memorial press 2016 february€¦ · no matter how you choose to remember ash wednesday and the...

12
1 MEMORIAL PRESS 731 Walnut Street - P .O. Box 70 - Dayton, Indiana - 47941 (765) 296-3199) Web: www.daytonpres.org Pastor Justin: [email protected] Darlene : [email protected] FEBRUARY 2016 As someone who grew up in an Irish Roman Catholic family, I attended mass every Sunday with my family, as well as went to church on various liturgical holy days. During the winter I can remember the mixed emotions I had on Ash Wednesday when I was allowed to go to school later in the morning than usual, but this was only permitted because I and my sister had to attend the Ash Wednesday mass with my grandmother. We would receive ashes from the priest during the mass, and we were reminded not to wash them off so it could serve as a reminder to us during the day of the importance of God in our lives. When I was dropped off at school, you could always tell who was Catholic on that day because we were the only ones walking around with smudges of dirt on our foreheads! I remember thinking that the other churches on the island, the Presbyterians and Episcopalians, didn’t celebrate Ash Wednesday. I thought this because I didn’t see kids with ashes on their brow, who I knew attended those churches. When I started to attend the Presbyterian Church while in college, I realized that Presbyterians did indeed celebrate Ash Wednesday. The difference was that most Presbyterians, and many other protestant churches who celebrate the holy day, have their worship services in the evening and not in the morning. I can’t quite remember where and when I first received ashes at a Presbyterian Church, but I do very much remember wondering that evening about what to do with the smudge I had on my forehead. Since I had just gotten ashes that evening, just a few hours before hand, I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t realize until that moment that I never had to wash off the ashes I received as a Roman Catholic because they would have been sweated and inadvertently rubbed off during the course of the day. I remember feeling funny as I washed the ashes off my head that I had received during the Ash Wednesday worship service at the Presbyterian Church. On the one hand I didn’t want to dirty my pillow case, but on the other hand I wondered if somehow God was upset with me for removing this sign that was supposed remind me of the importance of Jesus’ salvific sacrifice. Now that I’m a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I sometimes wonder how we might remember the importance of the meaning of Ash Wednesday, even though most of us wash the ashes off a few hours after the evening worship service. One idea I’ve heard of was to get some black water based finger paint and smear a cross on your bathroom mirror at the location where your forehead is reflected in the mirror. That way each day, in the morning and at night, one would be reminded how, if not for the salvation made possible through the cross of Christ, we would not have the hope of eternal life, nor the joy of living a full and abundant life here and now. No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do remember that without God, without Jesus Christ, “all go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again…the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 3:20 & 12:7 Blessings, Pastor Justin Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Upload: trananh

Post on 12-Jun-2018

213 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

1

MEMORIAL PRESS 731 Walnut Street - P .O. Box 70 - Dayton, Indiana - 47941 (765) 296-3199)

Web: www.daytonpres.org Pastor Justin: [email protected]

Darlene : [email protected] FEBRUARY 2016

As someone who grew up in an Irish Roman Catholic family, I attended mass every Sunday with my family,

as well as went to church on various liturgical holy days. During the winter I can remember the mixed emotions I had on Ash Wednesday when I was allowed to go to school later in the morning than usual, but this was only permitted because I and my sister had to attend the Ash Wednesday mass with my grandmother. We would receive ashes from the priest during the mass, and we were reminded not to wash them off so it could serve as a reminder to us during the day of the importance of God in our lives. When I was dropped off at school, you could always tell who was Catholic on that day because we were the only ones walking around with smudges of dirt on our foreheads! I remember thinking that the other churches on the island, the Presbyterians and Episcopalians, didn’t celebrate Ash Wednesday. I thought this because I didn’t see kids with ashes on their brow, who I knew attended those churches.

