Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church WHITMANEWS APRIL,2016 EASTER Celebrated at MWPC Inside this issue: A Note from the Pastor 2 KidREACH Sermons & Scripture April Birthdays April Anniversaries We Will Rock You! Earth Day 5 April Calendar 6 Financial Report Food Bank Update Faith In Action 7 CROP WALK 2016 8 3 4 The Lenten season concluded at MWPC with Palm Sunday and waving of our festive palm branches, followed by the significant and moving Good Friday service. The MWPC family with friends, neighbors and guests celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ (He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!). The Lenten season was marked by outstanding choral music and a meaningful message series focused on the Cross of Christ and its importance and meaning to Christ and His followers. We also held our annual Community Continental Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt (enjoy the pictures!). A special thank you to all who helped make the Lenten season at MWPC special, beautiful and meaningful.
A Note from the Pastor Pastor Rob Do you remember saying, When I grow up? That may have been a school essay assignment, conversation with buddies, a relative asking you what you want to be when you grow-up, or a school counselor s question. I think we all have asked ourselves or have been asked when you grow up? This indicated that there is a progress (human development), expectation (society) and desire (personal) to grow-up. As a kid, I wanted to grow up so that I could stay up past 9:00 pm on Sunday evenings and watch Bonanza or not have to ever eat liver again or have my hair cut anyway I wanted. There is this belief that when you grow up you get to make the decisions and those decisions will make your life a lot more fun. All you have to do is grow up; get bigger, add on a few more years and then you are a grown up. We all want that to happen. Well, most of us if we are not a ToysRus person, one of those who fit into the Peter Pan syndrome or ask, Do I have to?. Those of us who have grown-up and reached our adult height and the age of twenty-something or more have come to figure out that neither one has anything to do with growing up or maturity. We have experienced and learned that maturing takes time, experiences and learning from our choices (good and bad), from good and bad situations in our lives and from our dealing with life's journey (skills, behaviors, attitudes). This will bring the necessary growth and maturity, hopefully! We achieve a sense of confidence of growing up in a positive and constructive way so as to be able to move through life. In April, I will begin a sermon series that looks at those what s and how s of Christian Maturity and Growth. I think the Christian life calls us to grow-up in our faith, mind and discipleship. The scriptures speak of this need to grow up and develop a Christian maturity. The writer of Hebrews wrote: You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature so let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go instead and become mature in our understanding Hebrews 5:12-6:1 So, when you grow up in Christ? Peace, Pastor Rob
Emily Chant Children and Family Coordinator This week as I was volunteering at Parkside Elementary School, Miss Williams gave her 2nd Grade students a very interesting assignment. The students were asked to write a poem about themselves, finishing the sentences; I am, I dream, I cry, I hear, and so on. Though some students wrote about video games and recess, others spoke of their family challenges and their hope for a better future. One students response throughout her poem stood out to me - with tears in her eyes, she used this assignment to express her love and devotion to God. She used this poem to revel in God s love for her and others. A 2nd Grader?! Yes, a 2nd Grade student relishes in the love that God has for her. Sometimes, I forget that these little humans, are in fact, little humans. They are wise, imaginative, emotive and joyful. These little humans are capable and intelligent, able to formulate their own thoughts and desires. And as this 2nd Grade girl shared with me, these little humans are entirely capable of knowing God s immense love and devotion to them while extending that love to their classmates, family and community. These little humans are so worth investing in. They are the future of our community, our country and our world. Yes, we can teach them - but let s not forget that they have oh so much to teach us. Jesus said, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14
APRIL SERMONS AND SCRIPTURE April 3rd April 10th Lord s Supper On The Road Again Luke 24:13-35 Guest Speaker: Emily Chant APRIL BIRTHDAYS Jean Richmann 9 Stephen Hendrickson 14 Pat Hanchett 19 Lynn Taylor 22 Joyce Dimmitt 24 Joan Kennedy 30 Join Pastor Rob as he begins a new sermon series, Growing Up in God s Family. Each Sunday, we will look at what and how Christian growth and maturity looks like and the keys to achieving spiritual maturity. April 17th Growing Up Ephesians 4:7-16 April 24th You Are What You Eat Hebrews 5:11-6:3 ANNIVERSARIES Gary & Joan Kennedy 26 Page 4 Whitmanews April, 2016
