Author Archives: Becca Longino

January 2014

First Presbyterian Church Luling, Texas

 

What is the purpose of this church?

Bringing people to the celebration of Christ.

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Lectionary Scriptures for January

1/5 – Jer. 31:7-14; Ps. 147:12-20; Eph. 1:3-14; John 1: (1-9) 10-18

1/6 – Epiphany of the Lord: Isa. 60:1-6; Ps. 72:1-7, 10-14; Eph. 3:1-12; Matt. 2:1-12

1/12 – Isa. 42:1-9; Ps. 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matt. 3:13-17

1/19 – Isa. 49:1-7; Ps. 40:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

1/26 – Isa. 9:1-4; Ps. 27:1, 4-9; 1 Cor. 1:10-18; Matt. 4:12-23

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Pastor’s Message

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” ~ Revelation 21:5

 

January is always filled with an abundance of newness. New year, fresh start. Time to change the calendar and welcome in the year 2014.  We look ahead and anticipate what this new year will bring. For those making resolutions, best wishes to you! May you have the discipline to stick to your goal.

Truth be told, I almost never stick to my resolution when I choose an action to complete. They start off well enough, but fizzle by the middle of January. So this year I have not set an action as my goal. Instead I am filling my heart with hope for the coming year. My hope for 2014 is that it is a year filled with love. I hope this for each of you individually, but also as a church family. My hope is that First Presbyterian Church of Luling would be known in the community as a place where love resides. Where Christ’s presence is known and celebrated. A place where all are welcome.

We are about to embark on a large renovation project to bring our worship space up to date (and up to code!). My hope is that this won’t just be a physical overhaul of our space, but a spiritual one. As we set out to make our building safer and more comfortable, let us also seek out ways that we can invite other folks in. Let us live into our call to bring people to the celebration of Christ!

Pastor Becca

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Calendar of Events

1/5      Worship; Congregational Meeting; Take down Crismons; Lunch

1/6      Epiphany of the Lord

1/9      Presbyterian Women (tentative)

1/10    Human Trafficking Awareness Day

1/12    Worship; Communion; Installation of the Elders; New Member Class

1/18    Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins

1/19    Worship; Race Relations Day; New Member Class

1/26    Worship; Criminal Justice Day; New Member Class

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Birthdays/Anniversaries

1/25    Lee Nelson

1/29    Sheila Buchholtz

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Liturgy/Church Host Schedule

Our thanks to Beth Flynn for serving as church host and liturgist for the month of January.

The 2014 sign-up sheet for church duties is now up in the Fellowship Hall. If you have not already done so, please be sure to sign up for a month to be the liturgist and provide coffee and snacks after Sunday service.

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Session

A Congregational Meeting has been set for Sunday, January 5, to consider a proposal prepared by the Session for funding the building renovation.

Joanna Glass and Etta Weise were elected as elders for the Class of 2016 during the Congregational Meeting on December 1.  They will be installed during the church service on January 12.

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“Un-Decorating” the Church

Immediately following Worship and the Congregational Meeting on January 5, everyone is invited to help take down the Crismons and other decorations.  A light lunch will be provided afterwards.

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Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women will meet at 2 pm on Thursday, January 9; the discussion will center around Lesson 5: God Provides.

Two conferences for Presbyterian Women are scheduled at Mo Ranch in 2014:

March 28-30 – Mission Presbytery PW Spring Gathering: “Make A New Friend”

Hosted by Holy Trinity PW in San Antonio, the conference keynote will be Pastor Caryn Thurman, with music by Debbie Osborne. Nearly 20 workshops are planned on a variety of topics.  Registration opens January 15.  More information is online at http://missionpw.tripod.com/index.html.  Copies of the registration forms can also be found in the Fellowship Hall.

 

May 27-29 OR May 30-June 1 – 2014 Women’s Conference: “The Sacramental Life: Living Your Sacred Story”

The Rev. Dr. Joan Watson will be the keynote speaker, with The Rev. Ashley Hood as worship leader and Kathlene Ritch as music leader. Early registration is underway now and ends March 24.  For an up-to-date description of workshops, visit www.moranch.com/women-workshops.

Copies of the registration forms can also be found in the Fellowship Hall.

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Mission and Outreach

Anon E. Mouse really energized our church members to give during the Christmas season.  Two tables in the Fellowship Hall were covered with food items that had to be weighed in a pickup truck.  The total came to 450 pounds!