When I started to attend the Presbyterian Church while in college, I realized that Presbyterians did indeed

celebrate Ash Wednesday. The difference was that most Presbyterians, and many other protestant churches who celebrate the holy day, have their worship services in the evening and not in the morning. I can’t quite remember where and when I first received ashes at a Presbyterian Church, but I do very much remember wondering that evening about what to do with the smudge I had on my forehead. Since I had just gotten ashes that evening, just a few hours before hand, I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t realize until that moment that I never had to wash off the ashes I received as a Roman Catholic because they would have been sweated and inadvertently rubbed off during the course of the day. I remember feeling funny as I washed the ashes off my head that I had received during the Ash Wednesday worship service at the Presbyterian Church. On the one hand I didn’t want to dirty my pillow case, but on the other hand I wondered if somehow God was upset with me for removing this sign that was supposed remind me of the importance of Jesus’ salvific sacrifice.

Now that I’m a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I sometimes wonder how we might remember the

importance of the meaning of Ash Wednesday, even though most of us wash the ashes off a few hours after the evening worship service. One idea I’ve heard of was to get some black water based finger paint and smear a cross on your bathroom mirror at the location where your forehead is reflected in the mirror. That way each day, in the morning and at night, one would be reminded how, if not for the salvation made possible through the cross of Christ, we would not have the hope of eternal life, nor the joy of living a full and abundant life here and now.

No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do remember that

without God, without Jesus Christ, “all go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again…the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 3:20 & 12:7

Blessings,

Pastor Justin

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 2: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

2

* * * SESSION NOTES * * * Your Session met on Tuesday evening, January 12, 2016, and during the meeting the Elders:

Received a report from the Board of Trustees, regarding needed remodeling and repair for the west basement entrance

Read 2 letters from Lafayette Urban Ministry thanking us for donations to their programs, including $600.00 to the Good Samaritan fund

Read a letter of thanks from the YWCA expressing gratitude for our mission gift of $330.00 to their Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

Learned that the Christian Education Committee will now meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., just prior to the Session meeting

Approved, as curriculum, “Forgiveness, a Lenten Study,” for the Adult Sunday School Class Received Committee Assignments for 2016 that reflected hardly any change

Michael E. Grimes, Clerk of Session

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

Adult Sunday School Forgiving others and humbly asking for forgiveness are central disciplines for

all Christian believers. Lent, a time to reflect on our Christian journey, is an appropriate time to deepen our understanding and practice of forgiveness. Marjorie J. Thompson, author of the best-selling book Soul Feast, takes a close look at our understanding of forgiveness in this encouraging study. In six brief chapters, Thompson addresses such questions as the following:

Is forgiveness a Christian duty under all circumstances? Or are there situations when Christians do not need to forgive?

Is forgiveness a matter between individuals, or is it meaningful only in the context of communities?

With clarity, insight, and sensitivity, this book is the perfect resource for examining both our ability to forgive and our own need

for forgiveness. Sunday, February 14 - Beginnings: A Kinship Appeal Sunday, February 21 - Self-Examination: Prelude to Forgiveness Sunday, February 28 - Honesty: Engaging the Inner Struggle Sunday, March 6 - Repentance: Getting a New Mind Sunday, March 13 - Forgiving: Embracing Freedom Sunday, March 20 - Beginning Again: Reconciliation and Restoration

2015 Smorgasbord and Bazaar – Thank you for your support!!

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 3: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

3

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for another successful year! We served 284 hungry people (22 more than

last year…an increase of 70 since 2011)…the word is spreading! The profit for this year was $2001.48 for smorgasbord and $567.00 for the bazaar; a total of $2568.48 for missions of

the Dayton Presbyterian Women!* This annual church event wouldn’t be possible without the loving support of our congregation and community! We are

greatly blessed with generous contributions of prayer, time, food, and always, appetites!! Please send ideas for next year (Such as how do we provide enough turkey and other food for our guests? Should we

take pre-orders for pick-up prior to serving? Should ticket prices be adjusted?). It will be here again before you know it; so let’s start thinking about it now.

