Midweek News Sept 24, 2025

Sept 24, 2025

Announcements and Items of Interest

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Sunday School 10:00 a.m., Worship 11:00 a.m. followed by coffee, cookies and fellowship.

The CPC September Women’s Gathering will be meeting at Cellucci’s Italian Restaurant (2855 Linville Falls Highway, Pineola) today, Thursday, September 25, 4 p.m. for dinner and fellowship. This is open to the women in our church family and friends.

Avery County Day of Remembrance & Honor will be held to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. in the Avery square across from the courthouse in Newland. The event will be an opportunity to reflect on, and pay tribute to those lost and missing and to all those who rose to help during and following the storm.

Rev. Daniel Coffey will be leading the Wednesday Bible Study Wednesday, September 17, through October 8. His study is on: “Shalom: Five Glimpses of Peace, Restoration, and God’s Providence in Scripture.”  Bible passages will begin with the Book of Genesis and end with the Book of Revelation. Everyone is invited to participate! All you need is your Bible.

“Fun with New Testament Backgrounds” (Wednesdays, October 29 - November 19, 3-4 PM, in the fellowship hall).  Dr. Tim Johnson, former professor and chair of the Department of Classics at the College of Charleston, will be our Bible Study Leader and shares the following description: New Testament stories and texts, formed in the first and second centuries AD, assume shared cultural contexts with their earliest audiences. These contexts often differ significantly from our modern views, and the difference can interfere with our understanding of scripture. What were common ethical viewpoints circulating at that time? What role did polytheism play, and what other religions competed with Christianity? How did governmental authority figure in? What other literature were people hearing and reading? Join me as we consider some of these questions and discover how New Testament backgrounds can enrich our comprehension of its message.”  The book we will be using is “The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament” by James S. Jeffers (Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL). Please contact the church office to reserve a copy- $10 each. (828) 733-1939.

The Sunday School class will meet this Sunday, September 28, 10 a.m., in the conference room in the fellowship hall.  Note from Reta Jackson: Do you know what country is called the Flower Shop of the World, exports more than 3 billion bulbs a year and is home to Europe's largest public garden? All nature lovers are welcome to join us as we consider "The kiss of the sun for pardon.  The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth."

We had a great gathering for the September potluck at the Land Harbor Golf House last Sunday. The food was delicious and the fellowship was even better. Thank you to all who brought food. A special thank you to Chery Lewis (Fellowship Committee Elder/Chair), Daryl Storm, Marie Cook, Allen Middleton, Mary Louise Aldridge, John and
Diane Kehoe, and Duane Kirkman for setting for organizing, setting up, taking down, cleaning up and doing all the “things” needed to make a successful fellowship meal.

Our October potluck will again be held at the Land Harbor Golf House and it will be another casserole luncheon. It will be held on October 19 following worship. More information to follow.

We are mailing a Fall 2025 update on missions, roof and hurricane contribution spending at the end of this week.  Keep an eye out for it in your snail mail. Pastor Kathy and Ashlyn appreciate the envelope ladies, Gaye Meade, Linda Drivas, Mary Louise Aldridge, and Lynn O’Meara, who came and stuffed and sealed the 254 envelopes.

Our September Mission Project is building up our church’s General Fund. Our church family has been incredibly generous to all the various mission projects this summer, but the church’s General Fund needs a bit of a boost.  Offerings tend to be lean during the winter and spring months; so, this is our opportunity to build up a reserve that can help us with monthly expenses from late fall to late spring.

With the contributions collected and the pledges yet to be completed, we have raised $143,295 towards the second phase of the “Raising the Roof” Campaign of $140,000! Alleluia! Thanks be to God!  Pledge reminders will be sent out by the end of September. Thanks to everyone who contributed.  Beginning in 2021, our church has raised a total of $750,000 with the first and second roof capital campaign! Construction Update: Thank You to George Riggsbee, Robert Dunn, and Cheryl Lewis for the laborious task of marking all the places the shore towers will be placed in the sanctuary and in the basement. The next step will be completing the interior sanctuary structural reinforcement and repair.  As the construction continues, please be extremely careful, particularly during the week, when driving into the church. The driveway across the front of the church into the upper parking lot may be blocked off. Be extremely careful driving or walking through that area and avoid it, if at all possible.

The Church Choir is practicing Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m.in the fellowship hall. If you enjoy singing, please consider being part of the choir.

The Craft Group welcomes all who want to work on a craft or just share in fellowship to join in Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., in the fellowship hall. They are creating new Chrismons for our Chrismon Tree. Rhonda and Michael Ensley have given our church 145 Chrismons in memory of their son, Hunter. Rhonda expertly handmade every single beautiful Chrismon over the past 8 years. We are so grateful for such a special gift! Her ornaments along with the ornaments created by our craft group will adorn our Chrismon Tree during the Advent/Christmas Season.