| 9:45 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. |
| New Horizons Tough Issues (adult) | SonShine (toddler) JAM Time (K-5) | Youth Class Adult Class |
| Forward in Faith Together | |
| Growing in Christ: Adult Ministry |
Sharing Christ's Love: Presbyterian Giving |
| Presbyterian Women & Foundation |
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| This 'n' That | Calendars: May April |
| Worship Schedule |
Saturday, April 26
All-Church Prayer Vigil - Click for more information.
Sunday, April 27
Vision Awareness Service at Bridge.
Wise Guys children/youth musical at 10:45 - Click for more.
Vision Awareness luncheon.
Friday, May 2
Organ Concert with John Weaver at 7:30. Click for more .
Saturday, May 3
CPR class: Click for more .
Presbyterian Women Sweet Treats: Click for more.
H2O (Young Adult) Euchre Night: Click for more .
Soup of Success Tea with Ruth: see posters around the church.
Sunday, May 4
Ministry Awareness Sunday…We'll have some fun while focusing on our church's many and varied ministries and mission activities at all three services.
Sunday, May 11
Pentecost. Wear red! Zip Long will be our guest preacher.
Sunday, May 18
Forward in Faith Together Commitment Sunday.
Confirmation Sunday.
Forward in Faith Together
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On my burgeoning bookshelves, I have these
three books:
• Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, by Marcus
Borg (1995),
• The Jesus I Never Knew, by Phillip Yancey (1995),
and
• The Secret Message of Jesus, by Brian McLaren (2006).
I
know some of you have studied Borg's book, and others may have read others of
these books.
Do you notice a similarity among these titles? Is it
surprising to you that here, in the 21st century, there could be any
surprises at all about Jesus or His message. Haven't we been studying the
Bible and hearing sermons for 2,000 years. What more could be left to
discover? How could there be any secrets left, anything new to reveal, about
Jesus? In fact, these books are examples of a mini-trend: writers who had
grown up Christian, and yet who, as adults, began discovering new,
compelling, life-changing aspects of Jesus. Although these authors don't
understand Jesus exactly the same way, they all became dissatisfied with
their old understandings of Jesus, and they decided to reread the gospels
with fresh eyes. There are some similar themes in what they have discovered,
including that we must pay more attention to Jesus' life, ministry,
and teaching, and not focus exclusively on His death for our sins. And they
all agree that understanding Jesus is not just an arid intellectual pursuit –
how we understand Jesus has a strong influence on how we live
day-to-day.
The Letter to the Hebrews says, "Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and for ever" (13:8). Do these books contradict that
assertion? I don't think so. Rather, they illustrate an important point:
although Jesus does not change, our understandings of Jesus are always
partial and subject to improvement. There is always more to learn and to
experience. And, as the world around us changes, we need to see and
experience Jesus in new and fresh ways.
Furthermore, Jesus must be
experienced and understood anew by each generation. There is an old saying:
"faith has no grandchildren." As many of us know all too well, Christian
faith is not automatically passed on from generation to generation like
blue eyes or height. Nor can it be taught, like math or science. Christian
faith, which is at its heart an encounter with the living Christ, must be
"caught."
In our Forward in Faith Together campaign, we are seeking to
prepare our church to help future generations "catch" the faith which has
nurtured us. Or, I should say, we are preparing a place where future
generations can be "caught" by Christ.
Twenty-first century life is all
too full of "virtual" experiences. As we become more and more dependent on
computers and screens, we need the living, breathing, loving community, the
"Body of Christ," the church, all the more. It is the only place where many
of us can experience unconditional love, where we can hear the
(sometimes uncomfortable) truth about both God's love and God's call, and
where we can experience "incarnational" Christian faith first-hand. At its
best, the church helps us both receive and give Christ's love
"embodied."
The "Body of Christ" needs a sound, energy-efficient, safe,
and attractive home. That's what we're seeking to provide - for future
generations. Will you help with your prayers, your participation, and your
generous, sacrificial gifts?
Presbyterian Youth FellowshipPYF Youth, we have exciting things coming up to plan for! If there are any studies/activities you would like to do, give me a call & I'll do my best to add them to our schedule. Mary Seddon, Youth & Family Elder
Baseball and Fireworks July 3
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Application forms are available in the church office or at the welcome desk. Scholarship help for up to half the cost of camping is available from the church. To request scholarship help, talk to Steve Braden. |
Adult Classes & Small GroupsSunday Mornings:
Start the
New Year Right - Nifty Sixties Men's Breakfast Book Bunch |
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John Weaver - Organ Concert
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Euchre NightSaturday, May 3, 7-9 p.m.Join our 20-30-somethings for a fun night of euchre. and, mark your calendar for our next fellowship activity: Sunday, June 1, we'll meet together to cheer on our men's softball team! |
Reminder: We are no longer required to pay per capita to support the ministry and mission of our presbytery, synod, and General Assembly, but we are asked to contribute to a special offering for this purpose. The session has budgeted the bulk of our support, but to meet or exceed last year's per capita and other giving, we need to have at least $2,000 in special gifts. Please support the wider church by making an extra gift, payable to the church, marked "PCUSA." Thank you!
