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June 21st, 2022

Dear Friends,

Have you noticed a little more pep in my step? That’s because of the fantastic, excellent, stupendous, awesome, remarkable, astounding, marvelous, splendid good news that our bridge interim John Winings arrives before the next one of these newsletters is released! Adding to that good news, former FPC member, now pastor of FPC-Lumberton Rev. David Ruth will spend this coming Sunday guest preaching in our pulpit and you have one very happy camper – me!

In all seriousness, I’ve been pondering what God has been trying to show and teach me since last November as each week of being your solo pastor has passed. Number one on the list is that I truly love this church (meaning the people, you, the congregation!) It’s a true honor to serve with you. Number two is that, with God on our side and the Holy Spirit binding our hearts, we make a completely stellar, can-do team. Despite some disappointments and hurdles along the way, we are still together, still caring for one another and for others, still worshipping together, still creating sweet music, still finding new ways to follow Jesus more closely – in short being the church. Number three is that we serve a steadfast God of loving-kindness and compassion who never fails us or abandons us, who can constantly teach us new things and who consistently cares for us through each trial and every celebration.

There is no adequate way to express my heartfelt gratitude to God or to you for all the love and support! Please know when I simply say “thank you” I mean worlds more.

In anticipation of all God has in store for us!
Claire

Congregational Meeting July 10th at 9:45am

A congregational meeting will be held Sunday, July 10th for the purpose of acting on the recommended slate of people to serve on the Officer Nominating Committee (ONC) inclusive of Carolyn Harmon, Kathy Vaughan, Maggie Freeman, Rob Edmonson, Stephanie Smith, Erika Thomas, Sarah Winbourne, and Madalyn Land. Additionally, the 2021 Annual Report will be reviewed. Plan now to join us for this congregational meeting on Sunday, July 10th at 9:45am in the sanctuary.

From the Administration/Transition Committee to the Congregation:

As you know, we all suffered a tremendous loss when our Bridge Interim Pastor Rebekah Maul had to step down after suffering a bad fall in the sanctuary. Rebekah seemed like the perfect fit to help lead us through our transition. However, her exclusive focus at this time needs to be the complete restoration of her health and we ask for your continued prayers for her towards that end.

Please rest assured that God has not deserted our church, but rather has now sent John Winings to us as our new Bridge Interim Pastor (as a Commissioned Ruling Elder)! John is very well respected within New Hope Presbytery and serves on the Committee on Ministry (and their subcommittee which visited us this March). Acting upon a unanimous recommendation of our committee, the Session has unanimously voted to ask John to commence his ministry the last week in June. His first Sunday preaching will be on July 3^rd. He will be on our campus three days a week in addition to Sundays. John has agreed to remain with us until the Designated Pastor is in place.

John had a quite interesting path to ministry! He first had a long career in business as a high level executive. A charter member of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, he served as a Commissioned Lay Pastor in Butner and Clayton. He then served the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, PCUSA as Interim Executive, Stated Clerk, and Treasurer. John even lived for five years in Haiti while performing mission work! His most recent assignments were as a Commissioned Ruling Elder serving as a Bridge Interim Pastor in Mount Olive and Goldsboro during their transitions. We were fortunate to get him as his Goldsboro service is ending this month with the arrival of their new Pastor.

John and Debbie live in Wake Forest. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. They are raising one of the grandchildren (Emma) and John reports that she rules the roost! We look forward to John’s leadership and to worshipping with Debbie and Emma as well!

Jack Wiggins (Chairman) on behalf of Susan Boyette, Lisa Briley, Brad Cox, Ann Dolman, Mike Jablonski, Worth Joyner, Tom Purinai, and Philip Thomas.

John Winings, CRE
Bridge Interim Pastor

Office: 252-243-3115 ext. 102
Cell: 919-696-6762
Email: jwinings@oxidyn.com

A Warm Welcome

Please join our reception for the Winings family immediately following worship on July 10th in Clark Hall.

This week at FPC

Sun, June 26th
9:00 am	Summer Sunday School (Library) Dudley Class (Dudley Room)
10:00 am	Sunday Morning Worship – Rev. David Ruth – Guest preacher (Sanctuary)
11:00 am	Lemonade Fellowship (Memory Garden)

Special Guest Preacher & Former Member David Ruth - This Sunday, June 26

We are extremely fortunate to welcome Rev. David Ruth back to FPC on June 26. After graduating from UNC-Wilmington and being married for two weeks, David and his wife Eva moved to Wilson where David began working for BB&T. There he worked under fellow church member, John Garrison. The Ruths have three children, two of whom were baptized in our church. After leaving the BB&T, David was in the automobile business for twenty years. Then he embarked on a new journey enrolling at Duke Divinity School. After serving a church in Kingstree, SC for nine years, he moved to First Presbyterian Lumberton where he has served seven years. Eva is also a PC(USA) Pastor and serves part time as the Director of Pastoral Care and Christian Nurture. When asked to preach here David said, “Along with Duke Chapel and Westminster Abbey, First Presbyterian Wilson is one of the churches where I always wanted to preach!”

