to do something special just for you and your family!!! The "fun bunch" Sunday school class invites you and your children to come for breakfast next Sunday October 24th. We are fixing a light breakfast, serving around 9:45, in the hopes that all the younger couples and younger adults in our church family will come. We hope to prepare a breakfast for you once a month to help you get to Sunday school and enjoy fellowship with each other.

We have been there and know it is difficult to be everywhere everyday! So, in order to show you how much we love you and understand, we want to make it a little easier once a month!

Scripture
Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. [2] He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. [3] And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' [4] For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.' " [6] And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. [7] And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [8] I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Questions for Reflection
1. In what circumstances is persistence beneficial?
2. When was a time your persistence paid off?
3. Why should we take note of how the unjust judge responded to persistence?
4. How will God’s actions differ from those of the unjust judge?
5. What can Christians expect from God?
6. What promise does this parable offer to Christians?
7. What does it mean to be persistent in our prayers?
8. How should we respond when we do not see our prayers answered?
9. How can you guard against the temptation to give up praying when you do not see immediate results?
10. For what need or concern will you commit to praying persistently?

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Scripture and Questions for Sunday (10/10/10)

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. [12] And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance [13] and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." [14] When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. [15] Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; [16] and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. [17] Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? [18] Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" [19] And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Questions for Reflection
1. How would you react if you were suddenly healed of a disease or sickness?
2. How did one man express his thankfulness to Jesus?
3. What difference did it make that the man who thanked Jesus was a Samaritan?
4. How did Jesus respond to the one man who returned?
5. What does this story say about the importance of thanking Jesus?
6. What difference does faith make in your life?
7. How does Jesus want you to respond to the work He performs in your life?
8. What prevents us from praising the Lord for His blessings?
9. When have you ever failed to thank the Lord for something He did for you?
10. When is it difficult to say thank you to God?
11. How can you remind yourself to thank God throughout each day?
12. Who is one person you could tell today about the great things God has done for you?

Friday, October 1, 2010

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (Oct 3, 2010)

Announcements:
  • We will not be having our Men’s Breakfast tomorrow. We will resume Saturday November 6th.
  • The youth of the church are going to Kerrville for lunch and bowling; meet in the church parking lot at 10:45. Bring enough money to eat at Mamacita’s.
  • Sunday we will have Church on the River 10:30am at Curt and Jennifer Kneese’s.
Scripture for Sunday
2 Tim. 1:1-14 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, [2] To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [3] I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. [4] As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. [5] I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. [6] For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. [8] Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, [9] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [10] and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, [11] for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, [12] which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. [13] Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14] By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

 
Questions to Reflect Upon

1. What is characteristic of the people you enjoy being around?

2. Why did Paul long to see Timothy?

3. What family member or friend has had the biggest role in your spiritual growth and development?

4. What or whose pattern of sound teaching are you following?

5. When have you been refreshed by another believer?

6. What person who has had a substantial impact on your spiritual life will you take the time to thank personally this week?