THE WHITE OAK LEAVES

Transcription

1 THE WHITE OAK LEAVES White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church (USA) W. Lee Dreyer Pastor Office Phone Home Phone address: WOSPC@zoominternet.net April 2012 Volume 27 Number Years of Service (est. 1818) March 14, 2012 Dear Friends, The Presbyterian minister, scholar, and writer, Eugene Peterson, had this to say about his profession: If you are called to it, being a pastor is the best life there is. Like every pastor, I have days and seasons when I m not sure of that. And then Lent comes and Holy Week and Easter, and I can t imagine doing anything other than what I am doing: trying to communicate something of God s truth to my congregation as we rehearse the story of love s strange power and life s victory over death. What a great privilege it is to be the one to read, tell, and reflect on the events of Palm Sunday, with its cross-currents of passion and emotion Jesus triumphal entry to a city that will turn its back on him in five days; the sweet voices of children singing Hosannas in opposition to the political forces planning to get rid of him; crowds of pilgrims, poor people mostly, waving palm branches as if they were welcoming a king, while the real authorities, Roman officials and soldiers with real swords and spears, are doing what they have to do to keep the peace. What a privilege and responsibility it is to be the one to convey the mystery of the cross in a time when our people and we ourselves, the preachers, are bombarded with the cultural message that the purpose of life is to succeed, to grow, to get all the rewards that are available. What a responsibility in Lent to understand and then help others understand a profoundly counterculture notion that the strange power of love is revealed in weakness. That s a revolutionary idea which takes my breath away every year at about this time, and it forces me always to look carefully and critically at my own ministry and the institution I serve. The contrast between what the cross represents and how institutions, including the church, go about their business is sharply drawn for me in Lent. It was most dramatically drawn for me about forty years ago when I went on a post-college trip to Europe. While I was visiting Rome with my tour group, we went to Vatican City and the Basilica of St. Peter. As you may know, the Roman Catholic Church acted for centuries as an empire, and was an empire, with military might and economic influence. All that was symbolized by the Basilica, the largest church in the world. When you stand in the plaza outside, the sheer size of it all is stunning. The three-tiered colonnades of Bernini are amongst the most beautiful artistic creations in Western civilization. The site exudes power. Once you go inside the massive doors of St. Peter s you are again struck by the overwhelming size of it all. But then, you are stuck by another symbol of power, this one radically different: Michelangelo s PIETA: a statue of a beautiful woman, cradling in her arms the lifeless body of her son. Noisy tourists become suddenly quiet in front of Michelangelo s masterpiece, pondering the young man who is the focus, the foundation, the reason for all this dead, enfolded in his mother s arms. It is the pastor s greatest privilege and responsibility to live with that mystery, not to explain it, but to try to communicate something of its mystery. My brothers and sisters, as the glory of Resurrection morning approaches, may we all embrace the mystery of God s love for us through Jesus Christ. In his name and for his sake, Lee

2 Worship Attendance Feb.26 th 40 Mar. 4 th 45 Mar. 11 th 52 Mar. 18 th 48 Average weekly attendance = 46 April Birthday s Richard Ream Justin Cichra Roberta Learn Joanne Jamison William Marlowe April Anniversaries Patty & George Learn 4 th 8 th 16 th 13 th 19 th 2 nd White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church Account Balances February 29, 2012 Checking Acct. Balance $ 1, Contributions $ 3, Special Offerings $ Other Income $ Dividends on Investments $ Total Receipts $ 4, Stock Sold $ 10, Total Receipts and Transfers $ 14, Total Expenses $ 8, Checking Acct. Balance $ 7, Investment Balances 3/13/2012 Previous Total Current Total $ 446, $ 449, A guide for giving I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc. is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. 'If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them. C.S. Lewis April 8 th Easter Sunday May 13 th Deacon s & Trustees June 10 th - Choir Your group is responsible for hosting Moments of Fellowship during the assigned months and with providing people to serve as greeters before the worship service each Sunday. Please check the paper products and drink supplies prior to your dates. White Oak Leaves newsletter NEWLETTER DEADLINE Deadline for the May 2012 Issue of the WHITE OAK LEAVES is Sunday, April 22, 2012 Call (724) , or cld97@zoominternet.net (Please send me your stories, articles, useful information) THE CHARLES AND MARY LOU O PLANICK SCHOLARSHIP THE O PLANICK SCHOLARSHIP will be awarded to students in good standing who are pursuing a post-high school education in an accredited four or two-year college or university or an accredited vocational institution. Scholarships will not be limited to members of the White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church. For more information and an application, please contact Pastor Lee. The deadline for applications is May 20, Scholarships will be awarded June 17, 2012.