We Will Rock You Sunday, April 17, 2016 2:00 pm Highline Performing Arts Center SilverSounds is a fun loving group of retirees who love to perform, believing that You re never too old to rock n roll. This chorus will delight you with a high energy show with clever staging, narration and choreography. This performance will take you through the origins of rock music showcasing its evolution and different styles during the 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. You will hear folk rock, doo-wop, ballads, British rock, classic rock n roll, dance music, soul and R&B. Earth Day April 22, 2016 Ever wondered how Earth Day started? This observance arose from an interest in gathering national support for environmental issues. In 1970, San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. McConnell chose the spring equinox (March 21, 1970) and Nelson chose April 22. Millions of people participated, and today Earth Day continues to be widely celebrated with events on both dates. The most common practice of celebration is to plant new trees for Earth Day. Page 5 Whitmanews April, 2016
APRIL 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Worship & Lord s Supper OFFICE CLOSED Work Crew 9:00 A.M. (No KidREACH) Women s Group 10 Worship 11 OFFICE CLOSED 12 Gathering for Prayer 6:30 p.m. 13 Work Crew 9:00 A.M. 14 Women s Group 15 16 Council Mtg 7:00 P.M. KidREACH 3:45 P.M. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Worship OFFICE CLOSED Work Crew 9:00 A.M. KidREACH 3:45 P.M. Women s Group 24 Worship 25 OFFICE CLOSED 26 27 Work Crew 9:00 A.M. KidREACH 3:45 P.M. KidREACH Family Dinner 5:15 P.M. 28 Women s Group 29 30 Page 6 Whitmanews April, 2016
MWPC FINANCIAL REPORT - ENDING FEBRUARY 29, 2016 INCOME ACTUAL BUDGETED EXPENSE ACTUAL BUDGETED Offerings $25,930.00 $21,259.96 Pastors Pkg $13,317.56 $13,551.73 Salaries/Taxes 6,296.04 5,976.39 Rental 1,050.00 690.41 Admin/Bldg 1,440.49 2,712.32 Bldg/Gnds 44.50 410.96 Int. Income 3.57 1.81 Office Mgmt 791.01 756.18 Christian Ed 306.79 213.70 Total Income $26,983.57 $21,952.18 Children & Fam 82.06 197.27 Deacon 0.00 53.43 Fellowship 0.00 271.24 Mission 0.00 575.36 Worship 121.90 345.23 Income Minus Expenses To Date: $4,583.22 Total Expenses $22,400.35 $25,063.81 The Des Moines Food Bank needs your donations! Some needed items for April for our school backpack program are: EasyMac, individual apple sauce or fruit cups, oatmeal packets and small 100% fruit juices). Baby food is also needed. Please place your donations directly into the blue Food Bank receptacle in the Hallway. Thank you. ~ FAITH IN ACTION ~ In a recent meeting with Des Moines police officers and chaplains, I learned what the Des Moines police officers try to do whenever they need to remove a minor from his or her home due to a variety of situations. What they try to have with them is a kit which is age appropriate and contains pajamas, a T-Shirt, underwear, socks, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, plus a comfort item (book, journal an age appropriate toy) and a note of encouragement. This kit goes with the minor and provides some essentials which may not have been available to take with the minor from his/her home. The challenge is having kits available for the officers to take with them on these calls. That s where the MWPC family can help and make a difference by providing the items that go into the kits. The present need is kits for school age children (sizes 5-6 and sizes 14-18) and teen (adult sizes). A list of kit s supplies will be posted starting Sunday, April 17 th. The goal would be to have the kits supplies ready to deliver to the Des Moines Police department by Tuesday, May 10 th. Page 7 Whitmanews April, 2016
Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church 2130 S. 248th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 Phone: 206-878-2013 Fax: 206-878-2013 E-mail: office@mwpc.org We re on the web! mwpres.org Know, Grow and Serve! Walk. Give. Change the world! This year will mark the 26th year of a CROP Hunger Walk in the Highline and/or Des Moines communities. The CROP Hunger Walk is a program of Church World Service, and we would appreciate your participation with us again this year. Since 1990, the combined Highline/Des Moines communities have raised $277,683 to fight hunger both at home (supporting the Des Moines Area Food Bank and the Highline Area Food Bank) and other hunger program ministries of Church World Service. The walk this year is Sunday, May 1st. Last year, 77 walkers in the Des Moines CROP Walk raised $11,104 with the promotion and support of only 6 faith organizations, and students from the Global Health class at Highline College. This year, with your help, we hope to raise $15,000! For information on how to sign up, sponsor a walker or donate, go to the Crop Hunger Walk website at www.crophungerwalk.org/desmoineswa or call the MWPC church office for details.