A report By Nancy Cross, FPC Elder
and the Rev. Jim Capps
Interim Senior Pastor
The 219th General Assembly of the PC(USA) met in Minneapolis earlier this month. Some of you may have heard stories about what happened. Certainly, whenever the mainline churches are debating sexuality issues, the mainstream media is quite interested. Unfortunately they don’t always understand our process or the nuances of the decisions made.
So, from two people who were at the General Assembly (GA) and have followed most of the issues for some time, here is a brief report.
Ordination Standards: The GA voted to strike the section of our Book of Order that states that our Ministers of Word and Sacrament, elders, and deacons are to practice “fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness”. Amendments to the Book of Order require ratification by a majority of the presbyteries (the 173 regional governing bodies). This is the fourth time an attempt has been made to delete or change this section of our polity.
Same Sex Marriage: The GA received two reports from the Task Force on Marriage and Civil Unions that was formed by the previous GA. Both the majority report and the minority report were referred to the church for study. No changes were made in the definition of marriage. Presumably this topic will be before the church again soon.
Benefits for Domestic Partnerships, including Same Sex Relationships: The GA requested that the Board of Pensions (BOP) make benefits available to families of church employees who are in domestic partnerships. Our pastors are required to participate in this program, but other FPC church staff are covered under another program. The GA asked the BOP to provide a “relief of conscience” alternative.
New “Form of Government”: The “Form of Government” (FOG) is the first of three sections of our Book of Order. The GA voted to send the much-amended new FOG to the presbyteries for their vote. Many of the problems with the document have been addressed. Its length and complexity will require much more study by presbyters.
New Confession—The Belhar: The Belhar Confession, developed in response to the apartheid in South Africa, has been commended to the church by the GA. In order to change the Book of Confessions, the presbyteries will have to concur with a vote of two-thirds.
Middle-East Issues: The Task Force on the Middle East presented a report to the GA. This report was also much amended in committee. Many believe the final statement of the GA to be more balanced than some of the alternatives considered.
Your pastors and the entire session will be continuing to study these issues, providing leadership in our presbytery, and keeping you informed. Your prayers are coveted.
The Stephen Ministry is now fully operational in First Presbyterian Church. There are now 16 Stephen Ministers and assignments to care receivers have begun and are almost complete. The Stephen Ministry is a lay caring ministry wherein trained Stephen Ministers confidentially care for people with needs in one-on-one relationships. The training program involves 50 hours of training and students learn about such caring skills as: listening, assertiveness, feelings and many other caring skills. Join us for a Stephen Ministry class that will begin in the fall on Tuesday, September 14, 6:30–9 p.m. Contact Scott Simpson at 210.226.0216, ext. 212, if you are interested in becoming a part of this valuable ministry.
A lot has been happening with University Ministry lately! Since I arrived in March a UMin committee has been reformed. This committee has been so supportive and is helping to cast a vision of what ministry looks like to our college aged students. The spring semester at THE WELL (Trinity University) and THE FIRE (University of Incarnate Word) was spent building relationships on campus with students, solidifying our leadership teams, and ended with good momentum looking forward to the fall semester. We have discussed once again offering CORE Groups, led by members of FPC who want to walk alongside our students throughout the school year.
For our students who have grown up at FPC and are away at college, a group of wonderful parents got together to send out nearly 80 care packages, which arrived during finals time. This summer we’ve been meeting every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. for what we call CHOW. This is a time for our college aged students to gather in a home together for good food, fellowship and worship. We’ve had a great turnout and it’s been such a life giving time for everyone, students and host home families alike! We’ve also been able to get away for a day of river tubing, and are planning a time for our students to go out into the city to serve others! As summer draws to a close, we will miss our FPC home grown students as they begin to head back to their campuses in several weeks.
As we look forward to ministry in the fall semester there are many opportunities for the FPC family to serve our university students. On Sunday, August 29, FPC will be holding an ALL-CHURCH POTLUCK CHILI COOK-OFF at 12:15 p.m. in Westminster Hall. If you think you make the best chili in town, prove it! Our college students will be voting on which is their favorite, and there will be a memorable prize for the winner! The UMin committee will provide cornbread and tossed salad. Plan now to attend the chili cook-off. Come be a part of welcoming the college students in our area to our church family.
If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity for University Ministry please let me know. There are many opportunities: as a CORE Group Leader, host home, food provider, helping with student move-in days, finals care packages, or whatever you can dream up! If you are interested in any of the volunteer opportunities please contact me at
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or 210.226.0216, ext. 223, for more information!
Here is what University Ministry volunteer Valerie Lester says about her experience leading a CORE Group.
“What did I get from this? I learned what college girls think and do each year in college, the year before my own daughter went through her own stages, and was better prepared to understand her. I remembered at least once each week the necessity of leaning not on my own understanding, but on the Providence of God. I shared close community with girls I came to cherish and love. I was awestruck anew, over and over, at God’s foresight and preparation in our lives, and how He comes to each of us one on one, meeting us where we are. I witnessed young girls grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually into beautiful young women who will shine His light into a world who need it. And I had fun! What better way to spend your time?”
Trinity University student Lindsay Martin had this to say about her CORE Group.
“Core: It’s not necessarily what you do, where you came from or who you are associated with. Core is who you are and what brought you to realize it. Through my experience in a core group, I found myself with a group of girls that I was not best friends with and that I did not usually spend significant time with outside of the bible study. In fact, I don’t think I would have known half of them if it were not from core group. The amazing thing about the group was that we trusted each other with intimate details in our emotional and spiritual lives that helped us understand how God was working and who God made us to be. We didn’t have to be consistent, loyal best friends to each other. We were there to form a group of accountability and a safe zone. It goes past the superficial ideas of what social group you are a part of and moves into the CORE of life—a group completely focused on spiritual growth and pushing each other to know Christ more.”
Please continue to pray for University Ministry as we seek to walk alongside the college-aged students in our reach, as we build relationships with each other and deepen our love for Jesus Christ.
The 11:05 a.m. usher team for March/July/November needs more volunteers. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know people, show hospitality and make people feel welcome and at home. If you have wanted to be an usher, now is your chance! To serve at the 11:05 a.m. traditional worship service in March, July and November, contact Sheldon Shed at
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or 210.824.6690.
