Read This Month`s Newsletter - Dickinson Presbyterian Church
Transcription
Read This Month`s Newsletter - Dickinson Presbyterian Church
12 Church Road, Carlisle, PA 17015 717-776-3461 www.dickinsonchurch.org dpcusa@gmail.com The Reverend Jeanette E. Mater Pastor Carol Walter Administrative Assistant Dickinson Presbyterian Church Led by the Holy Spirit , Growing Christ’s Church Deep and Wide Dear Community of Faith at Dickinson Presbyterian, March 2015 Inside this edition: Message from the Pastor pg. Worship in Lent pg. Pot Pie Supper, Children’s Sunday School pg. Tithe Article pg. East Waterford Presbyterian Church pg. Volunteers pg. Calendar pg. Dickinson Doings During Lent we especially think about Jesus words to his disciples and to us: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35) As we follow our Lord, it is encouraging to hear what other followers of Christ have thought as they reflected on the journey of faith we share. Below are some ideas that have inspired and challenged me along the way. I share them with you - one for each went of this Lenten season. March 1 - “Behold from faith thus flow forth love and joy in the Lord, and from love, a joyful, willing and free mind that serves one’s neighbor willingly and takes no account of gratitude or ingratitude, of praise or blame, of gain or loss. For a man does not serve that he may put men under obligations. He does not distinguish between friends and enemies or anticipate their thankfulness or unthankfulness, but he, most freely and most willingly spends himself and all that he has, whether he wastes all on the thankless or whether he gains a reward.” Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) Michele Noyes Sexton March 8 - “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) Owen McCulloch Organist and Choir Director March 15 - “Look around and be distressed. Look inside and be depressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest.” Corrie Ten Boon (1892 – 1983) Office Hours Closed Monday Tuesday Friday 8:00 -1:00 Copies of the newsletter can be found in the back of the sanctuary. March 22 - “Men are undoubtedly more in danger from prosperity than from adversity; for when matters go smoothly, they flatter themselves, and are intoxicated by their success.” John Calvin (1509 – 1564) March 29 - “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham (b. 1918) Easter - “The worst has already happened and been repaired… All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Julian of Norwich (1342 – c. 1416) Peace be with you. In Christ, Pastor Jeanette Worship in Lent March 22 – Church Family Praise – Healing of the World – Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely he has borne our infirmities And carried our diseases… But he was wounded for our transgressions… And by his bruises we are healed.” March 29 – Palm/Passion Sunday – Holy Communion Will you walk with Jesus through the days of joyous welcome and then begin that long walk of suffering? April 2 – 7 PM – Maundy Thursday – a drama – “The Last Supper” The disciples gathered to share the Passover Feast with Jesus. What was usually a celebration of freedom from the Pharaoh and slavery in Egypt became a more somber dinner of remembrance. As Jesus led through the words of the Seder, the words of God’s deliverance and God’s faithful covenant with his people, he paused to say that one of them would betray him. In this drama each disciple takes a moment to reflect on his relationship with Jesus, and the terrible prospect – “Lord is it I?” As the disciples received Jesus’ new word of the new covenant and the charge to remember Jesus in the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup, so we will receive Holy Communion. April 3 – 7 PM - Good Friday Tenebrae The Service of Tenebrae, “Darkness” or “Shadows” has been a part of the church’s worship in Holy Week since the 4th century. The service is completely taken from scripture. After the reading of each portion of the passion from the gospels, one of the lighted candles is extinguished, symbolizing the shadows closing about Jesus. When there is just one flickering light, it is Tenebrae, the coming of darkness. Join us for this quiet, reflective, meditative service, an interlude to our busy, active lives. April 5 – 6:30 AM - Easter Sunrise Worship and Breakfast 9:15 AM - Children’s Sunday School – Egg Hunt and Puppet Program – “The Easter Story” 10:30 AM – Worship – “Christ is Risen ! Nothing Will Ever be the Same!” 2 Saturday, March 21, 2015 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm If you are interested in helping