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Women's Ministry Newsletter

JULY 2022

The Purpose of the FPC Women's Ministry


First Presbyterian Church Women’s Ministry is grounded in God’s word, grows in the context of God’s people and ultimately glorifies Christ, our Savior and King.


We want to see the women of First Presbyterian Church flourish in Christ through encountering God’s Word in Bible studies and small groups, and under the preaching and proclamation of God’s Word in corporate worship. We want to love one another as sisters in Christ, actively serve FPC and our local community and through biblically grounded fellowship events, which celebrate our identity in Christ.


Much prayer has gone into the plans for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023.

2022-2023

Theme Verse


And let us consider how to stir up one another. to love and good works.


Hebrews 10:24

When faced with struggle, the world will tell you to look inward. Let’s challenge that narrative and make this the summer of looking up! This summer, consider praying the scriptures over all of the areas of worry or concern.


Worried about how you’ll manage all that is required of you? Pray this: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9


Worried about financial burdens? Pray this: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19


Worried about handling well a chaotic household that inevitably comes when everyone is home? Pray this: “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2


Worried because summer time is a bitter reminder that you’re alone? Pray this: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” 

Psalm 34:18

Be True To Who You Are in Christ


Do not follow your dreams... Do not march to the beat of your own drummer... do not be true to yourself. This is opposite of what the world tells us.


The world tells us that our identity is to be found in what we desire. You are, what you feel, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. – No right, no wrong, no rules for me, I’m free. Let it go. Let it go.


The Bible tells us, on the other hand, there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death - Proverbs 14:12. 


In Adam’s fall, we all sinned, and so we’re not the people that we ought to be. But, if you’ve been made new, and the old person is gone you’ve been brought to newness of life in Jesus Christ, and actually, the New Testament does tell you that you should be yourself. 


Listen to the lyrics of this song by Rich Mullins: 


“They said, Boy, you must follow your heart. But my heart just led me into my chest. They said follow your nose. But the direction changed every time I went and turned my head. And they said Boy, you just follow your dreams. But my dreams were only misty notions, but the Father of hearts and the maker of noses and the giver of dreams, He’s the one I have chosen, and I will follow him.”


If you are truly born again, and belong to Christ, then one of the chief ethical motivations in all the New Testament is very simply: be who you are. You should be true to yourself, but not your old self. You should be true to yourself if you have died to your old self, and your new self has now been raised with Christ and is now seated with Him in the heavenly places. The real you is worth letting out if the old you is dead to sin, and the real you is alive to Christ.


The world says, “You are what you feel.” The world says, “You must find yourself, be true to yourself, and above all, express yourself.” Jesus points us in a different direction and gives us a much better way to live. “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it. Whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” 


The motivation for this was from a 2022 commencement address at Geneva College by Dr. Kevin DeYoung, a reformed theologian and author and graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Updates from our 

Summer Bible Studies

A glimpse into what we are learning...



Habakkuk study


I have so enjoyed learning about Habakkuk this summer. Thus far, I think what has had the greatest impact on me is that Habakkuk, a prophet, openly questioned the workings of God. As a Christian, I believe we have all had those moments where we have questioned God and outwardly expressed our concerns regarding injustices in our lives. Personally I have had times where I have lost sight of God’s goodness. Thankfully, we have books like Habakkuk that help guide us to refocus and trust in the promises of God; always remembering that God is steadfast and faithful.  

- Julie Grigsby


Six things we can learn from Habakkuk:


  1. God’s ways are not our ways, yet He can be trusted.
  2. Even when things seem chaotic, God is still in control.
  3. God wants what’s best for us even when it’s hard.
  4. Understanding how God works is not our job, trusting Him is.
  5. Peace and joy don’t come from my circumstances but from God.
  6. My timing is just that, my timing but God’s timing is perfect.



“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19



How to Study the Bible with Both our Hearts and Our Minds (Jen Wilkin)


Following Christ requires learning His word and being able to apply it to our lives. As Christians, we believe the Bible is the very word of God, and it’s pivotal that we spend time knowing and loving him through it. 


Join us on Tuesday evenings starting back on July 5th at 7:00pm for this study. The study allows women to find a starting place to read and find their way deeper into the Word of God. We will be studying the Bible using our hearts as well as our minds in order to maintain focus on the Word and dive deeper into our knowledge of scripture. The book is available to purchase online. 

- Emily Preston


Coming this Fall


Tuesday, September 6, 2022

10:00 am - 11:30 am


We have the privilege of having two dynamic teachers, Joni Pittman and Amanda Davidson, leading us through Galatians. This study will be for women of all ages, connecting together. This is going to be an exciting time to worship our Lord together as we all meet together to study God’s word and tuck it deep into our hearts.


Very important: You must register for this study so the church staff can make proper arrangements for accommodating us. 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.


Numbers 6:24-26

New Member Spotlight

Jan Cassidy

Gary, my husband of 48 years, and I are from Evansville, Indiana where we met while attending the University of Evansville. We lived there raising our two children, Kelly and Brandon, until 1986 when Southeastern Mills brought us to Rome. I retired from teaching 4th grade at Model Elementary in 2016. I loved teaching, but have thoroughly enjoyed retirement as well! We moved into The Spires at Berry College when they opened up in July, 2020. I stay quite busy with the fitness classes and the many hiking trails. Our children live fairly close, so we are also called upon to do some babysitting for our three grandsons. 


I attended Westminster Presbyterian Church when we first moved to Rome, but transferred to Silver Creek Presbyterian in 2005. We were very active there until 2012 when three-fourths of the congregation broke away to start Covenant Presbyterian Church and join the EPC denomination. I was the church’s secretary and loved our little church, but unfortunately our older congregation knew it was time to shut the doors. We can never thank FPC enough for the love and support they gave us during our closing and transition. Gary and I joined FPC on April 24, 2022 and already feel part of the family.

July Birthdays

1 - Rosanna Taylor


2 - Melanie Stevens


5 - Elizabeth Bruce

5 - Bethany Cagle

5 - Emily Turlington


7 - Beth Dordell

7 - Laurie Broome


10 - Sylvia Cash


11 - Perree Collier


16 - Sumer Rooke


17 - Jackie Hostetler


18 - Connie Leithauser

18 - Kelley Ledbetter


21 - Ashley Rusaw


23 - Stephanie Hill

23 - Wendi Van Leuven


26 - Alden Maier

26 - Jessica Tucker

26 - Melody Boggs


27 - Norene Cooper

27 - Amy Fulton


28 - Blair Weiksner

28 - Ellissia Smyth


30 - Bethany Johnson

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