JULY/AUGUST 2021

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10612 DAYTON PIKE , SODDY DAISY , TN 37379

MAIL: P.O. Box 9, SODDY DAISY, TN 37384 TEL: (423) 332-2327 E-MAIL: FIRSTPRESBYTERIAN@EPBFI.COM

KNITTED TOGETHER
“… speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up into Him in every way who is the head, into Christ, from
whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied when each part is
working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16
“For Thou didst form my inward parts, Thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

LET’S PRAY Pastor’s Notes

TOGETHER Are you asking: “Why church?”, “Why do I need to belong to a
church?”, Why do I need to attend worship each Sunday? One of my
Members & Participants favorite portions of “Purpose Driven life” by Rick Warren is where he
explains why the church is unique and the church is the only place on
Sherry Clark, Billy Crowe, Danny
this earth that allows us to belong and practice, living together to get
Curvin, Gene Curvin, Irene
closer to God. In Rick Warren’s other book, “Purpose Driven Church”
Ammons, Bud Ellis, Judy Ellis,
he introduces the five purposes of church:
Barbara Newman, Gary Newman,
Jan Newman, Lorie Tessmer, 1. A purpose to live for
Charlie Burks
2. People to live with
Family & Friends
3. Principles to live by
David McCarell, Sophia Turner,
C.B. Spicer, Barbara Castleberry, 4. Profession to live out
Tillery Phillips, Stephanie Phillips,
5. The power to live on
Bill Shelton, Jackie Sherrell, Shirley
Jewell, Kim Alexander Burchard, There is no other place on earth where you can find all these five
Steve Everett, JoAnn Clift, Donnie benefits in one place. Warren goes on to say, “God’s purpose for His
Clift, Deloris White, Jerry Hanes, church is identical to His five purposes for you. Worship helps you
Caroline Stanley focus on God; fellowship helps you face life’s problems; discipleship
Military helps fortify your faith; ministry helps find your talents; evangelism
helps fulfill your mission. There is nothing else on earth like the
Thomas Pelham and Family Church!
(Thomas is the son of John and Are you focused on God? Do you have fellowship with not only your
Jody Pelham; grandson of Billy family but family in faith in Christ? Are you seeking to grow in faith?
Crowe), Tristan Curvin (Gene and Are you allowing your talents to be used by God? Are you able to
Dottie’s grandson) share your faith with others those who are close and those who are
strangers to you? Come to church and belong together to grow in
faith together.

Rev. Peter Choi

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CHURCH News From The Session

SCHEDULE The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Soddy Daisy met on June 22nd

Services • The pew refinishing has been followed up to check the status and
the color of the padding.
Sunday Worship 11:00 am • The session members have visited the carpet store in person and
received the sample for review of texture and colors.
Nursery • The bushes in front of the church office were removed and Bill
Rock and Ray Tessmer worked together to accomplish the task.
NOT OPEN
• The church physical mailbox will be placed right next to the
manse mailbox to receive any mail sent to the church address.
Children’s Worship P.O. Box will still be used for all mails and now those mail that
comes to the church address will not be returned to sender. After
NOW OPEN! having a physical mailbox we will have the option to forward our
mail to our P.O. Box.
• The session has discussed purchasing 3 TV for the Sanctuary. Two
for the congregation and one for the worship leader. The total
Wednesday Bible Study projected cost is $5000.
• Christian Education announced one activity a month for July,
NOW IN PERSON & ZOOM
August, and September. Discussed holding VBS in the week of
Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm
October 10th through 15th during Hamilton County School Fall
Prayer Meeting Break. Volunteers will be requested to participate.
(Followed by Bible Study)
• Women’s Group reported on how many cards they have sent out.
Total 117; 50 Birthdays; 40 “Thinking of You”; and 27 cards to
individuals on the prayer list.
Ministry Opportunities • Church members will survey to determine if members want their
picture and phone numbers in the Church Directory for
‣ Newsletter Editor: Monthly 2021-2022.
‣ Women’s Bible Study: Monthly
Teaching opportunity
• The Next Men’s Breakfast is planned for July 17, 2021. The Mayor
of Soddy Daisy is expected to be the guest speaker.
• The fellowship hall gutter was repaired temporality.
• Communion is scheduled for August 15, 2021. We will go back to
the traditional way to serve the communion with the optional pre-
packaged way provided.
• $125,000 was approved to be moved from the checking account
to investments.
• Rev. Peter Choi suggested on the Sunday Afternoon Worship for
the younger generation & family focused worship addition to the
Sunday morning worship. We hope to start it in the Fall of 2021.

