March 2014 Wpress Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. Joel 2:12 3 B A T W F P E No one can say just how ancient is the practice of placing ashes upon the head to signify mourning. Perhaps it goes back to the very beginning, when God told Adam and Eve that they would die and return to the dust. Job mourned his presumption in questioning God s ways. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5 6 Mordecai mourned when he discovered that the Jews of Persia were under a death sentence. When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the king s gate, for no one might enter the king s gate clothed with sackcloth. In every province, wherever the king s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. Esther 4:1 3 David s daughter, Tamar, mourned after being raped by her half brother Amnon. But Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the long robe that she was wearing; she put her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went. 2 Samuel 13:19 Even the pagan King of Nineveh repented using ashes, and called his fellow Assyrians to do likewise. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Jonah 3:6 The prophets Jeremiah and Daniel both mention mourning and repenting, using ashes as a symbol (Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3). Even Jesus mentions it: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in Continued on page 6... In This Update: Community Lenten Luncheons WPC Evening Lenten Series Ministry / Event Calendar The Church Triumphant
STORYamazinggrace John Newton crammed a lot of living into his 82 years. His mother died when he was six years old, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. He served his apprenticeship as a sailor and rose through the ranks until he became the captain of a slave ship. He abandoned the religious training that he had experienced as a child, and reveled in the dissolute life of a slave trader. He was noted for his profanity and his cruelty. But one stormy night, when his ship was in danger of sinking and he was in danger of dying, Newton had a real change of heart. It might have been his religious training at his mother s knee surfacing after all those years or it might have been his love for Mary Catlett, a Christian woman whom he later married or it might have been his reading of the book, Imitation of Christ, by William Law or it might have been all three. In any event, Newton had a real conversion experience. For awhile, Newton continued on his slave ship, but he began to treat both the slaves and his crew with a good deal more compassion. Finally, convinced that the slave trade was N WPCM If you haven t already done so, please introduce yourself to the Curry s who were publicly received into membership on Sunday, February 23. New members (left to right): Tom Curry IV; Tom Curry V (aka Quin); Mary Curry, and Tom Curry III. Quin and Zoe (Quin s older sister, not pictured here) are a big part of our Sunday morning activities and our weekly KIC program on Wednesday evenings. Tom and Mary are part of the Joy Sunday School class and recently joined their teaching staff. It is such a joy to have them as part of our church family! Great voices were heard and enjoyed on Sunday, February 16, during G H S S. The office is s ll accep ng favorites as we compile our book of favorites. wrong, he left his ship and took a job onshore. He then felt a call to the ministry, and was ordained at age forty and assigned to a church at Olney, England. He continued in ministry through the rest of his long life, even after failing eyesight made it impossible for him to read. This hymn, Amazing Grace, is in a sense Newton s own story. It was amazing grace that saved him, and it was amazing grace that was the focus of his preaching. But Amazing Grace is the story of every Christian. It is amazing grace that saves us nothing else no works of our hands or gifts of our wealth. It was amazing that God would love and save John Newton, but it is amazing that God would love and save any of us. It is indeed a sweet sound to hear about it, but it is so amazing that it is hard to believe. Believe it, because it is true. Donovan, Richard N. Hymn Stories: Amazing Grace. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
G down Spur One Another to Grow Down With spring s arrival, talk turns to growth and new life. And as graduation nears, teenagers come face to face with the prospect of what they want to be when they grow up. But how many of us still ask that question? Ken Castor, author of the new book Grow Down: How to Build a Jesus Centered Faith (Simply Youth Ministry), says we re focusing on the wrong kind of growth. The goal, he says, is to grow down into Jesus and then draw up from his unlimited resources so we can go out into the world with an abundance of life (see Colossians 2:6 7). So, grow down before you can grow up before you can grow out. Contrary to popular belief, growing up doesn t guarantee maturity. And God actually created people to remain dependent on him. A mature faith is childlike, pure, and trustingand, as a result, powerful. And the process is never complete. God doesn t care how old you are, Castor writes. God wants every person, at every moment of life, to be learning. A disciple never stops growing in Jesus. When we are rooted in Christ, we can draw up his strength to stand irm against life s many storms. We ll start looking like Jesus in how we live and act. And we ll be able to go out into life with thanksgiving and fruitfulness. Faith is a collective, corporate experience, Castor writes. So when we transfer our faith to our kids, we empower a new generation to share the Gospel and to encourage one another in Christ. Following are nine tips from Ken Castor: 1. Pray. Just start talking with God all the time in your own words about everything in your life. Also pray with other Christians at least once a week. 2. Read the Bible. Start reading, whether it s in Psalms, Mark, or Philippians. Also study the Bible with other Christians at least once a week. 3. Talk about your faith. Share Jesus with people who know him and people who don t. Ask God for courage, wisdom, and a heart for others. 