A Note From Sally Nickle

Dear Church Friends,
As some of you may know, Canice and I have moved to Lakeland, TN. I took a transfer with my employer and am working at the Memphis Jewish Nursing Home, one of the nicest.

My move was so sudden, and my decision so inspired; but I was nevertheless grief-stricken to be leaving Batesville, my house and our sweet Batesville Presbyterian Church. I did not get to say many goodbyes.

Batesville Presbyterian gave Canice the best "start" in a church that she could have gotten. I am forever grateful to Ms. Janey and all of the awesome teachers and volunteers who nurtured her and taught her for the past 10 years!

We are visiting churches here and are homesick for all of your smiles there! Canice is getting used to her new school, as it is a 9-4 o'clock school. We would ask for your prayers as we go through this transition process, and I will return the prayer for you all to secure "God's choice" in a minister for BPC - ASAP!

With much, much love and gratitude,

Sally and Canice Nickle

Prayer List

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Carr, Sr. in the loss of their son, Jimbo Carr; the family of Sybil Jackson (Donald Davis and Maxine Covington's sister); David Douglas, Banks Brasell III, Whitney Brasell (daughter-in-law of Joyce and Banks Brasell), Gloria Westbrook, the family of Linda Shockley (Marty Snellgrove's sister), Ruth Kelly, Caroline Brady (cancer), Ed Lamb (Richard Lamb's brother), Beverly McLaughlin (Larry Smith's cousin), Dot King, Peggy Grogan, Mary Agnes Girner, Mario Bobo, Betty Carpenter, Jennifer McBride, Calvin Patton, Jr., Maleria Taylor, Lindsey Cannon, Adam Burkes (Iraq), Angela Perkins (Gail Corr's daughter), Jeb Neel (Iraq), Peggie Robertson (Valerie Campbell's sister), Betty Darby Cole, Norman Scott, Bobbie Jean Pounders, Bob Norris, Dudley Beall, Sarah Cummins, John Cody Dalrymple, Olivia Fitch, Bobby Jones, Donna Magee, Charles Tindall, Mary Lou Mitchell, Jeff Nichols, Frances Paulk (Dixie Gladney's sister), Tony Ray (Beverly Patton's brother), Georgia Seale, Buddy Young

Seth Still, Guest Speaker 9/2/07

Seth is a native of Senatobia and a graduate of Mississippi State University. He now resides in Jackson with his wife Julie and his 12-week old son, John Everette. He is in his senior year at Reformed Theological Seminary where he is completing his Master of Divinity Degree.

A Challenge to the Morning and Afternoon Circles

The fall season is approaching and September is the month PW Circles begin their monthly meetings. The 2007-2008 study book, Above and Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth, will be used by the Morning and Afternoon Circles.

The title of Lesson One is Reading Jonah and Ruth For All They’re Worth. Most of us wouldn’t think of studying the books of Jonah and Ruth together; at first glance, they may seem like an “odd couple.”

Before your Circle meets in September, you are challenged to read the books of Jonah and Ruth (both are very short).

As we study these books, we will discover three common themes:

· Both bear witness to a God whose love will not let us go.

· Both suggest that God’s mind may be broader than our own,

· Both call us to a deeper commitment of faith.

This study invites us to listen for God’s call - may we all hear and say “yes” to the call!

Interim Pastor Coming September 23, 2007

It is with great pleasure that the Interim Pastor Committee informs everyone of the exciting news. Last Sunday, the Session approved the terms of a contract between Karen Brostrom-O’Brien and Batesville Presbyterian Church. Her first Sunday in the pulpit will be September 23, 2007.

Prior to her arrival, we will continue to utilize the newsletter to begin introducing her. To start with, the committee would like to share portions of a letter we wrote inviting Karen to come visit our Church.

Excerpts from a letter to Karen from the search committee: “As we reflected back on your interview, we were struck by our internal feelings. Our conversation with you warmed our hearts; your sermon struck a cord with us as if it was music to our ears; your humor lightened our loads, and your overall presence, along with the Lord’s, energized our minds and bodies.” “God has great plans for both you and our Church family.”

