steeple times, june 2016 (vol. 11, issue 6)

by Dana Durman

As May came to a close, we saw some of our youth marking a milestone in their life - high school graduation. While this can be a bittersweet tran-sition, it is also a time that the congre-gation celebrates their achievements and accomplishments.

On Sunday, May 22, the congregation celebrated Senior Recognition Day in Fellowship Hall with a reception in their honor. The seniors and their families created displays that chron-icled their achievements, honors, in-terests and future plans. Members of the congregation had the opportunity to view the displays and were encour-aged to jot a note of congratulations and best wishes in the students’ note-books.

In congratulating our graduates, we also pray for their continued success. Completing high school is an achieve-ment that they should be proud of and we wish them more great journeys in their college life!

The First Presbyterian Church gradu-ates for 2016 include:

Emma Collyer, daughter of Robert

and Lynn Collyer, is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. Emma was active in theater, where she won numerous district and school awards. A 16-year member of FPC, she has held various leadership positions within the church youth group and in Grace Presbytery, as well as attending conferences and mission trips. Emma has chosen to attend Tyler Junior Col-lege, where she hopes to transfer to a Presbyterian college to get her degree in either psychology or sociology and enter into ministry.

Madeline Stanford, the daughter of Jim and Janet Stanford, is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. Ranked number 10 in her class, Made-line was active in National Honor So-ciety, marching band, Texas Bank & Trust student board and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She won numerous awards for her academic and community service. Madeline plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin, studying biology.

Best of luck to Emma and Madeline! As they begin this next phase of their life, we know they will continue to be successful in the future endeavors with which they are involved.

First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas 230 West Rusk Street, Tyler, Texas 75701-1696

(903) 597-6317 | www.fpctyler.com

Celebrating our Graduates

M o n t h l y N e w s f r o m F P C Ty l e r • Vo l u m e 11 , I s s u e 6 : J u n e 2 016

Send Cards to Mission Team| Pg 3Your short note of encouragement or cards to students will help keep spir-its high as they serve in Austin, TX.

PW Confer Lifetime Award | Pg 3Read more about the recipient who was recognized because of their faith-ful service to the church.

Mission Co-workers in Zambia | Pg 4Learn about the Johnsons, our Global Mission Partners supported by FPC .

i n t h i s i s s u e | h i G h l i G h t s & f e at u r e s

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Our Graduating seniors

CO n G r e G at i O n a l n e w s

Membership UpdatesNew MembersJoin us in welcoming our newest members:• Samuel and Sam Hooker• Ann TindallMarriagesCongratulations to our members on their recent nuptials: • David Wayne Bergeron and Amanda Nicole Partney

on April 3.• Edward O’Neil McKown IV and Erin Elise Huffman

on April 9.DeathsCondolences to the families of FPC members who have entered the Church Triumphant: • Bette Perry

July Sunday Morning ScheduleDuring the month of July, please join the congregation for Lemonade on the Lawn each Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. for fellowship and treats. Sunday worship will be held at a single service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Children’s worship will continue to meet in the Children’s Wing during this time. Sunday school classes will not meet. The normal worship schedule resumes August 7.

Staff VacationVarious staff members will be on vacation during the month of June:Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin, pastor, June 2-10; Neil McKown, di-rector of student ministries, June 12-18; Rev. Pamela Leach, parish associate, June 1-12; Nanci Pollard, financial assis-tant, June 21-27, and Dana Durman, director of communi-cations, June 21-27.

First Presbyterian Church’s 2016 high school graduates:

Emma Collyer (left)&

Madeline Stanford(below)

Junior High Jubilee | July 3Middle school youth are invited to Mo-Ranch for summer fun.

Synod Youth Workshop | July 25High school youth throughout the synod gather for a small-group inten-sive week.

Texas Rangers Weekend| august 12 Join us for our annual pilgrimage to Arlington to cheer on the Texas Rangers. For students in grades 6-12.

s a v e t h e d a t e | J u ly/au G u s t 2 0 1 6

By all accounts, FPC’s Youth Sunday services held on April 24 were a success.

“If you attended Youth Sunday, you would agree that the youth presented the congregation with a wonderful message and service. They spoke with clarity of the message in a very personal and professional manner while enjoying them-selves,” said member Lynne Wagoner.

This year’s participants included Emery Dubre, Katie Hum-phress, Henry Ainsworth, Isabelle Duarte, Brooklyn Wage-man, Hanna Meg Leach, Julianna Leach, Charley Ross Ainsworth, Allie Wallace, Cameron Humphress, Alex Ellis, Michael Palady, Katie Stanford, Charlie Adams, Emma Col-lyer, Madeline Stanford, and Elizabeth Bunt.

