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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
The First Presbyterian Church of Tifton
The Presbyterian Press
JANUARY 201 5
Thank you Julie Smith
for our church’s wonderful new look!
From Your Pastor Hugh Ward
My heart throbs
with a plethora of emotions. Perhaps your heart is
like mine. The manger
story, the Christ Day’s
story, tenderizes my heart
and I experience a flood of
warmth rising up in me and
over me. This is an annual
occurrence for me and so
why am I so startled every
year? But each year I am
surprised with the spirit of
the Christmas season as if I
were six and not sixty-six.
Each and every
year, I ask my Sunday
School Class to set aside
the current theme and read
the Birth Stories once again
from the Gospels. And,
then, all I need to hear is
“…a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be taxed” and
my heart and soul are transported to that time and
place with an expectant
mother and a hesitant father. A donkey laden with
a precious cargo waddles
down a centuries old caravan route to the land of
Ephrathah, a.k.a. as Bethlehem and the city of David.
I run my finger
over my library’s collection
of books devoted to the
birth of Jesus and I find
the memorable volume of
art work The Nativity and
see the handiwork of Jules
Vivas. This artist does
not envision some ideal
Madonna dressed immaculately even in a barn.
No, this Mary of Jules
Vivas is a real maid, swollen with child and her
child is about to burst
into her lap and into our
hearts. In those
watercolors the whole
prism of human emotions
is painted: hurt, fear, adulation and joy join with a
hint of pure terror because of the Roman
sword. The ancient story
of the birth of our Messiah is given a human face
and the mother is revealed as having as vulnerable a human heart as any
other new mother.
Any idea of an
immaculate quaint barn
decorated by Martha Stewart is obliterated and instead there are words telling of the smell of straw,
sweet and sour. The unmistakable fragrances of
cattle and sheep float up
from the page and enter
the ear and heart.
And there is Mary
in awe of what has come
from her. And Joseph is
lovingly attentive and
quiet. There is quiet and
awe because they are
aware that the scene before them is larger than
heart and mind can contain.
This is the
time to contemplate this event this
luxury that has
been thrust upon
us. By the sheer
grace of God we are
here in this place…
surrounded by music, lights, love,
family and friends.
Most of us are happier
than we ever imagined
and wealthier than most
of the world.
That is not the
glory of the season. No,
the glory of the season is
this: were all of our securities and worldly goods
taken away and were we
to be left with only the
story of the Birth of the
Baby, we would still be
richer than we deserve.
You are invited to attend a party on Christmas Eve after the Candle Light Service in the
Church Fellowship
Hall. Please bring finger
foods and your favorite
bottle of wine!
Men of the Church —
Memorial Bricks
The Session has approved a Men of
the Church project to complete a
commerative walk to the oak tree in
the center of the courtyard. The
walk will be constructed of bricks
and end at the bench around the
tree. Plans are that bricks may be
purchased for about $50 each from
the church office. Construction of
the walk will begin soon.
Please Pray For ….
Thank you John Tate for ordering
the poinsettias.
Sanctuary 2014
Thank you Carter Choate for planting
and taking care of our beautiful oak tree.
Those who have had loses: Joan Glaze and her family, Gregg Grimsley and
his family, Sandro Blalock’s family, Mary Helen Jordan’s family, Charlotte Fall
and her family in your prayers.
People who are in a nursing home or are home bound: Betty Crow, Eleanor
Harvey, Dorothy Newbern.
People who need spiritual support: Members: John Tate, Reg & LaVonne
Chung, Dennis Connor, Lamar Dickens
Community: Rebecca Cofer’s sister, Alexis and her husband Steve, Jordan Cofer’s brother Jacob, Hunter Ensley, Mishie Bacot, David Smith, Joe
Owen, Ware Gardnen, Donquauious Dennis, Catfish Clark, Dave Minter,
Loretta Johnson, Renee Golaszewski, Sherri Snider, David Hege, Patty
King, Chloe Kendrick, Mary Wauchope, Zane Chung. Please pray for our
nation, the world, and our armed forces all over the world. A special prayer
goes out to all the people caught in wars and uprisings around the world. May
their countries find peace.
Information
John Tate has a new
phone number 229-3391339.
Bessie Mathis has moved
to Tift Towers, 311 East
Thank you Michael Lindsey for
the wonderful green decorations.
Page 2
2nd Street Apt. 602,
Tifton, GA 31794.
If you have not
gotten a new
church directory
please call or
email the church
office.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Memorials were given in loving memory of ...
Norman Glaze by:
Clyde & Helen Dowler
Gary & Marilyn Gascho
Betty Titus
Charles & Sally Drexler
Sandro Blalock by:
Rusty & Judy Simpson
Gary & Marilyn Gascho
Vickie & Buddy Doles
Charles & Sally Drexler
Brian Doles
Rusty & Judy Simpson
Dorothy Newbern
Vickie & Buddy Doles
Sara & Rodger Haga
Brian Doles
Teena & Harold Henderson
Charlotte Bedell
Rev. Dr. Paul Luthman
Betsy & Ralph Leonard
Holly Hall
Jerry & Janie Hopwood
Jeanne Black
Clyde & Helen Dowler
Betsy & Ralph Leonard
Betty Horne
Don & JoAnn Sumner
Mary Helen Jordan by
Jerry & Janie Hopwood
Gary & Marilyn Gascho
Charles & Sally Drexler
Rusty & Judy Simpson
Vickie & Buddy Doles
Brian Doles
Dorothy Jordan
Howard & Debra McCrary
Mo Fall by
Gary & Marilyn Gascho
Charles & Sally Drexler
Rusty & Judy Simpson
family and I want to convey
Betsy & Ralph Leonard
to each and everyone of you.
Don & JoAnn Sumner
It’s your prayers, love and
Clyde & Helen Dowler
support that helped us
through this difficult time.
We will miss “Moe” terribly
but your thoughtfulness will
carry all of us on for days to
Total income as of December 19th 146,596.73
Surplus
Session News
Your Session Elders work
hard for you. They met on
Sunday, December 14th
at 4pm and here are some
of the actions were taken:
•The session approved
the 2015 budget.
•The session approved
Lee Fant as Treasurer. An
Assistant Treasurer is still
needed.
 The Elder of the
Month will now hanThe Presbyterian Press
to express the gratitude my
Vickie & Buddy Doles
Financial News
Total expenses
Words alone cannot begin
come.
133,070.53
Thank you.
$ 13,526.20
dle the Sunday School
Superintendent’s job.
 The session approved
the Men of the
Church’s beautification/memorial project
of brick paver walkway.
 The session approved
of a fellowship/
refreshments after the
Candlelight Service.
 The Session expressed
sincere sadness with
the passing of two
Charlotte & Family
respected Elders,
Norman Glaze
and Mo Fall.
The session’s next
meeting will be on
January 11, 2015.
Page 3
T H E F IR ST P R E S B YT E RIA N
CHURCH OF TIFTON
217 North Park Avenue
P.O. Box 304
Tifton, GA 31793-0304
Phone: 229-382-6730
Fax: 229-386-5802
E-mail: [email protected]
The Presbyterian Press is published
monthly.
Contributors: Rev. Dr. Hugh Ward,
Pastor: Rev. Dr. Hugh Ward
Music Director: Clay Newton
Organist: Melinda Howell
Admin. Asst.: Lori Hines
Pictures by Sonja Heard & Lori Hines
A friendly Church in the Heart of the South
Www.firstpresbyteriantifton.com
Angel Tree Party Pictures

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