October 2015
The Buggy for Books program encourage young children and parents to read together by setting a goal for the month. Farmington Day School set a goal of 2500 books for September and exceeded the goal by 1064 books.
Deepening our Discipleship TABLE OF CONTENTS Deepening our Discipleship 1 Children Worship ................. 2 Youth ..................................... 3 Elementary ........................... 4 Special Events ....................... 6 Day School News .................. 7 Missions ................................ 9 Presbytery Events ................ 10 Committee Meetings ............ 11 Upcoming Events. ................. 11 Acolyte Schedule .................. 12 Birthdays ............................... 12
Rev. Rebecca Luter This Sunday, October 3, is World Communion Sunday. In preparation the children are invited to the church at 10am on Saturday to bake the bread. While we wait for the dough to rise and then the bread to bake, we will learn that people around the world eat different kinds of breads that are related to the common crops in their area. Communion bread is to be the same kind of bread that is common to the people taking it because it reminds us that God works through what is common. The bread isn’t special; God’s grace is. Farmington Presbyterian has certainly experienced God’s grace! Take a moment to reflect and give thanks for the ways you have experienced God’s grace through Farmington. As you read this month’s New Vision, you will see many opportunities to be part of extending God’s grace to others. You may have wondered in the past how God could use a common person like you to alleviate another person’s suffering. I hope that as you read about Room in the Inn, Stop Hunger Now, The Community of St. Therese of Liseaux, and the Yucatan Mission Trips you will find that God is calling you to be a channel of God’s grace.
Christian Education Wednesday Night Children’s Worship of attention for a large group of little children every week. I asked Kathy to help me understand what she was doing. Over the following year, I was taught how children worship, how pretend can bring a story to life by engaging the imagination, and how wonder allows the Scriptures to be God’s Word in the hearts and minds of all children of God.
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fter a lesson with children, do you feel like you worshipped? A few years ago, I asked this of a group in charge of a Children’s church program. Overwhelmingly the answer was negative. Often we feel that children need to be entertained while taught so they will pay attention and perhaps walk away with a little nugget of wisdom. A majority of programs I come across for children’s ministry are “edutainment” ; a whole lot of fun with a little bitty message. My training in the clowning arts (juggling, making balloon animals, storytelling, theatre) made me the poster child for “edutainment”. But early in my career as a Christian educator, a woman named Kathy Shows taught me another way. While I would stand and teach with great big exhausting hand gestures, she sat calmly in the floor and moved only when the story required it. While I was loud and boisterous to grab the attention of children, she spoke softly and slowly making every word intentional. While I continually demanded eye contact, she rarely looked at the children at all. Instead she was focused on small wooden figures on a piece of felt that made up a simple visual of the story being told. After a few years of my “method” I was burning out. It is exhausting to be the center
You may have noticed that the children on Wednesday nights have moved from the Youth Room to the Choir Room. This smaller space holds fewer distractions for the children to gather and worship together. Children can feel more grown up, given an appropriate space. A special thanks to Charles Billings for allowing us the use of his room. I invite any adults interested or curious to talk with me about attending a children’s time on Wednesday night. You don’t have to prepare anything. Simply come worship with us and find rest in the company of children. Grace and Peace, Doug Barr
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Youth @ Farmington
he sky was blue, the temperature was balmy, and the food was yummy. What more could you ask for at the Germantown Festival? The youth group had a fantastic year at the festival. The amount they made will definitely help them with their summer retreats. Thanks again to all volunteers that helped before, during, and after with the festival. Oh‌by the way the youth also received a 100% from the health department. - Caroline Demaree
Middle School Chapel
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e are surrounded by technology each and every day. So much so that we can forget that at one time, a brink was a huge technological leap, or that iron was a game changer for its time. The Bible does not mention Iphones, Twitter, Mp3, planes, trains, and automobiles but it does frame how we should use the great technological leaps of our day. The middle school chapel students are participating in a study in social media and the Bible, Thursdays at 3:30pm. This study includes a media fast and a time of silent reflection to help us decide how much priority we will give technology in our lives.
Youth Schedule October 6 - Big Story III - Dinner provided. 4pm - 6pm. October 11 - Fall Break - No Youth October 18 - Mid-South Corn Maze - Meet at the Agricenter cornmaze at 4pm. October 25 - Big Story IV - Dinner Provided. 4pm -6pm. Sign up for the Youth Lock In Nov. 13 - 14. Don’t miss the up-all-night event of the year.
