Bill’s Bestowals:
“First Presbyterian Church:
Celebrating 125 Years of Being a Light in the Heart of Mena!”
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden ….
In the same way, let your light shine before (people),
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:14-16)
EXCITING NEWS THIS MONTH! Earlier this year we had the happy realization that FPC Mena is now in a milestone year … HAPPY 125TH BIRTHDAY, church! Of course, being the good Presbyterians that we are, a committee had to be formed to plan a celebration. You would never believe the number of ideas with which we are working! I’d like to share the tip of the iceberg here:
- First, the theme. Just look up é at the header above, and there it is! We’re in a great position to bear love to our community, and we do! Scripture often speaks of the things we do to spread love as “light,” so we are, indeed, light-bearers in the heart of Mena! It is no coincidence that one of our primary missions is “Solar under the Sun,” nor is it that our recent VBS experience focused on spreading light!
- Next, when will the celebration take place? It is planned for the month of November. “Which Sunday?” you ask? Answer: all of them! A whole month of celebration seems appropriate when we consider God’s faithfulness to us for 125 years! November is possibly best known for the national holiday of Thanksgiving, and we truly have something to be thankful for! Greater details of our celebration will be forthcoming next month.
- We are hoping some of you may have some things to offer the committee:
- Do you have historical items relevant to walking down memory lane and/or seeing our church in action? Old photos, mementos, written histories, etc.?
- Do you enjoy art? We would like to create a new church logo, and would love several ideas from which to choose. Submit as many possibilities as you like. One of them may end up on an FPC shirt!
- Do you enjoy writing poetry and/or music? How cool it would be for those talents to be used to create a poem, hymn or song we could use in the celebration! I know at least three creative souls are already creating masterpieces!
- Do you enjoy eating? OK – dumb question! We will have some fine food during November … and we would love it if everyone would submit at least one (and up to three) recipes that we will compile in an online cookbook (to be accessed through our website).
- We also are considering how we may use this celebration to spread more light to our community through a mission project of some sort … but I’ll report on that later.
I am truly looking forward to this celebration! If you have ideas you may submit them to Judy Thompson (committee chair), Mary Dixon, Annette / Bill Hays, Karen Mosier or Linda Spurgin. If you have any of the contributions listed above, feel free to bring them by the church office anytime.
Blessings! Pastor Bill
- S. – I’m giving you guys aREADING ASSIGNMENTthat I hope you can accomplish prior to September 10! Sermons throughout the remainder of the month of September will be – in a manner of speaking – a walkthrough of the Old Testament Book of Esther. Esther is only ten chapters, and one of the more fun books to read (a drama!). Come prepared, starting September 11, to get the most out of worship.
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Inquirers’ Class Begins!
September 18 – October 9; each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
New to First Presbyterian Church of Mena,
or just want to get to know more about us?
If so, you are welcome to join the Inquirers’ Class!
Call Pastor Bill at 785-320-1652 to register.
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September 2022 Calendar:
Sunday: Worship at 11 a.m.
Thursday: Grief Share at 10 a.m. in the parlor.
September 3: PW Meeting in Fellowship Hall 10 a.m.
September 4: 125th Anniversary Committee meets following worship.
September 6: Mission Committee Meeting 5 p.m.
September 8: Fellowship Committee Meeting 8 a.m.
September 11: Movie Day “Pay It Forward” 4 p.m.
September 13: Membership & Evangelism Committee Meeting 6 p.m.
September 18: Inquirer’s Class # 1, 9:30 a.m., Helen Barham Room (behind sanctuary)
September 19: Stewardship & Finance Committee Meeting 1 p.m.
September 21: Session Meeting 5:30 p.m.
September 24: Miranda Burt & Richard Gilbert Baby Shower 2 p.m.
September 25: Inquirer’s Class # 2, 9:30 a.m., Helen Barham Room (behind sanctuary)
September 27: Building & Grounds Committee Meeting 10 a.m.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
1–Colleen Amidei 9 – Susan Slinkerd
1 – Caitlyn Rode 23 – Anna Burt
2 – Barbara & Bill Stiefer 23 – Georgia & Mike Landry
4 – Katherine Bisbee 28 – Leon Myers
5 – Wes Stiefer 29 – Tommy Myers
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: Georgia Landry & Wes Stiefer
Communion Preparers: Delta Reed
Communion Servers: Leon Myers, Chuck Schroyer, Annette Hays,
Wes Stiefer & Judy Thompson
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
September 4: Personal Care Collection
September 25: Goodland Academy
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Meet the Members of First Presbyterian Church, MEna
Hello from Paula Dearing! Paula is the sister of Judy Weir, a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Mena. Paula moved here this summer from Carthage, Texas and lived in Shreveport, Louisiana prior to that. Her pride and joy is Sassabelle, a 14 year old miniature Yorkie. Paula is retired and has worked as a Customer Service Representative for the railroad, as an EMT, and taught a class on making stain-glass windows at a community college. Her favorite job was a hospital surgical tech. Her hobbies include gardening and working with flowers. She has been a widow since 1993 and has one daughter, three sons, and four granddaughters ranging in age from ten to eighteen years old. Paula says that First Presbyterian in Mena is the first church she has attended that she felt welcomed and at home. She has been active in fellowship committee, helping with Lunches of Love, VBS, and Helping Hands Sunday. Paula says she hopes our mission work will bring new people into the church.
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Hello from Bill and Annette Hays! We have been married 51 years. We have a son, a daughter and six grandkids. Annette is a retired school teacher. Her hobbies include weed-eating, reading, walking, and spending time with her grandblessings. Bill works as a driver for charter buses and owns and operates Hatfield Honey, where he distributes honey and sorghum. Bill loves people, likes watching all kinds of sports, and enjoys spending time at the Ouachita Little Theater both acting and volunteering as treasurer, stocking, set building, and working the concession stand. Both of us played sports in our younger days, Annette played basketball and Bill played basketball and baseball. Annette grew up in Pine Ridge, moved away for a while before returning to the area. Bill grew up in Joplin, Missouri where his family was well known in the community due to their furniture store and love of singing. Bill and Annette are both very active members of First Presbyterian. Annette is on Session and a member of the Christian Ed. committee. She leads the Membership and Evangelism Committee, is a shepherd to a group of members of the congregation, teaches the teen Sunday School class, helps with Lunches of Love, VBS, and Helping Hands projects. She gives the children’s message monthly during the worship service. Bill is Clerk of Session, an elder, sings in the choir, and works on Helping Hands projects. He is a lifelong Presbyterian. Annette chose the Presbyterian Church after visiting other denominations due to the observation that Presbyterians were genuine in living their beliefs, not living one way on Sunday and another during the week. She says she has been inspired by Pastor Bill as he leads the congregation in shifting focus to more community outreach. She acknowledges that reflecting God’s love to the community is a different approach to evangelism. Bill and Annette say, “It is our hope to have young families join us for the future of our church.”
