305 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 828-456-3243 Rev. Holly Davis, Pastor Vol 13, Num 9, Sept 2019

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First NewsA publication of First Presbyterian Church

Waynesville, North Carolinanews@fpcwaynesville.org

From the Pastor’s Heart….

“Do your givin’ while you’re livin’ so you’ll be knowin’ where it’s goin’.” – Unknown

Dear Members and Friends,

When it comes to “Stewardship Season”, I’ve had a wide-range of church experiences! Growing up my pastor led the congregation intrusting God to provide for the needs of the church and her people. We never had stewardship campaigns. However, we did have a“Minute for Mission” each week. Every single week we heard about God’s work around the world. If the budget ever fell short -guess what we did? We prayed! And guess what God did? God faithfully provided.

Perhaps at the opposite extreme, I was once part of a church with a “Stewardship Team” that met all year long planning campaigns.This team (of about thirty people!) brainstormed about slogans, logos, and new ideas to encourage giving. The team members worespecial shirts. They distributed brochures, printed pencils and bookmarks. A videographer captured various church members tellingtheir stories about how God stretched them spiritually through generous giving. They were very enthusiastic. And guess what Goddid? God faithfully provided.

My second year of seminary I served as a pastor intern at a New Church Development in a remote area. The church members werefinancially stretched to their very limit to keep the doors open. And so, they invited their neighbors. They had spaghetti suppers andbake sales. They gave sacrificially to keep that place going! These folks had so little and yet they gave so much. And guess what Goddid? God faithfully provided.

Here at First Presbyterian we are blessed with praying, enthusiastic and sacrificial givers. I hope you discover that giving is moreabout what our Lord is doing in and through you, than anything you could ever imagine doing yourself.God is always faithful.We’ve seen God’s faithful provision in the past.We are seeing God’s faithfulness today.And we will trust God to faithfully provide for the future.

Here’s to cheerful giving!

Pastor Holly

Treasurer’sCorner

Nancy Thompson, CPA

Session NotesRon Tingle, Clerk of

Session

Session’s regular monthly meeting was convened by PastorHolly on July 8th. Lynn Kelley offered an opening prayer anddevotional. Ruth Caldwell updated the elders on members ofthe congregation needing our prayers. Pastor Holly led theelders in prayer for those in need. Clerk Ron Tingle declared aquorum. The agenda was approved, as were the minutes ofthe June 17th meeting.Treasurer Nancy Thompson shared another encouragingmonthly financial report. At 50% into the year, income was agratifying 62% of budgeted expectation. As of June 30th, year-to-date income is $44,511 over expenses. June income was$7,776 greater than June expenditures. Our church is in goodfinancial health.Nancy Thompson announced that the new organ will arrive onJuly 15. The organ team envisions installation requiring oneweek. One organ fund pledge is still outstanding but guaran-teed. Session will ensure payment for the organ delivery witha short-term internal loan from the General Fund, if needed.This will cover any shortfall experienced until the last pledge isreceived.Nancy Thompson described the Finance Team’s research into“online giving”, similar to electronic bill-pay that so many of usalready use. The Team has spoken to representatives fromchurches large and small and feels that the ease of paymentsplus an anticipated small increase in giving is worth a one-yeartest at First Presbyterian. There will be education for the

congregation and sign-up tools on the church web site forrecurring or one-time giving. Session approved and envisionsa November 1st implementation.Session received brief status reports from the Deacon Nomi-nating team and Grow Forward team. Both will have items forSession action at the August meeting.Upcoming important dates for Session: Called meeting to accept new members: this Sunday7/14 at 10:00 a.m. in classroom 2. Session retreat: Thursday, 7/25, 1 p.m. Pastor Holly’shouse. Dinner with spouses at 5:30 p.m.As there was no further business, Pastor Holly closed themeeting with prayer.

Editor’s Note: The July Session Notes were not available as ofthe newsletter printing this last month, so we have twomonths of meeting notes in this publication.

