Upcoming Events in the
Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church
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Volume 5 / Number 2
NEWS FROM THE 218th GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
 “Regarding the 218thGeneral Assembly”
Sam Roberson, General Presbyter/Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Charlotte shares his thoughts and reflections about the recently adjourned 218th General Assembly held in San Jose, CA. To read his letter to members of the Presbytery of Charlotte, in which he states, “Everything about the 218th General Assembly pointed to the PCUSA of the 21st century,” log on to the Presbytery Website – www.presbyofcharlotte.org.
There you will also find information posted on the Presbytery of Charlotte’s General Assembly Commissioners Blog, plus a letter from GA leaders, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow – newly elected Moderator of the 218th General Assembly, Elder Linda Bryant Valentine – Executive Director of the General Assembly Council, and the Rev. Gradye Parsons, newly-named Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. Their joint communiqué interprets “the actions of the 218th General Assembly.”
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE PRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE
The 2nd Annual Multicultural Festival
 Representatives from the Presbytery of Charlotte and other denominations are organizing the second annual Multicultural Festival. SAVE THE DATE – October 4, 2008!!
This year’s Multicultural Festival will be held at Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., and will be an opportunity for all races and nationalities from every continent around the globe to share in fellowship, learn about each other, and celebrate both our similarities and our differences.
The Festival will include Soccer Tournaments for all ages, a multicultural worship service followed by a parade of nations, ethnic foods, music, dancing, children’s activities, and more.
If you would like to proudly represent your ethnic heritage by setting up a display table with exhibits of your culture, if you would like to bring food representative of your native country, or if you would like to volunteer to help during the day, contact Jennifer Kroitor at the Presbytery of Charlotte – Jennifer.Kroitor@presbyofcharlotte.org
There is also the opportunity for our Youth in the Presbytery to enter the Multicultural T-shirt Art Contest. The winning design could win prizes for their entire youth group. Submission deadline is August 31, 2008.
FROM THE PASTOR'S PAGE
THE REVEREND NATHAN WHEELER, INTERIM PASTOR
Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Monroe
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The Reverend Nathan Wheeler
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The Reverend Nathan Wheeler was born into a military (Air Force) family in Biloxi, Mississippi and grew up most of his life in Warner Robins, Georgia.
His undergraduate studies were in Electrical Engineering specializing in Digital Control Electronics. Upon graduation he met and married Sherri, and they will celebrate 23 years of marriage this April. They began to work with the youth in the church where Rev. Wheeler grew up – First Presbyterian Church in Warner Robins, GA. Rev. Wheeler states that he loved working with the youth so much that, “soon I found myself at Columbia Theological Seminary studying to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament.”
He has served as Associate Pastor to Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius, NC (his “first assignment from God”), Senior Pastor to Cornelius Presbyterian Church, Interim Pastor to Christ Presbyterian Church in Charlotte (beginning “a new direction of assignment from God”), and Interim Pastor to Gilwood Presbyterian Church in Concord.
Rev. Wheeler currently serves as Interim Pastor to Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Monroe, NC, where they have been “working together to seek God’s mission and future for this congregation.” He states it is “very exciting and challenging work as Bethlehem’s people nurture their pregnancy awaiting that which is to be birthed.”
The Wheelers have 3 children; 19 years old Patrick, now serving in the Navy, 16 years old JohnMark, and Hannah, soon to be 8 years old, adopted from Romania while Rev. Wheeler was serving to Christ Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.
In the June 2008 newsletter of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Rev. Wheeler wrote on the danger of straying from the path you should be on … and the only way back is to run on the path to the God that you have been running from. His article is reprinted in its entirety, with permission.
The Gilligan Syndrome
Luke 15:13
On any given day you can probably turn your TV on sometime and the show will be on – Gilligan’s Island. Yes! In fact, I’ll bet you may even be able to hear the theme song playing right now in your brain. You see, that show was a big hit when it aired the first time. And now it just won’t stop airing. Remember, there is Gilligan who is the terminally dim-witted first mate of the S.S. Minnow, the skipper, the millionaire and his wife, the Professor, the movie star, and of course Mary Ann – the characters are really well known. The plot was very simple, summed up in the theme song. These people went out on the S.S. Minnow for a three-hour tour and a storm blew them into some unknown island where they were stranded until the series finally ended three-years later. Some three-hour tour!
