Second Life. The Life and Times of Second Presbyterian Church of Norfolk. A Monthly Newsletter February 2013 NEST IS COMING IN FEBRUARY!

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1 The Life and Times of Second Presbyterian Church of Norfolk A Monthly Newsletter February 2013 IS COMING IN FEBRUARY! From February 6 13, Second Pres will host the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (). is a coalition of churches and synagogues whose mission is to provide a warm supper and a safe overnight shelter for homeless men and women. The shelter is rotated weekly between Norfolk and Chesapeake churches from November through April. SPC members and friends have supported the program since The success of the program has been due to the dedicated efforts of volunteers from both the church and the community at large. In recent years, SPC has partnered with Temple Israel, Squires Memorial Presbyterian Church, Messiah Presbyterian Church, Freemason Baptist Church, and the Joint Forces Staff College to make this important ministry happen. Last year, during our week: We hosted over 103 guests We averaged 45 guests each evening (with 49 on hand on Wednesday night) We provided 948 meals (including dinner, breakfast, and bag lunches) And 57 Second Pres members volunteered to serve at the church for this mission. Volunteers are needed to serve dinner, work at the bus stop, greet guests as they arrive, stay overnight (our biggest need), serve on the breakfast shift, and deliver materials to the next church. There s room for you to be a part of this important ministry! Contact any of the following folks for more information or to sign up to help: Nancy Morgan [nancymorgan@megahits.com or ] Joe Morgan [jnmorgan@pulaskicounty.org or ] Erin Todd [ebtodd@gmail.com or ] Jonathan Todd [jonathanmtodd@gmail.com or ] 1

2 GIVE UP AND GIVE OVER TO GOD DURING LENT Originally Lent lasted for 36½ days. It was seen as a time of fasting from certain foods, as a reminder of the most important nourishment in life. The time period was a tithe: 36 ½ x 10 = 365. Those who fasted saw themselves as giving 1/10 th of their time to God. Over time the length of Lent changed. Now it lasts 40 days (Sundays are not included in that reckoning). The 40 days are a reminder of the 40 days that Jesus experienced in the wilderness. He gave up basic human necessities, he was tempted, and he became stronger as a result. This Lent there are three main ways we hope to grow as a congregation: through Sunday worship; through Wednesday R&Rs; and through daily prayer. SUNDAY WORSHIP: Just Give Up is the title of the Lenten sermon series. During Lent many of us have given up certain foods, drinks, or habits, e.g., chocolate, red meat, Facebook, or smoking. Giving those up may have helped us to focus on God, or downplay our desires, or get us to recognize how our lives may be too controlled in ways that may be shocking to us. Giving up things may be very good for us. During worship this Lent, we are taking the idea further, focusing on what God wants us to give up, not just for 40 days but forever. What happens when we give up control, give up expectations, give up superiority, enemies, our lives, and popularity? Maybe a more meaningful life then begins. Feb. 17 Giving Up Control (Matthew 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11) Feb. 24 Giving Up Expectations (Genesis 12:1-4; John 3:1-17) March 3 Giving Up Superiority (John 4:5-42) Mar. 10 Giving Up Enemies (Luke 19:37-44) Mar. 17 Giving Up Our Lives (Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45) Mar. 24 Giving Up Popularity (Matthew 21:1-11) Mar. 31 Giving Up Death (John 20:1-18) 2

