Midweek: Wednesday, April 26th, 2023.
Midweek 4-26-23
In This Issue:
- Music Notes
- Live and Learn
- Reminders &
Celebrations
- Time for Tea
- Faith Circle
- Adult Sunday School
- A Sweet Way to Support
PPM
- Neighborly Invite
- PPM Update
- What treasures does God have in store for you?
“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12
If you are a lady participating in our congregation, you are cordially invited to attend a meeting and see whether it may interest you. Our study this year is coming from Twelve Women of the Bible, by several authors. You won’t need a book for the first meeting, except bring your Bible. We hope to see you on the 10th, or for more information, just give me a call: Phyllis Duff, 765-482-1485.
Adult Sunday School: Continuing with Meeting Jesus at the Table: 9am-10:15am, Church Library. This study will be finished April 30th.
A Sweet Way to Support PPM: PPM is doing a delicious fundraiser with ‘Nothing Bundt Cakes’! Individually sized, made locally, variety of lip-smacking-good flavors, each little bundt cake is just $6. The funds raised will go towards purchasing new books for the classrooms. It’s a win-win for everyone: funds are raised for PPM, kids get new books, and you get yummy dessert treats! There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the church office. Or you can share your order with Gretel over email. Please add your name, phone number, which cakes you would like and how many of each. Checks should be written out to Presbyterian Preschool Ministry with a memo that it is for the Bundt Cake Fundraiser. Cash is fine, too. (Exact change please.) DEADLINE: APRIL 27TH! These yummies will come in on May 10th.
Options are: Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Lemon, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry, Carrot, Confetti, Classic Vanilla, Strawberries and Cream, Snickerdoodle, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie
Neighborly Invite: Shalom House is having a 20th Anniversary celebration: April 30, 2023: 3-4:30pm. At Lebanon Christian Church, on 610 W 250 N, here in Lebanon. If you are interested, please RSVP to shalomhousedirector@gmail.com. There will be light refreshments and the chance to hear all about what Shalom House is doing, while also celebrating their 20th year of feeding and encouraging the Boone County community.
Bundt Cake fundraiser ends this week!
Great Mother’s Day treats!
Every year we purchase brand-new Bibles
for our new students. This year we will be giving out 45 bibles. That is 1/2 of
our current enrollment for this school year. Blessings to you
all, Lori Rowe.
What treasures does God have in store for you? Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The above verse from
Jeremiah is a well-known verse for graduations and other celebratory milestones.
But the image I associate with it today is not a graduate walking across a
stage to receive their diploma, a group of graduates throwing their caps in the
air, a newlywed couple holding hands and looking lovingly into each other’s
eyes, or a family table laid out with birthday balloons, presents and birthday
cake. The image I have in my mind today of God’s plans for a hope filled future
is a certain red box filled to the brim with beautiful, child-sized, hand-sewn
garments in colorful hues and patterns. What am I thinking of? How do I make
this connection? I’m glad you asked!
Earlier this week, I had
the privilege of laying out each precious garment I referred to above. They are
currently stored in a large box, covered in red paper and labeled for our missions’
project to Little Dresses for Africa. As I unfolded items, smoothed out
wrinkles, and separated clothing according to kind, I admired the sweet
handiwork, the bright and cheerful colors, the fun patterns. I considered the
time and sacrifice lovingly put into each piece, each stich. Like any art,
sewing comes with its own challenges and obstacles to overcome amidst the
creative process. The artists behind these creations persevered through
whatever difficulties and frustrations they encountered for the sake of the
goal at the end. They had their eyes on the prize. What prize is that? The joy
of children. Wonder, amazement, and gratitude on the faces of sweet young ones
whom these artists may never meet. Thank you’s these artists may never hear.
But the joy laid before these blessed givers is worth the effort in preparing
this gift.
I see God in so many
aspects of this project. Hebrews chapter 12 tells us that “Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.” (Heb 12:2) Jesus willingly endured an excruciating ordeal because of the
joy set before Him. What was that joy? It was us, the reason behind the cross,
the reason behind the struggle and sacrifice, was you and me. “For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) How loved are you?