Your Session met on August 12, 2019 with all elders present.Also attending: Treasurer Nancy Thompson and Lee Galloway.The meeting was convened by Pastor Holly. Ruth Caldwell of-fered the opening prayer and a devotional. Ruth and Pastor Hollyupdated the elders on members of the congregation needing ourprayers. Pastor Holly led the elders in prayer for those in need.The agenda was approved and minutes of the July monthlymeeting and July 25th called meeting were approved.Clerk Ron Tingle conveyed a wedding request for February 15,2020 from Jenny Jones, a naval officer serving in Japan. Afterbackground from Pastor Holly and discussion, the request wasjoyfully approved.Treasurer Nancy Thompson shared the financial report for themonth ending July 31. At 58% into the year, income was a grati-fying 68% of budgeted expectation. Year-to-date income is$39,378 greater than expenses. Our church remains in goodfinancial health. The 2020 budgeting process will begin withbudget worksheets being sent to elders on September 6th, dueback by October 4th.Speaking for the Endowment Team, Nancy Thompson asked forSession approval to open an account with New Covenant Fundsto invest our $13,000 endowment balance. This group is recom-mended by the Presbyterian Foundation and their funds werereviewed for performance by Finance chair Lynn Kelley. TheTeam recommends investing in the New Covenant Income Fund– New Covenant’s most conservative fund and allows us liquidityfor electronic withdrawals whenever necessary. Session ap-proved the action.Lee Galloway presented proposals from the Grow Forward Com-mittee, our long range planning team formed one year ago.Responding to the pew-card surveys from the congregation thecommittee saw the congregation’s primary needs were structur-al: an elevator, covered portico, and more parking at the church.After consulting with Clark & Leatherwood Construction andwith Clark and Lanning Architects, the Grow Forward Teambrought to Session three broad-brush conceptual options toaddress these needs. The team felt any one of the optionsaddressed the accessibility, safety and aesthetic needs of thechurch. After Lee’s presentation and lively discussion, Sessionapproved a hybrid of the options. A presentation will be madeto the congregation right away.

Session Notes (Continued)

HospitalityJudi Crane,Chairperson

BoomersMorgan McNeil

Christian EducationJoan Schrenk,Chairperson

In June, the congregation approved formation and makeup of aDeacon Nominating Team (Judy Bryson, Charlotte Casey, PaulMann and Ron Tingle). Their work now complete, Pastor Hollypresented six names forwarded by the team to serve on thenew Board of Deacons. These are: Beverly Benson, Bill Covin,Charlie Cox, Lee Hutchison, Rachel Koger and Sylvia Lonnee.Each has agreed to serve. Session wholeheartedly approvedand set ordination to follow an election at the congregationalmeeting on Sunday, August 18th.Building & Grounds Team leader Rick Croskery asked that Ses-sion include clarifying language in our “Procedures for Reserv-ing Church Facilities”. A new bullet point #5 would state:Organizations using the church may not charge admission forevents held at the church. A free-will offering may be taken tosupport any approved mission of the church, so long as this isadvertised in any advance publicity for the event. A list ofqualifying non-profit organizations and missions is availablethrough the church office. Session approved. Our office manag-er will be asked to incorporate this text into the document.Session approved Pat Briggs’ request for use of the fellowshiphall on October 26th for a regional meeting of PEO women’sorganization. As 100 will be attending, there will be a custodialfee charged for setup and takedown of chairs. Pat’s motionwas seconded and carried.Announcements for information:Member Bill Covin has been hired at Tuscola High School as aSocial Studies teacher.Picnic attendance on August 11th was 92.The printed program at the upcoming organ concert will in-clude the names of those honored or memorialized by dona-tions to the organ fund.Building & Grounds is investigating possible lighting improve-ments at the front of the sanctuary.Our Mission Team has revised for clarification the vetting pro-cedure for approval of new recipient organizations. A VettingCommittee will meet once per year in November to act onrequests received. Our public school system is now included as“pre-vetted”. Approval does not imply inclusion in the Missionbudget, only that the organization is eligible to receive churchfunds.After several years at the helm, Stan Briggs will be passing thebaton as newsletter editor to new member Kathy Armstrong.The October issue will be her first.As there was no further business, Pat Briggs moved for adjourn-ment. Pastor Holly closed the meeting with prayer.