4. Go on a mission trip. Step out and experience what God is doing in other places among people who are different from you. 5. Worship. Be sure to worship God every day, spontaneously or through devotional times. And gather each week to worship with other Christians. 6. Appreciate creation. Being in awe of God s work helps you remember the care he has for you. 7. Serve others. Jesus came to serve, so a Jesus centered person serves, too. Do things without needing to be asked or noticed and do them in the name of Jesus. 8. Teach younger people about Jesus. That s a great way to keep learning yourself. 9. Read and explore. Join a small group to help grow your faith. Adapted from an article in The Parent Link And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacri ice the kind he will ind acceptable. Romans 12:1
Mmen sb C chored Banniversaries 3/1 Julie Lee 3/10 Bryan Grassi 3/11 Taylor Gregory 3/11 Jimmy Headlee 3/14 Carl Meise 3/15 Austin Stevens 3/15 Rozanne Spires 3/16 Rachel Wood 3/23 Jim Stevens Come join in a time of great food and fellowship on Sunday, March 16 th in the Fellowship Hall. This month J S R will be our guest speaker, The Courthouse What s Next? Just as chores need to be done around your house, there are indoor and outdoor chores here in God s house. Mark your calendar now and join us as together we take care of this house of God on Saturday, April 5 th. Both indoor and outdoor chores are on the list. 3/17 Travis & Virginia Pieper 3/25 Bob & Shelley Porter 3/27 Michael & Susan Branum Though He was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found in human appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:6 8 WPCyouth Y L Snow storm hits West Texas! WPC youth make the best of it and have a snow ball ight...inside at the youth lock in! We had a great time at our February Lock In complete with a (paper) snow storm and midnight worship! W G T Please note that W G T has been postponed to the summer months. That gives you more time to get your act together with your family/friends! Looking forward to it! S Synod Youth Workshop will be held July 21 26, 2014 at the University of Tulsa. Cost is $450 if registered before June 1 st. C A / M The following Christian artists are coming to the area in the near future. Grab a friend, attend together and be blessed! B D W (together with G 1 C and T T) will be performing at First Church Odessa on Saturday, March 8 th at 7:00 pm. An evening of worship with Michael W. Smith will be held on April 18 th at 8 pm at the Golf Course Road Church of Christ. Beth Moore will be speaking in Lubbock on July 11 12 at the United Spirit Arena. The Son of God movie in theatres now! God s Not Dead in theatres March 21 st. Heaven is For Real in theatres in April.
W P C 4901 Maple Avenue Odessa Texas 79762 Phone: (432) 366 1321 www.wpcodessa.org God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 2 1st Sunday Lunch Bunch @ MGM Fundome 4:00 pm Youth 3 4 PDO in Session 10:30 am Staff Meeting 12:00 pm Membership 5 8:30 am ORMC Pastor s Breakfast 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service PDO In Session 11:15 am Chapel 5:30 pm Worship Ministry 6 7 11:30 am Family Promise Coordinators Meeting 8 Set clock ahead tonight! 9 Daylight Savings! No Youth Spring Break 10 11 10:30 am Staff Meeting 11:30 am Communications 5:30 pm Fellowship 6:00 pm Abundance Life Group 12 11:15 am Community Lenten Lunch 12:05 pm Worship 5:30 pm Property 6:00 pm Lenten Bible Study 12:00 pm Ladies Life Group 13 5:30 pm Deacons 6:30 pm CL Ministry 14 15 7 8:30 pm Choir 8:30 am Men s Breakfast 16 17 18 PDO in Session 10:30 am Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Lenten Bible Study 19 7 8:30 pm Choir 20 PDO In Session 11:15 am Chapel 6:00 pm Session 21 22 Youth OTS 23 4:00 pm Youth 24 25 PDO in Session 10:30 am Staff Meeting 26 6:00 pm Lenten Bible Study 7 8:30 pm Choir 27 PDO In Session 11:15 am Chapel 6:30 pm Thirsty Thursday 28 29 30 31 4:00 pm Youth To Know Jesus and To Make Him Known
P I The Family of Ruth Adams Liz Antrim Sam Field Freddie Gardner Sue Kirby Casey Lewis Jack Tidwell Ed Wynne Keith Yarbrough PRAYERrequests Please contact the church of ice if you know of a prayer request or update. Thanks! P S Sharlis Andrews Doris Gaston Marvin Kettle John & Virginia Lewis Bernice Wishard T ChurchT P L/ WPC Staff WPC Elders/Deacons Sunday School Teachers Small Group Leaders Westminster PDO & Preschool Family Promise The Genesis Center High Sky Children s Ranch Nimitz Jr. High We extend our sincere sympathy to the families of L S, R A and J B. We rejoice with them in the assurance of resurrection to eternal life. We were blessed to have them part of our lives. We love them, we will miss them and we rejoice with them that they are enjoying new bodies that neither ache or give way. Their joy is now complete in the presence of our Heavenly Father. L M. S Apr 18, 1923 Feb 2, 2014 R H. A Sep 9, 1919 Feb 26, 2014 J H. B Nov 11, 1913 Mar 2, 2014 B A T W mourn Continued from page 1... you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Matthew 11:21 On Ash Wednesday we