Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

 

 

NARTHEX NEWS

WEEKLY EDITION

January 31, 2024

 

FROM THE NEWS DESK

OF

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

LEBANON, INDIANA


128 E. Main St. ~ Lebanon, IN 46052~ (765)482-5959

https://www.lebanonfpc.org ~ office@lebanonfpc.org

 

In the midweek newsletter this week:

~ Reminders

~ Quarterly Communal Luncheon

~ Celebrations

~ She Moved!

~ Fabulous Feb. 14 Fun!

~ Lent Soup Supper & Service Series

~ Time for Tea in February

~ PPM Update

~ Weekly Devotional & Prayer Room

 

 

Reminders:

Live & Learn: Live & Learn will resume Saturday the 13th, meeting at 11:30 in the church library, lunch included.

Communion Sunday is this Sunday.

Quarterly Communal Luncheon is Sunday, Feb. 11th. The main course will be a delicious poppy-seed chicken casserole. Will you please bring sides and desserts? No need to sign up – just bring yourself and your dish to share. We hope you can come!

Celebrations: Happy celebrations to a really great crew. We love each one of you. We hope your year is exciting and new, and that you remember God loves you!

Happy birthday to Cindy Walters, 2/7!

She moved! Mildred Flanary has moved to Crown Pointe. If you would like to visit or drop her a line, the following is her address:

Crown Pointe
610 Crown Pointe Dr. #103
                Lebanon, IN 46052

Fabulous Feb. 14 Fun! Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, Feb. 14 this year. You are invited to the following activities:

Shrove Pancake Dinner, 5:30pm @ CCC – We Need Volunteers to help flip pancakes! Please contact the office if you can help.
Ash Wednesday service will follow, 7pm @ CCC.  Lent also begins on Feb. 14.


Lebanon Community Lenten Soup Supper & Service Series: Beginning Feb. 21 there will be a soup supper and service in the community every Wednesday. Supper will begin at 6, service at 7, the location changes weekly. The following is the schedule:

Wed. Feb. 21: St. Joseph Catholic Church
Wed. Feb. 28: Trinity Lutheran Church
Wed. March 6: FPC. We need volunteers to bring soup! Please contact the office if you can help!
Wed. March 13: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
No service on March 20.

 

Time for Tea in February: Time for Tea will resume in February on Tuesday morning the 20th at 11:30. Ladies, you can put it on your calendar to enjoy a cup of tea (or coffee! Or hot chocolate!) and some sweet fellowship every third Tuesday of the month at 11:30 in the Church Library. Please bring your own sack lunch. We look forward to seeing you there!

PPM Update:  PPM will be hosting the Reuse Heart & Sole Shoe Collection again this year, Feb. 1-20. Please bring shoes to the church lobby and leave in the labeled collection bag. Thank you for contributing and helping meet this need in the community. See the poster below for more information.



Weekly Devotional: 

Are you going through a difficult time? Do you have moments of stress or anxiety and need a quick calm-down routine? You might try the following. It’s as easy as A B C:

Abide

Be still

Come

To elaborate:

Abide in me and I in you, as apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth. Ps 46:10

Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mt. 11:28-30.

In John chapter 15 Jesus talks about the close relationship the branches have with the vine. He is using the illustration of a vineyard. In order for the branches to have life, they must be attached to the vine, be abiding in the vine. Are you abiding in the Vine, Jesus Christ?

Our world can be a tumult of activity, emotions, and problems. Being still can be awkward, challenging, and intimidating. Taking a moment to stop, be still, and breathe, can help us refocus our minds and hearts. While we take in a deep breath we can say to ourselves: “Be still and know that I am God.” When we let out that breath, we can say, “He will be exalted . . .” This simple reminder can help to settle us when circumstances and conditions are unsettling.  

Jesus invites us to give Him our burden. Sometimes we have difficult jobs to do, but even then He does not give us a task and walk away. He wants to help us fulfill our responsibilities and share our gifts. He who created the world and endured the cross is able to bear our burden. Will you give it to Him today?

A B C:  Abide.  Be still. Come to Him.

I hope you know the abiding love of Jesus. I hope you find rest for your souls, your hearts and your minds. I hope you come to Him and leave your burdens with Him. 

Much love to each of you. Gretel

Prayer Room:

Prayer is important to the body of First Presbyterian Church. 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, Such love for You is more than our hearts can hold. It overflows into worship of You, thanksgiving for all You do for us, and praise for who You are. Thank You for being the Vine that we can abide in. You deserve all praise and exaltation. Blessed is the rest we find in You. Please bring Your rest to these sweet souls today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

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