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PASTORS LETTER Greengs in the name of our Lord and
Savior,
Have you ever really thought about that
greeng? What does it mean to greet
and welcome someone in the name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ? When I
think of greeng or welcoming someone
in the name of Jesus the Christ it means I
open my arms, I welcome you with an
open heart, open mind. I welcome you as
an equal without any condions.
When we, as a church, welcome people to
our worshiping community Jesus should
be our example of welcome and greeng.
We should be thankful when we have
guests si&ng in our pew, when we have
crying babies, when we have exuberant
teenagers, when we have people who
maybe look, dress or smell dierently than
we. When these people are in our pews
then we are a growing congregaon and
we should do all we can to make sure
these guests know we are truly glad they
are with us.
The Gospels are full of examples of Jesus
never-ending oer of welcome, mercy,
grace and love. The neat thing about Je-
sus oer of welcome is that it wasnt just
oered on the Sabbath. The example of
Jesus welcome should be seen in every-
thing we do as individuals and as a church.
We should never be the ones who point
ngers, who whisper under our breath, or
who shoo someone away.
Recently, a church member sent me an arcle
about the act of welcoming people in church. The
arcle centered on a welcome sign posted on the
doors of St. Clements Church in Essex, England.
This sign stands not only as a welcome to all who
stop by, but also a reminder to the membership of
who is welcomed by God. I have enclosed the
words of the welcome sign here in the Link as a
reminder to all of us what it means when we say,
and embody, the words on our banner in front of
the church, Everyone Welcome.
With the welcoming arms of Christ,
WORSHIP SERVICE - SUNDAY 10:00 A.M.
Welcome Sign
on the door at
St. Clements Church in
Essex, England.
Please go to page 2 to
read the enre sign.
Pastor Andy Gans Visitation Pastor (Ret.) Tom McNeil Music
Director Rick Roberts Executive Assistant Pat Brown Nursery
Attendant Tammy Keeslar
13 NE 36th Ave Ocala, FL 34470
Office: (352) 694-4121 Fax: (352) 694-5226
www.fortking.org [email protected]
Proofreaders Susan Jensen, John Stewart Contributors Members of
Fort King Assemblers Phyllis Altonn, Bobbie Burns, Kay Dahlen,
Joyce Gauntt, Pat Merrill and Alice Reffner. Bulk Mail John
Stewart
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2
PASTORS LETTER (continued)
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married,
divorced, widowed, gay, confused, lthy rich,
comfortable, or dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to those
who are crying new borns, skinny as a rake or
could aord to lose a few pounds. Youre welcome if you are Old
Leigh, New Leigh, Not Leigh, or just passing by.
We welcome you if you can sing like Pavaro& or cant carry a
note in a bucket. Youre welcome here if youre just
browsing, just woke up or just got out of prison. We dont care
if youre more Chrisan than the Archbishop of
Canterbury, or havent been in church since li8le Jacks
christening.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not
grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing
up too fast. We welcome keep-t mums, football dads, starving
arsts, tree-huggers, la8e-sippers, vegetarians,
junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or sll
addicted. We welcome you if youre having
problems or youre down in the dumps or if you dont like
organized religion. Weve been there too!
If you blew all your money on the horses, youre welcome here. We
oer a welcome to those who think the earth
is at, work too hard, dont work, cant spell, or because grandma
is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We oer a
special welcome to those who could use a prayer
right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got
lost on the London Road and wound up here by
mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding
hearts and you!
(Source: jbbarnes88 from photograph located at St Clements
Church, Leigh-on-sea, Essex, England)
ADMINISTRATION and FINANCE
June 2015 Financial Results
Operang Income for June 2015 Expenses for June 2015
Year-to-date income is $2,305.25 over budget for Operang Income
(pledges, members giCs and loose oerings).
The year-to-date expenses are currently under budget but they
are expected to even out as the year progresses.
Overall, the nances are within expectaon at midpoint for 2015.
Maintaining a posive income to budget is key.
Thank you all for your generosity! Please connue to stay on
course with your Commitment.
The Finance Ministry is sll in need of new members to join their
ministry. Please contact Steve Layendecker or
any other Finance Ministry member (David MacKay, Carole DeLucian
or Bob Henry). Not sure if the Finance
Ministry is for you? Just stop by for a visit at our next meeng
on August 11th; well show you what its all about.
