The FPC Herald
   
The Newsletter of 
First Presbyterian Church
Roswell, New Mexico
        
October 2018
 
 
   
 
The Pastor's Reflections 
 
The Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
2. The Apostles' Creed
 
Although not written by apostles, the Apostles' Creed reflects the theological formulations of the first century church. The creed's structure may be based on Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In a time when most Christians were illiterate, oral repetition of the Apostles' Creed, along with the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, helped preserve and transmit the faith of the western churches.  
 
In the early church, Christians confessed that "Jesus is Lord" but did not always understand the biblical context of lordship. Around A . D . 180, Roman Christians developed an early form of the Apostles' Creed to refute Marcion, who proposed that the God found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) had been replaced by an entirely different God, Jesus the Messiah.  The creed instead affirmed that the God of creation is the Father of Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was buried and raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where he rules with the Father. They also affirmed belief in the Holy Spirit, the church, and the resurrection of the body.
 
Candidates for membership in the church, having undergone a lengthy period of moral and doctrinal instruction, were asked at baptism to state what they believed. They responded in the words of this creed.
 
The Apostles' Creed underwent further development. In response to the question of readmitting those who had denied the faith during the persecutions of the second and third centuries, the church added, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins." In the fourth and fifth centuries, North African Christians debated the question of whether the church was an exclusive sect composed of the heroic few or an inclusive church of all who confessed Jesus Christ, leading to the addition of "holy" (belonging to God) and "catholic" (universal). In Gaul, in the fifth century, the phrase "he descended into hell" came into the creed. By the eighth century, the creed had attained its present form.
 
(Excerpted from the PC(USA) Book of Confessions.) 
 
Next month: The Scots Confession
 
Pastor John
 
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World Communion Sunday
October 7th

Come celebrate the Feast of the Lord!
    
If you would like to receive home Communion,
please call the Church Office at 622-4910. 
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October Calendar 
  
October 4th  
Deacons Meeting - 5:00pm
October 7th 
World Communion Sunday
October 8th
Columbus Day Holiday - Office Closed
October 9th
Men's Fellowship Luncheon - Noon,  
Peppers Restaurant
October 12th
Church Management Committee -
7:00am, Parlor
October 14th
Stewardship Celebration Sunday 
Luncheon following worship
October 18th
Session Meeting - 5:30pm, Library
October 21st
Early Worship Service - 9:30am
October 21st
"Worship in Jazz" - 10:30am, First United Methodist Church
October 26th
Community Kitchen Crew - 9:15am  

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Wednesdays
Wednesday Breakfast Group - 7:30am,
Martin's Capital Café
Wednesdays
Choir Rehearsal - 7:00pm, Choir Room
Fridays
Prayer Group - Noon, Parlor
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October Worship Schedul e
and
Scripture Readings
 
October 7th, the 20th Sunday after Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1:1-4: 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
 
October 14th, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16;
Mark 10:17-31
 
October 21, the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Job 38:1-7 (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c; Hebrews 5:1-10;
Mark 10:35-45 
   
October 28, the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost 
Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22); Hebrews 7:23-28;
Mark 10:46-52 
 
Scripture readings are subject to change for Stewardship Season, September 23 to October 14.   
  
Read the Scripture passages HERE .
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Serving in October
  
October 7th
Service Elder:  ________
Liturgist:  ________
Phone Message Reader:  Paul Mysza
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Mary Hubbard
Chancel Guild:  Martha Mayer, Deb Prince
 
October 14th
Service Elder:   Bob Kurtz
Liturgist:  Rebecca Johnson
Phone Message Reader:  Roberta Pess
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Rebecca Johnson
Chancel Guild:  Lynn Karnes, Ann Hultman, Connie Wolf

October 21st
Service Elder:  Deb Prince
Liturgist:  ________  
Phone Message Reader:  Anna Maria Matteucci
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Connie Wolf
Chancel Guild:  Mary Lou Glass, Rebecca Johnson, Roberta Pess

October 28th
Service Elder:  Bill Wolf
Liturgist:  ________
Phone Message Reader:  Wayne Glass
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Martha Mayer
Chancel Guild:  Wendy Lunsford, Betsy Cunningham, Lucy Tucker
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Stewardship Season 2018
"Rejoice in the Lord Always!" 
 
The 2018 season of stewardship for First Presbyterian Church is now underway and will conclude on Sunday, October 14.  On that Sunday, Celebration Sunday, we will enjoy a catered luncheon in the Fellowship Hall following worship.  Please plan to be there!

