T H E C O R N E R S T O N E OF F E L L O W S H I P...2016/01/01 · The session for the year 2016 is: Sandra Pulliam (2016) Francia Ortiz (2016) Tim Craig (2016) Paula Denbow (2017)

JANUARY 2016

A PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE CHRIST, SERVE OUR FAMILY, AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

Pastor: Rev. Steven Shelton [email protected]

Telephone Pastor Rev. Larry Bagby [email protected]

Communications Director: Neal Wilkinson [email protected]

Nursery Supervisors: Reta Black & Marilyn King

Early in my ministry formation, I developed a fairly judgmental atti-tude towards my church’s neighborhood “rival” churches. One par-ticular scenario that comes to mind was when the Youth Group, just two blocks away from my Youth Group, had Pizza Party nights the first Wednesday of every month. My youth group was a far superior and more spiritual youth group, because we spent those Wednesday evenings steeped in Scripture and in conversation about disciple-ship. We weren’t wasting our time on such silly and unimportant things as fellowship and food. When complaining to a ministry mentor about our church’s superi-ority and spiritual depth, he challenged me to re-read the gospels, paying close attention to Jesus’ eating habits. I was shocked. I had-n’t noticed just how many times Jesus spent time eating and drink-ing with people. One of his greatest miracles involved a huge picnic for 5,000 men and many more women and children. Many mo-ments of teaching happened, not at a temple or synagogue, but at a table while sharing with his disciples. Specifically, in Luke chapter 7, Jesus draws a contrast between himself and John the Baptist. John was in the wilderness, fasting, praying, and surviving on locusts and wild honey. “But the son of man has come, eating and drink-ing…” (Luke 7:34). A “church” is a community of believers, worshiping, working, and fellowshipping together. I’m afraid that in much of my ministry thus far, I’ve too often overlooked that last element. But the longer that I am in church leadership, the more sense fellowship makes to me. My family works best when we spend more time together, seated around a dinner table and simply doing things together. It is where we are nourished and renewed physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. The same concept applies directly to the life of a

church community. It is this kind of fellowship that is so central to the holiday season that causes the holidays to be so highly anticipat-ed by people regardless of their religious background. Further, Psychological and Medical research supports the im-portance of community and fellowship as well. Health workers rec-ognize that while what you eat definitely has a significant impact on your overall health, who you eat with is just as important to consid-er. Individuals with strong social support structures live longer, are healthier and happier, and are ultimately more productive members of society. So it appears that secular research has discovered some-thing that Jesus knew two thousand years ago: having a community makes you healthy. So as we kick off 2016, I want to ask you to remember community. Remember that as The Trinity—from one interpretation— is God in the form of community, so also we should be consistently in com-munity. In the coming year, I would like each of us to make our own personal community a priority for our spiritual lives, deepening rela-tionships we already have, seeking out new relationships within our community, and reaching out relationally to other people. It is in this way that our faith community will be strengthened and we will see continued spir-itual (and even numeric) growth.

Pastor Steven

T H E C O R N E R S T O N E O F F E L L O W S H I P

THE COMMUNITY CENTER JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

Ryan Kingery 1/2

Sharon Johnson 1/3

Joan Gore 1/4

Romelle West (Mel) 1/5

Rachael Moody 1/6

Abigail Fair 1/6

Leidy Quintero 1/6

Joseph Moody 1/6

Sarah Mitchell 1/9

Marilyn Restrepo 1/10

Ken Burnette 1/10

Molly Dyer 1/10

Robert Womble 1/10

John Vaughn 1/10

Vicki Sheffield 1/11

Sue Todd 1/12

Osborne McMillan 1/12

Michael Keesey 1/13

Helen Knight 1/13

Michael Qualls 1/16

Bill Phalan 1/18

Catherine Shelton 1/18

Steven Shelton 1/19

Rande Johnson 1/21

Don Hopkins 1/21

Katy Harris 1/22

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

Mike and Karen Patten 1/12

Chris and Katy Harris 1/18

James and Clarice Hight 1/24

8.45AM 11:00AM

SUNDAY

SCHOOL

TOTAL

WORSHIP

Nov 1 62 63 62 125

Nov 8 49 58 61 107

Nov 15 45 56 61 101

Nov 22 66 58 57 114

Nov 29 53 47 41 100

Dec 6 67 70 67 137

Dec 13 51 61 68 112

Dec 20 59 66 57 125

Dec 27 45 37 32 82

DECEMBER

Need = $26,650.00

Income= $29,036.27

Expenses = $27,447.54

—————————————

Overage = $1,588.73

2015 END REPORT

Anticipated Income = $319,800.00

Income = $298,800.83

Expenses = $299,388.60

—————————————

Shortage = -$587.77

ATTENDANCE FINANCES

FAITH SESSION 2016

We thank Don Hopkins, Suzie Burnette and Rhonda

Qualls, for their service in leading our church. We re-

member the work and dedication of Mike Pate who

passed away in late 2015.

