The Good News. The Pastors Pen. Northfield Presbyterian Church February 2016

Transcription

1 Northfield Presbyterian Church February 2016 The Good News The Pastors Pen Dear Friends, In December, for the fifth time, I was sent a summons for jury duty. Two of those times were while we still lived in Pittsburgh and because of the circumstances I was not able to serve for either of the two week trials. My first summons here led to a very short civil trial of a total of two and a half days as I recall and was nothing earth shattering. But last week, on January 20 th, I was selected to serve on a rather life changing trial for 4 ½ days. Without going into great detail, it involved a very dysfunctional family situation and the shattered lives of close to two dozen people. The end result was a young man in his twenties was found guilty of crimes against his family and will probably spend the rest of his life incarcerated. As one of my fellows jurors put it at the conclusion of the trial, This man is paying the punishment for the failure of the whole family. His description caught my attention for various reasons. First and most obvious, as the Defense attorney said at the beginning of jury selection, this case involves a family that goes far beyond dysfunction. He was right. The defendant was one of three children with the same mother but three different last names, and the story just went downhill from there. We truly needed a program to keep the names and relationships of the players straight. Second, I was reminded that all were guilty and culpable, but only one was caught and will be punished, even though all will be living with their guilt and failures. Third, I was reminded of how much we need a savior. On Wednesday, February 10 th, the season that we know of as Lent begins. That is the 40 days, minus the Sundays, between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The 40 days originally were to represent Jesus forty days of prayer and fasting before his temptation and the beginning of his public ministry. These two spiritual disciplines are well worth pursuing at any time, but Lent can serve as a good opportunity to invest ourselves in them to draw closer to our heavenly Father. This year we are going to try something a little different. A friend suggested a study program focusing on Jesus final day of his life on earth. It is called Jerusalem: 24 Hours That Changed the World. You can see a synopsis of it in the Good News on page 2. We will meet on Sundays from 4:00 6:00 p.m. My plan is that we will have small group discussions, preferably with the same group each week. Each person will need a devotional guide, and each couple or home will need a Hard Cover Book or E- reader download. This study really focuses on the most important ingredient needed to save a family: the person and triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and brokenness. The other special program we have coming up beginning Saturday, February 27 th is The Art of Marriage Seminar. This is being sponsored by Victory Baptist Church. While it is a 6 week seminar, it will be played out the fourth Saturday of each month for six months. Victory has generously invited us to join them for this course in building stronger marriages. It doesn t matter how long you ve been married or how old you are. There is always room for growth. I believe that my experience this past week could have been avoided completely if the family I observed could have experienced two events like these that we are able to offer during Lent this year. I want to encourage you all to be prayerful and to consider becoming involved in one or both of these opportunities. In His Grip, Art Helin

2 Lenten Begins February 14th Pastor Helin will be leading us through Jerusalem: 24 Hours That Changed the World a video presentation with discussion and devotional materials. This is a 6 week study taking us through a variety of locations in Jerusalem that highlight the importance of Jesus final hours. Filmed on location in the Holy Land, you ll visit the sites where Jesus walked along the road that led from pain to the triumph of the cross. Chapter highlights: 1.The Last Supper 2.The Garden of Gethsemane 3.Condemned by the Righteous 4.Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate 5.The Torture and Humiliation of the King 6.The Crucifixion 7.Christ the Victor Sessions will meet Sundays from 4-6 p.m. The first session will be on February 14th. Materials fee: 40 Day Devotional: $9.00 Hard Cover Book: E-book download: $9.99 through Sign up in the Narthex if planning to join the group and designate the materials you would like to purchase. The Art Of Marriage Seminar Our friends from Victory Baptist Church have invited us to join their couples group The Art of Marriage - Getting to the Heart of God s Design a 6 week seminar from Family Life Ministries. Sessions will meet the 4th Saturday of the month from 4-6 p.m. beginning February 27th. Workbooks are $15.00 each ($30.00 per couple). The six sessions weaves together expert teaching, real-life stories, humorous vignettes, man-on-the-street interviews and much more to portray both the challenges and the beauty of God's design for marriage. The six dynamic sessions are: Love Happens: God's Purpose and Plan Love Fades: Overcoming Isolation Love Dances: Fulfilling Our Responsibilities Love Interrupted: Communication and Conflict Love Sizzles: Experiencing Real Intimacy Love Always: Leaving a Lasting Legacy Sign Up in the Narthex if interested in joining the group.