Elementary
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od is the only god. God is one of a kind with no beginning and no end. And everything God has created is unique and one of a kind. Each animal is not only different from other species, but also different from other like animals. No zebra has the exact same patterns of stripes. Each monkey has its own temperament. Each sparrow sings a slightly different tune. The same is true for people. God made each person one of a kind—even identical twins have unique fingerprints! Every person that ever was or ever will be is an original, including the kids we serve each week in our children’s ministry environments. Now, imagine that God created each one of those kids with an individual box of potential and your job as a parent or leader was to help them figure out how to open it and use it. There’s a tendency to treat kids like they need to wait before they can start discovering what’s in their box—before they can do something that matters. But kids can use their gifts right now. Sometimes they just need some help figuring out what’s in their box. That’s where you come in. As leaders in kids’ lives, you can help them discover how to tap into their God-given potential. If you teach
kids to find purpose NOW, they’ll grow up knowing the even greater potential God has for them in the future. That’s why for our memory verse this month we chose a moment where Paul was encouraging Timothy to use the gifts God gave him to serve the church. We don’t talk about Timothy a lot, but he is a perfect example of a young individual who had incredible potential. A handful of insightful adults in his life recognized what was in his box and helped him open it. And because of that, Timothy had tremendous impact on the growth of the early church. His story is an incredible example of individuality. Individuality is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. Most of us remember Timothy because of what Paul wrote to him while he was a young leader in the church at Ephesus. But if you do a little digging in the book of Acts, and you look at what we know about the journeys of Paul, you can piece together a pretty remarkable story about a young man who discovered his unique God-given potential and did some amazing things. This month, you have the opportunity to help kids discover the same thing. You can open someone’s box and help them see something inside that they can use right now, maybe something about their story or some talent they may not know they have. When you help a child begin to understand that God made them and God has given them unique abilities to love and to serve others, it has a lasting impact—not only because of what they accomplish right now, but because they are establishing a pattern of living that can change the course of their story.
PRESCHOOL
ELEMENTARY
Cut these pictures out of the newsletter and put them in a frame at home. Work with your children to commit the verse to memory!
Want to keep the lesson going at home?
Baking Bread for World Communion Children and Youth are invited to gather in the FPC kitchen to bake bread with Rev. Rebecca for World Communion Sunday.
Fall Film Festival Bring your lawn chair and blanket, we are having a movie on the lawn. Join us for an outdoor movie, hot dogs, popcorn, and a fun friendly atmosphere. We will be watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" to kick off Halloween weekend.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” Friday, October 30 at 6pm On the Farmington lawn.
Day School News Gretchen Burch Parent Appreciation Dinner Thank you to all the parents who attended our first annual Parent Appreciation Dinner. It was a fun evening with cute photos, good food and even better fellowship! If you had your family picture taken, copies were sent home Friday. Copies are also hanging on the bulletin board in the hallway. Be sure to see all of our families! We hope that you enjoyed this event as much as we did!
Teacher Feature Ms. Mallorie How long have you been teaching? This is my second year. What do you enjoy most about teaching at FPDS? Getting to know each child and their families. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Anything outdoors; riding 4 wheelers, fishing, hunting, going to the lake What’s your favorite vacation spot? Pickwick Lake or the mountains Ms. Elise and Ms. Mallorie are the teachers of our full-time threes class. We asked them to tell a little about themselves. Ms. Elise How long have you been teaching? 4 years What do you enjoy most about teaching at FPDS? I enjoy the children because each child is so different. I also enjoy meeting the families. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love to be with my family, reading, going on trips and shopping. What’s your favorite vacation spot? I love going to Nashville, TN.
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What is STEM?
’m sure you have all heard the buzz around STEM by now. From high school career paths, to elementary clubs and even to our preschool, STEM has taken the nation by storm. But what is it? And why is everyone jumping on board?
products and systems that meet human needs while Engineering is the creative process used to design these products. Without these components, students were not fully prepared when they got to college and even the job market. Together, these four disciplines implement higher cognitive skills and enable students to use techniques used in the real world. Now let’s take this down to a preschool level! STEM in preschool is taking the same four disciplines and making them tangible. Preschool students already explore, observe, ask questions and predict. You see that each time a child asks, what is that? Taking that natural curiosity and creating a process to explore is what STEM is all about. A preschool student will be presented a problem, and then asked to brainstorm solutions. After possible solutions are discussed, the student will then draw possible solutions. Then comes the fun part, students use materials to test their solutions. After testing solutions, students can then focus on improving their solution. The STEM lesson that students at Farmington have already investigated is the Three Little Pigs. The challenge was to build a house that all three pigs could fit in and not be blown down. First students drew a picture of a house that they thought would meet the challenge. Next, children built the house they drew with blocks and wood pieces. Last, children tested their house. Using STEM skills for problem solving creates a critical thinker and an innovative one!
