FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HIGHLANDS

SONSHINE SCHOOL..................2 KIRKIN OF THE TARTENS........3

AUGUST HAPPENINGS.............4

HCCDC....................................5 MULLEN LECTURE SERIES...... 5 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES.......................6 LECTIONARIES….............…….8

SEPTEMBER 2014

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT YOU?

FROM THE PASTOR

I had a pleasant surprise recently as I was

reading Will Willimon’s book on “Why

Jesus?” I had prepared my sermon for July 13

on “give us this day our daily bread,” and by

inspiration had come up with the idea of using

the phrase from the commercial on TV about

“The World’s Most Interesting Man.” As it

happened, on the evening before delivering

my sermon I read the introduction to

Willimon’s book “Why Jesus?” and found

Willimon making the very same claim about

Jesus –without reference to the TV commer-

cial. The first statement in Willimon’s book

is, “Why Jesus? Because he’s is the most fas-

cinating person in the world;” and then a few

paragraphs later Willimon writes, “Jesus…

the most interesting person in the world.”

Willimon’s entire introduction sets

out in five brief pages two reasons why Jesus

is the most interesting person in the world.

First, Jesus “manages to be unfathomable,

deep, [and] ungraspable,” because “Jesus is

someone who shatters our preconceptions of

just how a Messiah is supposed to talk and to

act.” Indeed, we may have probable ideas

about who Jesus is. Yet, these ideas quickly

become challenged. As John the Baptizer de-

clares, “Among you stands one whom you do

not know.” No wonder, then, that “the gospels

present Jesus as a wild, weird, and improbable

character” –he shatters our preconceptions.

Second, Jesus is the most interesting

person in the world because while he is im-

probable, Jesus is “yet oddly close, intimate,

talkative and relentlessly relational.” Willi-

mon notes that with Jesus people find “their

lives radically transformed.” People find that

the testimonies of who Jesus who is, “truly

reveal God in singular and life-changing

ways.”

So Willimon presents Jesus as the

most interesting person in the world because

one, he is both improbable and, two, Jesus

reveals God in a singular way over against our

expectations. No wonder then that people

worldwide have not dampened their enthusi-

asm for Jesus. Higher numbers of people now

follow Jesus than ever before, and as many

are murdered for Jesus as in past persecutions.

In conclusion, Willimon says that “If

you… feel that you don’t know much about

Jesus, that’s a good thing,” because that opens

you up to “taking a risk of getting discom-

bobulated, commandeered, and befriended by

the most interesting person in the world.”

A good place to begin this risk taking

is to read Willimon’s book, “Why Jesus?”

Copies of it are available in the office. His

book is also being studied in two classes dur-

ing Church School on Sunday mornings at

9:30.

Curtis

The Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans is such a wonderful celebration in the life of our congrega-

tion! We celebrate those with Scottish heritage but also “all families” when “we raise these

tartans before Almighty God.” This “blessing” is also received as a gift in the community, as

many members of other churches attend this service. -Continues onto page 2

PAGE 2

SONSHINE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

W e are excited about another year of being involved in Children's Ministry. School began

August 25 and the children are happy to be back. Can you believe we have seventeen students

enrolled? Don’t panic! The Lord has richly blessed us again so we go forward into nine months of

learning. You might like to know we have 5 in kindergarten, 1 first grader, 6 second graders, 3 third

graders, and 2 fourth graders. Our teachers are Kathryn Buckley, Mozelle Edwards, Bri Jenkins and

Valerie Shelton. We are excited to be using a room in our fellowship center for one of our classrooms.

Mrs. Buckley is a retired fourth grade teacher who will be teaching. We are excited to be working with

her and will have a great year!

We still need snacks and could always use volunteers.

