Welcome to our website!     of Roseburg, Oregon

Directions:  The closest exit from I-5 is Exit # 124.  The church is located east of the I-5 freeway, south on Pine Street (a one way street) to Lane Avenue, and east (left) three blocks to the corner of Lane & Jackson.  The green sanctuary doors are on the corner and the office doors are located down the steps on Lane Avenue.  A handicap ramp to the sanctuary is in the back of the building by the handicap parking area.   MAP Children's Church Classes for youngsters Kindergarten through Fifth Grade are conducted immediately following their time with the children's lesson during the regular worship service. Those children who wish to be included in these classes (rather than remain in the Sanctuary) are escorted by their teacher to the classrooms. Classes are dismissed at the same time that the worship service concludes.		(Listed on the National Historic Registry) Sanctuary and Windows 823 SE Lane Avenue Roseburg, OR 97470 541-673-5559	WEBSITE DIRECTORY Missions Women Youth Music Directions Calendar Announcements Committees Pastors Staff Weddings Newsletter Message Contact Us
	Sign up for this informative monthly magazine thru this link. This site updated September 5,  2008	The church is located at the corner of Lane Avenue and Jackson Street in downtown Roseburg. The Sanctuary, education wing, Social Hall and restrooms are all handicap accessible. Joyful Noise Letter  Click here for lots of fun!

Office Hours   The church office is open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. each week day except holidays.   Contact us by email: Church Office	Prayer Requests Over 75 families are asked via email to pray and another 20-25 persons learn of requests via phone. To request prayer for yourself or someone you love, contact the church office.  To be included in the general prayers listed in the worship bulletin on Sunday, please contact the church office by Wednesday noon.	Tower Tidings Newsletter To receive this informative and inspiring publication by the first of each month, contact the church office. Subscriptions are free to members and friends of the congregation. Additional copies are available in the back of the Sanctuary or through the church office.
Lectionary Readings for Sundays

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Mission Statement        adopted October 2003 To invite all people into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ and the church, to grow as His followers, joyfully celebrating God's love and reaching out to the world with love and compassion.  OUR VISION First Presbyterian Church of Roseburg is a vibrant, inter-generational congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) which exists to give glory to God in Jesus Christ. We are committed to a three-fold vision: welcome, equip and send.  These outwardly focused words are what being a Christian is all about. Welcome fixes our attention on the newcomer, recognizing that the church also exists for the sake of those who are not yet part of it. Equip draws our focus to the spiritual journey every person travels.   It seeks to provide the tools needed to become all that God wants us to be. Send simply acknowledges that every Christian is called to make a difference in God's world.     "Gathering of the Flock" Potluck on September 7 after worship A great time for visitors to get acquainted with members of our congregation and enjoy an early fall potluck!			CO-PASTORS Vicky and Dwayne Brown Rev. Vicky Brown came to us with a strong back-ground in Christian Education. She was the Preschool Director at First Presbyterian Church in Medford, Oregon for eight years, where she also served as Christian Education Director for three years. She has a bachelor's degree from Linfield, A Master's in Education from Princeton Theological Seminary and received her Master's in Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She was ordained on March 19, 2000 at the Central Point church. She is presently working on her Doctorate in Spiritual Direction. Vicky likes to serve a church that desires to continue growing in their spiritual lives. Music has always played a big role in her life and ministry and she has studied both voice and guitar. She also enjoys reading, walking, gardening, quilting, cross stitching and cooking. Rev. Dr. Dwayne Brown came to us from First Presbyterian Church in Central Point, Oregon where he served as Head of Staff. Previously, he was the Associate Pastor at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon. During his time in Central Point, he served on many committees within the Presbytery of the Cascades. He holds a bachelor's degree from Linfield, a Master's in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He likes to serve a church that values strong preaching, teaching, administration and pastoral care. Dwayne enjoys working with people of all ages. His hobbies include guitar, reading, traveling, computer games and he is also a private pilot. He feels having a sense of humor makes life much more enjoyable. Over the past 20+ years, Dwayne and Vicky have worked together in a variety of ministries including youth ministry, youth staff training, camps, retreats, and in First Presbyterian Church in Central Point as pastor and church educator. A new and exciting phase of their lives began when they came to FPC in Roseburg as Co-Pastors.  Dwayne and Vicky have two children: Peter who has graduated from Southern Oregon University--continues to live and work in Southern Oregon, and Elizabeth who attends the University of Oregon. They have two dogs - Hobbit and Frodo, a floppy eared rabbit they call Samwise Gamgee and two fish.   This month's message from Pastor