Our current Director of Missions, Alyssa Payne, will be stepping down from her role here to more fully devote time to raising her daughter. Currently we are receiving resumes to fill this position on our staff. Please contact Stacie Rodriguez (
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, 210.271.2759) for a job description. Resumes should be submitted to Stacie by August 1. This is a full-time position with benefits.
How do you cultivate a life that is purposeful, deep, and fruitful? What are the commitments, critical risks and personal practices that open you to God's grace? How can you discover the spiritual life and the difference God intends for you to make in the world?
These five practices of fruitful living provide an honest, practical, and winsome guide to the spiritual journey. By repeating and deepening certain fundamental practices, we cooperate with God in our spiritual growth. These five practices - to receive God's love, to love God in return, to grow in Christ, to serve others, and to give ourselves fully - as we attend to them and develop them, help us settle ourselves in God and become instruments of God's grace. Following Christ will change your heart; and through you, God will change the world.
This sermon series that runs August 1-September 5 in all worship services is based on the book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, written by Robert Schnase, bishop of the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church. Although he first wrote it to describe the five core practices of congregational life for his Missouri congregations, the book has been useful for congregations across the country and across denominations of the Christian faith.
The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
•Radical Hospitality
•Passionate Worship
•Intentional Faith Development
•Risk-Taking Mission and Service
•Extravagant Generosity
Radical Hospitality
Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ.
It describes a genuine love for others who are not yet a part of the faith community; an outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a love that motivates church members to openness and adaptability, willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers. Beyond intention, hospitality practices the gracious love of Christ, respects the dignity of others, and expresses God's invitation to others, not our own.
Radical means "drastically different from the ordinary practice, outside the normal," and so it provokes practices that exceed expectations, that go the second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to the max. It means people offering the absolute utmost of themselves, their creativity, their abilities, and their energy to offer the gracious invitation and reception of Christ to others.
Passionate Worship
Worship describes those times we gather deliberately seeking an encounter with God in Christ. We cultivate our relationship with God and with one another as the people of God. God uses worship to transform lives, heal wounded souls, renew hope, shape decisions, provoke change, inspire compassion, and bind people to one another. Through worship, God actively seeks a relationship with us, pardons sins, restores relationships, and changes lives.
Passionate describes an intense desire, an ardent spirit, strong feelings, and the sense of heightened importance. Passionate speaks of a connection that goes beyond intellectual consent. It connotes eagerness, anticipation, expectancy, deep commitment, and belief.
Passionate Worship means worship that connects people to God, worship that people enter into with expectancy, and with the anticipation that God desires to speak to them and connect to them. Whether traditional, blended, or contemporary, Passionate Worship is authentic, connecting, and sustaining.
Intentional Faith Development
Intentional Faith Development refers to the purposeful learning in community that helps the followers of Jesus mature in faith, such a Bible studies, Sunday school classes, short-term topical studies, and support groups that apply the faith to particular life challenges.
Learning in community replicates the way Jesus deliberately taught his disciples. People cannot learn grace, forgiveness, patience, kindness, gentleness, or joy, simply by reading about it in a book. These are aspects of spiritual formation that one learns in community, through intentional engagement. The sanctifying presence of God's spirit works through these practices to help us grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God.
Risk-Taking Mission and Service
Risk-Taking Mission and Service includes the projects, the efforts, and the work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever be part of the community of faith. Some churches have after-school programs for at-risk children, some send work teams across the state or across the world, some offer regular ministries to the incarcerated.
Risk-Taking refers to the service we offer that stretches us out of our comfort zone and has us engaging people and offering ourselves to ministries that we would never have done if not for our desire to follow Christ. Risk-taking steps into great uncertainty, a higher possibility of discomfort, resistance, or sacrifice. It pushes us beyond the circle of relationships that routinely define our church commitments. It changes the lives of the people who are served as well as the lives of those who serve.
Extravagant Generosity
Extravagant Generosity describes practices of sharing and giving that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. It describes lavish sharing, sacrifice, and giving in service to God and neighbor. Every scriptural example of giving is extravagant, and churches that practice Extravagant Generosity teach, preach, and practice the tithe. The focus on the Christian's need to give because of giving nature of God whom we worship.
In order to accurately provide for the needs of all of the activities in and out of the church, we are reminding members who coordinate and/or lead events like Bible studies, luncheons or meetings to please contact Tracy Hair at 210.271.2757 or
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when scheduling or canceling a function. In addition, we ask that you use a calendar scheduling form to help us know what you will need. This form can be sent via e-mail for any room or equipment requests. This request will need to be resubmitted each calendar year (September–May). Thank you for your cooperation to help us serve your needs.
Do not double-park on Avenue E or any other street when dropping off passengers at the church. It is against the law and dangerous to double-park on the street when dropping off passengers at the church. Please pull up to the porte-cochere or the small parking lot at the Avenue E entrance to drop people off.
About the Nominees for Church Officers
Congregational Meeting
April 18, 2010
The 2010 Officer Nominating Committee of First Presbyterian Church San Antonio nominates the following members for election to three-year terms beginning June 2010. Those who will be holding this office for the first time at FPC are identified with an asterisk. The congregational meeting to elect new church officers is Sunday, April 18, following the 10:45 a.m. contemporary and 11:05 a.m. traditional worship services, in the Sanctuary. Ordination and installation is scheduled for June 6, 2010.
The members of the 2010 Officer Nominating Committee are:
Ken Brodeen
Don Drummond
Dick Ellis
Barry Kruger (Chair)
Shannon McKelvey
Ann Meyers
Becki Olivares (Vice-Chair)
Nancy Puckett
Amy Renard
FOR ELDER: (Class of 2013)
*Charles C. (Chuck) Beatty has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for eight years. He is married to Beth, and they have two grown daughters, Beverly and Liz, and two grandchildren. Chuck is retired from Boeing and worked in the space industry at NASA’s JSC. He was ordained a Deacon in 1965 and an Elder in 1967. He has completed the training to become a Commissioned Lay Pastor. In Houston he served on the Session four times, New Covenant Presbytery’s COM, and AEA representative to Synod. He attended two General Assemblies, once as an alternate and once as a commissioner. Here at First Presbyterian he has served as a Deacon, on the Senior Adult Committee and chairs the Prayer Ministry. He was active in the monthly healing services, serves at Loaves and Fishes and attends the ABC class. Chuck is on the board of the Christ Healing Center.