Steve Layendecker
Chair Finance Ministry
Total Actual $23,856.00 Total Actual $18,243.08
Total Budget $23,427.17 Total Budget $23,418.41
Variance + $ 428.83 Variance -$ 5,175.33
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3
CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Dear Fort King Presbyterian Church,
I am sll amazed by your generosity and pres-ence at my ordinaon
service. It was a special day. I will treasure your smiling faces
as I was able to share communion with you from the table. It was a
dierent perspecve.
Thanks for hosng the service, for the food, the fellowship, and
especially the Pitcher and Basin. Im excited to put is to use. It
is an honor to connue the journey with you all.
Blessings, Cheryl Gans
ARE YOU PREPARED? Summer is here and with it the risk of
hurricanes and tropical
storms. Marion County Emergency Management is prepared to help.
They can
provide transportaon to shelters when necessary and they have
special needs
shelters for people who are dependent on electricity or oxygen,
need assistance with
daily living, etc. Call (352) 369-8136 for more informaon or to
get a pre-registraon
form for their emergency program.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their
support, prayers, calls, cards and visits
during my most recent hospital stay and
connuing illness. Words cannot express
how much Richard and I appreciate all you do.
God bless and love,
Colleen Livingston
Thanks to all for your prayers and con-
cerns over the past few years. The love
and well wishes from my church family
have made life worth living. Gods bless-
ings on each of you. Thank you again for all
your prayers, cards, calls, and for your love.
Sincerely,
Bobbi Burns
Thank you for your generous contribuons of me, food, and love,
all of which made Cheryl Gans praise-worthy event so special!
Alan Mease Bernice Henry Bob Henry Carole DeLucian Debbie Bush
Debbie Pangrass Elena Whitaker Joanie Wood John Wolf Judith Bullen
Larry Bush Liesha Herron
Lorraine Fuller Mary Beth Neely Onalee Mease Pat Brown
Warmly, Becky and John Wolf
Wishing you the very best on your special day!
Happy Birthday
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CONGREGATIONAL CARE (continued)
The Congregaonal Care Ministry Seeking Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist with providing meals for church
members and their
family following release from the hospital, a death in the
family, a new addion to
the family, etc. We are also in need of addional volunteers
willing to provide a food
item for memorial recepons. Example - cookies, brownies, fruit
tray, vegetable tray,
sandwiches, etc. Please contact Bernice Henry at 352-694-6798 if
you are willing to
assist our ministry with either of these funcons. Your support
is greatly appreciated.
CONNECTIONS
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Come and join us for an intergeneraonal event, full of fun,
fellowship and a li0le taste of
good old-fashioned Ice Cream!
When: Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Fort King Presbyterian Fellowship Hall
Program: Remembering our Roots while Forming our Future
The Reverend Bruce Seaman will be our guest speaker this year.
Leaning on the history of
this churchs founding and its ministry through the years, Bruce
will talk with us about this
citys struggles and strides with race and religious
cultures.
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RALLY DAY
August 30, 2015
Join us for Rally Day on August 30th at 9 a.m. in Fellowship
Hall We will have breakfast
together. Even if you are not a regular Sunday School person,
bring a dish to share
and enjoy the fellowship. See if what is planned for fall adult
study might scratch where
you itch, or create an itch where you need to scratch.
SUNDAY ADULT STUDY CLASS RESUMES
September 6, 2015 Our theme in September and October is: FKPC at
FIFTY - Looking Back,
Looking Around, and Looking Ahead
What were our beginnings? What was happening in Ocala and in the
naon in 1965 and how did that
mold the beginning of this Church?
What does the Bible teach about Gods demand for jusce? How has
this church responded over its 50 years?
Where are we today as a congregaon? As a community? What are the
pressing issues of our me?
What role has adult study played over the years? Has it ma8ered?
Why bother?
What are our dreams for the future? For worship? For study? For
living out the good news of Gods grace
through acts of compassion, service, jusce, and reconciliaon?
Can we partner with those of other faith
tradions?
We hope you will join us each Sunday as we look back at FKPCs
story, share our own stories and convicons, and
dream our dreams for a faithful future. Join us in the Session
Room as we grow in spirit together.
CHILDRENS DISCIPLESHIP
RALLY DAY and
COVERED DISH BREAKFAST
August 30, 2015
Please join the Discipleship Ministries as we celebrate Rally
Day 2015 and kick o the
new Sunday School year. On Sunday, August 30th, we will meet in
the Fellowship Hall at
9:00 a.m. for a covered dish breakfast. Please bring your
favorite breakfast dish to share.
