New class added-Guatemala

For those of you checking your catalog for CCS classes coming up, there's nothing in the catalog for January 4, but there have been requests for something to fill the gap until term 3. Therefore, CCS announces that Pam and Andy Moye will do a one time class on the Presbytery's mission visioning trip to Guatemala on Sunday, January 4 at 9:45 AM.

In 2007, the Presbyterian Denomination sent missionaries into 144 Presbyteries to highlight the denomination's work in mission. The missionary who came to several churches in the Flint River Presbytery was Ellen Dozier, a missionary to Guatemala. This year, the Flint River Presbytery Commission on mission and evangelism commissioned 12 members of various churches to go to Guatemala to explore possible mission partners there. Pam and Andy were on the trip and will describe the country, its people and the reasons for choosing the partner that will be offered to the Presbytery.

Pam is a former merchandise manager for well known department stores. Her volunteer activities include the boards of Horizon Theater in Atlanta, Westville, the Stewart County Historical Commission, Valley Interfaith Promise, the Columbus Museum, and she is an elder and chair of the Global Mission Ministry at First Presbyterian.

Andy was also in retailing and held several vice presidential jobs in department stores before becoming President of the Alexander Seewald Company. His volunteer activities include the immediate past chair of Westville and the immediate past chair of the Flint River Presbytery Council. He holds a masters degree in International Business and has written two books and numerous articles.

Merry Christmas!

If you're one of those folks who attend a Christmas eve service once a year, find some inspiration there, and then go home with questions in your mind, you might find answers in a CCS course. Term 3 starts in January and there are courses for every question. You can get a catalog by calling 706/322-4523 or at http://www.columbusfpc.org/

Does hurt to look! And blessings to you and yours!

Dee Potts

Beginning on Sunday January 11 and continuing for five weeks, the Center for Christian Studies is proud to present Mrs. Dee Potts and a Bible Study titled, "Going out and Coming in: Everyday life for a Christian". The course will look at how scripture can help us in our daily life with subjects like "Waiting on God", The Importance of the Daily Devotional", and "Time and the Art of Living".

Mrs. Potts is well known in the Chattahoochee Valley as both a teacher and writer. She was a contributor and columnist for the Columbus Magazine and has served as a facilitator for different Women's/Ministers' Wives growth/study groups at the Pastoral Institute. She was a devotional writer for both the Methodist Upper Room and the Baptist Home Life and Open Windows. In addition, she was a curriculum writer for the Baptist Adult Sunday School Board and a regular writer for the Pastoral Forum, a publication of the Pastoral Institute.

Mrs. Potts also served with her husband, Dr. Bob Potts, at a church in Almaty Kazakhstan for three years.

Term 3 Begins January 4

Term 3 of the CCS academic year will begin in January with two Sunday courses, four Wednesday evening courses, and a Wednesday lunch course. Future postings will cover all the courses.

Beginning Sunday, January 11, CCS presents Dr. Carmen Skaggs teaching "Faith and Fiction: Exploring the work of C.S. Lewis. Dr. Skaggs received her BA from Mercer University, a Master of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in English at Columbus State University where she specializes in 19th and 20th Century American literature. She recently taught C.S. Lewis at Oxford in England.

The course will consider selected works of C.S. Lewis' autobiographical non-fiction, and theological writings. Participants will be introduced to Lewis' ideology, imagination, and insights into the human condition.

Suggested readings include Surprised by Joy, The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, and The Four Loves.