Next stated meeting of Session will be September 9th at 1:00 p.m.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who helpedwith the annual picnic last month. It takes many, many hands topull off a successful event and I appreciate each and every one ofyour for the parts you played, especially the Hospitality team –you guys are the greatest!!!FPCW is trying to be as environmentally friendly as we can.Several months ago we switched to biodegradable hot cups andthis month we’re going to stop using plastic or wooden coffeestirrers. Instead, there will be metal spoons on the drink table,or you can put the cream and sugar in the cup before pouring inthe coffee. Both methods work very well. Next, we will tryenvironmentally friendly disposable glasses for cold drinks, so belooking for them to show up soon.Because of the way the calendar falls this month, the pot luckluncheon is early, on Sunday September 8. Wouldn’t wantanyone to miss it. No special theme, so just bring any deliciousdish you want. Don’t know how it happens, but we always seemto have such a wonderful variety of food…and plenty of it!The Hospitality team will need to meet on Saturday September7 at 10:00 to set up for the covered dish luncheon instead of theregular Friday meeting time due to the Organ Dedication concerton Friday night followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

Come join the any-age Boomers group on September 12th at6PM for dinner at the Haywood 209 Cafe, 3360 Crabtree Road.For those who have not been there, Haywood 209 Cafe is a de-lightful diner located at Hwy 209 and I-40, in the Shell stationproperty. Come join us for great food and fellowship. (BTW,Sept 12th is Morgan’s birthday, so come help him celebrate!).Please RSVP by noon on Sept 10th to the church office.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplica-tion with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.Philippians 4:6This is good advice for Christ followers. Each day can be lived inpeace and joy.

Woodworking Tools for SaleI am down sizing my workshop andhave items to sell including a radial drillpress, 10 inch chop saw, belt sandersand many hand tools.Interested individuals may call me at452-1566 Phil Dammann

Mission TeamPat Briggs, Chair

Christian Education (Continued)

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Wisdom Seekers Come join us in the study of the books ofGalatians and Philippians.

Isaac They will begin a three week study of the book MereChristianity by C S Lewis.

The lunch and Bible bunch continues meeting every Mondayat noon with insights from the sermon on Sunday.

Come to movie night Sept. 22, 2019 at4:00 in the Church parlor. The fea-ture this month is Catching Hearts.This movie deals with the question Isthere a God. Where is God when lifefalls apart.

The next meeting of the Christian Education committee will beSept. 23,2019 at 1:30 pm in the Church parlor. Come join us.

EndowmentHughes Roberts

Chairman

BE THOUGHTFUL

BE SMART

BEQUEST

Include a gift to First Presbyterian in your will!

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’seasy to say. ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world,not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and

respond. I consider those peoplemy heroes.”

Rev. Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers)Presbyterian Minister and televi-sion personality.

If you have any questions or wantto join others in making a giftthrough your will to our church,contact Hughes Roberts, Endow-ment Team Member, or Nancy

Thompson, Church Treasurer. They will work with you to sug-gest appropriate wording for your will.

The following are excerpts from a letter written by ReverendJohn McCall, who is our newestmissionary that your missionteam has decided to support.John supports pastors of thePresbyterian Church of Taiwanin a country where only threepercent of the population isChristian. Outreach in Taiwancan be challenging and the pos-sibility of burnout is high. Ingroups, John and the pastorspray and read Scripture. Johnalso works with the native Tai-

wanese (aboriginals) who have been most open to the gospel,but also most marginalized people on the island.