Well, I want to have A WORD WITH YOU this month about:
“THE GILLIGAN SYNDROME.”
And, you might inquire, just what is “the Gilligan syndrome?” Well simply it is, Going farther than you wanted to go, staying longer than you planned to stay, and costing you more than you planned to pay. It might be happening to you right now …
Jesus told us about a young man this very thing happened to many years ago. Our word for this month from the Word of God is from Luke Chapter 15, verse 13. After this young man has asked his dad for the family inheritance that is coming to him. “Not long after that, the youngest son got together all he had, went off to a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After had had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. When he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare and here am I starving to death. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, father I have sinned against Heaven and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.”
This young man was just going for a fling on the wild side – just a three-hour tour. He almost never made it back. What was supposed to bring him pleasure and happiness, which it did for a very short while – ultimately left him stranded on a spiritual island all by himself. Listen to this, “He squandered his wealth,” in other words, he wasted what he’d been given.
Have you done that? He spent everything he had. He paid a much higher price for this sin than he could have ever imagined. Sound familiar? He began to be in need, no one gave him anything, the party was over – the bill had come, and he was alone, broke. His only companions were the pig’s slop troughs.
The Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. Well, it always is sooner or later. Maybe today you’re like the Gilligan bunch except it is sin that has carried you to a place that’s hard to get back from. The ugly truth about sin is this, sin will always take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you plan to stay, and cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay. Someone reading right now is thinking, “That’s right! That’s what happened to me!” Or maybe you’re just starting down this sin row, it looks exciting, profitable, desirable, and you think that you can control it – that it will be just a three-hour tour. But sin never is.
Listen to God’s revealing statement in James 1:15, “After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Your unchecked desires (that is, you didn’t clear them with God first) will take you where you never meant to go. And if you feel like you’re just too far away to ever get back, you can get back the same way the prodigal son did. But only that way. God’s Word says “he got up and went to his father.”
It’s time for you to RUN TO the God that you’ve been RUNNING FROM.
You say, “Oh, God will never take me back.” We’ll see, that’s why Jesus told this story to let you know how God will treat you if you come “to your senses” and come running home. The heart of this narrative says that the young man’s father saw him, he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. If you even start home, God (our heavenly Father) will come running to meet you. Because of what Jesus did on the cross for you. Haven’t you been gone long enough? It’s time to come home.
For a heart after Adonai,
Pastor Nathan Wheeler
MINISTRIES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT of
PRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE CHURCHES
CHARLOTTE FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Member Jonette Harper Stanley Promotes Reading in the Schools
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Carolina Panther Adam Seward read to the children. Jonette Harper Stanley is on the left,
Tamara Williams is on the right.
(Presbytery of Charlotte photo.)
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Tamara Williams answers the children's questions.
(Presbytery of Charlotte photo)
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During the week of April 14th – April 18th, David Cox Road Elementary School in Northeast Charlotte celebrated National Library Week’s 50th Anniversary. Several Charlotte-area community leaders shared in the importance and joy of reading with children at the K-5 school – highlighting the Basic School Principles which include the community as an important and viable part of a child’s successful learning experience.
David Cox has over 1200 students registered.
Jonette Harper Stanley, a member of Charlotte First United Presbyterian Church, was instrumental in organizing the event. She serves as PTA AR & Membership Chairperson at David Cox.