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Regularly Scheduled Committee Meetings

Upcoming on the Calendar

v  Calligraphy/Card making class begins September 17

v  Movie and Pizza on September 28.

v  Pastor Dwayne’s Tuesday class begins September 30.

v  Congregational Life Survey on October 19.

v  Women’s Retreat is November 14-16.

Announcements are updated for Sunday, September 7, 2008.

Today, plan to attend the “Gathering of the Flock” potluck after worship. Parish Life will provide chicken, baked beans, and beverages. Bring your salad or dessert to share or just come!

The Sunday morning Bible Study led by the Rev. Jack Finney will begin meeting again next Sunday, September 14, in the Library.

The Sunday morning Video Discussion class led by Co-pastors Dwayne and Vicky will begin a series entitled “Beyond Theology” next Sunday.

                Both Sunday adult classes start at 9:15 a.m.

Gals, don't forget the PW Fall Gathering September 20 here at our church. Easy sign-up in the social hall after the Service today. Have your $10 ready, or write a check to Presbyterian Women of the Cascades. Looking forward to seeing you at this great event! Brunch and lunch are included in the price. What a deal!

Turn in your “Dinner for 6, 7, and 8” forms soon. Invite your friends or neighbors who haven’t had the opportunity to mingle with other members of our church family for an evening of good food and conversation.

Choir rehearsals resume this week. Jubilate on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., Celestial Tollers on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. and Evensong Bells at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Pastor Dwayne’s Tuesday afternoon class begins on September 30 at 1:30 p.m. This will be an eight week class called “Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation.” Study guide for the class is available now in the church office—cost $8.

The Fourth Annual Creation Care Fellowship is September 20. Registration forms are in the Tower Tidings or at the back of the sanctuary.

 
The pew cushions have arrived and are now in place in the sanctuary!

The elevator is in use!

Carpet is installed and painting is completed!

The patio bench and fence project is completed!

Children's Church:   Each Sunday this program is offered during worship for K-5 grades. The children are dismissed to go with the teachers after the Children's Time in worship.

 Bible Classes Include:  Newcomers are always welcome in either of the classes meeting at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays.

 Reverend Jack Finney leads a Bible study in the church library. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore how the Bible can speak to your everyday life.

 Pastors Dwayne and Vicky host a video discussion class in the second floor classroom. The current series is called "Wonders, Sacred and Mysterious." This fascinating series covers Stonehenge, The Great Pyramids, Hagia Sophia, Borobudur, St. Peter's Basilica, and The Taj Mahal. 

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The Deacons at First Presbyterian Church is made up of fifteen elected and ordained persons. They take turns preparing the juice and bread for Holy Communion the first Sunday of each month. They serve as greeters at the ramp door, send out greeting cards to those in distress as well as those celebrating. They deliver meals to those who have been ill, coordinate and provide food for memorial service receptions in our Social Hall and look after those who are grieving. They regularly visit shut-ins and call on those who seldom have company. Our Deacons are a special blessing in many ways behind the scenes. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from something the Deacons could do, please don't hesitate to call the Deacon of the Month.  One of the more popular projects of the Deacons is providing food boxes containing food items designed to make up a complete holiday meal for families with elementary age children. These 85+ boxes are distributed at Easter, Thanksgiving and Super Bowl time. Each elementary school counselor in the Roseburg area provides a list of six families they feel would most benefit from receiving a food box for the holiday. Ten food boxes are also delivered at the Douglas County AIDS Council for needy families of AIDS victims.