STEM is an integrated curriculum that encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Using these disciplines together, students are tackling problem solving with a new approach. The National Science Foundation started the trend during a conference on furthering education in the sciences. While most K-12 education has done a good job teaching Science and Mathematics, Technology and Engineering are often not part of a student’s education. Technology is used to create the
Our goal here at Farmington is to educate the whole child. Creating environments where children can explore and learn is important to us, educating future engineers and scientist is just extra! - Jenny Howell
Upcoming Events October 1 & 2 – Picture Days October 7 & 8 – Firefighter Visits October 12 – 16 – Fall Break
Missions
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t the stated meeting of the Session on September 21, by a unanimous decision, the Session approved two new outreach programs for 2015-2016. Farmington Presbyterian will be participating in the Room in the Inn and Stop Hunger Now programs. Please see him for further information. More information is also available online at http:// www.roomintheinn-memphis.org/
The number of homeless people in Memphis every night stretches shelters in the city. There is a great need for safe, clement places for people to sleep during the coldest months of the year. The concept is simple. Prospective guests gather at First Methodist downtown, are interviewed and registered for lodging that evening at a participating church. Volunteers pick up their 10 -15 guests around 5:30 pm, take them to their church. We will be using the facilities of Germantown United Methodist. A hot meal is served, showers are taken, fellowship is enjoyed, and lights are out at 10pm. Wake-up call is usually around 5:30am, a continental breakfast is served, and the guests are returned to First Methodist downtown by 7am. We will be hosting Nov 7, Nov 21, Dec 5, Dec 19, Jan 2, Jan 16, Feb 6, Feb 20, March 5, and March 19. To volunteer to serve in November or December, go to w w w . S i g n U p G e n i u s . c o m / go/10C0D4DAAAC2FA1FA7-room . There are opportunities to donate needed items, work behind the scenes, and to act as a host. Chris Luter is the coordinator for this program.
Established in 1998, Stop Hunger Now is a faithbased, international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. The organization is driven by a vision to end world hunger in our lifetime and a mission to provide food and life-saving aid to the world’s most destitute and hungry in the most sustainable, efficient, and effective manner. What that means for us is a one-time, 2-hour meal-packaging event to be held during the first half of 2016. All members of the Farmington family, from children to seniors, will be encouraged to help in packaging food at food packaging stations set up in the Fellowship Hall. We will package rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix for high-protein meals. We will package at least 10,000 meals. The meals cost .29 each. Session is hoping to raise half of the funds while the balance will be supported by your tithes and offerings. We are seeking individuals who may want to make matching funds available. If you are interested, please let Bonnie or Rev. Rebecca know. Please be in prayer for this important mission program. Jinney Hart is the coordinator of Stop Hunger Now. Please see her if you are interested in knowing more . More information is also available online at www.stophungernow.org Bonnie Blair, Chair Service Committee
Presbytery Events
Gathering begins at 8:45am and light lunch will be served. $25 per person Register: lucygc@bellsouth.net OR call (901)878-1247 performance by Memphis-based singer/ songwriter John Kilzer, who overcame addiction while staying true to his vision as an artist.
Join us at the Kroc Center for the inaugural “Evening with the Lisieux Community” on Friday, October 16th from 8-9:30pm. WMC-TV anchor, Joe Birch, will emcee the event. Hear the compelling story and the passion of founder and Executive Director, Sandra Ferrell, for victims of abuse, sex trafficking, and addiction. A special feature of the evening will be the screening of the award-winning Independent Lens film “A Path Appears,” which shines a light on sex trafficking and addiction and puts a human face on the victims. After the documentary, guests will enjoy special desserts, coffee, and live music by the Zoo Girls in the theatre lobby. The evening will end with an intimate
Fran Carpenter, founder of Main Events and one of Memphis’ best and most prolific event designers, is donating her time, vision, and energy to make this a top tier event in the packed landscape of Memphis philanthropy. To purchase tickets: Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/firstannual-evening-with-the-lisieux-communitytickets-18156633981 -orCall (901) 800-8840
We have a limited number of paper tickets to sell if a person does not have access to the internet. Please let Bonnie Blair know how many you need. Tickets are $25. The Kroc Center is located at 800 East Parkway South, Memphis TN 38104.