BLESS YOU ALL! Phyllis Hill, on behalf of the Dayton Presbyterian Women * All money raised supports the budget of the Dayton Presbyterian Women to fund or benefit these and other missions

and programs: Presbyterian Women USA Flower fund (hospital, worship) Speakers/Programs/Events Service Committee events (funeral dinners) Kitchen supplies Lafayette Urban Ministry: Campership, C.E.F. Geneva Center Jubilee Christmas Church Women United Food Pantry Dayton Food Pantry Kids Closet Youth Triennium

LOAFERS FOR LOGEN

THANK YOU one and all for donating your old shoes for Logen!

Logen is 4 years old and in need of a service dog to keep him safe. Service dogs are very expensive and not covered by insurance. So the 160 pair of shoes that we donated will help the family achieve their goal.

Logen’s Aunt headed up the shoe drive. Her goal was to collect 2500 pair of shoes. She far exceeded her

goal by collecting 10,000 pair! At $.40 a pound it will go a long way to help Logen’s family obtain her service dog.

On a side note, the shoes are sent to developing countries where individuals repair or repurpose them and sell

them in the own communities tomake a living. A few less shoes in the land-fill!

WIN! WIN! WIN! WAHOO! THANK YOU!

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 4: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

4

THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST Hymn Selection Election!

Beginning on Sunday, January 17, the congregation began “electing” which hymn will be sung at the close of the worship service! The hymn with the most “votes”, you know, the one in “first place”, is the last hymn of the morning, and thus the first shall be last! We will continue to do this during the month of February.

When you write your name in the attendance books, you are encouraged to write the number

of the hymn you are voting for in the “Member of the Church” box. The number of people in your family who are at church that morning each have a vote, so if you all want the same hymn, use just one line in the register. But if you disagree, you must each use a different line to sign in on! Please note; solicitation of family members and friends is encouraged!

“The First Shall Be Last” hymn selection election is open to anyone in attendance, not just

church members! But do remember to come back the next week to learn if your hymn “won”, because the results won’t be known until the following Sunday morning!

FOOD PANTRY FRIDAYS 9-11 am - HELP NEEDED! We are in dire need of help on Friday mornings for our Food Pantry.

We are here to serve our community and in order to do that we need your help. Thanks to all who are helping now. The signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the parlor. Please help us out! Paul Houser, 589-9005 Carol Frantz 449-9050

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 5: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

5

Who refreshes others will be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25

The next Kid’s Closet Distribution/Sort will be February 27th from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm.

With the colder weather we expect to be very busy. If you would like to help, even if only for an hour or so, please come and participate in this wonderful mission. Volunteers should be in the church basement by 8:45 am. Hope to see many of you there.

Change for Change! This offering is meant to support local mission projects this year. Please, SAVE your loose coins (no bills – we want to make the offering buckets ring again this year!). The second Sunday of each month - bring your change to help with Change in our community and throughout the world!

Our next Change for Change events will be February 14th.

Memorial Presbyterian Church Ash Wednesday Service

February 10, 2016

7:00 pm 731 Walnut Street

Dayton, Indiana

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 6: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

6

THE CARRY-IN CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, 2016!

THANK YOU to all of you who have hosted our Continental Breakfast in 2015 and in years past. As the volunteer pool has decreased over the years, it’s been somewhat challenging to find volunteers to host the Continental Breakfast each month. In light of this and also taking into account feedback provided by our members who completed the Stewardship survey, the decision was made to no longer have a hosted Continental Breakfast. Instead, we will now have a Carry-in Continental Breakfast each week for those who wish to participate. We’ll put on the coffee and, if you desire, you bring cookies, breads, donuts, milk, juice, etc. to share. Please also be mindful that since we will no longer have breakfast hosts, those who participate in the Carry-in Continental Breakfast will need to assist with the cleanup before worship begins. Although change is sometimes hard, it’s also sometimes necessary. Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we begin this new venture. Please see me at church, send me an email at [email protected] or call me at (765) 404-4116 if you have any questions and/or suggestions. Blessings,

Debbie Ward Chair, Fellowship Committee

Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement of young people working to fight hunger and poverty in their own communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game. Young people in the congregation take up a collection (many use a soup pot), asking for one dollar or one item of food for people in need. They give 100% of their donation directly to the local hunger-relief charity of their choice, which for us will be our own Dayton Food Pantry!