Don Beeler has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1973. He is married to Virginia Beeler, who is a life-long member of First Church, and former President of the Women of the Church. They have two adult children, Steven (36) and Allyson Giglio (32), and a son-in-law, Frank Giglio. Over the past 37 years Don has served as a Deacon and was ordained as an Elder in the mid-1980s, serving on the Session for two terms prior to moving out of the city in 1992. He has served as church treasurer and on numerous committees including Finance, Personnel, Nominating, Worship, Benevolence and Outreach, and the Planning/Building Committee that oversaw the last major expansion of our church facilities in the early 1990’s. Following a 38-year career in health care administration with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, including 10+ years outside of San Antonio, Don retired at the end of January after serving the last seven years as President/CEO of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System.
*Chuck Bunn has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 2001. He has one daughter, Corbey (25) and his wife Ann has two daughters, Lilly (27) and Elizabeth (26). Chuck and Ann have been married since 2003. He has owned his own computer and technology support company for 25 years. At FPC, he has served on the Adult Education, 2009 Stewardship Drive and the Seminarian Oversight committees. He and Ann served for several years as “greeters” at the Avenue E entrance. Chuck completed a three-year service as Deacon in 2009. He currently leads two neighborhood Bible study classes and has been trained in the Precepts inductive Bible study method.
*Bobby Byrd has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 12 years. He is married to Becka Byrd and they have three children, Allie, Travis and Claire. Bobby is a CPA and works for AT&T. He is involved with the Children’s Ministry Committee, Family Ministry Vision Team, FPC Children’s Center, Good Sense Ministry, House of Neighborly Service and helps teach the Godly Play Sunday School class.
*Becky DeWees has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1967. She is married to Ed DeWees, Jr. Together they enjoy the families of both their children, including four grandchildren, who are all active in the life of the church. Becky has served many terms as Deacon, and was involved with the children’s choirs and Children’s Sunday School for many hears. Great interests have always been with missions, going with work-camps to Kenya, the Yucatan and the Dominican Republic. Service to our own congregation through our Stephen Ministry has been a priority since 2008. She has taught the classes as a Stephen Leader, helping to establish this program at FPC. Becky and Ed are also coordinators for the New Covenant Sunday School class, which they started in 2005.
Sallie Guy has been a member of First Presbyterian Church (FPC) for 33 years, having been raised and confirmed here. She is married to Tom, and they have two children, Logan and Maddie. As a child who sang in the FPC children’s choir, attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) and spent many summers at Mo-Ranch, she feels blessed to continue those traditions with her own family. Sallie has served as an Elder, a Deacon, Chair of the Nursery and Children’s Ministry committees, and Co-Chair of VBS, along with other committees and ministry positions of the church. She has been a student of the Genesis II Sunday School Class, numerous Thursday Morning and Beth Moore Bible Studies, as well as a small group leader. Sallie is humbled to serve again on the Session.
Nancy Kosub is a third-generation Presbyterian. She was born in San Antonio, grew-up in Tulsa, and received her BA degree in Spanish from Wooster College in Ohio. Nancy and her husband Steve have been active members of First Presbyterian Church for 18 years. They have two grown children. She has served as a teacher, community volunteer, and mission trip participant, member of Circle 7, Elder, and President of Presbyterian Women.
Bill Lyons has been a member of First Presbyterian Church his whole life. He is married to Tina and they have five children between them. Their youngest, Elizabeth, is a sophomore at UT Austin. Bill is partnered with his sister, owning Casa Rio Mexican Restaurant and Schilo’s Deli. He is a fourth-generation San Antonio resident. He has been on the Session for a number of years, Committee to Recommend, Handy Helpers, Director of First Presbyterian Foundation, Early Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study, Life Group, and Adult Bible Class.
*Pat O’Neill has been a member of FPC for 13 years. She has two children and six grandchildren. She was employed at FPC as Director of Lay Ministry for nine years, retiring in 2006. Pat has served on Local and Global Missions Committees, and is currently a member of the Seminarian Oversight Committee. She has taught Sunday school and VBS, served on the Officer Nominating Committee for two years, and has served in Russia, Guatemala, and Mexico on mission trips. Pat is active in Presbyterian Women. She is currently helping teach ESL to refugees from Burma.
Frank W. Patton, Jr. is married to Jacque and has two grown daughters and four grandchildren. Frank joined the church in the early 1980s and is currently an Elder on rotation. Frank is a former commercial banker, having retired from Jefferson State Bank in December of 2008. He previously served on the Global Missions committee and has chaired that committee. Also, previously served on the Stewardship and Finance Committee and has chaired that committee. Other outreach to the community has included working with FPC Habitat framing crew and serving on the local Habitat board. Currently, he is serving as a member of the FPC Good Sense ministry team and assisting with teaching this course.
*Micki Philbin has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1986. She is married to Don and they have one daughter Kate, who is 3 ½ years old. Micki has served on the Local Missions Committee, Nursery Ministry Committee, and Officer Nominating Committee twice. She has also taught Sunday school, worked with the youth, served on a mission trip to Costa Rica, and participated in many Beth Moore Bible Studies and other special events for the church. Currently Micki is serving as a Wee Worship leader, a Nursery Angel and serves on the Children’s Ministry Committee.
Paul Smith has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since July of 1958. He was an elected Deacon in 1962 and elected Elder in 1965. Paul has served as a member and former chairman of the Welcoming Committee. Paul has been a member of the College Ministry, Adult Education, Officer Nominating, Personnel & Property and Long-Range Planning Committees. Paul was a member and president of FPCSA Foundation since its inception, chairman of the PNC which found the Rev. John Seiders; member of several other APNCs, teacher of College Class, teacher in the youth department, and a member of Committee on Ministry of Mission Presbytery. Paul is a confirmand mentor.
Polly Spencer has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since March 1959. Polly has been singing in the choir since about 1966 and has taught Sunday School for confirmation class and now 6th grade for several years. She was a pianist for the Arthur Gray Jones Class with Mary Pat Stumberg for years. Polly has been Clerk of the Session for a number of years, served as a Deacon for a while and then elected an Elder sometime in the 1980s. Polly served on the Personnel and Property Committee, Music Committee, Worship Committee and headed the most recent music minister search committee. Polly refers to her church involvement as her unpaid job…she has been Judge of Probate Court #1 for almost 20 years. Polly is married to George H. Spencer, Jr. and they have four children, Carrie, George III, Ginny and Warren.