We continued, saying, “We could envision God’s plans for you: to labor with us; to comfort us in our times of sorrow; to help us grow faithfully; to challenge us as we travel along our faith journey, and to be with us in our times of celebration helping putting the exclamation mark on them.”

These thoughts just seem to summarize Karen’s warm and caring personality. As she arrives, we hope everyone will take the time to get to know her better and come to appreciate her many outstanding qualities.

Finally, as time draws closer, the committee hopes everyone will find the time and energy to help, as we all prepare for her arrival, as well as during her time of transition and settling into the Batesville Community. We will keep everyone informed about the opportunities to get involved and ways to show her our Christian and southern hospitality.

RALLY DAY - SEPT. 2, 2007

This Sunday, September 2, 2007, is RALLY DAY. Children ages 4 through 6th grade will meet in the Sanctuary at 9:45 a.m. to meet their teachers, and then dismiss to their Sunday School classroom. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there! There is a class waiting for you!

TEACHERS - FALL 2007

Pre-School: Susan Hardy, Jennifer Colbert

First and Second Grade: Janey Ginn, Debi Honnoll

Third and Fourth Grade: Terri Broome, Laurie Monteith

Fifth and Sixth Grade: Missy Baker, Susan Lewis

Youth: Adam Pittman, Molly Hawkins

Lester Bible Class: Eric Broome, Gail White

Emma Graves Bible Class: John White

Struggling Sinners: Rev David Snellgrove, Briggs Smith

Young Adults: David Honnoll, Michelle Mundruff

Thoughts on Prayer

by Nancy Spencer

Every church is in need of prayer, and especially ours during this transition time. We really want our prayers to reach God. There are many Bible verses that teach us how to be an effective prayer warrior. The verse I want to quote here is James 5:16. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

According to this verse, I must be righteous if my prayer is to have much of an effect. So I need to know if I am righteous. Does being righteous mean I must never have sinned, never have said anything bad, or have done good deeds constantly? No. It means I've accepted Jesus into my heart and asked Him to be my righteousness. (See Corinthians 5:21). Because of Jesus's fantastic love for me, He gave His life for me. I am righteous if I believe Jesus is my Savior. Then I can pray effectively and fervently.

My testimony is that prayer has made all the difference in the world in my life. I had a mother who prayed for me all her life, and I now miss her prayers. So I encourage all parents and grandparents to pray regularly for your children. It will make a difference. God cares that we talk to Him regularly. Not only in asking, but in expressing our cares and concerns to Him, and to thank and praise Him. God has a way of comforting us, of giving peace, and often giving a solution to a specific problem. Through prayer, I have found God to be a wonderful, caring God who loves even me.

I like this quote by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: "Prayer doesn't always change things for you, but it always changes you for things." Think on that.

Someone else said, "Prayer is getting you ready to do God's will."

I challenge us all at Batesville Presbyterian Church to pray effectively and fervently and daily for our church, for ourselves, for all who are in our circle of influences, for our world. It will make a difference. The Bible says it will "avail much."

PW Bible Study Overview

by Billie F. Breedlove

As September rolls around, Presbyterian Women are making preparations to begin the 2007-2008 Bible study. The Morning and Afternoon Circles are studying the book, Above and Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth.

Two things Jonah and Ruth have to teach is that God’s steadfast love goes above and beyond anything we’ve ever imagined. Secondly, that God’s love calls us to respond and leaves no corner of our lives untouched. What does it really mean to, “hear God’s call?” I’m sure we all have heard this phrase, but we often apply it only to those who go into full-time ministry. In this Bible study, we will be looking at a much broader description of what it means to hear God’s call.

Perhaps you have been a Christian for a while and are wondering whether there is more to it than you are currently experiencing. Your call may come as you discover new ways God wants to work in and through you. For the deeply committed Christian, the call may be to go “further up and further in” studying God’s Word.

Sometimes we assume that gender makes a difference in how or whether we are called. For some reason in the past years, God’s call was reserved for the male population of our society. I’ve heard it said many times, “In Scripture, the vast majority of calls are for men.” But as I have studied the Bible, I’ve learned that the Bible is full of women who are called in quite specific ways. Some examples are: Deborah was a prophet and a judge (Judges 4:4); Miriam was a prophet (Exodus 15:20); Phoebe was a deacon (Romans 16:1).