Mozelle Edwards

It’s easy to take something like the Kirkin’ service for granted. Yet, it only happens due to a lot

of planning and attention. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Skip Taylor for again organizing our

Kirkin’ carriers to provide the pageantry for the service. Also, a rousing word of thanks to the merry

band who so generously made the Kirkin’ reception a reality –Darlene Scott, Wilda Boyette, Delaine

Mehder, Christ Boltz, Carole Marotti, Jeanne Christie, and Carol Strunk. Additionally, we are grateful to

Joel and Anne Porter for creating grand food for our delight to eat. Thank you—one and all!

continued from page 1

D id you know that the Highlands Emergency Council (HEC) has been run completely by volunteers of the Highlands Commu-

nity since 1985? That is what HEC’s mission is all about, people in this community helping those in need. With all volunteers and no paid staff, HEC is able to provide help to the low income residents of Highlands as well as to those who have suffered a disaster and those who have lost or have been unable to find work with almost all of the donations it receives. How does HEC help? HEC has several different programs to help those in need. Help comes from HEC to its clients in many forms; food, fuel, clothing, household goods, appliances and utilities. HEC provides assistance to all who apply and meet its qualifications. No one should go cold or hungry. How can you help? No one would argue that food and fuel are basic needs. To that end First Presbyterian Church of Highlands is hosting the fourth annual community-wide Food for Fuel luncheon on September 14th. This luncheon gives the community the opportunity

to meet HEC’s board of directors and learn more about HEC and the services it provides to the community. The free lunch is provided by the church, all we ask of you is to make a donation. Any proceeds collected will go to the HEC’s fuel fund. Last year $6,372.00 was collected at the luncheon and was used to help provide heating assistance to 58 families in the Highlands community. This is a fun and painless way to support the mission of the Highlands Emergency Council. The luncheon is from 11:45 to 1:45 pm. Reservations would be appreciated but are not needed. Please call the church office at 828-526-3175 if you would like to make a reservation. In addition to providing food and fuel, HEC also has other important community-oriented offerings. They include a Christmas Program for children 12 years and younger, a Clothes Closet, Dish and Linen Room, Small Appliance Room and Warehouse which holds all types of household items: beds, tables, chairs, pictures, sofas, large appliances, and the utilities help fund which was started in 2013 at the request of local area churches; The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church, Holy Family Lutheran Church, The United Methodist Church of Highlands and The First Presbyterian Church of Highlands to help those with past due electric balances with the Town of Highlands during the winter. Come visit us 71 Poplar Street from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. There is a real need for volunteers to prepare food boxes, unload the Manna food truck, sort and organize the linen room, clothes closet and the warehouse. If you can give us even an hour or two—please call Mary Anne Creswell at 526-2635 or HEC at 526-4357. We need your help!

PAGE 3

KIRKIN' OF THE TARTANS

For the first time in recent memory, rain blessed the Kirkin' of the Tartans this

year. The annual ceremony took place in our sanctuary on Sunday,

August 10. Representatives from the Scottish Tartans Museum set up a display of the

history of the tradition, and local piper David Landis added the haunting touch of the

bagpipes.

PAGE 4

AUGUST CHURCH HAPPENINGS

The August 20 Interlude was a crowd-pleaser, featuring vocalists from

Georgia State University. Carolyn Balkovetz, Soprano, John Tibbetts, Baritone,

Nicolas Yaquinto, Baritone, along with pianist William Fowler performed a

selection of classical songs and operatic arias.

Carolyn Balkovetz, Soprano John Tibbetts, Baritone Nicolas Yaquinto, Baritone

Coro Vocati, a vocal ensemble composed of

professional singers from the metro Atlanta

area, were special musical guests at our

August 17 service. Coro Vocati serves as a

workshop in choral singing for its members,

and rewards audiences with a beautifully

diverse repertoire and engaging performances.

Their music enriched our worship service, and

we hope to have them back!

We were thrilled to feature Norman Mackenzie

performing the August 6 Interlude Concert.

Norman is the Organist and Music Director at

Atlanta’s Trinity Presbyterian Church and is

also the Director of the award winning Atlanta

Symphony Chorus. Norman is no stranger to

our congregation, having performed several

concerts on our organ, including the Inaugural

Concert in 2004.

