The First ARP Basketball Teams invite you to a

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A Weekly Publication connecting the church family and friends of First ARP Church Lancaster
Office 285-1578
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Fax 285-1579
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Email [email protected]
Volume XLIV Issue 45
November 25, 2014
The First ARP Basketball Teams invite you
to a
“Soup Luncheon”
on Sunday, November 30th
following our morning worship.
Donations will be taken for
team registrations, gym rental fees, etc.
We hope you will make plans to join us and to
support our teams!
FIRST ARP WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
QUARTERLY MEETING
Reminder to WM Officers, Circle Leaders
and Committee Chairs: We will have our
last quarterly meeting for the year on
Saturday, December 6 at 10am in the
Church Library.
Please try to be present for this meeting.
Thank You!
Fill up your shoe box and
leave it at the church by
Monday, December 8. We
will be taking them to the
processing center that night.
“Every shoebox offers an opportunity to
share the Good News of Jesus Christ with a
hurting child.”
First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
701 North Main Street, Lancaster, South Carolina 29720
PAGE 2
Church Family Concerns
Marion Weisner
Sally Lloyd
Holly Rivers
Nancy Bates
Cindy Williamson
Pat Willis
Clara Nell Robinson
Charles & Annie Montgomery-Susan & Lynn’s Parents
Donna Hartley McKittrick-Stepdaughter of Wayne & Debbie
Bill Whitesell-Brother of Virginia Fleming, Cancer
Mary Ginty-Mother of Katey Powell
Johnny Morgan-Brother of Tom Morgan
Ralph Dickson-Brother of Wayne Dickson
Ashley-Niece of Marge Dix
Frank Hudson-Lorri Crawford’s Dad-Carolina Specialty Hospital
Doris Hudson-Lorri Crawford’s Mom
Merley & JoAnn Byrd-Parents of Patricia Gardner
Emily Justice-Granddaughter of Mac & Carol McConnell
Bobby Powell-Uncle of Butch Ghent
Pat McEachern-Shoulder
Kennie Parker-Geri Brazell’s brother-Back surgery
Bob Dix-Home
Martha Gilstrap-Pastor Kyle’s Aunt, Easley Hospital Critical Care
Bill McFarland-Betty Allen’s Brother-in-law, surgery
Debbie Petricek-Friend of Debbie Dickson
Helen Jordan-CMC Pineville, Mary Ella’s sister & Laura Caskey’s
Grandmother
Homebound & Nursing Home
Betty Sowell-White Oak R-314
Francis Bosdell-Debby Hegler’s Dad
Bradford Carol Nims-Presbyterian Home, Florence
Mary Brown Parks-Morningside
Kyle Wilson-Donna Robinson’s Sister-York
Frances Mason-George Mason’s Mother-Heath Springs Residential
Missionaries/Mission Churches
Mark & Natalie Witte-Spain
Rebekah Carson-Germany
David Stover-River Crossing Church
Andy Stager-Hill City Church
Ian Wise-Pageland
Phil & Sarah Baer-Wycliffe
Church Staff
Pastor…………………….....Dr. Kyle E. Sims
Intern/Youth .………….….Mr. Tom Wilson
Choir Director…....Dr. Kristen Wunderlich
Organist……….….……..…..Mrs. Amy Jones
Secretary………..…......Mrs. Cecilia Estridge
Dec 5
Luke 22:24-53
Dec 6
Luke 22:54-71
Dec 7
Luke 23:1-25
Dec 8
Luke 23:26-56
Dec 9
Luke 24:1-35
Dec 10
Luke 24:36-53
Dec 11
1 Thess 1
Dec 12
1 Thess 2
Dec 13
1 Thess 3
Dear Pastor
Sims,
We would like
to thank you
and your
congregation for generously financing
Dariusz’s trip to Poland for his grandfather’s funeral and for supporting our
future mission work in Warsaw. The
care and kindness we have received
from you and the entire presbytery is a
great encouragement to our family,
and we thank the Lord for you!
In Christ, Dariusz & Brooke Brycko
PAGE 3
It’s Our Mission
We are coming to the end of 2014 and I would like to thank everyone for their contributions this
year to our Faith Promise Fund. I am reminded, based on the marriage decision handed down
this week, exactly how much we need to be taking the Word of God out into the world around us.
