2015 Visitor. Notes from Tim. Tim. Pfafftown Christian Church: 3323 Transou Road Pfafftown, NC

Transcription

1 PFAFFTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Pfafftown NC Permit # Visitor 3323 Transou Rd. Pfafftown, NC Phone: Fax: Website: Pfafftown Christian Church: 3323 Transou Road Pfafftown, NC Notes from Tim Spring has a way of lifting our inner spirits! I just noticed today that the Hyacinths and Jonquils at the front entrance to our church sanctuary are blooming! Every plant, tree or flower will soon begin to explode into life and beauty. Every year this time, my mind goes back to these words written in the year 1517 by the great German Protestant reformer and theologian Martin Luther: Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime. The resurrection is, indeed, the pivotal point of our faith. Without it, the life of Jesus is only the story of a good man who died without reason. He lived, He suffered, He died. But the most significant truth is that He rose from the dead! The grave simply could not hold Him and by His having risen again, He knocked the ends off all the dead-end experiences of our lives. He lives and because He lives, there is hope. The cruel forces of hate and evil had done their worst on Good Friday, but Sunday came and the cross became a giant plus. God has defeated the worst that the world has to offer and has shown us that life has meaning beyond our greatest failures or our deepest sorrows. Hallelujah! The Easter resurrection brings hope and renews life to our inner faith. One of my favorite Easter hymns is the Hymn of Promise written by Natalie Sleeth: In the bulb there is a flower, in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there s a spring that waits to be, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. The resurrection means that all of us are offered a new springtime a new life. We are now an Easter People! Let us celebrate this new life in the risen Christ at worship, work, and play! Looking forward to seeing each of you at worship as we celebrate this glorious Easter Season! Tim

2 Church Workday All men (and women) of the church please join us at our Spring Church Workday on Saturday morning, March 28, at 8:00 a.m. Please bring yard tools as we work sprucing up our church grounds and take care of a few other projects in preparation for Holy Week and Easter Sunday! Everyone, not just the men, make plans now to join us for this time of fellowship together as we beautify our church campus. From Skip Stanley: A thought for everyday... What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? Hold in Your Prayers The Property Committee Church Family The Family of Betty Beyer, Irene Hussey, Jace Johnson, Kim and Al Luper, Jackie Romanello, The family of Bill Millsaps, Craig Bracken, Ruth Myers, Polly Archie, Bud Barker, Doris Spaugh. Loved Ones in the Military PRAN Joshua Hughes, Norfolk, VA; Sgt. Samantha Goliat, OH; 1LT John G. Van Hoy, IV, WA; Chase Lee, Guam; USS Key West; David Snuffer, MSD EGG HUNT: Easter Morning, 10:00 am It s that time to ask for your help with our Easter Egg Hunt. Donations for our Easter Egg Hunt are greatly appreciated! We need plastic eggs filled with individually wrapped candies. If you prefer to skip the shopping we will gladly accept donations toward these supplies. Others Robert Connelly,(brother of Betty Barker), Lacy Mabe (friend of Scott, Jill and Emma Robertson,) Bob Chadbourne (Jill Robertson s cousin); Wade Tuttle (Jill Robertson uncle); Bill Showers (Dan Showers brother) Sue Miles (friend of Jo Stanley), Parker Gillard, (friend of Tom & Erika McAllister); Paige Cartledge (friend of Phil Denton); The Family of G. K. Foster (Kim Luper s father); Paula Foster (Kim Luper s sister); James Range (Uncle of Frank Range); Mark Depew (friend of Kent Doub); Carolyn Bennett; Joy Beck (Jo Stanley s mother) Please bring your donations this Sunday! If you cannot do that, the office staff will be delighted to receive any supplies or money gifts that you bring this week. The office hours are 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. These all need to be in Church Office by Friday, April 3rd so Jill and her volunteers can get them ready for hiding! If you would like to help with this fun activity, please contact Jill Robertson Thank you, in advance, for any donations that you might like to make for this fun event for our children and their guests on Easter morning! Servers for April Elders: Steve Clodfelter. Evelyn Nifong, Phil Denton Deacons: Kevin Deibert, Jackie Romanello Communion: Worship Committee Greeter: Betty Barker Just a Reminder: If there is anyone who needs transportation to any of our worship and Holy week services during the season of Lent and Easter, please contact the Church Office, We have several folks in our church who are willing to assist with transportation to anyone needing this service. Jane will get you in touch with just the right driver! 2 7

