News in a Heart Beat!
Welcome to MIPC !!!! Pastor Shepp Lawrence-Hey....he's new here.
Want all your news in one place?
Download the JANUARY NEWSLETTER
An Officer Retreat will happen on Saturday, January 21st from 9am until noon for both Elders and Deacons. All Elders and Deacons will meet for planning the upcoming Church Year.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 22nd at 9:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the 2011 Annual Report and to welcome the new Elders and Deacons. A pot-luck brunch will be held in Fellowship Hall during the meeting. Please bring your favorite "dish to share" and share in our first fellowship brunch of 2012. Leave it to the Presbyterians to figure out how to include food!
Tremendous Tuesday!!! Join our fellowship for a family dinner each Tuesday evening. Dinner at 5:45 pm will be followed by "Parables by the Fishing Hole. Using an old TV favorite, Mayberry RFD (an Andy Griffin TV classic), one of the most beloved television series of all time; this unique study uses short tv clips to yield a celebrated video-based Bible Study. Join Andy, Opie, Barney, and Aunt Bee for the parables of Mayberry, as Pastor Shepp Lawrence leads us in a discussion about the episode. See y'all there !! Next Tremendous Tuesday: January 24th
BIRP Mission Week, January 28-February 5, 2012
When I was a child in the Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, my favorite time in the church year was when the missionaries came to tell us about their God's work all over the world. I still look forward to Mission Week which will begin Saturday, January 28 and continue through Sunday, February 5. In coordination with other congregations in the memorably acronymed BIRP (Brevard Indian River Presbytery), we will be bringing several missionary speakers, all with an interest in on-going projects in the Merida, Mexico area. The Kick-Off Event will be a covered dish dinner on Saturday, January 28th at 6:00PM at Pineda Presbyterian Church. All are welcome!
Check out our Missions page for more information.
The youth of the church continue to work to raise money for their Montreat Trip this summer. Please continue to support their efforts by bringing your old papers to the recycle trailer in the parking lot by the playground. Also, Scrip gift cards are still available for local businesses. Jr. & Sr. High students can find out more about the Youth Group's Winter activities by joining us in the Youth House at 5-7pm Sunday.
There are so many ways in which our church members have made a difference in the world and in the community.
In November $200 was collected for the Thornwell Home for Children in SC. Over $68 was collected by our children through the UNICEF boxes while Trick or Treating.
We have also had bounteous canned food drives -- our congregation, our Fall Festival participants, and also our Child Care Center -- for the Central Brevard Sharing Center, the mainstay of our local needy population. I take the food (and toys from the Toy Drive) to the Sharing Center and can tell you how important your gifts are and how much the staff at the Sharing Center appreciate them. If you would ever like a tour of the Sharing Center to see how incredibly well they stretch their resources, or with the idea that you might like to volunteer with them, please let me know.
These are hard times in our community, perhaps for you, too. Thank you for everything you do and let us know if you need help.
Questions or suggestions? Interested in joining MIPC's Mission Committee? Call or email Cheryl Mahan, Interim Chair, 452-5797 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you are a Mother of School Age &/or Itty-bitty Children (a MOSAIC Mama), then there is a pretty good chance that you could use a few hours each week to completely ignore everything and just sit. Right?
We mothers love raising our children, but often times we race around, pouring so much of ourselves into tending to the rest of the family and friends that we forget to take time out for ourselves. With all that drains us in the day, plus the added sleep deprivation from the nights, it's no wonder that many of us feel as though our brain has turned to complete mush!
However, if we just give ourselves permission to slow down once in a while and take a moment to appreciate it; all these crazy, hilarious, exhausting and delicious pieces of life will fall into a beautiful work of art...a lovely mosaic.
We are delighted to invite you to join us Friday mornings from 8:45-ish to 11:15-ish in the Activity Room of MIPC.
There is FREE CHILD CARE!! Hooray!
A few child-free hours
+ a cup of something (most likely something with caffeine)
+ a bite to eat
+ a few good girlfriends to laugh a lot with and perhaps cry a little with
= a relaxed and refreshed you!
If you are interested in joining us or have any questions, please feel free to contact us
Kelly Little #507-0333
Kelly Franklin #505-0506
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From the Pastor's Study
With the new year we begin to look back at what happened and look forward to what lies ahead. As your pastor, I choose to learn from the past and build on it but I attach even more importance in rising to meet the future. I feel the church has both challenges and opportunities we can embrace in 2012. Here are a few of my thoughts and thanksgivings:
1. The church is going through a period of recovery. We lost two of our major staff members the later part of 2011. I am thankful that our former Pastor and Director of Christian Education (DCE) are doing well in their new positions and we pray God's continued blessings upon them and their families. We are in the process of replacing their gifts and talents through new part-time staff and volunteers. We are not financially able to hire a full time DCE but remain committed to education programs with our children, youth and adults. I will continue as your pastor as long as your board and I agree that we are moving forward in the ministry of the church.
