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THE
PRESBYTERIAN
NEWS
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
408 N. Jefferson Avenue
Pulaski, VA 24301
Office: (540) 980-2131; Fax: (540) 980-3000
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: firstpresbyterianpulaski.org
Pastor: Melissa McNair-King
Editor & Layout: Doreen Latimer
NO. 569
FEBRUARY 2015
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Friends,
The season of Lent is just around the corner, beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 18. This period of
forty days leading up to Easter is a time for self-reflection and repentance. It is a season of humility and
awareness. It is time set aside for us to be reminded of what matters most: our relationships with God and
with the world.
In preparation for Holy Week, many Christians have a practice of fasting from certain foods or activities, in
order to remember the sacrifice of Christ, and to remind ourselves of our dependence on God. Lenten
disciplines enable us to simplify our lives – even if only for a season – so that we can focus our time and energy
on serving God and God’s children.
Many of you may have a tradition or best-practice around Lent. Others may be hearing the word “Lent” for
the first time. As you consider ways to observe a holy Lent, perhaps these suggestions will be helpful to you.
I’d love to hear your ideas as well!
 Choose a book of the Bible and commit to reading a chapter each day.
 Limit ‘Screen Time’ (TV, social media, video games), and instead use that time to focus on real-time
relationships – with God, family members, and friends.
 Take a “fast” from fast food, and donate the money you save to a charity of your choosing.
 Reach out to friends, family members, or neighbors – especially those who might be lonely. A phone
call or a hand-written note of encouragement can go a long way.
 Wake up ten minutes early each day, and spend some quiet time in prayer.
However you spend these forty days, my prayer is that we as individuals and as a church will draw closer to
God, looking toward the cross of Christ, who has shown us the depths of God’s love for the world.
Peace,
Melissa McNair-King
Page One
NEWS FROM PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
From Day Circle by Phyllis Vice:
Day Circle will meet on Monday, February 9th, at 11 a.m. in the Manse. We will be working on the
fifth lesson of our Bible Study on 2 Corinthians: Reconciliation and the Whole Creation. Scripture for
this lesson is 2 Corinthians 5:11 - 6:10. We will be making valentine plates for our shut-ins. Please
bring 2 - 3 dozen cookies. Bring a sack lunch and stay for fellowship after the meeting.
The March meeting of Day Circle has changed to the third Monday, March 16th. Be sure to note the
change on your calendar. Also coming up in March is the Church Women United World Day of Prayer
on March 6th.
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From Night Circle by Dianne Wallace:
Night Circle will meet on Friday, February 6th, at 6 p.m. at the Fairview Home in Dublin. Please bring
requested items to use as Bingo prizes for the residents. Items include word search booklets,
individual snack packs such as popcorn, peanut butter/cheese crackers, granola bars, and diet
caffeine free soft drinks. After Bingo, we will go for pizza at MK's Pizzeria on State Park Rd. in Dublin.
Presbyterian Women –
Praying, Studying, Loving, Serving
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND HAPPENINGS
BOY SCOUNT SUNDAY will be observed on February 1st.
YOUTH NEWS - Sunday, February 1st: All youth are invited to participate in the Souper Bowl of
Caring! Meet us during the Sunday School hour to prepare to lead our congregation in feeding the
hungry. On Sunday evening at 6 p.m., all youth are invited to the home of Joe and Jenny
Makolandra (1084 Pheasant Lane) for a Super Bowl party! Bring a snack or soda to share, and come
cheer on your favorite team!
THE SOUPER BOWL OF CARING offering will be received on
Sunday, February 1st. The Session has decided that 100%
of the proceeds will go to Daily Bread. Please give generously
to this most important offering.
PRESBYTERIAN - 101: On Sundays, February 8, 15 and 22, Melissa will be leading conversations about
what it means to be Presbyterian. We'll meet with the "Parlor Gang" Sunday School class for
fellowship and discussion. The conversations are geared toward those who are new to our church,
those who have been Presbyterian all their life but want a refresher, and anyone in between! If you
have a particular question or topic you'd like to see addressed, feel free to let Melissa know ahead of
time!
COMMUNION will be served on Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday, February 15th.
