The Messenger

Connectioning

First Presbyterian Church

Connectingto share thelove of God

with all

A Prayer for the 2020 School Yearfrom the Presbyterian Outlook, July 16, 2020, author, Jill Duffield

Lord, we know you hold the future andwalk with us even now on this unpre-dictable path of the pandemic. We trustyou work through the most difficult ofseasons and never abandon us to navi-gate life’s challenges alone.

As we look to a new school year, weworry about the ongoing impact ofCOVID-19. It seems to be a time of noright answers, no clear good choicesand no comprehensive way for parents,

educators and administrators to meet the pressing needs of students, teachers, staff andfamilies. We do not want children to fall further behind in their learning. We do not wantto put caregivers in the position of choosing between going to work or tending to theirchildren. We do not want to endanger the health of any in our community. Alreadystretched resources are pushed to the limit as we attempt to reduce class sizes, expandthe ways content is delivered and seek to enact needed safety precautions.

We look to you, Lord, to take, bless and multiply our efforts to educate and nurture yourchildren. We look to you, Lord, who gives us the peace that passes understanding, hears

Aug. -Sept. 20200-VOLUME 4

2020- A Year Like No Other

For God so loved the world that he gave

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the cries of the hurting and promises that small amounts of faith can precipitate large,life-giving change. We look to you, loving God, for wisdom, for courage, for inspiration,for creativity.

As we make difficult decisions in an unprecedented time, grant us an unshakable commit-ment to one another, especially to the most vulnerable among us. Send your Spirit toopen our eyes to the new thing you are doing. Send your Spirit to open our ears to thevoices we need most to hear. Send your Spirit to open our hearts to the profound love youhave for us all so that everything we do in this time of fear, anxiety and uncertainty revealsyour compassion, kindness and grace. Send your Spirit to comfort and direct us as wehumbly look to you for guidance and strength. Amen.

As we continue to navigate our way through this challenging year, we hope that FirstPresbyterian provides hope and peace. We all wonder when our lives will return to somesemblance of normalcy. In the meantime, please remember your prayerful support andfinancial gifts bless the ministries of FPC.For your convenience, online giving is now available.

We are delighted that the Sara Tinstman Founda-tion asked us to team with their Back to SchoolFree Supply Kits give-away by serving as thedrive-thru distribution center.

Sara was a member at First Presbyterian. Follow-ing her death the Tinstman family created a foun-dation to honor their mother.

Let’s remember to celebrate birthdays!!! There are many ways to reach out and wish folksa Happy Birthday. If you need an address or telephone number to help someone celebratetheir birthday, email Janice at office@firstpresby-newcastle.org or call the church office724-652-7706.

Thanks to the Deacons for the care provided for our congregation and community. Theycontinue to to offer takeout lunches for Glory Grille the first and third Saturday of eachmonth, and are planning to have some clothing available outside for upcoming GloryGrilles.

In August they also delivered bags of candy to the New Castle Police Department to thankthem for their service.

Thanks Deacons

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Let’s Celebrate Birthdays!!

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

1 Brandon McCreary Elaine McCreary3 Kristin Brown4 John Baker Lisa Rodgers8 David Purdy Sharon Hodge9 Grace Sink12 Debbie Shannon Father Denny Blauser13 Mike Tinstman Dallas Hemphill14 Esther Selby Janice Hanna15 Dave Yeropoli Diane Wherry18 Chris Anderson Octavia Payne Diane Reiber26 Olof Berner29 Lydia Ubry31 James T. Rugh

1 Conner Lee2 Corey Shannon3 Dan Vogler7 Tom Johnston9 Jarrod Gunther Rick Reiber10 Nancy Stewart12 Lisa Jurina Vincent Seminara13 Gretchen Sink14 Audrina Lively17 Riya Lively18 Gabby Fenell Marilyn Minner Nathan Sink19 Garry Cunningham26 Kathy Huffman

On Thursday, March 12, during final dress rehearsal for the musical Swing at Lincoln ParkPerforming Arts Center, the director came in and told us all to go home. And just like that,my life - everyone’s lives - came to a complete standstill.

