The Evangel. The First Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 The Evangel The First Presbyterian Church APRIL 2014

2 From the Pastor: The Strife is O er! The Battle Done! This month, we celebrate the highest of all high holy days on the Christian calendar: Resurrection Sunday, the day our Lord Jesus Christ triumphed over sin, death and the devil by rising again from the dead. This is a day of supreme joy; indeed, the fifty-one other Sundays of the year are all commemorations of this great day all mini-easters, if you will. But in the midst of all the bunnies, eggs and plastic Easter grass that we see at this time of year, (not to mention the candy!), it can be hard to remember just why this day is so important. And so, I think a question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism might be helpful for us: Q. 45: What benefit do we receive from the resurrection of Christ? A. 45: First, by His resurrection, He has overcome death that He might make us share in the righteousness which He has obtained for us through His death. Second, we, too, are now raised by His power to a new life. Third, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection. The authors of the catechism list three reasons why Resurrection Sunday is such a big deal three benefits we receive from Jesus work on this day. First, because He rose again, we now are able to share in the righteousness He has obtained for us through His death. We have talked several times during the season of Lent about this righteousness obtained for us by Jesus that by serving as our high priest, our substitute, and our scapegoat, Jesus has made atonement for our sin. Jesus took all our sin upon Himself on the cross, bearing the punishment we deserved, and in exchange, He gives us His perfect righteousness and all the privileges that are naturally His as the Son of God. This all happened on Good Friday, as Jesus suffered and died on the cross. But this work wasn t complete until Jesus was raised from the dead that next Sunday. Through His resurrection, Jesus finally, once-and-for-all defeated our three great enemies: sin, death and the devil. And by this victory, our atonement was made complete. Hallelujah! Second, because of this, we are now raised by His power to a new life. See, just because Jesus has taken our sin and our punishment from us doesn t mean we aren t the same old sinful people. Just taking our legal sentence of death away from us doesn t make us different people we need a great outside power to be at work in us, changing our hearts. And the resurrection of Jesus grants us that power, for we are promised that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (namely, the Holy Spirit), now resurrects our sinful, fallen selves, transforming us into a new kind of people, making us more like Jesus Himself. Now, because of Jesus triumph on that Sunday all those years ago, change is possible for us! Hallelujah! And third, as the catechism teaches, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection. I make sure to say this at every funeral I do (or, to use the Presbyterian term, Service of Witness to the Resurrection ) that because Jesus lives, we know that we also will live! The Scriptures call Jesus our first fruits that is, the first fruits of a harvest of resurrected believers who will go to be with Him for all eternity. Because we are bound together with Him by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, all that is His is now also ours. Because He was raised again from the dead with a new, different kind of body, so will we be raised in the same way. Because He ascended to be with the Father in the flesh, so will we do the same. Jesus has paved the way for us to enjoy the joy of the promised new heavens and new earth, where all things will be made new, where, in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, everything sad will come untrue. Hallelujah! So, as you can see, this day is a big deal! This is a day worth celebrating indeed, worth celebrating every single Sunday! This is a day to pull out all the stops, to ring the bells, to sing with gusto! For in the words of the old hymn:

3 The powers of death have done their worst, But Christ the legions hath dispersed: Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia! 1 I hope you will join with me in giving praise to the Lord this Resurrection Sunday! To Him alone be the glory! In Christ s Love, Joshua 1 The Strife is O er, Latin c. 1695, trans. Francis Pott, Palm Sunday is 13 April. Be sure to join us in worship as we remember our Lord s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds waved palms and shouted Hosanna! The choir will be presenting its Holy Week cantata, Behold the Empty Tomb by Ethel Trench Rogers during the 10:45 worship service. All are welcome! Maundy Thursday is 17 April. On this day, we remember Jesus giving of a new commandment (this is where the term Maundy comes from from the Latin, mandatum, or commandment/mandate), and the institution of the sacrament of the Lord s Supper in the Upper Room. Be sure to join us in worship that evening at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary; we will have a simple tenebrae service and will celebrate the Lord s Supper together. All are welcome! Good Friday is 18 April. Once again, we will join with our brothers and sisters of the Providence Presbyterian Church in a family reunion as we together remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. The Rev. Jim Crank will be preaching in our pulpit and both choirs will sing. All are welcome! Resurrection Sunday, the most joyful Sunday of the year, is 20 April. Again, we have three opportunities for worship on this wonderful day! At 7am, we will be meeting on top of Sandusky Hill for our annual SonRise service. Following this, we will have our traditional 8:30 and 10:45 am worship services in the sanctuary. The handbell choir will be ringing at our 10:45 service. He is risen He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Quote to Ponder... We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. ~ (2 Corinthians 4:14).