Barbara Anne Stephens and her husband Ken joined FPC in 1971. Since that time she has served in various ministries within the church. She has been a member of both the Covenant and the New Covenant Sunday School Class. She has been an officer in PW. She has taught in the children’s program and the Confirmation Class. She has served on the Committee to Recommend, the Pastor Nominating Committee, the Officer Nominating Committee, Stewardship and Finance, and Welcoming and Belonging. She has chaired the Stewardship Campaign and worked on the Capital Campaign. Barbara Anne hosted a 40 Days of Purpose Group and a Life Group. She has been a deacon and an elder since 1983. Barbara Anne is a nonprofit fundraising consultant working with the firm of Bacon Lee & Associates. The Stephens family includes two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.
David West has been a member of FPC since 1984 and is an Elder on rotation. He and Carol have three children, Bond (21), Libby (18) and Holt (15). David has worked as an attorney with Cox Smith for 25 years. He is currently serving on the Pastor Nominating Committee and has recently served on the Stewardship and Finance Committee; the Church Relations Committee, and the Officer Nominating Committee, which he chaired. He is currently on the board of Morningside Manor. David attends the Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study and has previously taught in children’s Sunday School classes.
FOR DEACON: (Class of 2013)
*Marshall Alcala has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1973. He is married to Matilda and they have four children. Marshall is self-employed in Title Services, a real property research and public records research company established in 1996. He has worked with a non-profit youth sports organization (National Youth Sports) for the past eight years, serving children three to 15 years of age in all types of sporting events. Marshall was a shepherd for the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School classes in 2004 and 2005 and is currently an usher.
Dr. Arthur Allison is married to wife Carolyn with three children, Marian, Laura, and Fred. He has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1972. Arthur is a practicing physician and has taken multiple medical mission trips. He also is a member of the First Presbyterian Church choir.
Canda Arneson has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 14 years. She is the widow of Richard Arneson and has three children and eight grandchildren. She is employed with Phyllis Browning Company and has been a San Antonio resident for 44 years. Canda has served as Secretary of the Deacons. She has enjoyed working with the children’s choirs and After Worship Care.
*Craig Bell and his wife Mary joined First Presbyterian Church in 1988. Except for time spent at Wellspring, New Church Development, they have been participants in many opportunities to serve. Presently, they serve on the Contemporary Worship Service Committee and are part of a Life Group headed by John Flanagan and Pat O’Neill. Before their Wellspring experience, Mary and Craig taught 4th grade Sunday School. Craig has enjoyed traveling to the DR with the youth of First Presbyterian Church and with the Medical Mission group for the last three years. He also serves on the Global Missions Committee. Craig is a native of San Antonio, a pharmacist, graduating from the University of Texas in 1960, and looking forward to retirement in the near future. Mary and Craig share seven children and soon will have 14 grandchildren. Craig feels truly blessed to be part of First Presbyterian Church and thanks God for the many friendships established here and the opportunities to serve.
*Edwin (Ed) T. Crump has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1984. He has been married to Sharon since 1973 and they have two married children, Travis Crump of San Antonio and Dierdre Blonk of Omaha, Nebraska. Ed has been a professional member of the Sanctuary Choir since 1981 and has sung professionally with Texas Bach Choir, and the San Antonio Choral Society, as well as other church choirs since moving to San Antonio in 1972. Ed has served on the Music Committee and volunteered to drive for the Christmas International House for several years. He has also taken worship attendance since 1999. He has been a self-employed arborist and landscaper for 30+ years and is now semi-retired. He has been a professional school bus driver since 1981 (16 years with NEISD until 1996) and with San Antonio Academy since 1994.
Bill Hensley joined First Presbyterian Church with his parents, both also Deacons – Colonel Harold S. Hensley, Jr. and Ginny Hensley (she often played piano for the church suppers and retreats) in 1971, within a month after Louis Zbinden became head minister. Born in Munich, Germany, Bill moved with his Air Force family every three years growing up in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, California, Washington, D.C., back to Dayton, then home to San Antonio in 1969. He studied Architecture at San Antonio College and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Texas A&M in 1975. He is now one of San Antonio’s City Architects. Bill was involved in FPC’s single’s ministry leadership, was in a Single’s Bible Study (that eventually broke up because so many got married), taught Sunday School, led Toastmaster’s Public Speaking classes on Wednesday evenings at FPC, and has been Chair of the Deacons. He has created promotional art pieces for Mo-Ranch Retreats and other church events. Bill married Patrice Hensley, pianist with degrees from Trinity, on April 1, 1979. They have a son, Will, who is a recording producer and musician in New York City (Will played bass and drums for our contemporary service for years) and daughter Victoria, who is about to graduate with a Social Work degree, both finishing from Texas State University. His faith and commitment to Christ deepened while in singles Bible Study and in leadership with Bible Study Fellowship, wherein the lessons in each reinforced each other in surprisingly unifying ways.
Kay Lorraine Johnson has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 25 years. She has two children, Kathy Creutzburg-Enos and Brian Creutzburg, and two grandchildren, Klay and Blake Enos. Kay teaches 6th grade World Cultures and has lived in San Antonio for 30 years. Presently, Kay is devoted to singing in the Sanctuary Choir. She has participated in missions, teaching Sunday school, nursery care, Christmas International House, and served as a Deacon.
Rachel Maurer has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 10 years. She is married to David and they have three children, Hannah, Kate and Lauren. She worked in Health Care Administration for 10 years and is now a stay-at-home mother. She has served as Nursery Ministry Committee chairman and a Deacon. She has been teaching Godly Play Sunday School for six years. Rachel is part of a Life Group, participates in Bible Study Fellowship and has been a Vacation Bible School teacher for several years. She will also begin serving on the Children’s Ministry Committee this year.
*Kady Naumann is a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. She has been married to David Naumann for 18 years. They have two children, Russell and Rachel. She sings with the Contemporary Worship Music Team, is a Confirmation Small Group Leader and in a really great Dinner for 8 Group. Kady has served on the Children’s Ministry Committee, Officer Nominating Committee, chairman of Contemporary Worship Committee, and Senior Pastor Nominating Committee. She served as Sunday receptionist and greeter, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and was a confirmation class mentor. She participated in Cursillo and has been a member of the Genesis II Sunday School class and Circle 20.
