With summer coming to a close and school just around the corner, it is my pleasure to announce that First Presbyterian Church has a new Director of Youth Ministries: Mr. Derek Gordon.
Derek is a native of Fort Worth and a graduate of Dallas Baptist University (B.A.S. in Christian Ministry). He has most recently served as Student Minister of First Baptist Church in George West, Texas.
As the selection committee interviewed candidates, we were certain that our Lord would lead us to the right person. In Derek we believe that God has prepared a young man of energy, action, thoughtfulness and a gentle spirit. In his own words:
“I am excited to be able to plug into a ministry with a rich history and desire to move forward and see where God is leading.”
Derek and his wife Ashley (a San Antonio native) have moved to town with their son Holt. (Please see a picture of Derek and his family on page 13). I want to thank Mike Wood, Nancy Scheifele, Becka Byrd, John Culp, Becky Prichard, Mitchell Moore, and Janet Slayden for their hard work through this long process.
At an important moment like this, it is important for us to remember why our ministry to children, teenagers, college students and young adults is so important.
In Acts 20, we read that the Apostle Paul gathered with a group of Christians in Macedonia, in order to have a time of teaching and worship. Luke described the scene:
“7...Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”
DEREK GORDON
FIRST CUP PRAYER LIST
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26).
Date
A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window in the back of the room. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window.
In all honesty, I have preached long sermons, and I have preached boring sermons, and I have even had plenty of people fall asleep during my sermons. I have never, however, had anyone fall to their death while I was preaching. The good news is that the story doesn’t end
FIRST CUP READINGS AUGUST, 2018
Dear Family in Christ,
First Cup is designed to assist you in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. The name is to remind you that as you reach for your first cup of morning coffee or tea, reach also for your Bible and prayer list. The prayers at the beginning of each week are taken from hymns, sometimes found in obscure hymnals in our libraries. They are intended to be read as your beginning prayer, to focus your mind on the daily readings that follow. May this spiritual discipline strengthen you as you face each day.
Blessings and love in Christ, Sandy Sturch and Claire Averyt
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.— Psalm 143:8
1 Luke 8:22-25; 2 Samuel 22; Jonah 2; Psalm 3:5; 4:8; 73:23-26
2 Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Psalm 106; Luke 8:26-39; James 4:7
3 Luke 8:40-48; Leviticus 15:25-27; Mark 3:10; 6:56; Luke 8:49-55; Hebrews 11:6
4 Luke 9:1-9; Matthew 14:1-12; 17:9-13; Matthew 10:17-31
“Take up thy cross” the Savior said, “If thou wouldst My disciple be; Take up thy cross with willing heart and humbly follow after Me.” Take up thy cross; let not its weight fill thy weak spirit with alarm; His strength shall bear thy spirit up, and brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm. Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame; nor let thy foolish pride rebel; Thy Lord for thee the cross endured, to save thy soul from death and hell. Take up thy cross and follow Christ, nor think till death to lay it down; For only he who bears the cross may hope to wear the glorious crown. (The Hymnbook, No. 293)
5 Exodus 16; Luke 9:10-17; Mark 11:22-25; Proverbs 30:7-9; John 6:48-51
6 Luke 9:18-27; Matthew 10:32-33; 16:24-28; Philippians 1
7 Luke 9:28-36; Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 3:16-17; 5:17; 2 Peter 1; Psalm 119:105
8 Luke 9:37-45; Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 21:21-22; James 5:15-16
9 1 Kings 19:19-21; Luke 9:46-62; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 6:33
10 Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 9:1-11; 12:7-12; 13:5-10; Daniel 12:1-4
11 Luke 10:25-37; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:16-30
Our Father in heaven, we hallow Thy name; May Thy kingdom holy on earth be the same; O give to us daily our portion of bread; It is from Thy bounty that all must be fed. Forgive our transgressions, and teach us to know that humble compassion which pardons each foe; Keep us from temptation, from evil and sin, And Thine be the glory forever! Amen
12 Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 12:1-13; Psalm 27:4; 119:97-112
13 Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 26:31-46; 69-75; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
14 Luke 11:14-28; 2 Peter 2; Hebrews 6:4-6
15 Luke 11:29-32; Jonah 3; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12; Matthew 12:38-45; John 3:18-21
16 Luke 11:33-36; Psalm 101; Psalm 18:25-29; Titus 1:15-16
Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ, wealth that can never be told! Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace, precious, more precious than gold! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who shall their greatness declare? Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn, pearls that the poorest may wear! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who would not gladly endure Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth, riches like these to secure! Precious, more precious, Wealth that can never be told! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Precious, more precious than gold. (Worship in Song, No. 52)
19 Luke 12:13-34; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Isaiah 57:14-21; Ephesians 5:1-20
20 Luke 12:35-48; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11;
2 Thessalonians 2:1-16
21 Luke 12:49-53; Mark 10:28-31; 13:3-13; Matthew 10:17-42
22 Luke 12:54-59; Matthew 16:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5;
2 Peter 3; 1 John 2:18-27
23 Luke 13:1-9; Isaiah 5:1-10; John 15:1-17
24 Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 4:23-25; 12:1-14; Luke 13:10-35
25 Luke 14:1-24; Matthew 22:1-14; Zachariah 3
There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold; but one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains, wild and bare; Away from the tender Shepherd’s care. “Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for Thee?” But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from Me. And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep.” And all through the mountains, thunder-riven, and up from the rocky steep, there arose a glad cry up to the gate of heaven, “Rejoice! I have found My sheep!” And the angels echoed around the throne, “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
31 Luke 17:11-19; Leviticus 13:29-37; Acts 14:8-10; James 5:13-16
there. Luke says that
“10 Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.”
What could have been a tragic story became a funny anecdote. All the adults in the room were having a great time, and the meeting went long. But, while no one was paying attention, a young person fell out of the back window. Paul kept preaching and the church kept on churching. But everybody forgot about this young man, and He fell (nearly) to his death.
What happens if the preacher keeps on preaching and the church keeps on churching without actively engaging and teaching our children and young people? If no one is paying attention to them they will fall asleep and fall away.
We must never take our ministry to young people for granted.
The story says that Eutychus survived because Paul himself rushed to the boy and hugged him hard. He got down on the floor, face to face, body to body. He got down on his level, got personally involved, and through Him God performed a miracle.
The Apostle Paul understood that real ministry requires contact. If we want our young people to love Jesus Christ, love one another and love the city as flourishing disciples of Jesus Christ, we have to be involved in their lives. As Derek says:
“Relational ministry is a top priority for me, because I believe that in order to reach people and bring the Word of God to them you must first develop a relationship with them through investing your time and love in them.”
Relationships are critical in Youth Ministry, but Derek, Emily Yergler and their volunteer leaders cannot carry the burden alone. We must all be involved in their lives—to keep them from falling and even to love them back to life when they do fall. I hope you will support Derek and our youth ministry with enthusiasm and prayer. Please get to know Derek, Ashley and Holt, and help them to become part of the FPC family.
Grace and Peace, Bob Fuller
SAVE THE DATE
WELCOME NEW STAFF
Derek Gordon, Director of Youth Ministries
D
erek comes to FPC from Fort Worth, and has served in youth ministries in Fort Worth, Dallas and South Texas. He also worked in the public school system for six years serving students with special needs, and graduated from Dallas Baptist University in May 2013 with a Bachelors in Christian Ministries.
Derek and his wife Ashley met during college and married in June of 2014. They have one son Holt, who is 18 months old. Derek loves to spend
his free time playing guitar and reading. He also enjoys playing basketball, working out, and doing anything active. He considers himself to be a huge college football fan and spends every Saturday during the fall watching TCU football.
Derek is very excited to be joining the team at FPC and cannot wait to begin building relationships with the members of the First Pres family.
IN SEARCH OF JOHN MCCULLOUGH
By Bill Cogburn
S everal months ago, I wrote an article for the First Press newsletter chronicling John McCullough’s life after he left First Pres. After leaving San Antonio in 1849, he returned to Galveston where he taught in a seminary which he had founded before coming to San Antonio. A yellow fever epidemic forced the seminary to close in 1856. He then moved with his second wife and family to Dresden, Ohio, where he spent the next several years as stated supply for three churches near Zanesville.
In 1859, he moved back to Texas, becoming a rancher on the Double Horn Creek near Marble Falls, Texas. While he called himself a rancher, he continued to preach and teach during his years on the ranch.
