Pastor Diarmuid. Rev. Diarmuid O Hara or (H) Pastor s Page

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1 Rev. Diarmuid O Hara or (H) The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge is to serve God s community and grow in faith as we learn, express and share God s love in the encouragement and support of children, families and our local schools. Pastor s Page I can remember on one or two occasions long ago, when I was but a youth, sitting around with friends, talking of this and that that seemed important at that phase of my life. Looking back at such fond memories we tend to talk of how immature or silly those things were. Yet they weren t. On one occasion three or four of us got talking about dreams strange dreams and the possible meaning of each. Someone stated in a serious but exciting manner that if you fall in a dream and don t wake up before hitting the ground you will die. That is to say, if in your dream you actually hit the ground or whatever the surface may be, you would die just as you would if it really happened in life. This was exciting and rather horrid, which made the whole thing all the more fun to think of. I m sure we all went away, in time, thinking of how awful it would be to dream that you were falling and not awaken. Death. In a dream. What could one do in order to wake up? What if you couldn t do it? It wasn t until a bit later that I and I m sure the others stopped and said, Wait a minute! How could anyone know that this happened to anyone else? If a person died due to a falling in a dream, they would never be able to tell you. They d be dead. So how can anyone know that this might happen? And, of course, none of us can. In fact more than once I have fallen in a dream but always have landed with a solid but harmless contact with the ground. Sort of what I imagine landing when parachuting would be like. Aha! Death, where is your sting? Then again there is a story that my father once told me. I don t know if it has come down through time in legends, lore or myths, in traditional songs or in some other fashion. There are some I ve heard that are similar. But the end of this one is unique for me. There is probably much more to it. However all that I remember is this: A woman lived with her son in a small, old house somewhere near the ocean or a large lake. It was night and her son her only child had been out for some time. Day had passed and it was well into the night when the son came into the house, quite pale and shivering. The mother asked the young man just what was wrong. I ve been out walking, he began. I was just out along the shore this past half hour or so. Far away I could see that someone was coming along the shore towards me. Then he paused and looked toward the now closed door. Go on, son; go on my precious boy. What happened next? Who was it out here in this lonely stretch of the world? The young man closed his eyes and softly said, As he approached I I thought he looked familiar. And then I realized that that he he was Who, boy? Who was he? He was me, myself. With that, the young man went up the stairs to his bed, lay down and died. Oh, Death, where is your sting? One way that we Christians use the word death is in reference to sin. Sin, where is your sting? Where is your final place in my life? Have I learned that I can move away from you as angels grasp my feet and set me down, able to wake up and walk on as God intends. Or have you pulled me out of myself, leaving my life to die? Have you seized control of me? There is sin in all our lives. But we each have a great deal to say with regard to how much control it will have on us. Are you ready to take a leap of faith and trust that God will see you land safely, or will you just give up, crawl into bed and die? Pastor Diarmuid

2 Birthdays for February Feb. 1 Joseph Bianchi 2 James O Hara 2 Kori Thornton 3 Brandon Schmitz 3 Heidi O Brien 4 Nevin Laing 8 Brandon Scherhaufer 12 Kenneth Pixley 13 Don Robertson 14 Sarah Ulfik 16 Daphne O Hara 20 Robin Robertson 26 Catalin Brandas 27 Bob Dann Wedding Anniversaries for February Feb. 8 Roy & Mary Ellen Whitmore 11 Bob & Cheryl Dann Ushers for February Feb. 6 Tim & Lynn Thomas 13 Vince & Kathy Taylor 20 John & Ann Baier 27 George & Carolyn Williams Greeters for February Feb. 6 Marty & Evelyn Baker 13 The Thornton family 20 Anne O Hara & Carrie Higley 27 The Cannistra family Communion Servers for February Don Robertson, *Robin Robertson, Helen Elwood, Lloyd Elwood If you cannot fill your Sunday, please find someone to change with. *Indicates home communion server for the month. Ushers for March March 6 Linda Noble & Mary Ellen Whitmore 13 Paul & Judy Niles 20 Rhonda Stearns & Sue Fletcher 27 Paul Cliffe & James O Hara Greeters for the month of March: March 6 Dave & Anita Schmitz 13 Ted & Bert Banks 20 Bruce & Chris Cumming 27 Peter & Brenda Bauerle Communion Servers for March Cheryl Nages, Kathy Taylor, Linda Noble, Sue Fletcher Splinters from Session Met on January 11 and... Shared ups & downs, heard scripture about the first disciples Opened with prayer, approved the agenda Elected Evelyn Baker, Clerk of Session Elected Mary Ellen Whitmore, Treasurer & Don Robertson, Assistant Treasurer Heard report on follow-up meeting of Presbytery with questions about mission, strengths, challenges and spirituality... And anxiety triggers in congregations Approved minutes of Dec. 14th Approved changes to the Active Membership list by transferring some the inactive list Received the treasurer s report for December Had devotions shared b y Blane Pixley entitled Anyway Had reports from all committees & adjourned at 7:55 PM to meet next on February 8th Financial Picture Operating Income $5, Operating Expense $8, As we begin the new year, let us keep in mind our pledge and keep up to date. Remember the Per Capita amount of $31.23 per member.

