NowGARP - INSIDE THE ISSUE - Greenville ARP Church

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NowGARP - INSIDE THE ISSUE - Greenville ARP Church
GARP
   now
   The Greenville ARP Church Newsletter
   March 2020

INSIDE THE ISSUE
Message1
Pastoral Cares      2
Calendar3
Birthdays4
Announcements5
Children’s Ministry 7
Day School          9
Contact10
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       REV. DAVID GRIFFIN                                                                                                            continued from page 1

       Message                                                                                                                       And following in the spiritual footsteps of Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine and the
                                                                                                                                     other Seceders, we Associate Reformed Presbyterians believe and practice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          PASTORAL
                                                                                                                                     the same. We know not whom God, in His sovereign grace, has chosen unto
                                                                                                                                     salvation. So, we freely proclaim the gospel to all who will hear the good news of   Cares &
THE “A” IN ARPC
                                                                                                                                     God’s forgiveness of sins. We believe that whosoever will believe, will be saved
                                                                                                                                     – by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.     Concerns
                                                                                                                                      The free offer of the gospel is what drives the foreign missions work of the ARPC
                                                                                                                                     – and thus why we (Greenville ARP) support Jodie and Tina Gaston in their work
When I am talking with people who are not familiar with our denomination, I sometimes jokingly say, “You have to know
                                                                                                                                     in Wales, Elinor Griffin in her work in France, and Frank and Emily van Dalen in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Remember these
your ABCs, when it comes to Presbyterian denominations!”
                                                                                                                                     their work in Lithuania. The free offer of the gospel is what drives the church
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          members in your
    There’s the:                                                                                                                     planting work of the ARPC – and thus why we (Greenville ARP) support Jay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          prayers.
                                                                                                                                     Crout’s work of planting Village Presbyterian Church.
• ARPC – Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church                                                                                                                                                                           Billie Brady
• PCA – Presbyterian Church in America                                                                                               The free offer of the gospel is why we (Greenville ARP) have Vacation Bible          Sara Cain
                                                                                                                                     School and the Good Neighbor Team and the Us for Others project. It is why we
• RPCNA – Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America                                                                              tell our un-churched neighbors and co-workers and family members and friends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dorothy Clark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Cynthia Cooke
• FPCNA – Free Presbyterian Church in North America                                                                                  about Jesus. It is why we do all that we do, when we proclaim salvation in Jesus     Jennifer Craft
• OPC – Orthodox Presbyterian Church                                                                                                 Christ.                                                                              Sylvia Crosby
• EPC – Evangelical Presbyterian Church                                                                                              The “A” in ARPC reminds us of the free offer of the                                  Alice Eidson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dimmie Grier
• BPC – Bible Presbyterian Church                                                                                                    gospel.                                                                              Linda Henderson
• ECO – A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians                                                                                                                                                                     Rhett Leonard
                                                                                                                                     Soli Deo Gloria!
• PCUSA – Presbyterian Church, the USA                                                                                                                                                                                    Sloan Milling
• CPC – Cumberland Presbyterian Church                                                                                                                                                                                    Janet Mitchell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Marie Robinson
    Our congregation is, of course, part of the ARPC. But what does the “A” (Associate) in our name mean?