3 March 1, 2012 Old Business: Blanket Sunday materials have been removed from the pews Christian Service will help with the Sunrise Breakfast along with the Session. The Confirmation class will give the four minute for missions for the OGHS offering. New Business OGHS envelopes will be placed in the pews; the offering will be received on Easter Sunday, April 8 th. A crown of palms will be ordered for Palm Sunday Committee will meet at the church on Saturday, April 7 th to set the table for the Sunrise Breakfast. The list of 50 year members was reviewed. The next committee meeting will be on Saturday, April 7 th after the breakfast setup. Easter s meaning In a 2010 Barna Group survey, two-thirds of Americans knew that Easter is a religious holiday. But only 42 percent connected its meaning to Jesus resurrection. And only two percent of adults said they would describe Easter as the most important holiday of their faith. Not everyone who connects Easter to religion has the facts straight. Two percent of Americans said Easter is about Jesus birth. Another two percent said it s about Jesus rebirth. And one percent said it s a celebration of his second coming. Another three percent described Easter as a celebration of spring or a pagan holiday. In the same survey, 31 percent of active churchgoers said they d definitely invite an unchurched friend to worship with them on Easter weekend. This Easter, share the truth and joy of the holiday with someone who doesn t know Jesus. News of the resurrection is too good to keep to ourselves! The Christian Education Committee will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt for children on Sunday, April 1 st, following Sunday School classes (approx. 11:45 A.M.). March 15, 2012 Gave permission to use Sunday School room in back of church as a reception and distribution center for water for the people in the Woodlands area of Connoquenessing Township. Also gave permission to collect contributions of water and money for these families. (Special meeting of March 4, 2012 Selected location for the new playground in memory of Paul Learn. Pastor reported on water collection and distribution plans to this point. Requested that trustees look into rearranging table and chair storage in Backhaus Hall. This would enable Meals on Wheels have area to store paper products, etc. Concerns were expressed that storing in Sunday School room behind the chancel area could be a fire hazard and negotiating stairs could be hazardous for those carrying boxes. Christian Education Committee reported that plans for Vacation Bible School are well under way. C.E. also reported that here will be no Primary Sunday School or Junior Worship on Easter Sunday. Christian Service Committee reported on plans for Easter breakfast and Pentecost luncheon. Deacons reported on plans for Easter flower orders. Discussed plans for the future of the O Planick Scholarship. Discussed budget concerns. Approved gift in thanks to Jason Zang for snow removal.

