The Rev. Morgan Morse Hay was installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Peachtree City, on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Several pastors who had previously worked with Hay officiated the service: the Rev. Jan Tolbert, teaching elder at Carrolton Presbyterian; the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, teaching elder with Macedonia Ministry; the Rev. Leigh Jones, teaching elder at the Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection; Deby Brooke, deacon at St. Andrews Presbyterian; and the Rev. Penny Hill, teaching elder at the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
Rebekah Hay Groover, ruling elder at Trinity Presbyterian; Steve Pelham, ruling elder at First Presbyterian LaGrange and Phil Hamilton, ruling elder at First Presbyterian Peachtree City also participated in the service.
Dr. Tewell gave the sermon. He had worked with Hay at the Macedonia Ministry, an innovative leadership program he founded that brings pastors together to form a learning and supportive community with their peers in ministry.
In his message, Tewell said, “People are looking for an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. … Under Morgan’s leadership, you will inhale God’s love so you can exhale God’s love to a world in need. Morgan Hay will deepen the way you inhale God’s love.”
As a surprise to Hay, Mary Chapman, ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church, announced that the congregation had purchased new hymnals for the sanctuary. They were first used at the installation service. Most were given in thanksgiving of Hay; others were given in honor or memory of the friends and family of the congregation members.
Making the surprise even more special, Hay’s husband Robert gave her a specially inscribed copy of the new hymnal for her office, and her son Stockton (5) and daughter Anderson (2) drew pictures in the front cover of a second hymnal for her to use during church services.
When Chapman announced the gift in honor of Hay, she said, “We hope that every time you see a purple hymnal, you know how much faith we have in you.”
Hay is a cum laude graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. She received her master of divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur and previously served as associate pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Tucker. She and her family recently moved to Peachtree City from Tucker.
For additional information about Hay or First Presbyterian Church, call the church office, 770-487-7757, or visit www.firstpresptc.org. Services are held every Sunday at 11 a.m. at 206 Willow Bend Rd.
