Midweek: Wednesday, April 5th, 2023.

 

Midweek 4-5-23

In This Issue:          

•         Music Notes        
•          Live and Learn
•          Reminders & Celebrations
•          Movie Night!
•         Holy Week Services
•          Connections?
•          LAST CHANCE!!                                                                              
•          Adult Sunday School
•          A Sweet Way to Support PPM
•          PPM Update
•          The One Whom God Delights to Honor

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

Music Notes: Chancel Choir rehearsal this Thursday, 7pm (approximately) – after Maundy Thursday service.

Live and Learn on Saturdays: No Live & Learn, April 8^th.

Reminders: Liturgist for April is Arlene Quinn. No Greeter or Treat-bringer signed up for this weekend. In fact, there are no more greeters or treat bringers signed up after last week. And there are no more liturgist sign-ups after this month. Please, before or after service on Sundays, take time to poke down the hall, look at the lists on the bulletin board, use a pen or pencil from the board, and sign up for a spot on one or all of the lists!

OR: Call Gretel or email her and tell her: “I would like to be liturgist for the month of ______.” Or “I would like to bring a treat on Sunday, the _____.” Or “I would like to be greeter for Sunday, the ____.” This is a group effort folks! That means we need you!

“Congratulations to you! We celebrate with you! Know that we love you, and God loves you too!”  Happy birthday to Carmen Donaldson, 4/7 and Kathy Flanary, 4/8!

Movie Night! There will be a movie shown in the church library on Wednesday, April 5^th, at 5pm. It will be on the life of Jesus.

Holy Week Services: Thursday, April 6^th, is a Maundy Thursday Service, a meal-style, in the fellowship hall at 6pm. There will be a Good Friday service, April 7^th, at 7pm in the sanctuary. Sunday morning will be a worship service at 10:30am (usual time).

Connections? Will the Connections group continue to meet?  Is there a better time besides the second Tuesday of the month? Do you have brilliant idea as to what to do with this group?  Do you want to be in it but don’t want to lead it? April stands open, with no further direction at this time. Contact Gretel!

LAST CHANCE!! “Dignity for Women” Missions Campaign: The spring missions’ campaign, "Dignity for Women", began March 12 with a kick-off of a fun fellowship meal and guest speaker. The “Dignity for Women” program helps keep young women in school. Please help with this very worthwhile cause! The last Sunday we can collect donations is this coming Sunday, the 9^th. We are collecting cotton briefs for women in adult sizes small and medium to send to Malawi. These will be sent in connection with the Little Dresses for Africa ministry. Please put your donations in the blue box in the vestibule.

Adult Sunday School: Meeting Jesus at the Table: 9-10:15; Last day: Sunday, April 9^th.

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.)

Options are:  Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Lemon, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry, Carrot, Confetti, Classic Vanilla, Strawberries and Cream, Snickerdoodle, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

PPM Update: PPM is back in session and gearing up for the rest of the year! We are excited to be playing outside and making fun plans for the courtyard. 

     Miss Mea, our new music teacher, started Monday. She will currently be in the building every Monday through May. Mea has a music therapy degree from The University of Louisville. The children are so excited to start music classes. 

     PPM is excited to announce that we received an Empower to Educate grant for $9,500. This grant will provide staff training for Social/Emotional Development and STEAM training. With this grant we will be able to purchase new items for the classrooms for these areas and create a calm down area for each classroom. We will host a family science night later this year to follow up with the STEAM training.

     This month please pray for our children and families. Currently PPM has 72 families and 81 children enrolled. PPM is continually being blessed by the generosity and support of our families throughout the year. 

     We are looking forward to worshipping with you on April 16th and have been learning a few songs to sing for you. Happy Easter, Lori Rowe. 

The One Whom God Delights to Honor

“So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” (Esther 6:11 NKJV)

      Who is the man whom the king delights to honor? Who does God delight to honor? Who else went through a city on the back of a “beast of burden”? Who was lauded as they rode through a city street?

     Earlier in the book of Esther, Mordecai warned the king of a plot to take his life. (Esther 2:21-23) The conspiring criminals were caught, and the king’s life was saved. At the time this occurred, nothing was done to recognize Mordecai’s good deed. Mordecai did not seek recognition, so he did not mind being passed over, and the matter slipped into obscurity. That is, until a little later in the story (in chapter 6). When King Ahasuerus became aware of what Mordecai did for him, he wanted to do something to distinguish Mordecia for his actions. The way in which Mordecai was honored reminds me of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

      Jesus rode on a young donkey. Mordecai rode on the king's horse. Jesus' disciples' lay their garments over the back of the donkey on which he rode. People in the crowd spread their own garments on the ground. Mordecai was arrayed in a royal robe, with a crown upon his head. As Jesus went through the streets, the crowd shouted out, "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Mt.21:9). At the same time, Jesus disciples "began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." (Lk.19:37,38). When Haman led Mordecai through the streets, he was commanded to shout out, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor." (Esther 6:9b).

      To Jesus are due all honor and praise. He is Lord and Savior. He took the sins of the world upon Himself so that we might receive eternal life. Yet He rode on a donkey, not a royal horse. He was not dressed in royal apparel. People sang out Hosannas to Him that day, but one day shortly thereafter they would cry for His death. 

     The One who saved the world rode a donkey. The one who saved the king rode the king's horse. After their “parade”, they both went back to work. Mordecai went back to the king's gate. (Esther 6:12). Jesus went into the temple. (Lk.19:45). Mordecai didn't ask for the praise and neither did Jesus. Jesus asked for a ride, but He did not ask the crowds to cheer Him on. They did that of their own accord. 

     Perhaps it is appropriate to ask ourselves, what side of honor are we on – seeking to give or seeking to receive? I do not want to seek my own glory, as did Haman. Haman was left to shame and ruin. He knew nothing but an empty heart he spent his whole life trying to fill, to no avail. I want to honor Jesus Christ. I want that desire to be so strong that from now until I draw my last breath I would seek to give God the praise, glory, honor, and worship He deserves. Will I fall short? I will. Does God see my heart, despite my foolish ways? He does.

     I have a Rescuer. He saved me from certain death. Humbly, He entered the city where He would die. Quietly, He listened to a crowd praise and adore Him. A few days later, just as quietly, He would listen as they mocked and taunted Him and demanded His death. My Rescuer received the honor extended to Him by man, knowing that behind an excruciating sacrifice waited an even greater honor from His Heavenly Father.

     Isaiah recorded the honor God was determined to give His Son because of what His Son did: “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. . . . He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 52:13, 53:11, 12 KJV)

     The man whom God delighted to honor was the Son of Man. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is my Savior. Is He yours?

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

Dear Heavenly Father, May those gathered here in prayer seek You first. May the praise in our lives go to You. Lord God. Our thanksgivings fall far short, yet still You have arrayed us in the robe of righteousness, that of Jesus Christ's righteousness. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed be the King! Amen. He is worthy of all our praise.

“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me”; songwriters: Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson

“What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer/ There is no more for Heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom/ My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus/ For my life is wholly bound to His.

Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine”/ Yet not I but through Christ in me.

The night is dark but I am not forsaken/ For by my side the Savior He will stay

I labor on in weakness and rejoicing/ For in my need His power is displayed.

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me/ Through the deepest valley He will lead

Oh, the night has been won and I shall overcome/ Yet not I but through Christ in me . . .

When my race is complete, still my lips will repeat/ Yet not I but through Christ in me.”

 

Easter Eggs in the office! (And perhaps elsewhere!) Come, Receive, and Remember the sweetest name we know (Jesus!)