The session for the year 2016 is:

Sandra Pulliam (2016) Francia Ortiz (2016)

Tim Craig (2016) Paula Denbow (2017)

Marie Holland (2017) Tom Womble (2017)

Ron Gardner (2018) Mike Ellis (2018)

Ryan Kingery (2018)

DEATHS

Leigh Walden 71, passed away Sunday, December

20, 2015. Her memorial service was December 29 at

Faith. The family requests that donations be sent to:

Medical Education & Research Institute (MERI),

44 S. Cleveland Memphis, TN. 38104.

Marjorie Fraser - cousin of John Moore and Lucy

Rambo — her funeral was Sunday January 3.

PRAISES AND CONCERNS

In December we welcomed 6 new members to the

Faith Family:

The Wombles (Tom, Cynthia and Robert) on 12/13.

Larry Zollner on 12/13.

Flloyd (“Tank”) and Bettie Malone on 12/20.

NEW MEMBERS

Pat Meeks is at home under hospice care. She enjoys

receiving card and occasional phone calls or visits.

Maggie Lawson has had some health concerns and

would love cards or calls.

Rev. David Montoya, Colombia, South America, has

had a very serious heart attack and the church has

been asked to pray for him.

Several of our youth attended “The Awakening” last

weekend.

In mid-December, a frankly worded email was sent from Our United

Outreach (O.U.O), with the news that we are once again facing a

significant shortfall in giving for 2015. The O.U.O committee—which

formed in 2009—have published figures showing that fundraising

goals have not been met in any of the past 7 years. On December 15,

O.U.O was 25% short of its goal, a dollar amount of over $700,000.

Giving typically doubles in December, yet as of January 5 a 16%

shortfall of $463,857 remains.

In his third three-year term as the Chair of the O.U.O board and cur-

rently in his seventh year of service, Ron Gardner is both optimistic

and realistic. After the denomination paid off all its loans in the late

Spring, he reports that being debt-free releases an additional

$120,000 of funds towards ministry rather than bills. “We are not

going down the pipe” he says, but if we continue to fail to meet our

giving goals, “we will have to ask ourselves, what

are we willing to quit?”.

The O.U.O is the fund that allows the Cumberland Presbyterian

Church to operate as a united body, combining its efforts, resources

and ministries to serve Cumberland Presbyterians across the globe,

and minister to the world. Half of the allotment goes to the Ministry

Council whose job it is to develop resources, education, information

and support for the work of the denomination. The Ministry Council

is divided into four teams: Communications Team, Missions Ministry

Team, Discipleship Ministry Team and Pastoral Development Team.

Among its programs are CPYC, Children’s Fest, The Forum, and the

Minister’s Conference. It produces curriculum such as The Encoun-

ter, Faith Out Loud, and Intersections, as well as the Missionary Mes-

senger and Cumberland Presbyterian Magazine. Other benefactors

are Cumberland Presbyterian institutions that educate and train

people for vocation and ministry: Bethel University and Memphis

Theological Seminary. Then there’s the Children’s Home that houses

and cares for at-risk and vulnerable children. Less than 10% goes

towards the General Assembly that oversees the denomination as a

whole, including theological and social issues, legal issues, and unifi-

cation with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of America (CPCA).

When the committee meets again in the spring to discuss budget

allocations, they will be faced with the daunting task of cutting

costs. The likely victim is the budgets of ministry programs. Ron says

the denomination is a business, in that it needs to employ people

and pay bills to function, but it is also the Church, seeking to do the

ministry of the Gospel in the world. With compassionate and cau-

tious words he asks “are we willing to quit being who we are?”. As a

small denomination, our strength is in our connectedness. When we

stop being together, who then will we become?