Among the community leaders who joined in the “Circle of Knowledge”®, each reading for 30 minutes one day during the week-long celebration were: CMS Deputy Superintendent Maurice Green; CMS Chief Academic Officer Ruth Perez; Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones; District Attorney Peter Gilchrist; Councilman Michael Barnes; CMS Board Members Vilma Leake and Larry Gauvreau; Mrs. Sue Gorman (wife of CMS Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman); Newspersons Barbara Pinson and Kelly Franson (WBTV), Sonja Gantt, Michelle Boudin, Daniela Lopez and Larry Sprinkle (WCNC), and Mark Becker (WSOC); team members of the Carolina Panthers; members of the Women’s Basketball Team of Davidson College; Charlotte Public Librarian Storyteller Yvonne Thomas; ImaginOn Librarians Melanie Burton and Leah Palmer Licht; representatives from Charlotte Children’s Theatre, NASCAR, the NBA, Charlotte Police and Fire stations, Hopewell High School cheerleaders and other community businesses/service organizations.
Presbytery of Charlotte staff member Tamara Williams (also a member of Charlotte First United PC) was also one of the readers, sharing with the children the joy of 2 books: “Leola & The Honeybears: An African-American Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears” by M. Rosales, and “Little Polar Bear” by Hans de Beer.
School principal, Chuck Nusinov also participated in the celebration.
HAMLET FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Hosts Habitat for Humanity Volunteers
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Hamlet First Presbyterian Church
(Presbytery of Charlotte photo)
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Members of the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in Hamlet recently provided hospitality and a much-appreciated meal to over 20 visitors from Potomac State College in West Virginia. The group was in RichmondCounty helping to rehab a Habitat for Humanity home on Raleigh Street in Hamlet.
From the April issue of The Bellringer, the monthly newsletter of Hamlet First:
“Gasps of delight were heard as they were told the kind of foods that waited on the table to be eaten. ‘These are all my favorite foods!’ was heard several times. The chicken tenders disappeared, the pigs in a blanket were inhaled, the pot roast was snarfed.”
“The deserts were gone in the blink of an eye – the peach cobbler, the brownies and the pound cake. One girl was so excited, ‘It’s just like my momma’s pound cake!’ The vegetables were consumed – everything was pronounced delicious. Take out boxes cleaned out most of the dishes.”
“A member of the group was born in Sierra Leone, Africa and lived in Liverpool, London since age 5. He was thrilled to have ‘food that was just like home.’ “
The Habitat workers were housed at First Presbyterian Church in Rockingham, and cleaned up at First Health Richmond Memorial Hospital – all kindnesses that will be “a vivid memory that will be shared all around the world – literally.”
INDIAN TRAIL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHParticipates in American Cancer Society
"Relay For Life"
(Information for this article was taken from the May issue of The Gate Post, the monthly newsletter of Indian Trail Presbyterian Church.)
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Indian Trail Presbyterian Church
(Presbytery of Charlotte photo)
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Each year across the nation, one event brings together entire communities to take part in the fight against cancer. That event is the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those lost, and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives.
On May 9, 2008, a team of members of Indian Trail Presbyterian Church joined in the fight against cancer and participated in the Relay For Life, which held opening events at Sun ValleyHigh School in Monroe.
During Relay For Life events, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns waking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. Through the survivor’s lap and the luminary ceremony, participants honor those who have faced cancer first hand.
Church member Ida Picard was coordinator of the Indian Trail Presbyterian Church Relay For Life team.
ROCKY RIVER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Helps Foster Children With “Suitcases For Kids”(Information for this article was taken, in part, from the June issue of Waterin’ Hole, the monthly newsletter of Rocky River Presbyterian Church.)
 Imagine being a foster child. And if that weren’t tough enough, imagine being sent from one foster home to another and having to carry all your worldly goods in a black garbage bag.
There are 130 foster children in Cabarrus County, and many of them do not own a suitcase. On Father’s Day, June 15th, the Mission & Service Committee of Rocky River Presbyterian Church in Concord sponsored a “Suitcases for Kids” drive.
Suitcases for Kids was founded in 1996, by Aubyn Burnside of Hickory, NC, when she was just 10 years old. It is now an international nonprofit organization with chapters in every state as well as nine foreign countries, with community service projects sponsored nationwide.
Members of Rocky River’s congregation were asked to bring a new suitcase (or a very gently used one) to church that day. The suitcases were given to the Department of Social Services to be distributed to foster children in need. Friends and co-workers were also invited to participate in the drive. It was also suggested that members partner in the purchase of a suitcase, or that the donating of a suitcase might be made in honor of or in memory of their fathers.
