PPC ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME

“PPC ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME” by Marcia Barker

I moved to Gwinnett County from Jackson, MS, in 1979, to American Square Apartments, located next door to PPC. Having been Baptist all my life, the thought of attending a convenient neighborhood Presbyterian Church never crossed my mind. My husband at the time and I moved to Atlanta as I had gotten a promotion with ATF (where I met Teresa Cole) as an Inspector Trainee.

While living at American Square Apartments and commuting to First Baptist downtown Atlanta, I received several newsletters from PPC as they were spreading their information to the nearby apartments. Knowing the state of my failing marriage, I was quite intrigued by the Singles’ group. It sounded open minded and fun so I stored it in my memory.

After 7 years of marriage I was divorced from my first husband. Still I felt Baptist was in my blood, so once single-again I tried attending Wieuca Road Baptist Church….a long way from the apartments I had moved into at Forest Vale. I realized that I wouldn’t really get a feel for the church unless I went to their singles Sunday school. Oh no, I didn’t have enough time to get there as Sunday school started at 9:30 and worship at 11:00 a.m.

Then I remembered the flyers I had received from that cute little Presbyterian Church in the woods next to American Square Apartments. They had what seemed to be a great Singles-Again ministry and their worship started at 10:00 am followed by Sunday school at 11. Could I go to a Presbyterian Church? Sure, why not. So, I took a deep breath and went there. What a reception. People were soooooo friendly and accepting. It was a place I didn’t want to leave. They became my family…my home away from home

I’ll never forget Nancy Manderson who was sitting behind me during the 10 a.m. service. When it was over, I thought I’d sneak out, but NOT. Nancy shook my hand, invited me to stay for Sunday school. Then she wanted to direct me to the right class and give me options. Upon finding out I was single, she asked are you divorced, widowed, or just single? Wow, it was okay to be divorced? Hallelujah…this might be the place for me. And indeed it was.

John Nicholson was the pastor. He was an excellent preacher and a very interesting, highly intelligent person. He was a little difficult to get to know. When you would ask him something, he would pause and seem to stare before responding. At first it made me a bit uncomfortable. In time I grew to love his wisdom and ability to think things through as he waited for the spirit to lead him in his response. I learned a lot from this wise man.

The Singles Ministry
Eleanor Timmons, Director of the Singles’ Ministry, was my salvation during those sometimes dark days of being single-again. This and the music ministry were truly what fed my spirit and kept me at Pilgrimage. The singles’ group was my family. There are no words to adequately describe how much this ministry touched and guided my life.

The “single-again” and the “singles” (never been married) group often joined together for activities. By this time I was scouting out the guys, particularly those who had “never been married.” Guess who I found…..Steve. We dated and fell in love throughout the spring, summer and early fall of 2002. I went to a special training for my new job with Defense Investigative Services in Richmond, VA, for three long weeks. On the second week, Steve came to VA and proposed. Three weeks later we were married in a beautiful, small service at the Norcross Tucker location on November 6, 2002 by John Nicholson.

We joined the young married couples Sunday school class lead by Roger & Mary Trumbull. We also had a very strong support group and met for social gatherings regularly.

PPC Music Ministry

Judy Cuthburson was Director of Music at the time I came to PPC in 1981. During worship I remember sitting next to Kay Elliott (Heidt now) and so enjoyed the harmony produced by my lyrical soprano voice and her deep alto strains. She told me that I had a good voice and should join the choir. I wasted no time in doing so, as singing God’s praises is my highest form of worship. Though I had been involved in music all my life through piano lessons, organ lessons, church choirs and school chorus, Judy was the first one in my life, besides my mother, who truly thought I was talented vocally. Judy helped build my confidence and I started singing solos and in small groups and truly enjoyed it. I am greatly indebted to this wonderful lady who showed me I could sing God’s praises individually and as a group.

At some point Carol Jordan became our Music Director. I learned so much about music and developed an intense love particularly for contemporary Christian music under her direction. Over the years our choir became very, very good. We also did some great cantatas. I sang lots of solos. We had weekend retreats in the Georgia Mountains to rehearse for cantatas and special music, but mostly for fun and fellowship. We were a very tight group. We had a small group named Rejoice who sang for various events, even at Chateau Elan one Christmas. The choir became my family and support group.

Music Directors/Associate Music Directors/Accompanists
Noteworthy in my mind were Roxanne Golden who started playing for the church at age 13. Then were many, but especially memorable were Debra McCollum, Mary Ann (the piano bar lady), Lori Zeiker, Jeff Hammond, Anna Herrington, Todd Ferguson, Fred Binkholder (?) and Jean Ann Crites.

Jean Ann Crites – The loving, supportive glue who has helped hold the choir and church together. Her loving, caring spirit shines through as she shares her compassion with others due to her own experience of the early loss of her husband, Chris. As the church began to get smaller, so did the choir. But we still remain among the most dedicated groups in the church.

