NEWS

The Missions and Benevolence committee asks you to please be aware of our traditional special offering to take place on Mother's Day in support of the Presbyterian Homes. The Mission and Benevolence Committee urge you to support this mission with your tithes and offerings. Please pray about this and determine what you can do to help support this mission to the elderly on Mothers Day. Be looking for the brochure and offering envelope for Presbyterian homes in your bulletin on Mothers Day. We know that Smyrna Pesbyterian will continue in their long tradition of generosity, love and charity; we thank you in advance and may God bless you, The Missions and Benevolence Committee.

Smyrna's Media Center will be open Sunday, May 4 and Sunday, May 18 from 5:00-6:30pm (in addition to our regular morning hours) for anyone who would like to come in to browse or check out books. Debbie Vissering will open the library while she is working on some reorganizing projects for us.

Also, the Media Center staff is looking for someone who can volunteer their time, expertise, and equipment to transfer some videocassettes onto dvds. We have a number of Camp Meeting and other Smyrna-related videos that we need to consolidate to conserve space. Please contact Pam Ivey to volunteer.

The Relay for Life Team would like to thank Ruth Norman, our team leader, for all the hard work she did to make this year's event so successful. From organizing the fund raisers to planning the big night, we thank you for your time and dedication to such a worthy cause. We all are touched by your caring heart. Thanks for everything!

SUMMER IS HERE AND IT'S TIME TO START CLEANING THOSE CABINS AND FINDING OUT WHAT OLD MAN WINTER DAMAGED. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT HAS SET MAY 1ST AS OPENING DAY OF THE CAMPGROUND. WE NEED TO START PREPARING THE CABINS FOR THE UPCOMING VIETNAMESE MEETING THAT STARTS MAY 22ND. ALSO, MISSION WORK CAMP AND CAMP MEETING ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE.

ALSO, ALL 5 OF THE CAMPSIGHTS HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR CAMP MEETING THIS YEAR. Thanks so much, Joe Kemp 678-272-7243

Calling all VBS Volunteers!!! VBS will be June 2nd thru June 6th this year and we will have fun with POWER LAB!!! The children will experiment with Science and discovering JESUS' miraculous POWER! Please Call 404-510-8563 or email-djmmk30@yahoo.com if you would like to volunteer!! Thanks, Denise Martin

Mike Wofford and Hal Scott will be at the pool every Saturday so won't you please come and help when you can. Thank you...

Preparations for the 2008 Mission Work Camp are underway. We hope you will give prayerful consideration to volunteering again this year to help during the week of June 8-14. Sign-up sheets for the various areas of need will be in the narthex in a few weeks. REMEMBER THE NEED ALSO FOR COMMUNITY MISSION WORK.

FEED THE HUNGRY - Have we forgotten that the first Sunday of each Month is designated as the Sunday we bring food for the Food Bank? Remember this Sunday, to bring what you can afford to give, so the Food Bank will have food for the hungry. We do not want any child in Rockdale County to go to bed hungry. Thank you.

When Rev. Clarence Drake passed away two years ago this month Ms. Frances, his precious wife, began putting together a book of Rev. Clarence's' daily devotions. The Drake family have all worked together to help proof and organize this wonderful, Spirit filled book. Pastor Tri Van Nguyen, our Vietnamese pastor, has donated the producing of the devotional book. Rev. Clarence loved our Vietnamese friends as they did him. Ms. Frances is donating all of the proceeds to Smyrna's Vietnamese Missions. The minimum cost is $10.00 each. The books will be ready by this weekend. To purchase this wonderful gift see Sara Swanson, daughter of Rev. & Frances Drake, Pastor Tri, Kathy Sims or any of our Vietnamese Youth. Email Sara at Sara.Swanson@emoryhealthcare.org phone 404-863-3689 or Kathy Sims at ksims@simsseating.com phone 770-483-4879.

Would you be willing to serve the Master in helping with the preparation of communion elements? Those on that committee have served for years and are moving to other service needs at Smyrna. The preparation is done and put in place on Saturday, small change between services on Sunday and the cleaning up following the 11:00am Service. Depending on the number, that is willing (takes 2 persons to handle smoothly), it would mean once a quarter or less. Contact Worship Ministry Team Elder, Lon Bedillion 770-785-7388 or Tanya Housworth, (678-492-2936) Preparation Committee Chairperson.

Smyrna Presbyterian Church is seeking a part time person to serve as Director of Children's Ministries. This individual would lead and coordinate ministries for children in 5th grade and younger. Session has approved an exception to allow interested and qualified Smyrna members to be considered for this position. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact a member of the search committee for more information.

The Smyrna Presbyterian Women are trying to find out how many women in our church are Lifetime Members of Presbyterian Women. If you are one, please let Joanne Hardy, 770-922-5825, or Lana in the church office know.

The people of Vietnam need Bibles! Christianity is gaining a good foothold in Vietnam but they need the Word to study. We are going to ask all Sunday School classes and Circles to make it a project and a contest between you to see who can collect the most money for Bibles. The Bibles are printed in Vietnam and will only cost $1.00 a piece. That's less that a cup of coffee! So let's see who can come up with the largest donation by December.

In 2001 Smyrna PW published a cookbook, "Feeding the Flock" & designated the funds to benefit the Swimming Pool Restoration Fund. There are 99 copies remaining and are available for a $10 donation. Please contact Ruth Norman at 770.922.7936 to reserve your copy.

The Rockdale County Clothes Closet is in urgent need ot warm clothing for all ages. Also, space heaters, blankets. etc. Take them to the closet on Oakland Avenue.

Calling all men -We have a great opportunity to serve our Lord. We need a group of men be apart of a rotating team to stay with Gordon during the 11 o'clock Sunday services. If you feel led to be apart of this ministry, please email me or call me at 770-785-7749. Thanks. Kenny Jones

Attention All Men! Are you sensing the need for the male companionship, conversation or maybe you just need to get away? We need you!! We are starting a fellowship on the each Saturday before communion Sunday. Join us at Betty’s for breakfast at 8:00am and enjoy good food and Christian manly fellowship. We will share a thought or scripture for the month, and also share our prayer concerns. Our agenda will be to abide in His agenda, while teaching each other to become obedient men of God. If you’re 18 or older, please join us. Never think you are too old to participate, you are the ones we need as mentors. Our next meeting is March 31. Call me if you have questions 770-560-8601. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17.

From Evangelism and Assimilation: The second Sunday of each month is being designated as ”New Member” Sunday. Anyone wishing to become a member of Smyrna Presbyterian Church may join the Session in the parlor at 10:45 am. You may also choose any Sunday you wish to be welcomed and recognized at the 8:45 or 11:00 service.

The Special Needs Ministry is part of a continuing effort to accommodate our families with members who have special needs. Individualized adaptations have been made so that these members and their families can participate in the fellowship, worship and work of Smyrna Presbyterian. Our facility provides equal access. Though this ministry is still in its fledgling stages, it is our hope that one day that any person of varying capabilities can enter our church and find a home where they can worship in peace and know their family members are being provided for in an appropriate manner. Volunteers are still needed and training will be provided. Contact Stephanie Smith if you are interested in being part of this ministry.