Topsail Presbyterian Church Update

February 16, 2012

Worship News

  Early worship is now at 8:15 AM. 

Rev. Carriker’s sermon blog, the Church Calendar, the Church Mouse Blog, bulletin, and other event information is now posted on the website.

Easter Events at TPC

This is a personal invitation to you to join us in the special events celebrating the Easter season.

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 5 at 7:00 PM

Tenebrae

Friday, April 6 at 7:00 PM

Easter Sunrise Service

April 8, 7:00 AM

Easter Breakfast

Following Sunrise Service

 Easter Worship Service

10:30 AM

Christian Education News

Mid-week Bible Study:  A Bible Study on the book of “Deuteronomy” is underway on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM in the youth building.  Please consider joining one of these groups for spiritual growth.  Books are $13.00 and can be purchased at the Bible study.

Deep and Wide:  The 5:00 worship sercice is a contemporary-styled service at 5:00 each Sunday.  Though geared toward young adults and youth, this service is open to anyone.

Music Notes

The winter semester is in full swing in the music ministry.  As you have seen, the choir continues to grow.  Though the choir loft looks full, we still have space for you.  We are in particular need of more altos, tenors and basses.  It would be great to see a choir of 25 up on the platform on Sunday mornings.  Please consider singing and come to rehearsals on Wednesday nights.  Believe it or not, we have begun work on our Holy Week and Easter services.  If you can’t join us to sing weekly, consider joining us for the special services we have coming up.  See me if you are interested in singing.We also have room in the bell choir.  If you can read music and would like a different challenge, come and ring with us at 6pm on Wednesdays.  We would love to have you.

Bob

RADIUS and Kids Club

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Mark Your Calendars now for the following event you will not want to miss:

Sat., February 25          3rd Annual Chili Cook-off

Sun., April 29                2nd Annual Adult vs. Youth Kickball Game and Dinner

June 18-22                     Vacation Bible School

June 24-30                    Junior Week at Camp Bethel (ages 10-13)

July 8-14                        Teen Week at Camp Bethel (ages 13-19)

Kids Club Schedule for February:

For the next several weeks will be studying Fruits of the Spirit through stories, activities, games, crafts, and maybe even a few surprises.  We meet immediately following the 5pm worship service in the Fellowship Hall.   This group is for children ages 3 years through 4^th grade and dinner is served to them at 6:30pm.

RADIUS Schedule for February:

Feb. 19^th         Afternoon Skate at Jellybeans (meet there at 2:00, or meet at church at 1:15 to carpool)

Feb. 25^th         (Saturday) Chili Cookoff 6pm-8pm

Everyone is invited on February 19^th for a  Family Fun Afternoon:

Make plans to join us for an afternoon of roller skating at Jellybeans in Wilmington.  We will meet at the church at 1:15pm to car pool or you can meet us at Jellybeans at 2pm.  All ages are invited.  For children 4^th grade and younger we require that a parent attend also.  The cost is $6 per person and parents skate for free with a paying child.  Regular skate rental is included.  Speed skates and inline skates are available for $1 extra.  See Christy Neeley for more information.

RADIUS is hosting the 3^rd Annual Chili Cook-off/Bake Sale on Saturday February 25^th from 6pm until 8pm in the Fellowship Hall.

This is how it will work:

1. Sign up in the Narthex to enter your best chili recipe or favorite baked good. Then bring your chili and baked goods to the Fellowship Hall on February 25^th between 5:15 and 5:30pm.
2. Buy a $5 ticket to get in the door and sample your choice of 8 chili recipes.
3. Let your money do the voting.  To vote for a chili recipe, simply place money in the jar.
4. At the end of the night, the chili with the most money will be declared the winner.

Tickets are on sale now.  For more information, please see Christy Neeley or any RADIUS member.

Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women’s Circles:  The Eve-ning Circle meets the first Thursday of the month at 4:00 PM in the new parlor.  The Naomi/Ruth Circle meets the first Wednesday of the month at 9:30 in the parlor.  All ladies are invited and welcomed to attend.

