Faith Alive

Sunday Speaker

Sandy Thomas,

THEN and

NOW

Presbyterian Women News

The present Circle No. 6 is an outgrowth of two evening circles, both with a

rich history in our church. The original "Night Circle" (Circle 7) was so-

named because it offered an excellent opportunity for working women.

Over the years, as women retired or moved into morning circles, attendance

dwindled and the two groups combined as Supper Circle No. 6.

Circle 6 continues many of the traditions set in the early years and includes

the main tradition of prayer partners. Each lady signs a card and places it in

a bowl. After the meal and business session, each draws a name to pray for

during the month. A new name is selected each month. In so doing, each

member is remembered in daily prayer and has someone to reach out to if

needs arise.

Sylvia Seawell is the awesome leader and makes the assignments for the

month. The members are willing volunteers and never come up short! Blan-

ket Sunday is an example. Pure drinking water is a challenge in impover-

ished nations and the group discovered a useable well cost $1,000. In addi-

tion to the Love Offering, the ladies added a Well Offering and challenged

any other church group to match the goal by Blanket Sunday, 2016. The

Henderlite Bible Class accepted the offer. Between February - December

2015, Circle 6 collected another $1000! On Blanket Sunday they presented

checks to fund TWO Wells and $165 for blankets. Additionally, a member

and the late Ruth Rice were able to send gifts to Family Promise, Black

Mountain Home for Children and to the micro-loan project in Guatemala.

Brownie Smyre was the Bible leader for many years but, as her health

weakened, Beth Silvers volunteered to assist. Brownie continues to teach

the Covenant Village Circle and occasionally returns to visit and offer valu-

able insight to the lesson.

Circle 6 is small in number

but big in service for the

Lord! If you do not have a

Circle home, come see what

an active prayer group can do

for you.

Feature Circle: Number 6

You Can Help. . .

RISE AND SHINE

Provide a casserole for break-

fast for those in need. Contact

Tom Avery.

WOMEN’S BAKE SALE

Prepare goods for the bake

sale and purchase goodies at

the sale on March 5.

COMMUNITY LENTEN

SERVICES

Attend services and give to

CAM and As One Ministries.

You Shared…

MISSION MINISTRY

Each month our Missions

Ministry designates a $500

donation in honor of someone

in our faith community. The

first 3 months of 2016 were:

January: Boys and Gir ls

Club Honoring Will Current,

Dancing for Future Stars

February: Least of These

Carolinas Honoring the

Women’s Sewing Ministry

March: (WOW) Women

Optimizing Wellness

Honoring Jennifer Newcombe

BLANKET SUNDAY

You gave to Blanket Sunday

$ 3067.83 to support CWS.

Circle Meeting Times and Places - March

Monday

Mar 7 LOCATION TIME HOSTS Circle 1 2520 Armstrong Cir 10:00 am C Brenner/G Hickson