The Adult, Youth, and Children's Discipleship Ministry teams
will present their programs
for the upcoming year.
Also, please bring a non-perishable food item for our Sunday
School mission project,
Food4Kids. Last year, we collected more than 100 baskets of food
for this very important
program which provides food for school children and their
families in the Ocala area. What
a fantasc job FKPC did; we collected over 30 baskets more than
the previous year. The kids
thank you for your great generosity!
ADULT DISCIPLESHIP
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50th CELEBRATION
The Beginning..by Gene AndrewsThe Beginning..by Gene AndrewsThe
Beginning..by Gene AndrewsThe Beginning..by Gene Andrews
We connue to celebrate Fort King Presbyterians 50 years of
ministry by looking back to our early beginnings.
Last month Buddy and Anne MacKay shared how and why the church
was started. This month we hear from
another charter member of the church, Gene Andrews. Gene shares
his insights on the culture and environment
that existed in Marion County which led our charter members to
push for jusce and equality for all people.
Below is Genes descripon of the racial tensions in Marion County
from 1963 to 1966.
During that me period I (Gene Andrews) was a Criminal Invesgator
(one of two) in the Marion County
Sheri's Department. At that me the Department consisted of 26
total employees. The county was seg-
regated - schools, restaurants, public drinking fountains,
restrooms, movie theaters, etc. As a ma8er of
fact, the Ocala Police Department had two black ocers as did the
Sheri's Department. These ocers
only patrolled on the west side of Pine Street except for West
Broadway from Magnolia to Pine. They did
not arrest white people. The black depues only handled issues
relang to black people. The City and
County jails were segregated.
All of the schools were segregated, including aCer-school
acvies, sports, band and clubs. As best that I
can recall, there were no black public elected ocials. The
courthouse was located on the square. On
the exterior of the building were public drinking fountains for
blacks and whites, also restrooms. The
stores located around the square that had lunch counters only
served black people back in the kitchen.
This also was the situaon at the Bus Staon on North Magnolia. In
fact, black people were not per-
mi8ed in the Waing Room.
Starng in 1964, business establishments were located on all four
sides of the square. There were
clothing stores, drug stores, dime stores, a restaurant, two
banks and others. It was during this me
period that the demonstraons started, mostly on Saturday
mornings. Black cizens would gather on
West Broadway, on the west side of Pine Street and proceed up
Broadway to the Square. They would
then proceed to march on the sidewalk around the square unl aCer
the noonme. The demonstrators
would sing and chant, somemes carry placards; however, there
were no signicant acts of violence.
Groups of white cizens such as the KKK, the White Cizens Council
and others would gather on the
sidewalk to watch the group demonstrang. Shortly aCer President
Kennedy was assassinated on No-
vember 22, 1963, several professors from the University of
Florida and Florida State University came to
Ocala in support of Ocalas black cizens. There were sll no acts
of violence; all was very peaceful!
On one parcular occasion, the Sheri received informaon that
Reverend Shu8lesworth from Alabama
was going to appear for a rally at the War Memorial. The Sheri
requested I install a tape recorder under
the stage to record what the Reverend had to say. About
midaCernoon of that day, I took the equipment
and crawled under the stage area to install the tape recorder
and a microphone. As I was about to crawl
out, people started coming into the building to decorate for the
rally. I couldn't come out from under the
stage for many hours. There were other occasions when I was
instructed to install electronic surveillance
equipment during this period.
During 1964 and 1965 numerous ministers would come from Tampa to
have rallies in the small historically
black churches throughout the county, to basically raise money
and instruct others in how to protest etc.
We gleaned informaon from the phone calls and therefore were
able to address any acts of potenal
violence etc. I also a8ended some of the rallies.
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7
Then during the same me period we received informaon from the
Sheri in Leon County that the
FREEDOM RIDERS were in a Greyhound Bus and on the way to Ocala.
Their intenon was to eat in the
restaurant and demonstrate at the bus staon on North Magnolia.
We were there when the bus arrived and
the three RIDERS (two black ministers and one white minister)
got o the bus and started to enter the
waing room. As they approached the door several people started
to come out, this resulted in shoving and
pushing, so we ordered the white customers to leave, which they
did, then ordered the RIDERS back onto
the bus. They refused and we arrested all three for Failure to
Obey. They posted bond. Later, they were
convicted and appealed their case which ended up in the U.S.
