February 2018 Why Do Christians Give Up Stuff For Lent?

Lent is the period of forty days, excluding Sundays, from Ash Wednesday until the Saturday

between Good Friday and Easter. Forty represents the number of days that Jesus was tempted in the

wilderness.

On Ash Wednesday Christians come forward to have their foreheads marked with a mixture

of palm ashes and oil. In this traditional sign of mourning, we mourn the broken state of the world

and of our own lives.

During the Lenten journey that follows, Christians practice some form of discipline. That

might mean taking on some kind of devotional or service activity or it might mean self-denying

asceticism. Either one, practiced in faith, displaces our normal routines and satisfactions.

Unfortunately, Lenten discipline is often more token than real in the lives of Christians and

frequently it’s used simply to instill healthy temporary habits. But in truth, it’s neither a diet nor

token sacrifice. Giving up something for Lent serves no purpose if it does not cause us discomfort.

Thomas Merton advised that self-denial is the beginning of a passage from cheap passions to the

truly fulfilling riches of the Kingdom of God. He also noted that asceticism makes us realize how we

abuse God’s good, created gifts until we have drained them of all intrinsic worth. We have turned

God’s metric of virtue inside out in order to make ourselves feel comfortable and satisfied.

Maximizing happiness while eliminating suffering is the quintessential goal of human beings

pondering our daily consumer choices. Even church has not escaped that consideration. Many

identify as Christian because they believe in Christ in their minds but don’t bother with worship

because it doesn’t stack up to the many other options for maximizing personal satisfaction.

Lent makes a stand against this soul-less thinking. Lent makes the point that following Christ

requires us to set aside easy personal comfort and take on His sacrificial ministry of reconciliation

and love in the world. It asks us to examine whether we are willing to love our neighbor and glorify

God even when that brings us suffering or mere discomfort.

Why do Christians follow Lenten discipline? We do it in order to renounce and relinquish the

cheapness of consumer-ized Christianity, and to stand in solidarity with Christ’s suffering for the

world so that we will more deeply appreciate the joy of Easter grace.

Peace be with you,

Allen

Anchor Links is a monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee

2

On the Calendar for

SUNDAYS in FEBRUARY Sunday School 9:00AM Worship 10:00AM WEDNESDAYS in FEBRUARY PYC-Wonderful Wednesday Nights Messy Church 5:30PM Dinner 6:00PM Youth and Children’s Bible Study 6:30-7:00PM Adult Choir Practice 6:00-7:00PM Handbell Practice 7:00-8:00PM FRIDAYS in FEBRUARY Restorative Yoga 5:30PM

MONTH OF FEBRUARY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Faith Development 5:30PM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Property 5:00PM Mission 5:30PM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S WINTER LUNCHEON NOON—RSVP by Wednesday, February 7th Day Circle 1:00PM Following Luncheon Night Circle 6:30PM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14th Ash Wednesday Messy Church 5:30PM Pancake Supper 6:00PM Ash Wednesday Service 6:30PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18th Chili Cook-Off following Worship TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20th Pastoral Care 10:00AM Session 5:30PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25th Book Club 3:30PM

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

600 North Brittain Street

Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160

Office: 931.684.6541

Fax: 931.684.6575

Email: first.pres.church600@gmail.com

Website: www FPC STAFF

Allen Cross III, Senior Pastor allencross3@yahoo.com

Shirley Luscinski, Church Secretary first.pres.church600@gmail.com

Diane Green, Nursery Director

SESSION

Helen Garner, Clerk of the Session

Class of 2018

Aaron Crafton, Helen Garner

Pat Thompson, Janice Womble

Class of 2019

Tommy Anderton, Kristin Conley,

Christy Jensen, Charlotte Williams

Class of 2020

Kate Canady, Michal Dobson,

Carol Magnuson, Terry Saylor

TRUSTEES

Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020

Lisa Turner Fred Hunt Bailey Little

NOTE: Session minutes are available in the church office for

any member of the congregation to read.

ville.com

3

Committee Meetings

Monday, February 5 at 5:30PM Faith Development

Monday, February 12 at 5:00PM Property

Monday, February 12 at 5:30PM Mission

Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00AM Pastoral Care

Monday, February 20 at 5:30PM Session Meeting

Women’s Circles

Tuesday, February 13 at 1:00PM Day Circle

Tuesday, February 13 at 6:30PM Night Circle

Third Sunday Chili Cook-Off

February 18 following Worship

Book Club

Sunday, February 25at

3:30PM

“Before We Were Your”

Yoga Classes on Friday Nights

at 5:30PM

NO COST!

All are invited to attend this

restorative yoga style class.

When the Bedford County School System is closed due to Weather conditions…..All church activities will be cancelled as well.

FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES FOR 2018

The Fellowship Committee has reviewed last year’s events and developed a working plan for 2018. Based on increasing attendance during the year, the Third Sunday Fellowship Coffee will continue in 2018 with the exception of February 18 and August 19. A Chili Cook Off following worship service February 18 and an Ice Cream Social in the afternoon of August 19 will replace those Third Sunday Coffee hours. The remaining months will see us gathering to visit in the fellowship hall or the courtyard following worship service. We always welcome your offerings of sweet or savory foods for these occasions and will place a reminder in the worship bulletins on the Sundays prior to each event.

The Chili Cook Off on February 18 will be an opportunity for the great cooks in our congregation to show off their chili making skills. For those who don’t try their hand at chili making, the meal will be complete if you bring sour cream, avocado, chopped onion, shredded cheese, hot sauce, crackers, cornbread, hot dogs and buns for the chili dog makings and desserts. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

A brand new event is in the works to begin in the second quarter of the year, designed to share meals in homes. Future Anchor Links will reveal the details of this and of the Ice Cream Social scheduled for August.

4

Messy Church Wednesday Nights in February “Messy Church” Program with Rev. Cross Youth Fellowship 5:20PM Dinner 5:50PM Youth Study 6:15PM

The youth will be packing packages to be sent to

our college students on Wednesday,

February 7th. Please send names and

addresses of your college students to

first.pres.church600@gmail.com

or call the church office

Wednesday, February 14th Messy Church 5:30PM Pancake Supper 6:00PM Ash Wednesday Service 6:30PM

Super Bowl Sunday February 4 2018

Souper Bowl of Caring Bring a canned food item to church to be

collected by our youth as you leave worship. Donated items will be given to the local

Good Samaritan. If you wish, please wear your team jersey to

worship.

5

WOMEN’S CIRCLES——TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 2018 Immediately after the Luncheon

Day Circle 1:00PM in the Church Parlor

“Fundamentals of Faith”

Lesson Leader and Host: Janet Mullins

Night Circle 6:30PM

Host: Norma Zae Jensen 602 Kingree Road

Lesson Leader and Host: Norma Zae Jensen If you would like to carpool, please be in the church parking lot by 6:10pm

Come join us and bring a friend for our annual Winter Luncheon

Our Guest Speaker is Michal Dobson. Michal will speak on her

experiences as a missionary.

The meal will be catered by The Coffee Break.

Cost is $11.00 per person (pay at the door)

Reservations must be made by Wednesday, February 7th by calling the

church office at 684-6541.

6

February 1

Tommy Anderton

February 2 Steve Conley

February 5

Aiden Edwards

February 9 Jeffery Townes

February 10

Janet Mullins Zack Spears

February 13 Roy Turner

Adam Womack

February 15 Ralph McBride, Jr.

February 16 Tim Parsons

February 18

Brenda Skelton

February 19 David Brown

February 20 Gail Parsons

February 22

Katherine Marsh Charlotte Williams

February 23 Max Beavers

February 25

Hudson Cobb Josh Jensen

February 28

Hunter Wilhelm

Tony and Carolyn Matusek

Celebrating 53 Years!

RECENT MEMORIAL GIFTS

VOILE PEOPLES ROSEMARY CURTIS RAY WARD For For Greg Garner Scholarship Pastoral Care By By Nancy June Brandon Bud & Geneva Melson

For your visits, food, and prayers.

We send our love to all,

Bob and Alice Durio

7

Parents’ Day Out Pajama

Day

Ordination and Installation of New Elders Class of 2020

Kate Canady, Michal Dobson,

Carol Magnuson, Terry Saylor Blessings from the congregation

Parents’ Day Out for February February 8th Lion’s Club Vision Screening February 15th Valentine’s Party February 22nd Visit from Amanda Arnold, Davis Dental

Youth

8

SERVING

IN FEBRU

ARY

Sunday, February 4 2018

Liturgist Brent Canady Ushers/Greeters Norma Zae Jensen Melanie Hamilton Rob Marsh Randy Reed

Hall Monitor Ginny Saylor

A Time for Young Christians Connie Crafton

Children’s Church LeaAnne Windham

Nursery Katherine Marsh Serving Holy Communion: Tommy Anderton, Kristin Conley, Aaron Crafton, Michal Dobson, Helen Garner

Sunday, February 11 2018 Liturgist Connie Crafton Ushers/Greeters Linda Anderton Raychelle Flannagan Aksel Jensen III Pat Marsh Hall Monitor Bob Garner A Time for Young Christians Kate Canady Children’s Church Kristin Wilhelm Nursery Theresa Blanton

Sunday, February 18 2018

Liturgist Carol Magnuson

Ushers/Greeters Frieda Bone Bailey Little John Marsh Kathy Smith Hall Monitor Janice Womble

A Time for Young Christians Kate Canady

Children’s Church TBA

Nursery Geneva Melson

Sunday, February 25 2018

Liturgist Ginger Shofner

Ushers/Greeters Tommy Anderton Jim Caperton Margaret Smith Pat Thomas Hall Monitor Mike Matusek

A Time for Young Christians Ginny Saylor Children’s Church Katherine Marsh

Nursery

Margaret Anne Cobb