PLEASE SUBMIT ITEMS to the church office for the March newsletter no later than Monday, February
16th.
DEATH NOTICE received from Martha Ellen Ingles: I am a daughter-in-law of Thelma Ingles Dwyer, a
former resident of Pulaski and member of your congregation. Her family wants to inform you that
Thelma passed away on Saturday, January 3rd, at the Chestnut Grove Assisted Living Center in
Richmond where she had been a resident for the past two and a half years. There will be a memorial
service in the spring with interment of her ashes in Radford next to the grave of her first husband,
Walter.
CHECK IT OUT!
February is not only the month we celebrate Valentine's and Presidents' and Black History, but this
year we will also be observing the beginning of Lent on the third day after the Transfiguration of the
Lord Sunday. Are you familiar with the theology behind our observances? Below is a list of books
from the church library that will be on display in the parlor that might be of help in learning more
about the Christian faith.
220.6 BRO The Bible Speaks to You by Robert McAfee Brown
230 GRA Peace with God by Billy Graham
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230 LEW Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
230 STO Basic Christianity by John R.W. Stott
230.5 GEA Basic Beliefs of the Reformed Faith: A Biblical Study of Presbyterian Doctrine by Felix B.
Gear
230.5 WAR Toward Responsible Discipleship by William B. Ward
242 HUR Kingdom of Love by Hannah Hurnard
The following books are missing from our church library. If you inadvertently took one of them from
the library without signing the card, please return the book or sign the card and place it on the top
shelf nearest the window. Thank you.
223.2 KEL A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller
248.86 VUJ Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life by Nick Vujicic
YA FIC TRE Treasury of Christmas Stories
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.
RELAY FOR LIFE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2015
Thanks to all for attending our first three after-church benefit dinners over the past 3 months. Thus
far the First Presbyterian Church Relay for Life Team has received roughly $1,300 in donations. Our
team captain, Martha Moody, has also raised an additional $100 for this great cause bringing the total
to just over $1,400. Martha’s surgery at UVA is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 3 rd. Please keep
Martha in your prayers.
On Sunday, February 8, 2015, we are planning a spaghetti lunch. 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 ten 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 which is scheduled this year for
Saturday, June 27, 2015. This year’s Relay event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and will be
completed early Sunday morning around 2 a.m. This year’s Relay will also be held at the Pulaski
County High School Stadium.
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.
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SAVE THE DATES!!!
Wonderful Wednesday
February Action Nights
Wednesday, February 4
PIZZA AND PIE NIGHT
Join us for a delicious pizza and
homemade pie buffet. We will have a
SILENT AUCTION of pies made by our
best bakers. All proceeds from the
auction will be donated to our
Relay for Life team!
Wednesday, February 11
VALENTINE’S DAY BANQUET
Bring your sweetheart, your neighbor,
or a fellow church member who may not like to
drive at night to celebrate our
“sweetest holiday.”
Wednesday, February 18
ASH WEDNESDAY
As we enter the season of Lent, join
us for dinner followed by an
ASH WEDNESDAY service.
All Wonderful Wednesdays begin at 6:00 with a
family style dinner. WW is canceled if Pulaski
County Schools are closed due to weather.
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ilomon le Kenya
January 2015
The current news on the Arndt's Mission in Kenya
Starting off the New Year with a bang!
Happy 2015 to our dear friends and family! It has been a little while since our
last letter, so we have all sorts of good news to share. The last month has been
a logistics month. Searching for a car took up a lot of our time as well as looking
for places to stay near Nairobi so we could effectively look for a car. We were
blessed by a good friend and fellow missionary who allowed us to live with her
for a few weeks during our search and then helped us find follow up housing
with some furloughing missionaries. We are so thankful for that. With housing
secure we were able to search for, and I am happy to report, FIND a car! We
have purchased (with generosity from many of our supporters) a 1999 Toyota
Prado. This car will be instrumental in our ministry as it will allow us to traverse
the technical terrain of Maasailand. It is 4wd, diesel, has 2 gas tanks, roof rack,
and a roof tent! So with this great purchase we now have transport and
housing! We have deep gratitude for all of you who have prayed for and
generously given toward this vehicle purchase.
