December, 2015 Volume 2015, No. 12

December, 2015 Volume 2015, No. 12 Volume January, 2016, 2016 No. 3 March, Volume 2016, No. 1 Greetings From The Pastor s Desk Greetings from the pastor s desk! One of my favorite songs for Holy Week is the hauntingly beautiful African American spiritual Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Often sung without any musical accompaniment, each verse is a different opportunity to linger over the details of the tragic and painful story of the passion, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus of Nazareth. This song gives us a chance to put ourselves right in the middle of Holy Week s searing intensity. Its beauty somehow eases the temptation to simply look away, overlook the suffering and anguish, and move on to the bright notes and triumphant lyrics of Easter Sunday. This song, perhaps more than any other, makes the old, old story very contemporary, and very personal. When we sing it, we become part of the story ourselves. On Friday, March 25th at 7 p.m., we will have the opportunity to sing this beautiful song and walk through the darkness together to the foot of the cross. We will worship on that day, at that hour, with a tenebrae service. The word Tenebrae is Latin for darkness or shadows. It is a service of devotion that dates back to the seventh century and is characterized by the successive extinguishing of candles as the story of the Passion of Christ is read and sung. After the last word is spoken, the last note of that wonderful hymn is sung, and the last candle is extinguished, the congregation stands in darkness. The service ends in silence. The story is left unfinished to be completed on Easter Sunday. Interestingly enough, the very last verse of Were You There is rarely ever sung, but does finish the story. It asks, were you there when he rose up from the dead? It is a starkly different, almost jarring verse that does not match the mood of the tune or the dark intensity of the previous verses. It is as surprising and unusual as going to a friend s grave and finding it empty! We are not left in despair. We are confronted with a risen savior, and a bold new world of hope in front of us. So, it is fitting that our week not end in the cold tomb, but in the light of new life. We will be there on Sunday, March 27, both at sunrise and at 10 a.m. to be witnesses to the stunning news that Christ is risen, and death will not have the last word about anything! I hope to see you there during Holy Week, in the shadows, in the darkness but ultimately in the joyous light of the empty tomb! See you in church! Jonathan

Words On The Waves Volume 2016, No. 3 page 2 Foley Ecumenical Lenten Lunches The 2016 Lenten Services will continue each Thursday through March 17. For eight years these services have been hosted by South Baldwin Ecumenical Ministries and Foley United Methodist Church. All services are held in the Spirit Center of the Foley United Methodist Church at 901 N. Pine Street. The programs are configured to last only an hour to enable a working person to come for lunch, enjoy the service and return to work within an hour. Lunch is served from 11:30 to 12:30. The service starts shortly after noon and is over by 12:45. The lunches (soup, salad and/or a sandwich with drink and desert) are prepared by members of different churches. The lunch donation is $5.00. Ministers from six denominations bring the message each week. At each service an agency for children or aging will speak and a donation for their work is taken. Special music will be presented by representatives of the six churches, and those who pray during the services represent local businesses. The minister who will bring the remaining messages this year are: 3/3 Msgr. Stephen Martin St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Elberta 3/10 Pastor J.P. Wilson Liberty Church, Foley 3/17 Pastor Bennie Richardson Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church, Foley Dome and join us as we journey together through this Lenten Season to the Resurrection! Birthdays Marybeth Manseau March 1 Terri Bauer March 9 Melba Jones March 9 Mae Scott March 9 Ivan Jones March 10 Jill McGuire March 14 Braxton Hayes March 21 David Guevera March 22 Brandon Sexton March 22 Gerri Magretto March 23 Lewis Musolf March 24 Mary Emde March 26 Laura Mixon March 29 Charlie Ebert March 31 Kathy Johnson March 31 Worship Helpers MARCH 6, 2016 Ushers: Carl and Patti Snyder Greeter: Ron Arrington Sound System: Terry Heilmeier MARCH 20, 2016 Ushers: Burt and Reva Hinson Greeter: Shelba Brooks Sound System: Eric Crosby MARCH 13, 2016 Ushers: Vera Douglas and Lacie Maynard Greeter: Terry Heilmeier Sound System: Lamar Irwin MARCH 27, 2016 Ushers: Terry and Kathy Young Greeter: Noreen Raney Sound System: Steve Fuller

