Midweek: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023.

 

Midweek 2-22-23

In This Issue:          

•         Music Notes        
•          Live and Learn
•          Reminders & Celebrations
•          Safety Procedures Reminders
•          Ash Wednesday Service Tonight!
•          Lenten Devotional To Share!
•          Adult Sunday School & Nursery
•          Zionsville Banquet!
•          PPM Update
•          Storing God’s Word in Your Heart, part 2
•          Amen!
•          Hymn Made Personal

“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12

Music Notes: For Ash Wednesday, 2-22, Chancel Choir will practice at 6pm before the service at 7. There will also be a rehearsal on Thursday, 2-23, at 7-8:30pm to rehearse the anthem, introit, and choral benediction for this coming Sunday.

Live and Learn on Saturdays: Live & Learn, Saturday the 25^th, Luke Ch. 4 with Pastor Je. 11:30am lunch and study.

Reminders: Thank you to Neal Crouse for being our liturgist for February. Liturgist for March will be Margi McConnaha. We do not have a greeter or treat bringer signed up for Sunday the 26^th.

Have a question on what to do or what is required/expected of a greeter? Send your questions to Gretel in the office and she will answer them for you.

If you wish to bring something to share, it does not have to be a baked good. It can be a store-bought item. It can be fruit or veggies – feel free to be creative and bring what sounds good to you.

    Please add your name to the list for greeters or treat/bringers or contact Gretel in the office. Please stay for a cup of coffee and a chat after the service and enjoy the presence of your spiritual family.  

“Congratulations to you! We celebrate with you! Know that we love you, and God loves you too!”   Happy birthday to Leanna Woody, 2/23! Happy birthday to Teresa Brannon, 2/29! Happy anniversary to Dan and Lisa Erwin, 2/29!

Safety Procedures Reminders: (Every so often these reminders need to be sent out. There is no cause for concern or alarm, just a friendly jog for your memory.) For the safety and well-being of the children in the building during school hours, please remember and act in accordance with the following:

1.         Sign-in on the clipboard on the hallway-bulletin-board. This lets us know who was here and when
2.         When entering or exiting the building, do not let anyone in. Do not hold the door for anyone unless they are in your party. As uncomfortable as that may be (and we thank you for being naturally gracious and friendly individuals), we need to let each person enter separately. If the person entering is a preschool parent, they will have their own key-fob allowing them entrance. If they are a church member with a key, they can let themselves in. If they are a stranger or guest, they must go through Gretel in the church office or Lori Rowe in the PPM office. If someone desires entrance and you do not know them, no matter what they ask or what they tell you, they must stay on the other side of the door. Please let the door close and alert Gretel to their presence. Thank you for your cooperation in these matters.

Ash Wednesday Service Tonight! Joint service at FPC with Central Christian Church: 7pm. There will be an offering time during this service. What is collected will be donated to The Caring Center.

Lenten Devotional To Share! Via email earlier this week, the Lenten Devotional was sent to each of you in digital copy. As explained in that email, that is a view-only copy. There are printed copies available in the church sanctuary. If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, please contact Gretel in the office and let her know. The devotional is designed to begin today, but never fear – don’t have one? Contact Gretel. It actually starts the first day on Sunday the 26^th. But if you ever miss a day, just jump in where you are and enjoy from there. Join us as we take time each day during Lent to consider our Lord Jesus Christ through His Word and in prayer. May God bless this time for each of you and speak to you as you seek Him.

Adult Sunday School: Sunday School is now in session: Sundays in the church library from 9:00 to 10:15. Meeting Jesus at the Table is an 8-week Lenten Bible study. Books are $11.05 each plus tax. Imagine yourself going on a glorious and nourishing progressive dinner. At each stop we gather at a different table with Jesus, learning how to love, serve, and expand the hospitality of God's grace to others. Please come and join the feast. Debbie Crouse will be leading the study.

Nursery: We have space for a nursery for ages infant to 3 yrs. but need a couple of volunteers to take care of the children during the 10:30 service. If you feel you are being called to be a part of this ministry, please call Gretel and let her know.

Zionsville Banquet! The Zionsville Spring Great Banquets are just around the corner!  The Women's Banquet: March 2-5; Men's Banquet: March 16-19.  Location: Zionsville Presbyterian Church. Complete the Guest Application at www.zpc.org/great-banquet/.  There is room at His table, and you are invited!

PPM Update: PPM has been enjoying this warmer weather and the opportunity to be outside. They have a few classes already full for next year and registration for the community begins March 1st. They are so blessed to have a strong program and staff. Please continue to pray for the Pre-K teachers, Mrs. Vickery and Mrs. Toloeos and the children in their classrooms. All of the Pre-K kids will be going to kindergarten this fall; we will miss them. PPM will host parent-teacher conferences the week of March 13th. Correction from a few weeks ago, the Family engagement night will be April 11th with Mary Jo Huff. 