30 years ago the General Assembly agreed to ask congregations to

give 10% of its income to O,U.O. The committee claims that accord-

ing to congregational annual reports, if all congregations had given

their full 10% in 2014, the total would have been approximately $5.6

million. The committee has chosen a more realistic goal of half that

amount, yet the denomination has repeatedly fallen short. Some will

point to financial struggles within their own congregation, while oth-

ers play politics. Regardless of the reason, the Cumberland Presby-

terian Church as a denomination can only be as strong as the re-

sources its congregations provide. So we must ask ourselves the

questions: what are we willing to quit? Are we willing to quit being

who we are? The answers to those questions will lay the path for the

future of the global Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Donations to the O.U.O for 20115 are being accepted until January

15th 2016 . They can be made at www.cumberland.org/ouo Checks

may be mailed to: Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Attn: Our United

Outreach,, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016

O.U.O Director of Development declares that

we are in peril of a significant shortfall in giving.

A denominat ional

emergency

What are we willing to quit? Are we willing to quit being who we are?

Each night of the winter, a group of people

gather on North Second Street between Poplar

and Exchange, outside the Carpenter’s House.

Owned by First United Methodist Church, the

building is the home of an ecumenical ministry

to people experiencing homelessness. It is

here that guests gather in the hopes of getting

a spot in a church for the night.

There are now 23 churches who each host 12 guests one night a

week, ensuring that every night there are at least 2 host sites for

guests to sleep (see map below).

Women and children are allocated

spots first, and the remaining spots

are decided by a lottery. With a

relatively mild start to the winter,

most of the 50-60 guests have

been accommodated. However as

the temperatures drop and the

number of guests increase, so too

will the number who will are not allocated a place.

During a particularly cold night on December 29, Room in the Inn

founder and former Cumberland Presbyterian Moderator Rev Lisa

Anderson wrote on Facebook: “Tough night at RITI. It's cold, our

guests feel depressed, desperate and vulnerable. 25 spaces just

weren't enough and the vouchers to the mission we could afford

went fast. A guest asked me what excuses churches use to keep from

hosting, another one suggested we stop and pray right then that

congregations would open their doors. I'm still praying and I know

they are too.”

“Why do I do it? The question is why would I not do it? What better

way to spend your time than with family. Sharing laughter, food,

games, stories, and our love for God and his creations.” Ambher

Denbow is the Youth Pastor, and for November through March,

Room in the Inn is the regular youth ministry programming. Family is

a significant theme in how Ambher talks about Room in the Inn.

Games, spades, snacks and movies… Room in the Inn is about more

than charity. Don Hopkins is coordinator for Faith: “we don’t want

them to feel like strangers, we want them to feel at home”.

I’m talking to Don at the Faith Christmas Party on a Sunday night.

The 12 guests arrive and begin gathering their

dinner from the potluck. They are eating at tables

alongside church members, shooting basketball

with the kids, and having photos taken with San-

ta. A guests by who had plans to leave town the

previous week and Don teases him “what are you

doing here man, you’re supposed to be in Chica-

go?”. The man shares that he needs an operation

and has postponed his plans.

Beyond the practicalities of food, shelter and a place to sleep, there

are people, each with their own story, usually surprising and eye-

opening. Room in the Inn states on its website that it is not trying to

resolve all the issues of homelessness, but is about changing people,

guests and hosts alike. “It creates an environment and an opportuni-

ty for the guests to learn that there are people who care and for the

hosts to come to understand that the faceless figure on the street

corner is more than a statistic.“ Ambher describes the serving with

Room in the Inn in deeply spiritual terms: “every Sunday night I am

reminded of Christ love for all of us, no matter what walks of life we

have stumbled from”.

While Don and Ambher speak solely in positive terms about their

experience, there is no doubting that hosting requires great commit-

ment and effort. Meals have to be made, guests have to be trans-

ported. sheets have to washed, and 2 people are required to stay

the night at the church. Their positivity perhaps communicates

something about the joy that comes from the giving of ourselves to

the work of God’s Kingdom in the world.

For information on Room in the Inn at Faith, see the schedule on the Faith

Facebook Group, or the bulletin board at the church. You can also contact

Don Hopkins at [email protected] or (901)382-0516.

O.U.O

EACH SUNDAY NIGHT, A GROUP OF FAITH MEMBERS DRIVE DOWN TOWN, PICK UP 12 MEN AND

WOMEN, AND WELCOME THEM AS GUESTS TO EAT AND SLEEP IN OUR CHURCH BUILDING.

THIS MONTH AT FAITH

Room in the Inn

Throughout December - March

Help is still needed throughout the Winter months to house and serve our friends on the streets of Memphis.

