THE SPIRE LIGHT
First Presbyterian Church
100 Silver Creek Road, Morganton, NC 28655
828-437-1811
www.fpcmorganton.org
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS EVENTS*
December 4-24, 2016
Worship with us
on Sundays!
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:55 AM Worship Service
December 4, 2016
Rev. Dr. D. Cameron Murchison
Lectionary
Isaiah 11:1-10; Ps. 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Greeters
Ed and Ruth Bonomo
Eric and Shari LeGoullon
December 11, 2016
Rev. Billy Robinson
Lectionary
Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Greeters
Walter and Joyce Pharr
Don and Julie Scott
December 18, 2016
A Service of Lessons and Carols
Lectionary
Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25
Greeters
Jonathan and Cathy Lowry
Sylvia McBane
December Visitors Table
Susan McCann
Sunday, December 4: Second Sunday in Advent—PEACE
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:55 AM Worship Service
5:30 PM FPC Youth Angel Tree Shopping
Wednesday, December 7
6:30 PM Blue Christmas Communion Service
Friday, December 9
6:30 PM Progressive Dinner Party
Sunday, December 11: Third Sunday in Advent—JOY
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:55 AM Worship Service
5:00 PM Combined Choir Concert
Monday, December 12
9:00 AM Primetimers Trip to the Billy Graham Library
Wednesday, December 14
6:30 PM Angels, Lambs, Ladybugs, & Fireflies Children's Pageant
Thursday, December 15
7:00 PM Patton High School Program
Sunday, December 18: Fourth Sunday in Advent—LOVE
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:55 AM A Service of Lessons and Carols
6:00 PM Christmas Caroling on the Ridgeline Trolley
Wednesday, December 21
6:30 PM Music Program Featuring the Handbell Choir
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve
5:30 PM Candlelight Communion Service
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day
10:55 AM Worship Service
Monday, December 26-Monday, January 2
Church Office Closed
*The Christmas season is a wonderful time to invite others to church.
Special invitation cards are available in the narthex and outside the
chapel for you to use to invite your friends and neighbors to FPC. Let us
experience God's love together during this meaningful time of the year.
We welcome our Interim Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Wanda Suddreth Neely, who comes to
First Presbyterian Church of Morganton from serving as senior pastor/head of staff
at First Presbyterian Church of Kinston, NC.
Before coming to Kinston, Wanda served as co-pastor/co-head of staff at First Presbyterian church, Greenville, NC, and before that as pastor/head of staff at Union
Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, NC. Wanda came to positions in pastoring from
Providence Presbytery, where she served as associate executive for education and
church development. She has also served as a campus minister for the campuses of
Charleston, SC, and interim and stated supply pastor and chaplain at the Medical
University of South Carolina and at Vidant Medical Center.
A graduate of Gardner-Webb University, Wanda earned a Master of Divinity at
Southeastern Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, and completed her Doctor of
Ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA, with dissertation work in medical ethics.
Wanda is married to the Rev. Dr. William K. Neely, who will be retiring in 2017 from senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, NC. The Neelys have three children and two grandchildren.
Stewardship
As of November 21, we have received 126 pledges totaling $422,895.00. If you have not submitted your pledge
card yet, please do so as soon as you are able so that our Administration Committee can prepare the budget. Extra pledge cards can be found in the narthex and friendship pads.
Elective Sunday School Class—All Are Welcome!
December 4: Why Do Christians Celebrate Christmas? or The Invention of Christmas! Led by Louis Vinay
December 11: Can We Find the Truth? Can We All Just Get Along? Modernism, Postmodernism, and Biblical Interpretation.
This is an overview of modernism and postmodernism philosophies and how these differing value systems impact our view and interpretation of the Bible. Led by Rick Leissner
December 18: Ways to Find Meaning in Christmas? Led by Jimmy Ervin
December 25: No Elective Sunday School Class
Tree of Warmth
During December, we are collecting clean, new, and gently-used blankets, mittens, gloves, hats, coats, and
scarves (all sizes) for needy families and individuals here in Burke County. Look for the Tree of Warmth outside
the fellowship hall, and please give generously.