    PPM is excited to expand their outdoor learning environment this Spring, adding a few more items to the courtyard. 

The most exciting news is a praise and a prayer request. Brooke LeMay, teacher of Preschool 2, delivered twins Tuesday morning! Please pray for her healing and recovery, as well as for her new sons: Oakley Ellis and Maverick Michael. They were born a month early and so are being carefully monitored. They are both on feeding tubes presently, but the hope and prediction is that they will be off of those soon. Brooke has four additional children, ranging in ages from 2 to 8 years old. We praise God that Mama and babies are healthy, but we realize she will have her hands full and will appreciate extra prayer.

Storing God’s Word in Your Heart: Do you have trouble memorizing scripture? It doesn’t have to be a task passed off to the younger (if you are older), or saved for when you’re older (if you are younger). Here are a couple suggestions as to how to make learning scripture easier:

1.          Put it to a tune. Have a favorite song? Set your chosen scripture verse to music. Or choose a well-known tune like Old MacDonald; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; the alphabet song; or the tune from a Christmas song. For example, try singing Psalm 27:1 & 2 to the tune for Joy to the World.
2.          Use actions. Look at your verse and think of actions for key words. And/or: Group the verse into sections and choose an action for each section. Feel embarrassed for someone at home to see you do actions to the verse? Do it in your closet when you are getting ready for your day or try it in the shower – just don’t slip! Or don’t physically do it, just think it through. Suggestions: Let’s try this with a verse you may already know: John 3:16. For God: point up. So loved: cross your arms over your chest. The world: make a large circle with your arms. That He Gave: put your arms together out in front of you like you are handing out a gift. His Only Begotten Son: move your arms to a cradle position like you are rocking a baby. Now . . . it’s your turn! What can you come up with for the last half of that verse? Challenge: What actions could you do for John 3:17?

Amen!

"So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him." Esther 4:17

What I think of today as I read of Mordecai's departure is the word "Amen". It means faithful. It means "so be it" or "so it is". It is said in closure to a prayer. It is spoken as a word of agreement to what was just said. It is a way of expressing the desire: "May it be so."  It seems to me that, in essence, Mordecai's departure here says all of that.

Mordecai went to Esther, asking for her help. Is there someone coming to us for our help, Lord? He knew a need much greater than himself, a need that could not be ignored. He knew he could not meet that need on his own, but there was something he could do. He could ask Esther for help. Is there a need we can see, Lord, but can identify as much greater than ourselves? Is there something we can do, in even some small part? May we be faithful. Lord, as Mordecai was faithful. 

Mordecai was heard. Esther agreed to help. When he went his way, he did so in agreement with what Esther had committed to. When Mordecai went his way, surely he did so with a prayer in his heart: "May it be so." May we act as God leads and as God calls. Mordecai's faithfulness had not come to an end. There was more for him to do. There was a new task now ahead of him. Lord God, grant us endurance to finish the race with our eyes on the prize. May we be faithful in every task we are given. Help us turn to the fellowship of the saints for help in time of need and in time of celebration. Help us be available for those who may ask us for help.  

Hymn Made Personal. Are you familiar with the hymn entitled “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying”? Here are the words to this prayer:

Lord, listen to your children praying. Lord, send your Spirit in this place. Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love; send us power; send us grace.”

    There was a time in my life when I prayed very seriously about the possibility of fostering and/or adopting three children. They were siblings close in age to my own children. My children and I knew them through our church. They were removed from their home due to abuse, were placed in temporary custody, and were in need of a loving, safe home. Every night during that period I would play the piano as my children fell asleep and I would sing that song to them. It was my prayer for those children as well as for my own. It eventually became clear to me that our role was to support them in another fashion but not through providing a home for them. We loved and cared for them as we were able, even as we watched, grieved and prayed fervently for the difficult journey they were on. It is Ash Wednesday today, and I share that story and this song as I consider our relationship to our Heavenly Father. We are His children. Every one of us needs a safe and loving place in which to abide. There is no place better in which to dwell than in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through Him, our Heavenly Father has taken us under His wing and offers protection and provision but also great love, compassion, and tenderness. We may be small, needy, and but as ash or dust, but the Lord loves us. The Lord laid down His life for us. Amen and amen.                     

Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.

Heavenly Father, may we love You more and more each day. May our first thought be praise to You as we greet Your beautiful morning. As we watch the sun set and day slip to twilight, may our hearts express gratitude for who You are. May we live our life as an "Amen" to Your glory and majesty. Amen.