Linda O’Nave and her husband, Robert, have been members of First Presbyterian Church for 12 years. Linda has served as Deacon in the church previously. She also served the local community as Associate Vice Chancellor of the Alamo Community College District. Her career with the District spanned 41 years. She and Robert are native San Antonians. They have led FPC’s “Loaves and Fishes” ministry for more than 10 years. During that period the ministry has grown to include the welcome participation of other congregations, service groups and several Christian schools as far away as San Marcos. The ministry has grown from serving 100 homeless people monthly to now ministering to 250-300 people in a single Sunday. Robert and Linda have also participated in FPC’s Adult Sunday School class, the Bridge ministry and Wednesday night activities/classes.
Jacalyn (Jacque) Patton joined First Presbyterian Church in the early 1980s and has previously served as a Deacon. She currently is a church Godparent and a Nursery Angel as well as being active in a Life Group. Previous involvement included serving as the Moderator of the Deacons (2008/09), a member of the Personnel and Property Committee and the Officer Nominating Committee. She has also been a Sunday School teacher and has helped with the Confirmation class. Jacque is a pediatric audiologist and a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, who recently retired from Sunshine Cottage School. She is married to Frank and is blessed to be stepmom to his daughters. Her current favorite role is being grandmother to Abby, Caleb, Claire and Daniel.
*Jackie Richards met her husband Rusty in the New Members class at First Presbyterian Church in 1989. She has been a San Antonio resident since 1979, and was a Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center until her retirement in July, 2008. After retirement, she co-taught a Bible study for previously incarcerated women at Grace House. Jackie participates in several Bible study groups, and she and Rusty are actively involved in a life group. She is one of the four teachers who prepare and offer lessons for the Mighty Acts of God Sunday school class.
*Kim Smith has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1987 and is presently serving on the Youth Ministry Committee where she has served as a ski trip chaperone and co-chaired Blowout. Kim has served on the Children’s Ministry Committee and Chaired the Advent Festival. She has taught Sunday School to elementary and junior high kids and Confirmation Class. She has served as Treasurer and Parliamentarian for the Presbyterian Women. Kim has also taught and co-chaired Vacation Bible School. Presently, she is serving as Vice-President of the CAM Board and will serve as President next year.
*Kelly Strange has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 14 years. She is married to Matthew Strange and they have two children, Alexandra and Molly. She is a professional organizer and owner of Organizing Concepts. She has been a San Antonio resident for 20 years. She has served as a member of the Nursery Committee, the Children’s Ministry Committee, and small group leader and mentor for the 8th grade confirmation class.
Judi Trotti is originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1988. She is retired from the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing, and is employed by the Methodist Healthcare System. She has served as a member and Moderator of the Diaconate, and a member and President of the Sanctuary choir. She is a member of the Adult Bible Class and Circle 13, and serves the community as a volunteer for Angel Food Ministries.
Carolyn Walthall has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 21 years and is married to Walter Walthall III. They have 3 married children, Walter and Julie Walthall, Laura and Tim Cotter, Ellen and Andrew Nicholas and three granddaughters, Abby, Grace, and Carrie. Carolyn has taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, children’s choir and is a Deacon returning from rotation. She is the Executive Director at Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children.
*Tommy Wright has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for four years. He is married to Linda Wright and they have two daughters, Rebekah Koch and Rachel Wright who reside in Temple, Texas and Houston, Texas, respectively. He is retired after a career with BFI Waste Systems in Houston, Texas. Tommy and Linda are members of Bridges Sunday school class and participate in a Life Group.
In early March Alyssa Payne was promoted to Director of Missions. Previously Alyssa served as the Coordinator for Local and Global Missions as well as Administrative Assistant for Young Adults Ministry. This change was made in recognition of Alyssa’s experience and work over the past two years giving leadership in both Local and Global Missions.
Alyssa graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in psychology after which she worked at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston. Prior to Alyssa’s coming to first Presbyterian Church she completed her Master of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. We are grateful to God to have Alyssa as a member of our staff at First Presbyterian Church.
A Message from Scott Fleming
First Presbyterian's new University Ministries Director
My name is Scott Fleming and I am honored to be joining the First Presbyterian Church staff as the University Ministries Director. I have served as the Director of Youth Missions and Outreach at Highland Park Presbyterian Church for the past four years. Previous to that, I spent several years working with T Bar M Christian Camps in New Braunfels. My wife Whitney and I are not strangers to the area, Whitney was born and raised here in San Antonio.
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2004, and am currently working towards my master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Whitney and I are so excited for this amazing opportunity to join the First Pres community. We are looking forward to “doing life together” with the university students of First Presbyterian Church, and the students of the surrounding college campuses.
After 30 minutes of prayer and discussion, the Session approved the 2010 Operating Budget at a special called meeting on Monday, January 25. The Session agreed that God is calling this church to maintain a strong ministry program and to continue making benevolences a priority. In order to accomplish this, we will continue to emphasize the spiritual imperative of giving and we trust that God will speak to those who can do more. As an example, this week, a family who made a significant pledge for 2010, paid that pledge in full, increased that amount by 50% and they will continue to give throughout the year. Additionally, those who had not previously pledged continue to send in their 2010 pledges and some have revised their pledge upward. With this type of spirit, we believe God will bless our ministries as we bless others in his name.
Click HERE for details on the specifics of the budget as passed. Contact Quinn Edmondson, Church Administrator, at 210.271.2751 or
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for a copy of the budget or if you have questions.
Some of you have let us know that you received the January 5-18 issue of the First Press newsletter "late", or in one case on Saturday, January 16. Some of the events that were publicized in that issue had already passed. You should be aware that the reason we now put a range of dates on the front cover is to let you know that the newsletter is always mailed on the first date listed (in this case, January 5) and covers the period between that date and the last date listed. The U.S. Post Office is not obliged to deliver bulk mail in a timely way, or in fact at all. Sometimes newsletters arrive very quickly and very often they do not. The church always mails the newsletter on time and we encourage you to share your complaints about late arrivals with the Post Office. In the meantime much of what appears in First Press is available on this website, and an e-mail version of the print newsletter arrives in your inbox instantly if you subscribe for free HERE.
And Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16
Family Ministries offers quarterly baptism seminars for families seeking to have a child baptized. These seminars will serve several purposes:
To provide an opportunity for the families to build relationships with each other and learn about baptism through a small group community experience.