Dear friends,

A number of years ago I was teaching at the Aboriginal Semi-nary on Taiwan's East Coast and a staff member told me thatan incoming student had the same Mandarin name as me.When I came to Taiwan, I was given a Mandarin name (MaYueh-Han). Almost no one in Taiwan uses or even knows myEnglish name. I am always referred to by my Mandarin name.Up to that point, I had never heard anyone else with my name.So, I called this incoming student, who is from the Bunun tribe.He didn't happen to be at home, but I met him on the first dayof class. I told him that since we had the same name if I wasever sick, he could preach for me. He replied, "No if I am eversick, you can take the test for me."

Ma Yueh-Han felt called to be a pastor from a young age. Buthis father wanted him to find a job which paid better. So, hebecame a police officer. One day he was apprehending a crimi-nal, who shot him twice. One bullet entered his abdomen andfrom them on he has had to use a wheelchair for mobility.

He retired from the police force when he was fifty and enteredthe seminary. Two years later, his wife, Ali, also began herstudies at the seminary. Yueh-Han and Ali had three children, ason and later twin daughters. The son had his time in the farcountry straying from God's way but returned to God and to thechurch and later began his undergraduate studies at the semi-nary. The son and his wife also had three children of their own.

Tragically, one evening, their son was riding in a car driven bya classmate. The car was going too fast around a curve,crashed and both young men were killed. You can imagine thedeep sorrow which Ali and Yueh-Han felt. Facing the tragic loss

Mission (Continued)

of a child is probably one of the greatest challenges to one'sfaith. They also grieved for their three grandchildren who wouldnow grow up without a father.

Yueh-Han and Ali continued their studies at the seminary, andboth graduated. For the last four years, they have been servinga tribal church in a South Mountain Village on Taiwan's EastCoast. The church had been without a pastor for a while andmany of the young adults, youth, and children had drifted awayfrom the church.

I was recently invited to speak there at a joint church youth eventon Saturday evening and preach at a joint church renewal serviceon Sunday. I took the tilting train (which tilts on the curves so itcan keep up a fast speed) from Taipei to Yuli, a small town on theEast Coast. I was greeted at the train station by Yueh-Han, Ali,

their daughter, and their three grandchildren. It took us about anhour and a half to arrive at their village.

When we arrived, we drank tea and slowly youth from neighbor-ing villages arrived for the youth event. Many of these youth aregoing to school in Taiwan's cities and come back to their villagesfor the weekend. Several of my former seminary students, whoare serving churches in the area, brought the youth from theirchurches. It is a joy to listen to former students and see how Godis at work in and through them.

As I had the opportunity to hear from Yueh-Han and Ali abouttheir lives and ministry, I was struck by all that they have had toendure and yet they are pastors of hope and faith. Yueh-Hanexpresses no rancor toward the man who shot him and confinedhim to a wheelchair. They have joined with their daughter-in-law to share their faith with their three grandchildren. Theydeeply miss their son, but they trust that he is in heaven and oneday they shall meet again. So often I am invited to aboriginalchurches to share the Good News of the Gospel, but as I watchand listen to my aboriginal brothers and sisters, they share theGood News with me by the power of the witness of their lives.

Sunday morning before I preached, the entire congregationstood to sing a song of praise in the unique eight-part harmonyof the Bunun tribe. As I looked out at their faces, includingYueh-Han who is unable to stand, I felt as if I was in heaven.Their lives are difficult, but their faith is strong. And this coupleis working hard to invite the children and youth of the villageback to the community of faith.

As I took the train back to Taipei, I gave thanks for this couplewho have not allowed the significant tragedies of their lives toprevent them from being a blessing to others. Their hearts arenot bitter. They are honest about their grief. And perhaps theirhard experiences allow them to understand the challengeswhich others are facing. They certainly are an encouragement tome.

In small and often unnoticed places, God is at work. And God isat work in the village of South Mountain through Ali and Yueh-Han. Children and youth of that village know that they are lovedby God and by the community of faith. There is hope in the air!Thank you for your interest, concern, and generosity which allowme to journey with folks like Ali and Yueh-Han.

Gratefully,John McCall

HealingHearts

This is a new group gathering specifically to love and supportone another who are grieving.Please come to the kick-off meeting on Tuesday, September17th10 am in the ParlorThis group is open for everyone!