Next meetings:  March 7,       9:30  AM                                      Naomi/Ruth Circle

……………………..March 1,        4:00 PM                                      Eve-ning Circle

Men’s Fellowship

Other Announcements

Congratulations to proud parents Jon and Jennifer Schwarz on the birth of their daughter, Lily Anne, on Feb 13th.  Lily weighed 7 obs. 9 oz. and was 18.5 inches long.  Welcome Baby Lily!

Pictures for the Directory:  From February 28 – March 3, professional portraits from Life Touch will be taken for our church directory.  You will be able to sign up via computer at the church or from home. More information will be forthcoming.  Stay tuned!

If you would like to retrieve the photo you submitted previously, you can see Vicki in the office or contact Diane Hughes.

Food Lion Community Rewards Program sent us a check for last quarter for $149.02.  (Last year at this time the payment we received was 289.60!)  If you are not signed up to use the Food Lion rewards program to benefit the church, please contact Vicki for details of the quick, easy and free sign-up.  This costs you nothing and is a very easy way to earn money for the church.  If you are already signed up, thank you and keep shopping, especially on the 10th of the month when the reward points are doubled.

Irish Potato Mission Project : The Mission Committee has planned another Irish Potato Mission Project and your help is needed!  The planting day is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2012.  All those willing to get a little dirty are asked to assemble at the church at 7:30 am and carpool to the farm for the planting.  A signup sheet is located in the overflow room in the sanctuary or call Stewart Brown at 270-9493 for more details.

Preschool News:  Beginning February 23, 2012, Topsail Presbyterian Preschool will begin registration for the 2012-2013 school year for  church members and currently enrolled students.  There is a $70 registration fee that is due when you enroll your child to guarantee their placement.  We have classes for 18 months, 2 year olds, 3 year olds, and 4 year olds.  Spaces are limited.  Registration will open to the community on March 8.  If you are interested, please call Hope at (910) 270-2315.

Notary Public:  If you need documents notarized, Vicki Rivenbark can provide this service for you in the office.

Faith and Rural Life Conference, Monday, Feb. 27, Mount Olive College.  Presbytery of Coastal Carolina is one of the sponsors of this ecumenical one day conference for pastors and church members.  You can register at www.moc.edu/faithandrurallife  (Note: the correct date is Monday the 27^th, not Tuesday.)

Youth Partnership Trip to Tabasco, Mexico:  July 31-August 7, 2012 

The Mexico Partnership Committee of our presbytery is sponsoring a youth partnership trip to our partner presbytery, El Presbiterio del Golfo de Mexico.  Activities will include construction at the presbytery’s health clinic, worship and fellowship with Presbyterian congregations, interaction with youth from churches in our partner presbytery, and a bit of sightseeing.  Approximate cost is $1000.  The group is limited to 15 youth and 5 adult chaperones.  You do not need to speak Spanish! Application packets will be available online on the presbytery website by mid-February.

• The Presbytery Youth Council is sponsoring the Middle School Retreat, March 10-11 at Camp Kirkwood.  The theme is God Hears a Who?  Keynote is by Rev. Kimani Wright.  The cost is $45.00 and a story-book to donate.  Registration information is available on the presbytery website.  Participants will need to have one outfit that can be messed up, slimed, trashed…!

Please Update your E-Mail Address: Vicki is in the process of updating the prayer list and the Montly Update mail list.  (If you are currently on either of these lists and you wish to remain on them, do nothing.)  If you have not been receiving e-mails from the church, it may be because we don’t have your current e-mail address.  Please list your correct address in the friendship pad or send an e-mail to Vicki at rivenbarktpc@bellsouth.net.  We want to stay connected.   Also, if you are receiving mailings that you do not wish to receive, please let Vicki know to “unsubscribe” you.

Ushers are needed for 2012:  Please sign up in the overflow room.  Ushers are needed for March-December.  Please sign up for a whole month, if possible.