Supreme Court. The convicon was upheld.
Gene provides us a wonderful window into those days when our
church
began. I am thankful that Gene and several others realized the
division that
was taking place in American and Marion County culture stood
against the
Gospels command to Love your neighbor as yourself. It is my
prayer that
this church connues the work of our early members as we work for
peace,
jusce and equal rights for all of Gods people.
50th CELEBRATION (continued)
GROUP ACTIVITIES
Crafty Ladies Come join the Crafty Ladies every Thursday from
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like to join
our group, come for a visit and see what we are doing and how you
can help. We welcome new people and new talents! We hope to see all
of you there.
Mens Night Out The next Mens Night Out is in September. Stay
tuned for more details later this summer.
Sassy Seniors The Sassy Seniors will not be going out for lunch
during August, or September. Lunches will resume on October
13th.
Tai Chi Classes Tai Chi will not meet during August. We will
resume classes in September. Hope to see you then!
- Mary Beth Neely and Donna Lavery
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GROUP ACTIVITIES (continued)
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN PRESENT
A NIGHT OF ITALY
SEPTEMBER 19, 2015
Presbyterian Women are proud to announce that they will sponsor
A Night of Italy again this year. You will
be elegantly served in the Fellowship Hall turned into the Fort
King Italian Restaurant where you will be
served our delicious Italian fare by our very ecient PW
waitresses.
Tickets will go on sale in mid-August. The cost is $10.00 for
adults and youth (6th grade and up) and $5.00 for
children through 5th grade. Children under 5 are free. The
dinner will consist of your choice of spaghe& or
stued ravioli, Caesar salad, bread, dessert and beverage.
LIBRARY CORNER
The following are short reviews of just four of the many new
informave books added re-
cently to our church library:`
THE BIBLE IS FOR LIVING by Philip J. King is an inspiring guide
to what the Bible has to say
to us today as individuals as well as cizens of the world. King
is one of the leading Bible
scholars of our me, having been a professor of Biblical Studies
at Boston College for many
years. He also has parcipated in eight archaeological excavaons
in the Middle East. He
writes with clarity and insight from his life's experiences to
make this 181-page book a book to read and contem-
plate. (Thank you Tom McNeil for donang this book.)
THE BIBLE AS IT WAS by James L. Kugel is a 680-page tome which
provides a detailed look at how the Penta-
teuch, or Torah, was interpreted in anquity. This scholarly
research earned for the author the Grawemeyer
Award in Religion which recognizes outstanding works that
promote understanding of the relaonship between
human beings and the divine. (Thank you Ray Ruark for donang
this book.)
BETWEEN GOD AND MAN: AN INTERPRETATION OF JUDAISM is a collecon
of wrings by Abraham Joshua
Heschel, one of the great Jewish teachers of the 20th century.
As one reviewer stated: "His thoughts brim with
insights, challenges, moral inspiraon, and a profound
understanding that Judaism's intenon is to make people
holy and good." (Thank you Buddy MacKay for donang this
book.)
ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD . . . WHY CAN'T WE? by James
M. Young, Jr. This author lives and
works in Ocala and was one of the speakers at our Adult VBS this
year. If you missed his presentaon on July 2nd,
read this book and become acquainted with both the historic and
current experiences involving race relaons in
our own community. There is hope for improvement if we all work
together with respect and understanding.
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9
MISSION
LIBRARY CORNER (continued)
If you prefer light reading, check the bullen board outside the
library door for a lisng of recently acquired c-
on books that will be on the "NEW FICTION" bookshelf along the
back wall in the library. Most of these con
books will be kept in the library for one year only and then
removed to make room for newer ones. Therefore, if
you see a tle or author that interests you, be8er check it out
before it is gone for good!!
Summer library hours are 9:30 am to 11:30 am on Sundays. On
weekdays when the church oce is open, just
ask Pat in the oce to unlock the library for you. Please don't
forget to sign and date the check-out cards for all
items that you borrow, then place the cards in the gray box on
the small table. Thank you and enjoy the books!
THIRD ANNUAL
TOOLS FOR TEACHERS DRIVE! The Mission Ministry would like to
show support for our teachers by collecng
school supplies needed for students in Marion County. Below is a
list of items our
teachers use to manage and teach in their classrooms. Thank you
for your support!
Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. The Mission Ministry
invites everyone to a8end the August 23rd Blood Drive in the church
parking
lot. A Mission Ministry member will be in the Narthex on August
9th and 16th to sign up donors. WE
NEED BLOOD so please help if you can. It takes so li8le to give
so much! Please contact Bill Reed or
any Mission Ministry member if you have any quesons.
Copy Paper- white & bright colors
Spiral notebooks (College ruled)
Filler Paper (College ruled)
Pencils & Pens
Cap Erasers
Crayons 16 or 24 count
Watercolor paint set (Crayola or Prang)
Sharpie Markers
Glue Scks
Liquid Glue Bo8les
Gli8er
Pipe Cleaners
Prong Folders
Pocket Folders (6 dierent colors)
Pink Erasers
Index Cards (3 X 5 lined)
Post-it notes
Tissues
Dry Erase Markers
Dry Erasers
Hand Wipes
Plasc Sleeves
Printer Cartridges # HP92 black ink
Manila Folders
Blank CDs and CD cases
Amazon GiC Card
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10
MISSION MINISTRY SESSION
PROPERTY MINISTRY
There was no Session meeng in July. The next Session meeng is
August 18th at 6:00 p.m.
WORSHIP
SAILING IN THE GREAT SEA OF LIFE
While in England in 2007, we visited Bath Abbey. There are many
outstanding features of
the Abbey. The architecture, stained glass windows, the lace
ceiling throughout the Ab-
bey and, of course, the magnicent Klaus Organ. One of the
stained glass windows that
caught my a8enon was a depicon of Jesus and the Disciples at the
Sea of Galilee. Anoth-
er item of interest was the number of notable sea-faring
individuals who were members of
Bath Abbey, among them Admiral Horao Nelson. I could not help
but think of the great
hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save.
The words were wri8en by William Whing in 1860. Interesngly, he
wrote the lyrics as a
poem for a student about to sail for America. William Whing
(1825-1878) was born in Ken-
sington, England, and educated at Chapham and Winchester.
Because of his musical ability, he became master
of Winchester College Choristers' School. While best known for
Eternal Father, Whing also published two po-
etry collecons: Rural Thoughts, and Edgar Thorpe, or the Warfare
of Life. He died at Winchester.
The tune was wri8en by John B. Dykes in 1861. Dykes &ngly
named the tune aCer a locale associated with a
Biblical shipwreck. Melita was the island the Apostle Paul
reached aCer his ship went down (Acts 28:1); today
we know it as the isle of Malta.
John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) was born in Hull, England, and by
age 12 was the assistant organist at St. John's
Church in Hull where his grandfather was Vicar. He studied at
Wakeeld and St. Catherine's College, earning a
B.A. in Classics in 1847. He cofounded the Cambridge University
Musical Society. He was ordained deacon in
1847 and curate at Malton in 1848. For a short me, he was canon
of Durham Cathedral, then precentor (1849-
1862). In 1862 he became vicar of St. Oswald's, Durham. He
published sermons and arcles on religion but is
best known for over 300 hymn tunes he composed. John Bacchus
Dykes was born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1823. His
father was a bank manager. His grandfather was the well known
old-school evangelical priest, the Reverend
Thomas Dykes. The musical talents of the young John Dykes came
out early. He could play by ear even before he
received any instrucon in music. He played the organ in his
grandfather's church at the age of ten. John Dykes
received his educaon at Wakeeld proprietary school and Cambridge
University. He graduated with Mathe-
macal Honours in 1847 the same year that he was made Deacon. He
was priested the following year. He
served his curacy at Malton in Yorkshire and in 1849 he became
at once Minor Canon and Precentor of Durham
Cathedral as well as gaining a Doctorate in Music in the
University of Durham. He married Susan Kingston in
1850 and together they had two sons and four daughters. Dr.