out or supplying food for our Pot Pie Supper, there are sign up sheets in the CE Building for this event. All and any help is greatly appreciated. The proceeds from this supper benefit the Christian Education Program of our church. If you are not able to help, please come have supper with us. Take out will also be available as long as supplies last. Adults - $8 Children 5-12 - $4 Children 4 and under are free Children’s Sunday School The children are studying and learning about Bartimaeus. We will continue with the Last Supper bringing us up to Palm/Passion Sunday and Easter. This year we will have a special Sunday School on Easter including a Puppet Show and our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 5, 2015. If you would be interested in helping with our egg hunt, prizes or games, please see Audrey Coulson. 3 About The Tithe An Article from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Southampton, PA The term tithe is commonly associated by church members with the annual Stewardship campaign, where it is held up as the goal to strive for in our response to God’s blessings. Most of the congregation, unfortunately, look at the tithe as an unrealistic goal, a biblical relic from the past and, subsequently, decide for themselves what they can afford to give to the church’s ministries. Consequently, there are few members of Good Shepherd who actually tithe. Thus it would seem that the tithe, in practice, has been reduced to nothing more than an archaic term from an earlier time, that has no credence in the world we live in today. Tithing as a concept was very familiar to the people of the Old Testament as a command from Moses to the Israelites to give the first tenth of what the people produced as a gift to God for his benevolence. The tithe was to be utilized to support the temple, clergy (priests and Levites), and also to provide support to benevolent causes, i.e., the aliens, fatherless and widows living in Israel; people who had no way of providing a living. Tithing under legal compulsion was tried in Europe and failed. It was also tried in North America in the late 19th and early 20th century, calling for giving of 10% of one’s income to support the church. It was met with much controversy over whether it was biblical and a godly way of raising money for the church. The term tithe continues to be used but is not universally accepted as the language to describe church giving. Unfortunately, in our consumer–oriented culture, the word tithe brings to mind images of legalism, compulsion, and fund-raising to support the programs and ministries of the church. Rarely do we view tithing as a joyous, spiritual exercise that is not primarily about budgets but about giving with celebration The tithe, for Christians is not a bad thing, but is not near the standard of giving that Jesus calls us to provide. This can be seen in Jesus’ story of the widow in the temple. When she gave her two very small copper coins in the temple, she gave her livelihood, her living, her life. Our consumer-driven economy makes it difficult to accept Jesus’ claim that if you save your life by withholding what is God’s, you will lose it, and if you give your life, you will find it. Good Shepherd as a congregation practices the concept of the tithe by giving the first 10% of the congregational income to the poor (benevolence) through the church wide and synodical partnership in mission and ministry. Then other congregational contributions go to support Good Shepherd. Think of the difference we could make in the world by individually following Good Shepherd’s practice of giving the first 10% of our income to the poor. (Numbers 18; Deut. 18, 26; Malachi 3; Luke 21) “Congregations at the Crossroad-Remembering to be Households of God.” Ronald E. Vallet 4 Our Sister churches for prayer in March from the Carlisle Presbytery Mission Yearbook. East Waterford Presbyterian Church, East Waterford When they had all had enough to eat, (Jesus) said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12 God gives in abundance, and in cooperation with Bethesda Mission, we are able to share God’s wealth. The East Waterford Presbyterian Church is in a rural area in Juniata County. Every second Saturday we have a food give-away in our Social Hall. Stephanie Berrier, our ruling elder in charge of Missions, distributes the bags and when she is unavailable other church members willing step in and take her place. The only requirement to receiving food is to sign your name and write down how many people make up your family which determines how many bags you receive. The bags