The Skirl for May, 2021

Volume 17: Issue 9

The Skirl is a monthly publication of
Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church
420 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

Browse our website at www.ttpresbyterian.com

Sunday worship is in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m.
Call 988-3514 to RSVP. Conditions for attending in-person worship are found in the “Re-Entry Plan” article in this edition.

Videos of Sunday Services are available for viewing on our website.

All adults and older teens are invited to participate, including friends from everywhere. Being part of a Zoom conference is easy and fun. See you there!
 

The Ruth Circle meets Monday, May 10 (not May 3)

We’re holding off a week until May 10 for our final session.  Due to  construction in the Narthex and Choir Room, we will probably meet on Zoom, and everyone will be alerted ahead of time. Lesson 9 is “The End of Lament” in our study book "Into the Light". We will have our lesson at 11:30 AM, then afterwards we can chat.

From Rev. John Hougen, our new Interim Pastor

I’ve been asked a number of times, “How are you doing?” My response is, “I’m acclimating.” I am becoming accustomed to my new surroundings.

My wife and I enjoy visiting friends in Colorado. Life at 9,000 feet is invigorating and breath taking. Literally. When we arrive it always takes a few days to acclimate to the altitude. We find ourselves short of breath initially and then it gradually gets better. About the time I acclimate to being at 9,000 feet its time to go home.

I’m acclimating to warm days and sunshine. It is amazing how soul lifting the sunshine is. I’m acclimating to the traffic. I am learning to go with the flow. Take plenty of time and don’t be in a hurry. I’m acclimating to having a huge variety of shopping and restaurant options. There are so many new things to try in this area.

I’m also acclimating to TTPC. I believe I am interacting and working well with our terrific church office staff. I am understanding how TTPC likes to worship. I never want you to be a part of our worship time and ever say that you just wasted an hour of your life. Vital worship is a high priority for me and I am so thankful for Mike, Ika, Ashley, Kavan, and Janice helping to make it so.

Further I am getting to know members of the Session and members of the congregation. From meetings in my office to hosting Wednesday morning coffee breaks on Zoom, we are getting acquainted. I am thoroughly enjoying that. You are wonderful people.

As I acclimate I am also noticing things. There are things we will talk about and change. There are things we will continue to do. A huge goal for my time with you as your interim pastor is to assist you in getting ready for your next pastor. We are and will be doing exactly that.

But along the way we are going to worship, do mission, develop relationships, and have some fun. Please join us, as you are comfortable doing so, as we journey together. I welcome your visits and conversations. It is my desire to get to know TTPC and all of you. I am looking forward to our time together and to discovering all that God is doing in our midst.

By the way, this morning I took a picture of the TV screen with this week’s forecast. Temperature in the 80’s and sunny every day. I texted it to all those poor souls stuck in northern climates. Isn’t that what Floridians do with their friends and family? Yep, I’m definitely acclimating.

Pastor John
 

Free Community Drive-thru Dinner for May

On May 28^th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM we will host a FREE DRIVE-THRU Dinner of Chili Cheese Spaghetti for our church family and anyone in our community. This event is hosted by the TTPC Fellowship Committee and is FREE for anyone to enjoy a FREE take home meal including cookies and water, and for them to experience the warm and inviting hospitality of TTPC and its members.

We will continue to host our FREE Monthly Drive-thru dinners for as long as we can and help people stretch their food dollars during this pandemic, and give our church members a visible sign that we are reaching out to help our church members and community. We are also looking for volunteers to help our committee members by offering up their time to help with the preparation of food, or boxing up food and snacks and literature about our church, donating food or helping with the expenses.

If you would like to help out in any way, please contact Fred Crakow at (813) 985-2866 or fcrakow@tampabay.rr.com for further information.

Our Re-Entry Procedures for Worship in Fellowship Hall

1) TTPC began in-person worship on Sunday, November 1, 2020. It is the plan to continue recorded worship as well.

2) As we re-enter in-person worship, we will implement the following measures to provide for the health and safety of our worshipers.

• Attendees will use a telephone reservation system to let us know you are planning to attend worship. Call the church by noon Thursday at 988-3514 please to RSVP.

• We will gather in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. for one worship service.

• We will enter through the double doors (with the ramp) on the south side (Bullard Parkway side) of Fellowship Hall. Entrance into Fellowship Hall will be marked with 6 foot separation stripes. Some areas of the building will be restricted from entry.

• All in attendance will have their temperature taken with a forehead digital thermometer. We ask that you do not attend if you are feeling ill, chills, fever, cough, runny nose, stomach issues or other symptoms. If you have traveled through an airport, please wait 10 days before attending worship.

• Out of care and concern for all who gather for worship, all worshipers ages three and older will be required to wear a face covering while inside Fellowship Hall.

• Hand sanitation stations will be located throughout Fellowship Hall.

• Chairs will be set up 6 feet apart, with groupings for families to sit together. Ushers will direct worshipers to their assigned seats.

• In accordance with guidelines, we will have no congregational singing, no Coffee Fellowship, no touching during Passing of the Peace.

• A drop-box will be available for offerings and prayer request.

• Following worship, attendees will be asked to leave through the Fellowship Hall double doors leaving a 6 foot distance between groups/individuals.

  The worship area will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized following the worship service.

Easy and Secure

Do you use the Internet for shopping? Banking? Bill paying? Now you can give to Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church with the ease of on-line shopping. Use on-line giving through your bank to set up a recurring “e‑tithe” to make an automatic offering every week, month or year, in whatever amount you choose.

You may also contribute with our Give Now button.

We continue to check our mailbox daily so you may mail a check to us at:
420 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

Elders in Active Service

Class of 2021: Alton Barillier, Jr., Howard Blevins, Fred Crakow, Anne Miller, Mary Morton, Ika Prawoko

Class of 2022: Mary Bauman, Racine Brown, John Campbell, Liz Giles, Joe Mills, Michael Parr, Linda Thanasides

Missions We Support

Alpha House, Metropolitan Ministries, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Judeo-Christian Health Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Trinity Cafe, Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center, TTPC Good Samaritan Fund & Food Pantry, Temple Terrace Presbyterian Weekday School, Villa International in Atlanta, Meals on Wheels Tampa, Thornwell School and Counseling

Email Us

Pastor: Rev. John H. Hougen, pastor@TTpresbyterian.com

Director of Choirs: Ashley & Kavan Gillespie, gilleskm@gmail.com

Church Office Secretary: Jeanne Carignan, Jeanne@TTPresbyterian.com

Property/Finance Mgr.: Michael Parr, Michael@TTPresbyterian.com

Church Office (813) 988-3514, the office is open part time. Please call ahead if you are coming to drop off or pick up something.  Voice mail messages are being retrieved many times daily.

Weekday School Director: Carrie Gassen, ttpweekdayschool@yahoo.com
Weekday School Office: (813) 988-3038, some classes are open, call us.

Browse our website at www.ttpresbyterian.com