A day of victory over darkness and death, and triumph over our. A time to thank God for promises kept and blessings untold.

Transcription

1 MARCH 2018 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 3 ^lcr a^liy^iriy A day of victory over darkness and death, and triumph over our sorrows and griefs. A time to thank God for promises kept and blessings untold. A reaffirmation of our Reformed faith that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ reckons us justified by faith. A season to worship and celebrate our faith together with friends and family! Palm Sunday March 25th 11:00 Hosanna! Praise the Lord! Maundv Thursday March 29 7:00 Tenebrae communion Easter Sunrise April 1st 7:00 Bring a chair and blanket. Easter Breakfast April 1 st Join us after the Sunrise Service! Easter Worship April 1 st 11:00 Traditional Easter worship! This Easter season, let us open our hearts anew to our Savior and Lord, and seek Christ's leading in our lives!.

2 From the Pastor's Desk... "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your Strength. " ~ Deuteronomy 6:5 Lent is a time to come before God with prayer, reflection, fasting, repentance, and sacrifice; as we remember Jesus Christ and prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day. I remember a Palm Sunday many years ago at Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington. I was seven years old, and I was part of the "crowd" that would lay down fresh green branches before the "Lord" as he traveled from the parking lot into the building and down the center aisle of the sanctuary. There was no donkey. "Jesus" was Johnny McMillen's dad. The branches weren't palms, but evergreens. Our robes were all sewn from bed-sheets. Our church didn't even remotely resemble first century Jerusalem. Yet, somehow, I was swept up in the joy of the Triumphal Entry. Shouts of'hosanna!" came from my lips! The Lordship of Jesus Christ was real to me. Was it the pageantry? The drama? The costumes? They may have helped set the mood, certainly, but it wasn't really any of these. It was the fact that God's children intentionally and thoroughly embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to "remember the Lord" actively andjoyously. "Remember the Lord" this season, through worship, prayer, devotion, and service. Cherish the Word, commune with God and with God's family. In each new day, find a way to "love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength! Prepare the way of the Lord! Pastor Steve

3 Lenten Dinners & ^/Vorsftip During this Lenten season, we prepare ourselves for Easter with repentance, reflection, and sacrifice. Our theme this year is, "Jesus and the Prophets" Join us each Wednesday eyenins at 5:45 for simple meals and informal worship. Please bring a side or dessert to share, or sign up to bring a soup. Sandwich fixings will be provided. If you are NOT able to bring something for any reason, please come anyway! There is always plenty! A free-will offering will be received. Our schedule continues as follows: February 28...Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6... "Watch for the Signs March 7...Matthew 13:14, Isaiah 29:13...,'Is Anyone Listening?" March 14...L\±Q\0:25-2S..."Called to Love" Marc1i21...Luke 9: "Following Jesus" "Lauffh, Learn, and Lunch" will meet Wednesday, March 21, 12:00 Noon at the Westminster Oaks Parry Center, in the Floridian Dining Hall (left side.) Lunch for non-residents is $9 (credit or debit only.) Pastor Steve invites all members, friends, and guests to join him the third Wednesday of each month at Westminster Oaks for lunch, news, prayer, inspiration, and laughter. All members and friends are invited to join us for Committee Night, Tuesday, March 13th, at! Come share ideas, offer input, or just observe the "Presbyterian Process" at work!

4 A Brief Summary of the February 18th Stated Session Meeting ^ Sandi Heirington was elected commissioner, and Randy Burns, alternate, to the special Presbytery meeting which has been called for Tuesday, February 27. ^ The two Presbyterian Women annual offerings, the Birthday Offering and the Thanksgiving Offering were approved. ^ The Property Committee announced the removal of the soda machine. ^ The Evangelism Committee is overhauling the church website. ^ As requested of all churches by the Presbytery, the Session inserted into the minutes a specific resolution describing the Pastor's terms of call. Thank You, Lafayette! The Rev. Jim Cummings, of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, notified us that we were one of the top three churches in our Presbytery in per capita giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing. One third of the OGHS offering this past year went to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. OneGreat HdJR OF SHARING Session Committees, Chairs, Session Class ]V[embership Martha Ann McCaskill * (2019) Administration & Finance TomPeele*(2018) Denise Vandiver (2020) Christian Education (vacant) Evanselism Randy Bums* (2018) BobHenning(2018) Mission MattWeineU*(2018) Margaret Warren (2019) Property Ken Johnson * (2020) JohnKinneer (2020) Worship Sandi Herrington * (2019) Welcome, Dr. Roy! Our Presbytery has chosen the Rev. Dr. Roy A. Martin, Jr. as our full-time General Presbyter. During his 35 years in ministry, he has served the Presbyterian Church as a pastor for 29 years, an Interim General Presbyter, as a director in camps and conference ministries, and in campus ministry. (u s i^