As many of you will remember, Sharon and I had the opportunity in June of 2018 to participate in the ARP Heritage Tour
of the British Isles. We spent two weeks traveling through parts of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic
                                                                                                                                        Financial Update
of Ireland learning (or, at times, hearing again) about various aspects of our denomination’s Scottish roots. As we traveled
along in our tour bus, Dr. Dale Johnson, Dr. Leslie Holmes, and Dr.-to-be John Paul Marr (all of Erskine Theological
Seminary), provided us with helpful insight into the people and places of these islands that played major roles in who we            January 2020                          Actual          Budget            Prior
are as ARPs.                                                                                                                         Total Receipts                       $61,522         $100,520         $71,417
And two of these people were the Erskine brothers, Ralph and Ebenezer, for whom our denominational college and                       Total Disbursements                  96,928           98,210           80,331
seminary are named.
                                                                                                                                     Totals                              $(35,406)         $2,310          $(8,914)
One of our days in Scotland took us to the town of Dunfermline in County Fife. There, we toured the Dunfermline Abbey.
It was at this church where Ralph Erskine was the minister from 1716-1740. [And as an added point of interest, Robert the            Contributions for January were under budget $39,000 and 14% behind the prior
Bruce (Robert 1 – King of Scotland) is buried…wait for it…under the present-day pulpit!]                                             year. January is often an atypical month and not necessarily a good measure
On another day (a rainy one!), as we traveled across the Scottish county-side, we traveled to County Perth and Kinross,              of contributions for the year. The current year budget assumes a level amount
to the village of Gairney Bridge, near Kinross. One thing we learned along the way is that there might not actually be a             of contributions over the prior year. Expenses in total are slightly favorable to
“Gairney Bridge” in Gairney Bridge! But what makes this little Scottish town historically significant isn’t whether there is a       budget year-to-date.
bridge there or not, but that it is the site of the formation of the Associate Presbytery – thus the “A” in ARPC. In December
of 1733, Ebenezer Erskine met with James Fisher, Alexander Moncrieff, and William Wilson, to discuss matters that led to
their secession from the Church of Scotland. This group was known as the Seceders.

The Seceders were concerned with two particular matters. The first had to do with what is called Patronage. This practice
allowed the landowners (or Patrons) the control of the appointment of ministers to the churches in their area. The second
and ultimately more important matter concerned the free offer of the gospel. These four Scottish ministers argued that the
gospel is to be offered to all, freely – that is, in the preaching of the gospel, there was not to be the requirement that one
first had to show signs of being elect before the gospel could rightly be offered to him or her.

                                                                                                          continued on page 2

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     MARCH                                                                                                        Every Sunday
     Calendar of Events                                                                                           Morning Worship/Sanctuary
                                                                                                                                                                                 Birthdays
                                                                                                                  8:30 A.M.