In 1869, he was called to be the minister of the Prairie Lea Presbyterian Church in Caldwell County. Prairie Lea is a small town a few miles northwest of Luling, Texas. McCullough was minister of that church for less than a year before he died of a stroke at age 74. On a recent outing, Roz and I decided to visit the gravesite of John McCullough. The town cemetery at Prairie Lea has a historic marker near the front entrance, memorializing John McCullough with a brief history of his early years in Texas and how he established the first protestant church in our city.
The cemetery was small so we proceeded to search for his headstone but with no success. It just wasn’t there! An internet search revealed a website which stated that “John McCullough’s grave is not marked.” I am very curious to know if anyone at First Pres has information regarding the location of John McCullough’s grave. If so, I would be happy and honored, pending approval of family members, to lead an effort to erect a headstone at his gravesite. Any information will be appreciated.
Please reach me at bcogburn@satx.rr.com or 210228-9711.
LOAVES AND FISHES
August 18 • student center september 9
Our next opportunity to serve our under-resourced neighbors is Saturday, August 18, for a back-toschool Loaves and Fishes. Setup begins at 9:00 AM, training/preparation begins at 10:00 AM, doors open for our guests at 10:30 AM, and serving begins at 11:00 AM. All are welcome. Also we are always in need of new men’s underwear, men’s and women’s socks, and flip flops for guests who shower. This month we also need school supplies (backpacks, safety scissors, colored pencils, crayons, regular pencils, etc.). A donation box is at the reception desk in Mauze Lobby for these items. Please contact Lindsay Selli at lindsays@fpcsat.org with any questions or if you would like to volunteer.
PATHWAYS TO HOPE CONFERENCE
august 24-25 | tobin center
The third annual Pathways to Hope Conference, focusing on mental health and including speakers from across the community and nation, will once again be held at the Tobin Center. The goal of the conference is to continue to break the stigma of mental illness, and to discover how faith communities can provide support for people and families affected by mental illness. Attendance is free. For more information on the event and keynote speakers, or to register (required), visit www.pathwaystohope.net. SPECIAL SERVICE FOR NEW PASTOR!
August 26
Join us for a Service of Ordination and Installation for our new Associate Pastor for Christian Education and Discipleship, Becky Prichard, on Sunday, August 26 at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary of FPC. A reception will immediately follow in Westminster Hall.
Before you know it September will be here, and with it fall activities will start up at FPC again! Kick-off Sunday will be September 9th this year. Mark your calendars to get re-acquainted with your FPC family, and the many ways you can get connected and involved, and experience everything First Pres has to offer. Look for more information in the coming weeks!
The Literature Circle will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM from September through May, in the McCullough Room (unless otherwise indicated), for a social half hour followed by a book review. Copies of the books are available in the church library to check out.
SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, September 11:
“The Hello Girls” by Elizabeth Cobbs Reviewer: Jane Hanson
Friday, October 12:
“Maverick” (Special KEYS event in Westminster Hall!) by Lewis Fisher Reviewer: Lewis Fisher
Tuesday, November 13:
“Musical” Presenters: Bill and Patrice Hensley
Tuesday, December 11:
“Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager Reviewer: Scott Simpson
COMING 2019 (DATES AND SPEAKERS
TBD):
“A Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story” by William Martin
“City of Tranquil Light” by Bo Caldwell
“The Which Way Tree” by Elizabeth Crook
“Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann
“America’s First Daughter” by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
“GAME ON”
Vacation Bible School Recap
lagher-Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker and “woman who arranges things,” are certain to thrill and entertain our audience. Show time is 3:00 PM. Tickets are $24. Limited parking on Fredericksburg Road in front of the theater, additional parking Behind All Four Seasons Flowers off of Lynwood Avenue and Beal Street. A Van Shuttle is available from FPC Parking lot leaving at 2:00 PM.
SA READS
SA Reads needs your help to sort, categorize, and clean donated books that are used in local schools to provide reading material to children who may not have the opportunity to own books of their own. Jane Warren (210-493-5187) is the person to contact with any questions about this program. The work is done at the at the Firstmark Credit Union 10730 Gulfdale Drive on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Join in on this great service project as well as the fellowship of working together.
BRIDGE AND MAH JONGG
Bridge and Mah Jongg continues for the Summer. For the Bridge and Mah Jongg players, there is opportunity to play on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Bring a lunch and join in on the fun!! New players are welcome and someone will help you learn the game. If you have other games that we could play, then let us know and we will see that you have a place to enjoy.
