STAFF <>SESSION<>BOARD OF DEACONS COMMITTEES |
We are a people who worship together to praise and glorify God and to discern God's will for our lives. We believe that God has made redemption and salvation possible for all. We study Scripture as interpreted by the work of the Holy Spirit. We strive to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ by demonstrating and sharing our faith, hope and love in our daily living and by our service to others.
The current sanctuary was built in 1904. |
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Our church was founded in June 1826 under the leadership of Joseph Stiles, an evangelist licensed by Hopewell Presbytery. The construction of the first church occurred c. 1828-1832 on the State House Square. That building was renovated in 1879 and continued to serve as the place of worship until the construction of the present building. In the late 1890's there was talk of building a new church and approximately $2500 had been raised for that purpose, but a financial downturn forced a temporary halt to the project. In June of 1903 George C. Smith, a member of the congregation, offered $5000 to be uused for a new building on the conditions that the congregation should raise at least "$2500, that the construction should begin by May of 1904, that it should be on the corner of Wayne and Green Streets, and that it should be built of either brick or stone." By January 1904, an agreement was made with the Trustees of GMC that a new building should be erected on the present site. By that time the church had raised $2500, but church leaders estimated the potential cost to be $12000 and raised additional funds by offering to place the name of contributors of $1.00 or more on a list that would be put in the cornerstone. J.W. McMillan, a member of the church and the building contractor, broughh the cornerstone from Haddingtonshire, Scotland. It was laid in October 1904. Representatives of various civic and religious organizations attended the ceremony attendant upon the laying of the cornerstone and the newspaper reported church bells rang throughout the city. By August 1905 the building was nearing completion as the windows and pews were reported to be under construction, and an orgaan that "will be run by a water motor which has been set and connected with the city water main" was installed. The dedication of the new edifice occurred on January 20, 1906 with an estimated 700 people in attendance. The Baptist and Methodist churches cancelled services so that their members could attend. In July 1950, the congregation decided to renovate the sanctuary and build an educational building. This project included changing the auditorium from a diagonal to a vertical orientation and the purchase of the present baptismal font, pulpit, communion table and pews. A new organ and five new memorial windows were added. The dedication of the renovated building took place in November of 1951. Further renovations and some additions to the building took place in the 1970s and 1980s, but the next major renovation to the sanctuary took place in 1995 with the replacement of the roof and the addition of a beautiful wooden ceiling. Doors made of a rare wood imported from Africa replaced the old doors to the narthex and the organ was rebuilt. |
STAFF
Administrative Secretary |
| Jennifer Flory, D.M.A. Music Director |
Organist |
| Treasurer |
Youth Worker |
Lera
Harben Youth Worker Assistant |
Childcare Provider |
|
SESSION
CLASS OF 2008 |
BOARD OF DEACONS
CLASS OF 2008 |
Many of our ministries are accomplished through our committees...
COMMITTEES
Session Committees <><><>Deacon Committees
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Session Committees
Evangelism & Church Growth<>Christian Education Finance<>Personnel<>Property
Stewardship/Mission<>Worship
CLERK OF THE SESSION
Anne Smart
Evangelism and Church Growth
John Lounsbury & Becky Henderson, Co-Chairs
The Outreach Committee has been moved to the Session and has been renamed the
Evangelism and Church Growth committee. Its primary goals will be to reach out
to visitors, see to their needs, by providing a welcoming congregation and information
on all of the church's activities, and by inviting and involving visitors in the
church's activities. The Christian Education Committee
oversees all Christian Education activities for the church by recruiting teachers
and leaders, supervising curriculum choices and providing appropriate meeting
places. It currently supports the Sunday School program, children and youth programs
on Sunday evenings, Vacation Church School, the Wednesday night study groups,
the Minter Trust family ministry and the Inquiring Minds program. It provides
child care for all church functions. The Finance Committee is knowledgeable
of church income and expenses; considers all proposals for unbudgeted expenditures;
serves as part of the Allocation Committee to disperse, when responsible, income
from church-allocated funds; prepares the preliminary budget for the new fiscal
year; arranges for appropriate audits of church books; and makes recommendations,
when necessary, to the Session concerning the fiscal policies, procedures, and
practices of the church. The Personnel Committee conducts
searches for some staff positions when vacancies occur and makes recommendations
to the Session for filling those positions. It conducts reviews of the staff and
advises the Session about salaries for the staff. The Property Committee maintains
and inventories church furnishings and property. It is responsible for maintaining
the grounds, building, technology and audio-visual equipment. The Stewardship Committee
develops and coordinates year-round stewardship and mission activities for the
congregation, local community and beyond. It conducts the annual financial stewardship(pledge)
campaign.Presently, our Stewardship Committee doubles as our Mission Committee.
