The Redbud Tree. From under... Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church April, 2016

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1 Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church April, 2016 From under... The Redbud Tree INSIDE THIS ISSUE FOOLS FOR CHRIST 1 April Lay Readers 2 Birthdays & Anniversaries Serving in worship for April Yard work at First Presbyterian Thank You Women s Circle Meeting THANK YOU 3 Church Chuckles Session Highlights Thank You 4 Church Security Arkansas Gives From Mundane to Meaningful 5 Lectionary Bible Study 6 Sad You re Leaving Welcome Pastor Mike Crossword Puzzle 7 Calendar 8 Last page 9 April Fools Day isn t a religious holiday, though it may date to Pope Gregory XIII and his new calendar. In 1582, he shifted New Year s Day from April to January, and people who didn t believe the change were called April fools. April Fools Day may also be connected to the lightheartedness that comes with warmer weather, as well as to medieval Christian festivals that involved pranks, disguises and a temporarily inverted social order. Yet, in Scripture, such reversal characterizes the kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, St. Paul writes that the gospel seems foolish to people who don t know Christ, that God uses the foolishness of our proclamation to offer salvation to all and that God s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. Jesus foolishly inverted the social order, saying the last will be first and the first, last. So if on April 1 and every day we live as fools for Christ, we re precisely what he calls us to be! 1

2 Tuesday, April 5th at 1:00 pm WOMEN S CIRCLE MEETING Lesson is on HOPE based on Revelations 21 & 22 All women welcome! Kay Kunkel, Hostess 3 Terry Williamson 6 Marie Redman 7 Carolyn Edwards 7 Joy Henning 9 Patti Wilson 18 Cheryl Munson-Beall 19 Ruth Fine 19 Norma Taylor 24 Mike Pedraza 26 Betty Pippen 30 Janet Newman IF YOU DON T SEE YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE SO WE CAN GET YOU STORED IN OUR RECORDS!! THE SAME GOES FOR ANY MISTAKES YOU MAY SEE!! (we can t fix it...if we don t know it s broke!) We appreciate your help! 3rd - 10th - 17th - 24th - No anniversaries in April Ralph & Karen Gillespie Ralph & Karen Gillespie Susan & Bob Kearns Susan & Bob Kearns FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 3rd - Gary Adler 10th - Nancy Priest 17th - Janet Newman 24th - Linda Stewart CALLING ALL HELPERS WE NEED YOU!! Saturday, April 16th Dear friends at First Presbyterian Church, Thank you for the phone calls, cards, prayers, and visits while I was in the hospital and after I came home. With your concerns and Barb s good care I ll be back on my feet in no time. Thank you so much! Bud Hough WORK DAY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9:00 A.M. UNTIL??? YARD WORK BRING YARD TOOLS STRIPING PARKING LOT LUNCH PROVIDED 2

3 We want to thank you for your cards and other expressions of sympathy in the recent passing of our brother, Roger Park. Your kindness warmed our hearts and we thank you for caring. Marilyn Park Wheat & Margaret Park Session Highlights March 15, 2016 The pastor search committee hopes to be able to recommend an interim pastor to the congregation in the very near future. Bible study will resume on April 23 rd at 10:00 A.M. We look forward to participating in this resource for our spiritual growth. The cell phone/tablet technology workshop recently held on March 12 th was a success. We had very positive feedback from the participants. Our church donated a total of 499 pounds of food for the Food Basket in February. This total included the 387 cans and packages of soup we collected on our Souper Bowl of Caring on February 7 th. A potluck meal is being planned for May 15 th, Pentecost Sunday, after regular church services. The mission committee is planning another project of collecting personal care items such as shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, body lotion, and toilet paper for the Ozark Center of Hope. These are items not covered by food stamps but are none the less important. We continue to look for ways of being good stewards of our energy dollars. Please remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room and be mindful of the amount of copy paper you use for reports, etc. We all know the drill, we just need to practice it more. Our carbon monoxide units are failing with rapid frequency since they were all purchased at the same time several years ago. The Buildings & Grounds committee will be replacing them as they go bad in places where they will be the most effective. 3

4 Dear Deacons and Presbyterians: Thank you for the prayers and cards both during my recent illness and for my birthday. You are such a kind and loving congregation and very hospitable to those who cross your threshold or need your assistance. Bless you for your caring ways and in your search for a new pastor. May God s guiding hand be with you. Betty Dykstra Well..we know it s not Pastor Melvin. But it s each one of us!! If we unlock it..we have to lock it back!! You certainly don t want to be THE one who leaves the door unlocked and leaves us open to theft or vandalism. Summer is fast on it s way and with it comes the higher electric bills so leaving the lights on will really bust our budget!! My family and I want to thank all of you for the support, cards, food and donations that you shared with us when Ken passed away. The caring you have shown makes me very grateful for my Church Family. It is truly a blessing. Kay Kunkel and family GIVE ONLINE THROUGH ArkansasGives.org ON APRIL 7TH TO HELP OZARK CENTER OF HOPE The Ozark Center of Hope helps poverty level income individuals and families with utility assistance, eviction notices, personal care items as well as spiritual guidance and other resources. Our Church supports the Ozark Center of Hope monthly through our mission work. On April 7 we as individuals will be able to give online by going to ArkansasGives.org choosing Ozark Center of Hope and making a credit card donation. By doing this, in addition to the value of your gift, it will help the Ozark Center of Hope receive a portion of the bonus dollars and help them compete for additional cash prizes that will be awarded to the organizations that raise the most individual donations and most total dollars. For more information regarding this, please refer to the letter that is posted on the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. 4