The Food Bank continues to be in need of canned meats, like tuna or ham, and easy meal items, like mac and cheese or Hamburger Helper.  Also needed are volunteers, including drop-ins.  Volunteer time slots are 8-9 am Mondays to help unload the truck; 8 am-noon Tuesdays; 8:30 am-noon Wednesdays.

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New Member Class

 

New Member Classes will be held at 10:30 am in the Fellowship Hall on January 12, 19, and 26.  New members wanting to learn about the church and current members wanting to brush up on their knowledge are all welcome to attend! Classes will be finished by noon on each Sunday.

In the meantime, copies of Presbyterian Today, The Layman, and The Presbyterian Outlook are available in the Fellowship Hall.  These magazines help keep us informed about what is happening with our denomination nationwide.  Feel free to browse through them!

Did you know?

It’s time for a new church directory!  Fred Buchholtz is organizing this project and will be taking church member’s pictures for a new edition that reflects the current life of the congregation.

We have a new website for the church, thanks to Becca and her husband J.T.!  Be sure to check out www.firstpresluling.org.

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Remember When

A document on the History of the First Presbyterian Church of Luling was compiled first in 1936, updated in 1963 and later in 1977.  Since that time, the history – to this editor’s knowledge – has not been added to or revised.  If you have information from the 80s, 90s or more recently, please share!

The opening paragraphs of the church history includes a lovely tribute to the church building itself, especially timely as we look toward a new year of renovations:

“Luling’s picturesque little Presbyterian Church appears as if someone delicately carved it from a block of wood, only yesterday, then painted it a gleaming white, and placed it among the evergreens like the little Church in the Dell.

But this church is almost as old as the City itself, and it stands at the downtown corner of Pecan and Crockett.  There is an air of peace and solitude about it – even as busy automobile traffic rushes by.

The church building dates back to 1882, but the congregation dates back to 1877, when Luling itself was wearing its swaddling clothes…”

Look for more excerpts from our church history in future issues of the newsletter, as well as features about our church members.

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Prayer List

Raymond & Ernestine Harmon

Nell Brown

Elizabeth Payne

Bill Cardwell & his sister, Mary Ann, and her husband, David Cochran

Marianna & her sister, Carolyn

Susan’s mother, Carolyn

Carrol’s sister, Betty White

Mary Nelson’s mother, Frances

Sheila Buchholtz’s sisters, Debbie & Mary Jane

Margie & Dick Hudson

Bill & Becky Slaughter

Alavara Herrera, father of Barbara Tetley, Sandy’s friend

Kay Myers, friend of Bill Cardwell

Nancy, Julie’s friend

John Bosquez, Charles’ friend

Sarah Evans, Beth’s friend

Sandy Villarreal’s cousin, Nancy

Jerry Kidd

Gilbert Gerdes

Marge Shultz

Peggie Price, friend of Bill & Susan Rutherford

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Memorials/Contributions

The following are memorials and contributions made since December, 2013:

In memory of Gladys Allen: Beth & Carrol Flynn;

In memory of Jess Knox: Beth & Carrol Flynn;

In memory of Ruth Bookout: Joanna Glass;

In memory of Arlene Hale: Joanna Glass;

And thank you, Joanna Glass, for your donation of the new cross and candlesticks for the altar in memory of Carl.

Bill Cardwell has also undertaken the project of making sure items that have been previously donated to the church have the donor’s name attached to them, so that this part of the church’s history is preserved.

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Mission Statement of the First Presbyterian Church of Luling:

The First Presbyterian Church of Luling, Texas is a community of faith and seeks to provide Luling and the surrounding communities with a strong sense of spiritual growth and development through worship, fellowship and service.  We are called by Christ to:

  • Affirm our place within the community by welcoming all who want to worship Christ
  • Minister to all persons, regardless of circumstances
  • Educate by living a Christian life
  • Assist those in need
  • Be there in times of celebration and sorrow
  • Incorporate Christ’s teaching into our daily lives
  • Proclaim the good News of Christ’s salvation
  • Be a place of constants in an ever-changing world.

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Contact Information

Rebecca Longino

Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
201 South Pecan Ave

Luling, TX 78648

830-875-3456 (church office)

303-588-5905 (cell)

rwlongino@gmail.com

www.firstpresluling.org