                                                                                                                  Sunday School                                                  Stuart Jackson ������������������������������2
SUNDAY, MARCH 1                                         6:00 PM D-Groups/Youth Room                               9:45 A.M.                                                      Mac Watson
6:00 PM D-Groups/Youth Room                                                                                                                                                      Corey Brady �����������������������������������3
                                                                                                                  Fellowship Time (Coffee & Donuts)/Fellowship Hall              Marilyn Cornish
4:30 PM 123 Time                                        MONDAY, MARCH 16                                          Chancel Choir Rehearsal/Choir Room                             Tonya Shoffner
                                                        7:00 PM Session & Diaconate Meeting/Fellowship Hall       Cherub Choir Rehearsal/Children’s Choir Room                   Thomas Junker (’12) ���������������������4
MONDAY, MARCH 2                                         7:00 PM Hope Circle/Members’ Homes                        10:30 A.M.                                                     Davey Morgan
7:00 PM     Hope Circle/Members’ Homes                                                                                                                                           Carol Junker ����������������������������������5
                                                        THURSDAY, MARCH 19                                        Morning Worship/Sanctuary                                      Ella Grace Patrick �������������������������6
THURSDAY, MARCH 5                                       10:00 AM Women’s Bible Study/Parlor                       10:55 A.M.                                                     Ashley Young
10:00 AM Women’s Bible Study/ARP Center                                                                                                                                          Tommy Gailey ��������������������������������7
                                                                                                                                                                                 Kathy Grigsby
                                                        FRIDAY, MARCH 20 –
                                                        SUNDAY, MARCH 22                                                                                                         Caroline Brownlee �����������������������8
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 –
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
High School Spring Retreat/Bonclarken
                                                        Middle School Spring Retreat/Bonclarken
                                                                                                                  Every Wednesday                                                Teresa Lewis ����������������������������������9
                                                                                                                                                                                 Jake Culbertson ������������������������� 10
                                                        MONDAY, MARCH 23                                          Joy Singers (Gr. 2-6)/Children’s Choir Room                    Alan Avera ������������������������������������� 11
                                                                                                                                                                                 Dorothy Clark
SUNDAY, MARCH 8                                         7:00 PM Hope Circle/Members’ Homes                        5:30 P.M.                                                      Lucy O’Neal (’10)
12:00 PM Fellowship Retreat Planning Committee                                                                                                                                   Jack Robinson ����������������������������� 12
         Meeting/Fellowship Hall                        THURSDAY, MARCH 26                                        Dinner/Fellowship Hall
                                                                                                                  6:00 P.M.                                                      Lucy Patrick ���������������������������������� 13
                                                        10:00 AM Women’s Bible Study/Parlor
MONDAY, MARCH 9                                                                                                                                                                  Mike Evans ����������������������������������� 15
                                                                                                                  Adult Bible Study/Fellowship Hall                              Janet Taylor ��������������������������������� 16
7:00 PM Hope Circle/Members’ Homes                      SUNDAY, MARCH 29                                          Children’s Ministry and Youth Bible Study/Education Building
                                                                                                                                                                                 Lee Cochrane ������������������������������ 17
                                                        6:00 PM 45 Time                                           6:30 P.M.                                                      Ted Roper
TUESDAY, MARCH 10                                       6:00 PM D-Groups/Youth Room
                                                                                                                  Chancel Choir Rehearsal/Choir Room                             Mark Leonard ������������������������������ 18
10:00 AM Mary Beckham Circle/Parlor                                                                                                                                              Frances Smith
6:00 PM Mary Woods Circle/Fellowship Hall               MONDAY, MARCH 30                                          7:30 P.M.
                                                                                                                                                                                 John Fort �������������������������������������� 19
6:30 PM Circle of Grace/Members’ Homes                  7:00 PM Hope Circle/Members’ Homes                                                                                       Steven Lewandowski ���������������20
                                                                                                                                                                                 John Moore
THURSDAY, MARCH 12                                                                                                                                                               Windsor Sherrill
10:00 AM Women’s Bible Study/Parlor                                                                                                                                              Patti Lesslie ��������������������������������� 22
                                                                                                                                                                                 Martha Milling
                                                                                                                                                                                 Joy Rogers
SUNDAY, MARCH 15                                                                                                                                                                 Jerod Sellers
                                                                                                                                                                                 Renaie Farish �����������������������������������
CALENDAR KEY ● general ● children ● youth ● just joy ● women ● senior                                                                                                            Marie Milling
                                                                                                                                                                                 Hogan Hairston �������������������������� 25
                                                                                                                                                                                 Mary Michael Newman
                                                                                                                                                                                 Elizabeth Cowan ������������������������ 26
                                                                                                                                                                                 Anna Catherine Duerk (’10)
                                                                                                                                                                                 David Junker
                                                                                                                                                                                 Sally Parkinson Barbano ��������� 27
                                                                                                                                                                                 Sara Jane Bostick
                                                                                                                                                                                 Kaitlin Dickey
                                                                                                                                                                                 Jill Young
                                                                                                                                                                                 Frank James Eppes (’13) ���������� 29
                                                                                                                                                                                 Skipper Grigsby ������������������������� 30
                                                                                                                                                                                 Seth Leonard
                                                                                                                                                                                 Jodie Gaston ������������������������������� 31
                                                                                                                                                                                 Ann Parkinson

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     ANNOUNCEMENTS                                     Session                                                                                        2020
                                                       Highlights
                                                                                                                                FELLOWSHIP
                          Children’s Choirs
                                                       At its February meeting, the
                                                       Session:

                                                       • Welcomed representatives
                                                                                                                                  RETREAT
    We will sing/ring for the 10:55 am service on        from Presbytery’s Minister
                                                         and His Work Committee
       the following Sundays this semester:              for a lengthy and healthy
                                                         conversation regarding the
    FEBRUARY 23, MARCH 15, APRIL 5, AND MAY 10           status of the church.

                                                       • Listened to concerns from
                                                         church members.

