The Loveletter. March 1. March 8. March 15. March 22. March 25. March 29. March 30. Sharing the Love and Joy of Christ

Transcription

1 The Loveletter Sharing the Love and Joy of Christ Dear Friends, Rend your heart, and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God. Joel 2:13 Real, genuine repentance is hard work. That is why we tend to do it superficially. It is so much easier to have the trappings of repentance and rend our clothes that everyone can see, rather than our hearts. Jesus spoke to this problem at length in the Sermon on the Mount. Genuine piety, giving, praying, fasting, like genuine repentance can be easily faked. The truth is we are masters at it. Good ole John the Baptist often starts us off in the first week of Lent with his proclamation of a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4) John did not suffer fools or fakers. He called the people to task for going through the motions of repentance (rending their clothing) and not showing the fruits of repentance (rending their hearts). William Willimon writes, Like the prophets of old, John s words strike abrasively against the easy certainties of the religious establishment. He will let us take no comfort in our rites, tradition, or ancestry. Repentance requires us to undergo a complete makeover and that is hard work. We resist it with our whole being. We prefer to whitewash, not to scrub deep. We would rather gloss over and avoid the deep cleaning our souls require. Yet, Lent is about deep cleaning. It is a time of profound soul searching. It requires us to stand before our Lord with hearts exposed. As we approach the celebration that is Easter, let us think deeply about how our lives need to be aligned with the life of the risen Lord. March 1 Lenten First Presbyterian Church March 8 Lenten Trinity United Methodist Church March 15 Lenten Faith United Methodist Church March 22 Lenten Sam Jones United Methodist Church March 25 Palm Sunday 9:00am & 11:00am March 29 Maundy Thursday Service 7:00pm March 30 Good Friday Service noon Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139) Grace and Peace, Mike

2 Palm Sunday March 25 Hosanna to the King! Worship at 9:00 am in the Upper Room with music provided by the Upper Room Band. 11:00 am worship in the Sanctuary with music by the Sanctuary choir and combined Children s choirs. Dr. Anderson will preach at both services and the children of the church will participate in both services with the procession of palms. Journey Through Maundy Thursday March 29 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary Choir, Pam, and violinist Lisa Morrison will present music for meditation on Christ suffering and sacrifice beginning at 6:45 pm. Dr. Anderson will preach and communion served. Good Friday March 30 at Noon in the Sanctuary We will host our neighbors from Sam Jones UMC as we contemplate the mystery of Christ sacrifice for those he created and loves. Cellist, Nan Maddox along with Pam will provide music and Rev. Kevin Lobello will preach. Easter Sunday April 1 We celebrate the Resurrection at 9:00 am and 11:00 am in the Sanctuary. Music will be led by both the Sanctuary Choir and the Upper Room Band. Dr. Anderson will preach and we will cele Lenten Lunch Schedule Join us Thursdays in Lent along with other churches in our community at noon for lunch and worship together. Date March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 Host Church First Presbyterian Trinity United Methodist Faith United Methodist Sam Jones United Methodist Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30pm - Programs 6:15pm Menu s March 7 - Pot roast March 14 - Chicken casserole March 21 - Hamburger steak March 28 - No dinner Meals are $7 for adults and children over 12, $3 for children 4-12 with a maximum of $20 for a family. The meal includes an entrée, vegetable side dish, salad, bread, dessert and drink. Program s March 7 - Book Study: Streams of Living Water led by Dr. Mike Anderson March 14 - Taize Service: Contemplative service featuring music, scripture reading, prayer and silent meditation. March 21 - Taize Service March 28 - No Wednesday night program

3 From the Session At the February 13 stated meeting moderated by Dr. Mike Anderson, the session heard the following reports: The session voted to allow the Preschool to explore the options of adding a parentrequested Kindergarten class. Faith Development reports that Confirmation class has begun. VBS is scheduled for the first week in June. A Reading the Bible in 90 Days program will kick off in August. The Properties Committee will purchase a new amplifier in efforts to repair the sound system in the Sanctuary. The kitchen fire system has passed inspection. Replacement globes for the Sanctuary chandelier will soon be ordered. The safety class previously offered by the county has been cancelled. The committee will seek ways to host one of our own. The committee reminds us that the Education Building roof needs to be replaced within 3 years, which will be a cost of $60k. Budget and Finance: The 2018 Budget was approved and will be announced and distributed to the congregation. (See the Minutes/Loveletter page on the church website for the new budget) The membership rolls have been updated, and the list of names to be removed was approved. The schedule for the Officer Nomination Process was approved. Presbytery Commissioners for the March 10 meeting were elected (Jean Gilliland and Molly Collins). The session approved communion for The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on April 29 after our 5 th Sunday worship and a potlock dinner. The church s 175 anniversary will be recognized. Session minutes are now available on the church website at: cartersvillepres.org/loveletter Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Do you have spare time on your hands? Friendship Table needs you! We are looking for substitute drivers on an as-needed basis on Tuesday evenings. Our drivers pick up Friendship Table guests (start time 4:45pm) and then return them to their homes after the meal. No special license is required, on the job training and a short online training session is the only requirement. Please contact Bill Devine at bill.devine4446@att.net mobile All moms and friends are invited to gather for an evening of good food and fellowship on Thursday, March 15, at Taverna Mediterranean Grill (across from FPC). We'll meet and eat from 6:30-8:30pm. Friends are welcome! Please contact Renee Shields at reneeshieldsfpc@gmail.com if you will need nursery care at the church that evening.

