Thursday, November 22, 2007

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

In the midst of a horrific Civil War being fought over the terrible injustice of slavery, Abraham Lincoln suggested that we turn our attentions to God in thanksgiving.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Pledge Drive: Thank You

Great news, praise God! Our 2008 Pledge Drive was very successful as we received $177,000 in pledges. This is a significant increase over the last few years. This will help support the operations and ministries of our church next year. Thank you for your pledge to Vernon First Presbyterian Church.

If you are interested in how we prepare our budgets, please follow this link. If you are interested in the policies relating to income from the Mary Beth Waggoner trust, please look here. As soon as the budget is approved, we will also post that information on-line.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Victory Field Christmas Dinner, Dec 4

Every year we partner with the Wilbarger Church of Christ to provide some Christmas cheer to cadets at Victory Field. For some of those cadets, we are the only family they will see this Christmas season. We need your help. Please contact the church at 553-3925 or vernonpres@sbcglobal.net to let them know what you can contribute. Please help us to reach out with the love of Christ this season.

Victory Field Christmas Dinner Sign-Up List (UPDATED 3:42pm on 11/29)

  • 1 Turkeys - Cook and dice (bite size pieces for cadets)
  • Green Beans for 60
  • Dressing for 80
  • Rolls (160)
  • 5 gal Sweet Tea
  • 5 Pecan Pie
  • 5 Banana Pudding (8 servings each)
  • Serving gloves (plastic)
  • Extra Plates
  • 80 Christmas cards from First Presbyterian Church and Wilbarger Church of Christ
  • The wrapping of 2 separate presents for 40 people (1 for dinner and 1 for Christmas)

We also need volunteers to serve at Victory Field on December 4th.

Baptisms


On November 18, our congregation witnessed the baptism of Ezra Clay and Kristin Leigh. Ezra was born in May 2007 in Plano, Texas. Kristin was born in October 2006 in Wichita Falls. We give thanks for God's grace found in Jesus Christ and take seriously our vows to help raise these children in the faith.

BAPTISM
Combined with the promises of Scripture, Baptism is a sign and seal of incorporation into Jesus Christ. In Baptism, God offers us a new beginning like the world cleansed after the waters of the flood. Like circumcision for the children of Abraham, baptism is a sign of God’s covenant with us. As Jesus identified with us in the baptism of John, we identify with Christ in our baptism. Baptism is a sign of our adoption into God’s family, the Church. We die with Jesus, and with him we are resurrected. Baptism is God’s gift of grace and also God’s summons to respond to that grace. Baptism calls to repentance, to faithfulness, and to discipleship. Baptism gives the Church its identity and commissions the Church for ministry to the world.

Weekly Vine: Nov 18-24, 2007

CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 18-24
Sunday (11-18)
  • 9:00 am - A time of Prayer for our Worship
  • 9:30 am - Sunday School classes
  • 10:50 am - Worship
  • 6:00 pm - Community Thanksgiving Service @ Calvary Baptist Church
Monday (11-19)
  • 5:30 pm - Bear Den, McLain
  • 7:00 pm - Troop 87, Staub Hall
Wednesday (11-21)
  • 11:00 am - Prayer Group
Thursday (11-22) THANKSGIVING DAY
  • Church Office Closed
Friday (11-23)
  • Church Office Closed
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COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE
A community Thanksgiving service will be tonight at Calvary Baptist Church at 6:00 pm. Rev. Mike Seay of Second Baptist Church will deliver the message. The Vernon High School Choir, under the direction of Mary Jane Ethington, will lead the music.

PROGRESSIVE DINNER
The Fellowship Committee has scheduled a Progressive Dinner for Saturday, December. 1 at 6:30 pm. A sign up sheet is in the Narthex. Please sign up and mark whether you will bring an appetizer, part of the main meal, or a dessert. Host homes are needed for the Appetizer and Main courses. Desserts will be served at the church. Child care will be available at the church.

TYC CHRISTMAS DINNER
Volunteers are needed to help serve a traditional Christmas meal to the cadets of Charlie II on Tuesday, December 4.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Handel's Messiah at First Presbyterian


In 2007-2008, the First Presbyterian Church of Vernon, Texas will be celebrating Jesus Christ through the witness of George Frederick Handel’s Messiah.

In 1741, Handel received a letter from Charles Jennens who had written some lyrics for Handel in the past. In the letter, Jennens sought Handel’s help to set music for a compilation of Scripture about the Christ of God. Whether inspired by financial need, talent, the divine, or a combination, Handel wrote the entire musical score in twenty-four days. The Messiah premiered in Dublin on April 13, 1742. Ever since the Messiah’s premiere on April 13, 1742, the piece has provoked devotion, inspiration and comfort to many.

During this Christmas season, the First Presbyterian Church will be providing Sunday School classes at all levels about the Christian witness found in the Messiah. Lance Bohannon, the church’s organist, will be leading the adults through Carol Bechtel’s curriculum, “Hallelujah: The Bible and Handel’s Messiah.” The youth will also be focusing on the Scriptural texts used in the composition. In addition, the children will be preparing for a Christmas program on December 19th inspired by the musical work.