Dyke's Precentorship ended in 1862 when he
accepted the Vicarage of St. Oswald's in Durham. His musical
ability and loving character had strongly inuenced
the Cathedral both musically and morally. His me at St. Oswald's
led to a remarkable raising of the standards in
Bath Abbey Stained
Glass Window
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11
WORSHIP (continued)
the presentaon of services. His preaching drew people from all
over the city. Sadly, aCer some 12 years he
came into conict with his Bishop. These were the years when
'ritualism' was strongly resisted by many bish-
ops. Dr. Dyke's struggles to maintain this great parish, now of
course with no assistance from curates, led to a
breakdown of both physical and mental health. He was nally laid
to rest in his own churchyard of St. Oswald's
on January 28, 1876. His music is not found only in Anglican
hymnals both Presbyterian and Congregaonal
books contain some of his work. Among others are ones which we
frequently use in our own worship: Lead
Kindly Light, Praise to the Holiest in the Height, The King of
Love My Shepherd Is, Jesus, Lover of My
Soul, Our Blest Redeemer, Holy, Holy, Holy, and Eternal Father,
Strong to Save. Our worship would be
much the poorer without these powerful messages of hope and
love. He died in Sussex at age 53.
The rst verse refers to God the Father's forbidding the waters
to ood the earth as described in Psalm 104
(Psalm 104:5-9). The second verse refers to Jesus miracles of
slling a storm and walking on the waters of the
Sea of Galilee (Ma8hew 8:23-27, Ma8hew 14:22-33). The third
verse references the Holy Spirits role in the
creaon of the earth in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:1) while
the nal verse is a reference to Psalm 107
(Psalm 107:1, 23-29) O give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
endureth forever (vs.1) and They that go down
to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see
the works of the Lord, and his wonder in the
deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind which
li%eth up the wave thereof. They mount up to
the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is
melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and
stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. Then they
cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he
bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a
calm, so that the waves thereof are s(ll. (vs. 23-
29)
In America, "Eternal Father" is oCen called the "Navy Hymn,"
because it is sung at the Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Maryland. It is also sung on ships of the Brish Royal
Navy and has been translated into French. It
was the favorite hymn of U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and
was sung at his funeral in Hyde Park, New York,
in April 1945. The Navy Band played it in 1963 as U.S. President
John Kennedy's body was carried up the steps
of the U.S. Capitol to lie in state. Roosevelt served as
Secretary of the Navy, and Kennedy was a PT boat com-
mander in World War II. The hymn was played by the Navy Band and
the Coast Guard Band during the funeral
of U.S. former President Ronald Reagan. The hymn was also played
at the Memorial Ceremony in Norfolk, VA
for the USS Cole (DDG-67) aCer the bombing of the ship in
October 2000. It was performed by the U.S. Navy
Sea Chanters at the State Funeral of U.S. former President
Gerald R. Ford, who had served in the Navy during
World War II in the Pacic Theater.
As I travel through this wonderful life I, like you, encounter
storms that cause my
sailing to falter, insll doubt and fear of the future and its
outcome, concerns of
health and aging, and my ability to connue to serve our Father
in music ministry.
During those mes, I oCen contemplate this beauful hymn and its
reassuring
words. My soul is calmed just by the Fathers whisper, Peace, be
sll.
With a song in my heart,
Rick
The Lace Ceiling of Bath Abbey
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12
THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN and JESUS OF NAZARETH
The Healing of Social Barriers --- Mark 7:24-30 (See modicaon of
story in Ma8hew 15:21-28)
While most historical scholarship can nd li8le in the story that
can be veried factually, nor words that can
be decisively a8ributed to Jesus of Nazareth, there are four
important observaons:
A. The Syrophoenician woman, a Genle, did not subscribe to a
religious creed or belief system, let alone par-
cipate in a Jewish religious community (N. Perrin 1967
Rediscovering the Teaching of Jesus 138). She
reached out over religious and social barriers that separate,
and that takes courage and is an act of faith.
B. Her ACT of coming to Jesus, a Jew, to request exorcism of a
demon from her li+le daughter did NOT en-
tail the usual DO UT DES: You do X for me, I do Y for you.
Ma8hew called her act one of FAITH because it
was simple and direct, with one purpose in mind: To cast the
demon out of her daughter (Mark 7:26)
C. What is revealed in this story is twofold:
1. Jesus did not hesitate to enter Genle non-Jewish territory.
Although he wanted privacy and quiet,
his reputaon was known. Did Jesus intend to extend his ministry
to non-Jews as well, or is this a
point Mark wanted to make, to jusfy the early Churchs mission to
Genles? Or, was it to face up to
the tensions between Genles and Jews?