The Mission Committee would focus specifically on getting our congregation involved
in missions, both locally and beyond our community. If there is not enough interest
in this committee, the Stewardship Committee will continue to function in this
role. The Worship Committee makes
arrangements for guest ministers to conduct worship services as needed. It is
responsible for selecting devotionals for Lenten and Advent seasons, preparation
of the sanctuary for the different liturgical events of the year, and overall
enhancement fo worship services during the year. This
committee's purpose is to devise and carry out a plan for volunteers to respond
to the needs of the church and community after a disaster, emergency or crisis.
Volunteers needed include: a coordinator, a site response team, a logistics response
team, a food preparation team and a special needs response team. This committee coordinates
volunteers who assist with special receptions and fellowship receptions which
follow the worship services. The committee also assists in planning the annual
family retreat and plans a summer picnic in July or August. This committee is responsible
for specific needs of congregational members, such as providing communion to the
homebound, visiting and calling the homebound, and reviewing the church rolls.
This committee is responsible
for collecting the food that is donated to the church on the second Sunday of
each month. They deliver it to the Department of Family and Children's Services.
It also recruits volunteers to work at the food pantry at St. Stephen's Episcopal
Church. This committee is in charge
of the monthly lunch for people who are visiting family members incarcerated in
local prisons. Deacons are in charge of planning menus, purchasing the food and
recruiting volunteers to assist with the lunch. Volunteers are needed on the day
of the lunch, to help set up, prepare and serve the meal, and clean up after the
meal. This committee acts as a liason between First Presbyterian
Church, Milledgeville and the community organizations of Relay for Life and
Habitat for Humanity. The Youth Deacon is designated
to be Chairperson of this committee whose primary job is to report to the Deacons
activities of the entire PYC group. PYC is for 8th-12th graders. Its activities
include Bible studies; games; lock-ins; recreational, educational, and Christian
field trips; involvement in local activities such as Relay for Life and Habitat
for Humanity.
Christian Education
Anne Smart & Lee Gillis, Co-Chairs
Finance
Holley Cowan & Becky Henderson, Co-Chairs
Personnel
Terry Glover
Property
Fred Heal and Arnie Wade, Co-Chairmen
Stewardship/Mission
Joel Burns & J.F. Yao, Co-Chairs
Worship
Doris Moody & Mary Baker, Co-Chairs
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Deacon Committees
Disaster Preparedness<>Fellowship & Reception<>
Congregational Care
Food Pantry<>Prison Family
Lunch
Presbyterian Church Dinner
Community Service<>
PYC
HEAD OF THE BOARD OF DEACONS
Susan McGill
Millie Murphy
Next Deacon's Meeting
Disaster
Relief
Michael Gleason and Erin Smith
Fellowship and Reception
Betty Hattaway and Rae Wade
Congregational Care
Frankie Holder & Harry Beck
Food Pantry
Jack Bivins and Gladys Gates
Prison Family Lunch
Mille Murphy and Charlotte Owens
Community Service
Laura Burns and Laura Brett Harshbarger
Presbyterian Youth Connection
Laura Brett Harshbarger and Christina Azahar
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