January 16, 2020

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new!
[2 Corinthians 5:17]

Dear Friends,
    There is the old saying, "Sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug." The scripture readings for Sunday offer a similar choice. Do we want to be fishers of people (as Jesus calls out to his disciples) or would we rather be the bait (like Jonah)? It is our choice.
    In Christ,

Youth Night. Towers of Terror Challenge: Can you defy the laws of gravity with a pack of spaghetti and a handful of marshmallows? Come to youth group on Wednesday, January 22 at 6pm to try your hand at the Towers of Terror Challenge. Dinner is provided.

Souper Bowl of Caring: The children and youth of First Presbyterian are excited to partner with thousands of churches across the country to participate in the "Souper Bowl of Caring," a canned food drive to tackle hunger in our community. There will also be a competition to see which Adult Christian Education Class can collect the most cans. Please bring canned food to your small groups or to the church office until February 2 to help us reach our goal of collecting more than 100 pounds of food.
Souper Bowl of Caring

Winter Sunday School classes started last week but it is never too late to get involved. If you would still like to be connected to a class please contact Michael or click on this link.

How to reach Michael.
email: mjschulte.14@gmail.com
phone: 618-979-6320

[OFFICER SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY]
Sunday January 26 - Ordination and Installation of new officers.

[CHILI DESSERTS NEEDED]
The Deacons Chili Meal is fast approaching. If you would like to donate a dessert for the event, please contact lee Lyle.

[ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE CLASS]
Sunday, January 19 at 4:00 p.m.
Admission is free.
Come join the fun at this free event and learn about English Country Dance! No experience or partner needed. A caller will review basic English steps and will lead us through each step of each dance. We will dance to tunes from as far back as the 1600s with live piano and fiddle music. Please wear comfortable casual clothes and shoes. Learn more at Facebook or YouTube English Country Dance Nashville.

[VANDERBILT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL]
Sunday, January 19 at 5:00 pm
The Vandy Women are playing the Arkansas Razorbacks (ranked 21st) at Vanderbilt. The Mt. Juliet Middle School Girls Choir (directed by Branson Clark) will sing the national anthem at the game. Mt. Juliet Middle is selling tickets for $5 as a fundraiser. Contact Branson for tickets.

[SANCTUARY FLOWERS FOR 2020]
If you would like to provide flowers in memory of or in honor of loved ones on a particular Sunday in 2020, please contact Kristy in the church office.

[COASTERS FOR SALE]
Back by popular demand--the perfect gift is here. We have just received several sets of coasters featuring photos of our church. Each set of 4 is $10.

[COMPASSIONATE HANDS]
This week's volunteers (Jan 18):
Hosts - Angela Hodges,
Margaret Ann Trail
Breakfast - Cargill
Packed Lunch - ??
Laundry - Devine

[QUENCH YOUR THIRST]
FPC has discontinued our bottled water service and has installed a far-more-ecologically-friendly water fountain. Not only can you drink out of this new fountain but it will automatically fill glasses and bottles. In honor of the new water fountain, we are selling FPC water bottles. These metal vacuum bottles come in red and blue and cost only $20. All proceeds from sale of these bottles will go towards the cost of the water fountain.

[OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING AND SERVICE]
BE COMPASSIONATE. Sign up to volunteer for Compassionate Hands. Each Saturday, we need volunteers to provide meals, drive, spend the night, and do laundry. The signup list is on the bulletin board in the back hallway.

[NEEDED FOR LOCAL MISSIONS]
FPC has two ongoing collections benefiting the following organizations:
1. Wilson County Schools Family Resource Center. We collect food and personal hygiene items for students whose families are struggling. Donations can be left in the plastic tub in the back hallway.
2. Wilson County Community Help Center.
Monetary donations are used to purchase food items for the Help Center. Write Help Center on your check.

- January 22 Menu -
Casserole Cook-Off

Jan 22 - Casserole Cook-Off
Jan 29 - TBA
Feb 2 - Potluck Covered Dish
Feb 12 - Mardi Gras Gumbo, potato salad, bread pudding
Feb 19 - Deacons Chili Meal
Feb 26 - Ash Wednesday pancake supper
Mar 4 - Potluck Covered Dish
Mar 11 - Spring Break - no meal
Mar 18 -
Mar 25 - Lemon chicken, cheese grits, salad, dessert
Apr 1 - Potluck Covered Dish

Sunday, January 26
Officer Ordination/Installation

Wednesday, February 19
Deacons Chili Day

Wednesday, February 26
6:45 pm - Ash Wednesday Service

An archive of sermons and bulletins
(audio and text) can be viewed here.

  Jan 12 - Orphan Train text | audio
  Jan 5 - Use Your Words text | audio
  Dec 15 - Are You the One? text | audio
  Dec 8 - Baptism with Fire text | audio
  Dec 1 - The Mountain of Peace text | audio
  Nov 24 - All Over the Map text | audio
  Nov 17 - Going Nowhere text | audio
  Nov 10 - Stumbling Blocks text | audio
  Nov 3 - Grieving with Grace text | audio
  Oct 27 - Do Unto Others: Give with Mercy text | audio

          ...more sermons

[WORSHIP LITURGY]
Scripture - Jonah 3:1-5
1    The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying,
2    "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you."
3    So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across.
4    Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
5    And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.
Scripture - Mark 1:14-20
14    Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
15    and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
16    As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen.
17    And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."
18    And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
19    As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.
20    Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Prayer of Confession
Merciful Lord, we confess that our spiritual insight has grown dim, so it seems that your word is rare and that visions have ceased. We confess that when you do call, we are not able to discern your voice from the multitude of other voices beckoning to us. Help us occasionally to tune out the world, quiet our inner dialogue, and listen more closely for your voice, so that when you speak, we may hear. Amen.