The Mission & Service Committee of Rocky River Presbyterian Church reported that the Suitcases for Kids drive was a great success – with 45 suitcases, 6 duffle bags, 8 totes, 8 toiletry bags and 1 backpack donated by the congregation. “A generosity that will be a blessing for many children and teens in foster care in CabarrusCounty.” (From the July issue of Waterin’ Hole.)
WILLIAMS MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Joins the Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis
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Team members wear theri "official" blue T-shirts, emblazoned with Jane Sudderth's name.
(Photo courtesy of Nancy Lewis)
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Members of Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte took part in the Lake Norman Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis, held on Saturday, May 17th.
Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Over 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene.
Participation of Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church is in memory of Jana Sudderth, the adopted sister of church member Nancy Lewis. Jana moved to the Charlotte area and lived with her sister after the passing of their parents. Diagnosed with CF as a young child, Jana received a double lung transplant after her graduation from high school. A year later, Jana died of complications from the disease.
Nancy Lewis writes, “My church was so gracious to Jana when she came to live with me. The church got involved with the CF walk each year.”
Williams Memorial member Amy Auten adds that, “While Williams Memorial is a small church, we are a close-knit congregation. Extended family members are like cousins.”
The Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church Great Strides Team included: Jane Setzer, Laura Stroupe, Jeannie Craig, Lindsay Fisher, Lisa Fisher, Amy Auten, and Nancy Lewis. The Education and Fellowship Committee, along with Team WMPC and Sarah Craig made a fundraising dinner possible this year. Church member Sarah Craig became a good friend of Jana Sudderth’s, and Sarah now works as a volunteer at the CF Foundation in Charlotte.
PRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE
CHURCH MISSION WORK
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE
Helps Chad Learning Center Reach Milestone
(From the March 2008 issue of Tradewinds, the monthly newsletter of Charlotte First Presbyterian Church. Reprinted with permission.)
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(Photo courtesy of Charlotte
First Presbyterian Church)
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Last year, due to the generosity of First Presbyterian members, a new learning center in Chad, Africa changed from dream to reality. For years, the World Evangelism Council (WEC) ran a learning center in a small, rented building. The cost of renting and a growing need for more space, plus pressures from the landlord, moved the team to pray for a place of their own. Thanks largely to contributions from First Presbyterian Church, the team was able to buy property in 2003. Things take time in Africa. In 2005, the first structure was ready to be built on the property – a small residence for the Chadian overseer of the center. Now the team has completed the new learning center, once again with generous support from First Presbyterian. The new center has made it possible to expand current ministries and add new ministries to benefit the community.
The need for a learning center in Chad is tremendous. Imagine this. Your teenager heads off to school. Instead of a backpack overloaded with books, notebooks of various sizes and colors, and a dictionary/thesaurus crushing the day’s snacks, she carries a cheaply constructed notebook and a pen. Every lesson in the class will be written on a blackboard. She has no book of her own and will copy lessons in her notebook word for word, line by line. This is what she will study. This is what she will learn. This is what she will know. Imagine this, too. Her teacher has no books. Even though resources are available in the capital city, a two-day journey in good weather, he can’t afford to buy them. His lesson plans are hand written notes. This is what he knows. This is what he will teach.
We can only imagine this scenario, but it is reality for northeastern Chad and why the WEC International team first opened the learning center in Abeche, Chad. It began as a small lending library in the home of a WEC missionary. When the students, hungry for books to read, became too many for her living room, the WEC team rented a building on the main street of town. The center has grown into a cultural gathering place with monthly videos and lectures, and English program for adults and literacy classes for women. It quickly became so popular, it was clear a larger building would be needed.