We need folks to provide a meal, visit with guests, help with transport to and from the Carpenter house/

Faith CPC, and hosts to stay the night. Please contact Don Hopkins([email protected]), Paula

Bernie-Geiger Denbow ([email protected]) for further information.

Night at the Grizzlies & Lady Bruins

Sunday January 10th 5pm

The Faith Cumberland Basketball boys perform at halftime of the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Boston Celtics.

Wednesday 27th January 10th 5pm The girls teams will play the half time of the Memphis Lady Bruins’ game.

Sanctuary Reset

Saturday January 9th 10am

Have an hour or two on Saturday 9 January that you can spare? It is time to put away the trappings of Ad-

vent and Christmas and prepare the Church for Epiphany. Helpers of all ages and abilities needed to take

down the Chrismon tree, greenery, and poinsettias and store them properly for next year.

Faith Valentine’s Banquet

Saturday February 13th 6-8pm

Save the date for our annual Valentine’s Banquet.

Guest Preacher Sunday January 31st and Sunday February 7th

Pastor Steven will be with his family on their long awaited Disney vacation and will be gone for 2 Sundays.

Communications Director Neal Wilkinson will be covering the pulpit on these days. Neal is a candidate for

ministry and a student at Memphis Theological Seminary. He served as the Middle School Minister at Brent-

wood United Methodist Church outside Nashville before moving to Memphis in the Summer.

For the latest calendar updates check out our Facebook Group and Twitter feed.:

Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church @FaithCPChurch

JANUARY CALENDAR Sunday 3rd Basketball 1:30-4:30pm (Brown Center)

Room in the Inn 6pm (Brown Center)

Monday 4th Great Banquet Board Meeting 6pm (Joy)

Swing Dancing 6pm (Brown Center)

Tuesday 5th Lunch Bunch 12:30pm

Ballroom Dancing 6:30pm (Brown Center)

Wednesday 6th Basketball 6-8:30pm (Brown Center)

Thursday 7th Small Group Meeting 1pm (Welcome Room)

Basketball 6-9pm (Brown Center)

Friday 8th BPRD Basketball 6-8:30pm (Brown Center)

Saturday 9th BPRD Basketball 9am-2pm (Brown Center)

Sanctuary Reset 10am-Noon (Sanctuary)

Sunday 10th Basketball 1:30-2:30pm (Brown Center)

Night at the Grizzlies 5pm (Fedex Forum)


Monday 11th Swing Dancing 6pm (Brown Center)

Girls Scouts Meeting 7-8pm (Joy Classroom)

Tuesday 12th Ballroom Dancing 6:30pm (Brown Center)




Friday 15th BPRD Basketball 6-8:30pm (Brown Center)

Saturday 16th BPRD Basketball 9am-2pm (Brown Center)

Baby Shower 10am-Noon (Welcome Room)

Baby Shower 1-4pm (Joy Classroom)




Tuesday 19th Homeschool 9am-1pm (Brown Center)

Helping Hands 11:30am (Joy Classroom)



Session Meeting 6-8pm (Joy Classroom)

Thursday 21st Small Group Meeting 1pm (Welcome Room)


Friday 22nd BPRD Basketball 6-8:30pm (Brown Center)

Saturday 23rd BPRD Basketball 9am-2pm (Brown Center)

Fundraiser Dance 3-10pm (Brown Center)




Girls Scouts Meeting 7-8pm (Joy Classroom)

Tuesday 26th Homeschool 9am-1pm (Brown Center and Kitchen)


Wednesday 27th Basketball at Lady Bruins Game 5pm

Basketball 7:15-8:30pm (Brown Center)



Great Banquet Leader Meeting 6-8pm (Joy)

Friday 29th Ministry Council Meetings 8am-8pm

(Both Buildings)

Saturday 30th Ministry Council Meetings 8am-3pm

(Both Buildings)

Sunday 31st Basketball 1:30-4:30pm


EVENTS IN BLUE ARE FAITH CPC EVENTS

EVENTS IN GREY ARE EXTERNAL EVENTS

REGULAR SUNDAYS @ FAITH

Contemporary Worship 8:45am.

Sunday School 10am.

Traditional Worship 11am.

Choir Practice 5pm.

T H E C O R N E R S T O N E OF F E L L O W S H I P...2016/01/01 · The session for the year 2016 is: Sandra Pulliam (2016) Francia Ortiz (2016) Tim Craig (2016) Paula Denbow (2017)

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