Once again the generosity of this congregation has come shining through. The total funds from the fish banks, the Lily Fund after purchasing the lilies, and other donations came to $4,515.71. What a difference those funds will make in the lives of people facing hunger, recovery from disaster, and the need to build their lives all over again! Thank you for "serving one another with the gifts you have received."
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Hosting Hopkins 4-K Cancer Cyclists On Tuesday night, June 3, we will again be hosting 25 cross-country bicyclists from Johns Hopkins University who are riding to raise money for fighting cancer and helping cancer victims. A portion of last year's very successful ride went to our local United Cancer Services of Elkhart County. We will need volunteers to help with Tuesday night's dinner and Wednesday morning's breakfast. Please sign up by the Gathering Place. |
Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build Project
The Elkhart Apostles Build will be a bit different this year because we
are trying to fit in many more builds. The first week of the build will take
place from August 2-9. There will be a two week
break in the schedule for professionals to do their jobs. The final week of
the build will resume on Saturday, August 24 and
continue through the August 30. In short, the
schedule is the same as last year except for one extra week for
professionals to work. The house will be located to the east of 1035 Oakland
Estates and is on the south side of the street. |
Church Community
Services (CCS), our ecumenical food pantry, |
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First Sunday – Fish (canned tuna & salmon) Second Sunday – Spaghetti & Spam (sauce & canned meat) Third Sunday – Oral Hygiene & Toiletries (toothpaste, personal care) Fourth Sunday – Canned Fruit Fifth Sunday – Cleaning Supplies for Faith Mission |
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.
If you would like to help, sign up in the Gathering Place or call Walt or
Beth Davis(293-7786).
CCS continues to face heavy and rising demand
for food and financial help (rent, utilities, medicine).
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
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Thank you to all who helped my mother, Muriel
Hatfield, with cards, visits, prayers, and homebound communion. David
and I are very appreciative of all the caring cards and messages
given by you - the members and staff of the church. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Walk to the Cross design team: Jan Horner, Starr Robinson, Todd & Cheryl Ann Miller, Anita & Jess Gorden, Cami Amendt, Connie Minzey, Adam and Beth Ann Hoffer, Diane Evans, Elizabeth Hohman, Mary Ann Graves, Doni Boal, Freya Burket, Colleen Good. Also, thank you to all the people who volunteered as greeters or with the Saturday clean-up. The Good Friday Prayer Encounter reached many people, including many community visitors. Thanks for all the hard work, prayer, and preparation that everyone shared. If you'd like to be a part of creating our next Prayer Encounter for Advent, please talk with Kathleen O'Connell. Thanks to all!
I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all members who were so
gracious to host a Coffee Hour during the last three years. During
the whole time that I was Fellowship Commission Chairperson, people
were so gracious and willing to help out. Also, so many people
helped with the various dinners and activities that we planned
and sponsored. I am so grateful for everyone's help. Thank you again
for helping with the "fellowship" of the church. Dear Presbyterian Friends: Please read the letter written by Ruth Osterop thanking everyone for their love and care, located on the bulletin board in the hallway by the Gathering Place. We appreciate very much the use and services
the church has given for our AAUW branch meetings. |
Vivian W. Pell
Congratulations go to
Do you have a prayer concern? |
April 27 |
May 4 |
May 11 |
May 18 | |
| Preacher (8:30 & 10:45) | Steve Braden | Steve Braden | Zip Long | Steve Braden |
| Bridge Preacher (9:30) | Vision Awareness | Kathleen O'Connell | Zip Long | Kathleen O'Connell |
| Liturgist | Marsha Brownewell | Mary Ann Graves | Michael Weiss | Colleen Goode |
| Special |
PW Birthday
Offering Youth Musical "Wise Guys" | Communion Mission Emphasis Sunday |
Day of
Pentecost Mother's Day |
Confirmation Sunday Capital Commitment Sunday |
| Greeters |
Linda
Schrock Steve Seward | Betsy Semple Steve Seward |
Betty Rice Steve Seward |
Connie
Minzey Steve Seward |
| 8:30 am Ushers | Linda &
Delbert Schrock | Susie & Dave Lehman | Susie & Dave Lehman | Pat & John Van Dyke |
| 9:30 am Ushers | Russ Gilpin Anita Gorden | Cheryl Ann
Miller LyLy Rose |
Pam & Dick Whitcraft | Marsha
Brownewell Vicki Kronemeyer |
| 10:45 am Ushers | Mason Braden Chris Seddon Trudy & Hans Disch | Andy
Braden Sean O'Neill Susie & Wen Wu |
Andy
Braden Pam Duncan Sean O'Neill Nancy Stetz |
Trudy &
Hans Disch Ferne & Bob Huber |
| 10:45 am Music | Youth Musical | Chancel Choir | Chancel Choir | Chancel Choir |
| Hospitality Host | Christine Rice | Mike Wilson | Phid Wells |