Presbyterian Connection

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1 Presbyterian Connection April 2012 Volume 19 Issue 4 From the Pen of Reverend Terry This morning I was reading a post from one of my Facebook friends. Debra wrote, Thirty years ago today my mama, Elisabeth Jean "Jean" Nutting Johnston, suddenly left this earth for heaven. Coincidentally, a year ago today is also the last day I had a face-to-face conversation with my little brother, neither of us guessing it was our last goodbye this side of heaven. I'm so glad Easter's coming! Immediately I felt a stirring in my soul. You know that feeling you get when you hear the truth. Her post reminded me that we Christians are Easter people. We live with resurrection hope deep in our bones. The refrain of Because He Lives say it better than I can. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future Life is worth the living just because He lives. May we always live as Easter people, Many blessings, Terry 1

2 Maundy Thursday Communion Service on April 5 at 6:00 pm. This service gets its name from the Latin word, mandatam meaning commandment after the new commandment Jesus gave to his disciples. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. John 13:39 Through scripture, hymns, prayers, foot washing and communion we will re-member the last supper. Following communion, we will move into a traditional Tenebrae or service of Shadows. The purpose of this part of the service is to help us enter the mystery of the passion of Christ. It will begin with the stripping of the communion table and lighting of seven candles. Scriptures describing the arrest, trial and death of Jesus will be read. With each passage a candle will be extinguished until all have been snuffed out. The service will end with silence. Thank you, Betty Aaron for answering the call to help with the Sanctuary flowers. Thank you, Vicky for the easy to read and handle annual report booklets. Thank you to Meg, Faye, Paul Graham, Madison, Kyra, and Mason for the playlet for One Great Hour of Sharing 2

3 WORSHIP IN APRIL April 1 Palm Sunday Mark 11:1-11; Luke 23:44-49; Psalm 31 Receive One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Trust April 5, 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service of Shadows It is Finished April 8 Easter Communion Psalm 118:1-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8 Wake Up, Jerusalem Who Will Roll Back the Stone? April 15 2 nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 133; Mark 2: Guess Who s Coming to Dinner? Faith Potluck April 22 3 rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 4; Acts 4:32-35; Mark 2: 23 3:6 Sabbath Blessing of Food Pantry April 29 4 th Sunday of Easter Mark 3:7-19; Psalm 23; 1 John 1: 1-4 Word of Mouth 6:00 pm 5 th Sunday Sing 3

4 A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old). Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and...they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why. ''Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'' EXPENDITURES As has been the policy for ordering and paying for special items, the Moderator of the committee in charge is to be contacted prior to and permission obtained before an expenditure is made. The invoice for reimbursement with receipts must be signed by the committee moderator. A church in the heart of a big city was notorious for it s exclusivity. A janitor took a fancy to the church and told the minister that he wished to join. The minister sought to evade the issue by suggesting to the man that he reflect more carefully on the matter and pray for guidance. The following day, the janitor went back to the minister and said, Well, I prayed last night and God gave me an answer. And what was it? Asked the minister, at a loss. What did he say? He asked me what church I wanted to join, the janitor replied. I told him it was yours...and he said Oh, no...you can t get into that church. I know you can t, because I ve been trying to get into it for the past 10 years myself. Submitted by Ken Hobart New church address We have a new address for the church which is now; presch@suddenlinkmail.com Come join us for the Easter, Sunday April 8th service at 10:00 a.m. Connection Online If you would like to read the Connection newsletter online, go to our website; Click on the Info Center tab at the top, then on the drop-down menu, click on Presbyterian Connection, then choose the month of the newsletter you would like to read. The most recent newsletter will be at the top. Be sure to drop in for coffee, maybe a Danish or cookies and wonderful fellowship on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in Memorial Hall! 4

5 CHURCH USHERS AND GREETERS Greeters April 1 - Sandy Erickson & Esther Roberts April 8 - Peni Lloyd & Sandy Erickson April 15 - Irene Bere & Ken Hobart April 22 - Norm Hockley & Irene Bere April 29 - Ed & Peni Lloyd Ushers Paul Graham & Ken Hobart Betty Aaron & Irene Bere Rich & Freida Danderson Amy Johnson & Mary Lou Bryant Arabella & Bob Richardson PRAYER LIST FOR CONGREGATIONS, PRESBYTERY OF AR April 1 - Mt. Comfort, Fayetteville First Dardanelle April 8 - Good Shepherd, Greenwood Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista April 15 - Central, Fort Smith Korean Ministry Fellowship, Ft. Smith April 22 - Alpine Church, Amity Cleburne Avenue, West Helena April 29 - First, Lonoke Vaughn, Bentonville PLEASE NOTIFY PAT ERLEWINE IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO SHOULD BE ON OUR PRAYER LIST. April April 6 - Mary Ann Smith April 10 - Betty Craig April 11 - Darcy Burghard April 18 - Vivian Myers April 19 - Garrett Carpenter April 19 - Norma Taylor April 22 - Don Miller April 27 - Pam Cook BIRTHDAYS May May 2 - Rebecca Halog May 7 - Meg Simons May 17 - Ramona Marshall April 15 - Ed & Joyce King May 19 - Robert & Tywllah Schauer May 31 - Fred & Norma Taylor ANNIVERSARIES 5

6 LIBRARY LINES FOR APRIL 2012 The biography of Fanny Crosby has been donated on DVD. We are asking for any donations of CD s either non-fiction or fiction and also any DVD s. Several members like to listen to CD s while taking trips. The audio tapes, CD s and DVD s are located on the shelves behind the library desk. Two non-fiction books were donated: A DOUBTER S GUIDE TO HEAVEN by Terry Giles, and STAR MINISTRY. We have three new adult fiction books: ECHOES OF TITANIC by Mindy Clark/John Clark, ECHO by C. L. Kelly, and LIMELIGHT by Melody Carlson. The book of the month is: ECHOES OF TITANIC. Kelsey Tate s great-grandmother Adele endured the sinking of Titanic and made it safely to America, where she not only survived but thrived. Several generations later, Kelsey is a rising star at Brennan & Tate, the firm Adele helped to establish 100 yrs. ago. Now facing a hostile takeover, the firm s origins are challenged when new facts emerge about Adele s actions on Titanic s tragic last night. Kelsey tries to defend the company and the great-grandmother she has long admired, but the stakes are raised when someone close to her is found dead--and the police won t say if it s suicide or murder. Forced to seek help from Cole Thornton, a man Kelsey once loved--and lost, thanks to her success-at-allcosts mentality--she pursues mysteries both past and present. Aided by Cole and strengthened by the faith she had all but forgotten in her climb up the corporate ladder, Kelsey races the clock to defend her family legacy, her livelihood, and ultimately her life. Thank you to all who participated in the library survey. It gives us an idea of what you would like in the library. Faye Brackett, Librarian 6

7 MISSION MINUTE APRIL-2012 Submitted by Faye Brackett Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Rev. Dr. Michael Jinkins, President Louisville Seminary seeks to provide theological education for what s next: an increasingly pluralistic and diverse society. This awareness is at the heart of our Doors to Dialogue (D2D) program, an approach to religious dialogue that suffuses the entire learning environment of the seminary and encourages conversation with persons who do not share our theological or faith perspectives. Students learn to listen attentively to the beliefs of others and to articulate their own faith clearly. With D2D, their study is not complete without the interpersonal dimensions of learning to live with the other. Brennan Pearson, a 2011 M.Div. graduate, learned this in a field education placement where he focused on his interest in social justice and Latin American liberation theology through an immersion experience among the poor in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The oppressive and holistic violence that surrounds a life of poverty is enough to make the stomach churn and the soul drip with sorrow.despite all this there is a dignity in people s countenance, hospitality in their nature, and laughter in their hearts, wrote Pearson in his travel blog. We believe that pastors will need these sensitivities, understandings, and experiences if they are to lead the church into its future. Our mission, therefore, is to provide theological education for the practice of ministry in a world of religious difference. This is a theological mission, first and last, and a mission we hope will bear fruit in the lives of pastors and other church leaders for generations to come. Faye Brackett, Mission Committee 7