We will not be mailing out pledge cards in advance this year; they will be available instead on Celebration Sunday.  In the meantime, please be praying and thinking about your pledge of giving to God, through our church, for the year 2019.  After Celebration Sunday we will mail cards to any individuals or families we miss on that date. 
 
The theme for Stewardship 2018 is drawn from Paul's letter to the Philippians (4:4):
 
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!"
 
Responding to God's grace is always a joyous activity, in whatever form that response may take.  One way we respond is by returning to God that which is God's, our financial tithes (tenths) and offerings. A pledge of that giving is a kind of covenant, an agreement we make with God. 
 
One of my favorite movies is the 1946 Frank Capra film, "It's a Wonderful Life," with Jimmy Stewart.  It may be one of your favorites, too.  If you have seen it, perhaps you remember the scene at the end of the film when the whole town of Bedford Falls turns out to bail out the film's protagonist, George Bailey, who has fallen into a financial crisis.  They come bringing cash and watches and jewelry, whatever they may have, singing Christmas carols, enjoying wine and the rich company of one another.  George has helped many of them in the past, and they are overjoyed to be able to help him in return.
 
Yeah. That kind of joy.
 
Blessings as you consider your response to God's grace.
 
Pastor John  
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Pastor's Discretionary Fund
Help Needed 

I use a dedicated fund at my discretion to help Roswell neighbors in need when they come to the church for help with such things as gas for cars, apartment rent, and utilities.  So far his year I have helped about 45 individuals or families.  The Session and Mission Committee allocated $2,600 at the beginning of the year for this fund, but it is now depleted.  The fund will be restored in January, but I would greatly appreciate donations to build up the fund in the meantime.  Can you help?  Just write "Pastor's Fund" on the memo line of your check.
 
Some of the folks helped by your generosity are so very grateful.  The ones who have tears in their eyes (even some men) never fail to move me.  Your maintenance of this fund allows all of us to care for some who are in desperate need in our town.  By doing so, you are caring for Jesus; see Matthew 25:31-46.  
 
Thank you.
 
Pastor John  
 
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Invite a Friend!

One often-quoted and reliable figure in the scholarly study of Christian evangelism is this one:

"Eighty-two percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited."
-Dr. Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
 
And here's another figure:
 
"80% of people who come to Christ were invited to church by someone they knew."  
-Billy Graham Evangelical Association 

Whom do you know who doesn't yet know Jesus and the joy of belonging to him?

Pray about how best to approach that one.  And invite him or her!  It's simply friend-to-friend evangelism.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all people..."
-Jesus, Matthew 28:19

Pastor John
 
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Pastor John Would Love
to Have Coffee or Lunch or Dinner with You!
 
Call, text, or email him to set up an appointment!
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Featured PC(USA) 
Mission Co-workers
for October   
 

Dan and Elizabeth Turk have been Mission co-workers in Madagascar since 1997, serving at the invitation of the Church for Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
  
The Turks serve with the PC(USA)'s partner church, FJKM, as it ministers to the population in Madagascar in the areas of health, environment, agriculture and safe drinking water.  FJKM believes that Christian witness should include ministry both to the physical and spiritual needs of God's people and care for all of God's creation.  Dan and Elizabeth work as advisors to FJKM in the fields of environment and health, respectively.
   
Read more about the Turk's ministry HERE .
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Chancel Choir Rehearsals
 
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in the Choir Room.  Please contact Ralph Kaler, Music Director, at the Church Office at (575) 622-4910 for more information.  New choir members are very welcome!  
  
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Men's Fellowship Luncheon Group 
Tuesday, October 9th
  
The Men's Fellowship Luncheon Group will meet on Tuesday, October 9th, at noon at Peppers Restaurant.  Women are very welcome, too!
  
The guest speaker will be Louis Najar with the City of Roswell Planning and Engineering Department.
  
Please RSVP to Wayne Glass.
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Wednesday Breakfast Group

 

You are invited to enjoy breakfast at

Martin's Capitol Café every Wednesday at 7:30am. 

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Prayer Group 
    
The Prayer Group gathers every Friday at noon in the Parlor.  Participants pray for our church and its members, and for our community, nation, and the world.
   
Come as you are able; everyone is welcome. Contact Pastor John for more information.
   
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Peace & Global Witness Special Offering!
Now may the Lord of peace...give you peace at all times in all ways.  
(2 Thessalonians 3:16)
  
The Peace & Global Witness Offering joins Presbyterians together as active peacemakers; enabling the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice in our own communities and across the world.  Please give generously. When we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!   The offering will be collected on Sunday, October 7th.
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2018 Roswell Jazz Festival

The 2018 Roswell Jazz Festival extends from Wednesday,
October 17, through Sunday, October 21st at various venues.  For more information click HERE.  
    
