RPC NEWSLETTER

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE ROGERSVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – ROGERSVILLE, TENNESSEE 37857

March 28, 1975

COLONIAL SERVICE PLANNED FOR APRIL 20 AS WE CONSIDER OUR HERITAGE

The churches of our nation can influence the direction of Bicentennial celebrations by bringing the power of the Christian conscience to bear upon our national heritage and destiny.  On Saturday, April 19, our community will observe the kickoff date with a Street Fair and parade.  On Sunday, April 20, our morning worship service will be patterned after the type of service conducted in eighteenth century colonial America.

According to Puritan customs, all fathers and sons are asked to sit on the left or west side, all mothers and daughters on the right or east side.  Members are invited to wear dark clothing, typical of the period.  The Directory for the Worship of God at that time specifies: “It is the duty of every person to remember the Lord’s Day; the whole day is to be kept holy to the Lord; and to be employed in the public and private exercise of religion.  Let the people be careful to assemble at the appointed time; that, being all present at the beginning, they may unite, with one heart, in all parts of public worship.  In time of public worship let all the people attend with gravity and reverence; forebearing to read anything, except what the minister has been reading or citing; abstaining from all whisperings; from salutation of persons present, or coming in; and from gazing about, sleeping, smiling, and all other indecent behaviour.”

The Worship Committee has approved plans for the service and Dr. Heltzel is preparing a sermon appropriate to the occasion.  Join with us in “Divine worship on the Sabbath Day.”

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A BICENTENNIAL TASK FORCE of the Presbyterian Church, US, has begun definite arrangements for participation in our nation’s bicentennial observance.  Theme to be used is: “Repentance, Thanksgiving, Rededication”.  At the 1975 General Assembly suggestions will be given that churches may use in community activities.

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH WILL ELECT NEW SLATE OF OFFICERS AT APRIL MEETING

Tuesday, April 8, the WOC will elect officers for the 1975-76 year.  The Leadership and Resources Committee is composed of: Mrs. Robert Southern, Chm. Mrs. Robert Armstrong, and Mrs. Gray Wilson.

Program Council – 10:00 A.M.

Women’s Council – 10:15

WOC – 10:45 ELECTION OF OFFICERS, BIBLE LESSON – “The Power of the New King” Matt. 8-9, led by Mrs. Robert Armstrong, Circles 1, 2, and 3, Volunteer Workshop (bring a sandwich)

CIRCLE MEETINGS

Friday, April 4, Sally McFadden Liberty Circle, at the church, at 7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, April 8, Circle 4, at the church, Miss Lou Clamon and Mrs. Rena Mae Pierce, hostesses, at 7:00 P.M.; Business Women’s Circle – 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 9, Young Women’s Circle, at the church, 7:30 P.M.

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BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED

Mrs. Randall Livesay has been named Chairman of the Bicentennial Commitee, appointed to begin planning for our church’s observance of our nation’s 200th Birthday.  Others named thus far include: Mrs. A. F. Gray, Mrs. T. P. Summers, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Price.  Mr. Price has begun research and will be preparing our church’s history.

The Rogersville Church has a rich heritage as it looks back over the last 175 years since it was organized in 1805.  The old McMinn Academy, with its able headmasters, and the Synodical College, that operated on the site of the Elementary School, were entwined with the life of the church.

If you have material – pictures, relics, information about any of these, please talk with one of this committee.

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June 30 – July 2 a workshop for leaders of planning committees in local churches will be offered in Montreat.  Dr. T. Watson Street, pastor of First Church, Kingsville, Texas, is chairman of the Task Force, which will conduct the workshop.

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KENNETH SHICK ACCEPTS CALL FOR SUMMER WORK

In a letter to the Session, Mr. Shick agreed to come for a thirteen week period, beginning the last of May.  He will be helping with Sunday evening services, Bible Schools at Liberty and Rogersville, in work with our young people, and pastoral visiting, and will be available for counseling.  he will also be preaching at the morning worship service when Dr. Heltzel has to be away.

Mr. Shick visited us March 9 and 10.  He will graduate in mid-May from Union Seminary.  We rejoice that his talents and leadership will be used here and that God has led him to accept this summer assignment.