KEEP MOVING FITNESS
Keep Moving Fitness is offered every Friday except for the 3rd Friday when we celebrate birthdays. This is a program designed for 55 and Betters, often sitting in a chair. Linda Osborne has been our instructor for years and designs our sessions to fit our needs. Most participants express how much better they feel
after each week. Join us at 9:30 AM on the second floor of the Student Center, and you will not regret it. There is no charge for this class.
LOOKING AHEAD
SEPTEMBER 11
This day will Kick-off KEYS regular Friday Luncheons with the Fire On The Mountain Cloggers of San Antonio, Texas: a clogging and percussive dance team promoting the old time traditional aspects of clogging, offering beginner classes, intermediate lessons and fast paced performances! Mark your calendars Now!!!
OCTOBER
12
KEYS and The Literature Circle will host a joint meeting with Lewis Fisher, author of Maverick-The American Name That Became a Legend. “In this fascinating, well-illustrated work, Fisher outdoes all his prior literary output in style and verve with a book that not only lets the real Sam Maverick stand up and be counted, but puts him in a historical and cultural context that reveals why he and his family name have become such archetypal features of the American psyche.” — San Antonio Express-News. You can find the book in the FPC library and most public libraries, online, or in print copies. Pick it up now and get ready to spend quality time with the author.
DECEMBER
13
Christmas Lights River Cruise—We have reserved a 35 passenger barge this year for an opportunity to see the Lights on the River walk. The trip is from 6:007:00 PM which gives you the opportunity to meet for dinner before or after. More details as it gets closer.
By Joe Moore, Older Adults Director
A s a result of our July Birthday lunch, we now know why Chester’s Hamburgers was voted best in San Antonio and best in Texas. The movie Wonder, stole our hearts and drew a few tears. This month we are looking forward to the HEB Cooking School, a Birthday lunch at the Hyatt River Walk, and the Broadway blockbuster “Hello Dolly.”
We were sad to say Goodbye to Stephanie Garcia last month. Stephanie resigned her position as admin to Older Adult Ministry in order to have time to care for her mother. We support her decision, but we will surely miss her!!
In the interim, KEYS event registrations can be made though Lisa Snow at 210-271-2760 or lisas@fpcsat. org.
UPCOMING BIRTHDAY LUNCH
$12 per person, unless it’s your birthday, then lunch is on us!!
AUGUST 8
HEB LUNCH AND LEARN
We will be returning to the HEB Central Market Cooking School on Wednesday August 8th at Noon. The cost is $25 which includes lunch along with a demonstration on how to prepare what we will be enjoying.
The menu will be “Lunch in the Herb Garden” with Grilled Chicken Breast, stuffed with Prosciutto, Fontina and Herb pesto; Lemon and Herb Risotto Cakes; Asparagus with Tarragon Aioli; and for dessert Bay Laurel Pound Cake. Make your reservation with Lisa Snow at lisas@fpcsat.org
AUGUST 17
Hyatt River Walk Pasta Bar
AUGUST 26
HELLO DOLLY AT THE WOODLAWN THEATER
The blockbuster Broadway hit “Hello, Dolly!” bursts with humor, romance, high-energy dancing, and some of the greatest songs in musical theater history. The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gal-
“Game On!” was the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School. It was a fantastic, fun-filled week of making crafts, hearing God’s word, working on mission projects, playing games, eating yummy snacks, and lots of singing and dancing. Some of our adult volunteers even learned how to “floss.” We had over 115 children and 80 adult and youth volunteers filling the halls of FPC with the joyful sound of laughter. They enjoyed large group time skits led by Bob the Ref and Coach Davis, who showed us how we could incorporate God’s word anywhere, even on the football field. We also had a soccer player, tennis player, baseball player, and cheerleader leading us in music and dance time!
Throughout the week, the kids learned stories that taught them that Jesus Cares About Us, Jesus Gives Us Hope, Jesus Helps Us Believe, Jesus Loves Us, and Jesus Gives Us Joy. The kids brought money each day to donate to STAFO (South Texas Alliance for Orphans). They received a balloon for each dollar
they brought and we watched excitedly as the cluster of balloons grew and grew each day. By Friday, the kids had donated over $450.00 to benefit STAFO!
The best part of VBS is watching the kids discover who God is and how to trust God with and in their own lives. It was so much fun to see and hear FPC filled with kids so excited to learn about God and how much God cares for us.