3 WEDNESDAY R&Rs: When We Haven t Got a Prayer: Making the Greatest Prayers of the Bible Our Own The Bible is not just a story or a series of stories about God. It is a description of how people of faith and people with doubt grew closer to God. On Wednesday evenings during Lent, we will gather together from 5:45-6:30 for Helen s excellent soup, salad, bread, and dessert, and then from 6:30-7:15 we will study together and reflect on how the prayers of the Bible can shape our lives in more meaningful ways. February 13 Ash Wednesday Service (Psalm 51 and Matthew 6) Feb. 20 Arguing with God: Abraham, Moses, Job, and Prayer Feb. 27 Gratitude to God: David and Paul March 6 Intimacy with God: The Psalms Mar. 13 Pray Like Jesus: The Lord s Prayer Mar. 20 How Jesus Prays for Us: John 17 Mar. 28 Maundy Thursday: The Prayer from Gethsemane Mar. 29 Good Friday: The Prayers from the Cross DAILY PRAYER: Prayer may be just talking with God, but some of us might be grateful for good conversation starters. On Ash Wednesday, and then on each Sunday of Lent, a weekly prayer guide will be distributed, to get you thinking daily, in new ways, about how to develop a more meaningful relationship with God. Join us this Lent as you learn new disciplines, as prayer becomes a normal part of who you are, and as you see clear signs of how a closer walk with God can strengthen your daily life. ADULT DISCIPLESHIP CLASS: 24 HOURS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD During the Lenten season (from Feb. 17-Mar. 31, from 9:30-10:30), Pastor Craig will be leading a Bible study based on a modern classic : Adam Hamilton s 24 Hours That Changed the World. How do we understand the last day of Jesus life on earth? How do we see ourselves in light of Judas, Peter, John, Pilate, and others? How do we overcome our own weaknesses and prejudices? And how do we become closer to God through our faith walk? Join us as we look historically, theologically, and personally at what some would say was the most important day ever. 3

4 From the Pastor 4 FROM THE PASTOR: HOLLYWOOD, THE ACADEMY AWARDS, AND CHRISTIAN FAITH During this January I ve been teaching a course at the college called Religious Food Fights and Christian Identity. The question at the core of the class is What determines Christian identity and what role does food play? Since most of us tend to assume that food does not play much of a role at all in who we are as Christians, the course raises issues which are meaningful and fun to consider. Within the course, students have not only read and written a great deal, but also tried some unusual foods and seen two movies that point to the intersection of faith and food: Chocolat and Babette s Feast. The first was nominated for five Academy Awards in 2000, and the second received the Oscar for the 1987 Best Foreign Language Film. In both of those cases, the faith that was portrayed was described only subtly, not as boldly, for instance, as in films like The Passion of the Christ or The Ten Commandments. However, the latest Entertainment Weekly notes that in the next few years, there will be a number of films that focus directly on the Bible: in March 2014, Noah, starring Russell Crowe, is due; Steven Spielberg (with Warner Bros.) and Ridley Scott (with Fox) are both in discussions to direct films on Moses; Warner Bros. is planning a film on Pontius Pilate, starring Brad Pitt; Sony is producing a movie called The Redemption of Cain (to be directed by Will Smith); and Lionsgate is developing a movie called Mary, Mother of Christ. More immediately, when the Academy Awards are presented on February 24, 2013, some of the films nominated have distinctive religious themes. Christianity Today has an annual list of the most redeeming films of the year. Each of the films chosen includes a story of redemption. Some of the movies are happy, some not so much. Within the list this year, #4 was Moonrise Kingdom, #3 was The Kid with a Bike, and #2 was Lincoln. For anyone who follows movies, the most redeeming film of the year likely was no surprise. Most of us have not read Victor Hugo s mammoth 1862 novel, Les Misérables, and not just because most of the reviews were negative. At 1500 pages in English, and 1900 in French, it is one of the longest novels ever written. If you, like me, have never read the book or seen the musical, I encourage you to see the movie. Granted, not all of the reviews of the movie have been good. One reviewer said that the film made her long for guillotines. Another said, I screamed a scream as time went by. But many reviewers focused on their appreciation for experiencing this story in a new way. The reviewer for the Los Angeles Times wrote, You can walk into the theater as an agnostic, but you may just leave singing with the choir. For me, the most wonderful moments in life are when we, as individuals, truly recognize that God has redeemed us, and that we no longer live for ourselves, but we live for something so much more meaningful. I so rarely see that in movies, but the character of Jean Valjean and actually a number of characters so embody that sense of redemption. And when one character in the film realizes that justice no longer makes sense of life, but that he isn t open to the redemption that moves beyond justice, the moment seems all the more tragic. One reviewer said that the movie makes goodness seem interesting. The film is worth seeing for that alone. What happens when love redeems you? It is a great question to consider not just for 2½ hours, but for the rest of our lives. Pastor Craig

