Covenant of Grace Service
A Commission from First Presbytery will conduct a service of organization for the Covenant of Grace Mission on Sunday, May 3, 2009, at 2 p.m. Rev. Roger Wiles will also be installed as pastor of the congregation. The church is located at 508 Harvey Street, Winston Salem, NC 27103.
If you would like to send a word of encouragement, send your message to Mr. Wiles at wiles.roger@gmail.com.

Return from Africa
We are thankful that the Kimmons have safely returned from a missions trip to Africa. John and Carol Kimmons were in Uganda on a medical mission trip in April, and then traveled to Ethiopia and on to Chad to be with their son, Rob, and his wife, Karen. Part of their time was spent on the edge of Darfur.

Hope Church Dedication Rescheduled
The grand opening of Hope Church’s new building in Tampa, set for May 3, has been postponed. “While we are on track for our building to open, the county has yet to finalize a few inspections,” said Rev. Mike Jones.

Happy 100th Birthday!
Martha Helen Kennedy was born and raised in Sharon, SC, the daughter of Porter Blair Kennedy and Rachel Bessie McGill Kennedy on April 14, 1909. She taught school during the depression in Ruby, SC. In 1945, she returned to her hometown of Sharon and continued teaching school at Sharon High School. After earning her master’s degree from Winthrop College in 1949, she taught in York, SC.

She has served as president of the Sharon Woman’s Club seven times, and co-authored a book, Remembering Sharon 1889-1989 Fact and Fiction. She was also involved in preparing Sketch of Sharon ARP Church, Catawba Presbytery 1796-1980. She has been a member of the church choir and taught Sunday school for 50 years. She has served as president of Women of the Church and secretary-treasurer of World Missions.
She has been a resident of Morningside Assisted Living in Lexington, SC, since 2004.

Installation
Dr. Stephen Goodnight Myers was ordained and installed as pastor of Pressly Memorial ARP Church, Statesville, NC, on April 5, 2009. Participating in the service were Rev. James Hunt, Rev. Lee Shelnutt, Rev. Tim Watson and elders Jim Troutman, James Peaster, Kearney Caldwell and Garth Radley.
Dr. Myers grew up in the Coddle Creek Church and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar in 2001. He received his Master of Divinity Degree in 2004 from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, and his doctorate in systematic theology in 2008 from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married to Lisa Marie Myers, and they have two children, Quinn Marie, 3, and Cale, 1.

Oak Ridge Church Food Drive
In November, Forbes Magazine listed the town of Lancaster, SC, as one of “America’s Most Vulnerable Towns.” So Oak Ridge Church decided to help their small Southern textile town, whose residents had steadily lost jobs since one of the largest textile mills in the southeast closed. Unemployment around the town of Heath Springs, where the church is located, has probably been hit the hardest.

Oak Ridge pastor Bill Fleming said that in these tough times, the church has enthusiastically stepped up to do what it can for the community, taking the words of Jesus, “Whatever you do for the least of these my brethren, you do for me.” Members then volunteered to assist Lancaster Christian Services distribute food to the needy of Lancaster.
Read the rest of the story in the June issue of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian. If you do not take our monthly publication, please visit www.arpmagazine.org to view your choices for print or online versions.

Do You Know Photo?
Oh those lazy hazy crazy days of summer at Camp Bonclarken. The photo we ran in the May issue of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian on page 17 brought back a lot of memories. Former ARP Magazine editor Zeb Williams called to say he took the picture, and not only knew three out of four in the picture, he also knew the song they were singing! In 1964, “Won’t you be my Salty Dog” was a hit, and Boyce Wilson and Calvin and Charles Todd serenaded campers with their rendition around a blazing campfire.

Boyce Wilson’s mom, Carrie Wilson, called to say that the boys were known as the Shamrock Trio in their hometown of Gastonia, NC, but she also had all four pictured in Cub Scouts. They were all camp counselors, and the fourth, Hamp Sherrod, was head counselor. Lynn Ledford Crawford remembers growing up with the first three at First ARP in Gastonia, NC, but is about four years younger.

Judy Fowler emailed to say she recognized her pastor at Fayetteville (TN) ARP, Calvin Todd. Charles Todd is pastor at Salem ARP, Atoka, TN, and Boyce Wilson is pastor at Ebenezer ARP, Rock Hill, SC. Do you know what became of Hamp Sherrod?
If you do, please email arpeditor@arpsynod.org.

Psalms Festival
The choirs of First Presbyterian Church will join forces with the choir of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church to sing congregational psalms, both old and new on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in First Presbyterian’s sanctuary. Accompanists will include organist Ronald Miller and First Presbyterian’s brass ensemble. The congregation will be encouraged to sing along. Daniel Cole, director of music at First Presbyterian, and Marc Rattray, director of worship and arts at St. Andrews Presbyterian, will conduct.

Tim Robinson Retiring
Burlington ARP (NC) – Rev. Tim Robinson announced in March that he will be retiring by the end of the year. In light of this, he has asked the Session to recommend to the congregation to form a pulpit committee to begin the process of seeking God’s direction for the next pastoral leadership for their congregation. He believes it’s necessary to begin the process now rather than later. The Session agrees, and called a congregational meeting for April 19 to establish the pulpit committee.

Unity Helps Unemployed
Unity ARP Church in Lancaster, SC, is making plans to hold a prayer breakfast once a week for area folks and those in the church family who are struggling with employment. The plan is to offer coffee, donuts and fellowship, followed by prayer for those seeking employment. Lancaster, one of the most recession-prone spots in the United States, is experiencing a 13 percent and climbing unemployment rate. “These are difficult days for many families in our area and we simply seek to offer spiritual support as we take their needs to the Lord and Maker of Heaven and Earth, said Unity Pastor Charles Hammond.

Senior Retreat Reminder
Catawba Presbytery Senior Adult Retreat is Thursday, May 7 at First ARP, Columbia, SC. Rev. John R. de Witt will be the keynote speaker. There will be worship, fellowship, refreshments, and lunch provided. Seminars include the following topics:
1. “SC Historic Architecture” – Andy Chandler
2. “What is a Care Team?” – Missy Robelot
3. “The Economy” – Richard Eckstrom
4. “Veterans Benefits and You” – Marilyn Hempe
5. “Container Gardening Made Easy” – Mary Wardlaw
6. “Long-Term Care Insurance” – Tom Ryan