 Clerk of Session: Greg Wright Moderator: Rev. Peter Choi

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WOMEN’S MINISTRY Finances

We thank those of you who have contributed your offering
Women’s Bible Study this past month. We encourage everyone to continue their
financial stewardship. The following is the status of the
2nd Tuesday of every month
church’s finances as of June 30, 2021. The checking account
@ 10AM
includes the $153,913.63 from our matured Certificate of
Deposit. The Session has approved transferring $125,000 of
July 13, Tuesday
these funds into our Schwab investment account. The
August 10, Tuesday
Bequests/Special Donations includes donations in memory of
Nita Crowe and Dora Sowell. Annual income from tithes and
offerings has paid for 64% of our expenses.

Accounts Status Balance

Checking $183,254.21
MEN’S MINISTRY
Money Market $74,354.74
Investments $408,273.86
Men’s Breakfast TOTAL $665,882.81

1st Saturday of every month Income Year 2021 June 2021

@ 10AM General O ering $34,263.00 $4,061.00
OGA Pres Special O ering $0.00 $0.00
July 17, Saturday (rescheduled)
Bequests/ Special Dona ons $750.00 $50.00
August 7, Saturday
Investment Income $34,053.87 $8.215.02
TOTAL INCOME $69,066.87 $12,236.02

TOTAL EXPENSES $53,796.90 $10,254.13

Pastor $37,728.03 $7,700.63
Admin & Finance $3,930.98 $110.00
Chris an Educa on $180.00 $30.00
Building & Grounds $7,316.74 1,713.50
Congrega onal Care $441.15 $0
Mission & Outreach $1,800.00 $300.00
Worship $2,400.00 $400.00

General O ering as % Expenses 63.7% 39.6%

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News from the Missionary

Hello everyone! May God bless you wherever you are reading this letter!
As always, the month of June has been filled with God’s grace which I would like to share. To
start, in the first week of this month, my mission team and I attended the ‘Good News School’
training (GNS). Like the last GNS we attended, three months ago, I was able to spend one week
just standing before the gospel truth. And unlike the last time, I was able to receive even more
grace than I did before. I feel like every time we stand before the gospel, God just reveals so
much more. Which is why I thank Him for allowing us His grace.
One week after GNS, we held the ‘Why Not’ Camp. Like the previous times we held the camp, we
got to witness God perform miracles among the next generation of Korea. Through the message,
the worship, and prayer sessions, all the youths who gathered for this month’s meeting were
blessed and challenged by Him who called us.
I also was able to experience God’s grace in that I was able to share some recent thoughts I had
with the other people who attended the camp. As I mentioned in my previous letter, I had many
thoughts on spending my time wisely as a missionary. For a few weeks, I didn’t have an answer.
However, during the camp, I met other people who also had the same questions I did. So far a
while, we started talking and sharing how we could spend our time for the glory of God. I think it
truly is a blessing that we can have these conversations with the community of believers around
us. Honestly, through that time of just talking with the others, God spoke to me. And in the end I
took the others’ advice about time management. Someday, I hope that I can meet with all of you
in person and have a conversation as well.
Another thing that happened this month was the start of the ‘Why Not’ evangelism trips. After
spending two months in training and another month in a prayer intensive period, this month, our
team started doing specific evangelical work. We spent the most of June by just going out
preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also did a lot of planning for the evangelism trip.
Planning who to go with, where to go, to whom we should preach the gospel to, etc.
For this month’s evangelism trip, we went to the region of Daegu (state of Korea). There in
Daegu, we met some people who attended GNS and ‘Why Not’ Camp. Together we preached
the gospel wherever God led us. Whether we were in the marketplace, the public park, or the city
street, we praised God and handed out gospel tracts to everyone we met. The response of the
people we saw were all different. Some were welcoming, some were a bit angry. Others just
couldn’t understand why we had to do this at a time like this. While preaching the gospel, there
were many thoughts in my mind. Many temptations and attack that the devil threw my way.
Sometimes, while we were preaching the gospel, because so many people were against us, we
really felt down. Yet through all the troubles, God was good.

