![]() Good morning good people. Let the journey begin. The journey Jesus took from Palm Sunday through Easter is why we are Christians. I yearn for you to be with us during this week’s services. Whether you have taken this journey many times, ignored it many times, misunderstood it, rejected it, not believed it….this is more than the story of Jesus’ last days. It is a story…a journey… we all take…many times in our lives. This is the week when we try to comprehend the depth and mystery of it all. To prepare yourselves, read Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19: 28-40. (It is pretty cool to read how the other gospels tell the events on the day we call PalmSunday. (see Matthew 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10.) See you Sunday morning – we will hear the story, wave the palms, sing the songs – and be thankful for the day the Lord has given us. Pastor Michael P.S. If you have not joined us for the adult class on Sunday morning, please do this week. Dr Paul Ohori has created a provocative and informative approach to Bible study. The outline for the class is attached. The session is the leadership body of FPCE. They gather on the second Tuesday of the month to pray and work together as they guide us into the future.
On Saturday, February 20, the session had a one– day retreat. The long-range planning portion of the meeting was led by Heather Wilson. Pastor Michael’s wife. Heather has had much experience in this kind of leadership in her positions at college and college related organizations. Her leadership led the session into some creative thinking. Heather helped us create an “energy field.” She asked, “what the forces of life that drive the mission and ministry of FPCE. Then she asked, “what forces are working against us as we look to take the next steps into the future God has for us. That introduction led us into a drawing exercise. We were each given a large sheet of newsprint and crayons. On one side, we drew or designed or wrote about FPCE as we see it. On the other side, we did the same about the FPCE of the future. An energetic conversation ensued. At its next monthly meeting (March 8), the session will clarify and “flesh out” the vision that emerged from this very productive day. More explanation and details will be a major subject covered in the April newsletter. Years ago I had the privilege of meeting a bright, engaging, and confused young man who was thinking about that perennial question of the college-aged: What am I to do with my life? The question was particularly vexing to this 21 year old because the door to the first choice for a career had been slammed in his face. He wanted to be a doctor. He was a good student of the sciences, but not an excellent one. When it came to chemistry, he struggled to get just an average grade. After applying to and visiting a half dozen medical schools he was kindly but firmly informed that he wouldn’t be accepted.
After working his through the first feelings of rejection and getting back up on his feet, my young friend, prayerfully and thoughtfully, looked at other options. Someone suggested a career in physical therapy, a field that was becoming increasingly helpful for millions of Americans. But my friend said, “No.” Why? Because doctors were the real heroes of healing in his mind. “They receive a patient, diagnose what is wrong with him or her, then they fix it. Some surgery, a medication—BINGO—a healing! Physical therapists lived a less exciting and rewarding life. They had to patiently, pain-stakingly work with a person as she or he recovered from surgery or an injury. It took too long to see results. Physical therapy? “Boring!” was the response. I’ve begun to view my role as a pastor as something like a physical therapist. Everyone I have met, including the guy who looks back at me in the mirror every morning, is, at some level, damaged goods. All of us are broken in spirit at some level. All of us are yearning, aching for something to “fix us.” All of us are looking for spiritual healing. All of us are looking for a deep, meaningful and lasting relationship with God. For Christians, Jesus is the healer. Through Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man, all who seek God find Him in the words, the parables, the presence, the miracles…. the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the healer, the Great Physician. But the healing relationship with Jesus is just the beginning. After our transformative encounter with Jesus, we are called to a life of discipleship. A life that is increasingly committed to and focused on what it means to be a healed, follower of Jesus. Discipleship is a life-long endeavor. It is slow work. We often take three steps forward then two steps back. We balk at some of the teachings. We rebel against the commitments. Sometimes, dare I say most of the time, the life of discipleship is slow, painstaking, not very exciting way of life. Sometimes it is just plain boring. I think of discipleship as “spiritual therapy.” I am a spiritual therapist. And each one of you, after a solid beginning in spiritual therapy can become therapists to your friends, family, and co-workers. I can assure you, it does take time, a lifetime as a matter of fact. Yet it is a very rewarding way of life. Pastor Michael Hello everyone.
