Pictured on the Communion Table
*German Bible from 1897 reflecting our roots in the German Reformed Church
*Pennsylvania German Pewter Flagan, The vessel that held the wine in the original Communion Set.
*Check Writing Machine used to record and add tithes and offerings.
*A Church Replica birdhouse created by artist and church member, Buddy Lohr.
*Picture of the original sanctuary building from early 1900’s.
*2 pipes and a reed from original church organ (1928)
*Original Pulpit Parament
We are so grateful to Rev. June Grubb, Lynn Brown, Smithie Parrish, and Mike Price for creating this 121st Anniversary Altarscape!
WEEKLY EMAIL FROM FIRST REFORMED UCC
JANUARY 21, 2022
LOOKING TOWARD SUNDAY: A MESSAGE FROM REV. HORTON
Happy Anniversary First Reformed!
“Be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Roman’s 12:2KJV
Dear Beloved Community,
This scripture was the basis for the very first sermon preached at First Reformed UCC! From the beginning, First Reformed has been focused on being transformed and renewed. This verse set in motion our call and mission 121 years ago, and today this verse still rings true!
This Sunday at 10:30am, in person and online, let’s celebrate how God has been at work in the life of this congregation for 121 years! We will hear reflections from former pastors; written from Rev. Dr. Lee Jessup, and spoken by Rev. Mike Hooper. To aid in the Celebration, please share one of your favorite memories/stories from the rich history of this church via our Facebook Page,
In Grace, Love, Peace, and lots of HOPE for the next 121 years!
Elizabeth
JANUARY 23, 2022 SERMON TITLE: LOVE IS: WITHOUT END
SCRIPTURE: 1Corinthians 12: 12-31a
ANSWERS TO FIRST REFORMED UCC ANNIVERSARY TRIVIA!
See how well you did with our church’s history? Thank you to Rita Lohr for researching and writing these the trivia questions.
- On what date was the first worship service held? January 20, 1901
- What college did Reverend Jacob Calvin Leonard graduate from in 1889? The first graduating class of Catawba College
- Where was the first parsonage located? Center Street next to the original church building
- Who was Johns River Valley Camp purchased from in 1936? Lenoir Kiwanis Club
- How many women from First Church served in the Armed Forces during World War II? One woman and 131 men
- How many years did Marguerite Leonard serve as organist at First Church? 25 years
- Who was minister when our present Educational Building was built? Reverend Marlin Schaeffer
- Where was our Casavant pipe organ built? Quebec, Canada
- Why was there a delay on the delivery of the Casavant organ? President Richard Nixon placed a surtax on items shipped from Canada.
- What church did Reverend Lee Jessup serve before he came to First Church in 1980? First UCC Charlotte
- What year did the United Friendship Club form? 1989
- Who were the first to use the Memorial Garden as their final resting place? Doctor and Mrs. Paul Helm
- Who was minister for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of our church? Reverend Michael Hooper
- What was the first Reformed church in Davidson County? Heidelberg, 1766
- Who was founder and first pastor of First Reformed Church of Lexington? Reverend Jacob Calvin Leonard
- Who was the first minister to be given a housing allowance instead of living in a church parsonage? Reverend Paul Helm
- What year did Rev. Jacob Calvin Leonard lay the cornerstone for the First Reformed Church of Lexington? 1900
- Who was President of the United States in 1901 when our church started? Theodore Roosevelt
- How many charter members joined the First Church? 22 members
- How many elders and deacons met for the first Consistory meeting in January, 1901? 3 elders and 3 deacons
- When was our Sunday School organized and with how many members? January 27, 1901 with 55 members
- Who was the first adult and first child to be baptized at First Church? Velna (Mrs. J. Tilden) Hedrick and Bessie Alma Hedrick
- Who was the first organist who also taught music on the Melodeon? Pleasant James Leonard (brother to Rev. Jacob Calvin Leonard)
- Who gave the first endowment to our church in 1916? David H. Hinkle in the amount of $500
- What was the membership number in 1921 when the First Church celebrated the twentieth anniversary? 450 members
- What year was our present church building completed? 1928
- What architectural style is our present church building? Gothic design
- Who became the second pastor of First Reformed Church? Reverend Banks J. Peeler, 1939
- Who asked the Consistory to purchase a duplicator and wide carriage typewriter in order to print the first bulletin in 1939? Rev. Banks J. Peeler
- Who donated the Carillon to our church in 1942? Velna Hedrick in memory of her husband J. Tilden Hedrick
- What year did Rev. Banks Peeler send out the first church newsletter? March, 1943
- What year was the Casavant pipe organ installed? 1972
IT’S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME
Jianna Miller will have Girl Scout cookies for sale after worship on Sunday, January 23. Troop #2160 will also hold a drive-thru cookie booth at the church from Noon to 2 pm that Sunday. Enter the driveway by the grass lot beside the Education Building. For faster service, you may pre-order your cookies and pay online by January 22 at bit.ly/order2160cookies.