This year the Souper Bowl Sunday will be on Sunday, February 7, 2016!

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 7: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

7

DMPC Youth Group Schedule Winter/Spring 2016

Sunday, February 7: Souper Bowl Sunday! The Sr. High Sunday School Class will be practicing a skit in the weeks prior to Super/Souper Bowl Sunday. The Mid Kids will assist with the collection during worship.

Sunday, February 14: Cookie Walk! Peggy Fields will be coordinating our

annual Cookie Walk again this year! This fundraiser goes to support youth programming at DMPC.

Sunday, March 20: The Sr. High and Mid Kid Youth Groups will stay after

worship to have a light lunch and then choose a skit and practice the Sonrise Worship Service! We will finish at approximately 1:30pm.

Saturday, March 26: The Sr. High and Mid Kid Youth Groups will meet at 10am

to practice the Sonrise Worship Service. We will finish at noon/12pm. Sunday March 27: The Sonrise Service will begin at 7 am!

TBA sometime April/May 2016: A fundraiser of some kind to raise funds for youth to attend the Presbyterian Youth Triennium which is Tuesday, July 19 –

Saturday, July 23, 2016! Youth entering 9th grade or who have just graduated high school may attend! To learn more about this year’s PYT visit

http://presbyterianyouthtriennium.org/

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 8: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

8

Scout Sunday 2016!

Typically held on a Sunday around Feb. 8 (Scouting Anniversary Day), Scout Sunday gives church-chartered packs a chance to say thank you and to demonstrate that the pack and the church have similar goals. This year we will be celebrating our 3rd annual Scout Sunday on February 14, 2016!

By participating in worship with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, you

offer a subtle reminder that these groups aren’t just our charters, but they are a part of the ministry of the congregation, not just an outside group that meets in our building.

Once again the Boy Scouts will be providing a pancake breakfast from 9 to 9:45 am prior to

worship. Please mark your calendars and plan on both enjoying a wonderful breakfast and an inspiring worship service with the scouts and their families!

IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: Our military, our nation & its leaders; persecuted Christians; people locally & nationally in need; victims of domestic violence; Carolyn Finkenbinder; Russell Lucas; Marjora Odenkirk; Jackie Ginther (Niece/J.Schwartz); Monica Bretz; Andy Vasiento (father of Nicole Rosen); Kevin Konrad; Jack Ferry (friend of D. & J. Schwartz); Richie Holmberg (nephew of Lynn & Judy Ryan); Margaret Stonecipher (friend of C. Stanford); Miriam Woodrow; Kathleen Smith (co-worker, K. Summers); Mary Terry; Terry Lynn Pfeiffer; Jane Yost; Bob Yost; Riley Crye (friend of the Boles family); Brent McKinney

(friend of the Boles family); Kennedy Alkire; Nancy Brand; Janet Clarkson (sister of Judy Ryan); Tyler Loschen (friend of DeGolyer family); Doris Tegart, (sister of Bruce Gibson); Tammy Lineback; Carol McGill (daughter-in-law of D. & J. Schwartz); Shirley Maroska (Sally (Whitlock) Maroska’s mother-in-law); Stan Bull; Ron Miller; Jon Grimes; Kevin Lowery (grandson-in-law of Fauniel Gard); Jim Wills (Susan Gibson’s Brother-in-law); Mike Hannah.; Betty Pfeiffer; Ray Hicks; Cindy DeGolyer; Jean Cassel; Jerry Jo Carter (daughter of Betty Pfeiffer); Tom Miller; Tracy Harris; Eileen Stanford (mother of K. Stanford); Don Schwartz; Polly Gould, Sherina Gould, Marian Widmer Gould (relatives of S. Clawson); Gene Smith; Bill Edwards; the family of Bill Andrews.