To challenge parents to think through their responsibility as the primary Christian educators of their children.
To articulate for parents what we offer for nurture and discipleship for both themselves and their children.
Ruthie Seidersleads these sessions for families seeking to have a child baptized during the summer months. Childcare is available. Babies are welcome to join their parents. The content of the seminar includes the meaning and mode of baptism, what baptism is and what it is not, as well as the questions that are asked of parents at a baptism and the question asked of the congregation. Parents may request any of our pastors to baptize their child/ren as well as choose the service and date.
Future baptism seminar dates are:
October 24
January 9 (2011)
March 6 (2011)
May 1 (2011)
Contact Jennifer Quintero at 210.226.0216, ext. 258, to register.
Seminar registrations are coordinated through Jennifer Quintero, Administrative Assistant in Family Ministry. All parents seeking to have a child baptized are encouraged to contact Jennifer Quintero at
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or 210.226.0216, ext. 258, to register for the next seminar, and reserve their baptism date/venue and preference of pastor to officiate. For more information, contact Ruthie Seiders at ext. 214 or
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.
In July the Session appointed a committee to serve as the Interim Pastor Search Committee (IPNC). The IPNC met weekly—and sometimes more often— to review resumes, listen to sermons, talk to numerous references, discuss and pray about who they believed God was calling here to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. In late November a Special Session meeting was called to receive the report of the IPNC. They enthusiastically recommended that the Rev. James (Jim) A. Capps be contracted to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. The Session voted unanimously to invite Jim to serve in this capacity and the Committee on Ministry of Mission Presbytery has concurred.
Jim Capps was born in Michigan City, Indiana and grew up in Southwestern Michigan. His faith journey began in a little country church when he was nine years old. He graduated from a small high school where he served as the president of his class as well as president of the student council and won letters in four sports.
Jim is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Indiana Central College, Indianapolis and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has done doctoral studies at LPTS as well as Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Jim took interim pastor training at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In more than 40 years of ministry, Jim served as a youth director of a church in Indianapolis while attending college and his first year of seminary before becoming the student pastor of a small church in Southern Indiana his last two years of seminary. He served as an assistant, associate, and co-pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, Illinois before serving as the Senior Pastor of the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church, Chesterfield, Missouri and the Southport Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.
Elected to the first national Board of Directors of Presbyterians for Renewal, Jim served as both vice-president and president during those early years. Jim has served on the Board of Kairos Prison Ministry International and was a spiritual director on two Kairos events in Maghaberry Prison just outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has served as a spiritual director on approximately 80 “Cursillio” type weekends. Jim has helped give leadership to 13 building campaigns in the churches he has served.
Jim and his wife, Alice, a graduate of Indiana University, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2009. They are the proud parents of Becky, who is a graduate of Wheaton College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been an associate pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina for nearly six years. Becky will be married in Spartanburg on April 24, 2010. Jim and Alice are also the proud parents of Minnie, a 5½ pound Yorkie they inherited last summer from Alice’s mother.
As an avid sports fan, Jim served as president of the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in St. Louis. He did chapel services for the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals and the then St. Louis Football Cardinals. From his boyhood he has been a loyal fan of the University of Michigan Wolverines and has become a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan. Jim also enjoys reading and movies.
Many thanks to the IPNC (Charles Smith – Chair, Cynthia Robinson, David Rogers, Ron Tefteller and Jane Watson) for their hard work on behalf of the Session and for the congregation. Please welcome Jim when you see him at First Presbyterian.
In the event that inclement weather forces First Presbyterian Church to close, please either call the main phone number at 210.226.0215 or check the homepage of this website. Notifications will be posted online by 6 a.m.
The 2009–2010 First Presbyterian Church directories are here. Because of financial circumstances, only a few hundred copies are available at $10 each in the first printing. Many people have already signed up to receive a directory and those people must be prepared to pay when they pick up your directories. There will probably be a limited number of additional print copies available for purchase; call 210.226.0215 to inquire.
You can now access addresses, pledges and more with FPC Member Login!
With FPC Member Login, you can go online and easily search for addresses and other contact information for members of First Presbyterian Church. Register and pay for church events online with a click of your mouse. Update your own contact information so you can be sure the church always has your latest information on file. You can also give tithes and donations online and view your contribution statements. Thanks to technology from Access ACS, everything you need is as close as your computer! You need to have a correct e-mail address on file with the church. If you don’t, contact the church at 210.226.0215 and ask us to set one up for you. Click here and log on to your account. Under “search” type your last name/first name. Click search. Again, if you have trouble logging in, contact us at 210.226.0215 and we will assist you in ensuring your e-mail address is correct.
It is with great enthusiasm that the Children’s Ministry Committee announces the beginning of a brand new ministry called highfive.5@fpc here at First Presbyterian Church, and it is just for our preteen/tween 5th graders!
What is a preteen or tween? Children who are 10–11 years old are now being categorized as tweens. These are students who are not yet teenagers, but not really children. Tweens are often forgotten, overlooked, or just endured until they can move up into the middle school ministry. They are forced to wear the too-small programs in the children’s ministry, or they are swallowed up by the hand-me-downs from youth ministry. "While our intentions with elementary Sunday school have been strong, it is not engaging this age group," said Kathy Timberlake, Director of Children's Ministries. "We feel they deserve to have more intentional and focused attention to their spiritual development."
Our goals for the tween ministry will be:
· To give them a place of their own where they can grow in their relationship with Christ and with one another.
· To guide them to discover the ‘why’ of their faith, and the ‘what’s it all mean to me’ point of being a Christian.
· To actively engage them in the church and faith development at a critical time in their lives developmentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
· To give them a group where they can form deeper relationships, as they deepen their faith and transition into the youth ministry the following year.
"I have been researching this idea for over 18 months by attending several workshops, talking with other churches and children’s ministry directors who have this kind of ministry already in place," said Kathy. "They love it, the students love it and the parents love it. We feel the Lord’s timing is right to launch this new ministry here at FPC."
SO…what is to come?
Some entrances to classrooms/supply rooms will need to be moved because new security doors are being installed on the first floor. This will allow us to convert the current drama room into a brand new room for the tween ministry/class. We are in the process of designing it more like a youth room setting so it the tweens will feel they have their own space and place.
Anytime highfive.5@fpc will gather, meet or attend special events or outreach projects we will refer to this name! Our faithful shepherds with this class for the past several years, Marti and Richard Taylor and Gina and Bob Stevens have agreed to stay and help teach/lead this year as well as Gayle Timberlake-Frey will join the teaching team.