BIBLE STUDY THROUGH JANUARY 30, 2022
“Love Never Ends: Being the Body of Christ”“Love Never Ends: Being the Body of Christ”
Our Sunday morning Bible study begins at 9:30AM in the educational building or via ZOOM. The themes and scripture readings for the month of January are as follows:
Sunday, January 23rd via Zoom at 9:15AM
“Varieties of Gifts” (Facilitator: Eddie Yates)
I Corinthians 12:1-11
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89026528333?pwd=QzRrR0hocHJMN1hQazZXUGN5dWJnUT09
Meeting ID: 890 2652 8333 Passcode: Bible
Sunday, January 30th
The Greatest of These” Facilitator Smithie Parrish
I Corinthians 13:1-13
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
SIGN UP TO HELP WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES FOR 2022
YOUTH MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 6:00PM: Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Youth Study (Youth Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOUTH STUDY HERE
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 10:30AM Children’s Church (Theater Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR CHILDREN’S CHURCH HERE
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Children’s Fun & Activities (Fellowship Hall)
SIGN UP TO VLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY CHILDREN’S FUN & ACITIVITIES HERE
USHERS ARE NEEDED EACH SUNDAY…PLEASE SIGN UP TO SERVE
Please sign up to serve as an usher on Sunday mornings. Open slots are available on most Sundays. You may use the Sign-Up Genius link below to pick a Sunday to volunteer.
Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday of service! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f44abae28a7fe3-usher
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
LITURGIST: Jeremy Lovell DIGITAL MEDIA TECH: Jeremy Peterson
SOUND TECH: James Gray ACOLYTE: Emma Hartle BIBLE STEWARD: Jacob Hartle
USHERS: John Gray, Doris Sink, Mark Smith CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Smithie Parrish
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
*Myrtle Latimer (recovering at home), *Kathleen Danze (Lexington Hospital), *Cheryl Walser (recovering at home), Alisa Johnson
We extend Sympathy to and share Christian Hope with Susie Smith and family upon the death of her stepmother, Brenda Atkins Poetzinger, who passed away on January 8,
MEMBERS AT HOME AND IN CARE FACILITIES:
Peggy Bates, Sherry Bonner, Lee & Ellen Bouchard, Ruth Essick, Pattie Everhart, Vogen Everhart, Lib & Jimbo Hinkle, Jeff Hutchens, Marguerite Leonard, Deanna Michael, John Potts & Janette Neal, Lib Sink, Carolyn Spivey, Adena Wall
OUR FRIENDS:
*Steve Ketner (Charm Ketner’s husband), Kiana Sinz (friend of Patti Lovell, Earl Parker (Rev. Horton’s father), Jimmy Grubb (Rev. Grubb’s brother), Roger and Debbie Byerly (friends Alane Holste and Robin Champion), Family of Tommy Nelson (friend of Robin Champion), Jody Jacobs (cousin to Robin Champion), Cynthia Adams (friend to Robin Champion), John Ray Ward (Patti Lovell’s brother-in-law), The Family of Ken Holmes (neighbors of Jerry & Patti Lovell, Nicole Holste (Alane Holste’s sister-in-love), Family of Will Swaim (friend of Alane Holste), Ed Leonard (Sylvia Walser’s brother), Miller Abernathy (Sylvia Walser’s son-in-law), The family of Evelyn York (friend of Alane Holste), Marc Frye (son of the late Doris Frye, Ashley Thomason (Ron & Heidi Hutcheson’s daughter-in-law)
JANUARY CELEBRATIONS
BIRTHDAYS:
24th…Alyson Bustamante-Cruz
…Denise Durham
25th…Eddie Yates
30th…Lauren Gregg
WEEKLY CALENDAR OF CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Sunday, January 23: 121st Anniversary Sunday
9:15AM
Adult Bible Study via Zoom: “You Are the Body” I Corinthians 12:12-31a
Facilitator: Eddie Yates
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89026528333?pwd=QzRrR0hocHJMN1hQazZXUGN5dWJnUT09
Meeting ID: 890 2652 8333 Passcode: Bible
10:30AM
Worship Service (in person and via YouTube)
10:45AM
Children’s Worship: Rev. Sieges & Smithie Parrish (Theater Room)
Following Worship
Prayer Circle
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
12:00-2:00
Drive-thru Girl Scout Cookie Sale
(Enter at driveway by the grass lot beside the Education Building)
6:00PM
Youth Group (Youth Room)
Tuesday, January 25:
12:00PM
2CFAR (via Zoom)
