December 8, 2023

Last Sunday during the announcements, my remarks on the interim process included a statement that churches in general face a different world now compared to the pre-pandemic reality. Here’s an example: when I started preaching in the mid 1980’s, clergy were among the most trusted professionals. Now, less than 35% of Americans believe clergy are honest or have high ethical standards. A big drop like that means you change your hiring criteria. Technical competency and professional experience are still important, but now you screen for evidence of trustworthiness in the CV. You also want to identify ways the candidates will work to build trust within the congregation and in the larger community.

In my announcements, I also mentioned the Vision Task Force and their good work wrestling with the new reality toward setting a direction for the next 100 years of Fountain City Presbyterian Church’s ministry. That Task Force’s results will go to the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), which should be elected by the congregation in the next few months. The PNC will craft the new vision into a job posting (MDP) and build out their screening and interview procedures. Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to share your heart for what God is doing here and get regular updates on the search process.

In addition to supporting the pastor search process, I was hired to help with organizational needs. Staffing, finances, programming, and several other aspects of the “business” have changed significantly over the past several years. To help the next pastor focus on visiting and preaching and outreach, and not spend 75% of their time with organizational management issues, now’s the time to do some cleanup on aisle church business. I’m working with individual committees and with the Session to identify ways we might improve how we carry out God’s work, and some projects resulting from that effort will take several months to line up and complete. I ask for your patience, expertise, and good spirit as we try to improve communication and better align the church operations with our resources and mission.

My simple approach to interim ministry follows a personal principle that I believe is fundamental for all God’s people: live in a way that leaves things better than when you found them. You are already a wonderful congregation, so that’s a tall order! Denise and I are so grateful for the many warm and kind ways you all have welcomed us, and I will try hard to do a good job for God and for you.

THIS Sunday is Dedication Sunday!

You can submit your pledge online via the button below or by putting it in the offering plate on Sunday!

We have received 22 pledges of our 155 family units for a total of $155,460. We need everyone’s participation in order to reach our asking budget of approximately $500,000. Big or small, when we come together we can achieve our goal.

Thank you for your faithful support of Fountain City Presbyterian Church, here’s to the next 100 years!

Please be aware that ALL TITHES must be turned in by December 26th.

This includes ALL giving; online, checks and cash.

If you mail your tithe it must be in the office by December 26th to count toward 2023 giving.

On Friday, December 1, FCPC partnered with Operation Backyard to build a desperately wheelchair ramp for a Fountain City neighbor. Operation Backyard provided supplies and a crew leader. FCPC provided 16 volunteers who worked hard in the rain. Another 5 volunteers provided food and drinks. It was anticipated that this project would take two days to complete. With the threat of heavy rain on Saturday, the Friday crew hunkered down and completed the project in just one day. Those of you that volunteered to work on Saturday can look forward to more projects like this one next year.

December

(PLEASE NOTE: Birthdays run a week at a time)

9th - Bedford Chapman

10th - David Robertson, Gillian Wright, Zachary Wright

11th - Jon Miller

12th - Joan Inklebarger, Rob Riehl

13th - Jake Watson

"It is time for the story to be told"

Sunday Nights

5:00-7:00pm

Youth room (Chapel Basement)

Grades 6-12

Sunday School Classes

9:30 a.m.

If enough youth we will separate 

Jr. Highs - Upstairs Chapel

Grades 6-8

Sr. Highs - Youth room (chapel basement)

Grades 9-12

Welcome on Wednesday (WOW)

5:30-7:00 pm

Mission Meals

Every 2nd Sunday

We begin cooking the meal during Sunday School. We leave the church around 11:15am and return around 1:30pm.

We also participate in Small and Mighty Youth events with the Presbytery as well as Presbytery Retreats.

Please join Linda Sullivan next Monday, December 4th at 4:30pm at her home to learn more about the reading trip/river cruise next July & to get to know one another. We’ll have snacks. All you need to bring is yourself! If you have questions, contact Linda at 865-680-9502

Do you want to combine the love of reading and traveling? Linda Sullivan is planning the ultimate Reader Trip in 2024, a bookish river cruise along the Danube River, July 21-28, 2024. 

This once in a lifetime adventure has walking or biking tours of the beautiful, historical cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Durnsteing, Spitz, Linz, and Passau, concluding with an Oktoberfest in Vilshofen, plus multiple other optional excursion choices. 

Three novels will be shared at a later date as suggested reading before traveling. There will be time on board to discuss the novels and how they relate to what we are seeing throughout our trip.

The full details of the 7-night cruise from Budapest to Vilshofen can be found here:

https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2024/magna-on-the-danube 

For more information, call or email Linda at (865)680-9502 or lindasullivan08@gmail.com

A little background on our helpers in Belize.

They are very important in keeping things moving ahead while we are in the states. Three of the groups sew throughout the year.

Julia Hernandez: Julia started sewing 2020, and is now teaching others. She and I are on the phone numerous times throughout the week planning projects and discussing needs for each group. Julia oversees and keeps me updated on the 4 groups and teaches in 3 of the four.

All four of our sewing groups participate in making hospital gowns, baby blankets and tote bags for the mothers in Hope for Life.

Some of Julia’s other responsibilities:

• Helps with special projects for costumes for Buena Vista School.
• Picks up orders for supplies from Farmers Trading Center.
• Delivers and picks up sewing machines for repair.
• Keeps the Resource Center clean.

Julia is the mother of two children, a son named Wilder, he is in Standard 6 and a daughter named Daryin, who is now in college. Julia’s husband’s name is Edvin.

Julia would rather sew than do anything else. She also makes banana leaf baskets, raises chickens and sews numerous projects to sell. She is a hard worker and a wonderful Christian woman. She is a good example for her children and the girls in our groups.

Men's Prayer Group



The Men’s Prayer Group meets each Thursday morning at 7:30 in the Greeting Room. We enter the church from the side door to the sanctuary off of Gresham Road. 



We spend thirty minutes in Bible study and prayer and then go to breakfast together for food and fellowship.

Carl Snow's Voice of the People Sunday School Class is now studying Proverbs.

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