Maysville Presbyterian

Mailing address: PO Box 490, Maysville, KY, 41056. 

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Adopted Christmas Family

Thank you to the congregation who gave to

this family at Christmas. Your generosity

was greatly appreciated! Here is a copy of

the thank you note written by the children’s

mother.

From Outreach Director Erik Wesley

On an unseasonably warm 26th of December I am at an uncharacteristic loss for words. This, our first Christmas at First Presbyterian was breathtaking in all of the right ways. Our modern society, and indeed the United States at large has never been known for putting a premium on tradition and posterity (at least not when it gets in the way of “progress”), but our little church has proven itself a stalwart exception

                          to the unwritten rule.

                          In speaking with our members and guest following the service, it seems as though everyone had a favorite

                          part. Whether the tolling of the bells, their echoes seeming to reach back in time itself to all who’ve heard

                          their song, to the lighting of the Advent wreath, our wonderfully talented instrumentalists, the festive,                                    humorous and profound sermon and the hauntingly beautiful candlelight rendition of Silent Night, there                                was something to suit every mood, every disposition and every facet of this wonderful celebration that is                              the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                       Though separate from the rest of our flock, mine was to observe the wonderful pageantry of this occasion

                        from the privileged position of the balcony (from whence I was operating a camera). Taken in as a whole, it

                        was impossible not to be stirred by the mingling of family, guests, international visitors, friends and                                       generations. The fellowship would’ve been palpable to a complete stranger or alien visitor. To anyone who                           knows Maysville and is connected to the personalities involved, even as a transplant, the unity of this                                   church body was downright edifying.

                      Though this can be a stressful time of year, this was not apparent during the time between the bells, and

                      even the occasional protests of confused toddlers took on an endearing and almost musical property. Lori

                      and I felt very blessed to have met so many of your extended family members and friends. Connecting the

                     dots, hearing the best stories and writing a few of our own, let us all finish this Advent season in a spirit of

                     Thanksgiving and brother/sisterly love that we may all carry forth into this new year.

Love In Action

Martin Luther King Jr., whose life and legacy we honor this month,

spoke often about the power of love. In fact, he equaled the practice

of nonviolence with “absolute commitment to the way of love.”

Love, declared the minister and activist, “is the only force capable

of transforming an enemy into a friend.” And, he said, anyone

who’s “devoid of the power to love” is “devoid of the power to forgive.”

                                                                         King distinguished between true love and “empty sentimentalism,”

                                                                         however. He taught and showed that love is “the active outpouring

                                                                         of one’s whole being into the being of another.”

                                                                        Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate “active outpouring” of

                                                                         love, and we can choose to follow his example daily.

                                                                        “Because of Calvary I’m free to choose,” writes Max Lucado in When God                                                                               Whispers Your Name. “No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants                                                                               bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.”

Over 200 families are served by the Mason County

Food Bank each month. Please keep bringing nonperishable

food donations each week to our basket in

Fellowship Hall. Please also consider a financial

contribution to Limestone Ministries, Inc. and/or the

Mason County Food Bank, because despite regular food donations

from area churches, food still needs to be purchased each month.

Mason County Food Bank is the only one available since the Calvary

Baptist Food Bank closed. Any non-perishable item will be accepted,

but the most needed items are: spaghetti sauce, boxed spaghetti,

macaroni & cheese dinners, dried beans, saltine crackers, cornbread

mix, peanut butter, oats, cereal, canned soup, canned vegetables, and

canned fruit. Cash donations are welcome also! If you write a check,

please make it payable to the First Presbyterian Church and put

‘FOOD BANK’ on the memo line. Or you can send funds directly to the Mason County Food Bank,                                                                  located at 1679 Forest Avenue, Maysville, KY 41056.