New Office Hours

This summer the church office will close on Fridays at noon from Friday, June 3^rd through Friday, September 2^nd. Please plan to conclude church business prior to noon on Fridays this summer. On Friday, September 9^th, we return to 8:30 am to 4:30 pm workday each day of the week.

Summer Schedule May 22nd – July 31st

Our summer combined 10:00 am worship schedule will continue through July 31st. Adult Sunday school will meet at 9:00 am. Join our convivial lemonade fellowship time in the Memory Garden which immediately follows worship. On August 7th, our two services schedule will return with children's and adult Sunday school being held between the services.

The Dudley Class (Dudley Room) and Summer Sunday School (Library) meet at 9:00am.

Summer Sunday School (SSS) at 9:00 am in Library for Teens and Adults

We’re exploring Meant For Good, a fresh study of well-loved scripture Jeremiah 29:11 by Megan Marshman. Meant for Good looks at the truth within trusting God's plan for your life, no matter what your life looks like right now. Start living in active dependence on God, and find your way to the perfect plan God has for you and how to trust God's definition of good above your own. Each class will feature a video discussion starter and a different discussion facilitator. The classes are open for all youth (6th grade and up) and adults. Join us!

The second portion of the summer, we’ll shift to a N.T. Wright New Testament study.

Under Construction 🚧 Vacation Bible School

What a wonderful week! Thanks to each and every family that participated in VBS this year and each and every volunteer that made this week possible! With a year of changes, it’s important to realize that we are under construction- and God is not done with us yet! It was the perfect theme for VBS!

Each day was designed to have a quick skit introducing the theme for the evening, an art lesson, recreation game, Bible story, and music!
Day 1: Theme: God wants us to stick to His plans not our own- Genesis 11:1-9 (The Tower of Babel).
Day 2: Theme: Learning that we need to follow Gods instructions in His word- Genesis: 6:9-22 (Noah Builds an Ark).
Day 3: Theme: The foundation we build our lives on is Jesus- Luke 6:46-49 (The Wise and Foolish Builders).
Day 4: Theme: Those who follow Jesus have their true home in Heaven- John 14:1-14 (Jesus Prepares a Place for Us).

Here are the lyrics to the theme song-
🎵 We are under construction 🚧 and God is not done with us yet…
If the Lord doesn’t build a house, the work of the builders is useless.
We are under construction 🚧 and God is not done with us yet. 🎵

Children’s August Sunday school classes will continue this fun Under Construction curriculum!
Anyone in Pre-K through 5th grade is invited!
Starting August 7 at 9:45am in room 220
The construction zone will be filled with Bible stories, songs and crafts! Join Us!

Connect to our Newsletter via FPC’s Webpage

The FPC weekly newsletter is now available on our website in the CONNECT dropdown menu. www.firstpreswilson.com

Communications Request

Please take a moment to make sure you are currently receiving the weekly church emails and all other important emailed correspondence from the church. If you are not receiving emails from fpc@firstpreswilson.com, please call FPC’s Communications Director Brad Chaplin at 252-234-3115 or email Brad at fpc@firstpreswilson.com.
Also, please be aware that our Communications team is taking on the mammoth effort to update our database in preparation for printing a new church directory. Expect a call from one on the team. If you’re left a message, please return the call, email or text!

Follow us on Instagram!

Please follow us on Instagram and check out our new account!
https://www.instagram.com/fpcwilson/

Music Preview for this Sunday’s 10 AM Worship Service- June 26th, 2022

This Sunday, Matt Joyner will be presenting special music. He will be singing “How Great Is Our God” by Cash/Reeves/Tomlin. We will plan to sing “Come, Thou Almighty King”, “Here I Am, Lord” and “Thy Word.” Matt will also offer a special postlude on the tune “Coronation.” Please take note that we will not have a hymn sing this week. Our hymn-sing will resume on July 3rd.

Please subscribe and watch Robert's Hymn of the Week on YouTube

Each week our Director of Music Robert Morehead will feature a hymn selection from our Glory to God Hymnal. Robert will provide some history and background about each selection and sing it playing the organ here at First Presbyterian.

This week’s Hymn of the Week is : Shout To The North.

Upcoming Hymn Festival of Wilson Area Churches at Forest Hills Baptist Church on Sunday, June 26^th at 4 PM

First Presbyterian will be participating in a Hymn Festival of Wilson Area churches will be taking place on Sunday, June 26^th at 4 PM at Forest Hills Baptist Church.

There are 2 ways for everyone to be involved:

First, simply come and sing the amazing, timeless hymns of the church. Your attendance will be a blessing!
Second, come and sing with the choir, which will be singing 3 anthems together. If you are interested in singing with the choir, please contact Robert Morehead at rmorehead@firstpreswilson.com and he will make sure to provide you with a way to rehearse the music.

Current Covid Protocols

We respect that masks are a personal choice, therefore an individual decision.

We are thankful for all who volunteer at FPC!!

1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.