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 9: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

9

February ELDERS: Mike DeGolyer, Communion Kathy Deckard, Devotions JANUARY DEACONS: Cindy Bull, Captain Paul Houser

1 Laura Houser 15 Gene Smith 2 Alan Michael Spray 16 Emily Mundell 5 Courtney Breanne Biery 16 Quinton Alex Shaffer 6 Nancy Edwards 17 Stephanie Valenta 6 Muriel Grimes 18 Bethany Grimes 6 Kelly Reid 18 Alexander Jones 10 Evan Fitzgerald 19 Jill Gard 14 Peggy Fields 20 Marilyn Yoder 14 Ryan Fitzgerald 24 Ron Berry

14 Ryan Gard 26 Dylan Holsclaw February 10 Ron & Esther Miller 16 Ron & Harriett Berry

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 10: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

10

Your Church Officers

For 2016

PASTOR Rev. Dr. Justin I. Schlesinger-Devlin

ELDERS Harriett Berry Susan Clawson Kathy Deckard Mike DeGolyer Susan Gibson Michael Grimes, Clerk of Session Cathy Hancook Jon Petrie Julie Rosa Wes Shaw Brian Sprague Deb Ward DEACONS Nancy Brand Cindy Bull Molly Bull Jane Coleman Nancy Grimes Patty Hicks Paul Houser Kathy Shaw Becki Sprague Cindy Stanford Karen Summers TRUSTEES Donnie Boles John Brand Joe Grimes Pat Grimes Bernie Parmely Fred Reichart Lynn Ryan Ken Stanford Local Church & Mission Treasurer Nancy Edwards Asst. Church & Mission Treasurer Patty Hicks Church School Superintendent David Grimes Asst. Church School Superintendent Jane Coleman Cradle Roll Superintendent Kayla Fields Church School Secretary Phyllis Hill

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 11: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

11

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3

Zumba, 6:15 pm

4 5 Food Pantry,

9-11 am

6

7 8:30 Carry-in Cont. Breakfast 9:00 Sunday School 10:00 Cont. Breakfast 10:30 Worship Souper Bowl of Caring

8 9 Scout Blue and

Gold Banquet, 6:30 pm

10 Ash

Wednesday Service, 7:00 pm

11 12 Food Pantry,

9-11 am

13

Boy Scout Overnight

Stay

14 9:00 am Scout Sunday Breakfast 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 Worship Change for Change After Worship -

Youth Group Cookie Walk 1st Sunday in Lent

15

Boy Scouts, 6:30 pm

16 C. E., 6:00 pm

Cub Scouts,

6:30 pm

Session, 7:00 pm

17

Zumba, 6:15 pm

18 19 Food Pantry,

9- 11 am

20 Presbytery Meeting at Rossville Presbyterian Church

21 8:30 Carry-in Cont. Breakfast 9:00 Sunday School/Kid’s Closet Sort 10:00 Carry-in Cont. Breakfast 10:30 Worship 2nd Sunday in Lent

22

Boy Scouts, 6:30 pm

23

Cub Scouts, 6:30 pm

24

Zumba, 6:15 pm

25

26 Food Pantry,

9- 11 am

27 Kid’s Closet Distribution/Sort, 9:00 am until Noon

28 8:30 Carry-in Cont. Breakfast 9:00 Sunday School 10:00 Carry-in Cont. Breakfast 10:30 am Worship 3rd Sunday in Lent

29 Pastor Justin on Study Leave

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)

Page 12: MEMORIAL PRESS 2016 February€¦ · No matter how you choose to remember Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, please do ... a Lenten Study,” for the Adult ... solicitation of

12

Memorial Presbyterian Church 731 Walnut St. (State Road 38 E) P. O. Box 70 Dayton, IN 47941-0070

Come join us on February 10, 2016, 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service

Sunday Fall/Winter Schedule 8:30 am Carry-in Continental

Breakfast 9:00 am Sunday School for All Ages

10:00 am Carry-in Continental Breakfast

10:30 am Worship

Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)