In worship, the First Presbyterian Church’s choir will be offering pieces from the Messiah throughout December. The pastor, Rev. James Hodsden, will also be preaching the Scripture texts studied in the Sunday School classes. Finally, the church will be taking folks to Wichita Falls to a Messiah performance on December 16th. “We have a wonderful opportunity to glorify and enjoy God through the words of Scripture and great music,” said Rev. Hodsden.

First Presbyterian Church is located across from Vernon High School at the corner of Paradise and Yucca. Sunday School begins at 9:30 am with worship beginning at 10:50 am.

For further information:
First Presbyterian Church of Vernon, Texas
940-553-3925
vernonpres@sbcglobal.net

Monday, November 12, 2007

Victory Field Worship, Nov 17

There will be a Thanksgiving Service held for the youth on the Victory Field campus this Saturday, November 17th, 2-3pm, in the gym. Lupe Rando, New Life Baptist Church, will be conducting the service. Please pass the word that registered volunteers are invited to attend this service if able.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Veterans Day


Sunday, November 11, is Veterans Day. We continue to thank God for the men and women who have served and are serving in the military. As we remember their sacrifice, please keep them in your prayers. Also pray for the following soldiers in active service who have a personal connection with our congregation.
Danny, Rodney Paul, Eric, Sheila, Trevor, Brian, Tim, Nancy, Joseph, and David
If you would like to send a card or letter to an active serviceman, please contact the church office. We would be happy to connect you to someone in our church. Also, you might be interested in a free program by Xerox where they send a postcard to a soldier on your behalf.

Finally, the VHS National Honor Society is sponsoring a ceremony and reception to honor veterans and those actively serving in the military. On Monday, November 12th, all veterans and family and friends of veterans are invited to the Vernon High School Gym at 9:00 am.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Progressive Dinner, Dec 1



A progressive dinner has been scheduled for Saturday, December 1 at 6:30 pm. An appetizer course and a main course will be held at various members’ homes. Dessert will be served in the church Parlor. Child care will be provided at the church during the evening.


Sign up sheets are posted in the Narthex. When signing up, please indicate how many will be attending and what dish you will bring. Please also indicate if you are willing to host one course of the dinner in your home.

Call the church office with your questions at 553-3925.

2030 Fund


Thanks to the generosity of Mary Beth Waggoner, the Texas Presbyterian Foundation has received the bulk of her estate. Moreover, our congregation will receive the income from that estate for the next 23 years. One question has been what will happen to ministries begun and supported by these moneys.

The First Presbyterian Church of Vernon has established its own endowment fund to be called the “2030 Fund.” The purpose of this fund is to provide income after distributions from the Mary Beth Waggoner Trust Fund end in 2030 for the “special mission programs and ministries” that our church has developed. This will make it possible for the Mary Beth Waggoner Trust Fund to keep on giving to our kids, grandkids, and their grandkids. We are proud to announce that the 2030 Fund had its initial deposit in October, 2007. The 2030 Fund how has a balance of $55,337.

Budget through September 30, 2007:
  • Income $145,685
  • Expenses $140,544
Budget hearings for 2007 will be held in November.

Meet the Members: November 2008

John and Pam J have lived in Vernon for 15 years. John works with the Adolescent Forensic Program at the state hospital. Pam teaches the 4-year old class at Sonshine Place Preschool at Calvary Baptist. She was hired last fall as the secretary at this church.

John grew up in Big Spring, TX., one of 3 children. He attended Howard County Jr. College, Univ. of Texas, Univ. of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University to get all his education. Pam grew up in Midland, TX, with 3 siblings and earned an education degree at Texas Woman’s University. They met while Pam was at TWU and John was doing Master’s work at UNT.

There are 3 J children. David, a Specialist in the US Army, is currently training in Arizona. He has a Sociology degree from Angelo State University and worked on a master’s degree at the Univ. of Neb., Lincoln. He has recently become engaged to a sweet girl from Nebraska and they are planning a February wedding. Valerie is a 3rd year student at TWU and not decided about what she will do when she grows up. Thomas, a sophomore in High School, plays in the band and on the JV football team and is active in Presbyterian and Methodist youth activities.

John and Pam both grew up in Presbyterian families and have followed their parents in this tradition. They are appreciative of the love and support of 1st Presbyterian, Vernon.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Weekly Vine: Nov 4-11, 2007

CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 4 - 11

Sunday (11-4)
  • 9:00 am - A time of Prayer for our Worship
  • 9:30 am - Sunday School classes
  • 10:50 am - Worship, Communion
Monday (11-5)
  • 7:00 pm - Troop 87, Staub Hall
Tuesday(11-6)
  • 9:30 am - Circle Meetings
Circle 1 - Martha Smith
Circle 2 - Lou Byrd
  • 6:30 pm - Stewardship Meeting, Budget Hearing
  • 7:00 pm - Christian Ed Meeting
Wednesday (11-7)
  • 11:00 am - Prayer Group
  • 5:00 pm - Middle School Dinner in the Home
  • 7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
Thursday (11-8)
  • 7:00 pm - TYC Birthday Party
  • 7:00 pm - Tiger Cubs, Thiemann
There will be a called Session Meeting next Sunday following worship.