Held annually, Youth Sunday invites FPC youth to lead the congregation in worship, contributing their talents from the scripting of the service to the music and prayers.

a successful youth sunday

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M O n t h ly e v e n t h i G h l i G h t s

Wedding Shower Honoring The McKownsSunday, June 5 | 9:30 am | Fellowship HallAll are invited for punch and cake to celebrate the nuptials of our director of student ministries, Neil McKown and his sweetheart, Erin. If you would like to bring a gift, there will be a money tree, and they are registered at Macy’s and Tar-get. Questions? Contact Lynne Wagoner (903-714-8079). For more information, visit fpctyler.com/events/weddingshower.

Send Off Luncheon for FPC Youth Mission TripSunday, June 12 | 12 pm | Fellowship HallCome and share a meal with our ETY mission trip participants before they depart for a week of serving the needy in the Greater Austin area. Lunch will be provided by Student Ministries. This will be a time for our congregation to support, encourage, lift up, and pray for our mission team! Questions? Contact Neil Mc-Kown (903-279-6818/fpctyler.com/events/missiontriplunch).

P r e s by t e r i a n wO M e n CO n f e r l i f e t i M e awa r d

By Martha Oates

This year’s Honorary Life Member- ship in Presbyterian Women (PW) was awarded to Alice Sjernstrom during the 11:00 a.m. worship service on May 15. This award is given to recognize an individual’s faithful service in some area of church work. Men, women,

moderators, leaders, teachers, officers, pastors, missionaries, and staff have received this honor. Alice’s longtime service to our FPC members and pro- grams include many areas of church work. She has been instrumental in forming the Stephen Ministry program, served as an officer in PW organization, active on the mission

committee, and was a church office volunteer. Currently, Alice serves as a Diaconate and is in charge of the visitation schedule for our shut-ins. Congratulations to a most deserving recipient!

encourage the student Mission team

On June 12, students and adult spon-sors from FPC Tyler will join other churches to embark on the annual East Texas Youth Mission Trip–this year to Austin, Texas. The camp will put them to work in the Round Rock

Area Service Center and Downhome Ranch in Elgin, Texas. Help keep their spirits high by mailing cards and notes of encouragement by June 8 in order to reach the church before our team heads home.

Mail cards to East Texas Youth Mission Trip, c/o West-minster Presbyterian Church, 3208 Exposition Blvd., Austin, TX 78703.

new! Online Giving for fPC!FPC is pleased to offer online giving through its website. In addition to checks and cash given in the offering plate during worship services or mailed in, you can give easily and securely one-time or scheduled ongoing gifts with your debit or credit card.

To get started, go to FPC’s homepage at fpctyler.com, click on the GIVE button in the top right-hand corner, and follow the prompts. You may login as a guest or create a login ac-

count. Once you get to the giving page, make sure to spec-ify the account to which you want to designate the funds from the pull down menu. The pull down menu includes budget, building restoration and memorial funds (enter the name of the memorialized in the optional memo line).

For information or questions, please contact Nanci Pollard at the church office at (903) 597-6317, X108.

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PATH (People Attempting To Help)During the summer months, PATH is collecting box fans for families living through the heat without air condition-ing. At Home Depot, simply tell a cashier you’d like to buy a fan for PATH. You will be charged a discounted price, and the fan will be set aside for a PATH representative to pick up. It’s that easy!. Additional monetary support and volun-teers are always welcome. Questions? Visit TylerPATH.org.

Sewing Bees - Sewing with a MissionWednesday, June 15 | 10 am | F 104Connect with sewing buffs of all ages and levels of expertise. Simple patterns and guidance provided. Help us continue the mission. For more information on the sewing bees, vis-it fpctyler.com/events/sewingbees. Group contact is Mollie Bobo (903-530-2772).

Knit Wits - Knitters Unite for Camp MinistryMonday, June 6 | 1:30 pm | 13493 S. Hillcreek Rd. | Whitehouse, TXCalling all knitters and wannabes - our current project in-volves knitting items to send to Camp Gilmont in Gilmer, TX, where they’ll be available for purchase with sales di-rectly benefiting the camp. Join the group at the home of Kay Arms. For more information, contact Pat Cryer (903-561-5242/ fpctyler.com/events/knitwits).

