The Good News. The Pastor s Pen. Northfield Presbyterian Church March 2014

Transcription

1 The Good News Northfield Presbyterian Church March 2014 The Pastor s Pen Dear Friends, We have had a real winter this year. Real snow and real cold and a lot of people have told me that this is getting real old. I certainly understand from whence many of you are coming. This winter has been difficult for senior saints to negotiate slippery walks, those gainfully employed to navigate slushy highways and Interstates around the city, and even younger moms and dads for whom there have probably been a few too many snow days with kids stuck inside because the outside temperatures and wind chill factors make it too cold to be playing outdoors. But, as some old sage once quipped, This, too, shall pass! I know that is true because the seasons continue to change. I was noticing how much longer it is staying light now. That s exciting news for many of us! And this afternoon the Indians are playing their first Cactus League game down in Arizona. And someone was even prognosticating that the post season might even find the Tribe in the playoffs. So remember some things actually do change, even the weather. Presently we are entering into the month characterized because of the weather as one that comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This year March is the month we enter into the Lenten season. As I was snooping around I found a couple of interesting bits of information. Rev. Wm. P. Saunders has written that the word Lent comes from two Anglo-Saxon words. One is lencten meaning Spring and the other, lenctentid, which is translated springtide and also the word March, the month in which the majority of Lent falls. Wikipedia tells us that in the late Middle Ages, the priests would set aside Latin and actually preach in the common or heart language of the people. The English word lent was adopted at that time. The word simply meant spring. This word comes from the Germanic root for long because in the Spring the days visibly lengthen. Enough trivia for the moment. In the Protestant churches, Lent is a forty day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter not including Sundays. While in some traditions it is a time to fast and give things up, I find that the time might be better spent reading and meditating on passages in the Bible that remind me of the price Jesus paid to set me free from my sin, brokenness and separation from God. While I am doing these things I also like to take some time to sit still before the Lord and ask what needs to change in my life for me to become more the person He wants me to be. A key to this is to be willing to be quiet and listen. Today I also pulled a Lenten devotional off my shelf, Meditations on the Cross, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. If you don t know where to begin reading in your Bible, you may want to consider some of these. Passion and Messianic Psalms: 22, 32, 31, 40, 69, 41 Servant Prophecies from Isaiah : 42:1-9; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12 Passion Narratives from the Gospels: You may want to read these in smaller sections to soak in all that Jesus experienced for you. Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John (The Upper Room Discourse) and (The Passion) May you encounter the love of the lamb of Lent and live under the lordship of the Lion of Judah In His Grip! Art Helin

2 From the Music Director - Youth Benefit CD Dear NPC'ers, I'm thrilled to announce there is yet another way you can help our youngsters to have an unforgettable mission experience in Belize this summer (and for this one you don't have to consume any calories!). On Sunday March 2 in the afternoon, I will record a CD on our sanctuary grand piano. The CD will feature a beautiful, soothing selection of classic and contemporary hymn arrangements, as well as some classical music not formerly featured at NPC. The CDs will be available for purchase ($10 per CD) on Sunday March 9 and 16, and also during the spaghetti dinner on March 16 in the evening. All proceeds will benefit the mission trip. This will be a great opportunity to enjoy some piano music at home and help our youth gather some additional funds. Also keep in mind our past members, who might like to receive this CD as a gift or reminder of our warm and caring church family. Blessings to all and prayers for our youth as they prepare for their adventure! Zeger Verhage Director of Music NPC Northfield Presbyterian Church Youth Mission SPIRIT DAY at of Macedonia 8213 Golden Link Blvd. Macedonia, Ohio (Corner of Route 8 & Route 82) Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Please bring this invitation to Chick-fil-A of Macedonia, and present it to the cashier when you place your order. Northfield Presbyterian Church Youth Mission will receive 15% of your drive-thru order or in-store purchase! Accepted for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner! (6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) In addition, Chick-fil-A of Macedonia is providing its Spinning Wheel, Plinko Game, & Food Prizes 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Only a $1.00 per play! with 100% of these proceeds presented to Northfield Presbyterian Church Youth Mission! Day Care News Our Malley s fundraiser begins this week and continues until Tuesday March 18 th. Order forms can be found on the table outside the sanctuary. Orders can be turned into the church office in our mailbox. Orders will be available for pickup Monday, April 7 th after 2:00 in the church kitchen. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be going towards repairs to the toddler playground. Thank you in advance for your support! Sherry Camp Scholarship Forms If your child is going to Ligonier Camp this summer, 1/2 scholarships are available. Please fill out the forms that are available on the Narthex Table. Turn them into the office at least one week before your payments are due on April 15th. Several teens will be Counselors in Training this year, so your kids will see some familiar faces!