4 Chili Cook-Off has been rescheduled for APRIL 6 following the 10:45 service. The FROGs hope you can make the new date for their big fundraiser for the year. You can still enter the contest (entry form below or in Faith Hall.) If you submitted an entry and cannot participate due the date change, please inform Jody Rivera ( or jodyrivera99@gmail.com.) FROGs Chili Cook Off Entry Form Chef s Name: Chili s Name: Chili s Category: HOT MILD Your entry should serve at least 10 people. It is always best if you can bring your chili in a crock pot. There will be awards given for the best mild chili and the best hot chili and bragging rights will belong to the winners. Thank you for supporting our youth group. We look forward to tasting yummy chili and spending time in fellowship and friendly competition! (Please place your entry form in the offering plate or in the FROGs mailbox/the church office.) Flip the Switch: After two teen suicides and three heroin deaths in the Cincinnati area so far this school year, the churches of Harrison have organized together to pray for the schools of the Southwest School District. If you would like to sign up to pray specifically for a particular school between now and the end of the school year, please go to and follow the "Flip the Switch" sign-up prompts. You can choose particular days, particular schools, etc. You may pray wherever you wish, but if possible, we ask that folks go to pray at the school property during school hours at least once during their week. A PDF of prayer prompts is also available on the website. Please join us as we lift up our schools, our teachers, our administrators, and especially our students to the Lord in prayer!

5 Come join us! The Discipleship Adult Sunday School class continues each Sunday at 9:30 in the Children s Worship room. We are reading The Story - The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People by Zondervan. Books are available online, for your Kindle or for purchase (see Kelly Sebastian.) Kroger Community Rewards Update: We had 59 households shopping for us for the quarter of Nov. 1, 2013 to Jan. 31, The check for this period is $ We began this program Sept. 7, 2011 and to date we have collected $12, Thanks to you for participating in this program. If you need any further information, please contact Reta Crone at Quote to Ponder Perhaps the transformation of the disciples of Jesus is the greatest evidence of all for the resurrection. ~ John Stott The gym will be unavailable for use April to prep and paint the walls. We apologize for any inconvenience. Stuff Sale BIG STUFF SALE! We will be selling our stuff on Friday, April 4 from 9:00-3:00 and Saturday, April 5 from 9:00-1:00. Please have all your stuff in by Thursday (you can begin bringing in your stuff starting Sunday, March 30.) If you are able to help sort and price, please stop by that week between 9:30-3:00. News from the WOMEN S ASSOCIATION WOMEN S APRIL MEETING The Women s Association s monthly meeting will be held on April 3 at noon. We will take a timeout from working to eat then go back to sorting and pricing. Be sure to bring your lunch. Desserts and drinks will be provided by this month s hostesses: Arlene Brackett, Esther Kipp and Bobbie Clark. We will also discuss and decide on our May trip at this meeting. THE FINAL COUNT IS IN! With the help of some church members, the Women s Association was able to round up the Sauerkraut Luncheon profit total to a whole number - $2,790! Thanks again to all who help make the luncheon a success.

6 BIRTHDAYS APRIL BIRTHDAY BAKERS: Belinda Moul, Fran Myers, Lou Rozmarynowski 2 Laurie Longhauser Banks 4 Jeff Biddle, Christine Luca, Leah Fette, Evelyn Stutzman 6 Julia Pitstick 7 Randy Jones 12 Joy Riegel 13 Steve Coleman 15 Emma Trabel 17 Sean McCauley, Maggie Taphorn 18 Jim Mendell, Kim Schwering 19 Andy Brackett 20 Ralph Doerzbacher 21 Kelly Sebastian 22 Mary Ann Pickens 25 Nicholas Wolfram, Stephanie Trabel 26 Emma Hellmann 27 Russ Taylor, Tori Steuver UPCOMING YOUTH CONNECTION MEETINGS Sunday, April 6, 6-8 pm April 20 meeting is CANCELLED Sunday, May 4, 6-8 pm Sunday, May 19, 6-8 pm We are trying to plan another theater outing. This time we are planning to travel to Columbus, OH on April 12 th to see C.S. Lewis s The Great Divorce. The performance will begin at 4:00 and last 90 minutes with no intermission. We would like to have a minimum of 10 folks come along so that we can get a group discount on the tickets. This production is done by the same company that produced The Screwtape Letters that we went to see in Louisville. Please contact Lisa Steuver by April 6 th if you would like to attend. If the ticket prices are equivalent to our trip in September, they will cost approximately $30 each if we have at least 10 folks go. If you have an article or event you would like featured in the May Evangel, please submit them to Kristy by April 22. You can leave a note in her mailbox or her at kkathman@harrisonpresbyterian.com