It is true that Jonah received a more traditional call, in that he was called to be a prophet. However, both Jonah and Ruth received a call in the more general sense. Each Christian has a call! This means there is something specific that God has for you, a Christian, to say or do.

Having become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ and giving your life to God, each Christian must continue to listen for God’s call throughout his or her life. Each Christian must continue to ask, “What am I called to say?” “What am I called to do?” “What am I called to be?” I firmly believe that each Christian has a specific call to do something in God’s Kingdom as long as He gives us life. Trusting God to faithfully provide what is needed to fulfill the call. Will you hear God’s call and answer it with a yes?

During these times without a pastor, will you answer the call to:

· Pray daily for our session and congregational leadership

· Be faithful in attendance and giving

· Encourage the Search Committee as God’s person to fill our pulpit is located.

· Radiate God’s love with a smile.

PYF News and Meeting Time Correction

PYF is invited to a swimming party and supper at the home of Buddy and Sara Dell Gray this Sunday, August 26th from 4:45 to 7:15 P.M.

Correcting an error in last week's newsletter, the new time of 6:00 P.M. for PYF meetings is for “Wednesday” nights. The meeting time for Sunday evenings will remain at 5:00 P.M.

Why an Interim Pastor?

By Bill Mundroff, Laurie Monteith, Paulette Norman

When the Session was initially informed of Jon’s leaving, our first conversation centered around how quickly could the Church get a permanent Pastor called. During that same time, Dr. Greg Goodwiller, Presbytery Executor helped guide us through the recommended process which includes an Interim Pastor. Thus the Interim Committee was formed. As the committee went into much deeper thought and discussion, it became much clearer to us the wisdom behind this important and necessary part of the process.

As one thinks about the purpose of an Interim, it is analogous to the purpose of winter. I am sure many of us would just assume go from fall to spring and skip winter. Yet one must look at the underlying importance of this season. In many ways winter and the Interim Pastor serves the same purpose:

· They both kill off the weeds or bad habits, which, in turn, allow the gardener or congregation to see the landscape much clearer.

· They both allow the gardener or congregation to see the real potential and create a grand vision for their future.

· They both provide the water and nutrients required for re-energizing and rebirth.

· They both bring about a hope and great expectations for the upcoming season.

They both harden and mature the life within, allowing its internal strengths to be revealed and exploited.

As the committee has been deeply engaged in the Interim process, it is much easier for us to recognize the importance of the changing seasons. We have also realized that allowing the Interim Pastor the time required to perform these very important tasks is not only in the membership’s best interest, but short-cutting this process might be detrimental in the long run. As we enter into the phase of an Interim calling, the church must be patient and recognize its importance. The church must trust the process and its critical role in preparing us for the calling of our next permanent Pastor.

PW Coordinating Team Meeting 8/27

The first PW Coordinating Team meeting will be this Monday, August 27th at 9:00 A.M. in the Session room.

2007 Committees

During this time of transition, in the event of a need by the membership, the Session would like to re-issue the list of committees for 2007:

(An asterick signifies the committee moderator.
Elders names in bold text; Deacons names in plain text).

Administration
* Kenny Hopper , Paulette Norman
Claire Sanders, John White
Terri Broome

Christian Education
*Hal Herron, Laurie Monteith, Adam Pittman
Janie Ginn, Margaret Nix, Bailey Holland
Andrea Staten, Chris Ware

Endowment & Trusts
*Kenneth Brasell, Ira Gail White
Paulette Norman
Al Welshans, Smith Murphey

Evangelism & Fellowship
* Brad Clark , Dennis Lightsey
Ben Graves , Don Kilgore, David Maddux
Margaret Nix, Andrea Staten, Chris Ware

Membership
& Congregational Care
*Paulette Norman, Claire Sanders
Dennis Lightsey, Terri Broome , Janie Ginn

