Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, May 31st, 2023.

 

From:

The News Desk

 

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

May 31, 2023

  

 

Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!


INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

·         REMINDERS

·         TIME FOR TEA

·         FAITH CIRCLE

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         SAM PIPER’S GRADUATION PARTY

·         THANK YOU FROM HUTCHESONS

·         LOCAL HAPPENINGS

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

 

Dear Church,

Summer is here! Longer days, warmer weather, and brighter sunshine are just a few things we can look forward to. Are you planting a garden? Going on vacation? Celebrating a graduation? Planning extra time with family? Whatever season life finds you in right now, we pray that God meets you where you are at. We ask that He fills you with hope and helps you balance your responsibilities with rest. Welcome to this week’s Narthex News – Weekly Edition. Read on to find out what’s going on with FPC this week and in the near future.

 

Reminders:

Liturgists! We have liturgists for June (Ralph Willard) and July (Bess Wilkes). Thank you! We need a liturgist for August. Please contact the office and let Gretel know of your interest/intentions:

gretel@lebanonfpc.org or (765)482-5959 or leave a note on her desk on Sunday.

 This coming Sunday! Communion Sunday is this coming Sunday. As was available last month, you will have an option of prepackaged communion cups or the previous method of juice and wafer.

 Live & Learn! Live & Learn this Saturday, June 3rd; unless postponed to encourage attendance to Sam Piper’s graduation party. (Details below)

 There is a new These Days daily devotional available. Copies are on the table in the foyer hallway.

 

Time for Tea in June: Time for Tea will be the third Tuesday in June, the 20th, at 11am in the church library. Have you been reading a book you’d like to share with the group? Who would like to bring treats to share? Please contact Gretel in the office.

 

Faith Circle: Faith Circle will meet on Wednesday, June 14th at 1:30pm in the church library.  Please bring your Bible and your copy of the study book Twelve Women of the Bible. You are welcome and appreciated ! We look forward to seeing you there.  Questions? Contact Phyllis Duff or Gretel.

Celebrations:

Happy birthday to Elizabeth Clem, 6/1, and Marty Willard, 6/3! Happy anniversary to Dr. Phil & Cindy Gibbs, 6/6, and Margi & Al McConnaha, 6/6!

 
May the gift of God’s grace strengthen you,

        The gift of God’s presence comfort you,

       And the gift of God’s love refresh you.

Sam Piper’s Graduation Party:


The Pipers would like to invite you to celebrate the graduation of Samuel Isaiah Piper on Saturday, June 3rd, from 2-5pm at their home (504 East Superior Street). If you have any questions, please reach out to either Gretel in the office or Leanne Piper. Come celebrate Sam’s accomplishments!

Thank you from Hutchesons:

"Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate Oliver last weekend - we appreciate the love and support everyone has shown him through these 18 years and now as he begins his adventure as a Purdue college student." ~ The Hutchesons

Local Happenings:


Have you wondered what is going on this summer in the area? Do you have children at home? Grandchildren visiting? If you know of events happening which you aren’t sure others know about, please contact Gretel in the office and she will put it in the next weekly edition of Narthex News. Here are a few things that may interest you:

  •        The Lebanon Parks Department  has opened pickleball courts. They are located at both Lebanon Memorial Park as well as Abner Longely Park. If you are interested in playing on a pickleball league or in a tournament, you may want to keep checking their website as they are looking into getting that up and running soon.  (https://in-lebanonparks.civicplus.com/194/Pickleball)
  •       June 16th at the Seashore Waterpark there will be a Mother-Son Pool Party! This will be a camp-themed party with games, dinner and swimming. Cost is $20 per couple and $5 for each additional child. You can register at their website.  (https://in-lebanonparks.civiplus.com/213/Mother-Son-Pool-Party)
  •      Swim Lessons: There are swim lesson opportunities at a couple of different places in town. Seashore Waterpark offers lessons for multiple age groups. They usually run for 2 weeks in June and July. The Witham YMCA also offers swimming lessons. They also offer swim teams, and water fitness.  Head to their website (https://indymca.org to learn more.  The Y offers many other programs besides aquatics, so check out this great local resource.
  •       Boone County Senior Services offers a variety of activities from art classes to book clubs to a Coffee Connection group. Check out their website for fun things happening in June (https://www.booneseniors.org/resources/calendar-of-events/)
  •       If you want to go a little farther a-field, Conner Prairie in Fishers, IN, and The Children’s Museum in downtown Indy both have great things going on.

-           The Children’s Museum is home to Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, “an interactive athletics wonderland”.   Part of the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is a racetrack, an Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack Experience. There is a Dinosaur Train Traveling Exhibit open until July 30th.  June 3rd there is a Juneteenth Jamboree (Included with free museum admission but advance tickets are required.)  Museum by Moonlight will be held August 26th, 7pm-Midnight. This is an event for adults 21 years and older. This fund raiser event is an elegant evening with a 1920s theme supporting the museums’ nearly 100 year legacy.

-         Conner Prairie, in Fishers, IN, has much to offer. From hot air balloon rides, to History On Tap, to summer camps, to Symphony on the Prairie, to their several different historically themed villages, there is something for everyone. Visit their website, then plan a visit in person. If you’ve not been yet, you’ve a fascinating experience ahead of you! (https://www.connerprairie.org)

Weekly Devotional:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1a

            Who is your judge, jury, and executioner? “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

            Are there things you’ve done which you wish you hadn’t? Are there things that have been done to you which you wish were not a part of your story? “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”
            Are you your own worst critic? Have you heard the words that “Christ is for you” but you find yourself arguing with God, presenting your claims that you do not deserve His company, His forgiveness, or His transformation? “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”
            Are you now, or have you ever been, in a chapter of your life which could be titled: “Why?” A time in which you repeatedly ask God, “Why?!” You are not alone. Even Jesus, as He suffered on the cross during His darkest hour, cried out to His Heavenly Father: “’Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ Which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Mark 15:34) The Son was separated from the Father as He carried our sins and bore our punishment upon the cross. The Son went through that darkest hour so we would not have to. The Son willingly subjected Himself to suffering and separation so we could be united with the Father in reconciliation and experience the redemption of our souls. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

            What more can we say?

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? . . . Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:31-37

Prayer Room:

Here at FPC, prayer is important to us. Are you interested in joining the prayer chain? Would you like to learn more about the role of prayer in our lives? Please contact Phyllis Duff, Prayer Coordinator, at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net


Dear Heavenly Father, I am choosing to stand in awe of You, to recognize that there is nowhere I can flee from Your presence. You are everywhere. “Even if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Ps.139:9,10) You do not forsake us. Hold us, Lord. Lead us, Lord. We  praise You , Lord, for Your wonderful works. Amen.

 

 

 

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