 JULY/AUGUST 2021

News from the Missionary (continued)

Though we faced many difficulties concerning the reactions of the people, the tiredness of our
bodies, and the many doubts and feelings that Satan made us feel, God gave us strength
through His Word. While preaching, God helped us believe again. He also gave us
encouragement from all our feelings. So in the end, I believed that God received glory through
our small obedience and that is all I could ever ask for.
For the month of June, all our team did was basically going around preaching the gospel. It’s not
much but being able to evangelize is a blessing itself. And through it all, God made us love Him
even more. So overall, this month has been nothing but grace. Thank you again for praying for
me. Without your prayers, I wouldn’t have made it this far. I hope to meet with all of you one day.
But until then, pleas join me in prayer for the youth in Korea! God is working here! Until my ext
prayer letter, God bless!

Bible Study Women’s

& Prayer Bible Study
Every Wednesday @ 7pm Tuesday, June 8 @ 10am
(In person & zoom) (In person)

We invite you in studying the word Join us in studying and learning

of God together and to come to the word of God together,
know more about God and His will, sharing and encouraging one
and to pray with us and see the another in God’s love. Please
works of God. Please contact church contact church for zoom
for zoom information to join or any information to join or for any
questions.
questions.
423-332-2327 soddydaisypc@gmail.com 423-332-2327 soddydaisypc@gmail.com

JULY/AUGUST 2021

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Church Yard

Thank you!

 July
SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sunday School 10AM Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM (In person & Zoom)

11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Sunday School 10AM Presbyterian Bible Study 7PM Men’s Breakfast
Women’s (In person & Zoom)
Worship 11AM
Bible Study 10AM
(In person)

18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Sunday School 10AM Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM (In person & Zoom)

25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Sunday School 10AM Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM (In person & Zoom)

July Birthday July Anniversary

7/25 Adrienne Hargrove 7/29 Gary & Jan Newman

 August
SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Men’s Breakfast

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Sunday School 10AM Presbyterian Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM Women’s (In person & Zoom)
Bible Study 10AM
(In person)

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Sunday School 10AM Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM (In person & Zoom)

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Sunday School 10AM Bible Study 7PM
Worship 11AM (In person & Zoom)

29 30 31
Sunday School 10AM
Worship 11AM

August Birthday August Anniversary

8/2 - James Shannon 8/21 - Teresa Ard 8/13 - Gary & Mary Esther Shannon
8/10 - Lorie Tessmer 8/25 - Stacey Fuller
8/20 - Taylor Williams

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Soddy Daisy, TN 37384
P.O. Box 9
First Presbyterian Church
Newsletter will be published monthly near the 1st of the month. Please send items to publish to Pastor
Peter, soddydaisypc@gmail.com by the 20th of the previous month. Thank you.
Our newsletter staff is: (production manager); Jim Hargrove (distribution manager).
Review editors include Ef e Heiss, Doug Stephenson, Danny Durvin, Peter Choi.
Please give Jim Hargrove (423-760-8787; jhargrove@epb .com) the names, mailing addresses or email
addresses of family and friends, and possible new members, so that we can send them our monthly
newsletter. Please let Jim know if you prefer your newsletter via email.
Newsletter can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fpc37379
Church telephone number: 423-332-2327
Church email: rstpresbyterian@epb .com
JULY/AUGUST 2021