So loved that God sent His Son to endure the cross for you, and that Son
willingly endured that cross because He shares the same love for you that His
Father does. How treasured are you? So treasured that Jesus left Heaven to
endure the cross to bring you the offer of eternity. This offer goes way beyond
being “the offer of a lifetime”, it’s the offer of eternity.
There are so many
challenges in this life! Sorrow, hardship, loss, disease, trauma, abuse, separation,
divorce, crime, war, starvation, poverty, isolation, pain . . . the list could
go on and on. You may be a ‘cup half-full’ kind of person and are able to
almost always look on the bright side of things. You may be someone who
naturally looks for the silver lining in those storm clouds. But at some point
everyone has to acknowledge the tough stuff that comes with this life. Parc and
parcel with the joys, celebrations, victories, beauties, and moments of light
and laughter, are the unspeakable difficulties that drive us to our knees.
What, as believers in and followers of the Savior Jesus Christ, sets us apart?
We have a hope that drives us forward. While the creators of these precious
little dresses and britches enjoyed the process, they also looked ahead to a
joy and a hope greater than the present moment. So too do we as disciples of
Christ set our eyes on things ahead. The sewers do not know what child will
wear the garment being pieced out and sewn together, but God does, and that is
enough. In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul commends us: “Forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13b, 14)
There is yet another
application I see in this red box of clothing, and that brings me to the treasures
I alluded to at the start of this piece and the verse from Jeremiah. The
children to whom these clothes are going have no idea what is yet to come. Do
they lack good clothes at this moment? Are their present garments faded and
worn? Are there parents dressing their children each morning and feeling
concerned at what they can or cannot provide for their children? Do they worry?
Do they fear? Do they pray for provision? Do they trust their Heavenly Father
to provide? Do they know their Heavenly Father loves them and their children? I
don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know there is a red box of
clothing sitting in the church library of First Presbyterian Church and it is
full of dresses, pants, skirts and britches. I know there are ladies taking
time in their homes out of their busy schedules to dream, plan, sew and
deliver. I know there is at least one young woman in the community who, through
this missions’ project, has been introduced to the opportunity to give and to use
her own interests to reach out to others. In short, I know of a red box full of
hope that will be delivered to specific children in a specific place at a specific
time because our God knows exactly who needs the clothing and when and why. I
also know that God has worked like this in my life, and I would guess He has
done so in yours’ as well: You had troubles; you had difficulties. You did not
know where the provision would come from. Maybe you were certain it would not
come. You persevered through. You
struggled through. Maybe your heart was anxious and afraid. But the whole time,
your Heavenly Father knew of His plans for a future and a hope FOR YOU. He knew
what you needed before you asked for it. He began preparing to meet your need
before it was even a need. It is as if there is a red box in heaven with your
name on it. He is collecting items made specifically for you. At the right
time, He will deliver it. What treasures are yet to come your way, to come my
way, are unknown. What is known is that they come from a God who IS LOVE. (1John
4:8) And that God says to you: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you . .
. thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer.
29:11) Hallelujah!
Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.
The
following prayer includes lyrics from the worship song “Step by Step” by David
Strasser.
Dear
Heavenly Father, I praise You and I thank You for walking with us each step of
our journey. I praise You and I thank You for keeping us near You along that
sometimes difficult and strenuous way. I ask that You remind us that it is You
who sets the pace and You simply ask us to follow You. May our hearts lift up
the following prayer in praise, thanksgiving and supplication to You:
“Oh
God, You are my God and I will ever praise You.
I
will seek You in the morning and I will learn to walk in Your ways
And
step by step You’ll lead me and I will follow You all of my days.
Oh
God, You are my God and I will ever praise You.
I
will seek You in the morning and I will learn to walk in Your ways
And
step by step You’ll lead me and I will follow You all of my days.” Lord, hear
our prayer. Amen.
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