Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, September 27th, 2023.

 

From:

The News Desk

 

To: First Presbyterian Church

September 27^th, 2023

Your Weekly Edition of Narthex News is here!

 

·         REMINDERS

·         CELEBRATIONS

·         GOURMET SEEKERS SEPT. 29

·         DOWNTOWN EVENTS & STREET CLOSURES

·         HONORING CAROL McDONALD

·         FALL GREAT BANQUET

·         REACHING INTO HISTORY

·         PPM UPDATE

·         WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

·         PRAYER ROOM

Reminders:

Live & Learn! 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.

Liturgist for October is Arlene Quinn. Elder of the month for October is Sig Myers.

Communion Sunday is Sunday, October 1^st.

Celebrations:

Happy birthday to:

Ben Piper, 10/1;

Pam Dies, 10/6; and

Doris Hayden, 10/7!

Happy anniversary to:

Phyllis & Bob Duff, 10/5!

Gourmet Seekers: September 29^th:

The Gourmet Seekers group is going to “So Italian” in Brownsburg on Friday, September 29^th. Meet at the church for carpooling at 11:30. The group has been having such fun on these outings – come along and join them! Address:  515 Main St. Brownsburg, IN 46112. Expected arrival time if you are meeting the group at the restaurant will be 12:00-12:15.

 

 

Downtown Events and Street Closures:

Coming up in the next couple months, there will be various events happening downtown, some of which will include street closures. The Heart of Lebanon has informed us of these dates and closures and this information will be shared with you for your convenience. Within the next week, there will be:

September 30^th: Lebanon Fall Festival – 12-5pm

From 11-6pm, Closures: Washington St. from Lebanon St to Meridian; Meridian from Washington to Main St.; Main St from Meridian to East Street. Note:  Intersections will remain open

 

 

Honoring Carol McDonald:

Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023

Time: 11:15 am – 1:30 pm

Location: Northminster Presbyterian Church 1660 Kessler Blvd E Dr., Indianapolis, Indiana, 46220

 

 Please respond by Monday, October 16th by using the appropriate link below, or you can reach out to office@northminster-indy.org with any questions or concerns. If you would like to share this invitation with friends of Carol, feel free to do so, and please ask that they R.S.V.P. as well.

If you are unable to attend in person but would like to send a greeting to Carol, please use this link to add your greeting online, and Carol will be able to view it there. R.S.V.P. Here

 

 

Fall Great Banquet:

The Men's Banquet is September 28 - October 1. At Zionsville Presbyterian Church.  Complete the Guest Application at zionsvillegb.org. 

 

Reaching into History: A friend of George Piper, David Rodgers, is working on a book that will be about Boone County World War I Veterans. In his research, he has discovered there were veterans which were members of this Presbyterian church. If you know anything and wish to share it with this gentleman, he would be most appreciative. If you have anything you can share, you may pass that on to Gretel in the office, or to George Piper II. Thank you!

 

PPM Update: What a great end to this month! We hosted our first big family night last Saturday.

165 parents, children(and siblings) had fun going to each classroom and doing a fun science activity. We explored and learned about worms, made sensory bottles, a sink and float activity  (did you know that a pumpkin floats?) And much more. We had pizza and cupcakes and enjoyed the outdoor area as well. 

This was a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to  know one another and for staff to visit with families as well. 

We are excited to plan our next event.

Looking forward to October, we will have a visit with the Firemen, a Police Officer, and some fun field trips!

 

Weekly Devotional- Prayer:

Heavenly Father, 

I lift up to You this prayer, on behalf of the dear people of this church.

There may be some who are looking at the beginning of a new journey in their lives, and that may feel daunting. There may be some who are coming to terms with the end of a journey, and that can feel overwhelming and exhausting. There may be excitement or anticipation. There may be fear or dread. As I consider the different aspects of the journeys we take in life, I am mindful of the instructions You gave to Joshua in the Old Testament. You called him to lead Your people into the Promised Land. They had just finished one journey and were to embark on a new one. Surely there

was a mixture of excitement, anticipation, fear, dread, grief, and wonder as they considered what lay ahead. Joshua himself may have wrestled with all of those emotions and thoughts.

You said to Joshua, “I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage . . . Only be strong and very courageous.” (Joshua 1:6,7a) I pray that You would not leave or forsake these people here, dear Lord. I ask that You strengthen them to be strong and of good courage, that no matter the struggles or adventures that await them, they would be strong and very courageous through the movement of Your hand in their lives and the aid of Your Spirit’s direction.

     You instructed Joshua to remain attentive to Your law, to “not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7b) You further instructed Joshua to meditate in Your Word day and night, that he, and Your people, would “observe to do according to all that is written in it.” (Joshua 1:8a) I ask that You would help the people of this church to be attentive to Your Word. I pray that they remain focused on following You. I pray that You would help them to prosper in the way that they go. I pray that they think on Your Word, that they would take time out of their day, their week, and consider what Your truth has to share with them.

You encouraged Joshua to “not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9b) Lord God, encourage the people of this church that You are with them. Help them as they endeavor to push through their fears and dismay. Reveal to them in the minutia of their lives the many ways that You go before them, beside them, and behind them. Thank You for Your great love for us, Your attentiveness to the needs of Your children, and the mercy and grace You share with us on a daily basis. In praise and thanksgiving I pray, Amen.    

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 is from the hymn “Day of Arising” by Luis Bojos.

“Day of arising, Christ on the roadway, unknown companion walks with his own. When they invite him, as fades the first day, and bread is broken, Christ is made known. When we are walking, doubtful and dreading, blinded by sadness, slowness of heart, yet Christ walks with us, ever awaiting our invitation: Stay, do not part. Lo, I am with you, Jesus has spoken. This is Christ’s  promise, this is Chrit’s sign: when the church gathers, when bread is broken, there Christ is with us, in bread and wine. Christ, our companion, hope for the journey, bread of compassion, open our eyes. Grant us your vision, set all hearts burning that all creation with you may rise.” Amen.