The funds used by the Deacons for their various projects are not part of the Church's General Operating Fund Budget but come from special gifts made by members and friends of the congregation.  The Deacons also make another Ministry possible through the church office. In addition to small quantities of canned and boxed food, diapers, and bottled water provided to individuals, money is paid directly to Greyhound Bus, OK Cash-N-Save, the DMV, and various pharmacies to help transients or homeless people with basic needs. About 30 sack lunches are also given out each month. Many people come to the church each month asking for help. The number seeking help to put gas in their vehicles increased dramatically with the continually rising cost of gasoline.    

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The Mission Committee of First Presbyterian Church is involved in an ongoing effort to offer education, experience and opportunity of awareness of Mission in our church, our community and our world. We participate in the following offering opportunities while providing information and education about the recipients of these special offerings.                                                                    

Our philosophy regarding mission work?  Eleanor Roosevelt said it quite well:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Alternative Christmas Market thru SERRV	Items from around the world are displayed for sale during November with proceeds going to help this program teach craft making skills to third world country civilians. Many items come from India, South America, Eastern Europe, Africa and China.
Angel Tree Ministry thru Prison Fellowship	We shop for and wrap Christmas gifts for the children of prisoners to make sure that the children don't go without Christmas. These families also receive a holiday food box from the Deacons. Registrations for these children to attend summer camps are also processed by volunteers on the Mission Committee while transportation to and from the camp is provided by volunteers within the congregation.
Battered Persons Advocacy	Soaps, shampoo and other hygiene items are collected and forwarded to this facility where many residents arrive with few personal possessions.
Bread for the World
Casa de Belen	A newly refurbished nursing home now serves as home for previously homeless teens, single teenage parents, and families with teens.
Church World Services:	Blanket Sunday Victim Assistance to disaster areas in India and El Salvador Victims of school violence Refugee assistance
Community United Projects (CUP)	CUP meets in our Social Hall the first Tuesday of each month to coordinate multiple services around the area so that we can be more effective in helping those in need.
Douglas County AIDS Council	This local organization continues to work to support, educate and help prevent the spread of diseases among the homosexual and drug using communities.
FISH Pantry	Non-perishable food items are brought to the church and then forwarded to the FISH.
Friendly Kitchen (Meals on Wheels)	Nutritional hot meals are delivered to elderly and handicapped people Monday through Friday for minimal costs.  Many in our congregation volunteer as delivery drivers.
Habitat for Humanity	In the most recent home built, FPC sponsored the utility room & its contents.
Heifer Project	At Christmas time, we encourage people to purchase animals in lieu of other traditional Christmas gifts. Gift cards are provided.
Narcotics Anonymous	Meetings are held within the church every weekday at Noon, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  Attendance averages 20-30 individuals at each.
One Great Hour of Sharing	A portion of the funds collected in May 2004 went to help with refurbishing Casa de Belen, the new facility for homeless teens.
Open Door Clinic
Presbyterian Coffee Project	Coffee is ordered through Equal Exchange several times through the year and members make their purchases through the church office. Proceeds go to help the growers in third-world countries. 12 ounce bags of beans or drip grind are available for $5.50 each. Several popular blends including French Roast, Breakfast Blend, Tanzanian Jubilee, Cafe' Salvadore, and Body, Mind Soul are available. We also stock organic decaf. Tea is also available for $2.50/box. We just got our first order of hot chocolate mix and baking cocoa. $4.25 per can. No partially hydrogenated oils in them; much healthier for you!
Roseburg Rescue Mission	The Mission is just 2-1/2 blocks away and many come to our doors seeking help. Bus tickets to nearby towns, 5-10 gallons of gasoline or help with prescription costs are made available with the help of the Deacons' funds. We often work as partners to help people achieve their goals.
Sharing the Harvest	In mid-summer, tables are set up in the Social Hall where members display fresh produce to sell; all proceeds go to the FISH pantry.