7 It s time to order Easter Lilies! Please fill out the form below if you would like to purchase a lily for Easter to be placed in the sanctuary for a loved one to be remembered or honored. We must have your order (with money) into the church office no later than Monday, April 14. Each flower is $9.50* and you may take your flowers with you after the Easter service. If paying by check, please address to First Presbyterian Church. No. of $9.50 ea. Donation Amount Total Amount Enclosed $ $ NAME & PHONE # IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF * The church does not profit from the sale of the flowers. Our Mother-Daughter Banquet will be held the evening of Monday, May 5 at 6:00pm. It is a covered dish dinner (meat, salad, vegetable and dessert.) Sign up sheets are in Faith Hall. Please plan on attending this very fun event! We will also need men to work at the banquet (sign up sheet also in Faith Hall..) If you have questions, please contact Phyllis Wolf. 2 A MEAL ~ SUNDAY, APRIL 13 You can place your donations in the gold pots located at both entrances to the sanctuary. Thanks for your donation to feed the hungry. There will be a HEALING SERVICE in the chapel after the 10:45 service on April 27. All who wish to receive anointing, the laying on of hands and prayers for healing are welcome.

8 Congratulations to our own Marilyn Bourquein who was named First Lady of the Community for 2014 by the Xi Eta Jota Sorority. We rejoice with you in this honor! Quote to Ponder Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ~ (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). BUCKHORN Tentative plans are being made by the Mission Committee for the 10 th Annual Adult Mission trip to Buckhorn, KY. The dates are June If you are interested in going or need more information, contact Dick Morris ( ). It s a great opportunity to see a beautiful slice of God s world, do something worthwhile and have fun. Memorial Scholarship Fund In 1990, Jerry Francis Fellowship Class challenged each class to do something extra for our church. The Chapel Class teacher, Jerry Pepper, and others suggested setting up a scholarship fund to encourage church members to consider ministry, in some form, after completing college. The Chapel Sunday School Memorial Scholarship Fund STILL EXISTS!!! The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to anyone who may want to become a full-time pastor, co-pastor, associate pastor, minister of music or education, a missionary or lay minister through the Presbytery. Members of the Chapel Class who sponsor the Scholarship are pleased to have aided two former members of our church with funds that helped them with their studies. One received money for gas and a paid baby sitter. The second one attended divinity school and received funds to pay for the books needed for the varies classes. Donations to this fund are gratefully accepted. This is a great way to honor or memorialize a loved one.

9 THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY Our Shut-ins Hammond Roudebush Pauline Zimmerman Nora Montgomery Gloria Culley Grace Dazier Jeanette Rae Don Kraus Specific Prayer needs Ed Emley: for his mother s health; Charla Payne: for her father s health; June Merten: for her brother s health; Stephanie Trabel: for her aunt s health; Mindy & Jeff Sindiong: for her brother-in-law; Bob & Bobbie Clark: for their daughter s health; Taaron Meyers: for her 97 year old aunt s health; Leo Rolfes Jr. for recovery after cancer treatments; Georgia & Earl Dwelly: for their daughters health; Linda Hellmann: for her father & sister s health needs; Virginia Steelman: for her sister s health and her daughter-in-law; Ted & Janet Coakley: for their granddaughter s & his brother s health PRAYER CHAIN CALLS The Prayer Chain is a group of people who are committed to praying daily for those requesting prayer. This ministry is administered through our Board of Deacons. If you have a prayer request please contact Marcia Merse at (home) or (work) during the day or Phyllis Wolfram at during the evening. For two weeks, the people on the chain will pray daily for the person or situation requested. Quote to Ponder For health needs Abigail Willman Theresa Johnson Gene Steelman George Merse Bennie Pierson Russel Tayler June Merten Nomi Taylor Jane Poland Pam Kraus Gene Troy Jean Vest Bill Bates Christ Himself deliberately staked His whole claim to the credit of men upon His resurrection. When asked for a sign, He pointed to this sign as His single and sufficient credential. ~ B.B. Warfield