Circle 2 Covenant Village LR 10:30 am B Burleson/M Brown

Circle 3 Church Parlor 2:00 pm Joyce Wilds

Circle 5 1200 S Street (Tyler) 7:00 pm K Buckles/T Bullock

Circle 6 Church Parlor 6:00 pm J Newell/B Davenport

Cov Vill C Village Card Room 2:00 pm Betty Kiser

Tuesday

Mar 8 LOCATION TIME HOSTS Circle 4 Church Parlor 11:30 am Page/Matthews/Sellers

Women’s History Month

The Importance of a God Wink—A Reminder

from the Big Man Upstairs

Running to my car after hearing the news of one of my best friends being injured, I did what many people do in worrisome situations; I prayed. I said “Amen,” slammed the car door, and hastily turned the ignition. The radio automatically came on, and what I heard could not have been anything other than what I like to call a God Wink. A radio advertisement was playing for the very place I was headed, Wake Med. The words I heard not only gave me a moment of perspective but also reminded me that He is always listening. Always. The commercial highlighted its trained and caring staff, stating that all who enter the hospital are guaranteed the best treatment, which provided me with a comfort that I greatly needed. But what is a God wink? To me, it is any little sign that reminds you God is always listening. He hears your prayers, and has not aban-doned you through your hard times. The signs are subtle. Whether it's a song that reminds you of a person you’ve lost, or a friend reaching out when you feel you're at your breaking point. A God wink is His way of bringing you back when your faith is being tested. Tragic things happen everyday. It’s a hard fact of life that many of us have difficulty grasping. While there is never an easy answer to why wonderful people are struck down by unfortunate circumstances, it is important to trust that everything happens for a reason. Cliché, I know, but true. Deciphering God’s plan is no easy feat, but if we keep our eyes and ears open, we will find Him around every corner. In college, and in life in general, it is easy to stray from faith. Luckily He is waiting, and all it can take is a wink to remind you what is truly important. That God wink, that snapshot in your day, can clothe you with the strength necessary to persevere through those seemingly unending dismal days. Hold on to these moments. Savor them and remember them so that the next time God throws a wink at you, you'll be ready and you'll be thankful for His presence in your life. I personally know that God winks have helped me through the toughest times in my life. Throughout all of the changes that come with growing up and moving on, it's the little things that remind us of where we are from and who we want to be. Something as menial and recurring as a radio advertisement becomes infinitely more meaningful simply by being played at the right place at the right time, and that's the beauty of a God wink.

Hannah Newcombe,

February 1, 2016 – The Odyssey

G rowing out of a small-town school event in

C alifornia, Women’ s History Month is a

celebration of women’ s contributions to history, culture and society. The

United S tates has ob-served it annually through-

out the month of March since 1987. The 2016

theme, “ Working to Form a More Perfect

Union: Honoring Women in Public S ervice and

G overnment” honors women who have shaped America’ s history and its future through their public service and government

leadership.

While our two featured women in this special

insert are not women of public service they are

women close to our hearts. The first is our own

Hannah Newcombe, who wrote this article for The O dyessy at NC S U. The

second article is from our Director of Youth Ministry, J osie Miller, who went to Peru last month on a per-sonal mission trip. This

month, let’ s not only cele-brate these two young,

inspirational women in our midst, but all the women at

FPC !

Reflections from Peru

Recently, I traveled to serve in Peru. I volunteered with MEDLife, an organization that improves access to Medical supplies, Education and Development opportuni-ties in impoverished communities - hence the name - MEDLife. There is a small staff in Peru that performs day-to-day operations, but the organization primarily functions through collegiate chapters throughout the United States. While in Peru, I spent most of my time following up with previous patients. Their clinics are typically hosted in late December, January and during summer months when students are on break. These free clinics are massive, often bringing people from all over Peru. My first day, I was in complete shock! I met two nurses and a staff member for a trek outside the city. Within 10-15 minutes, the glossy city buildings turned into run down apartments and the paved road abruptly became rough gravel. Soon we were bumping over a dusty road, aboard a motorized, tricycle taxi or “moto” to reach the area where the patients live. Cramped together on a steep hillside were hundreds of make-shift huts. Walls were shared, house numbers didn’t exist, and people lived with their livestock. Diseased dogs roamed the street... and children ran up to pet them, just like they would in the United States. The staff explained that before MEDLife’s presence, there were not even stairs or roads for people to climb up to their homes. I spent most of that day, and the days to follow, very quietly, shocked and overwhelmed. I had little kids running up to me in the streets, fascinated by my blue eyes, and residents peering out their doors at me yelling “gringa” or “American.” As if the isolation and neglect were not already evident, on my second day there, a staff member pointed to a big wall nearby that the government built - costing millions- to separate the wealthy countryside from those living in poverty.In a take on Lent, the Pope

called Christians to fast from indifference this year, saying “whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others…God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.” Lent is truly the perfect time to journey to the cross and learn to love again as we become once again mindful of God’s incredible, sacrificial love for us. Being in Peru prior to Lent made me mindful of just that; the need for God’s love in action in the world and the danger of indifference and apathy.

Josie S. Miller,

February 25, 2016

Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the opportunities offered to Ministers of the Word and Sacrament in the PC

(USA) engaged in regular full-time ministry is provision for a sabbatical leave every

seven years. Though this opportunity is included in terms of call, we do not lose sight

that offering such leave indicates an interest by congregations in caring and well-being of church profession-

als. Please know how grateful I am to the officers and members of First Presbyterian for the opportunity af-

forded by my upcoming sabbatical. You are gracious and I am thankful beyond words. I am also deeply

thankful for the lovely flowers placed in Nisie’s memory on February 14th.

