Many of you have met me by now. And, by now I know about two names! Please be patient with me on that one. Some of you, though, may be wondering who in the world this is writing to you on the front of your newsletter! So, this is a reprinting of information that has been included in the worship bulletin.

My name is Tiffany Hall McClung and your Elders have agreed to a covenant stating that I will preach on Sundays which will be the one day a week that I am physically present at the church. In addition to preaching each week, I am available for crisis visitation, to officiate at weddings and funerals, and will be moderating Session meetings. Our covenant with one another expires August 1st, but is renewable.

I have been Cumberland Presbyterian all my life. My husband, Andy, and I are both ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament. He is currently serving as Interim at a C.P. church in Ramer, TN. Our two children and my mother attend church with him. Ian is five and Maggie is two. They are hilarious and keep us laughing most of the time.

We live in the small town of Savannah, TN near Pickwick Lake, but we are chomping at the bit to move. I’m thrilled to say that we do have a contract on our house and are in negotiations on a home in Memphis. Our plan is to be moved to Memphis by the first of May.

I am also currently working part-time for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program of Memphis Theological Seminary as Worship Coordinator. I will be planning about six worship services a year for the next three years for clergy chosen to be a part of the program. This position expands to Chaplain to Memphis Theological Seminary in August and becomes full-time. In that role, I will plan two-three chapel services per week and serve as pastor to the MTS community.

God has blessed me with a call to preach. I have no doubt about that call. I am excited, honored, and grateful for the opportunity to be living out that call with Graham Memorial PCUSA. I look forward to getting to know y’all as we worship the One True God together.

Tiffany

 

You can reach Tiffany in the following ways:
Email: tifmcclung@charter.net
Home: 731-926-3633
Cell: 731-607-4761
Check out her blog at www.tiffbits.wordpress.com

 

3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps.116:1-4,12-19
1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:42-47; Ps.23;1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10

5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60; Ps. 31:1-5,15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 17:22-31; Ps. 66: 1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

April 6
First, Lonoke
Vaughn, Bentonville

April 13
First, Hot Springs
Hispanic Ministry Fellowship, Springdale

April 20
Westover Hills, Little Rock
Allison Memorial, Little Rock

April 27
Holly Grove Church, Holly Grove
First, Alma

 

The PW Spring Gathering will be Sat., April 5, in Bella Vista.  The theme is "What does the Lord Require of Me?" The annual Birthday Offering will be received next month.  This is one of two special PW offerings taken each year. This years' two Birthday Recipients are Presbyterian Church of the Congo, and Lakeview Church Weekday School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

~ Rose Ann Scheiderer

The March crew of Gordon Griffith, Raiford Whittenton, Don Guthrie, and Bill Scheiderer had a very good program and meal for our gathering on Wednesday, March 5th

Mr. T. C. Outlaw, who is the Warden in charge at our Federal Correctional Institute here at Forrest City, talked to our group about our steadily growing prison complex here, and how it helps our local economy and our chances at eventually securing the fourth and final (penitentiary) stage of the complex.

The meal was chicken and dumplings and cornbread which I hope everyone enjoyed. I sure did. Next time we’ll be sure to put some bowls out early at the serving line. The chicken and dumplings cool way too quickly when they spread out over a plate!

Wednesday, April 2nd is fast approaching and West Allen, Richard Withrow, Johnny Alderson, and myself will have something special figured out by then. We hope to see everyone back then at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd of April.

See you there,

John Burks

2nd - MOC 6:00, Choir 7:00
5th - Spring Gathering
6th - Pot Luck, Session 1:00 - DBS 7:00
8th - PW 7:00
9th - Worship Committee 6:00, Choir 7:00
16th - Choir 7:00
20th - DBS 7:00
22nd - Earth Day
23rd - Choir 7:00
30th - Senior Supper 5:30, Choir 7:00

9 - Christy White - Nancy Dunaway
13 -Leslie Cockmon
14 - K.K. Parker
16 - Wilma Kensinger
17 - John Burks - Hugh Jarratt
19 - Mary Maxine Burks
20 - Julianna Catherine Fletcher
22 - Jane Meador
24 - Corrine Danehower
28 - Jay Hughes

Greetings! It is hard to believe that our Easter season is over and we are now looking forward to graduation and summer vacations. Is it just me, or is time passing faster than it used to?

Our congregation is very fortunate to have Rev. Tiffany McClung as our worship leader. She brings knowledge and energy to our pulpit. We are thankful that she has come our way. If you have not had the opportunity to hear Tiffany, please make plans to worship with us soon. Thanks to the Worship Committee for your diligence in finding a Pulpit Supply for our church.

The Christian Education Committee proposed that we accept an invitation from the Methodist Church to have a combined Bible School program. The session voted to accept the proposal. We will join together to teach the curriculum and all of our children will be invited to attend Bible School.

The Congregational Care Committee announced that our next pot-luck will be held on April 6th in Pettus Hall. Our graduating seniors will be honored at a Hamburger Supper on Wednesday, April 30th. If you do not drive at night, please call the church office and we will arrange transportation for the hamburger supper. Ladles of Love continues to deliver soup to members of our congregation.