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All members are welcome at the regularly scheduled monthly meetings!

      
Please contact the church office or one of the officers.  Books for the current study program from Horizon "For Everything A Season, A Study of the Liturgical Calendar" are available in the church office. They will cost $6. Priscilla Circle meets on the second Thursday of each month at Noon while the Miriam-Elizabeth Circle meets on the third Thursdays of each month at 1:30 p.m. All are encouraged to attend these gatherings to enjoy the fellowship and Bible study.

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Activities are planned throughout the year for those in 6th through 12th grade.   Watch the updates on the church calendar so you don't miss any special events coming up.

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We have a voice choir and two bell choirs!

Celestial Tollers Bell Choir rehearses each Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. from mid-September through the end of May. This choir is made up of advanced ringers who have had experience playing. It is directed by Jan Petersen. Celestial Tollers play nearly every Sunday morning during worship.

Evensong Bell Choir rehearses each Thursday at 5:00 p.m. from mid-September through the end of May. The choir members are mostly novices and the musical selections played are usually a little easier.  The choir is directed by Pat Mehlhoff.

Jubilate Choir rehearses each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and offers an anthem on Sundays during worship from mid-September through the end of May. The music selected is usually composed for a four-part choir. Director Jason Heald enjoys challenging the members to stretch and learn. There are approximately 20-25 voices and anyone who enjoys singing is encouraged to participate. Quite often this choir is accompanied by flute, guitar, brass instruments or the bell choir.

Lenten Meditations in Music is a series of programs offered each Friday during the liturgical season of Lent. A variety of musicians are recruited to offer their selections chosen to reflect the season. These programs are free and open to the public. Following a donation luncheon prepared by the Presbyterian Women that is provided each of these six Fridays, the musical programs begin at 12:10 p.m. and conclude at 12:50 p.m.

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Dear Friends,

      So, what did you do during the summer?  That was often the question the teacher asked on the first day of school.  We usually had to either talk or write about it.  It was a good question.  It broke the ice for a new year of school and got us talking with one another in the classroom setting again.

      Our summer was both similar to and yet different from any previous summer.  We took some vacation time as we usually do.  We went to Sunriver for a few days and enjoyed riding our bikes on the paths that wander throughout this beautiful community.  We visited Vicky’s mom and other family and friends in Olympia, Washington and my parents in Florence.  Summer is a great time of year to get away and recharge our batteries and our vacations were wonderful.

      We also did some unique things during the summer.  The first Sunday in July found us at the First Presbyterian Church of Central Point for their centennial celebration.  I served as their pastor for over ten years before we moved to Roseburg and this was our first official visit back.  I preached, Vicky sang, and we both helped lead other parts of the service.  It was good to reconnect with people, tell stories, and relive a piece of our past.

      In mid-July I traveled to San Francisco Theological Seminary for a week-long Bible study workshop on some of the Lectionary passages we will be preaching on this coming year.  Two seminary professors split the class time.  The first did the raw biblical work and the second helped us to “experience” the texts in personal prayer, small group reflection, and in physical movement.  In the afternoon, after a siesta, we met in small groups to discern what we felt God was teaching us each day.  I learned many helpful things that will find their way into sermons this year and it was good to reconnect with the seminary.  I had not been there for many years.

      On the second Sunday in August Vicky and I led the service at First Presbyterian Church in Portland as part of the Presbytery sponsored pulpit exchange.  Interim Pastor Tom Green took care of things in our church.  It was a wonderful way to make deeper connections within our connectional system.  We ran into some old friends and made some new ones.  I hope the exchange Sunday happens again next year; it was a good experience for all of us.

      It has been a good summer in many ways.  We feel refreshed and ready to begin a new year.  So, what did you do during the summer?

   Pastor Dwayne