Many thanks to our Children’s Ministry Team, adult volunteers, and youth volunteers who helped make this year’s VBS so successful. Whether they helped with decorating, teaching the lessons, making crafts, leading games, serving yummy snacks, helping in missions, or doing the behind the scenes work, we could not do this so well without their support! THANK YOU from the FPC Children’s Ministry Department.
WOMEN OF THE CHURCH
By Holly Youngquist, President
I am honored and excited to serve as the 2018-2019 President of Women of the Church (WOC); as our brochure states, “If you are a woman and a member of this church, you are a member of Women of the Church.” I want to welcome and encourage ALL women of First Presbyterian Church to join us and experience the fellowship, study and service we enjoy.
As we transition into the new year, I would like to recognize the outstanding leadership of Pat Brodeen, outgoing WOC President, and all of the 2017-2018 officers, chairmen and Bible Moderators. Because of the generosity of the Women of the Church and the contributions made at the May Coffee, we were able to end the fiscal year with a surplus of funds which we gifted to The FPC Children’s Center, Young Life, Christian Dental Clinic, Sus Hijas, House of Neighborly Service (HNS), Presbyterian Children’s Home (PCHAS) and Food for the Hungry.
Thanks to the many women who served at and supported Vacation Bible School in June. Some
As we look forward to the coming year and all that God has planned for each of us, please “Save the Date” for the Fall Ladies’ Night Out at the home of Holly Youngquist, 109 Cobblestone Court on Tuesday, October 16 from 6:30 – 8:30. All FPC women are encouraged to attend…and bring a friend.
FPC DEACONS
ALiving to Make Jesus Visible requires us to live differently. So often, we underestimate the life-changing impact that opening the doors of our hearts and homes to others has on our culture. My hope is that we can make a deliberate decision to be intentional in getting to know the people around us—within our church, our community, our neighborhoods, our schools and our places of work. I truly believe that lives will be changed by something as simple as an invitation. I’m inviting YOU to join us on this journey as we dig into scripture to find out what true Biblical Hospitality looks like.
Live Big, Love Deeply and Serve Humbly,
Holly S. Youngquist Youngquist.holly@gmail.com
taught, some provided snacks and others came and showed love and support for teachers, helpers and, of course, the children. It truly takes a village to produce such an outstanding program. Special thanks to Bunkie Shed, Chair of Circle 20, who organized all of the yummy snacks for the visitors, teachers and teen helpers.
In July, WOC members contributed school supplies for the children and young mothers in transition at the Presbyterian Children’s Home and to our ministry partners in the Faith Based Institute (FBI).
The moderators are busy preparing for another year of study. This year we will be journeying through a book entitled “Just Open the Door, A Study of Biblical Hospitality.” We appreciate the many hours Susan DeKoch, Moderator Chair, has spent praying and preparing to provide these lessons for each circle member as well as to lead each moderator so that she is ready to share with her circle. For more information about circles, please contact the Vice President for Circles, Barbara Dorsey at bgd101@msn. com.
ccording to the ECO Polity document, “Deacons lead ministries that nurture fellowship and caregiving within and beyond the congregation. Deacons may also be asked to preach and teach. The congregation shall determine the manner in which they are selected for service. The session shall oversee and direct the ministry of the deacons.”
Deacons nurture fellowship and caregiving in several ways:
• Hospital and Rehabilitation Facility Visitation.
Deacons visit members in medical facilities, when requested by the members or members’ families through the Care and Concern Line.
• Home Visitation.
Deacons visit members at home, when requested by members, to help all members to feel a part of our congregation.
• Grief Ministry.
Deacons walk alongside members who have experienced a death of a close loved one by following up with them with contacts and visits.
• After Worship Prayer. Deacons are available to pray with members after each worship service.
• Seasonal Flower Delivery. Deacons deliver seasonal flowers (Poinsettias and Easter Lilies) to certain members, including those who have experienced a recent loss, those being visited at home, and members over 90 years old.
• Prayer.
Deacons pray for members, as requested in the Care and Concern Line and as other concerns are shared with them.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our deacon ministry, please contact Rev. Scott Simpson, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care, at scotts@fpcsat.org or 210-226-0215, ext. 212, or Lisa Snow, at lisas@fpcsat.org.
