FPCNO and 10 Years of Recovery
As soon as it was possible to come back, Pastor Cliff Nunn was the first person to set foot in the flooded and ruined sanctuary at FPCNO after Katrina. When he arrived, the weather-faded paper “worship canceled" sign (see the
bulletin cover) on the doors was still there, despite 175 mile an hour winds. This sign still hangs in the church office. While Pastor Cliff is no longer with us, Zane Fisher is here to welcome you to worship this morning and point out not only how far Katrina came, (marked on the front doors of the sanctuary with a tiny brass plaque) but how far we all have come. The first worship service following the hurricane was October 2, 2015 at the home of Rev. Kathleen Crighton, who is preaching this morning. By the first Sunday of November, the Fellowship Hall at FPCNO was fitted out for worship and the congregation met there until the Sanctuary was habitable—though mostly bare. It took nearly 7 years to complete the restoration of the building.
Bells--The hand bells that are rung in worship today were lovingly restored piece by piece by Nieta Nunn, May and Larry Ball, Mary Brashears and other people. They are a testimony in brass to the praise we give God for continuity and recovery. The bell in the steeple is the original church bell that sounded curfew during the Civil War for the occupied city of New Orleans. It rode out the storm though one of the spires above was broken and repaired. Former member, Ralph Pretus was heavily involved in getting it restored, although it took some time, ingenuity, skill...and favors with roofing companies he worked with!
Pews and furnishings--You are sitting in pews that were hand made for the congregation of First Presbyterian in 1856 and graced the sanctuary on Lafayette Square and then here on Claiborne Ave until the flood in 2005. Many individuals and churches donated $2000 per pew to have them restored to use by Tom Ford, a cabinetmaker in Baton Rouge. The Palmer communion table and lectern, masterpieces of New Orleans cabinetry, were restored thanks to sustained efforts by Bill and Betty Norris. We give deep thanks to our neighbor, Dr. John Estrada who was instrumental in so much of the recovery. We also remember with fondness the late Carl Bennett who basically rewired the whole church, as well as repeat volunteer George Cheatle, and the many churches and individuals whose generous gifts of time and capital have helped First Presbyterian serve so many, so faithfully 10 years on.
1916 Austin Organ and Grand Piano—Ironically, this wonderful organ replaced an previous instrument that was ruined in the savage hurricane in 1915 that brought down the spire of the church steeple too. In 2005, when Pastor Cliff and Peter Cho opened the organ blower, it still had gallons of flood water in it, so they were shocked and pleasantly surprised that it actually worked, once dried out, oiled and put back together. Greg Nussel, our organist at the time, flipped the organ switch, and the motor sprang to life and the old girl has been playing beautifully ever since.
The grand piano was a special project of this congregation and of Pastor Cliff Nunn who faithfully served this church from April 20, 1994 until his death in New Orleans on May 25, 2008. Pete Wolbrette, a trumpeter and his wife, Beth Turner, offered FPCNO one of their personal pianos at a reduced rate. The piano was placed in use shortly before Pastor Cliff Nunn’s memorial service. It was Cliff’s energy, imagination, enthusiasm and love of God that moved so many people locally and across the USA to revive this church and rebuild this Broadmoor neighborhood, when many churches closed their doors and neighborhoods deteriorated. Broadmoor is a model and a byword for community involvement and strategic planning in the United States.
New Member Orientation Lunch - After church on Sunday, September 13, 2015 come to lunch with Pastor Fred, meet fellow visitors and learn about First Presbyterian Church. This is an opportunity to ask questions, learn what “Presbyterian” means, and find out how to get more (and give more) in this beautiful, diverse community of faith called FPCNO!
Float trip on the okatoma
Who wants to go on a float trip? We do! The Fishers, Bolings, and Rupples have been doing some leg work on getting a church float trip off the ground and we have come up with a plan. A canoe/kayak trip to the Okatoma River in Mississippi on September 18th & 19th, going through the Seminary Canoe Rental and campground. http://www.seminarycanoerental.com
It is near Hattiesburg, MS. It's an easy 2 hour drive up highway 59. We would camp at Seminary on Friday night and float 8 miles on the Okatoma on Saturday. You can camp and float or just drive up on Saturday morning and float with us. Seminary rents canoes and kayaks if you don't have your own. Friday night accommodations options include: Tent camping; RV camping Cabin Rental.
The big cabin is available that weekend, with 4 double beds and it sleeps up to 15. The rate seems to be $160 a night, if people are interested in doing that also. Please let Zane znfisher@gmail.com or Randy - bear_dog70@yahoo.com; know if you are interested. If we have enough people going it will be a lot more fun and we can get a group rate.
GREETERS/LITURGISTS NEEDED - We are needing greeters and readers for Sundays beginning September and the rest of the months that follow. Please call Mina 948-7699 or text Cheryl at 225-288-6606 or email cherylcookie@hotmail.com.
"Bookoo Rueda” Cuban Salsa –They meet every Sunday of the month from 6pm – 10pm in the Fellowship Hall. Come and join them for some fun salsa dancing. Admission is free.
SQUARE DANCING –They will meet for instructions and live music every 2nd Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Admission is $5.00 and you can enjoy some red beans and rice for $2.00 and square dance your heart away.
ECOrecycling--an easy way to give to FPCNO! - The FUNdraising Committee of First Pres is starting a recycling fundraiser! There’s nothing to buy (isn't that awesome!). We are simply asking you to protect the environment by donating your used consumer electronics and unwanted, broken or mismatched jewelry. Your used item(s) may be tax deductible and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations. 100% of the proceeds will help fund First Pres. We will be collecting the following items: Cell Phones, Ink Jet Printer Cartridges, Laptops and Netbooks, iPads and Tablets, iPods, Digital Cameras, Metals (Gold, Silver and Platinum--not costume jewelry). So start cleaning out those drawers and closets!
Goodsearch.com is a website powered by Yahoo - that serves as a search domain for charities. If you use this website and designate First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans, we will get compensated for every search that takes place. If you're able to set Goodsearch.com as your home page, you’ll start using it regularly, and FPCNO will benefit from it! Don’t forget to add it to your phone, home computer and other mobile devices. You can also shop with Goodshop.com or the Goodshop App, and for every purchase, a percentage will go to the church. Every little bit helps. And Goodsearch tracks how much we have earned at the top left of the page, so check it out! Thanks, Your FUNdraising Committee.