3 Women s Association to Meet Women's Association meeting and Bible study will be on March 10 at10:00 am in the living area. Billie Mordas will lead lesson number 6 "Servant's Entrance". The scripture for this lesson will be from Matthew 25: Please join us for the study followed by a brief meeting. Adult Sunday School Lenten Study Begins March 2, 9 a.m. The Adult Sunday School class will begin a study of the book: Give Up Something Bad For Lent by James W. Moore. The book description: During Lent each year, Christians give up something as an act of sacrifice and spiritual discipline. Often it is something like chocolate, knowing that after Easter Sunday they can once again enjoy what they have given up. James Moore challenges readers to take it further to give up something spiritually that they would be better off not doing. He invites all to seek God's help to focus on eliminating one habit or attitude that is destructive. Each session features a Scripture reference, a personal reading, questions for personal reflection or group study, and closing prayer. Books will be available at the first class. Keith Miller will facilitate the book study. Stewardship Report February 2014 Income: $ 14,050 Expenses: $ 19,784 Snow plowing and Heat costs account for most of the overage. Thank you for your continued support. Tyler Holmes Teresa Van Der Meulen Scott Williamson Jan Helin Lukas Verhage Josh Helin Carol Metz Brandon Van Der Meulen Cheryl Tartaglione Nicholas Miller Kirk Louis Doris Harpster Cassie Jackson PANTRY ITEMS CONTINUE TO BE COLLECTED 4-Mar 4-Mar 5-Mar 5-Mar 9-Mar 10-Mar 12-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar 15-Mar 27-Mar 29-Mar 29-Mar The Women s Association will continue to collect food items for the Macedonia Emergency Center. They need dry, boxed nonperishable food items such as: Spaghetti noodles and all other types of pasta either in a box or bags as well as rice, instant potatoes, cereal, hamburger or tuna helper, etc. There is a container in the narthex where church families can drop off their donations on Sundays or any other day they are in the building. Thank You!

4 Please Join Us for A Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction When: March 16, 2014 Where: Northfield Presbyterian Church 7755 S. Boyden Rd. Northfield, OH Time: Dinner will be served from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; A short program and silent auction will be held from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Cost: We are not charging a cost for the meal but would appreciate a donation to our Youth Mission trip to Belize. Contact the Church Office to reserve your seat One Great Hour of Sharing runs through Lent In places like Eugene, Oregon, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the many other recovering communities along the Gulf Coast, those most in need are finding hope and help through the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Self-Development of People program, and their partners in ministry. In this media-driven environment of the next big story, it is easy to become distracted from the reality faced by our brothers and sisters around the world where poverty, disaster, and war cause displacement and suffering. This is why we continue to give to One Great Hour of Sharing. When we give this year, we give in faith knowing that staff in the three One Great Hour of Sharing programs will be responding in Christ s name to the cries of our sisters and brothers throughout the next year. We trust that they will respond as they did in Newtown, Connecticut and in the wake of the devastating spring storms that ravaged both Oklahoma and Texas: immediately, directly, and through our partners wherever the emergency occurs. But equally important, we know that they will remain in areas of devastation long after the news cameras have moved elsewhere as they continue rebuilding both lives and communities. Feeding the hungry, helping people build up their own livelihoods, responding to disasters these are all ways that your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing are changing lives, changing communities, and changing the world. Giving Envelopes and more information will be in the March 9th Bulletin or check out their website presbyterianmission.org/give-oghs for giving options. Make checks payable to NPC, memo OGHS

5 March 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 8am Men s Bible Study at Chick-Fil-A 2 COMMUNION 6pm Antitrafficking video for families with teens 3 Day Care Fundraiser begins 4 6pm Day Care Class 7pm Evening Bible Study 5 6:30 pm Cub Scouts 7pm Choir VBC PRayer 6 7:30 pm Christian Career Group 7 6 pm VBC Choir & Set up for Dinner :30 am Deacons & Anniv. Dinner 10 10:00 am Women s Association 11 All Day: Mission Trip Fundraiser at ChickFilA 7pm Evening Bible Study 12 6:30 pm Cub Scouts 7pm Choir am Session Prayer 8am Men s Bible Study at Chick-Fil-A 16 11:30 AntiTrafficking 5pm Mission Trip Spaghetti Dinner 17 7pm Session 18 Last Day for Malley s orders 7pm Evening Bible Study 19 6:30 Cub Scouts 7pm VBC Prayer 20 7pm Building and Grounds 6pm Day Care Class pm Choir :30 pm Community Meal 29 8am Men s Bible Study at Chick-Fil-A 30 31

6 Northfield Presbyterian Church 7755 S. Boyden Rd. Northfield, OH