William Fowler, Pianist

PAGE 5

HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

"Ten Little Preschoolers Heading to Kindergarten!"

Mullen Lecture Series Our inaugural guest speaker for the Mullen Lecture

Series was the Reverend Dr. William Willimon,

Dean of the Chapel at Duke Divinity School, Bishop

of the Methodist Church, pastor, professor and inter-

nationally renowned author and speaker, named one

of the "twelve most effective preachers of

the Gospel." Dr. Willimon preached on Sunday, July

27, and gave a lecture in the sanctuary

on Monday. The thought-provoking lecture was very

well attended and enthusiastically received, prompt-

ing a lively question-and-answer session after-

ward. To ensure that the lecture series continues,

please consider making a donation. You may make

checks payable to the church, specifying "Mullen

Lecture Series" in the memo line.

PAGE 6

WOMEN’S STUDIES

The Morning Study will meet Wednesday, September 3rd at

10:15 in the library. We will start our study "Fruits of the

Spirit". We invite all women of the church to join us. Bring a

sandwich and something to share for lunch. If you need a study

book, please contact Sally Copeland at 743-2852.

The Evening Circle of Friends The first Thursday Circle of

Friends will meet on September 4 at 7:00 P. M. in the church

parlor. Please read 1 Corinthians in advance of the first class,

as well as Lessons 1 and 2 in Reconciling Paul . . . A Contem-

porary Study of 2 Corinthians by Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty. All

ladies of the church are cordially invited to this very meaning-

ful study one night of each month.

JULY 2014 TREASURER’S REPORT Budget Actual

Operating Income and Expenses

YTD Income 438,23500 476,315.00

YTD Expenses 489,270.00 538,015.00

Net Income (51,035.00) (61,700.00)

PLEASE KEEP YOUR PLEDGES CURRENT!

To provide flowers for a loved one, please fill out a

flower leaflet located upstairs next to the flower calendar or down-

stairs located at the Receptionist’s desk.