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PLANNING BEGINS FOR A CHURCH LIBRARY

In the 1975 budget $500 was set aside for shelves and other expenses in setting up a library.  The Building and Grounds Committee has begun a study to selection the most suitable place in the church.

Many memorable books have been contributed over the years.  These are being catalogued in a permanent card catalog.  Mrs. Chambers, Mrs. Kensinger, and Mrs. Wheeler have been at work in this endeavor.

A library is a vital part of a church’s life and usefulness – a part to be used from the youngest child to the oldest adult.  It may include many things other than books, i.e., filmstrips, records, cassettee tapes, slides, maps, projectors, record players, etc.  Though it may take some time to complete, it will give us a useful resource, a means of centralizing materials, caring for them properly, and locating them as needed.

Please check your own bookshelves and see if you have failed to return a book belonging to the church.

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PRESBYTERY RESOURCE CENTER BEING DEVELOPED

Mrs. Marvin Budd and Mrs. Chester Bruner have been at work assembling materials for an educational resource center to aid local churches.  Teachers and leaders may check out from the Presbytery office pieces of equipment and Christian Education materials.  An inventory of what is available will be listed in the Presbytery newsletter “Speaking” and will be on file in our church office.

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PLANNING UNDERWAY

Mrs. Larry Boyd, assisted by Mrs. Henry Price, has been at work selecting materials and will be meeting with teachers this month.  She asks that anyone who is willing to help in any capacity, notify the church office, Mrs. Price or herself.  Volunteers are needed to teach, collect resources, transport children, care for a nursery, assist in craft work, play the piano, etc.  The week of June 16-20 has been selected, as the questionnaire indicated this was the time preferred by most people.

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SANCTUARY FLOWERS

Circle II, Mrs. Frank Dukes, Chairman, will be responsible for the sanctuary flowers during the month of April.

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DR. HELTZEL TO CONTINUE AS INTERIM MINISTER

Our church has been richly blessed by the inspiring sermons of Dr. Massey Mott Heltzel.  The rapt attention on the faces of the congregation each Sunday morning as he preaches, gives evidence of the depth of his messages.  We are grateful for his assent to the Worship’s Committee’s request that he serve beyond his former commitment to supply pulpit through the month of April.

The Pulpit Search Committee has been at work for five months – assembling data, holding meetings, traveling to hear prospects, but do not give us any indication of their progress.  We want to again assure them or our prayers for guidance as they continue to work on our behalf to carry out this awesome responsibility.

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MRS. LAWSON TO OVERSEE NURSERY

Mrs. Nicholas (Brenda) Lawson has been employed to look after the children in the Nursery on Sunday mornings from 9:45 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.  She is the mother of a five year old son.  She began work in mid-March.

Mrs. Rita S. Lawson, who has regularly assisted in the Nursery, has, for the past three weeks, been with her small son at the University Hospital, Knoxville, where he is slowly recovering from serve burns when he pulled over a pan of boiling water.

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OUR NEWEST ARRIVAL

Our congratulations to the Philip Beals and a warm welcome to little Whitney Anne, born March 22 at Morristown-Hamblen Hospital.  She just missed being a birthday present for her brother Adam Spencer, who was two years old on March 18.

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The congregation of our church has been invited to the formal opening of the Hawkins County Adult Activities Center and Sheltered Workshop by the Department of Mental Health of the State of Tennessee and the Hawkins County Association for Retarded Children and Adults.  The opening is set for Sunday, April 13, at the new building on Hasson Street.  Mrs. W. B. Hale served as Chairman of the Building Committee.  Our Young Women’s Circle, Mrs. Karl Geiger, Chairman, adopted the class formerly housed in the Methodist Church and now moved into the new building.  Our Women of the Church contribute to work with Mrs. Ella Jo Bradley’s SMR Class held in the Hawkins County Elementary School.

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Next month the RPC News will report on the One Great Hour of Sharing Easter offering.  As more news of floods, tornadoes, drought, and fleeing refugees come to us, the burden of alleviation of some of the world’s suffering becomes more anguishing.

