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Evangelism/Assimilation
The purpose and goal of the
Evangelism part of Nurture is to reach out
to new families in the community as well as
to our visitors. We do this by encouraging
and facilitating an active outreach program
through visitation. We staff the
hospitality desk on Sunday mornings. We
also conduct new member classes and assist
new members in becoming active in the life
of the church.
Evangelism/Assimilation is very excited
about the Acts 16:5
initiative that the session has just
voted to take part in along with other
churches in our presbytery. Read about
this in the column to the right.
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The Acts 16:5 Initiative
In early March, six people from this
congregation (elders Gene Schimpf, Carey Jo
Elam, and Mike Begley; Evangelism team
members, Denise Geiger and Virginia
Buchanan; and Karen Haak) spent two days at
a presbytery workshop with the Rev. Dr. Stan
Ott of the Vital Churches Institute.
Along with 200 other pastors and
church members from the presbytery, they
were inspired to think of ways that churches
can become revitalized so that the words of
Acts 16:5 can be true for them:
the churches were strengthened in
the faith and increased in numbers daily.
The Acts 16:5 Initiative seeks to honor the
work of present and past members and at the
same time be filled with the expectation
that God is at work with a new vision and a
transformational future for the church.
Isaiah 43:19 says,
See, I am doing a
new thing! Now it
springs up; do you not perceive it?
Becoming part of a partnership of churches
in this presbytery, which will offer mutual
support and encouragement to one another,
seems like the answer to prayer as this
congregation seeks to move into the next
phase of its witness in
Black
Mountain
and beyond. The session
has agreed.
The first step will be forming a
Vision Team of people with initiative and
imagination who are willing to help guide
the process over the next two or three
years. There will be
more gatherings of the participating
churches. As time passes
you will be hearing more about this but for
now know that the session is listening to
you as you have indicated that there are
areas of church life that need new energy.
God is doing a new thing and we are
listening as best we can to hear God’s call
to this congregation and its members.
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Church Bus Ministry
The Church Bus Ministry schedules drivers
for the bus to Highland Farms to provide
transportation to the 11 o’clock worship
service. In general bus drivers have
monthly assignments, arranged by a volunteer
contact person.
Transportation for Blind Members
Four volunteers (plus several subs) are
responsible for transporting our two blind
members from the McCune Center for the 11
o’clock service each Sunday.
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Bus Driver for January:
Scottie and Tom Cannon
Drivers to McCune Center:
1st Sunday: Mike Duckworth
2nd Sunday: Open for volunteer!
3rd Sunday: Ruthmary Williamson
4th Sunday: John & Cathy Moore
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CD Sunday Service
Recording Ministry
This is a ministry with 4 branches of
operation and responsibility.
1. Recording the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning
service and other special services such
as seasonal music or
memorial services.
2. Duplicating the master CD and
preparing them for delivery.
3. Delivery of CDs to shut-in members or
Highland Farms members unable to attend
services, which
means a visit by the
delivery persons.
4. Pick-up and return of used CDs to
church for recycling.
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Presbyterian Women
Our
Presbyterian Women’s organization is
composed of over one hundred fifty women who
are led by a Coordinating Team of officers.
The women are divided into nine circles who
meet in homes or at Highland Farms on the
first Tuesday of the month in the morning,
afternoon, or evening. Bible study in each
circle is led by members of the circle.
Circles participate in service opportunities
throughout the year including: visiting
homebound women, greeting at church on
Sunday mornings, writing monthly letters to
the church’s missionaries, setting up the
fellowship hall for Thursday Night Live
suppers and programs and Gatherings,
providing meals for bereaved families, and
furnishing refreshments for various church
receptions or other functions.
Three special Luncheon Gatherings are held
during the year: The Thank Offering Program
in October, the Missions Emphasis Program in
February, and the PW Birthday Program in
May. Special offerings go for grants that
help disadvantaged women and children
worldwide.
The Presbyterian women are committed to:
·
nurturing their faith through prayer and
Bible study
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supporting the mission of the church
worldwide
·
working for justice and peace
·
building an inclusive, caring community of
women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church and witnesses to the promise of God’s
kingdom
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Thursday Night Live
This is a monthly activity, usually on the
second Thursday of each month, that strives
to present interesting educational,
informational, entertaining programs of all
kinds that will appeal to a large and
diverse segment of the congregation. The
program is preceded by a meal, either
catered or pot-luck, with time for visiting
with each other, celebrating birthdays or
other important events, and in general
enjoying each other’s company.
This is a good time to invite visitors and
new members to get to know church members in
a smaller group.
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The January 14th TNL
will be a program
presented by Dr. Barbara
Nagy, our Medical
Missionary at Nkhoma
Hospital in Malawi, and
Dr. Olson Huff, who has
recently travelled to
Malawi, telling us about
the work and mission
in Nkhoma.
A Love Offering will
also be collected to
help
Jessi Stitt with her
expenses as she
volunteers
this year as a teacher
at the Ebenezer School
in Nkhoma.
Donations to help Jessi
may be given
through the church at
any time. Just
make
your check out to Black
Mountain Presbyterian
Church with Jessi
Stitt on the memo
line.
Call the church office
by Tuesday, Jan. 12, for
dinner reservations.
Dinner is at 5:30;
program
will begin at 6:15.
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Bereavement/Compassion Committee
This committee of three volunteers, with the
help of designated PW circles and the
nurture committee, arranges for either
receptions or dinners for the family after
funerals or memorial services, depending
upon the wishes of the family members.
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Stephen Ministry
 Stephen
Ministers are members of our congregation
who receive special training to provide
one-to-one Christian care to people in our
congregation and community who are
experiencing grief, loneliness, divorce,
hospitalization, disability, job loss, and
many other life difficulties. Stephen
ministers are trained to listen, care,
encourage, and provide emotional and
spiritual support.
The care you receive is confidential, free,
and very helpful.
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