The Building and Grounds Committee has several issues pending. 1.) The committee is working towards an answer to the challenges with our pipe organ. The committee is studying several options and will report in the near future. 2.) A memorial has been received in memory of Jimmy and Francis Plunkett. This money will be used to purchase some shrubs to be added to the landscape of our church grounds. 3.) The committee proposed using the chapel for worship services while our organ is not in working order. We hope to be using this beautiful worship space more often in the near future.

The Finance Committee will present the budget at a congregational meeting on April 6th. The committee has been busy gathering information on our farm holdings and making sure our church finances are in order.

Our Pastor Nominating Committee has been working to compose our Church Information Form. This document gives potential applicants insight into our community and our church. Our CIF (Church Information Form) will be posted on the Presbytery of Arkansas Website and other key websites. The PNC will also be able to view Pastor Information Forms online as they work towards finding an installed pastor for GMPC. Keep this committee in your prayers as they continue with their work.

Check out the Presbytery of Arkansas website for current presbytery information. I was pleased to see a link for a daily devotional that is based on the lectionary. I plan to bookmark it so I can visit it each morning. Check it out!

~ Nancy Dunaway

 

In 2002, the Property and Grounds committee prepared a “ Building Usage Request Form” to be completed by any member desiring to use any part of the church’s facilities. For our members’ protection, as well as for Graham Memorial’s protection, it is imperative that we go through the proper channels before we schedule any activity in our church building. You may obtain a form by calling Judy in the office.

Thanks for your cooperation,
Karen Withrow,
P & G Committee

Lemon Garlic Sprouts

1 pd. Fresh or frozen brussel sprouts, quartered
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbs. butter or margarine
* 3 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt, optional
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a skillet sauté brussel sprouts and onion in butter for 5 min. Add garlic, lemon juice and peel. Salt if desired and pepper; sauté 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium, cook and stir for 5-6 minutes or until sprouts are tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield 8 servings.

*(The lemon juice may be too strong so add a little and adjust to your taste.)

Mary Jane Wilson tags Trudy Sohn

We would like to thank Sam Harris for the good job he did as acolyte during the month of March

Our acolyte for the month of April is Billy Rauscher Hodges

An Old Testament book reveals some lessons that King Lemuel learned from his mother. One was the following: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Which book contains that quote?

A. Psalms
B. Jeremiah
C. 2 Kings
D. Proverbs

Answer: D (See chapter 31, verses 8-9.)

PRESBYTERY OF ARKANSAS DISASTER
RESPONSE EFFORT UNDERWAY

At a meeting yesterday in Atkins, plans were begun that will within days be able to link Arkansas Presbyterians with tornado relief efforts underway in our state. In coordination with Kathy Montgomery, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance staff member who has been traveling the state assessing tornado damage and who spoke at the Feb. 16 presbytery meeting in Batesville, a group of persons from around the state met to organize a Presbytery of Arkansas’ Disaster Response Team (DRT) to coordinate Presbyterian disaster relief efforts in our state.

Currently operating under the umbrella of presbytery’s Mission Committee, the Disaster Response Team will at some point formulate a “response plan” to be regularly updated so that it will be in place to help the presbytery mobilize its resources to help with future “disasters” of different kinds. The immediate priority of the Disaster Response Team (DRT) is to assess relief needs in the various areas of Arkansas hit by recent tornadoes, and to create a communication network to connect Arkansas ’ Presbyterians wanting to offer help of different kinds with the various types of needs in the state.

Beginning Monday, February 25, a central phone line will be available to receive calls from congregations or individuals who wish to contribute volunteer labor, physical items needed for cleanup efforts or for families or individuals impacted by the tornadoes, as well as financial gifts. That central number, to be effective, again, on February 25, will be 501-821-3094 and, toll-free, 866-732-6121.Watch for future e-mails to update relief efforts and plans.

Computer programmer Amy Hughes found a unique way to express her faith. The Lego enthusiast built a church out of 75,000 Lego pieces.

The church is about 7' by 5 1/2' and seats 1,372 little Lego people. The building has almost 4,000 windows, mosaics, an altar and crucifix, a pulpit, a detailed pipe organ, a narthex, bathrooms, stairs and a balcony that seats an 80-member choir. Photos are posted on her website. (below)

Hughes, who once dreamed of being an architect, spent a year and a half on her project, dubbed the Abston Church of Christ. (“Abston” is a fictional name derived from ABS, the type of plastic used to make Legos.)

She also used the Lego church as an exercise in sermon-writing. Pondering why people seek refuge in a house of God, Hughes writes, “The Lord is here because we are here, not because we built a beautiful building.”

“For where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20, NRSV).

Check out Amy’s website it is amazing!
www.amyhughes.org/lego/church

 

God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, we beseech Thee; turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Thy honor and glory.

~ Saint Augustine ~

Grace is like getting two more days to complete an assignment even though you’ve goofed off for six weeks and missed the deadline.

Grace is getting another chance even though you haven’t earned it or deserved it.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor, mercy and love, by which we are justified freely.

~ Fritz Ridenour ~

Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sang the songs of Satan. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

~ John Wesley ~

Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church
402 Dillard
Forrest City, AR 72335

Phone: 870-633-4424
FAX: 870-633-1114
Email: gmpc@sbcglobal.net