I finished 11th grade in my bedroom without seeing a single friend. The show I’d beenworking on so hard was cancelled, along with all of my other extracurricular activities. Ourtrip to Florida to visit colleges was cancelled, and then my summer internship at thePittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. I went from being on the run 16 hours a day to not leaving myhouse for weeks. It was very difficult, and I became discouraged and increasingly upset aseverything I’d been looking forward to was taken away one by one.

When counties started phasing back into yellow and green, I was hired as a zookeeper atLiving Treasures Wild Animal Park—a dream come true for my younger self. I work thereroughly 35 hours a week. It’s hard physical labor, but I like what I’m doing, so it doesn’tbother me.

While the absence of school was a hard thing in itself (for someone like me who LOVESgoing to school), what most adults don’t realize is that my class is having to think aboutour transition to college at this time in our lives. We’re having to apply to universitieswithout having visited campuses, and without being able to take entrance exams like theSAT. Virtual is the new reality, and I’ve spent countless hours reaching out to colleges,scheduling online meetings with professors and admissions counselors, taking virtual toursof campuses, and writing scholarship essays littered with words such as “pandemic,”“online,” and “new normal.”

In July I started rehearsals for Distinguished Young Women of Lawrence County, ascholarship program for which I had been selected as a finalist in April. I rehearsed for the

show twice a week for 2 months while juggling work andcollege preparations.

On August 14, the night before the DYW show, I was drivingand was broadsided by a large pickup truck. I suffered fromshock, minor cuts and bruises, and whiplash, but otherwiseescaped unscathed...physically. Upon examination of mytotaled car, the insurance agent commented that she wasthankful the car didn’t explode as the truck hit the gas tank. Icould be dead, but I’m not. If that’s not a God-given miracle,I don’t know what is.

A Teen’s Response to COVID 19 It’s been a busy summer.

With emotional trauma and very little sleep, I spent over 10 hours the next day at theCathedral. The DYW show was hard to do physically, but I got through it. I ended with 3scholarships, one of which was the Community Service Award. I’d like to thank FPC for allthe volunteer opportunities that you’ve provided, which helped me to earn thatscholarship.Last Friday afternoon, I received a phone call that school will be completely online for atleast the first 4 weeks. While I know that this is for everyone’s safety, I am absolutelycrushed with feelings of helplessness, disappointment, and overwhelming sadness. Andwith that came the news of no live performances, which is something I was lookingforward to — and my final year to be able to participate. On top of everything, I waselected President of Student Council — how does that work when we can’t even be inschool? Every teenager looks forward to their Senior year, and it’s tragic that the class of2021 is already facing consequences of something that we have no control of. I truly feellike I’m mourning the loss of a milestone in my life that I will never get back.

So, I’ve had a busy summer. There have been moments of happiness and excitement, butthey have been few and far between. As I’m looking toward the future, facing moreuncertainty than I’ve ever felt in my life, I pray that the peace of God will overpowereverything I’ve been stressed about, and that He will guide me so that I can findcontentment, and maybe even hope, in the unknown.

Thank you all for being my extended family, and for encouraging and supporting methrough these tough times. I try to remember that everyone is having a difficult time, andI’m thankful to be alive and be with people who love me. Let’s grow stronger, together.

God bless,Lydia

Mission-Christmas in July Carolyn Moody

Our mission gifts for summer 2020 totaled $2084! $1376 will help care for our neigh-bors in Lawrence County, and $708 will spread the love of God around the world.

For each family and individual who took part in this year’s outreach, and everyone whopersonally offers service time or resources in our Savior’s name, we have His promise,“When you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it tome, You...are blessed by the Father.” (Matthew 25: 40, 34)

FPC Building BridgesAs noted above, FPC is hosting a program for our community. This event is being orga-nized by the Outreach Mininstry and through the generosity of corporate and foundationdonors. We hope you choose to participate in this uplifting afternoon.

Nationally acclaimed and multiple award-winning storyteller La’Ron Williams shares bothoriginal and traditional tales that appeal to a wide range of ages and social backgrounds.His energetic, music-spiced presentations are always fun, highly participatory, educationaland entertaining,

Every program is specifically designed to promote diversity, foster community building,encourage peaceful conflict resolution and teach a host of “pro-social” skills, includingempathy, self-expression and attentive listening.