Primetimers Event
While the Primetimers trip to The Cove was cancelled due to a lack of seats, we have come up with an excellent
replacement—the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. We will meet at the church on Monday, December 12, at
9:00 AM and ride together. Our entry time is 10:30 AM, and we will depart at 2:00 PM. The buildings will be
decorated beautifully for Christmas, and the library and family home are handicapped accessible. The cost of the
tour is free. However, you will be able to purchase lunch at the dairy bar in the library. If you wish to go on this
trip, please call the church office at 437-1811 or Lewis Rigsbee at 433-5032 as soon as possible.
Walking Challenge
For four weeks this fall, a team from First Presbyterian participated in the We Walked This Far walking challenge.
It was the fifth year for the event, sponsored by Burke County Health Department FaithHealthNC and Healthy
Places NC, but this was First Presbyterian's first year. The event is to challenge participants to increase their
daily steps while building a healthier life style and a stronger body. Our team was composed of Doug Thompson,
Karen Achilles, Bill and Linda Harris, Linda McCrary, Rev. Michael Bailey, Rev. Adam Bowling, Libby Childress,
Abby Redman, Susan Vernon, and Rick Leissner. During the four weeks, our team recorded an amazing 2,590,725 total steps, averaging a whopping 9,200 steps a day per person. 2,000 steps is roughly equivalent
to about 1 mile. They represented our church well! Please congratulate our team members when you see them!
Sunday, December 4, 5:30-8:30 PM—Youth Angel Tree Night
Student
Youth, gather your friends and head to church on SunMinistries
day, December 4, at 5:30 PM for dinner and then Angel
Tree shopping with the First Baptist Youth. We plan to Rev. Adam Bowling
sponsor two children this year—a boy and a girl. Please
828-448-8914
bring $3 for dinner and a $10 donation or more (of your [email protected]
own money) to help with this mission project. Please
RSVP on Facebook or by emailing Pastor Adam so we know for how many to plan. We still need two families to
cook a meal for both youth groups on December 4!
Sunday, December 11, (Time TBD)—FPC Family Fun Night at Bo's!
On December 11, (time TBD) head on over to the church fellowship hall to meet
for a fun trip to BO’s in Lenoir! All ages and families are welcome! We will
hang out at BO’s for THREE hours—playing unlimited bowling, arcade (no
tickets), mega mini golf, and Pastor Adam’s favorite—LASER TAG! And new
this year, get one trip through the NEW LASER MAZE! Price includes two
slices of pizza and a drink. (Cost TBD)
Sunday, December 18, 6:00-8:00 PM—Caroling on the Ridgeline Trolley
Christmas Caroling on the Ridgeline Trolley for all ages will be on Sunday, December 18, 6:00-8:00 PM! Join First
Presbyterian Church for an evening of caroling to shut-ins and friends of the church. We will also visit the J.
Iverson Riddle Center Christmas lights and have hot chocolate, coffee, and treats when we return. Cost is $3.00
per person to cover fuel and supplies. Space is limited, so you must go to the church website, print out a form,
and turn it in with payment to reserve a spot! Hope to see you there!
Sunday, December 25—No PM Youth (Christmas Day)
Sunday, January 1—No PM Youth (New Year's Day)
Girl Scout News
Cora Hunt, of Girl Scout Troop 10383,
enjoyed making dolls to be used in the
Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry as part of her Silver Journey Take
Action project.
Volunteers Needed!
The children in our Wednesday afterschool God's Backyard Bible Club program are
working on their Christmas
pageant, Angels, Lambs, Ladybugs, & Fireflies this year and
need your help! We need
folks to come on Wednesday
afternoons to help the children learn their lines. We also need help with costumes. We plan to practice after school on December
7 and 14. The pageant will be held on December 14 at
6:30 PM in the church fellowship hall following a special meal. Save the date! Please contact Pastor Adam
today if you would be willing to help out. Thanks!
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone for all the cards, condolences, and expressions of sympathy at the loss of my mother, Alva Morse.