4 March 1, 2012 Old Business: Blanket Sunday materials have been removed from the pews Christian Service will help with the Sunrise Breakfast along with the Session. The Confirmation class will give the four minute for missions for the OGHS offering. New Business OGHS envelopes will be placed in the pews; the offering will be received on Easter Sunday, April 8 th. A crown of palms will be ordered for Palm Sunday Committee will meet at the church on Saturday, April 7 th to set the table for the Sunrise Breakfast. The list of 50 year members was reviewed. The next committee meeting will be on Saturday, April 7 th after the breakfast setup. Easter s meaning In a 2010 Barna Group survey, two-thirds of Americans knew that Easter is a religious holiday. But only 42 percent connected its meaning to Jesus resurrection. And only two percent of adults said they would describe Easter as the most important holiday of their faith. Not everyone who connects Easter to religion has the facts straight. Two percent of Americans said Easter is about Jesus birth. Another two percent said it s about Jesus rebirth. And one percent said it s a celebration of his second coming. Another three percent described Easter as a celebration of spring or a pagan holiday. In the same survey, 31 percent of active churchgoers said they d definitely invite an unchurched friend to worship with them on Easter weekend. This Easter, share the truth and joy of the holiday with someone who doesn t know Jesus. News of the resurrection is too good to keep to ourselves! The Christian Education Committee will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt for children on Sunday, April 1 st, following Sunday School classes (approx. 11:45 A.M.). March 15, 2012 Gave permission to use Sunday School room in back of church as a reception and distribution center for water for the people in the Woodlands area of Connoquenessing Township. Also gave permission to collect contributions of water and money for these families. (Special meeting of March 4, 2012 Selected location for the new playground in memory of Paul Learn. Pastor reported on water collection and distribution plans to this point. Requested that trustees look into rearranging table and chair storage in Backhaus Hall. This would enable Meals on Wheels have area to store paper products, etc. Concerns were expressed that storing in Sunday School room behind the chancel area could be a fire hazard and negotiating stairs could be hazardous for those carrying boxes. Christian Education Committee reported that plans for Vacation Bible School are well under way. C.E. also reported that here will be no Primary Sunday School or Junior Worship on Easter Sunday. Christian Service Committee reported on plans for Easter breakfast and Pentecost luncheon. Deacons reported on plans for Easter flower orders. Discussed plans for the future of the O Planick Scholarship. Discussed budget concerns. Approved gift in thanks to Jason Zang for snow removal.

5 One Great Hour of Sharing Sharing resources, changing lives Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future. Where does the money go? The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36 % of undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while the Self Development of People and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receive 32%. When is the offering received? We will be receiving the offering on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 at both the Sunrise 7:00 A.M. and the regular 9:45 AM services. Vacation Bible School June 18 th 22 nd, :30-8:30 P.M. WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK: White Oak Springs Church will be collecting bottled water for our neighbors in the Woodlands section of Connoquenessing Township. Since their well water has been contaminated, they have great need for clean drinking water. If you would like to contribute, please bring gallon jugs and cases of individual bottles of store bought water to the library for distribution. PLEASE KNOW that we cannot accept tap water in used jugs and bottles; we can only accept sealed, commercially produced water. Thank you. Celebrate National Volunteer Week (April this year) by meeting a need in your church or community. Volunteering not only helps the people we serve. It also has surprising benefits for the volunteer. Serving others builds social and relational skills, increases selfconfidence and boosts physical health. Studies show that volunteering can even ease chronic pain and heart disease. So do yourself and others some good by following Jesus example of serving. Visit for short- and long-term local opportunities. OPERATION OVERBOARD: Dare to go deep with God! Dive in and discover God s underwater universe! Swim with humpback whales and seahorses, scuba through a vibrant coral reef, and take a personal submarine to the ocean floor, where eels and octopi play. Journey miles below the water s surface, plunge into Bible stories of people with deep faith and learn to trust a God whose love is bigger than the sea. We will learn to go deep into God s Word exploring the meaning and application of Bible stories about people who exhibited deep faith. The Evans City Food Cupboard, like many food pantries in the area, is struggling to meet the demand for food to give to the increasing number of clients. Your items can be placed on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please no expired items. Thank you. B.E.R.I. - Butler County Emergency Relief Initiative. Offers help to those unable to pay utility bills, housing, prescription medications, food, and transportation. There is a container on the back table. MILES OF PENNIES Bring us your pennies there is a jar on the back table. Proceeds will be used to purchase water for our neighbors in the Connoquenessing Woodlands.

6 WHITE OAK SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 102 SHANNON ROAD RENFREW PA THE WHITE OAK LEAVES April 2012 April 1 st Palm Sunday 9:45 A.M. Sermon: Save Us Now! Scripture: John 12:9-19 April 5 th Maundy Thursday Communion & Tenebrae Service 7:30 P.M. Sermon: Bidding Farewell: Scripture: John 13:31-35, 14:1-7 April 6 th Community Good Friday Service at White Oak Springs Pres. Church 2:00 P.M. Mr. Norman Tutino will give the message. April 8 th Easter Sunrise Service 7:00 A.M. (Breakfast will follow) Sermon: An Easter Jesus: Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 & Luke 24:1-12 April 8 th Easter Service 9:45 A.M. The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be received Sermon: They Say Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9 & John 20:1-18