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(Photo courtesy of Charlotte
First Presbyterian Church)
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In May 2007, the main library, a reading room and a spacious veranda were completed. One of the team members in Chad reported in June 2007, “The new library has been functioning for six weeks now. Many new people are still coming in, surprised and impressed by what they find. Everything is clean and bright, and there are a lot of textbooks available, as well a Christian literature. During the first few weeks that the new library was open, the average number of students using it in an afternoon was 107!” In October 2007, the classrooms were completed. These classrooms are often used for English classes, for which the demand is very high. The hope for 2008 is to teach advanced English courses using the Bible as a textbook.
The learning center, as an educational institution, is a safe place for young men and women to see Christian videos as part of a cultural program. Several times a year, the Jesus film will be shown as part of regularly scheduled events. Some come back to see it again and bring their friends. Because there are so many people coming and going at all times, these young men can visit without fear of persecution. The library now has a data projector, which means that films (including the Jesus film) can be projected onto the wall for the whole room to see.
Louis and Susan Sutton, missionaries in Chad for many years and our mission speakers last year, have expressed their appreciation for all First Presbyterian has given to make this incredible place a reality. They write: “This is not just our ministry in Chad. It is your ministry to an educationally-impoverished community and your opportunity to be for Christ in another part of the world.”
A MAN and a CHILD (Samaritan’s Feet)
Written by Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church Member, Peter Rieke
(From the February 2008 issue of The Bell and the Well, the monthly newsletter of Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church. Reprinted with permission.)
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Peter Rieke
(Photo courtesy of Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church)
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Below is one of the stories I share often with people when they ask about missions and what it would be like when going overseas, especially on a mission trip with Samaritan’s Feet. I have been on 3 mission trips overseas with Samaritan’s Feet – Peru, Haiti, and Guyana. To me, there is no way to get closer to God than to humble yourself, washing the feet of another person. It is modeling Jesus actions on earth. My hope and prayer is that everyone at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church will one day have this holy opportunity to serve.
On the last afternoon in Haiti, we approached the village of Torbeck by bus. Our team of 12 with 15 tubs of new athletic shoes were preparing ourselves for the last foot-washings and shoe-fittings of the week. We were tired, hot, covered with dust, and yet anxious to complete our mission. The bus hit another rock and bounced everyone at least a foot in the air. No one seemed to notice.
As we exited the bus slowly, we approached the one-room, unfinished church where the pastor greeted us enthusiastically. The shining blue-azure sea beckoned us a few feet away. If only I had brought my bathing suit, my tired body would have welcomed a cool dip. Not now. An event was going to happen which I could not even guess.
We unloaded our tubs of shoes, washcloths, towels, soap, washing bins and set them up in an orderly fashion in another more unfinished building behind the church. Maybe this was the fellowship hall? A few rice farmers from the area watched us as we worked. We gathered water from the tilapia farm ponds for our foot-washing basins. Everyone was assigned a station – foot measurer, foot washer and fitter, runner, photographer, translator, crowd control, and substitutes. And we started.
Hundreds of children and their parents filled our area within minutes. Word had spread quickly that we were there. An email broadcast at home could not have gotten the message out quicker.
I was assigned the 3rd washbasin station with my clean water, bar of soap, towel and washcloth. After I washed the feet of the first child, everything was dirty. I soon forgot this fact and focused on each child. Each pair of feet was different. Some were consumed with bug bites, some with various stages of infection. A beautiful smiling brown face matched each pair of feet. The wonder and awe in each pair of eyes were the motivation that kept me going, washing and fitting for the next 2.5 hours, dripping sweat from my brow as I labored joyfully over each tiny pair of newly cast feet.
The pastor signaled the little girl with the dirty once-red dress towards me. She saw me and her eyes filled with terror. She began screaming and turned around to run. The pastor stopped her, talked to her and lifted her onto the bench in front of me. She made every effort to jump off the bench but it was too high for her. I asked the pastor why. He said that she had never been so close to a white man before and it scared her. I knew that I must act quickly. I began washing my scared friend’s dirty bare feet. She had had no shoes. I prayed for her. I carefully dried her feet and spread lotion all over her feet. I called out her shoe size of child “12” and a beautiful pair of white new Reebok shoes were handed to me for her. I placed new white socks on her and carefully placed each shoe on her feet as I felt her slowly relax and let me work with her. As I tied the laces on her new shoes on her clean moist feet, I noticed a faint smile break out on her face. I hugged her and she hugged me back. I kissed her forehead, prayed a quick prayer. I lifted my once-frightened friend towards the pastor. He smiled and called forward the next child to my station. I took a deep breath and held back the tears.