3 Christian Women s Fellowship News The CWF Meeting in March was a warm and relaxed time for meeting and fellowship. Nineteen of us were in attendance enjoying each others company and accomplishing a number of our goals. At this gathering we took care of unfinished business and shared plans and ideas to set the stage for upcoming events. The Chicken Pie workshops are on the calendar for September 11 &12 and October 9 & 10. The workshops for Twice Baked Potatoes, Chess Tarts, etc. will be set at the next meeting which will be May 19 th at the home of Betty Simpson. All women of Pfafftown Christian Church are members of the CWF, so mark your calendar and take part in one of the best groups at PCC! Stewardship Season Begins in April For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 It is that time of year to start planning for the financial needs of Pfafftown Christian Church for the upcoming year Soon you will be receiving a letter from the Stewardship Committee asking you to give us an estimate of your giving to the General Fund of the church to fund our operating budget. This is just one part of a complete campaign which also includes your prayers and service. This year we are celebrating our Church Sesquicentennial One hundred and fifty years! This is a great testament to our history, faithful stewardship and service to Christ s holy church, His people, to the community of Pfafftown and throughout our world; and this is also an extraordinary time and opportunity to begin a new era in the life of Pfafftown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). On Sunday, April 19th, the Rev. Jamie Brame will be here to give us an uplifting vision of Stewardship which will help guide your decision on where God is leading us as we decide what we will commit to for our estimate of giving for If you did not provide an estimate of giving last year, we hope you will do so this year. It is a wonderful tool for evaluating your own personal stewardship to Christ s church and is extremely helpful and necessary for the committees as they plan the programs of the church. In Mark s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell us the greatest commandment: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Jesus amplified this thought for us when he said For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Our ability to give, to be extravagant in our generosity comes from a life centered in loving a generous God who has given so richly to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Please be in prayer as you make your solemn commitment and pledge your financial support to Pfafftown Christian Church and its ministries for the coming year. Sincerely, The Stewardship Committee 6 TENEBRAE SERVICE The Seven Last Words of Christ by Theodore Dubois Good Friday, April 3, :30 p.m. in the Sanctuary presented by Chancel, Handbell & Soloists Harp, Timpani, and Organ The word 'tenebrae' is Latin for shadows. A Tenebrae Service recreates the emotional aspects of the passion story, this is not supposed to be a happy service, because the occasion is not happy. This service will include solemn hymns followed by scripture narratives, divided into seven parts representing Jesus' words from the cross. Seven black candles and a Christ Candle are extinguished following each reading until only the Christ Candle remains. It is carried out of the Sanctuary and we are left in total darkness (tenebrae) and near total devastation. The Tenebrae service purposefully recreates the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of Jesus; and it is left unfinished, because the story isn't over until Easter Day. This service is one of the most moving and spiritually reflective services you will ever attend. If you see only the happy ending of a movie, everyone who saw it from the start is elated, but you go away saying, "So they were all hugging each other, so what?" But if you see the beginning and the middle part, with all the suspense and grief, you understand what the characters overcame, and the ending is all the happier. Attending the Easter service without attending the Tenebrae service is like watching the wonderful ending of the movie without seeing the middle you only rob yourself of joy. Please join us for this special worship experience and invite your family, friends, and neighbors. A nursery will be provided. -Tim