Let’s face it, the world we live in is a mess and it’s not getting any better. If Christians do not
stand up and take the gospel to the people, then we cannot expect the people to come knocking
on our doors looking for it on their own. Think of the pressures WE all face from the world every
day, and we are IN Christ. The people who are not in Christ do not stand a chance of coming to
Jesus without us. Jesus has told us to “Go” and we need to obey Him.
I also want to remind everyone that the Faith Promise Fund helps support more than just foreign
missions. It does support our overseas missionaries like Mark and Rebekah, but it also goes to
many more people and activities. It helps fund new church plants here locally in the US; like Andy
Stager at the Hill City Church in Rock Hill and Ian Wise at Pageland RPCNA. It is how we fund
our Local Outreach here at this church. Our Fall Festival, CEF, VBS, HOPE of Lancaster, and any
other local outreach opportunities are also supported thru the Faith Promise Fund. So when we
give to Faith Promise, we are not just giving to people half a world away. We are also giving right
HERE in our own back yards.
So, with the end of the year approaching, let us end 2014 on a high note and all try to give whatever we can to the Faith Promise Fund. We have many more things we would like to be able to
do in 2015 (our new Fall Festival activities and Friday Night Family Night were a start), but we
need everyone’s support in whatever way they are able. We will have Faith Promise envelopes in
the pews and on the entry tables beside the church bulletins. Just look for the neon colored labels. Thank you all, and God bless you.
David Pokopac
Missions/Outreach/Evangelism Elder
FIRST ARP WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
JOINT CIRCLE AND LADIES GATHERING
The First ARP Women’s Ministries invites all circle members and ladies of the church who are not
involved in a circle, to join us for a Soup Lunch on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 11:30am in the
Church Fellowship Hall. After lunch we will have our circle lesson presented by Carol McConnell
from the study book “A Woman’s High Calling; Ten Ways To Live Out God’s Plan For Your Life.”
Please read Chapters 1 & 2 before coming to the lunch. If your circle is not studying this book, do
not stay home. Come and fellowship with us and get our 2015 year off to a great start!
If you do not belong to a circle, we still want you to come and enjoy the fellowship with us!
There will be no cost and nothing for you to bring, except yourself! Please sign up on the bulletin
board by Wednesday, January 7, 2015. We look forward to seeing all of you on January 10th!!!
PAGE 4
This Sunday you still have the opportunity to give
to our Thanksgiving Offering that supports the
American Bible Society, Outreach North
America, Erskine Seminary and the Christmas
Benevolent Ministry through the 2014
Thanksgiving Offering.
You will find envelopes outside the sanctuary.
November is our month for
donations to HOPE.
Particular items needed
at this time are:
Canned meats
Canned carrots
Canned potatoes
Canned beans (no green beans)
Jelly
Spaghetti sauce & noodles
Ramen noodles
Rice
Canned tomatoes
The Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible
Study Group will meet on
December 2 at 6:30AM at
Chick-Fil-A.
PROPOSED 2015
BUDGET
There will be copies
of the proposed 2015
budget on the table
in the hall behind the
sanctuary on Sunday
November 30 and December 7 for
anyone who wants to read it prior to
the Congregational Meeting on
December 7. Contact Sam Huey or a
Deacon if you have a question.
Sunday,
December 7th
after the Morning
Worship.
Sunday,
December 21
December 14
6:00pm
PAGE 5
2015 Challenges (Continued)
2015 Challenge #1 - Read Through the Bible
2015 Challenge #2 - Read Through a Theological Work
2015 Challenge #3 - Attend Church Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, and Wednesday Night
We want you to know the joy of being involved in the worship and learning, but also in the fellowship
that we have on these occasions. Church could be compared to the gym. If you only go once a
week, you will get some benefit, but to really see growth you need to go several times a week. This
is why we have multiple opportunities for worship, teaching, and fellowship. I challenge you to come
on Sunday Evenings and Wednesday Evening this winter and see if you are not blessed by coming
to church.
2015 Challenge #4 - Get to Know Someone New in the Church
One of the worst problems that we have in the church is trying to assimilate new folks with old folks.
