Newsletter

Handsboro Presbyterian Church
Gulfport, Mississippi

In March of 2009, the minister we had who served both our church and New Life Presbyterian Church in Gulfport moved on to another church. Part of his salary was to be paid by the Presbytery for three years, and time was drawing near for the three years to end. Sadly, he left a bit before those three years were up to move on to another calling. We hated to see him leave, but he is moving on in his career, and we are, too.

Nothing Stays the Same
(Click on this link)

Most people like for things to stay the same when things are going well. Life experience proves that things never stay the same. Sometimes that is good, for if they always stayed the same, we sould never have something better come along. We have to believe that God is working in His mysterious ways for something even better for our church.

We are a small church and cannot afford a full-time pastor, but we are gong to move ahead with plans to find a part-time pastor who will put his or her heart and soul into serving our church and helping it grow.
With commitment from church members who love our church, we will endeavor to keep our church programs going and expand them as much as we can. At the moment, we do not know what God has in store for us, but we do know that He is working in our lives and in our church. We ask for your prayers for direction for our church that it will flourish and do God's will.

Ongoing Outreach Programs

Handsboro Singles Group - meets every third Friday night in our fellowship Hall. The meeting is open to mature singles from their thirties into their 80's and up if they are spry enough to attend. We voted to have a potluck every month, and some type of program, or game night, or a movie.
For updated information each month, go to their blog:
Handsboro Singles Blogspot

Young Adults meet on Sunday nights for Dinner and a Movie.
More information coming soon about that.

The Fly on the Wall March # 1

Remember back a few years ago when we had reports from "A Fly on the Wall"? He hovered over the elders in the Session and reported news of what was going on in the church. In a meeting we had recently, church members decided that they would like to be more informed about the goings on of our church. The Fly has been contacted to revive his spy mission, and as a matter of fact, was at that recent meeting. He has sent a report for this newsletter.

You do have to realize that The Fly has a ferocious appetite, and loves occasions when the church puts on a "feed".

______________________________________________________

Report from The Fly
March 16, 2007

"Hello!"
"I'm back. Yep! Back on the wall at Handsboro Presbyterian Church."

"The Gulf Coast was experiencing a rainy weekend when I happened upon some goings on in the Fellowship Hall. Seems the church (read the congregation) was having a Soup and Sandwich pot luck. There was some concern as to what was going to happen and what the future holds for this little church since the announcement that their pastor of just less than three years was leaving. Bottom line, without financial help they are unable to employ a full time minister and this get-together, over some FINE food, was to provide an opportunity for members to express their dreams, desires and goals for Handsboro Presbyterian.

This report is from my observations and mine only. First and probably (to me anyway) most important was the quality of the food. If these people go about their church business in the same manner and attention to detail as the food served here today, they don't have a problem, just some hard work ahead. I know that I had all I could eat and thanks to fate and the laws of chaos, there were several fine meals left for me even after a vigorous cleanup.

The informal meeting was conducted in a very Presbyterian manner. The group also proved they can get a feed on even without a minister. One member thanked the Master and asked blessings on all present. After everyone had been through the line and were busy making sure those who had prepared the food were not insulted, Linda Nix got up, gave a quick overview of what the purpose and desired outcome of this meeting was, she then expressed her views, desires and goals. Afterwards each person present was given the opportunity to present their viewpoint.

All expressed a desire to see this church go forward and grow. A strong agreement was expressed that we find a minister to lead us and be someone who cares about us and not just be a one hour paycheck. Over the next few months all avenues are to be explored as to individuals and their role in ministering to the church. Nobody present wanted any of the church programs to end, but instead grow and expand. Not a person present backed down and away from their responsibility to make this "little church with a big heart" succeed. Quite firm commitments were made by all present to step forward and do what need doing. I was proud as I listen in on this dedicated group as they pledged their support to each other. Their attitude is the attitude that has made this wonderful country.

What I really like most was their commitment to having these little pot lucks monthly. I will just have to exercise more because one shouldn't miss this kind of fellowship and food.