Your kindness was so appreciated and made a difficult time
much more bearable. --Judy Gaskill
Dear church family, LeRoy and I would like to thank all of
you for your calls, cards, food, and most of all, your prayers.
Your thoughtfulness was truly appreciated. Take care, much
love. --Barbara and LeRoy Wall
First Presbyterian is a connectional church; let us therefore
pray for other congregations within our Presbytery:
Conley Memorial Presbyterian, Marion, NC
In Sympathy
“I am the resurrection
and the life.”
Congregational love and sympathy are extended to
Jean Bolton and her family at the death of her cousin,
Dea Cox, on November 26, 2016.
Dear First Presbyterian Church,
Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the wonderful celebration on our last Sunday with you. Thank you for the gifts, cards, mementos, love offering, and well wishes. And, of
course, for the planting of the tree—that was an honor that took our breath away. We appreciate all the efforts that went into making that the perfect last Sunday for us. And even more so,
we thank God for you and for the last 11 years with you. You will long remain in our thoughts
and prayers.
By the time you read this, we will be in Tuscaloosa unpacking boxes and attending new
schools! While we have some normal apprehension about this transition, our hearts are filled to
the brim with the love you have given us. You will never know the strength and courage that has
given us. Thank you from the bottom of our full hearts.
And now, one last time, we wish to express what a joy it has been to be...
On the Journey with you,
Michael, Laura, Hudson, Charlie, and Katherine Bailey
See pages 5-8 below.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CALENDAR
Sunday, December 4
Sunday, December 11
Sunday, December 18
Second Sunday of Advent
Third Sunday of Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Monday, December 5
10:30 AM Circle 1—Grace Ridge
Monday, December 12
9:00 AM Primetimers Trip
7:00 PM Women’s Bible Study
Christmas Fellowship—
Anne Vogler’s Home
Monday, December 19
12:00 PM Spire Light Deadline
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:00 AM Chancel Choir
10:50 AM Congregational Meeting
10:55 AM Worship Service
5:30 PM Youth Angel Tree
Dinner and Shopping
Tuesday, December 6
7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast
12:00 PM Staff Christmas Lunch
1:30 PM
2 Covered Dish—
Mary Lou McDaniel’s Home
7:00 PM Circle 3—Parlor
Wednesday, December 7
12:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
3:15 PM Backyard Bible Club
5:00 PM Chancel Ringers
5:15 PM Meal—Fried Chicken
6:30 PM Blue Christmas
Communion Service—Chapel
7:15 PM Chancel Choir
Friday, December 9
8:30 AM Admin. Committee
Meeting—Rm. 200
6:30 PM Progressive Dinner Party
Saturday, December 10
8:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
8:00 PM AA—Rm. 101
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:00 AM Chancel Choir
10:55 AM Worship Service
(Time TBD) Family Fun at Bo’s
5:00 PM Combined Choir Concert
—FPC Sanctuary
Tuesday, December 13
7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast
9:00 AM Soup Kitchen
1:30 PM Staff Meeting
Wednesday, December 14
12:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
3:15 PM Backyard Bible Club
5:00 PM Chancel Ringers
5:15 PM Meal—Spaghetti
6:30 PM Children’s Pageant—
Angels, Lambs, Ladybugs, & Fireflies
7:15 PM Chancel Choir
Thursday, December 15
12:00 PM Prayer on the Square
7:00 PM Patton High School
Program —FPC Sanctuary
Saturday, December 17
8:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
8:00 PM AA—Rm. 101
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:00 AM Chancel Choir
10:55 AM A Service of Lessons
and Carols
6:00 PM Christmas Caroling on
the Ridgeline Trolley
Tuesday, December 20
7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast
1:30 PM Staff Meeting
5:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal
Wednesday, December 21
10:30 AM Spire Light Volunteers
12:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
5:00 PM Chancel Ringers
5:15 PM Meal—Grilled Chicken
6:30 PM Music Program featuring
the Handbell Choir
7:15 PM Chancel Choir
Thursday, December 22
9:00 AM Soup Kitchen
Saturday, December 24
5:30 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight
Communion Service
8:00 PM Al-Anon—Rm. 200
8:00 PM AA—Rm. 101
Blue Christmas Communion Service
We invite you to our Blue Christmas Communion Service on December 7 at 6:30 PM, designed for those for
whom the holidays might be difficult. If you have undergone a difficult loss, transition, or life change, the
church cares about you and invites you to this special time of music, worship, and communion.