2. What becomes immediately obvious in the conversaon between
Jesus and the woman is an
underlying tension between Jew and Genle: Genles were regarded
as dogs. In this instance, the
woman gets the best of Jesus by her quick wit and reparte, and
her request is granted (See J. Reed
2002 Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus 164).
D. The Mark-text is packed with verb-acon; the story is told
with almost breathless intensity:
-v. 24: having arisen from there, he departed
having entered a house, he did not want
he wasnt able to escape noce
-v. 25: a woman having heard about him and came and fell
down
-v. 26: and she begged him to cast
-v. 29: he has exited
-v. 30: and she went and found the child lying and the demon
gone.
Thus, Marks text goes beyond a simple story-telling; this was
acon-packed, a cli-hanger, if you will. Whats
going to happen next? Scholars have noted this about Marks text:
it reects the way stories were told in Ara-
maic and Hebrew; noce all the ands in the story typical Semite
story-telling. It is a very early story about
Jesus of Nazareth; i.e., Mark did not make this story up out of
thin air!
Ah! There is more.
Just what is meant by demon, or demonized?
WORSHIP (continued)
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13
WORSHIP (continued)
- Such verbiage had been used in Greek by Homer in the 8th
century BCE. It had been used for people
who seemed to be somewhat quirky mentally; perhaps emo(onally
should be included.
- Scholars have found references to demons and demonized people,
parcularly on inscripons and
papyrus, on which incantaons were set forth against demons. A
characterisc feature was to
pronounce names wrongly so as to confuse the demon, to misname
the God of Abraham by the
name of Abraan, Isak, Israma (Abraham, Isaac, Israel) in order
to ll demons with shuddering
and dread (G. A. Deissmann 1923 Bible Studies 288; see also
Deissmann 1922 Light from the Ancient
East 255 for papyri magical texts). Jesus did not put on this
kind of performance!
- Mark 5:1-10 refers to demon-possession with the name of
LEGION, referring to Legio X Fretensis of
5000 men and 120 cavalrymen in Syria staoned near Decapolis, a
clear reference to the brutal
oppressive force of the Imperial Roman military on local people.
It is noteworthy that the insignia of
this Legion was the image of a boar a male pig! So, it was not
surprising that the Legion exited the
man into pigs! Uh huh!! Thus demons refer not only to personal
behaviors that dont match ex-
pected social deportment, but the eects of oppressive social
pressures put onto people to make
them behave in certain ways. When they dont, they have a
demon.
Secondly, the woman tells Jesus her li+le daughter had a demon.
Li+le daughter has reference to both
endearment, tender aecon, and a girl of marriageable age.
Peasant culture had this view about girls:
For girls there were no independent careers to compete with
motherhood; and to remain unmarried
or to have no ospring was a bi+er misfortune.
Marriages were usually arranged by the parents of the par(es;
and
A girl might be betrothed by her father while s(ll a minor (i.e.
Ketunah, under 12 years and a day)!
(G. F. Moore 1954 Judaism in the First Centuries of the Chris(an
Era Vol. II 120-121).
We simply have no informaon as to what the demon was in this
girl; we can imagine, in light of the above
expectaons for a female child, that she was throwing a hissy-t
because she didnt want to get married to a
man chosen by her parents; or, did she rebel because the mother
forbade her from a relaonship with a
young man of her own choosing? She had a demon, and now, at
Jesus word, she was cured. The one
thing we are told is that the child was bedfast, prostrate and
exhausted, but on her way to recovery. Which
makes one wonder: was the healing or exorcism the point of the
story, or a by-product of the courage to
cross social barriers and to go beyond social pressures to
confront those who are from the other side of the
tracks? Only when we do, will we as human beings be able to
overcome our quirks and social pressures to
conform, to uncover our humanity. Which is precisely consistent
with what Jesus taught and did in his life.
Something to think about.
Tom
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14
FLOWER CALENDAR
Thank you to these people as they share in donang owers for the
following worship services:
August 2, 2015 In loving memory of Harry Flink from Maria
Madigan and his family!
August 9, 2015 In loving memory of Jims mother, Edna, for her
birthday from Jim and Donna Johnson.
August 16, 2015 With love to my two daughters, Judith Bullen and
Pam Lewin, from Lena Lewin.
August 23, 2015 From Marianne Fullarton, in loving memory of
Dave on the anniversary of their wed-
ding.
August 30, 2015 In celebraon of our 50th
wedding anniversary from Harvey and Kathy Bohner.