Upcoming Farmington Events Sundays at Farmington Sunday School is at 9:30 am and Worship is at 11:00 am. Join us! For Sunday School, the children gather in the Sanctuary with music and then proceed to their classroom (A6) for the lesson. The youth gather in the youth room. Adults choose between Hosea in the Interpretation Bible Study in the East Room and Mark in the For Everyone Bible Study in the room closest to the West door.
Fellowship Coffee after Worship—October 4 and 18
No Potluck—There will not be a potluck October 11. Enjoy your fall break .
Committee Meetings Administration 6:30 pm Monday, Oct. 5 Congregational Care 2:00 pm Tuesday, Oct. 6 Christian Education 6:00 pm Tuesday, Oct. 20
Oct 7 - Chip Roast Programs for Adults and Children Oct 14 - Fall Break No Dinner or Program Oct 21 - Pizza Night Program for Adults and Children Oct 28 - Chicken Pot Pie Life App Wrap for all ages.
FPC Men’s Ministry News FPC Men’s group will continue a study of redemption and forgiveness watching the film "Unbroken.”
Join us Friday, October 9, at 6:30 am.
We meet at FPC in the youth room and enjoy School Board McDonald breakfast sandwiches, mixed fruit, and 5:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 8 Ray's coffee. We always enjoy a time of fellowship Service and support. 7:00 pm Tuesday, Oct. 6
Germantown Festival 2015 Update
Session 6:00 pm, Monday, Oct. 19 We received a perfect score of 100% from the Health Department as we prepared to sell “walking tacos”, chocolate-covered bacon, and soft drinks. The crowds were good and hungry on Saturday but slowed down on Sunday. $2,000 in proceeds will support the mission work of
Feeding Fayette Collection
Jerry Hosier
Elizabeth Demaree
Duke Lively
Jerry Renfrow
This month: Canned Fall Fruits and Veggies
Roland Mittag
Paul Bourassa
Gerrie Wilder
Billie Wann
Neil Sherman
Bert Phillips
Each month we collect a different item to donate to the Feeding Fayette Food Pantry. October is all about fall harvest! Bring in cans of fruits and veggies to add to one of the donation
Jack Williams
Jon Still
Melanie Oest
Chris Luter
Steve Demaree
John Hazen
Carolyn Demaree
Gerry Wilder
Acolyte Schedule
Report from Session The session of FPC officially welcomed into the Farmington family Lance and Liv Palmer and their children Amelia and Abigail and Scott Hutchins, husband of Rebecca Hutchins. Other highlights this month were approving revisions to the Funeral and Wedding Policies, updates to the FPDS job descriptions and affirming an Outdoor Movie Night as an alternative to Trunk-RTreat this year.
October Birthdays
Oct 4
Meredith Oest
Oct 11
Natalie Lively
Oct 18
Olivia Mittag
Oct 25
Jack Ritchey
Nov 1
Julia Lively
Staff Extensions Rev. Rebecca Luter, Pastor, Ext. 23
3
Jim Collins
3
Steve Demaree
3
Jerry Hosier
Rhonda Pearsall, Bookkeeper, Ext. 22
3
Cole Ritchey
Jenny Howell, Executive Director of Day School, Ext. 28
3
Jack Ritchey
4
Gerry Wilder
Anthony Jones, Maintenance Technician
8
Charlie Smithers
Session Members
15
Kristin Ogburn
Administration – Kirsten King
19
Al Fister
20
Jean Williams
24
Suzanne Thomas
Fellowship – Mary Shelley Ritchey
31
Myrt Saxon
Property and Grounds – Jerry Hosier
Doug Barr, Director of Christian Education, Ext. 29 Cyndi Bevington, Administrative Assistant, Ext. 21
Linda Turner, Managing Director of Day School, Ext. 24 Gretchen Burch, Program Director of Day School, Ext. 32
Christian Education – Laurinda Ingram Clerk – Melanie Oest
If your birthday is not listed, please contact the church office to be added. We would like to celebrate with you.
Congregational Care – John Hazen
School Board – Charlie Smithers Service – Bonnie Blair Worship – Sandy Wann
If you have content for the November edition of New Vision, please email Doug Barr no later than October 23 at Doug@farmingtonpres.org Farmington Presbyterian Church and Day School 8245 Farmington Blvd. Germantown, TN 38139 www.Farmingtonpres.org