APRIL 2017 Highland Herald A publication of First Presbyterian Church - Muskegon, Michigan SCOTS SUNDAY Are you doing your spring cleaning? We are in need of items for the June 3rd yard sale. Items may be dropped off at the church beginning Sunday, May 28th. Volunteers are needed for pricing, set-up/take-down and sales. A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway. We are also collecting refundable pop bottles and cans. A collection bin is located in the hallway near the nursery. All proceeds will benefit the West Virginia mission trip. Scots Sunday is April 30th! Come and celebrate the heritage and traditions of our church with bagpipes, a grand processional/ recessional and Scottish shortbread during the hospitality hour. All current elders and deacons are asked to participate in the service. Please meet in the chapel at 9:30 a.m. to line up for the processional. LOST? MISPLACED? There are about ten crowns of thorns missing from the Presbyterian Women Lenten Breakfast storage box. Does anyone know where they may be? If so, please return them to the library table for proper storage. 1
Highland Herald From the Pastor Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22 NRSV) My recent trip to the Rotary World Peace Conference in Ann Arbor brought me to a particularly helpful workshop lead by Dr. Jim Dincalci, founder of Forgiveness Foundation International. The class was called, Letting Go of Resentment, Grudges and Guilt: Crucial Tools from The New Field of Forgiveness Therapy. You ll see that much of the message below is comprised of quotes I found on their website http:// forgivenessfoundation.org/. (note: don t type the in front of forgivenessfoundation. That will take you to another website altogether.) I ve begun reading his book, How to Forgive When You Can t, and recommend it for your consideration. The following is the message I delivered on Maundy Thursday evening. In Luke 23:34, when from the cross Jesus says, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing, who was he forgiving? The soldiers? The mockers? Was it the deserters? The betrayers? The Romans? The Conspirators? I have come to believe it was any and all who did any harm or hurt to him. We ve heard it said that to forgive is divine, and this is true indeed. Jesus, who said I and the Father are one, forgave because that is God s nature, and it is a part of the divine image that has been shared with humanity. Precious few among us have learned to embrace that godly part of our nature fully, and our failure comes with a higher cost than many of us knew. For to harbor resentment is to give a home to that which poisons our own soul. Booker T. Washington apparently came to this knowledge as he said, I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. displayed an enlightened understanding saying that Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude. This takes courage and strength. The weak can never forgive, said Mahatma Ghandi, Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. In fact Forgiving is the most powerful act you can do, and help others to do, to increase hope and caring in the world, according to Dr. Jim Dincalci, who points out that modern research in medicine, sociology, and psychology, plus, the history of spiritual traditions has shown quite clearly that forgiving transforms people, not only spiritually but also, emotionally and, even, physically. In careful scientific studies, forgiveness training has been shown to: reduce depression, increase hopefulness, decrease anger, improve spiritual connection, increase emotional self-confidence, and help heal relationships. Learning to forgive is good for both your mental and physical well-being and your relationships, says Dr. Fredric Luskin. Continued on Page 3 2
Highland Herald From the Pastor continued from Page 2 And according to Marianne Williamson, The choice to follow love through to its completion is the choice to seek completion within ourselves. The point at which we shut down on others is the point at which we shut down on life. We heal as we heal others, and we heal others by extending our perceptions past their weaknesses. Until we have seen someone s darkness, we don t really know who that person is. Until we have forgiven someone s darkness, we don t really know what love is. Forgiving others is the only way to forgive ourselves, and forgiveness is our greatest need. Muskegon s own Lewis Smedes said, Forgiveness is the key that can unshackle us from a past that will not rest in the grave of things over and done with. As long as our minds are captive to the memory of having been wronged, they are not free to wish for reconciliation with the one who wronged us. Forgiveness is not the misguided act of condoning irresponsible, hurtful behavior. Nor is it a superficial turning of the other cheek that leaves us feeling victimized and martyred. Rather it is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past, observes Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. Henri J.M. Nouwen said, It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding. But there is a step beyond this recognition It is the step of forgiveness. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. It sets us free without wanting anything in return. Forgiveness is making the choice to find no more value in anger, and to see that we are all God s light, all joined, and the separations we feel are only part of the illusions of the ego, according to Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD. In demonstrating the nature of the divine and its true untarnished human reflection, Jesus indeed forgave them all, and forgives us all as well. Now for the sake of Christ, our neighbors and ourselves, we must take the courageous and transformative path of embracing forgiveness in order to be free and whole, or as Reinhold Niebuhr said, We must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness. - Blessings, Pastor Jim A WORD FROM PROPERTY It looks like spring has arrived with all the flowers blooming and the trees starting to bud. Our church grounds look so nice after two spring clean-ups. A hardy thank you to the helpers that showed up on April 1 st and April 15 th. The parking lot fund raiser has slowed down a little. We are just over half the amount needed to get the parking lot rebuilt. If you are not sure about making a donation, there are a few ways to help. You may give a lump sum or you can make a pledge and pay throughout the year. Finance Council will honor the pledges dollar for dollar so we can get the project finished this year. We need to be able to get on the paver s list so the project can be done before fall. Please call me or come to me with any questions. Thanks to all that have donated already. Property Council has a few small changes planned for inside and outside the church. We ll keep you informed as we progress. We are always looking for new members. If you have extra time or want to serve the church with the Property Council please attend one of our meetings. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Check us out. We re a fun group and we do cool stuff!! Just a reminder, please let Joan Bengston know if you have a church key and use it regularly. Robert Hartman, Moderator Property Council 3
Highland Herald A huge thank you to those that advertised, prayed for, donated to and volunteered at our Easter Egg Hunt! We welcomed 113 kids and their families from our community. The weather was beautiful and with so many volunteers everything ran smoothly. We are so grateful and I know the families are as well--thank you!!!! Pack your bags and grab some sun block... we are heading south for Vacation Bible School this year! VBS will be June 25-29 from 5-8 pm. We will bring the culture of Peru alive through songs, games, snacks, and crafts as we explore God's good gifts! Registration materials should be available in May online and on paper. Check the website for up to date information. Contact Kelly with any questions. Volunteers Needed Interested in touching the lives of kids in our congregation and our community? Join us June 25-29 th from 5-8 pm at Vacation Bible School! We have opportunities for 6 th graders - adults and would love to find a place for you as we bring a little piece of Peru to FPC Muskegon. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the community board and you can talk to Kelly for more details! Have you touched the lives of our children and youth this year through VBS, YY, the Youth Group or during worship? If so, we would love to share our thanks with you, as well as the rest of the congregation, with an ice cream social during fellowship hour on May 7 th. All are invited as all have blessed our program through time, support, donations, and prayer! Opportunities available include: Crew Leaders: working with a group of five K-5 th graders bringing them to activity areas and building community with them. Station Leaders: leading crews of kids usually 10-15 in activities laid out from the curriculum. Registration: welcoming our new and old friends for each day of VBS. Construction Crew - help us with creating our set and/or with setup and/or tear-down. Work days will be publicized but if you're interested let us know so we can make sure you get the information. 4