FPC Mission Co-workers in ZambiaThe Mission Committee recommended that the Session of FPC Ty-ler formally adopt Melissa and Charles Johnson, PCUSA Mission Co-Workers in Zambia, as Global Mission Partners supported by the church. The motion was approved! FPC Tyler will support the Johnsons through prayers, communication, and minimum yearly financial support of $2,000. They will be listed as staff/partners in the bulletin. Charles and Melissa have been invited to help the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian’s Zambia Synod expand its ministry of com-munity development and food security. Charles will serve as a de-velopment specialist, and Melissa will support him in this role. They will focus heavily on developing the Chasefu Model Farm, an agri-cultural project of Chasefu Theological College. The farm feeds the students and also provides opportunities for future pastors to learn agricultural techniques. The intent is for pastors to be able to sup-plement their income through farming and share their agricultural knowledge with the communities they serve. Chasefu Farm also provides local farmers opportunities to learn innovative approach-es to agriculture. In addition to agriculture, the Johnsons will work with the CCAP on proj-ects related to clean wa-ter, micro-credit, health, and education. To learn more about Charles and Melis-sa, go to pcusa.org/charles-and-melis-sa-johnson.

t h e M i s s i O n s tO r e

Yo u r m i s s i o n H Q a t F P C • M a t c h y o u r t a l e n t w i t h o u r c o m m u n i t y ’ s n e e d s

analysis of revenues & expensesApril 2016 Summary

MTD AcTuAl YTD AcTuAl YTD BuDgeT

Revenues $75,398 $941,895 $930,360

expenses $85,600 $913,631 $1,011,462

neT ToTAl ($10,202) $28,264 ($81,102)

Planned GivingHave you remembered the church and other charities in your will? If you need help, contact Nanci Pollard (903-597-6317) to request information, or visit the Texas Presbyteri-an Foundation at tpf.org. Assistance is confidential and free of charge.

Stay in the know about news and events by connecting with FPC online.

Subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter, and you’ll receive stories, event reminders, and mission updates. You’ll even get a

sneak peek into what Stuart has planned for Sunday’s pul-pit! Follow the QR code above or find the e-newsletter sign-up link on the website at fpctyler.com.

Stay in touch with us on social media, too:

/fpctyler @fpctyler @fpctyler

stay in the Know

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Steeple Times is a publication of First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk St., Tyler, TX 75701. Acting editor: Stuart Baskin. FPC reserves the right to edit and/or exclude all submissions. Submit content to Dana Durman by the 15th of the month prior to publication: [email protected], fax (903) 597-6326, or mail. An archive of the Steeple Times can be found online at fpctyler.com/archive.

Send Off Luncheon for FPC Youth Mission TripSunday, June 12 | 12 pm | Fellowship HallCome and share a meal with our ETY mission trip participants before they depart for a week of serving the needy in the Great-er Austin area. Lunch will be provided by Student Ministries. Questions? Contact Neil McKown (903-279-6818/fpctyler.com/events/missiontriplunch).

Youth Group: Bowling + PizzaSunday, June 26 | 4-7 pm | Green Acres Bowling & Cici’s PizzaCome ready to knock around some pins and then go eat some piz-za! Hint: ready means with socks in hand and money for snacks in your pocket. Friends are welcome to come, too. Parents, please drop off your youth at Green Acres Bowl and pick up at Cici’s Pizza by 7 pm. Open to all youth, grades 6–12 and incoming 6th graders (fpctyler.com/events/ygbowlingpizza).

Sunday Mornings in June & AugustJune 5, 12, 19, 26 | 9:45 am | Fellowship Hall August 7, 14, 21, 28 | 9:45 am | Fellowship Hall Our student ministry leaders have decided to give summer Sunday school hour a new look. We will have family ministry, with a mis-sion focus. Join us as we work together making hygiene kits in June, and school supply kits in August (see below for more information).

You’re making a what? A Cardboard City!Can you imagine a city made of cardboard? We hope you can be-cause we will begin building one starting the beginning of summer. Student ministry volunteers will host our youth a couple of times each week as they create the city which we will use in VBS. The youth will determine what this city needs, the order of importance for each building, and the design of our own Pres-B City.It will take many hours, involve some detail work and have a grat-ifying payoff when finished. Watch your e-news for the specific af-ternoons and times scheduled this summer to meet and accomplish this important task.

East Texas Youth Mission TripJune 12 - 18 | Austin, TX fpctyler.com/events/summermission

Junior High JubileeJuly 3-7 | Mo-Ranch | Hunt, TXFor information: fpctyler.com/events/jhj

Synod Youth WorkshopJuly 25-31 | U of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK For information: fpctyler.com/events/syw

Mission fellowship during sunday school by Phyllis KidwellDirector of Children’s Ministries

Our student ministry and children’s ministry leaders have decided to give our summer Sunday school hour a new look. We will have family min-istry, with a mission focus. Students in all grades and adults are invited to gather in Fellowship Hall to work together making hygiene kits in June, and school supply kits in August. Children age 3 and under will con-tinue to receive child care in the chil-dren’s ministry area.