Missions
* Ira Gail White, Laurie Monteith, Adam Pittman
Terri Broome , Matthew Herron, David Maddux,

Property
* Dennis Lightsey, Ray Poole, Kenneth Brasell
Forrest Clark, Don Kilgore, Kevin Henry
Jason Herron, Matthew Herron, Margaret Nix

Stewardship
* Bill Mundroff , Kenny Hopper
Brad Clark , Molly Hawkins
William Cole, Al Welshans

Worship
* Harriet Beale, Molly Hawkins, John White
Smith Murphy, Kevin Henry, William Cole

Congregational Meeting August 26, 2007

There will be a congregational meeting next Sunday morning, August 26th at the 11:00 worship service to elect members to the Officers Nominating Committee.

PYF Time Change

Effective August 15th, PYF will begin meeting at 6:00 P.M. instead of 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday nights. PYF meeting time for Sundays will remain at 5:00 P.M.

Handbell Practice Resumes

Handbell practice will resume each Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M., beginning September 5th.

Sherwin Williams Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program

Our church is now enrolled in the 'Neighbor-to-Neighbor' program at Sherwin Williams. You may pick up a membership card from the table in the hall and receive 20% off regular prices and 5% off sale prices at the local Sherwin Williams.

Each time you use your card, the church will earn a “cash back” bonus in a special account at the store. For more details, see the flier that accompanies each membership card.

New Printer for Church Office

'Thank you' to an anonymous donor who personally financed the purchase of a new printer for the church office. The old one had been faithful for many years, but it finally stopped working recently.

The new laser jet printer is faster, much more efficient and very much appreciated!

Congregational Care in Extreme Heat

In the midst of this large and intense heat wave, congregations can make a significant difference in identifying and protecting people who are most vulnerable to heat related emergencies. Excessive heat (temperatures ranging 10 or more degrees above the typical seasonal high), are dangerous. During an average summer more than 100 people die each week from heat events. In Chicago, during a single week in 1995, the lives of over 700 people, most of whom were over age 65, in were lost.

People at risk for heat emergencies include:

*Those who have chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions ;

*Those who are frail elderly living alone or young children

*Those who work outside or in situations without air conditioning, or live in homes without air conditioning

*People in densely populated urban areas (the heat is trapped by cement and buildings)

*People who are overweight and obese

*People on fixed incomes who might feel as though they cannot afford expensive air cooling

*People who take certain medications, such as those treating depression, insomnia, or poor circulation

*Athletes and others who exert themselves outside during the hottest portions of the day are all at risk when temperatures and heat indices reach and exceed 100 degrees

Pets, too are at risk in weather excessively warm weather and should be kept inside if possible or at least provided with shade and constant cool water.

Draft of PW Handbook

Please pause Sunday morning to check your address and phone number in the draft of the 2007-2008 PW Handbook. If your entry is incorrect, please jot the correction in the margin beside your name. Thanks!

Interim Pastor Update

It has been several weeks since we have given everyone a status report. Two weeks ago we posted our CIF (Church Information Form) on the Presbyterian USA web site. As a result we have had 3 direct applications and 19 matched referrals, a total of 22 potential candidates. A note of interest is that there were a mix of males and females, as well as an experience-spread from young pastors with little experience to more senior pastors with many years of experience.

The Search Committee then reviewed all of the applications looking for the best matches to our congregation. We ended up with the top 6 candidates to pursue. These top 6 were sent a letter stating, “we have prayerfully narrowed our search to include your application.” Special note: Dr. Greg Goodwiller was impressed with our letter and asked to share it with interim committees.

We asked them to review our church web site, CIF form on-line, and consider exploring a potential relationship with our church. Everyone was given until August 17 to respond before we move to our next step.

They were told “our next step will be to review those candidates who express an interest in our Interim Pastor position.” At that point we will begin a more in-depth evaluation of the candidates, which will potentially include phone interviews, reference checks, as well as a sermon on tape.

Currently, we have had 2 of the 6 respond, stating they were interested in the interim position. They both mentioned they would be ending their current interim pastorate at the beginning of September. Over the next several days the committee will be meeting and starting the interview process.