Growing in Christ:
Adult Ministry
Tough Issues will begin a series of very interesting and topical subjects after Easter to be held on Sunday mornings, 9:30 a.m. in the Reception Room.
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Cartoons of Mohammad: Free Speech or Sacrilegious Offense? - In the battle between the modern enlightenment value of free speech versus promodern narrow-mindedness and religious bigotry, what should win?
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War and Christians - How does a Christian think about events or war, whether it is a civil war in another country, a war between nations in another part of the world, or a war in which our own country is engaged? How do Scripture and tradition shape our questions, inform our thinking, and guide our responses in thought and action?
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Sweatshop Ethics - Sweatshops are continuing to sprout up all over the world and in parts of our country. Is this a necessary evil in a global economy? As Christians struggling to ensure life in abundance for all, what can we do?
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Is God in the Workplace? - It is often a challenge to live faithfully in a work environment that has its own priorities. Can we remain true to God while fulfilling our commitments to employers and colleagues? When there are obstacles to living faithfully in the workplace, what can we do?
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What would Jesus Drive? - There is no doubt our lives would be drastically different were it not for the creative harnessing of fossil fuels such as oil and coal years ago. But we now know what we did not know then. These fossil fuels are limited in quantity, and the use harms both the environment and humans. Alternative energy will soon cease to be an alternative. What role should Christians play now before too much damage is done?
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Books that didn't make the Bible - How did Christians decide which books got into the Bible? And what about all the ones that didn't? Should we care about them?
Subjects will include written materials and step-by-step leader materials. We are looking for volunteers to facilitate these classes. Please contact Pam Duncan or Kathleen O'Connell if you have an interest in leading the discussion on any of these topics.
What is your
personal philosophy of life?
| Sundays 9:30 &10:30 am
March 19, 26, Apr 2
Room 100
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What core values guide your life? NPR has brought back the concept of the weekly radio program hosted by Edward R. Murrow from 1951-1955. In this three-week class, you will hear and discuss short essays written by Americans of all ages and perspective about their belief system. Many of these people are well known, presidents, diplomats, businessmen, and civic leaders. This class will encourage you to examine your personal beliefs and develop respect for and reach a deeper understanding of beliefs different than your own. You may even find yourself writing your own short core value essay! Purpose Driven Life classes continue on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in Room 101 and at 10:45 in Room 104. Find a book and join us! Sin of the Week - Do we have your attention? In Lent we will have a sermon series on the 7 Deadly Sins (more). On Thursdays from noon - 1:00, Kathleen O'Connell will lead a discussion of the particular sin being discussed that week. Bring a brown bag lunch. The schedule: Thursday, March 23: Sloth |
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| Thursday, March 30: Gluttony/Lust |
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PoGO  On Tuesday, March 21 at 11:30, PoGO takes a Walk Down Memory Lane. Memories on various topics will be revisited an shared. Many funny stories will surface to keep you amused and laughing. Lunch will be served at 11:30. As a reminder, anyone is invited to attend any of PoGO's events.
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Men's Breakfast
What is the connection between our faith and our work? What difference does our faith make in the real world of the workplace? The Men's Breakfast begins exploring this topic this week. Join Steve Braden Wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m. at Perkins at North Pointe Plaza (Cassopolis Street) for good food, good discussion, and prayer.
BBBB
 The Brown Bag Book Bunch meets on the first Monday of each month at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the current book.
The upcoming selections are:
| April | Vanishing Act | Jodi Picoult | | May | Green Grow the Victims | Jeanne Dams | | June | The Egg and I | Betty McDonald | | July | Good Bye is Not Forever | Amy George | | August | Alias Grace | Margaret Atwood | | September | Biting the Moon | Martha Grimes | | October | The Emancipator’s Wife | Barbara Hambly | | November | Portuguese Irregular Verbs | Alexander McCall Smith |
Join us in the Reception Room.
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Worship and Concerts
| Palm Sunday (April 9) — Celebrate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem with palms and music.
Maundy Thursday (April 13) — Join us at 7:00 p.m. on the lower level as we remember the Last Supper, celebrate communion, and carry the cross to the front of the church.
Good Friday (April 14) — We host the Ministerial Association’s Community Good Friday service at noon. Join us for a multimedia service on the lower level. Easter Worship (April 16) — Celebrate the Resurrection with lilies and joyful music from our choirs and instrumentalists. We will share the Lord’s Supper. There will be no church school. |
Worship Survey
When should we hold worship this summer? Should we allow more time between our services? Who would be available to help with ushering, greeting, and staffing the welcome table? What other suggestions do you have for our worship? On Sundays, March 19, 26, and April 2, we will distribute a worship survey in the chapel and sanctuary services to gain your input on these questions. A separate survey is being developed for the Bridge, as that service has some unique issues revolving around worship space. Please give us your input.
Renowned Organist Frederick Swann will be in concert Friday, April 21, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. For 25 years Swann served as Organist of the internationally famous Riverside Church in New York City. During the final 16 years of this tenure he was also Director of Music and conducted one of the most distinguished music programs in the city. In 1982 he was appointed Organist and Director of Music of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. As chief musician for "The Hour of Power" he became the most visible and widely heard organist in the world.(More)
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Sharing Christ's Love
Help Name the OGHS Fish!