5 Come join us for lunch after worship on Sunday, March llth! Lafayette has the most wonderful luncheons each month, with faith, food, and fellowship! Come see what the focus of the luncheon will be: Lent? St. Patrick's Day? Whatever it is, we'll certainly enjoy great food and cherished friends! Please bring a covered dish or dessert to share! March's Luncheon is sponsored by the Property Committee! ^ SPECIAL OFFERINGS Our offering envelope boxes offer several giving opportunities during Easter Season. Please consider each prayer fully! One Great Hour of Sharing: OGHS supports ministries of hunger, health, natural disasters (including Presbyterian Disaster Assistance,) and clean water. Join Christians all across the country as we open our hearts to witness tangibly to the abundant love of God. Maundv Thursday: Whenever we have communion, there is an envelope for support of our Mercy Fund, which supports both members and non-members in times of need. Easter: The Easter Offering envelope encourages us to consider a special gift to the church at Easter in celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

6 ' ^. * People Serving Our Church This Month * ',* «>*?*<'"'<.^ ^ ^'-^ * '*. * " ^:;:-:: ^ ^:-": Ushers Diane Dowling Jack Dowling Jim Smith Hannah Tucker, Captain Litu mists March 4 - Jerry Johnson March 11 - Jerry Johnson March 18 - Bob Henning March 25 - Tom Longerbeam March 29 - Tom Longerbeam Communion Servers Maundy Thursday, March 29 Heather Brooks Bob Henning Ken Johnson Lois Johnson Margaret Warren Matt Weinell TL'BO^.OU "Coffee and a Cookie" Contemporary Book Club 3rd Monday of the Month-7:00 P.M. Read a Diverse Range of Fascinating Books... Enjoy Delightful Fellowship... & Treats! Monday, March 19 ~ Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family & Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance at the home ofjackie Montgomery Monday, April 16 ~ A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchyatthe home oftoya O'Hora Monday, May 21 ~ The Dry by Jane Harper at the home of Karen Gunter Please contact Mary Keyt or Martha McElveen for more details or if you would like a ride to a meeting. Are you interested in a complete list of the books we have read since we began this group in January of toyao@earthlink.net to receive a copy. Scout Sunday.J^ <^1 Sunday, March 11 is Scout Sunday at Lafayette! Come worship with our Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Venture Crew! We love our Scouts!

7 WEEKLY EVENTS Sunday School_ Pastor's Bible Study[ Bible Study & Prayer: Chancel Choir Kingdom Ringers_ March Dates and Special Days Sundays Sundays Mondays Mondays Wednesdays_ As announcec MONTHLY EVENTS Circle of Friends 2nd Monday Contemporary Book 3 Monday Morning Circle_ Committee Night_ Session IVIeetings Evening Circle Laugh, Learn, Lunch WOW Circle :2nd Tuesday: ~2nd Tuesday^ -3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday :3rd Wednesday: :2Dd Thursday^ :4th Thursday; Crafts for Missions Men's Prayer Breakfast_2nd Saturday SCOUTS Pack 10 Meetings^ Troop 10 Meetings Patrol Leaders Council 9:45 11:00 11:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 10:30 6:00 12:00 11:00 9:00 N Mondays_ 7:00 :lst, 3rd Tuesdays_ 7:00-2nd Tuesday ' - 7:00 MARCH THU 1 FRI 2 TUE WED THU SUN MON 12 WED THU 15 FRI 16 SAT 17 MON 19 TUE WED SUN 25 THU 29 SUNSET 5:45 2:00 12:10 5:45 5:45 11:00 7:00 (Lafayette Church Events in Bold) Purim World Day of Prayer Dr. Suess Day Oreo Cookie Day Peace Corps Day Lenten Dinners, Study, Worship International Women's Day Daylight Savings Time begins March Luncheon, Property Committee Johnny Appleseed Day Girl Scout Day Lenten Dinners, Study, Worship International Pi Day ( ) Ides of IVIarch Campfire Girls Day St. Patrick's Day Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano National Agriculture Day First Day of Spring, Vernal Equinox Lenten Dinners, Study, Worship Poetry Day Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Communion