I want to inform you about the leave and my plans. It is all new ground for me, since I have never taken a

sabbatical despite having qualified and been offered the opportunity twice beforehand. I shall be away from

April 4th – July 5th. For the first few weeks I will visit family and make final travel arrangements. From

April 25th – May 30th I will be spending time in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Some of that time will focus on

visits to archaeological sites pertinent to Roman, Greek, Mycaean, Akoutiran, and Minoan cultures that form

important backdrops to both western civilization and biblical understanding. I will be spending time in places

like Rome, Athens, and Ephesus. Certainly there will be some general site-seeing alongside the study. Upon

my return I hope to do some additional study related to Dorothea Lange’s photography in eastern NC housed

in the national archives. I am interested in her tobacco farm photos and contemplating the philanthropic ben-

efits of that industry in this state (a paradoxical issue). Of course, that time will also include preparation for

fall, preaching, etc. Since we utilize much of the vacation time as part of the sabbatical leave I will be here in

August when I am ordinarily away.

My hope is that the time away will both refresh and renew me for service in your midst. Again, I am thankful

for your generosity in providing the opportunity. While I am away I am confident that Lauren, John, Allison,

and other staff members will take wonderful care of the congregation and ministry of First Presbyterian. I

could not go with the confidence I have, but for the faithful service of the extraordinary colleagues in

Christ’s service that I enjoy in this place. Certainly I will have much to share with

you upon my return. God bless you all! With deepest gratitude, John

UPCOMING

EVENTS

We are pleased to welcome Jason

Davenport as our Communica-

tions Coordinator at FPC. Jason

brings many experiences and

talents to us. He holds a B.S. in

Biology and Master of Divinity

degrees from Wake Forest and a

Masters of Business Administra-

tion from UNC Charlotte. Jason

served Edgewood Presbyterian

Church in Sanford, NC, as pastor

from 2006-2010 and Riverview

Presbyterian in Fort Mill, SC,

from 2010-2015. Most recently

he was part of an experiment in

social entrepreneurship as owner

of Bistro 160 Café in Fort Mill.

That venture came to an end in

December. Hobbies include read-

ing, technology, & landscaping.

Jason’s family includes wife, An-

gela, and two children, Nathaniel

(7) and Allison (4). Angela is the

speech and language therapist at

Whitewater Academy. Allison

recently began attending our Pres-

byterian Weekday school 3 days a

week. Many of our members know

Charles and Betty Davenport; they

are Jason’s parents. Charles and

Betty serve our congregation and

presbytery in various capacities.

FPC Hires New Communications Coordinator

ROAD RUNNERS

Reservations for the

Mar 17 trip to the

Bob Jones University

Art Museum is Mar

10. Bus will leave

from the circle at

10:30 a.m.

FAITH & FICTION

Sunday, Mar 6

5 p.m., Card Room

of Covenant Village

Book: Gone Girl by

Gillian Flynn

Hostesses Betsy Bur-

leson and Mary Anne

Brown

LENTEN BIBLE

STUDY

Wednesday Night Alive

5 p.m. Fellowship Hall

for dinner and at 6 p.m.

Lenten Lesson for Mar

9—Calming the Storm

Mar 16—Sinners,

Outcasts & the Poor

On Thursday, April 7, the RoadRunners travel to Lenoir Rhyne Univer-

sity in Hickory to hear Anne Lamott speak. She is a part of the Lenoir Rhyne

Visiting Authors Series. Anne is an American novelist and a non-fiction

writer. She will speak at 7 p.m., and our buses depart at 5:15 p.m. Snacks

will be available on the bus for a nominal cost. Please contact Donna

at the office to make your reservation by April 4.

In his first week, Jason is impressed

with the energy and service of our

members and thankful to join a

hardworking and caring staff. He is

quickly learning all about FPC and

will soon be taking the lead on

many of our communications and

outreach efforts. Please give Jason

and his family a warm welcome

when you see them.

Please continue to submit items for

the church bulletin or newsletter to

communications@fpcgastonia.org.

Jason’s individual email address is

jdavenport@fpcgastonia.org.

WOMEN’S

SUNDAY & GIRL

SCOUT SUNDAY

Guest Speaker—

Sandy Thomas

Mar 6

First Press PERIODICALS

US POSTAGE

PAID

Gastonia, NC

February Attendance

Traditional Thrive

Feb 7 192 52

Feb 14 183 46

Feb 21 192 58

Feb 28 182 51