                    ATTENTION YOUTH!                   • Approved 3 summer ministry
                                                         interns.
                                                                                                                                                   MAY 1-3
                                                                                                                                       Bonclarken Conference Center
     Summer camps will be here before you              • Changed the May Communion                                                             Flat Rock, NC
    know it! Go ahead and put these dates on             date to May 17.
                                                                                                                     Join us for a special time of learning, fellowship, and fun as we enjoy a
      your calendar and put on the lookout                                                                          weekend on the beautiful grounds of the Bonclarken Conference Center.
              for more information.                                                                                This is a great time to get to know your church family better and enjoy time
                                                                                                                                   spent in God’s Word in a relaxed atmosphere.
                          QUEST
                (Middle School) – June 15-20
                                                                                                                                                             REGISTRATION
                                                                                                                                                       BEGINS ON SUNDAY, MARCH 1.
                                                                                                                                            Forms will be available in the Fellowship Hall. Completed forms should be
                                                                                                                                           placed in the large manila envelope marked “Completed Fellowship Retreat
                                                                                                                                           Forms”. Lodging is assigned based on when forms are returned; first come,
                                                                                                       This year’s speaker will be                  first served! The deadline to register is Sunday, April 12.
                                                                                                           REV. MATT LUCAS,                        If you have any questions about registration for the retreat,
                                                                                                    Senior Pastor of Reformation ARP                          please contact Joy Rogers or Pat Evans.
                                                                                                     Church in Hendersonville, NC.
                                                    Flower Calendar
                                                    The 2020 Flower Calendar is posted
                                                    in the Fellowship Hall. If you would
                         HORIZON                    like to place flowers in the sanctuary
                                                    for a particular Sunday, please
                 (High School) – June 22-27         sign up on the calendar. We use
                                                    Barrett’s Flowers in Taylors for our
                                                    church florist. Once you sign up for a
                                                    particular Sunday, you would then call
                                                    them (268‑7563) to place your order.
                                                    Then, you’ll submit a short blurb to
                                                    T. J. (tj@greenvillearp.com) for the
                                                    bulletin, stating whom the flowers
                                                    are in memory or honor of. The price
                                                    of an arrangement varies depending                  See you “up the mountain” for a wonderful retreat!
                                                    on what type of flowers are used, but
                                                    typically ranges from $100-$150. We
                                                    ask that you pay the florist directly for
                                                    their services.

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     CHILDREN’S                                                                                                                Catechism
     Ministry                                                                                                                  Question 103: What is the ninth commandment?
                                                                                                                               A: The ninth commandment is “You shall not bear false witness against your
                                                                                                                               neighbor.”
A short excerpt from the recent Gospel Coalition article post                                                                  Question 104: “What does the ninth commandment teach you?
written by Heidi Carlson. (https://www.gcp.org/PilgrimsProgressLanding.aspx)             Events                                A: Never to lie, but to tell the truth at all times.

Christian and Hopeful captured in the                                                    March 1
dungeon of Doubting Castle:                                                              123 TIME                              Verse of the Month
                                                                                         In the Gym from                       “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the
“They were very weak and faint. But then they began to pray, and they prayed             4:30p.m.– 6:00p.m.                    Spirit.” —Ephesians 2:22
all through the rest of the night. Christian suddenly spoke up. ‘How foolish I’ve
been!’ he cried. ‘We’ve stayed here all these days when we could have walked
out freely! I just remembered! I have a little key in my coat, next to my heart. It is                                         Hymn of the Month
the key of Promise. I’m sure it will open any lock in Doubting Castle,’ he said. He      March 29
                                                                                                                               Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
tried it on the dungeon door. And with that, the bolt gave way and the door flew         45 TIME
open!”                                                                                                                         Love divine, all loves excelling,
                                                                                         Please note time and pick up
                                                                                         change: 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m..        Joy of heav’n to earth come down:
                                                                                         We will have 45 Time in the           fix in us thy humble dwelling,
                                                                                         Fellowship Hall this month.           all thy faithful mercies crown:
                                                                                         Pick up will be in the GYM.           Jesus, thou art all compassion,
                                                                                         (We will finish our meal before       pure, unbounded love thou art;
                                                                                         D-group meal begins and pick          visit us with thy salvation,
                                                                                         up will both be in the gym).
                                                                                                                               enter ev’ry trembling heart

                                                                                         Vacation Bible
                                                                                                                               Resources
                                                                                         School 2020
                                                                                         JUNE 28-JULY 2
                                                                                         Mark your calendars and be
                                                                                         considering how you would like
                                                                                         to serve for VBS as a
                                                                                         volunteer-youth and adults!