What Fish?
Over the last several decades, while One Great Hour of Sharing themes and posters have come and gone, the one unchanging presence for all but a few years in the late 1990’s has been the coin box in the shape of a fish.
Beginning next year, the coin box will not be the only fish in the sea of One Great Hour of Sharing resources. Making its debut in this year’s children’s materials is a new character, a little fish called —well, we don’t know its name yet, so we’re just calling it the Little Fish. It will be up to the kids in your Sunday school classes to participate in a contest to find a name for the Little Fish.
How to Submit a Name
For each name that you wish to submit, send a card or letter to Name the Fish, c/o One Great Hour of Sharing, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky, 40202- 1396. Or send an e-mail with the words Name the Fish Contest in the subject line, to akrome@ctr.pcusa.org. All suggestions should be submitted by May 31, 2006. Names will be judged on the basis of creativity and appropriateness. If there is a special reason your class chose a particular name, feel free to include it. The judges reserve the right to be swayed by these rationales. In the event that more than one class submits the winning name, up to five classes will be declared winners. Whoever submits the name first will definitely be one of the winners. If there are more than five classes submitting the winning name, the other four winners will be drawn at random from all those submitting the name.
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future.
The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36 percent of undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receives 32 percent.
We will be receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering through Lent, and will dedicate it on Palm Sunday, April 9. Please give generously.If you have a "Fish Bank", please bring it to worship that week! (Though we'll always accept them late if you can't be there.)
Presbyterian "Per Capita"
 As Presbyterians, we celebrate being a "connectional church," in which congregations share in mission and ministry at the regional (presbytery), multi-state (synod), and national (General Assembly) levels. We support this mission and ministry in two ways: through the "per capita apportionment" (which funds the operations at each level required by our constitution) and "shared mission" (which funds other programs and staff). The per capita apportionment is set each year by the presbytery, synod, and general assembly. The Stewardship and Finance Commission asks that you give prayerful thought to making an additional contribution this year to cover your own per capita apportionment. We are grateful for the many of you that have contributed to your per capita in past years.
For 2006, the per capita amount is $29.16 per active member. As an example, if you are part of a 2-parent, 2-child household, and both of your children are members (i.e., they have been confirmed), your total per capita would then be $116.64. Please consider making your per capita apportionment today. Make your check to the church, marked "per capita."
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Emergency Needs Fund
The church office maintains an Emergency Fund which is used to help church members and to respond to requests from Church Community Services to help their clients. We probably get 2-3 calls a week from CCS asking us to help in putting together a "package" of funds to help some family avoid eviction or keep their utilities on. We spent over $1,600 from this fund last year, but the fund is about exhausted. If anyone would like to help replenish this fund, please make your check out to the church and mark it "emergency fund." Thank you!
|  Susanna's Kitchen is an ecumenical soup kitchen currently housed in First Congregational Church, at Third and Marion. Our congregation serves food the fourth Monday of each month. Volunteers need to be there from 10:45-12:30. After many years of faithfully coordinating our congregation's participation, Susie Wu has turned coordination over to Walt & Beth Davis. If you would like to help, sign up in the Gathering Place or call Walt or Beth (293-7786).
 Church Community Services (CCS), our ecumenical food pantry, distributes bags of food and (as funds are available) assistance with rent and utility payments to local families needing emergency help. Our church supports CCS with regular donations from our mission budget, and a number of our members make individual contributions toward rent assistance (since CCS now incorporates the work of the former Dave's Place). Several of our members volunteer at CCS, and they can always use more volunteers! We collect grocery donations each Sunday on the following schedule:
First Sunday – Fish (canned tuna & salmon)
 Second Sunday – Spaghetti & Spam (sauce & canned meat)
Third Sunday – Oral Hygiene & Toiletries (toothpaste, personal care items)
Fourth Sunday – Canned Fruit
Fifth Sunday – Cleaning Supplies for Faith Mission
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study, and worship. Come Wednesday nights for:
Before a recent Wednesday night Lenten service, I loaned my watch to the worship leader (Marge). Not that I would ever look at my watch during a worship service – like all of you, I am much too spiritually elevated to even think of doing so (grin)– but after the service I kept looking at my left wrist. I’m so used to being under time pressure that it felt weird to not know what time it was.
We will spend from 7:00 p.m. Friday evening until after breakfast on Saturday enjoying quality time as a family. Campfire, games, prizes, good food, and good company. Bring your pop-up tent and/or blow up mattress. If you have a bad back, pick out a sofa. Where could you get a better time with your family for free? Friday, March 24 through Saturday morning, March 25. Mary Freed and Mindy Suhr are co-chairing this event sponsored by Children’s Ministries. If you have children, they will be contacting you! Make plans now to attend.
Put the dates of June 12-15 on your calendar and come and help us for a great time. Cheryl Ann Miller is helping with Vacation Bible School this year. If you would like to volunteer to help set decorations, please see Linda or Cheryl Ann as soon as possible. We have about twenty slots to fill with volunteers. VBS is another chance to win the community for Jesus. Watch for details on the many ways you can offer assistance coming soon!