Williams has received high praise for his skill at presenting diversity workshops for adults,helping participants understand the nature of “invisible” bias and moving beyond theemotional stumbing blocks that prevent us from taking collective responsibility for creat-ing a just and equitable society.

Check him out by searching La’Ron Williams on YouTube or enteryoutube.com/watch?v+wzbZGePAdbU

On August 30th First Presbyterian welcomed Daniel Burick and Lois Greene-Sellers as itsnewest members. They were originally schduled to become members on Palm Sunday.We’re so delighted to have you join us as members.

New Members Welcomed

I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of First Presbyterian Church for allthe kindness you have shown me concerning the passing of my husband. I thank you forthe beautiful cards, the generous gifts given in his memory, the flowers, the phone calls,the visits, and I certainly thank you for your prayers. I would like to thank Marty for takingcare of the music and Janice for taking time to prepare a lovely bulletin. I am truly gratefulfor the lovely service given by Pastor Lorrie. I received many compliments concerning hisservice and much credit goes to each of you.

Pastor graciously agreed to read the memorial that I had written for Denny. I mentioned inhis memorial that during a Sunday morning television sermon a minister once asked,“When you’ve passed from this earthly scene, how will people remember you? What char-acter quality will linger in their minds prompting them to say your’s was an effective life?”

Of course, I could easily answer that question for my husband. Let me respond to thatquestion for each of you who are reading this Messenger. For years I have witnessed first-hand the love and devotion you have given to your church. I know how many times eachof you have stepped up to the plate when help was needed, no matter how busy or tiredyou might be. I am, at times, astonished at your degree of loyalty and I consider it a privi-lege to serve with each one of you.

While forgiveness through Christ is the root of our relationship with God, our love andconcern for one another is the very fruit of that relationship. It is impossible to have onewithout the other. I am convinced that faith is more than what we believe, it is also aboutwho we become. You are definitely some of the most loving, compassionate, andhumurous people I have ever met.

I recently got together for lunch with friends I had not been with in years. One of themhad some questions concerning our church and asked why I chose this particular place ofworship. My reply is always the same. “I am a member of the First Presbyterian Churchbecause I refuse to settle for less than the best God has to offer!”

I’ll see you in church,Leslie Stone

With Deep Appreciation, I Thank You

Thank You(s)

Thank you 1st Presbyterian Church for thegift. It has helped me in my trip to serve inJapan.

Connor Lee

Thank you for the generous financialgift.

Quentin Lee

Many of our Recreation Center folks are enjoying getting back to some of our regularactivities, with safety and social distancing in mind. While not all Rec Center activities,especially cards and table games, could not safely resume, some of our most popularactivities are up and running. Wood carvers are back to making birds, chains and othercarved objects, and line dancers are wearing masks while dancing to the familiar sounds of“Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “The Electric Slide.” Pool players, knitters and people in thecomputer room are also appreciating a place to go to for a few hours. Camera Clubmembers are emailing photos back and forth and hoping to be with us in person againsoon and pizza is served on Tuesdays at noon. Most importantly, people are being safewhile enjoying favorite activities and catching up with their friends!

Our June Seniors for Safe Driving refresher class was in such demand, that a second classwas added to keep the class size small enough to provide social distancing as well as to beable to accept a few more participants. Since our August class was already full, and manysites are continuing to cancel planned classes, we are working with the Seniors for SafeDriving company to offer additional classes for the community this fall. All Rec Centerclasses are refresher classes for those who have taken the class in the past. If you havenever taken a senior driving improvement course, I would recommend the Seniors for SafeDriving Online course which is available at roadreview.com. This 7-hour online course letsyou work at your own pace. You can log in and out and your progress is saved so youresume where you left off. If you and another person wish to complete the coursetogether, you can register with the “x2” option and take the course at the same time. At theend, you print out your certificate and send it off to your insurance agent for a 5% savings,good for three years!

If you would like more information about Seniors for Safe Driving options or dates orabout any Recreation Center programs, please contact Lisa Rodgers (724-652-8690).

Recreation Center by Lisa Rodgers

The Recreation Center, as First Church, follows the CDCguidelines for COVID 19.