3 Women s Association to Meet The next meeting of the Women s Association will be Monday, February 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Carol Metz will be leading our discussion of "The Battle Against Us" as we study Ephesians 6:10-20 All women are welcome to attend. materials still available. In Memoriam Stewardship Report January 2016 (not including Jan. 31, 2016 income) Income: $ 14,901 Expenses: $ 15,352 Mission Spending 1st Quarter: The Seed Company: Galen Johnson - Africa $ Globe Ministries: Bob & Melissa Hill- Scotland $ Gospel for Asia: India $ Intervarsity Christian Fellowship: B. Trube - OSU $ Interlink Ministries: Mary Williams Cleveland $ Youth with a Mission Nepal-Stephen Groves $ RAHAB House Akron area $ H20 Ministries Kent/Akron - Chad and Eva Frank $ SAMair - Mike and Nancy Mahon, Peru $ Offering Statements will be available in the Narthex later in February for you to take home with you. We will mail out those that are not picked up in person. Thank you! With all the holiday news several Memorial announcements were postponed. Long time members Phyllis Davies (November 1, 2015), Helen Rutledge (December 19, 2015) (not pictured) and Walter Jackson (January 18, 2016) went home to the Lord. Phyllis and Walt were active in church offices serving as both Deacons and Elders throughout their time here. Phyllis also sang Soprano in the choir. We remember them fondly and celebrate their resurrection into their life with Jesus. Katie Williamson Pauline Enczur Donna Hamed Kathy Moore Robin Su John Rudin Marie Fiala Jean Swanson Abby Williamson Ethan Kremyar Carolyn Glinski Zack Miller Ann Luketic Emily Rose Zwegat 1-Feb 2-Feb 4-Feb 4-Feb 4-Feb 5-Feb 10-Feb 13-Feb 15-Feb 16-Feb 16-Feb 18-Feb 22-Feb 27-Feb Prayer Time Change Our monthly prayer time that was on Tuesday nights is taking a new direction. The group is small and we are now meeting informally at different times. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jan Helin: PANTRY ITEMS CONTINUE TO BE COLLECTED The Women s Association will continue to collect food items for the Macedonia Emergency Center. They need dry, boxed nonperishable food items such as: Spaghetti noodles and all other types of pasta either in a box or bags as well as rice, instant potatoes, cereal, hamburger or tuna helper, crackers jellies and Jams. There is a container in the narthex where church families can drop off their donations on Sundays or any other day they are in the building. We will continue to collect them as long as they are being donated. Thank you!

4 COLLEGE/MILITARY GIFT CARDS Do you have a college student away from home or a young person in the military? NPC would like to let them know we re thinking about them. In late February, the Board of Deacons will send gift cards to all NPC young people in these two categories. In the past, we have sent care packages consisting of snacks and cookies, etc. However, the cost of postage became excessive. This year, we are going to try gift cards instead and let the young people purchase what they really need or want. If you would like to help defray the cost of the cards, please place a contribution in the offering plate marking it for the Deacon s Gift Card Project. Please have all donations in by Sunday, February 14 th. The amount of the collection will determine the value of the gift cards. Also, please supply us with names and addresses of your college student/armed forces personnel. (IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY PLEASE -- military may be grandchild.) Please submit names on the back of this form and place it in the offering plate or send it to the office. Thank you, The Deacons Tell your friends with children about: Day Care and Preschool OPEN HOUSE Saturday, February a.m p.m. Tour the school! Meet the teachers! Register for enrollment! Open house for prospective families only please.

5 February 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT at Chick Fil A 4 7pm Choir :30 am Deacons 8 10am Women s Association 9 10 at Chick Fil A 11 6:45 pm Chimes 7:15pm Choir am Men s Bible at Chick Fil A 10am Day Care Open House 14 11:30am Deacons 4pm Lenten 15 7pm Session at Chick Fil A 18 6:45 pm Chimes 7:15pm Choir :30 am Antitrafficking team 4pm Lenten at Chick Fil A 25 6:45 pm Chimes 7:15pm Choir 26 5:30pm Community Meal 27 8am Men s Bible at Chick Fil A 4pm Marriage Seminar 28 4pm Lenten 29

6 Northfield Presbyterian Church 7755 S. Boyden Rd. Northfield, OH