Communion Servers:  Please sign up in the overflow room to set up communion during 2012.

 Flower Chart:  The flower chart for 2012 is now posted in the overflow room.  The only Sunday not adopted in 2012 is Easter Sunday, April 8th.  Please sign up for this special Sunday if you would like to place flowers on the altar.  The cost is now $40.

TaxAide:   Through the efforts of several local volunteers who are trained to IRS criteria, the AARP sponsored income tax preparation service known as TaxAide is again this year offering FREE income tax preparation and e-filing to area residents of all ages, including seniors.  Beginning Feb. 1^st, this service will be offered on a first come, first served basis at the Topsail Senior Center each Wednesday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and each Monday at the Hampstead Library, also from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.  No appointments necessary.  Taxpayers should bring social security cards for themselves and dependents, W-2′s, all 1099 forms, name and SS#, or employer ID number, of dependent care providers (if any), receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions, and a copy of the 2010 tax return, if available.

Female Cancer Patients:    Join us for a free, hands-on, group workshop dedicated to helping you cope with appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Hampstead United methodist Church, Classroom 2, the second Monday of each month, 6:30-8:30 PM.  To register, call 1-888-227-6333 or 910-254-4870.  Learn skin care and makeup applications as well as hair/wig techniques.

The Importance of Reaching Out to Visitors:   Many of us remember the first few times we attended Topsail Presbyterian Church and the people who went out of their way to help us feel  welcome—- with a handshake, an introduction, or scooting over in the pew to make room for us to sit down.  The Communications Committee is encouraging all who are able to reach out to visitors who attend Sunday services.  TPC has so much to offer  anyone who comes through our doors, from inspiring sermons to the beautiful music to the active youth program and all kinds of fellowship opportunities.  The most important thing we have to offer is our graciousness to all who come to worship with us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               From the Communications Committee

Volunteers are needed to help make improvements to the preschool playground.  If you can help, please contact Glenn Moore who has volunteered to head up this project.  You can reach him by cell phone or text at (910) 547-0106 or e-mail at leanneandglenn@gmail.com.

Mail or E-mail?  The monthly Update which used to be mailed to those without e-mail, is now available for you in PDF format.  It will be sent to you as an e-mail attachment.  There are many photos in there of people you know so you won’t want to miss them.   If you currently receive the Update by mail and would prefer to view it on your computer, please contact Vicki Rivenbark and ask her to remove your name from the postal service mailing list.

Please Update your E-Mail Address: If you have not been receiving e-mails from the church, it may be because we don’t have your current e-mail address.  Please list your correct address in the friendship pad or send an e-mail to Vicki at rivenbarktpc@bellsouth.net.  We want to stay connected.

• To sign up for the Food Lion Community Rewards program
• To update your address, phone number, or e-mail address
• To be a scripture reader during Sunday worship

 Prayer Concerns

Happy Birthday

Happy Anniversary

News from the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina

CENTERPOINT

from the Presbyterian Counseling Center

The child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State, a predominant news story in recent months, has sparked much outrage and discussion.

Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime that can cause lasting severe emotional distress to the victim.  Sleep disturbance, withdrawal, low self-esteem, trust issues, anger, and depression are just a few examples of the potential effects of abuse.

The fact that the scandal has gotten people talking about sexual abuse of children and teenagers is a good thing.  Talking openly about it raises awareness which is an important step towards prevention.

Parents often find it uncomfortable and awkward to talk with their children about sex.  Creating an open environment where sensitive topics can be discussed freely is one of the best ways you can protect your children from sexual predators.

In the next Centerpoint article, we will discuss ways to talk to your children about sex and sexual abuse.  The third article in this series will address how to recognize a potential predator.

-Ann C. Thacker

Professional Counseling… Hope and Healing for All

Call us at 452-7370 or visit us at www.presbyteriancounselingcenter.org

Weekly and Monthly Update Publication Notes