5 WHAT IS CHURCH? Last year, our Sunday Morning Discipleship Small Group took some time to consider the weighty topic of the Trinity using a wonderful curriculum by Francis Chan called BASIC. WHO IS GOD? It proved to be a great opportunity to think through the role that God really plays in our everyday lives. Considering information that came from the Reveal Survey, it s clear that our church family has a strong interest in knowing more about spiritual practices - especially prayer. During Sunday mornings in Lent (starting on February 17), a small group will assemble at 9:30 in the upstairs adult room to take a look at topics and questions like... FELLOWSHIP: Is the church a place where people gather once a week to sing some songs and hear someone talk about God or is it the people - themselves - sharing a common mission in the world? TEACHING: Why does it seem that reading the Bible is more of a duty than a privilege? PRAYER: Is it possible that our prayers go unanswered because we re praying out of a sense of obligation or maybe for the wrong things? COMMUNION: Why was the first communion an intimate gathering with Jesus twelve disciples, instead of the multitudes following him? Join Pastor Billy as we look at these questions and more through the lens of Francis Chan s BASIC. WE ARE CHURCH starting on Sunday morning, February 17 at 9:30. THE HELPERS YOUTH GROUP: PROGRESSIVE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IN CHRIST After worship on February 17, from 12:30-2:30, the Helpers will travel about Norfolk (like with a progressive dinner ), making various stops that will involve random acts of kindness. Some of those acts will be oriented towards members of the church, some towards people who serve our community, some towards those who are homebound, some towards those who may visit our church in the future, and some towards people whom we likely never will meet again. (Note: As we get closer, the actual agenda will be discussed with parents.) PWSJC YOUTH GROUP Following worship on February 17, the PWSJC Youth Group will be heading to MacArthur Mall for a quick lunch and a digital scavenger hunt that will raise their awareness of both positive and negative images in media. Please send your PWSJC member with money for lunch. Return to the church is expected by 2:30P. More info will be distributed by to parents as the event gets closer. There is definitely a place for YOU at Second Presbyterian! 5

6 February 2013 Friday, February 1 Saturday, February 2 Bob Baird s Birthday Sunday, February 3 Marty Terry s Birthday Discipleship Classes - 9:45A Monday, February 4 Tuesday, February 5 Wednesday, February 6 begins Noon Bible Study - 12P Thursday, February 7 Friday, February 8 Saturday, February 9 Matheu Murray and Sam Stearns Birthday Second Saturday - 9:30A Sunday, February 10 Sean Franklin and Alice Allen-Grimes Birthday Discipleship Classes - 9:45A Monday, February 11 Linda West and Mildred Berryman s Birthday Tuesday, February 12 Triple S Circle - 10:30A Wednesday, February 13 Ash Wednesday ends Noon Bible Study - 12P Wednesday Night R&R - 5:45P Thursday, February 14 Friday, February 15 Anne Baylor and Michael Finch s Birthday Saturday, February 16 Sunday, February 17 Discipleship Classes - 9:30A Helpers Youth Group - 12:30P PWSJC Youth Group - 12:30P Vivian Young Recital - 2P Monday, February 18 Men s Evening Fellowship - 6P Tuesday, February 19 Phil Lingamfelter s Birthday Wednesday, February 20 Wednesday Night R&R - 5:45P Thursday, February 21 Friday, February 22 Ashley Libbey s Birthday Saturday, February 23 Sunday, February 24 Bill Wooldridge s Birthday Discipleship Classes - 9:30A Monday, February 25 Alice Yang s Birthday Women s Evening Fellowship - 6P Tuesday, February 26 Wednesday, February 27 Wednesday Night R&R - 5:45P Thursday, February 28 John Cabeen and Lisa Drago s Birthday Pastor Craig Wansink (757) [cell] cwansink@vwc.edu SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7305 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA (757) Church Office Hours - Monday - Wednesday 9:30A to 1:30P Pastor Billy Ricketts (757) [cell] billy@spcnorfolk.org 6