Our teammates, the Strangs, arrived in Kenya right at the end of December just
in time to ring in the new year with us. Thank you for all your prayers for them,
and please continue to pray for all of us as we embark out on what we feel
Christ has called us to do in the coming months. Early this month, we began the
process of renewing our tourist visas and working on getting all the paperwork
for our "volunteer" work permits squared away. I am happy to report that as of
this week, all papers have been submitted to the government for their review
and are now out of our hands. This is such a blessing since many times this
process takes much longer. We have seen His hand at every turn and are so
thankful for all of the prayers. Please continue to pray as we wait to hear back
from the government on our permits.
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We have been blessed to be able to Skype with family, friends, and even Forest
Hills Presbyterian Church in Martinsville this month, as being in the city has
afforded us a decent internet connection. Also this month we had the privilege of
taking a journey down to a different area of Maasailand known as Loita, with pastor
Tim Ross, and his daughter Jill, some dear friends from East Tennessee,
and Maasai legends who used to work long term in these areas. We were
welcomed warmly everywhere, were given hundreds of cups of chai, many plates
of food, beautiful beadwork, and Chase even snagged a Dorobo bow and arrow for
a good price! We were so thankful for this opportunity to travel and visit with these
beautiful people and practice our language learning on some new and eager
ears willing to overlook our mistakes. It was a privilege and joy to see the
relationships formed through the Ross family over the years as they served in
Loita. It is our prayer that we will have such an impact in our community as they did
in theirs.
We have posted many more pictures to Facebook, but here is also a link for those
who may not have had an opportunity to see. Also here is a link for a stop-motion
driving video of our climb up the escarpment to Loita. At the end of this month we
will be headed down to our long term destination of Kimana to continue with
language learning and start our house search and needs assessment. We ask that
you pray with us as we make this next transition!
Prayer Requests:
-Please pray for our dear Maasai friends the Kurarru family, as they are grieving
the loss of their eldest daughter to lupus.
-Our work permits to be processed quickly and without any problems.
-Our emotional, physical, and spiritual health both as couples and a team as we
struggle to adapt and love those who we work among.
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-Our house search in Kimana, as we embark down to the area we will be long
term, that reasonable housing options will emerge, and God will show us our next
step in this area, as we continue with our language learning!
-We are overjoyed for our teammates arrival and our car purchase as well! Praise
be to God!
If you would ever like to text or call us, our new phone numbers are +254
702107094 (Audrey) and +254702106601 (Chase). We also occasionally are on
Google hangouts or Skype so if you would like to see or hear from us, email me
and we can figure out the best way to set a time. Our PO Box: Chase & Audrey
Arndt, C/O Fred Foy Strang, P.O. Box 1651, 00606-Sarit Center, NAIROBI,
KENYA
If you are interested in financially partnering with us:
1. Send a personal check made payable to "The Antioch
Partners" and note Arndt support in the memo line and
send to: The Antioch Partners, 7132 Portland Ave, Suite
136, Richfield, MN 55423
2. Sign up for direct draft by the electronic giving form
found under the giving tab on theantiochpartners.org
website.
3. Online giving via credit card (there is a 5% fee on all
donations given via credit card).
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
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Church Financial Update – January 2015
The following is a summary of General Fund income and expenses for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014
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Total pledges and donations received was $167,200. Of this 132,400 in pledges and donations
were received from the congregation. $17,600 in bequests and gifts from others was
received. $11,000 was received from other organizations and sources
Special donations received from the congregation totaled $5,500. Of this about $3,000 was
for purchase of new hymnals and $2,500 was for special offerings including $1,245 for the 2
Cents a Meal Program.
Additional income received for the preschool totaled $20,800. (Overall the preschool
accounted for about $300 more income than expenses for the year)
All General fund expenses for staff and operations were $201,500 which exceeded income by
about $11,000 for the year. With the exception of a $2,000 expense for landscaping all
expenses were typical and anticipated in the 2014 budget. The 2014 was also under spent by
about $14,000.
The 2015 general fund budget continues to be reviewed by the session. Forty-three pledges
have been received for 2015 totaling nearly $120,000. As proposed the 2015 shows large
deficit of over $50,000. While this is a concern for the long term, funds to be received later
this year from an estate will allow operations to continue for 2015 as proposed in the budget.