7:00PM
Book Study “The Book of Joy” (via Zoom) Facilitator: TBD
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84691635471?pwd=WnJHblBaK1pZamRRc29GMjFKU3ZQZz09
Meeting ID: 846 9163 5471 Passcode: Faith
Wednesday, January 26:
5:30PM
Confirmation
6:30PM
Choir Practice
Children’s Fun and Games: Rev. Evan Sieges & Smithie Parrish (Fellowship Hall)
Youth Study: David Fulton & Kivi Miller (Youth Room)
Thursday, January 27:
4-6:00PM
Clothing Ministry Workday
Saturday, January 29:
12:30PM
Saturday Lunch Ministry (Kitchen)
Sunday, January 30:
9:30AM
Adult Bible Study: “The Greatest of These” I Corinthians 13:1-13
Facilitator: Smithie Parrish
10:30AM
Worship Service (in person and via YouTube)
10:45AM
Children’s Worship: Rev. Sieges & Cathy Browder (Theater Room)
Following Worship
Prayer Circle
6:00PM
Youth Group (Youth Room)
MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRY THROUGH FIRST REFORMED UCC
Thank you to Cathy and Joe Browder for the ministry and resources they are bringing to families who live with Mental Illness.
Below is an article from the Thomasville Times.
NAMI BRINGS SERVICES TO DAVIDSON COUNTY
By Daniel Kennedy
Jan 10, 2022
DAVIDSON COUNTY — Mental health services are now more accessible for Thomasville residents thanks to the efforts of a group of Davidson County residents.
A partnership with Northwest Piedmont National Alliance on Mental Illness will bring meetings to the area via Zoom and, eventually, to First Reformed United Church of Christ in Lexington. When COVID restrictions are lifted, meetings will be held in person, but in the meantime, all meetings are offered on Zoom.
Cathy Browder, who sits on the board of the NW NAMI chapter, reiterated that the mission of the organization is to provide support, education, advocacy and public awareness so that all affected by mental illness can build better lives. Now instead of having to go to Winston-Salem or Greensboro for mental health support services, many will now have the ability to remain in their home county.
“We just called together a group of people from our church and said we’re going to have this Zoom call, talk about NAMI, mental illness and getting some help in Davidson County,” Browder said. “The way it worked out is that we discovered NW NAMI, which serves Forsyth, Davie and Stokes counties. We reached out to them and asked if we could join their affiliate.”
Browder said NW NAMI asks for someone to join the board when a new county joins the affiliate, so she represents Davidson County on the board. Working under their patronage, Browder said the county has been given full access to four key services offered through NW NAMI.
The first of these services is a family support group, which occurs on a monthly basis, where individuals can talk to each other about experiences with a loved one afflicted by a mental health condition. Additionally, NW NAMI offers an eight-week educational program for family members and those who support loved ones battling mental illness.
Peer to peer groups allow the mentally ill to learn coping mechanisms, and connection recovery support groups meet monthly to allow individuals to talk about how they’ve been coping with their mental condition. Long term, Browder anticipates the possibility of branching out to include Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement.
For now, the priority remains finding those in need of help and recruiting individuals willing to help with the groups.
“Once we are in person, we’re going to need more facilitators,” said. “Once we’re out of this COVID world and we do have in-person meetings, we’re going to need more people in Davidson County who are willing to facilitate these sessions.”
For individuals who wish to assist with the meetings, those who are living with someone or are supporting someone with a mental illness are encouraged to volunteer for support groups. Those willing to train for this are asked to visit https://naminc.org/become-a-program-leader. Browder is scheduled for training in February and will be glad to speak to anyone about the process. If you or someone you know is living with or supporting an individual with a mental health challenge, please contact Browder at namidavidsoncounty1@gmail.com.
Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741.