Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, August 9th, 2023.

From:

The News Desk

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

August 9^th, 2023

Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!

 

Hello Friends! “Friends” is the term the Preschool Teachers use when addressing their students. It is such a cheerful, kind, and loving way to refer to the children. Friends, just as each child is dear to the preschool, we want you to know that each one of you are dear to us. We appreciate you and enjoy you! Today’s newsletter will include the following:

·         REMINDERS & MUSIC NOTES

·         SATURDAY AUGUST 19^TH STREET CLOSURES

·         ANNUAL MEETING

·         COMMUNAL LUNCH

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         TIME FOR TEA & GOURMET SEEKERS

·         PPM UPDATE

·         NO TRICYCLE EVENT

·         FALL GREAT BANQUET

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

Reminders:

Liturgists! Liturgist for August is Echo Nunley. Elder of the month for August is Mary Frances Meyer.

Live & Learn! Live & Learn is starting up again this month. Come with a Bible and an interest to learn. Meet at 11:30 Saturday morning in the church library. Lunch is part and parcel with this deal – a fun time together – consider coming and joining in the fellowship. Great time to spend with your church family and wonderful time in God’s Word. Enrich your spiritual life with Bible study and enrich your relational life with time with friends. Come Saturdays!

Live for Life Sunday this week!  Please be prepared to share with Live for Life this week. A box will be in the lobby for your convenience for sharing physical items. You may also contribute monetarily. Remember to write on your check a memo that it is for LIFE Sunday or Live for Life. Thank you.

Fellowship Treats! Greeters!

There is a new Fellowship Treats Sheet and a new Greeter Sheet. There is a copy of each on clipboards on a table in the narthex of the sanctuary. We thank you ahead of time for being willing to share yourself, your time and your resources with this body of believers. There is a calendar for the year posted near each sign-up sheet. You can check the calendar to see what day works for you and add that date when you sign your name. If you are signing up to bring a treat, there is an optional slot to add what treat you plan to bring, but you don’t have to fill that out if you wish to surprise everyone with your delicious creation. There are brief instructional helps on the Greeter sign-up sheet, just in case the “I don’t know what to do” question kept you from signing up. During the week, the sign-up sheets will be hanging on the bulletin board in the hallway. Thank you to you all. I’m looking forward to seeing full sheets! Would be a happy chore to make more!

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 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)

Only a couple more Sundays in August to share your talents! Contact Lisa today!

 

Saturday August 19^th Street Closures: Be aware that there will be street closures in the downtown Lebanon area Saturday, August 19^th, for Augtoberfest. Several streets will be blocked off. Please plan extra time in your travels if you foresee this affecting your activities.

Annual Meeting: There is an annual meeting for the congregation after the service on August 13^th. Please plan to attend. Your presence is anticipated and appreciated.

Communal Lunch: Lunch in the fellowship hall after the Sunday morning worship service and meeting! The main dish will be provided (fried chicken). Please bring sides and desserts to add to the meal. We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrations: Happy Anniversary to Stephen and Cheryl Gates, 8/12!

Happy Birthday to George Morton, 8/13, and Margi McConnaha, 8/16!

Happy, happy, happy, happy celebrations to you!

May God bless and encourage you in all that you do!

Time for Tea: Ladies, Time for Tea will meet again in the Church Library on August 15^th at 11:30am. Interested? Planning on coming? Have a question about it? Email Gretel in the office.

Gourmet Seekers August 25! Gretel is putting out a personal plug for the next Gourmet Seekers destination pick: Heidelburg Restaurant. It’s on Pendleton Pike in Indianapolis. It serves authentic German food and it is delicious. Every summer growing up, Gretel’s family would come to Indianapolis to visit her mother’s parents. Every trip included several favorite stops, one of which was this Heidelburg Café & Bakery. Gretel’s grandmother grew up in a German speaking home in a German part of Lawrence, Massachusetts. So when the family visited the Heidelburg restaurant, Gretel’s grandmother would sit at the counter for a bit with the “regulars” so she could speak German with them. Gretel has fond memories of this place. It may be a bit farther away than the more recent destinations in Whitestown, but it is worth the haul! Please come along and join the fun!

PPM Update: PPM is back in full swing and things are going great! The year started off well with happy children and of course our wonderful, creative, innovative and motivated teachers.

Please keep the teachers and staff in your prayers, as they have a very full house this year!

No Tricycle Event:  Though just mentioned, here is another reminder that the tricycle event that was scheduled for August has been canceled.

Fall Great Banquet: The Zionsville Fall Great Banquets are just around the corner!  The Women's Banquet is September 21 - 24, and the Men's Banquet is September 28 - October 1.  The Banquets are held at Zionsville Presbyterian Church.  Come enjoy food, fellowship, and the love and grace of Jesus Christ for 72 hours.  Complete the Guest Application at zionsvillegb.org.  There is room at His table, and you are invited!

 

Weekly Devotional: Lessons from the Word

     How does the Lord use scripture in your life? How do you interact with the Word of God? When my children were growing up, I created different ways for them to memorize scripture. One of the things we did was memorize longer portions as a group and then they would share it at church. Psalm 27 is one scripture passage they did together.

     All throughout the presentation, they used choreographed movements to act out what the verses stated. For example, there is a verse which reads, “He shall set me high upon a rock.” (v.5c) The following verse reads, “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. . .” (v.6a) When they came to verse 5, one of them stood up on a stool, to illustrate being high upon a rock. The other one stood down below them, so as to illustrate the next verse, being above their enemies.

     I remember practicing this bit at home. We had a pink, square, fake-leather stool which they stood on. On and off, on and off of that stool they went. Up and down, up and down. Just about every time I read this verse, I can see that pink stool and my children stepping up onto it. I can remember that God gives me a place of refuge and He sets me up on it. Life may have a lot of on and off, up and down. But God’s Word is true: He is our Light and Salvation, the Strength of our life. (v.1) The Lord is our refuge.

     The last verse of the psalm has four lines. As I recall, in the presentation each of my children said one line and then they all said the last one together. I have watched the Lord work in the lives of my children. I have witnessed them wait on the Lord. I have also heard their praise when they saw Him work after that waiting period. I have seen Him strengthen their hearts. I have seen Him as their Light and Salvation. I still hear the Lord telling me today, “Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps.27:14) I remember my children up at the front of that little country church, presenting Psalm 27 to the church, but better than that, I can see it lived out in their lives today.

  

   How about you? Can you hear the Lord saying to you: “Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Can you see Him setting you up on that rock, high above your enemies? How does the Lord use scripture in your life?  

 

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 based on Psalm 27.                    

Dear Heavenly Father, Teach us Your way, O Lord, and lead us in a smooth path. We trust that when we are forsaken, You will take care of us. Set us high upon Your Rock, O Lord.

Hear us, O Lord, when we cry out to You. We are confident that when You said, “Seek My Face,” we did. We know You have been our help, our light, our salvation, and the strength of our life. We know that we would have lost heart if we had not believed that we would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Help us continue to believe, to trust, and to wait on You. Strengthen our hearts, dear Lord. We sing praises to You, O Lord. Amen.