4 Everyone is invited to come support Rev. Dr. Mike Anderson as he is received into the Cherokee Presbytery on Saturday, March 10, 2018, 10:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Worship will be followed by lunch; the cost is $10, payable at the door. For more information and to register, please go to the Cherokee Presbytery website: 27c&llr=qvwtj8wab Small Group Study Opportunities The weekly Women of the Bible Study will meet on the following Sundays at 4:30 in the Cornerstone Room: March 4, 11, 18. We will not meet on March 25 (Palm Sunday) or April 1 (Easter Sunday). Save the date! The monthly book study is taking a break in March but will resume on Friday, April 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Cornerstone Room. We will be reading and discussing The Beatitudes for Today, by James C. Howell, available for purchase at Amazon. Mark your calendar for the next Red Cross Blood Drive! Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00pm to 8:00pm in the 2nd floor café area. For more information or to volunteer contact Courtney Meckley at cfarnon@gmail.com Youth Mental Health Training Class for Parents & Adults working with Children Willowbrooke at Tanner is offering a free training program on Saturday, March 17th in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00am-3:00pm. The program is for parents and adults working with children ages A young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone friend, family member, student, neighbor or member of the community in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches a five-step action plan to offer initial help to young people showing signs of a mental illness or in a crises, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. Anyone can take the 6-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid course, but it is ideally designed for adults who work with young people, ages parents, teachers, coaches, leaders of faith communities, social workers and other caring citizens. Sometimes, the best first aid is you. Take the course, save a life, strengthen your community. Space is limited to 30 attendees. To register online go to &ceid=6b42abc9-ed a393-5cbd4df1e360 For more information, call Kellie Roberts or kroberts@tanner.org or Renee Shields reneeshieldsfpc@gmail.com

5 First Presbyterian Pre-School Beth Weathersby and Lindsay Scoggins ~ Co-directors April Paulk ~ Assistant to directors Rich Gaffoglio and Molly Collins~ Board Chairmen Registration for next year is underway. We have plenty of space for Babies (12-18 months), Toddlers (18-24 months), and 2 year olds. The 3 and 4 year old classes still have openings, but we have many of this year s students returning. Please share this information with someone who might be interested. Our hours are from 7:45 A.M. 11:45 A.M. Monday-Friday. Due to substantial interest, we are exploring the addition of a kindergarten class in August. The Board and our Session members have given us the green light to move forward. We are in the preliminary stages of looking at what this would entail. The Staff will be attending a summer workshop in July in hopes of gathering some new ideas for our 2, 3, and 4 year old classrooms. Important Dates Friday, March 30, 2018 Good Friday ~ No School April 2 April 6 Spring Break Happy Easter Our children will be having their Easter Egg Hunts on and around the church grounds during Holy Week. Stop by and say hello!

6 March 2018 Hands of Christ students are touring The Booth Western Art Museum throughout the spring. Each tour is followed by an art lesson with Ashley Rader. The children love creating western art work like they have seen hanging in the museum! Break April 2 nd 6 th ASP resumes April 9 th Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!! Hands of Christ will join the fun by celebrating Read Across America the week of Feb. 26-March 2. This week will highlight the life and works of Dr. Seuss. On Friday, students all across the nation will be reading for pleasure in their classrooms. May 29-June 1 8:30am-3:30pm Young Chef s Academy June 4-June 8 8:30am-3:30 pm VBS Shipwrecked June 18-June 22 8:30am-3:30pm Raging Rivers

7 March Children & Youth Schedule Sunday, March 4th Club 345 & Youth Group 4:30pm to 6:30pm Wednesday, March 7th Dinner & Activities 5:30pm to 7:00pm Sunday, March 11th Club 345 & Youth Group Wednesday, March 14th Dinner & Activities 5:30pm to 7:00pm Saturday, March 17th 9am to 3pm Willowbrooke training session for adults parenting or working with kids ages 12 to 18 Sunday, March 18th Club 345 & Youth Group 4:30pm to 6:30pm Wednesday, March 21st Dinner & Activities 5:30pm to 7:00pm Please send in $5 at the beginning of each month to cover drinks, desserts and other supplies for Club 345 & youth group. We appreciate you all assisting us with dinner each week! This additional support will go a long way with our 2018 budget. Thank you, parents!! Saturday, March 24th Easter Egg Hunt at the Thompson's Farm Sunday, March 25th Palm Sunday (kids carry in Palms at the beginning of worship-both services) Club 345 & Youth Group 4:30pm to 6:30pm Wednesday, March 28th No Wednesday Dinner/Activities Thursday, March 29th Maundy Service 7pm Dinner schedule this month: Mar 4 th Ireland Family Mar 11 th Bergman Family Mar 18 th Renee Mar 25 th Allen Family