Until next time... "

The Fly on the Wall March # 2

Hello! I'm back again. The report of my demise was a great exaggeration.
Realizing that it's only been a day or two since my last musing, I'm once again compelled to pass out some of the juicy tidbits from the last session meeting. Of course the big topic of conversion was "Oh dear! What are going to do now that we don't have a pastor?" The meeting was moderated by the pastor of the Diamondhead Presbyterian Church, Chaz Jones. Remember him as the one who walked into the sanctuary via the narthex during a torrential rain and the tarp over the steeple split and dumped all that water on everyone. Now I'm not saying he was the cause of this happening, I'm just stating what happened. Fortunately I was hiding out behind the cross at the rear of the sanctuary and was safe.
During the session meeting, most of the normal business was taken care of and with a little concern it was noted that offerings are down. It doesn't make any difference how hard the people work if the bills aren't paid.
The topic turned to expected money and what to do with some of the assets available. Money is going to very important in order to maintain the church programs, the physical structure and pay a minister who is not just a one hour Sunday person. The worse thing to do is to spend money one doesn't have - just take a look at the current state of affairs with the economy. I was impressed that this group didn't jump out and make huge plans but was cautious and hopeful. They need to find out just how much is going to be needed to hire someone on any semi-regular basis before any hard decisions are made. At least the problem is being addressed with positive steps and they aren't sitting waiting for someone or something to resolve the issue for them.
I, for one, am glad to hear that this small group plans to maintain the plant and continue to have fellowship functions. I am trying to bring up a family and, believe me, little mouths require a consistent food base.
Several options as to a "teacher/leader" were discussed and a couple of potential candidates for possible part time were discussed. Congregational members be forewarned - these people are going to be looking for someone to serve on a pastoral search committee, so look out.

Until next time, I will continue to be a fly on the wall listening to what is going on.

Summary of discussions at the informal church meeting March 15, 2009

If you didn't stay for the meeting, or if you weren't there, you are invited to write down your ideas and give them to an elder: Vern, Bobby or Rhonda

• Keep all present programs going - Young Adults, Single's Group, and Food Pantry
• Possible new outreach - Movie matinees some Saturday afternoons for our kids and neighborhood kids
• Summer weekly cookouts/hotdogs for neighborhood
• Everyone agreed that it is important to keep our children's programs going. Items mentioned: hire a nursery sitter if we have infants, keep our children's church downstairs as is presently being done, require our supply pastor to give a children's sermon that is linked to his adult sermon each Sunday
• Have potluck dinners once a month or once every two months
• Get a calling committee for those who don't have e-mail. Thanks to Shelly Cummins and Kim Barta, we have one.
• Kim and Valerie Barta also volunteered to keep the carpet clean in the sanctuary (can you believe they said they like to clean?)
• Make a register list of all church members and people who attend
• Put our church back on the free lists in the newspaper to announce our church
• It is extremely to keep the church in good repair, provide all needed supplies and make it a place we will be proud of
• Have more open communication between the Session and the Church, make suggestions for what they would like to see happen, and get reports on what did happen in the Session meetings (that is going to be done by The Fly)
• We will all have to do our part to help keep our church alive and prospering and growing
• What can you do?
  
  

Month Total Page Views the Newsletter has had in the past two years:

Lets start using out website more often for communication!
I hope that we can make good use of our web site. If you have any news, please call or e-mail Linda.

Comfort

Special Prayer by Thomas Morton

Dear God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself... and the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe this:
I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.
I hope I have that desire in everything I do.
I hope I never persist in anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore I will trust You always, for though I may be lost - and in the shadow of death - I will not be afraid, because I know You will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.

If you are going through a hard time and would like some comfort, you may want to visit a web site called "Garden of Peace and Serenity". There are several pages to the site, with quotes and essays selected from various sources. There is also a link to Prayers for Hope and Serenity, which has some wonderful prayers to help you to ask for help.

Guest Book

We no longer have a guest book for our web site due to the fact that extreme amounts of advertising spam was being placed in the guest book entries and hogging the space. This is extremely unfortunate to those of you who might like to get in contact with us, but please write or telephone us at any time.

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