CELEBRATIONS IN PRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE CHURCHES
ALBEMARLE ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Weekday School Celebrates 30th Anniversary
(Information for this article was taken from the April 2008 issue of FOCUS, the monthly newsletter of Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church.)
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ARPC Weekday School Director
Nancy Parker
(Photo courtesy of
Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church)
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In May, the Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church Weekday School celebrated thirty years of teaching, nurturing, and loving children. Thousands of children and families have come through the doors in the past thirty years. The school can boast of doctors, ministers, teachers, engineers, and many more occupations who have had their beginnings at ARPC Weekday School. They are also pleased to have many church members that have come because of their association with the School.
The Weekday School of Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church, located in Charlotte, was established for the purpose of providing a loving atmosphere in a Christian setting where children could develop spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially under the guidance of teachers who show who God is, and how God loves and cares for all. Children learn through stories, music, physical education, and games. The children also attend Children’s Chapel with Rev. Ron Tippens or Rob Chambers (Director of Christian Education) where they join in singing, praying, and hearing Bible stories. All of the children’s experiences are designed to provide a richer awareness of their world and their capabilities.
Nancy Parker has served as Director of Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church Weekday School for 20 years.
GARDEN MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Welcomes Old & New Friends During 41st Anniversary Celebration
(Information for this article is taken from the May 2008 issue of Fruit From The Garden, the monthly newsletter of Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church.)
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Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church
(Presbytery of Charlotte Photo)
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Celebrating over four decades as a church family, Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte had its 41st Anniversary on Sunday, May 18, 2008. The Homecoming Celebration included guest speaker, the Reverend John Steele Jackson.
Family and friends were invited to join in the morning worship service, followed by a covered-dish dinner in the multi-purpose building.
Two days after the Homecoming Celebration, Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church hosted the 96th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Charlotte, an event the church had not hosted since 1997.
GRIER HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
65th Anniversary Celebration
The congregation of Grier Heights Presbyterian Church in Charlotte celebrated their 65th anniversary with a special service on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Announcement of the celebration, including a brief history of the church, was featured in an article in the June 29th Religion section of the Charlotte Observer. Written by Marty Minchin, the article is reprinted here in its entirety, with permission.
MORNINGSTAR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHCelebrates 20th Anniversary
(Information for this article is taken from the March and May 2008 issues of The MorningStar, the monthly newsletter of MorningStar Presbyterian Church.)
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Members and guests dined on a huge variety of dishes.
Some of the church memorabilia can be seen in the background.
(Photo courtesy of MorningStar Presbyterian Church)
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MorningStar Presbyterian Church in Matthews marked a milestone in March, celebrating 20 years since the congregation was chartered and Dr. Albert Peery was called as the first pastor of the church. The momentous occasion was celebrated in weekend festivities held on Saturday, March 29th and Sunday, March 30th, 2008.
Plans included a fellowship time on Saturday, March 29th – including a covered dish dinner. A time to visit with old friends and to see a bit of church history and memorabilia, an open house at MorningStar and also at the newly renovated “Little White Church” were also a part of the Saturday festivities. Dr. Peery delivered the sermon at Sunday Worship Service. A reception followed the service.
The MorningStar Presbyterian Church 20th Anniversary Planning Team included: Lynne Cole (chair person), Barbara Guthrie, Pat Crook, Alice Skinner, Sharon Meredith, and Joan Davidson.
RAMAH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
is 225 Years Old!!(From information submitted by Pat Osborne, an active member of Ramah Presbyterian Church since 1967.)
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Ramah Presbyterian Church
(Presbytery of Charlotte Photo)
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A year-long celebration of the 225th anniversary of Ramah Presbyterian Church in Huntersville has begun.
