Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

From:

The News Desk

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

July 19^th, 2023

 

Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

·         REMINDERS

·         CARING SUNDAY

·         MUSIC NOTES

·         AUGUST TRICYCLE EVENT

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         BICYCLES TO SHARE?

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

Reminders:

Liturgists! Liturgist for July is Bess Wilkes. Thank you to those who signed up to be liturgists for this year! We do still need a liturgist volunteer for November.

Live & Learn! No Live & Learn for July, since Pastor Je will be out of town.

Treats! Do you like treats?

Do you like to spend time with your friends after service on a Sunday? There is something about a plate of cookies or some other fun, pleasantly arranged selection of tasty treats that lends an air of welcome to a room. There is something about a pot of coffee and an offering of goodies that invites one to stay a while, say hello, lend a smile or an ear and, generally, be a friend.

We recognize that binging a treat to share is a sacrifice of your time, your attentions, and your resources. We also recognize it is a gift. We thank you for sharing that gift – the gift of your time and talents as well as the gift of  yourself.

Would you consider sharing a treat on Sundays, to contribute towards fellowship time? Please let Gretel know in the office if you are interested: gretel@lebanonfpc.org

Bring a treat and give a smile!

Suggestions for treats (if you need inspiration):

July 23^rd: “Kind Cookies”. Or “Terrific Trailmix”. Or “Fabulous Fruit”.

July 30^th: “Merciful Muffins”. Or “Heavenly Chocolate”. Or  “Divine Donuts”.

Caring Sunday! This coming Sunday is Caring Sunday. This is the Sunday each month during which you have the opportunity to share with The Caring Center from right here at the church. If you write a check for a monetary donation, please make it out to the church with a note in the memo line that it is for The Caring Center/Caring Sunday. There will be a box in the lobby area to receive material contributions.

In addition to basic food staples, they are always in need of basic household items which help in setting up housekeeping, such as: small kitchen appliances; pots & pans; dishes, glasses/cups; coffee makers; microwaves; crock pots & electric skillets; vacuums; towels & washcloths. If your contribution(s) do not fit in the box provided, please leave them near the box in the lobby and someone from the church will see that the items are delivered to The Caring Center. If you are unable to bring things this week but would still like to contribute this month, we will be leaving the box in the lobby an extra week for your convenience.

Music Notes: Make A Joyful Noise!

Can you sing, play an instrument, are you dramatic (in a good way)? We need you!  I'm looking for members who would like to sing, play an instrument, or provide monologues or dramatic readings in our July and August services. Please email me or let me know at church if you are one of these people, I know you are out there!

In love and service, Lisa Hutcheson Worship Coordinator (lisahutcheson@yahoo.com)

NOTICE: Only 2 more Sundays to share in July, and August is knocking on the door – contact Lisa today!

August Tricycle Event: There was an event scheduled for August, which involved tricycles and PPM students. This event has been cancelled. However, this does not mean that FPC has cancelled their interest in or support of PPM! Please continue to keep these students and teachers/staff in your prayers. Thank you.

Celebrations:

Happy birthday to Ginny Hussong, 7/24 and Mary  Frances Meyer, 7/25!

Happy anniversary to Gary & Kitty Hill, 7/29!

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

Bicycles to Share?    Do you have any bicycles you are not using and wish to part with? I have learned of a ministry  that could use them. Contact  Gretel in the office for more details.

Weekly Devotional: “Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles and the inhabitants thereof.” Isaiah 42:10

This week I am giving  you the opportunity to spend some extra time on one of the hymns you will be singing on Sunday. The hymn is “O Worship the King, All Glorious  Above!”; text by Robert Grant, 1833, and music by Joseph Martin Kraus, 1784.

 

“O tell of God’s might; O sing of God’s grace,

whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,

whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form;

and bright is God’s path on the wings of the storm.” (verse two)

 

If you were to tell of God’s might in your life, what would you say? If you were to sing of God’s grace in your life, what stories would you have to share? Describing thunderclouds in terms of God’s wrath can paint an intimidating picture of Him. He is a Holy God and a very powerful God. It is right for us to remember this. At the same time, it is a blessing of gentle grace to be reminded of the light He brings after the storm, or even in the midst of a storm. What storms do you have in your life today? Can you see God’s bright path, His help or His refuge perhaps, on the wings of that storm? If not, will you ask Him today to take the wings of your storm and minister to you there?

 

“Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

In You do we trust, nor find You to fail;

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.”  (verse five)

 

Can you relate to the description of “feeble as frail”? This hymn reminds us that, though we are frail and feeble, God is not. In our frailty we can fail. God does not fail. Though we are filled with shortcomings, He does not turn us away. Rather, He welcomes us and is tender and merciful with us. Do you know Him as your Defender and Friend, as well as your Maker and Redeemer? Ecclesiastes tells us that: “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecc.3:20) Genesis tells us that Adam was formed from the dust of the ground. When God breathed into him the breath of life he became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7). We are of humble beginnings. And yet, our Maker chooses to be our Friend as well. He went to great lengths to be our Redeemer. The King and Ancient of Days is with us (Emmanual, God’s Son) and in us (through the gift of His Holy Spirit). Alleluia!

 

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

The  following prayer is based on the fourth and first verses of the hymn “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!”

Dear Heavenly Father,

“Your bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air; it shines in the light; it streams from the hills; it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.”  Thank You for Your bountiful care. I praise You for Your majestic creation and the Might that defines who You are. I am humbled by the reminder of my origins. I am heartened by the testimony that my Maker is also my Friend. I am awed by Your beauty in creation. I “worship the King, all glorious above .  . the Ancient of Days . . . girded with praise.” Amen.