8 From the Deacons The Deacons have had several questions lately about the special and extended prayer lists printed in our weekly worship announcements. Here are the guidelines: The special and extended prayer lists are for immediate and critical concerns. To add someone to the prayer list, please contact Pat Erlewine. Before anyone can be added to either of these lists we must have their permission. Once someone s name has been added to the special prayer list, it may remain for two weeks. After two weeks, their name will be moved to the extended prayer list where it may remain for two more weeks. If you would like to have us send a We Care card to someone on the prayer list, please be sure to provide a mailing address at the time the prayer request is made. We love to hear how people we are praying for are faring - please let us know. 8

9 Easter Traditions Easter traditions differ around the world. Here are just a few of them. Children in the United States and Canada say the Easter bunny or rabbit brings eggs at Easter. In Germany and England, they say the hare brings them. The hare looks like a rabbit, but it's larger, with longer ears and legs. In Australia, rabbits are quite a nuisance as they are not native to the land. For this reason, there is an attempt being made to dub the Bilby as the the chief egg bringer of the land. For lack of a better description, the Bilby looks a bit like a cross between a mouse and a rabbit. In Italy, Belgium and France, children say Easter eggs are brought by the church bells. There, church bells do not ring from Good Friday until Easter Sunday. Because of this, people say that the bells have flown off to Rome. As the bells fly back home for Easter, they drop colored eggs for boys and girls to find. But there are more foods than eggs to enjoy on Easter! People in Russia eat an Easter bread that is full of plump white raisins and tastes like cake. In some countries of Eastern Europe, people enjoy an Easter Cake called babka. It's shaped like a skirt -- babka means "little old woman". Easter cakes in Italy are shaped like a rabbit, which is a symbol of birth and new life and many other countries make cookies and cakes shaped like a lamb, a symbol of Jesus. Hot cross buns are another traditional Easter bread with icing in the shape of a cross. 9

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12 RECIPES VEGETABLE MACARONI SALAD SUBMITTED BY ELNORA KOEDAM Ingredients 1 lb. macaroni 1 large green pepper, chopped 4 shredded carrots 1 chopped onion 2 thinly sliced cucumbers Sliced radishes 2 medium fresh tomatoes, diced 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk 1 cup vinegar 3/4 cup sugar 2 cups mayonnaise 1 tsp. salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Western dressing (the red kind) Directions Cook macaroni; drain and cool. Add a little western dressing (the red kind), to the macaroni as it cools. Add vegetables and mix well. Combine vinegar, sugar and mayo, plus the salt & pepper. Add to the macaroni mixture. Mix thoroughly & chill at least 4 hours to overnight (better). If you have a recipe that you have tried before and believe others might enjoy it, please drop it off at the office to be included in the next month s newsletter. 12

13 THIS WE BELIEVE for APRIL Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. - 1 John 3:18 ~MISSION STATEMENT~ We will be scripture-based to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spiritually led to guide all people to be active doers of the Word Approved by Session on November 16, 2007 CHURCH STAFF Interim Pastor: Rev. Terry Hart Clerk of Session: Vicky Bair, Church Treasurer: Ken Hobart, Secretary: Christi Partee Financial Secretary: Dick Sass, Asst. Financial Secretary: Elaine Miller DEACONS Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Class of 2014 James Hart Ed Lloyd Dot Pitts Pam Hobart Gloria Wiles Sandy Erickson Pat Erlewine ELDERS Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Norm Hockley Vicky Bair Meg Simons Ken Hobart Jini Sass Arabella Richardson Presbyterian Church of Bull Shoals P. O. Box 305 Bull Shoals, AR