The students will not be joining the other elementary classes in the rotation classes, but instead will come straight to their classroom. Each Sunday’s class will begin with intentional interactive games/activities to provide social time together (very important for tweens). This will be followed by scripture teaching, discussion and a “challenge’ for the week. We will end class in small groups for prayer time.
Kickoff for all Sunday classes this fall will be on September 13 at 9:30 a.m. We invite all parents of 5th graders to come and meet the teachers on this day, see the classroom (still possibly in the painting stage) and get a copy of the fall’s planned schedule of curriculum as well as special events planned for this group. "It is going to be a GREAT year for our 5th grade," Kathy said.
Contact Kathy Timberlake by e-mail or 210.271.2721.
Usually held on the "last" Sunday at "First" Presbyterian. This group enjoys monthly fellowship and fun through activities like bowling, skating, outreach outings and much more! Parents are needed to help carpool and chaperone. Contact Gina Stevens at
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It is with great joy and anticipation that our JOY ministry for special needs children is expanding into the middle and high school youth program at First Presbyterian.
We have students now in the middle school age range that need their own space and place. Using one of the conference rooms not being used next door in the New Covenant Building, we are creating a JOY ministry classroom just for teens/youth. This summer Carrie Jowers, our JOY Ministry Coordinator, has been researching and purchasing materials, curriculum ideas, and special needs toys/games and puzzle activities for this classroom. Our intent is to provide these students a classroom to gather in and meet with their adult JOY shepherd each week. The shepherds will then assist the students as they participate in youth Sunday school classes.
We currently have about 10–12 students in the JOY ministry program from preschool through high school age, with several about to graduate into the middle school next year. We continue to seek volunteers to serve as a JOY shepherd/buddy with children on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
If you are interested in learning more about JOY ministry, please contact Carrie Jowers by e-mail at
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or Ron Baker, chair of the Special Needs Ministry Committee, at
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.
Over the next few weeks we want to answer any questions about how the church finances work and how we pay the bills. In our households, we may have several ways of paying bills and the church is similar but in one respect very different. The way it is different is that we account, or keep track of our funds, in a very specific manner. In a home, there may be many bills paid from say one common checking account. In the church we keep different checking accounts based on the way our donors direct us to use their gifts. Yes, these accounts and our accounting records are verified each year by outside auditors and we are required to use this accounting method to be audited. Yes, just like at your home, we invest funds that are not needed immediately so as to be good stewards of the money.
Gifts to the church are made in a number of ways that are convenient for our donors. In general those gifts fall in three categories.
First, gifts made to the operating budget allow us keep the doors open, provide program ministry and distribute gifts to our mission partners.
Second, donors often gift funds to the church for non-specific uses but are not used “to keep the doors open”. We call these gifts non-restricted and they are also known as “special funds”. An example would be a memorial gift. The third general type of gift is a donor gift given for a specific purpose and has some type of restriction as to use or to maintain the corpus and spend only the earnings.
This is a very simple explanation of a rather complex process, but we want you to have the opportunity to ask any question you would like to have addressed as we prepare for our upcoming stewardship campaign in October.
Is First Presbyterian Church “okay” financially, given the leadership changes that have occurred?
Yes, we are okay and will be okay. We have challenges, however, in faith and in acting on our faith. But God will be sufficient for our needs. First, none of leadership change is a surprise to God. Second, this is the time, more than ever, to demonstrate and exercise our complete faith that God has a wonderful plan for us and we need to be faithful to Him in our giving, even when we do not know what He has planned for us. FPC has indeed been blessed and is a blessing, not only to our own congregation, but to thousands of others through our mission work. For a time such as this, God has given all of us the opportunity to remain faithful and undaunted as we face change that we did not want, but allows us to exercise our love and obedience to return a portion of what He has already given to us. We are indeed blessed with elders who have the skill sets to analyze where we are going financially and communicate that to you.
Do we have all the answers exactly? No, because if we did there would be no opportunity to exercise faith. As we remember all we have belongs to God, please remember this is our opportunity to have a faithful response to him in our giving as we exercise our faith.
If you have a question you would like us to explore in a future newsletter, please contact Quinn Edmondson, Church Administrator, at 210.271.2751 or
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At First Presbyterian Church, senior adults continue to experience the abundant life of Christ through a variety of programs and services and with each other. As a contributing force in our church, they are encouraged to remain active in all church activities. First Presbyterian provides our senior members with large-print bulletins for worship services, ministry to shut-ins, assistance with docuement and legal plans for the later years, access to conferences on aging, and much more.
In addition to participating in regular church activities, KEYS members (Keeping Everyone Young in Spirit) seeks to foster the spiritual, intellectual and social needs of older members and provide resources to enrich their lives. KEYS programs include opportunities for learning, fellowship, travel and service to others in the church and in the community.
Their weekly Friday program includes a fitness class and thought-provoking speaker presentation, followed by lunch and bridge. Other KEYS activities include tours to local San Antonio places of interest, monthly birthday luncheons at area restaurants, attending plays, chartered bus trips, sponsoring defensive driving classes, delivering lunches for Habitat for Humanity, providing Christmas baskets for needy families, and other volunteer activities.
June 9 Tour and lunch at the Towers on Park Lane on Wednesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. Planning for the future or thinking of making a move to a retirement community? Then this is a continuing opportunity to be informed about another one of the retirement communities available in San Antonio.
June 19 (Saturday)
Mo-Ranch Day Trip
If interested contact Jennifer Quintero at 226.0215, ext. 258.
June 22
Day of Wine and Peaches Texas wines are gaining a reputation for depth of flavor & Fredericksburg is known for delicious peaches. Let’s visit a few places today and do some tastings and see what we think! Departing from First Presbyterian Church, our first stop for coffee will be Fredericksburg and Das Peach Haus for a tasting of the famous Fischer and Wieser products and local wines. Peaches from the family orchard will be available for purchase. We’ll have a little time to shop on Main Street before lunch at the Cotton Gin Restaurant, where the food and ambience are both great. This afternoon we’ll visit Torre di Pietra and Grape Creek Vineyards for a tasting. Then we’ll pay a visit to Wildseed Farms before starting home. Cost $63.00 includes charter Regent coach, two wineries, tastings at Fischer and Weiser, lunch, driver tip and guides Susan & Henry Holloway. Your check is your reservation and deadline is Sunday, June13.