There is no sinister problem here. It is not that these groups do not like each other or are at odds
with each other. It is more that they move in different circles within even a small congregation. This
is why it is important to reach across age, race, economic, and social lines. We have some really
neat people across our congregation. Make an effort to reach out to a family that you do not know in
2015.
2015 Challenge #5 - Prayerfully Consider What You Are Giving to the Church
This is one of my greatest concerns for our future. Your attendance and your giving are the outward
vital signs of your Christian life. We have many that are not giving anything of significance to the
church. This is according to a report from our church treasurer. I challenge you on this not because
we want your money, but because we are worried about your spiritual health. Prayerfully consider
what you have been giving in 2014 and work towards tithing in 2015, even if it is just a little more
towards 10%. Remember that we now have bank draft that can make it even easier to be
consistent.
2015 Challenge #6 - Personally Invite People to Come to Church in 2015
I think we somehow think there is no one to reach out to in Lancaster. Rev. Dale Roach, former
Director of Missions for the Moriah Baptist Association, told me that only about 22% of the
population in Lancaster County was in church on Sunday mornings. This means that we have 3/4 of
our family, friends and neighbors who do not attend a church. When was the last time you invited
someone to church? I know some of you have few contacts, but you have to have someone in your
family, a friend, a neighbor, the checkout girl at the store, the man who cuts your grass. There has
to be someone you know who needs Jesus. Make it a priority to look for people who need Jesus
and then ask them to church and build a relationship with them that they may see Jesus in you.
Dr. Kyle E. Sims
Pastor
THE CHURCH CALENDAR
Sunday, November 30
9:30am
Officers
9:45am
Coffee & Fellowship
10:00am
Sunday School
11:00am
Morning Worship
4:45pm
Choir Practice
6:00pm
Evening Service
6:45pm
Youth
Monday, December 1
1:30pm
Jones Robinson Pressly
4:00pm
Jean Love
5:30pm
Girl Scouts
6:30pm
Boy Scouts
Tuesday, December 2
6:30am
Men’s Morning Study @ Chick-Fil-A
6:30pm
Alison Erskine
6:30pm
Cub Scouts
Wednesday, December 3
5:45pm
Family Night Supper
6:30pm
Classes
Friday, December 5
7:00am
Youth Breakfast
UPCOMING VOLUNTEERS
Nursery
Infants
Dec 7
Dec 14
Dec 21
Dec 28
Kelly Sims
Natalie Carmichael
Dell Ghent
Grace Kelso
Toddlers
Stacey Pegram
Erin Tindal
Susan Prete
Katey Powell
November 23, 2014
Attendance
79
General Fund Offering
Offering this month
$2,578
$13,662.46
Monthly Budget Req.
$17,582
Faith Promise Offering
$65
Faith Promise this month
$302
Faith Promise Monthly Req.
$2,255
Thanksgiving Offering
$186
NOVEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Elders:
Paul Robinson & Buddy Lever
Deacons:
Mike Scruggs
Ushers:
Mike Scruggs, Butch Ghent,
Timothy Sistar & Sam Prete
FIRST ARP CHURCH
701 NORTH MAIN STREET
LANCASTER, SC 29720
803-285-1578
FAX– 803-285-1579
EMAIL–
[email protected]
WEB PAGE—
FIRSTARPLANCASTER.ORG
VOLUNTEERS FOR NOVEMBER 30
Flowers:
Women of the Church
Nursery:
Holly Rivers
Toddlers:
Shannon Mohr
Children’s Church: JB Powell & Betty Arant
Greeters:
Richard & Patricia Gardner (F)
Philip & Stacey Pegram (S)
Friendship Class: Betty Allen
FINANCIALS
Children’s Church
Greeters
Dec 7
Dec 14
Dec 21
Dec 28
Phil & Sarah Baer
Jonathan & Katherine Dix
Betsy Rushing
Rebecca Cook
Front
Side
Tom Morgan
Chic Whitlock & Buddy Lever
Steve Willis & Ed Ogburn
Mike & Susan Cauthen
Tom & Betty Arant
Mike & Pat Scruggs
Richard & Lorri Crawford
Joe & Debby Hegler
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
LANCASTER, SC
PERMIT NO. 15
Dec 7
Dec 14
Dec 21
Dec 28

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