3 Bainbridge Food Pantry Assistance Needed We are in need of people willing to dispense food at the Food Pantry in the Methodist Church. Especially needed are people for Monday morning from 8-10 a.m. We will train! it is a very simple jobno heavy lifting - and Charlie Lord is always there to supervise. It actually involves adding frozen food to the canned food boxes which are already made up ahead. This could be an every week, once a month or even "on call" position. The pantry is also open on Thursday mornings from 8-10 and back up help would be appreciated for that day as well as I am currently covering that day. Please call or me- Paula if you are interested and we will arrange a time to look over the Pantry and discuss the details. Thanks in advance for your help. Presbyterian Church Mission Committee (PCMC) Our church family has annually been supporting the ministry of Eric and Allison Foster. They have been called to be part of the Jesus Film Project that is spreading the gospel of Jesus to third world countries. Allison grew up in our church and she and Eric have given presentations to us about the project and have routinely sent us their newsletter which is posted in the narthex. They are seeking funds to continue their ministry. We will be having an offering for Eric and Allison on Sunday, February 13 th. Checks should be made out to Campus Crusade. Envelopes will be placed in the church bulletins on Sunday, February 6 th and will also be available in the pews on the 13 th. They have been very grateful for your support in the past, which has helped to allow them to continue their commitment to spreading the word of Jesus. If you would like to know more information about them and their project, you can visit their website at allison.org For anyone using a church directory dated April 2009, please correct the town for Tim and Lynn Thomas to Bainbridge, not Guilford. It was a mistake at the time the directory was made. Thanks for correcting the error (and saving the Guilford post office from extra duties..)!! Adult Choir Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. -Ephesians 5:19 The adult choir will practice on Thursday, February 10 th at 7pm. We will be singing on February 13 th, 23 rd, and 27 th. If you cannot make it to the Thursday rehearsal and would like to sing please join us on Sunday mornings before worship for rehearsals at 10:30 am. New members are always welcome at any time. Come use your talents to praise God and lead our congregation in worship of our Lord. Youth Group In January the Youth Group had a sledding party at the Sidney Elementary School and warmed up with hot chocolate afterwards. It was lots of fun! Be sure to check out the pictures on the church website. We also went swimming in January and met to talk about upcoming activities like the Souper Bowl of Caring, Youth 5 th Sunday, and sending Valentine s Boxes. Anyone grades 6-12 is welcome to join us anytime. Contact Cheryl Nages or Diarmuid O Hara for more information. Valentine's Day Treats The Sunday School Children and Youth Group will again be sending special Valentine's Day Treats to our college friends. If you know of someone that would like to receive a box please give their name and current address to Cheryl Nages. If you would like to contribute some sweets for these Valentine's Boxes there will be a container set up in the Narthex for this. Thank you for helping brighten the day of those who are far from home.

4 Souper Bowl of Caring Our youth group will hold soup pots at church doors on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 6 th. They will join young people in churches across the country to collect money for those who are hungry and hurting. In 2010, over 13,000 groups participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring generating over $10 million. All of the money collected is donated to the Bainbridge Food Pantry. None of the money is sent to the Souper Bowl of Caring headquarters. Organizers only ask that each participant report their collection so national totals can be determined and announced. Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, more than $60 million has gone to help people in need. Please support the youth of our church in this effort to love our neighbors by dropping your dollar or canned good in the soup pot on February 6 th. Fifth Sunday January 30 th is the fifth Sunday in January and youth Sunday. The youth of the church will be helping out with the liturgy, prayers, and other readings during worship. Sunday School Date grades 4 and younger Grades 5 and older Feb. 6 Marlene Barnhart Dorian Bunting-Cliffe Feb. 13 Marlene Barnhart Dorian Bunting-Cliffe Feb. 20 Marlene Barnhart Dorian Bunting-Cliffe Feb. 27 Marlene Barnhart Dorian Bunting-Cliffe Thanks to Cheryl Nages & Dorian Bunting-Cliffe for teaching & helping in January! This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:12 Spiritual Nurture meets on February 22 at 6:30 at the church. Minute for Mission taken from the 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study. Columbia Theological Seminary The human experience of fear is woven throughout the biblical narrative. This is why when advising individuals God so often says, Do not fear... Be not afraid... Fear not. God desires that we not be afraid. As the psalmist declares, The Lord is my light and my salvation! Whom shall I fear? Deep in the woods of south Georgia is a small fishing cabin owned by my family. I went there alone one weekend to relax and do a little fishing. Late one night I was out looking at the stars when I thought I heard the cabin screen door slam shut! Fear shot through my body, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. Here I was in the dark, in a forest, supposedly alone. Images from the movies Deliverance and Halloween quickly came to mind. I grabbed my flashlight and started back to the cabin to investigate. Feeling as if I were in one of those campy slasher movies, I could hear the audience yelling out in the theater, Don t go back! Run away! Get in your car! Drive! I was thankful for my flashlight, and I offered up prayers as I made my way back to the cabin. After I looked in all the closets - and under all the beds - relief swept over me and washed away my fear. God is like the flashlight that helped me face my fear that night. The darkness of our fears can be overwhelming, even terrifying. But God is with us. The Lord is our light and our salvation! Ben Beasley, 2010 graduate, Columbia Theological Seminary Prayer Gracious God, give us faith to go out with courage, placing fear behind us, listening only to that still, small voice that says, Do not fear... Be not afraid... Fear not. God s light is leading us, and God s love is comforting us. Thanks be to God! In Christ s name we pray. Amen Lectionary Readings for February Sunday, Feb. 6 Feb. 20 Isa. 58:1-9a Lev. 19:1-2, 9-18 Ps. 112:1-9 Ps. 119:33-40 I Cor. 2:1-12 I Cor. 3:10-11, Matt. 5:13-20 Matt. 5:38-48 Feb. 13 Feb. 27 Deut. 30:15-20 Isa. 49:8-16a Ps. 119:1-8 Ps. 131 I Cor. 3:1-9 I Cor. 4:1-5 Matt. 5:21-37 Matt. 6:24-34