2. The cuts in the space industry, our major employer, means that we will face adjustments in our budget due to people who have left or who are financially affected. Thank the good Lord we have a solid base of members who are committed to the church and to seeing us thrive. We cannot expect an influx of younger families because of the economy but we will continue offering the best worship, music, mission, care and fellowship that we can muster. It may take some changes or adjustments in how we operate, so let's "gird up our loins" and move ahead.
3. The loss of members through death, job transfers and moving memberships continue to challenge us in how we "keep on, keeping on." Our changing congregation requires more care and attention. Many of us are not as young as we use to be and cannot physically do the work to keep our property in tip top shape. Many of our older buildings require more maintenance and constant attention. We are thankful for those who meticulously look at these details that most of us take for granted. You will see from the finance report that through such changes in our church we are missing 1/5 of the 2012 pledges that we received in 2011. Please trust that these "bumps in the road" will receive the utmost attention from your session and staff.
4. While all of the above may sound gloom and doom (I pray it doesn't), personally, I am thrilled to be here. I don't have to travel like I have for the past 20 years to work in the vocation and location where God has called me. My family enjoys having "Dad" at home and not traveling hours away to worship. Both our children are in school (jobs are scarce) and liking what they are doing. Sue couldn't be happier. We are back home.
5. The "movers and shakers" of the church are enthusiastic about our future. Through our various committees and groups we are looking for better ways in which to serve our community and become more hospitable. My goal is to have each member identify with a small group through our worship, stewardship, fellowship, education, choir, handbells, Kid's Klub, Sunday School, prayer groups, Ruth Circle, Tremendous Tuesday, various committees, property improvements, mission, Big Girls, child care, Mosaic, Stephen Ministers, special offerings, visitation, office angels, deacons or elders (I know I left something out); whatever it takes to be involved.
6. My number one goal is that we grow spiritually together. Rick Warren, the "Purpose Driven" guru, says that if we grow spiritually together, the rest will follow. Certainly we will not aspire to be a mega church like Saddleback, where Warren serves, but we can be the best that God intends for us here on Merritt Island. I really want to be in that place - where God wants me. I know you do too.
Blessings for the New Year . . . Shepp
Archives of Letters Read more...
January
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January 21st: Officer Training
January 22nd: Congregational Meeting @ 9:45 AM; Worship 8:45 am & 11:00 AM
JANUARY
January 16-Newsletter and Website deadline: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
January 21-Officer Retreat-Deacons and Elders: 9 am-noon
January 22- Worship 8:45 & 11:00 am-Rev Dr. Shepp Lawrence; 9:45 am-Congregational Meeting; 5 pm Youth Group-Youth House; WLT 7PM-Sanctuary; Congregational Meeting will be held during the Potluck Brunch in the Fellowship Hall, at 9:45 am
January 24-Tremendous Tuesday ! Kids Klub 3:30 pm Dinner at 5:45 pm followed by "Mayberry Parables": Fellowship Hall on Cone Rd. Ringers of Tomorrow 6:30 pm
January 25-Big Girls Only 9:30 am; Generation Ringers 6:00 PM; Chancel Choir 7:30 PM
January 26-Game Night 6 PMJanuary 27-MOSAIC-8:45-11:15 AM in Activites Room
January 28-BIRP Missions Conference Begins
January 29-BIRP Mission Conference;Worship 8:45 & 11:00 am; 9:45 am-Adult, Youth and Children's classes; 5 pm Youth Group-Youth House; WLT 7PM-Sanctuary
January 31-Tremendous Tuesday ! Kids Klub 3:30 pm-Special guests, BIRP mission speakers Antonio Reyes/Diana May. Dinner at 5:45 pm followed by BIRP mission speakers: Antonio Reyes/Diana May : Fellowship Hall on Cone Rd. Ringers of Tomorrow 6:30 pm
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Mondays: Church Office closed
Tuesdays: Tremendous Tuesdays-Dinner 5:45 pm
Wednesday: Generation Ringers 6:30 pm/Chancel Choir 7:30 pm
Friday: Mosaic 8:30 am
FEBRUARY
February 1-Women of the Church: BIRP Mission Guest Speaker, Martha Wehmeyer and Luncheon
(Big Girls Only, Ruth Circle will be combined); Generation Ringers 6:00 PM; Chancel Choir 7:30 PM
Feb 3-MOSAIC-8:45-11:15 AM in Activites Room
February 5-BIRP Mission Speakers Edwin Azael Tun/Edwin Tomas Tun at Worship 8:45 & 11:00 am and 9:45 am Combined Sunday School classes. Lunch to follow the 11 am service
Feb 7-Tremendous Tuesday ! Kids Klub 3:30 pm Dinner at 5:45 pm followed by "Mayberry Parables": Fellowship Hall on Cone Rd. Ringers of Tomorrow 6:30 pm
Feb 8-Generation Ringers 6:00 PM; Chancel Choir 7:30 PM
Feb 10-MOSAIC-8:45-11:15 AM in Activites Room
For past events: