KNOX ABOUT SABBATH. John Knox Presbyterian Church PLEASE NOTE: A neighborhood church where the Story is told. Inside this issue: June, 2018

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1 KNOX ABOUT John Knox Presbyterian Church A neighborhood church where the Story is told. June, 2018 SABBATH One of the great mysteries of human civilization is how a tiny middle eastern cult managed to make its own distinctive view of time into the world standard. Days are easy to understand; months correspond roughly to lunar cycles; and even years correspond to the stars and the seasons. But a seven day week reflects nothing in human experience. It is ideological, not experiential. The story of a six day creation and a seventh day to rest may be the basis of the idea or its justification, a chicken-and-egg kind of puzzle, but it doesn t explain how such an idea has persisted and become universal across cultures and religious identities. Of course, it is the seventh day that particularly interests us. The seventh day is the special day; the others are ordinary. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD... For Jews, sabbath begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. Christians early on adopted the Roman practice of midnight-to-midnight days and shifted Sabbath from the end of the week to the Lord s Day, the first day of the week. The practice of Sabbath remains varied, ambiguous, and largely negative. Clearly, keeping, remembering, or obeying the Sabbath has meant identifying what we can t or shouldn t do: work most obviously although defining work has vexed the faithful down to the present day. Many Protestants added entertainments as something to be avoided. Luther shifted the focus from rest to holiness: because we all do not have the time and leisure, we must set aside several hours a week for the young people, or at least a day for the whole community, when we can concentrate only on these matters and deal especially with the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord s Prayer, and thus regulate our entire life and being in accordance with God s word. Whenever this practice is in force, a holy day is truly kept [Luther s Larger Catechism]. In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the dual nature of rest and devotion is succinctly stated: The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. [A. 60]. Jesus was regularly in conflict with the devout of his day over what was permissible and what forbidden on the Sabbath. Mark says that Jesus was grieved at his opponents hardness of heart, and condemned them for having distorted priorities: The Sabbath was made for people, and not people for the Inside this issue: Session Synopsis 2 Prayer Requests 3 Worship Volunteers CASA 4 Preschool Graduation Presbyterian Women PLEASE NOTE: Carole s Corner 7 Worship Schedule 8 Plan on spending your Wednesday nights in June here at JKPC for our Summer Fellowship Dinner & Discussion Group. Dinner starts at 6 and Discussions begin at 6:45. Our topic this year will be Sabbath as Resistance. Join us!

2 SABBATH (continued) Sabbath. Jesus is in good company. Amos the prophet upbraids his auditors for hiding behind Sabbath regulations while buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. Likewise, Isaiah identifies genuine sabbath observance as the touchstone of faithfulness: If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. [58:13-14]. What is surprising is how little reflection we have received from our theological forebearers on the notion that we worship a God who rests and invites rest. Surely in a world like ours where the drive is always in the direction of more production, more acquisition, and more consumption, this idea of a God who rests is destabilizing and subversive. Yet many Christians have so abandoned even the vestige of Sabbath that only Chic-Fil-A is recognizably Sabbatarian in our culture. Indeed, we have become the people of Nine Commandments (or less). Rest is inviting, but we really don t know how to do it without becoming legalistic. Worship is worthwhile, but for an hour, not for a day. Walter Brueggemann s little book, Sabbath As Resistance, will help us reflect on the meaning and practice of Sabbath. There will be other resources as well, including each other. Join us for a fellowship meal Wednesdays at 6:00 (soup du jour provided; bring a side or dessert to share), and discussion to follow at 6:45. Fritz SESSION SYNOPSIS - The Session did not meet in May 223rd General Assembly (2018) EVENT DETAILS The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by each of its 173 presbyteries. The GA is full of activities: business sessions, committee meetings, an exhibit hall, daily worship services, and mission tours sponsored by the Committee on Local Arrangements. The assembly acts on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries. The 223rd General Assembly (2018) will be held in St. Louis, Missouri - June Page 2 KNOX ABOUT

3 Greeter Rosalind Robert Usher Captain We Need You! Communion Prep Mary Jane Guzman Communion Servers Kim Archer Oversight Officers Steve Bennett 17 - Floyd Bushey 24 - Liturgists 06 - Jay Hanson 10 - Steve Bennett Floyd Bushey June 11 thru June 15 Mary Lapp, Evelyn Samples & Mary Seagraves brought Delores Coe to the Knox About party last month. Thank you ladies for folding, stamping and mailing Knox About for us. We appreciate you! Our At-Home Members: Janelle Bridges, Louise Fahrenkopf, John Mackey and Betty Romine Ongoing Concerns: Dee Allison, Richie Ehrman, Dick Glymph, Hope Hanson, Mardi Hoofnagle, Betty and Henry Izard, Madeleine Moseley, John Spangler and our soldiers in harm s way John Knox Presbyterian Church PAGE 3