Anna Herrington demonstrates that she is truly God’s angel, servant and messenger through her gentleness, faithfulness, and expression of her God given talent through music. Anna, I could listen to you play the piano forever. Someday you will be in that heavenly orchestra and we’ll all be praising God eternally.

The Youth Program

Dale Moody was a fabulous Youth Director. Judy Moore Padgett, Youth Director, and Young Life Leader….developed one of the strongest youth programs our church has ever known and my children were just on the edge of beginning middle school when she stepped down. Jan Day---I was on the committee that hired her. Though she did not possess the educational credentials the church thought they were looking for, she possessed experience and wisdom beyond what any education can give. She taught parenting classes for parents with teens and how to deal with all those issues. She was the only person on staff to truly take an interest in our daughter as she struggled through the teenage years. Jay & Alyson Crossman, youth volunteers, truly helped raise my children. They are their second parents and I’ll always be indebted to them.

Pastors/Associates
Joe Sandifer, was the next pastor I recall after John Nicholson. He always had a great message and was so personable with everyone. He was easy to like and usually easy to get along with. He counseled Steve & I as we faced infertility and went through our somewhat painful adoption processes. Joe baptized both of our children. I always wanted to serve on the diaconate or session, but was only nominated once in the days of John Nicolson when they nominated more than they had positions for. I lost. But I have gained, toiled, and grown spiritually as I continue to serve on the last session of this church. With God’s help I will see this through till the end.

Terry Webster – His evangelism ministry brought so many families into the church. The Bible study groups he led in homes were inspiring.

Liz Forney was another angel who was our Associate Pastor for a few of years. Liz did a lot for the women of our church as she led retreats which were full of spirituality and fellowship. She also was a dynamic speaker and I always enjoyed her sermons. I identified with her on another spiritual level as she was an adoptive parent to an adorable son from China.

Our pilgrimage continued as we were in interim facilities and eventually built the church building on the property where we worship today. It was exciting and scary times for our church.

Liz left, Joe retired and we experienced a double whammy in the loss department.
We then had INTERIM times of gloom and doom lead by Interim Pastor Rich Stanford…Some of us endured this time but it really broke our spirit.

Then came Greg McMinn as Pastor, with the hope of new life, unfortunately our church stumbled and began to crumble. Having gone through difficult interim times without a compassionate pastor most of us were in great need of spiritual renewal. Fires began to flame and had to be squelched as various groups and individuals were in conflict. It’s very sad in retrospect.

Greg McMinn changed my life in a way that many are unaware. I definitely developed a mission as he & Leigh sought to adopt their first child using the services of my organization, AIS. It was a heartfelt, spiritual process for me. And the results were well…….glorious!!! Greg helped us deal with the early unexpected arrival of my daughter, Melody’s baby, our most glorious angel, Amelia and he baptized her. Greg also officiated at the funeral for my Dad on December 12th, 2008.

Special Thanks to these PPC Angels and Activities – Honorable Mention

Fellowship & Food – Always brought PPC members together – special thanks to Liz Gray and her HEALING food. Andy Reader, Lois McClain, Carol Taylor and many more.

Bob & Kathy Lamp’l, Martha & Martha Ann Johnson, Kristi Ends, David Lamp’l and their extended families, became our best friends and our family.

Chili Cook-offs – My husband proved that he was not only #1 with his chili recipe at church; he obviously was the best cook in our family. Well, now maybe Jonathan is??? Let’s see what happens at the cook-off this afternoon. Vote for Steve’s chilli…

Relay For Life – Especially meaningful as we watched Kathy Lamp’l go through colon cancer and so many of our members go through other forms of cancer.

Valentine Dinners – led by Judy Moore Padgett….an extremely fun and loving event.

Easter Celebrations for the children – I remember the first one we attended with Amelia and the pictures and memories of her on a horse at 6 months old.

Halloween – When Jonathan & Melody were preschoolers the youth made REALLY SCARY haunted houses for the younger kids. Everything became tamer over the years.

Crossing Contemporary Services lead by the youth of the church including my precious son, Jonathan, who played the drums. Alison Crossman, David Casson, and Alison Fanning who helped lead this wonderful ministry.

Christmas – Journey to Bethlehem – seeing my children as angels, shepherds, and kings was a joy. The music programs were always such glorious.

Christmas Eve Services – The joy of watching the bright eyed wonder in the young children’s eyes.

My mom & dad when visiting our family from MS usually attended services at PPC to share in the activities of their daughter’s family, especially their only grandchildren, Jonathan and Melody. Once they moved to Atlanta in 2002, they were known to attend PPC for their grandchildren’s special programs, special music, and daughter’s solos.

They grew to love our church through the years so in June of 2008 they joined PPC as home bound members after Dad entered Life Care never to return to his earthly home.

For the Angels whose fervent prayers, cards, food, and love saw me and my family through my recent brain surgery and the loss of my Dad, we are eternally grateful.

This church has been my life, my soul, my all. But it is time to move on to new callings & ministries whether together or apart. You will always be a part of my spiritual pilgrimage. Let’s not lose these ties. I leave you with love and the hope that you too will find your spiritual calling.