June 25 Enjoy a cool time at our Summer Movies while enjoying popcorn & snacks or you may bring your lunch.
July 2
Ice Cream Social Celebrate the Fourth of July at the home of Virginia Nilsson.
July 27 AARP Defensive Driving Class This is a refresher course designed for drivers 50 years and older. You will learn all the new defensive driving techniques and proper use of safety equipment and receive a certificate that can be used to apply for a reduction on car insurance. B. J. Laymon, AARP instructor, teaches the class.
Pat McCleary
Director of Senior Adult Ministries
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210.271.2726
First Presbyterian Church now has a Twitter account. Just visit Twitter and follow FirstPresSA. Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Please let us know if you have suggestions as to how we can improve this great resource by contacting Judson Taylor, Director of Communications, at
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or 210.271.2728.
An employment prayer telephone voicemail box, 210.271.2725, has been established and the administrative support group will pray on Tuesday afternoon for any messages left before noon each Tuesday. We encourage calls for both prayers for employment and praise for a job found.
If you have questions, please call Quinn Edmondson at 210.271.2751.
If you are on the Facebook social utility (www.facebook.com), consider joining the brand new First Presbyterian Church Facebook group, HERE. It is a great way to stay connected with important announcements regarding the church and its ministries, as well as share news and ideas with one another. You can post photos and videos, start or participate in discussion groups, or comment on the Wall. We hope that people will also use ithis group as a way to converse about what it means to be missional as individuals and as a Body of Christ. Lots of people have already joined, and it is completely open to anyone with a Facebook account. Please let us know if you have suggestions as to how we can improve this great resource by contacting Judson Taylor, Director of Communications, at
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or 210.271.2728.
Your correct e-mail address is needed to communicate with you! More and more, First Presbyterian Church will communicate with members and friends via e-mail and through the website, rather than primarily through print mailings. This saves paper, ink and printing expense, and allows us to communicate more rapidly than ever before. However, we do not have updated e-mail addresses from the majority of the congregation. We need your help! Please send your correct, preferred e-mail address to Margaret Henderson at
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as soon as possible so we can update our files. Thank you!
A report By Nancy Cross, FPC Elder
The Stephen Ministry is now fully operational in First Presbyterian Church. There are now 16 Stephen Ministers and assignments to care receivers have begun and are almost complete. The Stephen Ministry is a lay caring ministry wherein trained Stephen Ministers confidentially care for people with needs in one-on-one relationships. The training program involves 50 hours of training and students learn about such caring skills as: listening, assertiveness, feelings and many other caring skills. Join us for a Stephen Ministry class that will begin in the fall on Tuesday, September 14, 6:30–9 p.m. Contact Scott Simpson at 210.226.0216, ext. 212, if you are interested in becoming a part of this valuable ministry. 
Hello FPC Family!
August 1-September 5
Do not double-park on Avenue E or any other street when dropping off passengers at the church. It is against the law and dangerous to double-park on the street when dropping off passengers at the church. Please pull up to the porte-cochere or the small parking lot at the Avenue E entrance to drop people off..jpg)
About the Nominees for Church Officers
In early March Alyssa Payne was promoted to Director of Missions. Previously Alyssa served as the Coordinator for Local and Global Missions as well as Administrative Assistant for Young Adults Ministry. This change was made in recognition of Alyssa’s experience and work over the past two years giving leadership in both Local and Global Missions. 
After 30 minutes of prayer and discussion, the Session approved the 2010 Operating Budget at a special called meeting on Monday, January 25. The Session agreed that God is calling this church to maintain a strong ministry program and to continue making benevolences a priority. In order to accomplish this, we will continue to emphasize the spiritual imperative of giving and we trust that God will speak to those who can do more. As an example, this week, a family who made a significant pledge for 2010, paid that pledge in full, increased that amount by 50% and they will continue to give throughout the year. Additionally, those who had not previously pledged continue to send in their 2010 pledges and some have revised their pledge upward. With this type of spirit, we believe God will bless our ministries as we bless others in his name. 
And Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16
In July the Session appointed a committee to serve as the Interim Pastor Search Committee (IPNC). The IPNC met weekly—and sometimes more often— to review resumes, listen to sermons, talk to numerous references, discuss and pray about who they believed God was calling here to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. In late November a Special Session meeting was called to receive the report of the IPNC. They enthusiastically recommended that the Rev. James (Jim) A. Capps be contracted to serve as our Interim Senior Pastor. The Session voted unanimously to invite Jim to serve in this capacity and the Committee on Ministry of Mission Presbytery has concurred.
In the event that inclement weather forces First Presbyterian Church to close, please either call the main phone number at 210.226.0215 or check the homepage of this website. Notifications will be posted online by 6 a.m.
Church directories for sale
It is with great joy and anticipation that our JOY ministry for special needs children is expanding into the middle and high school youth program at First Presbyterian. 
Over the next few weeks we want to answer any questions about how the church finances work and how we pay the bills. In our households, we may have several ways of paying bills and the church is similar but in one respect very different. The way it is different is that we account, or keep track of our funds, in a very specific manner. In a home, there may be many bills paid from say one common checking account. In the church we keep different checking accounts based on the way our donors direct us to use their gifts. Yes, these accounts and our accounting records are verified each year by outside auditors and we are required to use this accounting method to be audited. Yes, just like at your home, we invest funds that are not needed immediately so as to be good stewards of the money.
At First Presbyterian Church, senior adults continue to experience the abundant life of Christ through a variety of programs and services and with each other. As a contributing force in our church, they are encouraged to remain active in all church activities. First Presbyterian provides our senior members with large-print bulletins for worship services, ministry to shut-ins, assistance with docuement and legal plans for the later years, access to conferences on aging, and much more.
First Presbyterian Church now has a Twitter account. Just visit 
If you are on the Facebook social utility (
Your correct e-mail address is needed to communicate with you! More and more, First Presbyterian Church will communicate with members and friends via e-mail and through the website, rather than primarily through print mailings. This saves paper, ink and printing expense, and allows us to communicate more rapidly than ever before. However, we do not have updated e-mail addresses from the majority of the congregation. We need your help! Please send your correct, preferred e-mail address to Margaret Henderson at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
as soon as possible so we can update our files. Thank you!