Special Events in October
You can download the HPMC October 2010 Calendar or view it online here. October birthdays and anniversaries are noted on the downloadable calendar.
Upcoming Events
- HMPC’s Anniversary Celebration and Dedication Sunday are October 17th
- The Fall Festival and Memorial Service is Thursday, October 28th
In This Issue
- HMPC Anniversary Celebration
- Fall Festival and Memorial Service
- From the Interim Pastor
- News from Presbyterian Women
- Mission and Evangelism
- Church Officer Leadership Training
HMPC Anniversary Celebration
Click here to see the poster
You are all invited to attend the HMPC Anniversary Celebration this Sunday, October 17th. The Guest Minister for morning worship services will be Rev. John Law. Please plan to join us for the pot luck luncheon in the Christian Life Center immediately following the service. Following the luncheon, Dawn Snow and Jean Davidson will provide some special music for the celebration.The CLC will be opened prior to Sunday school and church on October 17th for those who want to bring their potluck dishes beforehand.
Note: be sure to invite family, friends, and former and current members of the church to the celebration.
Fall Festival and Memorial Service
The Fall Festival and Memorial Service is scheduled for Thursday, October 28th at 7:00pm at the Curry camphouse. Hot dogs, chili, beans, and drinks will be provided by the church. Everyone is invited to bring a special treat, dessert, or snack to share.
The Memorial Service will follow the festival. Anyone wishing to add names to the memorial list, please contact Norm Buckhouse or the church office.
Directions to the camphouse: From Wal-Mart go west on Rt. 80 for approximately 1 mile until you come to the Old Macon Road on your right. Turn right on the Old Macon Road and proceed for approximately 7 miles until you come to Palmetto Farms on your left. There will be a white sign at the entrance. Turn left into Palmetto Farms and follow the lane to the camphouse.
From the Interim Pastor
Greg Garis, Interim Pastor
I read this week a good statement about how important an Interim Pastor is for a church. The information comes from the Center for Congregational Health.
Most churches view the time between the resignation of one pastor and the call of another as unproductive, fallow time. Some feel it is wasted time. Others fear the congregation will lose members or dollars. Still others are in a rush to call a new pastor as quickly as possible so things can return to normal. Significant studies of hundreds of interim congregations over the past twenty years are now showing that the interim between pastors can be an important time in congregational life. Neil Chafin, an experienced consultant to congregations, says,
“The way a congregation chooses to use its interim time will shape congregational growth, identity, and health for years to come. We also know that what is done in the interim time really determines whether the new minister and congregation will form a solid ministry team.”
Congregations which fail to make wise use of interim time tend to repeat their history with the new minister. This can lead to pain and confusion for the minister and prevent the congregation from meeting its goals of spiritual growth for its members and ministry to its community. Expectations of ministers and churches vary enormously. Membership in many churches is either level or decreasing. Many congregations are unsure of their future. Each generation differs on expectations for the church. The interim is the best time to talk about and clarify these hopes and questions about church life.”
The program I am leading called “Then and Now” is a way for you to share about the history of Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church. Please join me Tuesdays, October 19 and November 2 and 16 at 7:00pm.
Peace,
Greg Garis
Interim Pastor
Presbyterian Women
PW Attic Sale
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the very successful PW Attic Sale. As you know, this is how the Presbyterian Women generate funds for our mission work all through the year. If you donated items, baked goodies, or helped with organizing and conducting the sale, we thank you so much for your help. Without you, none of this would have been possible. The final total was over $1950.00.
Betty Smith and Ann Woods
Co-chairs Of the Presbyterian Women’s Attic Sale
Be an Angel
“Be an Angel” is a project Presbyterian Women at HMPC promote every year. In the article below there is a list of needed items for this project.
We will be having a collection area at the HMPC in the near future. (Stay tuned on that–later in November.)
This article is just to give you a “head’s up” about items you might be interested in purchasing (taking advantage of sales, as they come along). Swainsboro Apartments does not receive any support from the Santa Express program, so this is a special project that is near and dear to our hearts here in the Savannah Presbytery. Most of the people who live in these apartments are low income, so any help you can give is very important to them.
Here is a portion of the email from Savannah Presbytery:
Once again, we are asking for your support of our annual “Be An Angel” program at the Swainsboro Presbyterian Apartments. Over the past years, SPA has been fortunate to receive very generous donations from the churches of Savannah Presbytery. As we are owned by the Savannah Presbytery, we welcome and need your support in our efforts to provide Christmas gifts for each resident.
As you plan your mission giving this holiday season, please make sure to include our residents. We currently have 53 residents consisting of 11 men and 42 women and three married couples. Your generous donations insure that each of our residents will have a Christmas gift bag. For some, your gifts are the only Christmas presents they receive.
Donations can include, but are not limit3ed to, personal items such as toiletries, boxes of stationery, assorted greeting cards, socks, candies, diabetic candies/cookies, hand towels, kitchen towels, pot holders, books, and puzzles.
Your support is greatly needed for Christmas 2010. And, we thank you for your consideration and generous support to our mission of providing a very merry Christmas for our residents.
Please plan to participate in “Be An Angel” a big way this year.
Sara Ninan,
Together in Service Chairman
Presbyterian Women
Fall Gathering 2010
On September 25, 2010, PW from all over the Savannah Presbytery gathered at HMPC for a time of fellowship and worship. Our guest speaker was Zac Holt, recipient of the Columbia Friendship Circle Scholarship. Dr. Ken McKenzie, Excecutive Presbyter, administered communion in a meaningful worship service. There were three workshops followed by a luncheon in the CLC.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to a successful Fall Gathering 2010.
Barbara Riddle
Moderator, HMPC PW
Click here to see a slideshow of pics from the Fall Gathering.
Mission and Evangelism
Operation Christmas Child: Sign-up sheets are being distributed and will be available in the Narthex and at the Sunday school sanctuary entrance the next two Sundays, Oct. 17th and Oct. 24th. Please continue saving your shoeboxes for this project. November 7th will be the dedication service for our boxes prior to delivery and shipment.
Habitat for Humanity: HMPC will be providing lunch for the workers at the house currently underway on Saturday, Oct. 16th. More volunteers are needed on Saturdays. See Diane Hendricks for details.
From the Savannah Presbytery ~
Church Officer Leadership Training
Church Officer Leadership Training will be held on Saturday, December 4th, from 8:00am to 4:00pm, at White Bluff PC in Savannah. The cost is $20.00 per person, which includes lunch and childcare. The theme is Seeking to Serve with Energy, Intelligence, Imagination, and Love. We have some great workshops and leaders lined up, and all elders, session members, treasurers, and deacons are encouraged to attend, especially if you have been newly elected this year.
See the attached brochure and download the registration form here. The registration deadline is November 23rd.
If you have any questions about the event, call the presbytery office at 1-800-548-7021.