The 2018 "Worship in Jazz" Service will be held on Sunday,
October 21st, at 10:30am at the First United Methodist Church,
200 W. Pennsylvania.

FPC will worship early on October 21st, at 9:30am, so that FPC members and friends may attend the jazz worship service.
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Highlights
September 2018 Meeting of Session 
 
The FPC Session met for its monthly regular meeting on Thursday, September 20.  Some highlights:
 
Pastor John led a discussion on an article entitled "A New Way to View Small Church Vitality."
 
The Clerk of Session (Bob Kurtz) presented a list of names proposed for removal from the church membership roll due to death or inactivity.  The Clerk will write some of the folks on the list to determine their intentions with respect to renewed activity in the life of the church, before a decision is made by Session.
 
Church Management Committee (Lynn Karnes for Jim Bloodhart).  Plans for roof repairs remain in process.  The two ADA compatible doors have been repaired.  Repairs to the Kentucky Street post lights and the playground wood fence are planned.  Bob Kurtz is pursuing a city zoning change to allow upgrade of the marquee sign at Third and Kentucky.  The committee is awaiting an estimate on  a remodel of the main hallway restrooms.
 
Worship Committee (Bob Entrop). The Chancel Choir will return to lead worship on September 23.  Worship on October 21 will begin at 9:30am so that FPC members may attend the jazz worship service at First Methodist at 10:30am. 
 
Personnel Committee (Bob Kurtz).  Custodian Joe Fuentes will return to work (following knee surgery) about October 1.  Session has requested of Church Management a determination of the financial feasibility of hiring a part-time Director of Communications and Outreach.  The Personnel Committee will submit two budget proposals, one with and one without the proposed position. 
 
Mission Committee (Abie Smith). The PC(USA) Peace and Global Witness special offering will be collected on Sunday, October 7.
 
Fellowship Committee (Lynn Karnes).  The committee will host a luncheon on Stewardship Celebration Sunday, October 14.  A holiday luncheon after worship is under consideration for November/December, and Christmas Eve refreshments.
 
Evangelism Committee (Deb Prince).  Exterior directional signs for the convenience of visitors have been ordered.
 
Christian Education (John Guthrie).  The DISCIPLE Fast Track course for adults is underway, with 15 participants for the first meeting.
 
Stewardship Committee (John Guthrie).  The season will begin on September 23 and conclude on Celebration Sunday, October 14.  Key components are letters from the pastor, stewardship talks by lay people before worship, and the celebration luncheon on October 14.
 
Choir risers are complete and installed, needing only carpet.  A draft emergency action plan is nearly complete (Bob Kurtz).  The all-church property inventory for the insurance company is nearly done (Bob Kurtz).
 
The September meeting of Sierra Blanca presbytery is scheduled for Friday-Saturday, September 28-29, in Ancho and  Corona. 
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Session Committee/Ministry Assignments
2018-2019

Christian Education
John Guthrie (Abie Smith assisting)
Worship
Bob Entrop (Wayne Bevers assisting)
Fellowship
Lynn Karnes (Deb Prince assisting)
Evangelism
Deb Prince (Bob Entrop assisting)
Mission
Abie Smith
Personnel
Bob Kurtz
Church Management
Jim Bloodhart (Lynn Karnes and Roy Hayes assisting)
Nominating
Mike Hunter
Presbytery Commissioners
Bob Kurtz and Mike Hunter
Clerk of  Session
Bob Kurtz

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Daily Inspirational Phone Message
 
Start your day with an inspiring message!
(575) 622-4923
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A Message from Jeanette Schaffer, Director
Presbyterian Outreach Ministry 
October 2018
 
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:30
 
I have been encountering many people lately, both within the church, through the ministry and otherwise, who have a prevailing sense of hopelessness.  The stresses of modern life, the rise of social media and resultant decreased interpersonal communication, personal tragedies and the broken state of our society all contribute to this.  It may be that I am simply noticing it more, but I do not believe that to be the case.  There seems to be a heavy spirit in the heart of so many people these days that diminishes the hope within them.  So, I felt a pressing need to address that issue. 
 
Click HERE to read more.   
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October Birthdays!
9th
Jacqueline Allen
9th
Nancy Guthrie
22nd
Jon Hitchcock
29th
Mike Hunter
30th J. Wayne Bevers
30th
 Rebecca Johnson
31st
Nova Rogers

October Anniversaries!
5th
Roy & Jacqueline Allen
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 On September 16th Bob Entrop, Wayne Glass, Bob Williams, and Wayne Bevers sang "My Jesus I Love Thee" with Carola Spreacker accompanying them on piano.
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