are filled with a wide variety of items, such as canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, soups and sometimes even laundry detergent. We serve 30 local families in need. Our church is so glad to be part of this and to be able to help those in our small community meet their daily needs. Times are tough and everyone’s budget is stretched to the limit. This is a way that we can minister to our community, not only with what is in the bags, but with a cheerful “hello” and a big “smile,” to let the families who come know that we are glad to see them and look forward to seeing them again next month. The families are always appreciative and thankful for what they receive through this outreach program. Please pray for: Stephanie Berrier, Mission Elder Malia Shoop, Clerk of Session Dennis Bishop, Worship Elder Denny Long, Budget/Stewardship Elder Richard Buck, Congregational Life Elder Daniel Love, Outreach Elder John Park, Pastor Let us pray: Thank you that through us we can bless our small part of the world with comfort through all the food you provide Lord. May there be a growing awareness of those in need and by your grace may their needs will be met. Amen. 5 1 3 4 8 10 11 15 17 18 19 23 26 27 29 MARCH BIRTHDAYS MARCH ACOLYTES Dick Eberts Jim Proctor Zach Sheller Tom Bennett Joan Bream Matt Cohick Linda Smith Patrick Heusner Natalie Coulson Lindsey Bradshaw Ava Orndorff Jeff Lenker John Reese Lani Farkas 1 Ella Franklin 8 Haley Lenker 15 Ava Orndorff 22 Alexis Conaway 29 Evan Lenker MARCH SOUND TECHNICIAN 1 8 15 22 29 MARCH ALTAR FLOWERS 1 Jim and Marilyn Proctor in honor of their 12th Wedding Anniversary 8 Available 15 Charlotte Raymond in honor of Patrick Heusner’s Birthday 22 Dave and Cheri Way in honor of their anniversary 29 Charlotte Raymond in honor of Jeremy Heusner’s Birthday MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 7 12 25 Bill and Dolores Davies Wilbur and Peggy Wolf Dave and Cheri Way MARCH GREETERS & USHERS 1 8 15 22 29 Dave and Cheri Way/Ella Franklin Dave and Cheri Way/Haley Lenker Bob and Cheryl Penner/Ava Orndorff Bob and Cheryl Penner/Alexis Conaway Kyle and Natasha Kotzmoyer/Evan Lenker MARCH NURSERY CARE SCHEDULE 1 8 15 22 29 MARCH WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 1 8 15 22 29 Gary Rhoads Jackson Penner Scott Penner Alyssa Bourne Ed Bourne, Sr. Linda Smith Michele Noyes Jeannie Dunham Evelyn Reese Paul Hoch Shawna Penner/Heather Lenker Beth Laird/Carrie Orndorff Miki Quigley/Jane Eberts Church Family Praise Sunday Alyse McDowell/Emily Conaway MARCH COFFEE FELLOWSHIP 1 8 15 22 29 Reminder! If you are unable to fill your position, please find a replacement and inform the church office of the change. Thank you! 6 Personnel Committee Miki Quigley Shawna Penner Jane Eberts Judy May-Bennett DICKINSON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – March 2015 Sun Mon 1 Tue 2 8:00 am - Men’s Breakfast 9:15 am - Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am - Worship 3 9:00 am - Bible Study 8 9 9:15 am - Sunday School 10:30 am Congregational Meeting 16 Thu 4 10 6:15 pm - Kids of the Kingdom 7:00 pm - Choir Practice April Newsletter Deadline 22 23 29 30 12 24 6:15 am - Kids of the Kingdom 7:00 pm - Bell Choir 14 7:00 PM - Choir 21 20 3 pm - 6 pm Pot Pie Supper 7:00 pm—PW Brainstorming April 1 26 27 28 April 2 April 3 April 4 7:00 pm Session Maundy Thursday 7:00 pm - Holy Communion and Drama Holy Week 13 On Vacation 19 25 31 7 7:00 pm - DRT Meeting 7:00 pm - SGT Meeting 18 6:00 PM—Three 9:00 am - Bible 7:00 pm - Choir Peas in a Pod Study Practice Supper 6:15 am - Kids of the Kingdom 7:00 pm - Bell Choir 7:00 pm - Bible Study Church Family Praise 9:15 am Intergenerational Sunday School 10:30 am Worship 6 9:00 am Deacons at Mama Spriggs Pastor Jeanette 17 Sat 5 11 9:00 am - Bible 7:00 pm - CMT Study 7:00 pm - Choir 6:15 am - Kids of Practice the Kingdom 7:00 pm - Bell Choir 7:00 pm - Bible Study 9:15 am - Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Worship Fri 6:15 pm - Kids of the Kingdom 7:00 pm - Choir Practice 9:00 am - Bible Study 4:00 pm Presbytery Meeting 7:00 pm - Bell Choir 15 Passion/Palm Sunday 9:15 am - Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Worship with Holy Communion Wed Good Friday 7:00 pm Tenebrae Worship “The Last Supper” Did you know that this is a copy of the calendar you can find online at our website? The online calendar also includes details and maps to offsite events: http://www.dickinsonchurch.org/calendar.html 7 Dickinson Presbyterian Church 12 Church Road Carlisle, PA 17015 717-776-3461 “The friendly church in the country” 8