Shoaf Release of Live Butterflies Planned for Easter Sunday! The butterfly has long been a symbol of the resurrection! A symbol of rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon for a period of time. To understand the symbolism, it is important to understand the life cycle of a butterfly. The butterfly has three phases during its life: the caterpillar, the chrysalis or cocoon, and the butterfly. The caterpillar eats-symbolic of normal earthly life where people are preoccupied with taking care of their earthly needs. The caterpillar spins itself into a chrysalis or cocoon, resembling the tomb. Then the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, representing the resurrection and a glorious new life, free of material restrictions. This symbolism also represents the life of Christ. When Christ died on the cross, he was placed in a tomb. At the end of three days he arose from the dead. In the resurrection of Jesus, God was doing the same kind of thing he does when he makes butterflies from caterpillars. When people die, because of Christ's resurrection, we know that we will live again, too. As John 3:16 proclaims For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. A Butterfly Pavilion is on Display in the Narthex, when the Chrysalides are ready, we will put them in the Pavilion so that you can enjoy observing the metamorphosis of the butterfly from cocoon to a beautiful living butterfly! Following the Easter Sunday Worship Service on April 5, if the timing is right the entire congregation will proceed to the front of the church as our children release the butterflies as a living symbol of our loving and resurrected Christ! I am truly excited about our children and congregation sharing in this amazing and inspirational experience as we together proclaim the joyous news of our risen Lord through the life of the butterfly! God s everlasting gift of love to each of you! Tim 3

4 Palm Sunday: On Sunday, March 29, at the 11:00 worship service, the choir and children of the church will lead us in the Procession of Palms, recalling that the people of Jerusalem placed clothing and branches along the path as Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem just days before his crucifixion. Maundy Thursday: Last Supper of Christ, Thursday, April 2, 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary Good Friday: Service of Tenebrae The Seven Last Words of Christ by Theodore Dubois, April 3 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Easter Sunrise Service: Our Sunrise Service will be held at 7:00 am at the Pfafftown Cemetery with Christ Community Church. Please join us as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Our neighbors at Christ Community Church invite us to breakfast in the their fellowship hall following the Sunrise Service celebration. Easter Sunday Resurrection Cross: One of the most beautiful traditions at Pfafftown Christian Church is our Easter Sunday Resurrection Cross in the Chancel. Please remember to bring your fresh flowers and blossoms by 9:30 am on Easter morning to place on the cross as we proclaim the glory of the resurrection with a profusion of blooms. Easter Sunday at PCC: Easter Breakfast at 9:30 am in the Downstairs Fellowship Hall. Children s Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 am Worship at 11:00 am Children's Corner As we make preparations for the Easter Season children take note of these opportunities for you! Palm Sunday,March 29: All children (toddlers and up) are invited to gather in the Narthex (sanctuary entrance area) at 10:50 a.m. to be part of the procession of the "palm branches" at the beginning of the Worship Service. (Remember the Bible story of Jesus riding on a donkey through Jerusalem as the people praised Him, waving their palm branches and shouting: Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Matthew 21:8). Easter Sunday, April 5: At 10:00 a.m. following our Easter Sunday Breakfast, we will enjoy our annual Easter Egg Hunt on the church lawn. (Easter eggs symbolize new life in Christ through His resurrection on Easter Day as the bird emerges from the shell, so does Jesus from His tomb). Easter Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Children are invited to remain in the worship service with their families; however, a nursery will be provided for younger children. Welcome to Worship Bags are available for children in the Narthex. They re bright red and you ll see them hanging on a coat rack in the Narthex. If you don t see them, ask one of the Greeters to help you find them before you enter the Sanctuary. interested in joining us. 4 5 Community Garden 2015 Yep, Spring is