Hyde Park Presbyterian 1 Church ChurchMouse. February 2016 LIVE IN COMMUNITY WITH US.

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1 Hyde Park Presbyterian 1 Church ChurchMouse February 2016 LIVE IN COMMUNITY WITH US. Lent is forty days of spiritual preparation not counting Sundays. Why not Sundays? you may ask. Not Sundays because every Sunday is a little Easter, a reminder that death and the grave could not defeat God or God s love in Christ. It is a time to follow Jesus, by commititing our lives to him, by commiting to know his will and way and then to live out both in our lives. In Living into Lent, Rev. Dr. Donalk McKim says, Our Lenten journey is a time of focusing strongly on what it means to be a disciple, or follower of Jesus. Discipleship begins with a step of faith. Through this step of faith, we learn more about Jesus, ourselves, and others. We can take on something, like the spiritual disciplines of prayer or scripture reading or visiting someone who is in the hospital or homebound. We can give up something, like anger or greed or pettiness. We can do both. The purpose is for us to learn new ways of being and responding, to learn to be more loving, more kind, more compassionate. And, Dearly Beloved, giving up a Hershey bar just won t do it, for we are engaged in the process of living out our inner life as Christians. (Evelyn Underhill) May we each discover the joy of discipleship and know the joy of a good Lent. Blessings, Linda

2 2 Volunteer Calendar February 2016 Date Greeter/Usher Refreshments Liturgist Children s Time 7 Ben/ Diego Emily George Linda Communion Setup: Karen Serve: Emily/Karen 14 Ben/ Diego Luncheon Thomas Linda 21 Ben/ Diego Monique Monique Lisa 28 Ben/ Diego Elsa Elsa Linda 31 Ben/Diego Eugenie Anna Linda If you are unable to serve on the date shown, please trade with someone. Financial Report November 2015 will appear next month. December 2015 BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Income $ Expenses $ Total $ Thank you for your generous contributions. Food Pantry Between December 30 & January 29, 5 people received groceries. Your help is needed and appreciated. As you give thanks for God s many blessings, please remember the needy and be generous. Truly I tell you, Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:4

3 3 Adult Church School Sunday morning 9:30AM by Discussion led Emily Children s Church Each Sunday after Children Time. Miss Eugenie & Miss Monique teach this class. Monthly Potluck February 14 Bring a Friend and make your joy complete. Session meets February 21

4 4 February 10 7pm in the sanctuary February 15 Office Closed In the Bible, the good is penultimate. It cannot exist without the holy. Abraham Joshua Heschel

5 5 A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order in Wooten Hall at 12:15 p.m. by Moderator, Linda Bourianoff. Present were: Moderator, Linda Bourianoff, and Elders: Elsa Aleman, George Bourianoff and Karen Laffere and Emily Rochford. Also present was Treasurer, Doris Lowe. The meeting was opened with prayer. Hebrews 10:11-28 was read and discussed. The agenda was adopted with a motion by George with a second by Emily. Treasurer s Report: was received with thanks to Doris. Administrative Reports: Clerk s Report: The minutes from the October meeting were read and approved. Correspondence: None Worship Numbers: 10/ ; 10/11 26; 10/18 23; 10/ Pastor s Report: The minimum salary for Presbyterian pastors is going up 2% in The minimum full time salary will be $41, The Administrative reports were approved with a motion by Emily with a second by George. Ministry Reports: Christian Education: The adult class is studying Six Decisions You Make for Stewardship. Fellowship and Membership Care: The Christmas party will be held after the worship service on December 13 th. People are asked to bring finger foods. Esther sent out 8 cards in October. Mission/Evangelism: Emily reported that 17 shoe boxes were returned for the Christmas mission project. Property: The shed was discussed. Karen reported 16 weddings, 4 receptions, 1 rehearsal dinner, 7 recitals and other meetings this year. Austin Sacred Harp continues to meet once a month in Wooten Hall. Stewardship and Finance: Pledges will be collected on November 22 nd. Worship: Joseph will play November 22 nd and December 20 th. Sara Driver will play December 24 th. Hanging of the Greens will be Saturday, November 28 th. The ministry reports were approved with a motion by Elsa with a second by George. Old Business: none New Business: Stated Session Meeting November 8, 2015 The session voted to give $100 out of the plate to the Peacemaking Offering with our 40% going to the Presbyterian Children s Home. Warming of the tree with donations of hats, socks, gloves, etc. will be collected December 13 th. Congregational meeting to elect members to the Nominating Committee will be November 22 nd. Congregational meeting to elect Elders will be December 20 th. Congregational meeting to receive the budget will be held January 24 th. There will be no meeting in December. The next meeting will be held January 17 th, A motion to adjourn was made by Karen with a second by George The meeting was closed in prayer ad 1:55 p.m., Respectfully submitted: Karen Laffere, Clerk of Session Approved by: Linda Bourianoff, Moderator

6 6 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Ground Hog Day The Lord s Supper Chinese New Fat Tuesday Ash Beth s Year Wednesday b day Superbowl Sunday PotLuck Ferris Wheel Day Session meets Nico s b day Karen s b day President s Alan s b day Love Your Day Pet Day Be Humble Tennis Day Day National Leap Day Tooth Fairy day

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8 Hyde Park Presbyterian Church 3913 Ave. B Austiin, Texas Pastor s linda727@juno.com Class of 2014 Ben Rosales George Bourianoff Elsa Aleman Emily Rochford Class of 2015 Karen Laffere ChurchMouse Editor Florence McLeroy 8 Ponder the Meaning of Love as Spoken in I Corinthians 13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don t love, I m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, Jump, and it jumps, but I don t love, I m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don t love, I ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn t want what it doesn t have. Love doesn t strut, Doesn t have a swelled head, Doesn t force itself on others, Isn t always me first, Doesn t fly off the handle, Doesn t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be cancelled. When I was an infant at my mother s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don t yet see things clearly. We re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.