Words On The Waves Volume 2016 No. 3 page 3 Marlene Mouse From the church mouse...... Greetings friend, I understand that time is passing quickly, you might say it is rushing by. Sometimes as you sing some of you look like you might want to dance. I have seen some of the younger members run. And one day you were all smiling broadly and applauding while a little girl walked across the front. But I don t understand when it is that you march? I have heard several groups talk about plans to (for) march. Rodents have heard the stories of the time a pipe player tweeted a hypnotizing tune and marched all the rats out of Bremen, Germany. To us, marching is to line up, lift your knees high and move together as ordered. Armies march, bands march, organizations march, rats march, so you Pressed bytearians must march too. I have not seen you do it yet. Or does it have another meaning? I have noticed the month of March has many important dates on the calendar: March 13th Daylight Savings Time begins; March 17th St. Patrick s Day; March 20th Spring Equinox or First Day of Spring; March 20th Palm Sunday; March 23 Purim begins at Sunset; March 24th Maundy Thursday; March 25th Good Friday; March 27th Easter Sunday. I am very puzzled by some of these occasions. Just how do you save day light? Who is St. Patrick? I know what Spring means, but what is an Equinox? And then there is the Purim??? I have lived here long enough to know what Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter mean. I need to find Big Boomers keyboard to investigate those other occasions. Daylight Savings Time: the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour during the warmer part of the year, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. * St. Patrick s Day: A cultural and religious celebration as the traditional date of the death of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. He was a 5th Century Romano-Christian missionary and Bishop of Ireland. He converted the pagan Irish to Christianity. * Spring Equinox: An astronomical event in which the plane of the Earth s equator passes through the center of the sun, which occurs twice a year around March 20 and September 23. On an equinox, the day and night are of approximate equal duration all over the planet. * Purim: From The Message Esther 9:25-26 Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the archenemy of all Jews, had schemed to destroy all Jews. He had cast the pur Therefore, because of everything written in this letter and because of all that they had been through, the Jews agreed to continue. It became a tradition for them, their children and all future converts to remember.. Wow, did I learn a lot of stuff from that computer! You can tie it all together somehow if you want. As for me I have run out of space----- Happy celebrations of all the events in March! *Source-Wikipedia Marlene Mouse God s Special Time HOLMAN DEATHROW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WILL HOLD ITS 19TH KAIROS WEEKEND THIS April 1 through 3, 2015 COOKIE PICK-UP DAYS ARE Monday, March 28, 2016 Through Friday, April 1, 2016 at noon Cookies may be brought to the office or placed in the freezer in Ziploc bags. Cookie Recipes will be in the March 13, 20, and 27 inserts Lenten Devotional Books are available in the Narthex They are entitled Mercy, Passion and Joy and are selected writings of C. S. Lewis. Check your bulletin in the coming weeks for opportunities to dedicate Easter Lilies in memory and honor of loved ones, and benefit Disaster victims and local charities as well.

Words On The Waves Volume 2016, No. 3 Presbyterian Women page 4 Samford Turner is Retiring As All Circles will Meet on Tuesday, February 9, at the church Dorcas Circle: Presbytery Executive You are invited to a Drop-in Party! Hostess: Sara Thompson Moderator: Ruth Henderson Come help us celebrate his years of work and the new chapters ahead! March 10, 2016, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Esther Circle Hostess: Betty Stanford Moderator: Marie Hamburg Baytreat, 18249 Scenic Highway 98, Fairhope Heavy Hors d oeurves provided. Bring your own beverage Mary Martha Circle Please RSVP by March 1 Hostess: TBA Moderator: Marie Hamburg To First Presbyterian Church, Gulf Shores (251)968-7720 Lesson 7 gsfpcusa@gulftel.com Streams of Mercy-Forgiveness Isaiah 35: 1-2, 5-7; Psalm 51:1-12; Matthew 6:12 Support Living Waters of the World through Amazon Purchases Yes, you can provide even more support to LWW through your Amazon purchases. Go to the LWW homepage (http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/) and click on the Amazon link. Then shop and order as usual. Amazon credits LWW with 5% of your purchase, with no additional cost to you. Using this button is more beneficial to LWW than using the "Amazon Smile" program because the percentage donated is larger. You can also bookmark this link for easier access. In October 2015, LWW received $238.66 for purchases made through the Amazon link. Just imagine how much they could get if we got every Presbyterian involved! Fred Vosloh Memorial Golf Tournament The 7th Annual Vosloh Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday May 1, 2016. Start getting your teams together and your clubs polished. Plan for a great day of fellowship and golf. Prizes, food and so much more. If you choose not to Golf, have you considered sponsoring a hole? More details to follow!