This warmer day in and of itself lifts our spirits, doesn’t it? I look forward to raising our spirits to the God in “whom we live and move and have our being” this Sunday. The Praise Ensemble will lead us in hearty and heart-felt song. We will have an opportunity to “light a candle” for people we love and pray for. Finally – although “Souper Bowl” Sunday has been announced, we have not really fulfilled that commitment. Therefore, please bring non-perishable items this Sunday, we will make sure the food gets to people who are in need. God bless – see you in church! Pastor Michael From Pastor Michael Every year we talk about the spiritual disciplines that are at the very heart of Lent. This year, I would like to challenge all of us to practice three disciplines together. All three are forms of sacrifice and selflessness.
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? We will join Presbyterians across the nation to give generously and sacrificially to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This offering supports the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance efforts and the Self-Development of People. More information on these programs will be included in the Sunday bulletins on each Sunday of Lent.
February 10 at 7:00PM
For this informal yet meaningful service, we will gather in the lounge. Sunny and Shaun will lead our singing and Pastor Michael will lead our praying and worshiping. The service concludes with the “Imposition of Ashes” on the foreheads of worshipers. On this evening, we will begin our spiritual journey through the season of Lent. ![]() Mark your calendars for the 2016 annual meeting on January 31! Call for 2015 Reports On Sunday, January 31 immediately following worship, the Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held to receive the 2016 budget and annual reports of the various ministries of the church. If you are the staff member, chair or secretary of a ministry team or organization within the church, please have your narrative report into the church office by January 19. It can be given in hard copy or e-mailed as an attachment to Judy Mysels at [email protected]. The Renovation of FPCE What will we look like?? After our January 31 worship service, we will convene one of the most important congregational meetings in recent history. Our architectural firm, LAMI GRUBB ARCHITECTS, LP., will be with us to present a PowerPoint representation of what our renovated church space would look like if we decide to proceed with such renovations. I HOPE VERY MUCH THAT EVERY ACTIVE MEMBER CAN BE PRESENT!!! —Pastor Michael ![]() You know how beautiful the sanctuary looks during the Advent/Christmas season? It’s because of the dedicated work of our faithful “worker bees” each year right around Thanksgiving who stay after worship to make it happen. Well, one of the things that sometimes gets forgotten is how to take it all down in a nice, orderly fashion. Many years it falls to Judy to do over the course of a week in between her normal office duties. Please help us by sticking around after worship on Sunday, January 3 to “un-hang” the greens and put everything away neatly. “Many hands make light work.” Thanks in advance! Advent is a time of expectation, a time where we keep vigilant watch for the coming of Christ because “…you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33) Our Advent prayer vigil is an opportunity for you to practice the discipline of watchfulness. Friday, December 18 our sanctuary will be open from 9:00AM-2:00PM. A sign-up sheet will be at the side vestibule entrance. People may come for as long as they are able. You may come as an individual, couple, small group or family. More than one person or group may be present at the same time. If you would like to come for the traditional 30 minute period, that will be fine as well. This is a great opportunity to enter more fully into our journey toward Bethlehem.
This serves as official notice that we will conduct a congregational meeting immediately after worship on Sunday, December 20. At this meeting you’ll get a chance to see and comment on the 2016 budget before it is formally adopted by the session.
We also will elect officers to the class of 2016, allowing new officers to attend their January meetings, and then they’ll be installed at a later date. The Nominating Committee has a proposal for discussion as well that could reduce the sizes of both boards of Deacons and Session, which would require amending our by-laws. The session values your input and seeks to be responsible stewards of your money. Copies of the proposed budget will be available at least one week prior to the meeting. Please make every effort to attend this meeting. |
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