September Birthdays

Sept. 1 Don Fisher

Dick Hills

Sept. 3 Phil Leabo

Sept. 5 Dick Grier

Sandi Shipp

Sept. 6 Bill Strunk

Sept. 11 Bill Cochran

Betty Paterson

Janey Swift

Sept. 12 Martha Betz

Doug Landwehr

Kitty Moore

Dee Sherrill

Sept. 15 Ron Bobo

Sept. 16 Jo Ann Lacy

Alan Lewis

Sept. 17 Jane Lewis

Hillrie Quin

Sept. 18 Mike Glenn

Sept. 20 Steve Mehder

Ginny Wright

Sept. 21 Katherine Kaiser

Sept. 22 Pat Moore

Sept. 25 Kent Hill

Sept. 30 Mary Jellison

Jack Kuhne

Willis Willey

September Anniversaries

Sept. 1 Jo Ann & David Lacy

Julia & William Grumbles

Sept. 6 Gena & Bob Smith

Sept. 7 Mary Anne & William

Creswell

Sept. 8 Ina & Richard Rodgers

Sept. 10 Avary & Gerry Doubleday

Fran & Bill Matthews

Sept. 12 Helen & David Rozendale

Sept. 13 Doris & Ed Dietrich

Sept. 14 Jane & Jim Johnson

Sept. 16 Sheryl & Craig James

Sept. 24 Nancy & Rock Curlee

Sept. 27 Jill & Kent Hill

October Birthdays

Oct. 1 Tom Joyner

Oct. 3 Judy Tindel

Oct. 4 Jim McCord

Oct. 5 Bill Gahagan

Oct. 6 Carol Strunk

Oct. 7 Betty Fugate

Oct. 8 Sue Ann Glenn

Chad Lucas

Oct. 10 Kathryn Holland

Mary Anna McClendon

Oct. 13 Martha Spruill

Oct. 14 Chris Boltz

Oct. 15 Tom Graves

Oct. 16 John Greene

Julia Grumbles

Oct. 17 Jimmy Sherard

Oct. 19 Hines Brannan

Scott McDuff

Oct. 20 Neil Greiser

Bev Quin

Oct. 23 Don Mullen

Oct. 29 Donna Laird

Oct. 31 William Creswell

Ann Greenlee

Karin Potts

October Anniversaries

Oct. 8 Veronica & Gary Vogt

Oct. 9 Kitty & Pat Moore

Oct. 18 Gay Graves & Boyd Letcher

Mary & David Jellison

Judy & Terry Tindel

Oct. 23 Nell & George Oliver

PAGE 7

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PAGE 8

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

OF HIGHLANDS

828-526-3175 FAX: 828-526-0784

E-MAIL: FPCH@FRONTIER.COM WEB PAGE: FPCHIGHLANDS.ORG

471 MAIN STREET P. O. BOX 548

HIGHLANDS, NC 28741

Sanctuary hours for meditation are 9:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Office hours are 9:00 to 4:30 Monday—Friday

Church Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Church Services

June through Labor Day weekend Communion served every Sunday

11:00 a.m. Communion served the first Sunday of every month

Class of 2014 Congregational Care, Chris Boltz

Adult Education, Sheryl James Vision 20/20, Pat Moore

Property, Tom Smith

Class of 2015 Congregational Care, Sally Copeland

Worship, Kathy Evans Membership/Outreach, Donna Woods

Class of 2016 Children’s Ministry, Delaine Mehder

Personnel, Obie Oakley Mission, Hillrie Quin

Clerk of Session, Claude Sullivan

Elder of the Month Pat Moore

Ministers The Congregation

Staff Jennifer Creswell, Administrative Manager Raychael Evans, Administrative Assistant

Steve Mehder, Treasurer Michael Lancaster, Director of Worship/

Music Angie Jenkins, Organist/

Music Coordinator Joel Porter, Food Coordinator Kyle Clark, Property Manager Eva Montano, Emily Mathis

& Janice Mathis, Nursery Assistants

Kathryn Buckley, Mozelle Edwards & Valerie Shelton,

Sonshine School Directors Briana Jenkins, Sonshine Assistant

Pastors Curtis Fussell

Emily Wilmarth

Lectionary Texts for September

As you prepare to come to worship, here are the scripture texts that will make up the services during the month of September:

September 7 Exod. 12:1-14 13th Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 149 Rom. 13:8-14 Matt. 18:15-20 September 14 Exod. 14:19-31 14th Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 114 or Exod. 15:1b-11, 20-21 Rom. 14:1-12 Matt. 18:21-35 September 21 Exod. 16:2-15 15th Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 105:1-6, 37-45 Phil. 1:21-30 Matt. 20:1-16 September 28 Exod. 17:1-7 16th Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 78:1-4, 12-16 Phil. 2:1-13 Matt. 21:23-32

Please keep in your prayers

these members and friends of the congregation:

Emily Reid Brigman (Janice & Dan Topping’s granddaughter), Annette & Wayne

Coleman, Mattie Crawford (Betty Fisher’s mother), Mary Anne & William Creswell,

Haley Fisher (Don Fisher’s great niece), Fran & Bill Gaston, Anna Griffin (Delaine

Griffin’s daughter), Linda James (Mary Ann Creswell’s sister), Brian Knox (Mindy

Cook’s brother), Becky Locke (Nancy Curlee’s mother), Jack McAlister, Betty

Paterson, Keturah & Don Paulk, Phil Salmon (Donna Wood’s brother-in-law)

and Martha Spruill.

Please keep in your prayers

these members in the community and beyond:

Terri Armfield, Steve Hayner, Frank Jemison, Jane & George Jerry,

Cherry Martin (Bill’s wife), The family of Jack Philpott, Jim Shearon

and Sandra Simmons.