                                                                                                                                  Boys Just Like Me            Girls Just Like You        Elisabeth Elliot
                                                                                         REGISTER FOR                             By:Jean Stapleton            By:Jean Stapleton         Do the Next Thing
                                                                                         Camp Bonclarken,                                                                                 By: Selah Helms
                                                                                         Music Drama Camp,
                                                                                         and Music Conference
                                                                                         http://www.bonclarken.org/arp-
                                                                                         events/. Please let Rebekah
                                                                                         AND Beth know if you are
                                                                                         attending these camps.

                                                                                                                                          God’s Timeline                  A Child’s First Book About Marriage
123 Time                                                                                                                                 By: Linda Finlayson                         By: Jani Ortlund           Middle School Ski Trip

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     GREENVILLE ARP
     Day School
                                          Every day is always an adventure at
                                          Day School, and all the construction
                                          has definitely added to the excitement!
                                          The teachers, parents, and children                                                                       STAFF
                                          have been so patient as we’ve worked
                                          through inconveniences, and we
                                          deeply appreciate all the support of
                                                                                                                                                    Contact
                                          the diaconate to help things run as
                                          smoothly as possible. We are still set
                                          to move to the education building                                                                         Reverend David Griffin
                                          by the end of March and will need                                                                         Associate Pastor of Congregational
                                          volunteers to help pack and unpack                                                                        Care and Membership
                                          all the classrooms. Please e-mail Erica                                                                   davidg@greenvillearp.com
                                          (dayschool@greenvillearp.com) if you’d
                                          like to help!                                  The Junior Boys ARP basketball team won their league       Rebekah Harkins
                                                                                         championship on Saturday, February 8.                      Director of Children’s Ministries
                                          Exciting indoor activities have helped                                                                    rebekah@greenvillearp.com
                                          us learn so much on these rainy
                                                                                         Congratulations to our GARP players!
                                          winter days! All the classes celebrated        Luke Brownlee, Jack Gamble, Walt Owensby, and Knox Young   Erica Wingate
                                          Valentine’s Day with parties where                                                                        Greenville ARP Day School
                                          they got to exchange cards and treats.                                                                    Coordinator
                                          We’ve also had special crafts, mystery                                                                    dayschool@greenvillearp.com
                                          readers, science experiments, pajama
                                          days, and have learned some fun, new                                                                      T.J. Ellis
                                          songs in chapel! Thank you for your                                                                       Director of Music and
                                          continued prayers and support of our                                                                      Administrative Assistant
                                          school!                                                                                                   tj@greenvillearp.com
K4 Valentine’s Day
                                                                                                                                                    Cheri Owensby
                                                                                                                                                    Children’s Choirs
                                                                                                                                                    cowensby@greenvillek12.sc.us

                                                                                                                                                    David Coleman
                                                                                                                                                    Organist
                                                                                                                                                    davidcoleman123@yahoo.com

                                                                                                                                                    Beth McCary
                                                                                                                                                    Financial Secretary
                                                                                                                                                    beth@greenvillearp.com
                                                                                         Congratulations to Ella Grace & Ben!
                                                                                         Ella Grace Patrick and Ben Brownlee were selected to       Steve Ford
                                                                                         participate in the 2020 SCMEA Honors Choir weekend         Sexton
                                                                                         back in February. This choir was comprised of students     steve@greenvillearp.com
                                                                                         grade 4-6 from across the state that auditioned and
                                                                                         were accepted.

K3 Payton                 K1 Pajama Day

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NowGARP - INSIDE THE ISSUE - Greenville ARP Church
741 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601

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The Greenville ARP Church Newsletter
March 2020
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