Words On The Waves Volume 2016, No. 3 page 5 Worship Notes March Calendar Palm Sunday Please join us on Palm Sunday, March 20, as we celebrate an important event in the life of Jesus. It is a Sunday to recall the triumphant entry of Jesus on a borrowed donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was at the Mount of Olives when the disciples arrived with a colt. As Jesus rode into the city, onlookers spread their cloaks on the road to Jerusalem. As Jesus descended from the Mount of Olives, He saw a multitude of people. They praised God and shouted: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Palm Sunday Service begins at 10:00 am. John 12:13 Mark 11:1-11 John 12:9-19 Maundy Thursday Please join us on Maundy Thursday, March 24 (the day before Good Friday) as we experience communion in memory of Christ and the disciples as they celebrated Passover, known as The Last Supper. The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for command. The Maundy in Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. Let us remember the Lord s example of humility. As is our tradition, we will gather in groups of 12 or less for a time of solitude with private scripture readings and prayers followed by gathering as a group around the communion table. Times will be 4:00 pm 6:00 pm Please enter the church by the covered entrance and maintain silence as we prepare our hearts and minds. -March 1-Presbyterian Women Moderator s meeting 9:30 am -March 1-Kairos Men s Small group 9:00 am -March 1-Missionary Dinner and Presentation 6:00 pm -March 2-Ladies Ensemble 5:30 pm, Chancel Choir 6:30 pm -March 2-Prayer Quilt Ministry 10:00 am -March 3 Worship, Witness and Service and Fellowship -March 4-Meet and Greet for Jason Farrow of Give Hope To Kid at home of Don and P.J. King. Call to make reservations (975-7174). -March 6-Congregational Dinner and Hymn Sing 11:15 -March 8-Kairos Men s Small group 9:00 am -March 8-PW Circles at church 9:30 Good Friday Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m., we will have the opportunity to walk through the darkness together to the foot of the cross. We will worship on that day, at that hour, with a tenebrae service. The word Tenebrae is Latin for darkness or shadows. It is a service of devotion that dates back to the seventh century and is characterized by the successive extinguishing of candles as the story of the Passion of Christ is read and sung. After the last word is spoken, the last note of the final hymn is sung, and the last candle is extinguished, the congregation stands in darkness. The service ends in silence. The story is to be completed on Sunday. Easter Sunday Please join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, March 27. Please join us for a sunrise service at 6:00 am followed by a light breakfast. Sunday school will be at 8:45 am, and the late service will be at 10:00 am. Please remember the youth will be flowering the cross. Bring flowers and greenery to share. There will be special music as we rejoice in the Risen Lord. Hallelujah! -March 9- Prayer Quilt Ministry 10:00 am -March 9 Ladies Ensemble 5:30, Chancel Choir 6:30 pm -March 10 Lenten Luncheon Foley UMC 11:30 -March 10-Christian Education, Stewardship, Property,Staff -March 15-Kairos Men s Small Group 9:00 am -March 16-Prayer Quilt ministry 10:00 am -March 15-Ladies;Ensemble 5:30, Chancel Choir 6:30 -March 17-Lenten Luncheon Foley UMC 11:30 -March 20-Palm Sunday Service -March 22-Stated Session meeting 6:00 pm -March 23-Prayer quilt ministry 10:00 am -March 23-Ladies Ensemble 5:30, Chancel choir 6:30 pm -March 24-Maundy Thursday service and Communion 4-6:00 pm Opportunities To Serve And Beautify It s March we have plenty of spaces to fill on both the Flower sign-up and the Coffee Host charts! Sign up sheets are in the Narthex. Please feel free to call the church office with any questions: 943-8325. -March 25-Good Friday, Tenebrae Service 7:00 pm -March 27-Easter Sunrise Service 6:00 am followed by breakfast -March 27-Easter Worship 10:00 am -March 28-April 1, Kairos Cookie drop-off in church office -March 29-Kairos Men s small group 10:00 am -March 30-Prayer Quilt ministry 10:00 am -March 30-Ladies Ensemble 5:30, Chancel choir 6:30

Words On The Waves Volume 2016, No. 3 page 6 Check Out Our website Check out www.firstpresbyterianfoley.com For much, much more information about First Presbyterian Church. First Presbyterian Church of Foley 195 East Berry Avenue Foley, Alabama 36535 Phone: 251-943-8325 Email: firstpres@gulftel.com www.firstpresbyterianfoley.com