Highland Herald MISSION THANK YOU NOTES We have received thank you notes from LOVE INC, COMMUNITY ENCOMPASS, MISSION FOR AREA PEOPLE for the medical support fund, MUSKEGON RESCUE MISSION, PRESBYTERIAN MISSION AGENCY, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AGE WELL SERVICES (Meals on Wheels), and MUSKEGON COUNTY COOPERATING CHURCHES. Cents-Ability Offering Sunday, May 7 th Please consider contributing generously to the Cents-Ability Offering when the bread pans are passed on Sunday, May 7 th. The Cents-Ability Offering supports the Supper House totaling 2000.00 per year, the Neighborhood Saturday Breakfast at First Congregational Church totaling 500.00 per year and two Feeding America trucks shared with First Congregational UCC totaling 1100.00 per year. 199.55 was received in the April Cents-Ability Offering. Rolled coins are appreciated as well as bills and please place checks in an envelope designated Cents-Ability Offering. BFW Bread Sale Sunday, May 7, 2017 From CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Rev. John L. McCullough wrote in appreciation of our "generous donation to the CWS Blankets program, "Your contribution provides hope to neighbors near and far: "*Refugee families in Serbia that need warmth and shelter as they are displaced and on their journey to find a new place to call home. "*People in Kentucky impacted by flooding in the area and others that are homeless and economically disadvantaged where a blanket can make all of the difference. 100.75 was received from our April BFW Bread Sale. All the proceeds from our bread sales are applied toward our Covenant Church pledge to Bread for the World. Bread for the World, a Christian grassroots interdenominational organization, advocates for those in our society and throughout the world who are in need of food assistance. Our next BFW Bread Sale will be held on Sunday, May 7 th. Bread Sales and individual contributions are our only source for BFW financial support. Our faithful bakers and buyers make this very important advocacy for poor and hungry people possible many thanks to everyone. HUNGER BY THE NUMBERS 14.5 % of U.S. households (nearly 49 million Americans) struggle to put food on the table. BFW "*Migrant families in Colorado that find a ray of hope in blankets provided that shield them from the cold and wet conditions." PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY WILL MEET TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017, AT 3:00 P.M. HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US. May Mission Box Emphasis - Muskegon Rescue Mission Spaghetti sauce and pasta, soups, juice, Jell-O, boxed dinners (helpers), canned meats, peanut butter, jellies, canned fruit, canned tomato products, cereal, sugar and powdered milk have been requested by the Muskegon Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission also has need for personal grooming items including shampoo, soaps, tissues, hand lotion, toothpaste and brushes, paper towel, laundry detergent and all baby items, especially diapers. Please note the green Mission Boxes in the Sherman hallway. Filling the four boxes on a rotating schedule is an ongoing project of our FPC Mission Council. Items requested by each agency are indicated by a sign on the Mission table as well as on each agency s box. Items received are delivered by members of the Mission Council. Please note that all canned good and personal care items must be unopened and have not expired. All agencies have been contacted recently and their needs updated. 5
Highland Herald General Fund Financial Figures 2017 Dollars and Sense Summary March 05/01 05/03 05/04 05/06 05/06 05/07 05/08 05/09 05/12 05/14 05/15 05/18 05/18 05/22 05/24 05/24 05/28 05/31 Vella Caruso Yuri Mills Cammie Hussey Ken Yonker Ron Rop Betti Melrose Delaney Hussey Erin Schaner Nancy Evans Jack Bonham Alexander Miller Sally Kahlo Jon Mills Jackie Seward Ezekiel Kinney Ryan Sutton Jon DeVoogd Louise Haas Total Income (actual) 19,199 65,328 Total Expenses (actual) Net Increase (Decrease) 35,323 94,022 (16,124) (28,694) Budgeted Income 23,510 75,407 Actual contributions were lower than pledges in March. Thank you for your continued financial support. Finance Council The Men's Breakfast at the Cherokee Restaurant will be held on Wednesday, April 26th. A speaker from Western Michigan Teen Challenge will present the programs offered. 04/23 04/30 05/07 05/14 05/21 06/04 06/11 06/18 05/04 05/06 05/12 05/21 05/23 05/26 05/26 05/28 05/29 Nate & Andrea Slachter Kirk & Sheila Wahamaki Vic & Ellen Prowant Mark & Pam Schumaker Bill & Mary Seieroe Bob & Nancy Bierenga Bill Papo & Julie Stewart Russ & Barb Reckell Bill & Peggy Schaefer Year To Date Holy Humor Sunday Scots Sunday Ice Cream Social Mother s Day Music Sunday Pentecost Sunday Graduate Recognition Father s Day Thank you for such a memorable SURPRISE 50th birthday celebration and card shower! It was such an amazing display of the many blessings I have in my life by being a part of such a loving church family. ~ Chris Rausch 6
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First Presbyterian Church 2577 Wickham Drive Muskegon, MI 49441-3182 Phone(231) 759-1275 Fax (231) 759-7825 9