Volume LXIX, No. 7 | February 17, 2019
Worship at First
Sunday, February 17

Morning Worship
8:30 & 11:15 a.m.
That You May Believe
"''Poolside' Miracle"
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas

The Sacrament of Baptism (11:15 a.m.)

Evening Worship
6:00 p.m.
"Grace Changes Us"
Dr. Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer
Sanctuary

Bulletins will be available by noon on Fridays.
Wednesday, February 20

Wednesdays@First
12:00 p.m.
Battle Stations
"Prayer as a Weapon"
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas
Jackson Hall

Centerpoint
6:00 p.m.
“Standing for God in a Pagan Land”
Rev. David Lauten
Jackson Hall





A New Approach

You might ask: a new approach to what? It is a new approach to the World Missions Conference being held April 3 - 7. What’s “new” is the fact that the conference is being held collaboratively with other Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches in Columbia. World Witness, our denomination’s board of foreign missions, is also a partner. Our hope is that folks from all eleven Columbia area ARP churches will attend.

You will soon find details on the conference in a brochure or through the church’s app and website. For now, here are some highlights:

  • Rev. Frank Van Dalen will be the featured speaker. The former Executive Director of World Witness and current missionary to Lithuania is a gifted preacher with rich missionary experience. His messages will be based on the book of Jonah. His wife, Emily, will be with him and help tell us about their current ministry.

Events will take place at several locations:
  • Wednesday evening, April 3 – First Presbyterian Church
  • Thursday evening, April 4 – Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church
  • Friday evening, April 5 – Centennial ARP Church
  • Saturday morning, April 6 – Grace Presbyterian Church
  • Sunday evening, April 7 – First Presbyterian Church

  • Saturday morning’s event will be a workshop lead by World Witness Executive Director Alex Pettett and Member Care Director Heiko Burklin on “Helping Your Church Grow in its World Missions Commitment.”

  • A special feature of the conference will be a Children’s Mission Conference organized and led by our own Children’s Ministry staff. It will be held in the Thornwell Building on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evenings and timed so that children can be settled in and parents may make it to the adult programs in plenty of time.

Holding a world missions conference collaboratively is something new. Our hope is that a greater number of people will hear Rev. Van Dalen’s messages, will hear the testimonies from various missionaries, and, in the process, will meet and get to know folks from our sister ARP churches. We are looking forward to seeing how the Lord will use this conference amongst our churches and around the world.

Rev. Neal Mathias
Director of Frank C. Hill World Missions Center

WOC - Salad Day Annual Awards

It is time to consider nominations for:
  • Honorary Life Membership
  • Partner in Ministry Awards
  • Love Gifts and Memorials

Honorary Life Membership in the WOC is the highest honor awarded to WOC members in recognition of extraordinary Christian service to the WOC.

Partner in Ministry award may be given to a man or woman, recognizing outstanding service in the church.

Love Gifts and Memorials may be given in honor or memory of church members.

Awards will be presented at the Salad Day Luncheon on Tuesday, May 21. Nomination forms are available online and can be turned in to the office to Meredith Myers by Friday, March 29.

Church Nominating Committee

Please pray for the members of the Church Nominating Committee as they begin their task of securing elder and deacon candidates for the work of the church over the next few years. The chairman of the committee is Elder Ryan Hudson, and the other committee members are Dave Van De Water, Richard Lacy, Michael Wright, Terri Chiles, Emily Lumpkin, and Emily Stumpf.


Items for Church Family or People for Prayer?
Contact Lisa Eargle at leargle@firstprescolumbia.org 
or 799-9062, Ext. 244.

February Events at First
Committee Meetings this week:
18 Session Meeting - 5:30 p.m. in P402
21 - Pastoral Care Support Committee - 2:00 p.m. in BR201
15-17  High School Mystery Trip
15-17  Youth Chorus Trip to Atlanta 
16 Encouragers’ Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. in the Small Dining Room; cost is $5.00. Reservation deadline is February 11. Reservations can be made with Lisa Eargle at leargle@firstprescolumbia.org or 799-9062, Ext. 455.
17       College Student Lunch - 12:30 p.m. in Jackson Hall
19 Young Professionals Tuesdays - 6:30 p.m. at the Towerys’ home
20       College Coffee & Questions - 6:00 p.m. in BR125
22-24  College Spring Retreat
22-23  Catawba Women’s Ministry Retreat - Bonclarken Retreat Center
March Events at First
1 First Fridays Organ Concert - 12:00 p.m. Lunch in The Bridge; 12:30 p.m. Organ Concert in the Sanctuary
1         Officers Dinner - 5:30 p.m. - in Jackson Hall. Please RSVP by February 22 on the church website.
6 Red Cross Blood Drive - 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center -Please sign up by contacting Barbara Shealy at bshealy@firstprescolumbia.org or 799-9062, Ext. 261.
8         Parents’ Night Out - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. For our First Presbyterian families, we are offering a Parents’ Night Out for children who are birth - 5th grade. Activities and snacks will be provided. Register on our church website or church app by Tuesday, March 5. For more information, contact Laurie McGill at 799-9062, Ext. 236, or lmcgill@firstprescolumbia.org .
9 Special Needs March Madness - 9:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center

For more info on upcoming events, visit us at firstprescolumbia.org or our church app
803-799-9062 | email | website | app