5 From Mundane to Meaningful Written by: Bob D'Ambrosio "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." Ephesians 6:18 I was fresh out of Bible College and ready to change the world as I began ministry in my first congregation. It was there that I met Alma. Alma was 85 and had served as the Sunday school secretary for 25 years. Every Sunday she collected the offering baskets and attendance records from each classroom. Then she sat patiently in the office while she updated each student's attendance record and counted the donations. Twenty-five years in this one volunteer position? Really? "Alma, what keeps you motivated to do this task?" I finally asked her one day. (It was the last thing I'd be willing to do since I didn't see any eternal significance in the tasks, and, frankly, it seemed rather boring.) She looked at me and said, "Oh, I'm not just taking attendance. Every time I put a checkmark next to each student's name I pray for that child. I ask God to be with them, their families, and help them grow closer to God." At that moment, I felt like crawling under a rock. Alma was motivated to serve in this position (for 25 years!) because she saw the greater good. She took a task and turned it into a ministry. She taught me a valuable lesson: Everything we do for the Kingdom matters, no matter how mundane or insignificant it may seem. Because people matter to God. Two months later I visited a fourth grade Sunday school student, Jessica, who had just been hospitalized for appendicitis. Her parents were anxious but Jessica remained calm and optimistic. We prayed before her surgery and I told her not to worry because God would take care of her. She replied, "I know because Miss Alma told me she prays for me each week in Sunday school." I still think of Alma today as I see church volunteers handing out worship bulletins, changing dirty diapers in the nursery, serving refreshments, and a hundred other tasks that need to be accomplished so that we can live out our call to "be the church." Alma used her gift of intercession to add significance to the task of taking attendance. She knew what it meant to "pray...at all times and on every occasion." Even the occasion of placing checkmarks next to a name on a class roster. What daily tasks has God called you to do? Take the kids to a basketball game? Clean the house? File your taxes? Because of Alma, I'm challenged to connect the mundane to mission, the earthly chore to the heavenly outcome even if that means taking out the trash. Thank you Alma! And thank you to all the Alma s here at First Presbyterian Church! 5

6 LECTIONARY BIBLE STUDY A lectionary bible study will begin on Wednesday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. in the kindergarten room and continue throughout this year. See flyer, sign-up sheet, and lectionary list on bulletin board. For any questions please call Nan Jordan at Dear Session Members, We are pleased to welcome our new, temporary pastor The Rev. Mike Clark Pastor Mike is originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa and happily he and his wife, Janice, made their way here to Mountain Home in April, 2013, to retire after 30 years of ministry. Pastor Mike likes to spend his spare time in his woodshop and being out on the lake with his wife and friends. He and Janice are blessed with two grown children. So, if you have not met him please be sure to extend a personal welcome the next time you meet. The Rev. Mike and Mrs. Janice Clark Pastor Mike and Jan 63 Terry Place Mountain Home, AR Pastor s cell I have had the pleasure of serving as your Clerk of Session since June of There has not been a time since that date that I have not been proud to serve God and our church in that capacity. However, recent events in my family status have changed resulting in my decision that I step aside to devote more time and effort to the matters of Bud s health, recovery and well being. Therefore, I am asking that you accept my letter of resignation as your clerk of session effective June 1, Hopefully with this extended time you will be able to fill the vacancy and I can assist with the orderly transition. I truly feel blessed having had the opportunity to serve this church and congregation as your clerk of session. Sincerely, Barbara Hough 6

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8 YARD WORK DAY ATCHURCH 9AM-??? EARTH DAY REDBUD CALENDAR APRIL, 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Publication Deadlines Weekly bulletin - Wednesday afternoon by 2:00 pm Newsletter - Thursday, April 21st Please submit all articles in writing. You may drop them off at the office or to Connie McLaurin: fpcmh@centurytel.net Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please verify committee meetings with the Moderator as days/times are subject to change! am - Adult Sunday School 10 am - Worship Service 11am - Coffee hosted by The Deacons 11am - Blood Pressure Screening Deacons Offering 4 9 am - Counters 10 an - Worship Committee 5 1 pm - Women s Circles to meet #1, 3 & am - Lectionary Bible Study 1 pm - Choir practice 3 pm - Mission Committee 7 9 am - Alleluia Ringers 8 9 C L O S E D 10 9 am-adult Sunday School 10 am-worship Service 11 am - Coffee hosted by Women s Circle #2 Copper Kettle offering 11 9 am - Counters 10 am - Finance Committee am - Lectionary Bible Study 1 pm - Choir Practice 14 9 am Alleluia Ringers 1 pm-master Gardeners T A X E S D U E 17 9 am - Adult Sunday School 10 am - Worship Svc. 11 am - Coffee hosted by the Finance Cmt am - Counters 11:30 - Men of the Church Noon - Ministry Meeting 1pm - Session am - Lectionary Bible Study 1 pm - Choir Practice 21 9 am Alleluia Ringers 10 am - Bell Ringers Beginner class Redbud Deadline 24 9 am-adult Sunday School 10 am Worship Service 11am - coffee hosted by the Ministry Committee 25 9 am - Counters 10 am - Deacons Meeting am - Lectionary Bible Study 1 pm - Choir Practice 28 9 am Alleluia Ringers 10 am - Bell Ringers Beginner class I ve learned so much from my mistakes. I m thinking of making a few more! 8

9 Church Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday Church Mailing Address: 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR fpcmh@centurytel.net Website: Rev. Cindy Saul, Parish Associate Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. Secretary: Connie McLaurin Support Staff: Marilyn Wheat Bookkeeper: Nancy Priest First Presbyterian Church 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 9

10 First Presbyterian Church 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Church Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday Church Mailing Address 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR fpcmh@centurytel.net Website: Rev. Cindy Saul, Parish Associate Sunday School: Sunday Worship: 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Secretary: Connie McLaurin, Support staff: Marilyn Wheat Bookkeeper: Nancy Priest 10