The Capital Fund activities for 2014 were as follows:
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For 2014 $61,437 was received for the capital fund. Of this about $36,000 were for
scheduled pledge payments and $25,000 of additional pledges were received. New capital
fund projects completed in 2014 included the installation of sanctuary light lifts (to facilitate
safer bulb replacement), pew cushions and new choir chairs.
Overall Capital fund donations now exceed $400,000. Most Capital Fund pledges have been
received as proposed with only a few remaining outstanding. Overall Capital fund expenses
now stand at $505,000 with $478,300 utilized for projects.
The Session and Capital Fund committee plan to complete the campaign later this year.
Approximately $50,000 in additional funding will be required to replace funds borrowed from
the Phil Sadler Benevolent fund and the Church Benevolent fund.
Your prayers and support (both spiritual and financial) for our church continues to be very important
to its continued operation and service to our Lord, Jesus Christ. The session and finance committee
has asked that more information be provided regarding all the programs First Presbyterian Church is
involved with in ministry to the community. The following article about the history and operation of
the Emergency Needs Task Force is the first of a series of newsletter articles for this purpose.
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Emergency Needs Task Force of Pulaski County
How did it begin?
Nearly 40 years ago, the emergency needs task force (ENTF) began operation in Pulaski County. ENTF was
formed by several members of the First Presbyterian Church as a result of the need to improve outreach and
emergency assistance to families in our community. Our pastor at that time had funds available to distribute
to needy families in the area. But he did not have the time or resources to manage this along with his normal
pastoral duties. A group of members of our church including Bill and Sandy Dawson and Phil Sadler and
others from our church worked together to establish ENTF. Other churches and organizations were contacted
to assist in the operation and funding of ENTF.
For over 20 years First Presbyterian Church has provided $600 per month in funding for ENTF. This support
comes from the Phil Sadler Benevolent and the Church Benevolent funds. In 1991 ENTF needed a permanent
location to conduct operations. For several years before 1991 the Community Action organization and ENTF
had worked in temporary offices that were mostly in disrepair. Arrangements were made for the Jones
Building to house these offices. First Presbyterian Church provides the building rent-free while Community
Action is responsible for utilities and minor maintenance. In 2012 about $30,000 in critically needed exterior
repairs including new roof, siding, etc. were made to the Jones Building. These expenses were approved by
the session and added to the church Capital Campaign.
What does ENTF do?
Additional Information from an ENTF brochure:
Program Overview: The Emergency Needs Task Force (ENTF) of Pulaski County is an incorporated, nonprofit organization whose only purpose is to provide emergency assistance to lower-income residents who are
unable to meet emergency needs for fuel, shelter, utilities, food and prescriptions. ENTF is an agency of last
resort supplementing efforts of other social service agencies and churches. ENTF acts as a “clearinghouse” for
churches and coordinates with other agencies to ensure there is no duplication of services. ENTF is governed
by a Board of Directors, citizens like you, who care about others in need. Daily business is handled by the
staff of New River Community Action in Pulaski. The ENTF has no paid personnel and little overhead so that
resources can be directed toward meeting the pressing needs of less fortunate neighbors.
Funding: Funding for the Emergency Needs Task force is provided by a variety of sources. ENTF is a United
Way Partner agency, as well as recipient of funds from charitable foundations, churches and individual citizens.
The continuing needs in our county are so great however, that your help is also needed.
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Cash Donations are tax deductible. Pulaski Needs Task force is a private, non-profit charitable
corporation according to IRS code 501(c) (3). Donations are encouraged in any amount and will be
acknowledged with a receipt. Checks may be made payable to ENTF and mailed to PO Box 1422
Pulaski, VA 24301
Food Drives – for specific items needed, contact New River Community Action staff:
412 North Jefferson Avenue
Pulaski, VA 24031
908-5525
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DATE:
LAY READERS:
CHILDREN IN WORSHIP VOLUNTEER:
2/1/15
Scout Sunday
Dot Cash
2/8/15
Barry Long
Ilene Compton
2/15/15
Jenny Makolandra
Debi Fox
2/22/15
Joe Makolandra
Ashley Hale
Page Eleven