5 BIBLE EXPLORATIONS When God calls Part 4: Called to Hope Taken from Presbyterians Today magazine December 2010 When I was in graduate school I had the opportunity to hear Jesse Jackson speak at a school-sponsored event. This civil rights leader, Baptist minister and former presidential candidate is known for his stirring speeches. As Jackson talked about the state of the nation, he kept repeating the now-familiar refrain Keep hope alive! He said people could overcome their particular circumstances no matter how bad things were. All we had to do was hold on and hope that the difficult situations would turn around. It was one of the best speeches I ve ever heard. Jackson s words till ring in my head: Keep hope alive. There are times, however, when keeping hope alive is easier said than done. Sometimes we face situations so painful that we feel we are going to be swallowed up by our doubts and fears. We feel separated from God when hope doesn t feel solid enough for us to hang on to. Thirsting for God Throughout the Bible hope has brought encouragement and a sense of purpose to God s people in uncertain times. When the Egyptians chased the discouraged Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea, God gave them hope as the waters parted (Exodus 14). God sent a message of hope to the people of Israel through the prophets during times of military defeat and exile. A woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for 12 years received hope and healing from Jesus (Luke 8:43-48). In Psalm 42 we find a person praying to God in a state of apparent distress because of sickness, the death of a loved one or some other painful situation. To make things worse, the psalmist is not near a congregation or place of worship and is surrounded by doubters who keep asking, Where is your God? Sometimes in the life of faith we face challenges that shake our hope and assurance of God s presence. We may find that difficult circumstances cause our souls to thirst for God, as the psalmist describes it. This is not just some fleeting or superficial desire, but a condition affecting our whole inner being. One of the television shows I enjoy watching is I Survived..., in which people who have overcome life-threatening situations tell their stories. Some talk about how their Christian faith was challenged in situations so bad that they actually thought about giving up. They recall asking such questions as Why is God letting this happen to me? and Where are you, God? We may experience similar emotions as we live the life of faith. Stressful situations may trigger despair, depression and anxiety. But we can make it through whatever happens with hope and a sense of God s presence. Remembering God s faithfulness The writer of Psalm 42 is not able to attend communal worship in the temple but has vivid memories of previous worship experiences. The psalmist remembers what it was like to walk together with others to the temple, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving. These memories lift the spirits of one who is far from the worshiping community and feeling forgotten and abandoned. We too can call on memories of previous encounters with God and God s people to uplift us in times of despair. When we feel lonely and are unable to be with a worshiping community, we can hearken back to that certain song that lifts our hearts. We may remember a particular person who shared an encouraging word, or a time of joyous participation in the community of faith. Like the psalmist, we are assured by these God-glimpses that we are never beyond the reach of God s steadfast love and faithfulness. This assurance gives us a sense of hope for the future. In an episode of the soap opera Days of Our Lives one of the main characters, Bo Brady, was severely injured. As he lay in the hospital in a coma, Hope Williams sat at his bedside, praying and telling him she could not live without him. She assured him that with her support he could survive this injury, just as he had survived previous challenges. Miraculously, by the end of the episode Bo had emerged from the coma, shocking everyone, including the doctors who had not given him much chance of surviving. Asked what brought him back from the coma, Bo said he had actually wanted to give up but he couldn t because Hope wouldn t let him go. In the same way, in our most difficult times God restores our hope by reminding us of the divine love that will not let us go. God calls us to keep hope alive! Psalm 42:1-5 The assurance that we are never beyond the reach of God s steadfast love gives us hope. Byron Wade, pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, N.C., was vice moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008).