receive, if we wish, ashes upon the forehead. The ashes signify the beginning of the season of confession, repentance, mourning, and re lection, which we call Lent. But, while the ashes signify our confession, receiving their mark on the forehead, in the shape of the cross, can also signify our belonging to Christ. For it is by faith in his sacri ice on that cross that leads us to faith in his, and our, resurrection to new life. There is an obscure passage in Ezekiel 9 which speaks of an angel who marks the foreheads of those persons living in Jerusalem who mourn and confess the sin of that great city. When the destroying angels come, they spare those who have the mark upon their forehead (Ezekiel 9:6). Their mourning is acceptable to God and he offers them grace and mercy. As you enter into the sobriety of Lent, remember to be joyful that Christ saves the one who trusts in him and is sorry for their sin. Pastor Eric But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6
C lenten series Lunch: 11:15 am to noon Worship: 12:05 12:45 pm Suggested donation for meal is $6 per person. Mar 5 Noe l Heritage Plaza Speaker: Rev. Les Jackson Mar 12 Westminster Presbyterian Speaker: Rev. Quincy Randall, New Dimensions Worship Center Mar 19 Highland United Methodist Speaker: Fr. Lorenzo Hatch, Southside Catholic Churches Mar 26 Apr 2 Apr 9 First Presbyterian Speaker: Rev. Steven Kelley, MCH Chaplain Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord Speaker: Rev. Greg Morris, Crescent Park Baptist Church St John s Episcopal Speaker: Rev Larry Hood, Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord WPC H A CommunityLenten L Join in worship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ during this Lenten season at the annual Odessa Ministerial Alliance Lenten Luncheon Series. This year, Westminster will host one of the Community Lenten Lunches on Wednesday, March 12. R. Q R, from New Dimensions Worship Center, will be delivering the message. Please plan to join us as we invite the community to WPC to worship our God and fellowship over lunch. If you are interested in assisting with the meal in any way, please contact either S V or J T. Easter A 6 Week Wednesday E S All are invited to join us on Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm 7:00 pm during Lent. We will watch a short video from the Easter Experience together and then have a discussion on the related topics. In the six 20 minute episodes The Easter Experience recreates Jesus betrayal, death and resurrection, offering saving lessons for our contemporary world. Come and experience Easter together with us. Study books are available for $6. Please contact Pastor Eric for further details. For God so loved the world that He gave His only bego en Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 E calendar As we look towards celebrating Easter together next month, please plan for the following activities on your calendar: Joint First Presbyterian/WPC Cantata in April April 13 @ 12:15 pm Palm Sunday Luncheon April 17 @ 7 pm Maundy Thursday Service April 20 @ 8:30 am Easter Walk/Breakfast April 20 @ 11:00 am Worship Service Celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord
W P C 4901 Maple Avenue O, TX 79762 C O H: Monday Friday 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Phone: (432) 366 1321 www.wpcodessa.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1 2 T S L Begins With: A Timeto turn Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent with a public act of confession and contrition. Acknowledging that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we stand in solidarity as fellow creatures before our Creator, acutely aware of our mortality. In the face of our transience, we ledge ourselves anew to live unto God s Word in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word that remains forever. An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 109 110): The Lenten journey from the ashes of death to resurrected life begins on the irst day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, which signi ies a time to turn around, to change directions, to repent. This irst day of Lent reminds us that unless we are willing to die to our old selves, we cannot be raised to new life with Christ. The irst step of this journey calls us to acknowledge and confront our mortality, individually and corporately. In many traditions, this is symbolized through the imposition of ashes placing a cross on one s forehead. During the imposition of ashes the words: You are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19) are repeated again and again. We are to remember that we are but temporary creatures, always on the edge of death. On Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten trek through the desert toward Easter. Ashes on the forehead is a sign of our humanity and a reminder of our mortality. Lent is not a matter of being good, and wearing ashes is not to show off one s faith. The ashes are a reminder to us and our communities of our inite creatureliness. The ashes we wear on our Lenten journey symbolize the dust and broken debris of our lives as well as the reality that eventually each of us will die. Trusting in the accomplished fact of Christ s resurrection, however, we listen for the Word of God in the time honored stories of the church s Lenten journey. We follow Jesus into the wilderness, resist temptation, fast, and proceed on the way to Jerusalem and the cross. Our Lenten journey is one of metanoia ( turning around ), of changing directions from self serving toward the selfgiving way of the cross. From the Presbyterian Mission Agency