here! The time when many of us turn our thoughts to being in the garden. A meeting for all interested persons will be held on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Downstairs Fellowship Hall. Several members of our church have volunteered to assist with this project but we can always use many more --for there is much preparation needed! Bob Faircloth has already staked off individual spaces that may be tended and more spaces can be added. If you are interested in tending a garden spot go ahead and call the Church Office with your name and phone number. Have a friend or neighbor who would like to tend a space? Ask them to call the church office, too. A large area of the Community Garden will be used to grow and harvest produce for the Second Harvest Food Bank to assist with the needs of people in our local piedmont area. We hope many of you will offer your time and support of this very worthwhile service project. Once we receive your name and number we will add you to our and PhoneTree roster so that you may receive information and updates during the season. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meeting on April 7. Thank you! Goodtimers April Trip -- Destination! Goodtimers! The Town of King In celebration of our Church s Sesquicentennial Year (150th Anniversary), we are continuing our series of mini-historical trips where we can learn some facts and historical nuggets about some of Pfafftown s neighboring established towns and neighboring communities whereby we travel and explore some of these interesting places right here in our own vicinity. Last month, we visited East Bend and enjoyed learning some great history about the town along with a very interesting tour of the Old Library containing pictures and other nostalgic items. The second of this series will be a visit to the town of King, NC. On, Monday, April 13, we will enjoy lunch at the Town and Country Restaurant (meeting room). One of the King s long-time historians will join us for lunch and present a program about King Its History and Story! Did you know? * The town was originally called King's Cabin. Charles and Francis King lived in a cabin owned by Francis's father for a short time in the 1830s. They later moved up north and having never returned to Stokes County, they were unaware that their former home became the namesake of a town. In June 1888, when the railroad arrived, the name was shortened to King. * On September 13, 1983, King became an incorporated town, (95 years after the original King's Cabin post office opened) and today encompasses a total area of 5.8 square miles. We will meet in the church rear parking lot at 11:30 a.m. to carpool. Lunch will be Dutch treat. This is open to all and everyone in the church. Please invite a friend to join you! (If you would like to attend but need to be picked up at your home, please let me know or call the church office). Mark your calendars now to join us for our next Destination Goodtimers! GriefShare Support Group The April meeting of the GriefShare Support Group will be on Thursday evening, April 16, at 6:30 pm. in the Lower Fellowship Hall. Following a light supper, we will view the GriefShare video as it helps us to face the challenges of grief and move from mourning to joy. We will spend some time discussing what was presented in the video and share how we may find strength and encouragement as we experience our loss of a loved one. Please call Tim Shoaf or Pat Millsaps if you have questions or if you, your family or friends would be

5 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Unsweetened Applesauce Crisis Control Donation - April 1 Chancel >>>>>HOLY 2 7:30 pm Maundy Thurs. Communion WEEK>>>>> 3 Good Friday 7:30pm Tenebrae Svc >>>>>>>>> 4 Great Sabbath (Holy Saturday) 5 Easter Sunday 7am Sunrise graveyard 10am Egg Hunt 11am Worship 6 Easter Monday Office Closed No Scouts 7 6:30 pm UFH Daisy/Brownies DFH Garden Meeting :30 am Goodtimers 14 Elders 15 Wed. Supper 7:15 pm Chancel NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE 16 6:30 pm DFH Grief Support Stewardship Sunday :30 pm UFH Daisy/Brownies Jesus told him I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. April Birthdays 2- Jordan Myers 4- Beth Petree 8- Brad Fletcher 9- Eric Smith 11- Ann Fletcher Kayla Gardi 15 Brittany Ziglar 17- Brooks Dawson Beth Katsilis 19- Bob Faircloth Fred Muetzel 20- Eugene Hauser 23- Eric Boore Jack Groff 27- Kevin Cline 28- John Romanello April Anniversaries 2 Ben & Gennie Sinclair 9 Brad & Anne Fletcher 11 John & Crystal Flynt 13 Paul & Jeanette Shropshire 18 Neal & Nicole McInnis 20- Kevin & Leigh Bell 21 Jim & Phyllis Nelson 29 Gene & Sue Conrad