September 6, 2015 In honor of our 63rd wedding anniversary from
Jack and Sue Harshman.
September 13, 2015 OPEN
September 20, 2015 OPEN
September 27, 2015 From Dorothy Roth in loving memory of Merl on
their wedding date.
October 4, 2015 OPEN
October 11, 2015 In loving memory of Julien from Kay Dahlen.
October 18, 2015 From David and Martha MacKay in celebraon of
their 30th wedding anniversary.
October 25, 2015 OPEN
November 1, 2015 From Larry and Debbie Bush in celebraon of our
29th wedding anniversary.
November 8, 2015 OPEN
November 15, 2015 OPEN
November 22, 2015 From Joy Hunt in memory of my beloved husband,
Jim.
November 29, 2015 through December 27, 2015..poinseIas will be
placed in the sanctuary.
Please Note: If you would like to commemorate a special
event/occasion/memory etc. for a specic date, please
call me as soon as possible. It is never too early to select
your chosen date. Please dont hesitate to call me if
there is a Sunday you would like to commemorate by sharing with
the church some type of owers or plant of
your choice. The owers or plant could be from your yard, a
supermarket, a orist, or etc.
Thank you,
Nancy Hall
694-3221
WORSHIP (continued)
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15
AUGUST 2015 Italicized items are non-FKPC activities using FKPC
facilities
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2 COMMUNION
by Intinction
9:30-11:30 Library
9:30 Choir Practice
10:00 Worship
11:00 Poetry
Connections
4:00 Small Group
Study (off-site)
3
7:30 Mens Bible
Study
5:00 TOPS (FH)
6:00 Mission
Ministry
6:00-8:00 Marions
United (CE)
4
9:30 Prayer
Shawl
4:00 Congregational
Care
5:00 Property
Ministry
5:30 Connections
Ministry
7:00 Boy Scouts
5
1:30 Worship
Ministry (SR)
6
7:30-9:00 BNI (FH)
1:00 Adult
Discipleship
1:00 Crafts
7:00 Discipleship
Ministries
7:00 AA (FH)
7
8
9
9:30-11:30 Library
9:30 Choir Practice
10:00 Worship
4:00 Small Group
Study (off-site)
5:30 Ice Cream
Social (FH)
10
7:30 Mens Bible
Study
5:00 TOPS (FH)
6:00-8:00 Marions
United (CE)
11
6:00 Finance
Ministry
7:00 Boy Scouts
12
6:00 50th
Celebration Mtg
13
7:30-9:00 BNI (FH)
1:00 Crafts
7:00 AA (FH)
14
15
16
9:30-11:30 Library
9:30 Choir Practice
10:00 Worship
4:00 Small Group
Study (off-site)
17
7:30 Mens Bible
Study
5:00 TOPS (FH)
6:00-8:00 Marions
United (CE)
18
6:00 Session
7:00 Boy Scouts
19
20
7:30-9:00 BNI (FH)
1:00 Crafts
7:00 AA (FH)
21
22
23 MISSION SUNDAY
2 Cents-A-Meal
Food 4 Kids
Equal Exchange
BLOOD DRIVE
9:30-11:30 Library
9:30 Choir Practice
10:00 Worship
4:00 Small Group
Study (off-site)
24
7:30 Mens Bible
Study
5:00 TOPS (FH)
6:00-8:00 Marions
United (CE)
25
7:00 Boy Scouts
26
27
7:30-9:00 BNI (FH)
1:00 Crafts
7:00 AA (FH)
28
1:00-3:00
Turning Point
Set- Up
29
9:00-3:00
Turning
Point
30 RALLY DAY
9:30-12:00 Library
10:00 Choir Practice
10:30 Worship
4:00 Small Group
Study (off-site)
31
7:30 Mens Bible
Study
5:00 TOPS (FH)
6:00-8:00 Marions
United (CE)
-
16
FORT KING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
13 NE 36th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34470
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage Paid
Ocala, FL 34478
Permit #100
RETURNED SERVICE REQUESTED
Label
Boy Scout Fundraiser
Ft. Kings Boy Scout Troop #196 is selling meat sticks as a
fundraiser for their various scouting activities. The meat sticks
are made at Ocala based Country Meats, an FDA certified facility.
The sticks sell for $1.00 each. If interested, contact Bob Barton
425-8500. See a sample on the church bulletin board.