SchoolSupplies

The school supplies were delivered to the fifth-grade teachersof Hazelwood Elementary on Friday, August 16th. The teach-ers were so appreciative! They immediately went to work di-viding the supplies among the four classes.Because of the congregation’s awesome generosity, we wereMORE than able to meet our goal of furnishing supplies for 85students. What did we deliver?

∙   Over 1000 pencils and erasers,

∙   500 glue sticks,

∙   350 ball point pens,

∙   265 composition notebooks,

∙   150 dry erase markers,

∙   100 or more clipboards, gel pens, pencil sharpeners,and colored pencil packs,

∙   An assortment of pencil boxes, wipes, and tissues,

∙   AND, 18 backpacks that weren’t even on the shop‐ping list!

We completed our goal with ample funds left over to replen-ish the fifth-grade supply closet at midyear. Thanks to every-one for the time, resources, and prayer needed to make theHazelwood Elementary Back-to-School project a success.

“Book Buffet” Coming YourWay

Do you like the feel of a book in your hand butyou’re running out of shelf space? Have youtripped over a box of books you meant to therecent library sale but missed the deadline?Want something new to read but just can’tjustify buying the latest? On a long waiting list at the library fora “hot” read? Going away and want something you can leave atthe resort? We’ve got just the thing for you - the Book Buffet onSeptember 22 following worship! Bring in books you are willingto part with through Sept. 15 and drop them in the collectionstations (no text books, please). Then be sure to come onSeptember 22 during the Fellowship time following worshipand pick up new ones! It couldn’t be easier. Volunteers areneeded before (sorting), during (keeping things tidy) and afterthe buffet (clean up). Contact Andrea Croskery(andrea.croskery@gmail.com) for more information or to vol-unteer.

Hurricane DorianAs of this writing, we anxiously await the outcome of one ofthe largest storms in history. We pray for God’s protection ofthose in this storm’s path, and also pray for the families thathave already been affected in The Bahamas and elsewhere.

The Congregational Care Team has been blessed to have aboard of Deacons appointed to serve the congregation at FirstPresbyterian. The board of Deacons, Sylvia Lonnee, Bill Covin,Beverly Benson, Lee Hutchison, Rachel Koger, Charlie Cox, Pas-tor Holly and Ruth Caldwell, Elder Liaison, attended an organiza-tional meeting on Wednesday August 17. The duties of theDeacons were discussed and how those duties could be fulfilledby providing a ministry of sharing the redeeming love of JesusChrist. The Deacons will meet on Tuesday September 10th todecide which deacons will serve a 1, 2, 3 year term and elect aModerator-Chair of Deacon Board & Liaison to Session; Associ-ate Moderator-assists Moderator and chairs if absence; andSecretary/Treasurer-records minutes, reports account balance.Please pray for our new Deacons as God’s will be done as theyfulfill the ministry of helping and encouraging each memberthat may have spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Ruth Caldwell, Chairperson

OrganRecital

On September 6 at 6:30 we will dedicate the new organ for FirstPresbyterian. The Recital will feature Mary Ann Cooper fromFirst Baptist, Kathy McNeil from First Methodist and DianeCombs from First Presbyterian. Craig Summers will play anorgan piano duet with Diane and the gentleman who inheritedour old organ will also play.The love of music along with a very faithful congregation provid-ed the opportunity to purchase the Allen 340 3-manual organ.The organ was paid for before the installation was completed.Come enjoy the beauty of the organ as we dedicate to the Gloryof God and In Memory and In Honor of His faithful servants.A reception will follow the concert.

LeeGalloway

On August 9th, the Western Carolina campus ministry teamlead by Noah McIntree hosted several presbytery churcheswho sent volunteers to work at the mission campus cleaningup and organizing the kitchen and outside grounds. Nancy andI were in attendance as well as Pat and Stan Briggs. We wereable to meet several volunteers from area churches as well asfellowship over lunch. Here are a few pictures of that workday.