The Rogersville congregation joined with the Church Hill Church on Maundy Thursday in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS?  The church’s group subscription for “These Days”, daily devotional guide supplied by the Presbyterian Church, US, expires with the May/June issue.  Those who would like to subscribe or renew their subscription are asked to notify the church office or Mrs. Gray Wilson.  The cost is $1.40 per year for a minimum of five subscriptions.  This little guide offers each day a verse of scripture, a short meditation, and a prayer.  Those who use it (one for forty years) say they would not be without it.

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HOLSTON PRESBYTERY 1975 SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE

June 30 – July 5: 5th and 6th Grade Small Group, 7th and 8th Grade Small Group, Rustic Camp

July 7-12: 7th and 8th Grade Small Group, 9th-12th Grade Trail Hike

July 14-19: 5th and 6th Grade Small Group, 7th and 8th Small Group Rustic

July 21-26: 9th-12th Grade Small Group Camp

July 28 – Aug. 2: 5th and 6th Grade Small Group, 7th and 8th Grade Small Group, Rustic Camp

Aug. 4-9: 7th and 8th Grade Small Group, 9th-12th Grade Trail Hike

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A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION WORKSHOP, sponsored by the Division on Congregational Concerns, Holston Presbytery, is being offered at Presbytery Camp, Banner Elk, N.C., April 11-12.  It will focus on three key areas: how to plan for Christian Education, a review of various curricula (including non-Presbyterian), and a plan for teacher training programs.  A learning center, demonstrating resources available in this Presbytery will be in continual operation.  Because parallel sessions, at least two members from each church will be needed.  It is strongly recommended that an elder from each church attend.  Mrs. Mary Jean McFayden from GEB, Atlanta, will be the leader.

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As a congregation, we extend our sympathy and Christian love to the family of Mrs. Nova K. Walker, who died March 23.  She was the mother of Mrs. D. A. Fannon, grandmother of Tim and Gary Fannon and Norman Walker, and the sister of Mrs. John Nelson of the Rogersville Church, as well as sister of Randolph Kirkpatrick and aunt of Nell Kirkpatrick of the Liberty Church.

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IN MEMORIAM

Mrs. J. R. Stephenson (Ernestine McDonald) has made a contribution to our Library Fund for the purchase of books to be placed in memory of her mother, Mrs. Beryl Rowan McDonald.

PILGRIMS TO THE HOLY LAND, by Kollek and Pearlman, has been placed in the library in memory of Mrs. Henry R. Nelson, by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Testerman, Jr.

The Victor Hooper family has made a contribution to the Library Fund for a book, to be selected, in memory of Mrs. Nova K. Walker.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to these in our church family who have birthdays in April.  Please include them in your prayers.

3 – Hannah Boyd

4 – Dr. Massey Mott Heltzel

5 – Dan M. Armstrong, Shelton Stubbs

6 – Miss Mary Mac Nelson, Guy Long

7 – Miss Sarah Mac Lawson, Evelyn Stapleton

8 – Chip Hale, Mrs. A. S. Thompson

10 – Jack Chesnutt, Patrick Street

11 – Joe T. Davis

12 – Martha Cope DeAtley, Cathie Short Reeves

13 – Larry Boyd

14 – Mrs. Gladys Kyle, C. H. Geiger, Sr.

15 – Mrs. Mary Fulkerson

16 – Mrs. W. B. Long, Mrs. Ben Cunningham, Billy Peeples, Bobby Peeples, David Testerman

18 – Mrs. Larry Boyd

19 – Gerald Street

21 – Mrs. Robert Southern

22 – Miss Margaret Walker, Jay Phillips

23 – Miss Christine Armstrong, Mrs. Beatrice Trent, Barry Chesnutt, Laura McLeod

25 – Mrs. Junius McElveen, Sr., Edward Hodges

26 – Charles Fontaine

27 – Mrs. Arthur Lyons, Mrs. Harry Fontaine

30 – Scott Myers, Joe Mayes, Jr.

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USHERS FOR APRIL

The following Deacons will serve as Ushers for the month of April:

Joe Timberlake, Fred Berry, Frank W. Moore, John Gray