In 1783, Scotch-Irish Settlers in NorthernMecklenburgCounty, north of Charlotte, met in a brush arbor in what was called Ramah Grove to establish Ramah Presbyterian Church. The church was formally organized by Concord Presbytery in 1795. It is now part of the Charlotte Presbytery.
A large frame building was erected in 1820. This building burned and the present building was erected in 1881 with timber cut in the community and built as a labor of love. This sanctuary and the cemetery across the road are on the National Register of Historic Places as a setting that is significant in “American History and Architecture.”
Anniversary celebrations began on March 30, 2008, with a “hymn sing”, featuring a special appearance by The Memorials gospel group. Serving of a birthday cake followed. Church memorabilia was on display for members and friends to view.
On September 28th, 2008, during Homecoming festivities, Ramah will present an original play in the Ramah Amphitheater, weather permitting. The play, A Journey of Beliefs, written by church member Alen Baker, will feature the Reverend Alan Gray, who grew up in Ramah Presbyterian Church, and who will return to participate.
Over the years, Ramah has served the community through an active congregation with scouting programs, a home demonstration club, a newsletter to WWII service personnel, community softball groups, “Ramah Ramblers” for senior citizens, Mothers’ Morning Out, a Preschool Program, an active Youth Group, and Men’s and Women’s Bible Study. Future plans for Ramah Presbyterian Church include the addition of a Christian Classical School for students K-5.
The Reverend Margie Huffmon is Interim Pastor at Ramah Presbyterian Church.
IN THE NEWS
HUNTERSVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Goes High-Tech
In the March 21, 2008 issue of The Herald weekly newspaper, an in-depth article was featured describing how Huntersville Presbyterian Church has begun to incorporate 21st century technology into worship at the church. The article, written by Ann Fletcher, is reprinted here in its entirety, with permission.
PHILADELPHIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Pastor, The Reverend Chuck Williamson,
Reflects on 40 Years in Ministry
The Reverend Chuck Williamson was the subject of an article, “40 years in one calling, zero regrets” featured in the June 8, 2008, Neighbors of Southern Mecklenburg section of the Charlotte Observer. The article, written by Katharine Dale, is reprinted here in its entirety, with permission.
NEWS FROM THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY
COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Introductory Seminar to be offered Fall 2008 in Two Locations
Columbia Theological Seminary’s introductory seminar for the D. Min. in Church and Ministry begins in September and will be offered on campus in Decatur, GA, and at the Montreat (NC) ConferenceCenter. Also offered will be the introductory seminar for the D. Min. in Christian Spirituality this fall.
Introductory seminars for two other D.Min. concentrations – Gospel and Culture, and New Church Development – will be offered in 2009.
For information, contact the Office of Advanced Studies, Charles Raynal, Director, at Columbia Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 520, Decatur, GA30031, telephone 404-687-4534, or email AdvancedStudies@CTSnet.edu. You may also log on to www.ctsnet.edu, go to Degree Programs, then Advanced Degrees, then Doctor of Ministry. You’ll find details about the D. Min. program and application instructions and forms.
JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY
New JCSU President Begins Tenure
(From a News Release)
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Dr. Ronald L. Carter
(Photo by Calvin Ferguson)
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Ronald L. Carter, Ph.D., formally began his tenure on July 1, 2008, as the 13th president of Johnson C. Smith University. He was appointed president-elect by the JCSU Board of Trustees in January, to succeed Dorothy Cowser Yancy, Ph.D., who left the university June 30, 2008. With more than 30 years serving students and universities, Dr. Carter brings an impressive record of community leadership, academic administration, and budget management to the position.
Upon graduating magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Philosophy from Morehouse College in 1971, Dr. Carter began his distinguished career at Boston University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, where by 1981, he rose to become the school’s youngest dean of students. While at BostonUniversity, Dr. Carter pursued graduate studies, earning both a Master of Theology degree and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion.
ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGEDr. McConnell Named Associate Dean at St. Andrews
(From a News Release)
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Dr. William McConnell
(Photo courtesy of
St. Andrews Presbyterian College)
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Dr. William McConnell has been named associate dean for adult and extended programs at |