8 The Loveletter March 2018 March Birthdays 1 Bettye Parker 1 Jerry Simmons 1 Rhonda Gaffoglio 2 Ben Tilley 3 Debby Crim 3 Meleeza Hall 3 Madelaine Stough 4 Emma Boccuti 5 Jean Daugherty 5 Linda Mukete 6 Janet Hart 6 Vanna Beach 8 Judy Steed 8 Kathy Thomas 8 Carla Purdy 8 Justin James 8 Meredith Gaines 9 Marion Smith 10 Roy Bethune 10 Ashley Boccuti 10 Lauren Warlick 10 Rowan Ennerberg 13 Kyle Tucker 13 River Knight 14 Ariel Conlin 14 Craig Clark 15 Logan Shrewsbury 16 Gracie Pruitt 17 Wanda Vickers 18 Randy Thompson 18 Emma Johnson 19 Sandy Howell 19 Julian Cline 20 Colin Hughes 21 Kim Rentz 21 Courtney Meckley 22 Lauren Paul 22 Justin Boccuti 22 Amanda Neal 24 Lori McAllister 24 Catheryn Hembree 24 Hannah Wilson 25 Peggy Zierer 26 Ian Herman 27 Brac Panter 30 Hannah Bridges 31 Drew Johnson In March We Pray for Our Church: Staff: Hayleigh James, Tatyanna Wilson (ASP), Charlene Agan (ASP), Dede Hatfield (Preschool), Bates Laye (Preschool) Officers: Brad Hughes (Session), Mary Gilreath (Diaconate) Ministries: Mission & Service Ministry Families: March 1-3: Lin and Lori Bradley (Will, Weston, Wyatt), David and Tonya Branyon (Mallory), Ben Bridges (Ross), Hannah Bridges, Mark and Sandy Bridges (Maggie) March 4-10: Phil and Donna Bridges, Matt Bridges (Ella), Bill and Becky Broome (Rebecca, Will), Brandy Brownlow (Skyler, Call), Jerry Brownlow March 11-17: Autumn Bruno, Adam and Jamie Brush (Drake, Jacob), Meg Buice, Wilma Cameron, George and Martha Campbell (Bailey, Cailyn) March 18-24: Nina Carlson, Rebecca Carr, Brian and Heather Choate (Taylor), Zim and Martha Choate, Scott Clark (Kellie) March 25-31: Craig and Jo Clark, Jason and Kristi Clark (Walker, Lilla), Joseph Clark, Thomas and Katie Clark, Carol Clary

9 First Presbyterian Church 183 West Main Street Cartersville, GA Contact Mike Anderson, pastor Pam Radford, director of music Robert Reed, director of contemporary music Brady Payne, children s choir director brady@cartersvillepres.org Becky Ferguson, secretary becky@cartersvillepres.org Angie Hood, receptionist angie@cartersvillepres.org Beth Weathersby, preschool co-director beth@cartersvillepres.org Lindsay Scoggins, preschool co-director lindsay@cartersvillepres.org Jean Dudley, after school program director jean@cartersvillepres.org Araceli Munoz, after school program araceli@cartersvillepres.org Renee Shields, director of children & youth renee@cartersvillepres.org March Calendar March 1 12:00pm - Lenten FPC March 2 1:00pm - Bridge Group March 4 4:30pm - Women of the Bible Devotional Study March 5 10:00am - PW Morning Circle 7:00pm - PW Evening Circle 7:00pm - Mission Committee Meeting March 6 6:30pm - Properties Committee Meeting March 8 12:00pm - Lenten Trinity UMC 6:15pm - Hospitality Committee Meeting March 11 4:30pm - Women of the Bible Devotional Study March 12 5:30pm - Stewardship & Finance Meeting March 13 7:00pm - Session Meeting March 14 3:00pm - Red Cross Blood Drive 6:15pm - Tiaze Service Weekly Prayer Opportunities Wednesdays - 7am - Time of Prayer Thursdays - noon - Gathering for Prayer/Sanctuary Fridays - noon - Lenten Prayer Group/Session Room March 15 12:00pm - Lenten Faith UMC 6:30pm - Moms Night Out March 17 9:00am - Willowbrooke Training for Parents & Adults March 18 4:30pm - Women of the Bible Devotional Study March 20 6:15pm - Worship Committee March 21 6:15pm - Tiaze Service March 22 12:00pm - Lenten Sam Jones UMC March 24 Easter Egg Hunt & Thompson s Farm March 26 7:00pm - Diaconate Meeting March 28 No Wednesday night dinner & activities March 29 7:00pm - Maundy Thursday Service March 30 Good Friday - No Preschool 12:00pm - Good Friday FPC