4 CASA CONNECTION What a great celebration we had in May. The kids enjoyed making thank you notes for the volunteers and celebrating them at our Volunteer Appreciation Party. Pastor Fritz received the most cards as he was a favorite with the Bible stories each week. They love learning about Jesus. Our first Annual Variety Show was a HUGE hit and we will definitely be doing it again next year! Thank you to Ms. Marsha and Ms. Thomas for all of their hard work putting it together and running rehearsals. We also held our 5th grade graduation in the evening this year so that parents could attend. I am so proud of the 14 children that will be moving on to middle school and all that they have accomplished. Five of these children, Connor dilorenzo, Sophia Martinez Rocha, Davi Carvalho, TJ Kucera and Chloe Carstens have been CASA kids since Kindergarten. A new tradition was started with this graduating class of giving a gift to CASA. This group decided to paint our outdoor benches made by the Boy Scout group to add color to our playground. Our traditional last day water party made it between the morning and afternoon showers and included a HUGE ice cream buffet provided by volunteers Dee and Wes Bladen (with help from Ms. Esther) We are excited about summer camp and have kids signed up for each week! Don't forget, Vacation Bible School will be June and we always need volunteers. Thank you for your love and support!! Staci Page 4 KNOX ABOUT

5 Preschool Graduation John Knox Presbyterian Church PAGE 5

6 Presbyterian Women Change for Helping Hand Get Sweet On Change for Helping Hand! The idiom sweet on is to be fond of, really like, or having loving feelings. John Knox is already Sweet On Change for Helping Hand. We re supportive, fond and passionate about the success of the Helping Hand Fund. Be Sweet on CHH and the ideas to give. June is National Candy Month. It s also National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month. Each time you have a piece of candy, donate candy for the MUST lunches, reminisce of your favorite childhood candy or that favorite one you only get on vacation on special occasions, think of Change for Helping Hand and how just a few coins each week for that sweet tooth allows us to support our community in someway. If you don t snack on candy, some fruits that will take care of that craving. Lychee [so yummy], figs, mangoes, cherries and grapes are sky high in their sugar count. The lowest are avocados, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Still too sweet? Pick one of nature s candy; the top five vegetables that are sweet to snack on are podded peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, and rutabagas. With summer right around the corner and everything coming into season, melons, corn, tomatoes, squash we ll be thinking of Helping Hand at every meal and snack. Your support does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you for the Change for Helping Hand continuous support; daily, weekly, monthly, for each and every time! Serving Sisters Circle Serving Sisters It s Time for Dinner! We are serving dinner at the Women s Extension Wednesday, June 13th. We set up at 6:30 PM and dinner promptly begins at 7 PM. Please join even if only to sit and have dinner with the ladies; you will find your time with the ladies very rewarding and they really appreciate the to time to talk. The menu is set up via ; if you d like to know more; contact Sarita. Women s Extension: Barbara J. Crafton Center, 130 Holiday Street. Fellowship Circle Please join Fellowship Circle on Tuesday, June 5 at Chicago s Restaurant on Shallowford Road at 6:00 p.m. (Note the time change from 6:30. This is to take advantage of the early bird special which requires us to be seated and ordered by 6:30 pm. Please let Mary Seagroves or Alice Allen know if you would like to attend. We would enjoy your company. Mission Haven: Seekers Circle Supports: Visit for more information. Page 6 KNOX ABOUT

7 Have you ever noticed that choir members are usually very "close" with each other? I don't mean clique-like, for they are always open for another singer/ musician. They take the new comer into the fold as though they had always been there. This is not an experience unique to John Knox. I have been in/or directed choirs for over 50 years and it has always been true. The question is: why is it always true, We think it is the physical act of singing together, The enveloping sound waves produce a well being, a sense of belonging. In making music together you know you are part of something greater then yourself. The solo voice can be wonderful but a well done choral piece can touch your soul. I have often told choirs that God is in the music. The early church recognized this music connection. When you sing in the congregation it is to bond the congregation one to another. Notice we never mention that it has to be "good" singing, Any effort toward making a joyful noise is acceptable. So sing with joy, sing with gusto, sing for solace, sing for redemption, sing to see the face of God. Carole Roach, Interim Music Director John Knox Presbyterian Church Page 7

8 John Knox Presbyterian Church 505 Powers Ferry Road Marietta, GA Phone: Fax: Rev. Fritz Bogar Kathy Kestin - Office Manager kathy.kestin@johnknoxpcmarietta.org Karen Otto - Preschool Director preschool@johnknoxpcmarietta.org Staci Bushey - C.A.S.A. Director staci.bushey@johnknoxpcmarietta.org As disciples of Jesus Christ, together we seek to grow spiritually and to demonstrate God s love by serving others. 11:00 AM Traditional Service Sanctuary 10:30 AM Brazilian Christian Service - Fellowship Hall We re on the web! 3 June th Sunday in Ordinary Time I Samuel 3:1-10 Mark 2:23-3:6 Grace and Restraint Communion 10 June th Sunday in Ordinary Time I Samuel 8:1-9 Mark 3:20-27 A Kingdom Divided 1 July th Sunday in Ordinary Time II Samuel 1:17-27 Mark 5:21-24, Little Girl, Get Up! Communion 17 June th Sunday in Ordinary Time I Samuel 16:1-13 Mark 4:26-32 The Kingdom of God 24 June th Sunday in Ordinary Time I Samuel 17:55-18:5 Mark 4:35-41 Who Then Is This? Adult Sunday School Spares & Pairs - New Book for Discussion. Join us in Room 7 Church Office Hours Monday Friday 9 AM Noon