Women’s Bible Study Christmas Gathering
The Women’s Bible Study will meet at Anne Vogler's home (230 West Park Dr.) on Monday, December 12,
7:00 PM, for a Christmas gathering. Please RSVP to [email protected] with a food item or beverage that
you would like to share. This is a wonderful time to join, especially if you are interested in the January study,
Traveling Light, by Max Lucado.
Praise in Your Pajamas!
Christmas Sunday, December 25, 2016, 10:55 AM Worship Service
Hey kids, come to church in your pajamas on Christmas morning as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!
The Children of First Presbyterian Church
Invite You to Their Christmas Pageant
(a Christmas Musical Fantasy by Betty Hager and Fred Bock)
Wednesday, December 14
Dinner: 5:15 PM
Pageant: 6:30 PM
Our wings are fluttering, our lights are lit, and we're excited about this clever presentation which tells the
Christmas story in a new and fantasy sort of way. Insects
and little creatures, as well as shepherds and big people,
needed to know and spread the Good News of Jesus'
birth. This is their story!
Please call the church office at 828-437-1811 to RSVP for the dinner.
Next Coin War Is December 4
The Christian Education Committee has declared a Coin War for the first Sunday of each month during the rest of the school year. Money collected will go to the Nickel-a-Meal Hunger Program. Each
Sunday school class has their own collection jar, and jars are outside the fellowship hall before and after
Sunday school on those Sundays. Gain points by adding pennies, bills, and checks to your class jar.
Lower other classes’ totals by adding silver coins to theirs. The class with the most points wins! The
prize will be a McDonald's or Bojangles' breakfast for the class. Round One is October-December;
Round Two is January-May.
Totals so far:
1st-3rd Grade Class: 1,661 points
4th-6th Grade Class: 2,594 points
7th-8th Grade Class: 606 points
9th-12th Grade Class: 251 points
Men’s Bible Class: -108 points
Adult Elective Class: 50 points
Korean/Choir classes: 646 points
Clower Class: -2,655 (They were badly bombed with silver!)
Total collected so far: $204.75 for Nickel-a-Meal!
The next issue of The Spire Light will cover December 25-January 14 events.
Please submit information to the church office by noon on Monday, December 19.
You Are Cordially Invited to the
First Presbyterian Church Progressive Party
Friday, December 9, 2016
6:30-8:45 PM
Heavy Hors d'oeuvres/Appetizers: 6:30-7:30 PM
Jonathan & Cathy Lowry’s House
(100 Hillside Lane, Morganton)
Dessert: 7:45-8:45 PM
Tom & Casey Kilgore's House
(102 Linden Street, Morganton)
Cost: Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.
RSVP by Wednesday, December 7.
Note: Childcare will not be provided.
____________________________________________________________________
Registration Form
Name(s):________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________
___ I/we plan to bring an appetizer to share.
___ I/we plan to bring a dessert to share.
Please return this form to the church office by Wednesday, December 7, or call the church office
at 437-1811 with your RSVP.
for All Ages on the Ridgeline Trolley and Church Bus
Sunday, December 18, 2016
6:00-8:00 PM
Join First Presbyterian Church for an evening of caroling to shut-ins and friends of the church. We will
also visit the J. Iverson Riddle Center’s Christmas
lights and have hot chocolate, coffee, and treats
when we return.
Space is limited*...RSVP today!
*Youth will be asked to stand.
___________________________________________________________________________
Registration Form
Name(s): ________________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________
Number of Tickets ($3.00 each): ______ Total: $________ (Cost covers fuel and supplies.)
Instructions: Return this form with payment to the church office by Sunday, December 11. Please make all
checks out to "First Presbyterian Church" with "Christmas Caroling" on the memo line. Spots on the Ridgeline Trolley will go to those who register first.