SO, if your class is not meeting this

summer, or takes a break, please come and join in the fun. In order to make the kits, we need everyone’s help. The kits are used by the Presbyterian Di-saster Assistance Program, and shared with victims in need.

We are currently gathering things for the kits. Please consider donating one or two of the items we will need. Each hygiene kit will require the following:

• hand towel (approximately 16” x 28”, no fingertip or bath towels)

• washcloth• wide-tooth comb• nail clipper (no metal files or em-

ery boards)• bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)• toothbrush (in original packag-

ing)• Band-Aids® Please do not bring toothpaste. We will share the list for school supply kits later this summer.

Bring your donations to the box lo-cated inside the main church building near the entrance at the port-cochere. For more information, visit our web-site at fpctyler.com/events/missionfel-lowship. Hope to see you on June 5th!

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a special “thank you” to azalea academy for exceptional adults

for assembling our weekly worship bulletin.

News About Kids’ Night Out...A BIG thank you from the children who attended First Fri-day Fun this past school year. We had members who taught our groups, members who volunteered to serve our meals, and some friends who made our meals and desserts. It was a fruitful year. We studied the fruits of the spirit learning new things each month. Thanks again and remember, First Friday Fun is on hiatus from June through August. The event series will resume in September.

Sunday Mornings in June & AugustJune 5, 12, 19, 26 | 9:45 am | Fellowship Hall August 7, 14, 21, 28 | 9:45 am | Fellowship Hall Our youth ministry leaders have decided to give summer Sunday school hour a new look. We will have family ministry, with a mission focus. Join us as we work together making hygiene kits in June, and school supply kits in August (see article on page 5 for more information). Children age 3 and under will continue to receive child care in the children’s ministry area. For more information, contact Phyllis Kidwell at (903) 681-5504 or vis-it our website at fpctyler.com/events/missionfellowship.

3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Parents Planning MeetingSunday, June 12 | 1 pm | Children’s WingParents and students: join us for a children’s ministry planning meeting following our send off luncheon for the Youth Mission Trip participants. Currently, we are scheduled to go flying in July, but we need to look at other activities for the fall. Contact: Phyllis Kidwell at (903) 681-5504/fpctyler.com/events/cmparentmeeting.

VBS - “Building Christians” (Age 3 - 5th grade)August 4-5 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm | Campus-wide August 6 | 10 am - 3 pm | Campus-wide We will learn about building relationships with Jesus Christ, our cornerstone. Our curriculum this year is “Building Chris-tians on the Foundation of Jesus Christ” which is loosely based on Habitat for Humanity, using the scripture, “A precious cor-nerstone for a sure foundation.” The youth will help us create a structure, and we will make some things to use around our church campus. The congregation is invited to our Saturday meal starting at noon. FPC’s men’s group will grill hamburgers and hot dogs. Everyone can take part in VBS, whether you want to pray for those God will send to this ministry, have an hour to shop for supplies or food, lead or shepherd a group through the evenings or on Saturday morning, or help with preparing and serving the dinners. If you have a little time to give, we have a job for you. Contact: Phyllis Kidwell at (903) 681-5504. Registration coming soon (fpctyler.com/events/vacation-bible-school).

s u n day s C h O O l / s M a l l G r O u P l i s t i n G

Sunday School @ 9:45 amfAiTh BuilDeRs | Lecture & discussion M202 | Proverbs | Contact: Bob Schmoker (903) 714-5746

The foRuM | Lecture & discussionM102 | The book of Deuteronomy | Contact: Chris Bunt (903) 531-3535

genesis | Bible study & discussionM205 | Toward a New Creation (Zeph-aniah/Romans) | Contact: Judith Guthrie (903) 530-3668

The 209eRs | Young AdultsM209 | TBA | Contact: Debbie Pitts ([email protected])

wesTMinsTeR | Book & discussionM 207 | A Love Worth Giving | Con-tact: Linda Pirtle (903) 881-9000

Small Group ScheduleMen | Sermon texts2nd/4th Mondays 10 am | homes | Contact: Lynn Holliman (903) 534-9190

Men | LectionaryTuesdays 6:30 am | Premier Flexipac | Contact: Skip Womack (903) 533-9433 or Bob Schmoker (903) 714-5746

woMen | Book & discussionThursdays 9:30 am | Conference Room | TBA | Contact: Jan Carpenter (903) 566-8533

Children’s Ministry News & Events

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steeple times, june 2016 (vol. 11, issue 6)

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