Midweek: Wednesday, March 20th, 2024

Midweek on Wed., Mar. 20th, 2024

First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon 


Gretel Is at Titus Bakery

Gretel Magnuson, our former church secretary, has now taken on a full-time role as the Afternoon Manager at Titus Bakery on South Street. We wish her blessings and good health in her new endeavour. With Pastor Je assuming responsibility for the Midweek and Newsletter tasks, please be prepared for the occasional typo, unconventional English expressions, and British spellings. In the spirit of Lent, we invite you to extend forgiveness for these errors, embodying the love of our Saviour.

Palm Sunday Is Coming

This coming Sunday marks Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, when we commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem amidst shouts of “Hosanna” and the waving of palm branches. Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week, the culmination of Lent. Some may question whether Palm Sunday falls within Lent. Indeed, it does. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Easter itself is not part of Lent; rather, it signifies the commencement of the Easter season.

Soup & Supper Tonight

The final Lenten Community Wednesday Soup & Supper is taking place tonight at Central Christian Church. Although it was not initially on the schedule, Central Christian Church graciously offered to host last Wednesday. Supper will be served at 6 PM in their basement fellowship hall, followed by the service at 7 PM in the upstairs sanctuary.

Holy Week Schedule

The crucifixion and resurrection are the two foundational pillars of Christianity, with the crucifixion occurring during Holy Week. To guide you in walking with Christ through this significant period, the Worship Team has thoughtfully organised several events:

  • Palm Sunday Morning Worship Service at 10:30 AM on Sunday, March 24th.

  • Maundy Thursday Dinner at 6 PM in the fellowship hall on Thursday, March 28th. This dinner commemorates the Last Supper of our Saviour with His disciples. The focus is not merely on the meal but on experiencing Communion as a unique form of worship service.

  • Good Friday Service at 7 PM in the sanctuary on Friday, March 29th. This solemn worship service pays tribute to the death and sacrifice of our Saviour.

  • Easter Sunday Son-Rise Service at 7:30 AM in the church courtyard on Sunday, March 31st. This service is a simple act of worship featuring Scriptures and hymns, without a sermon. It will be followed by breakfast and fellowship until the regular service begins.

  • Easter Sunday Morning Service at 10:30 AM in the sanctuary on Sunday, March 31st. Join us in celebration of the resurrection of our Saviour!

Worship Team Meets 5:30PM Friday

Our regular worship team meeting typically takes place on the last Friday of each month at 5:30 PM. However, in honour of Good Friday and to observe this solemn day appropriately, we have adjusted the schedule. The worship team meeting will now be held this coming Friday, March 22nd, at 5:30 PM in the church library.

The worship team meeting is to discuss ways to enhance our worship services. So please come and share your suggestions and ideas. We are planning on serving pizzas, but it could be something else delightful!

If you’re passionate about worship and want to contribute to creating meaningful experiences, please join us. Your input matters!

Gourmet Seekers

Join us for our monthly Gourmet Seekers gathering this Friday! Due to a scheduling adjustment (similar to the worship team meeting), we’ll be meeting one week earlier than usual.

Date: Friday, March 22nd.

Location: Moontown in Whitestown (345 S Bowers Street, Whitestown, IN)

To get there, you have two options: Directly to the Restaurant to arrive at Moontown at noon. Carpool from Church (Meet at the church at 11:30 AM for carpooling)

Important Note: If you plan to attend the Gourmet Seekers gathering, please inform Pastor Je. This will help us provide an accurate headcount to the restaurant and possibly reserve a table or two. Let’s enjoy good food, great company, and delightful conversations!

Saturday Bible to Resume

Due to the illness of some Saturday Bible Study attendees, as well as the observance of Holy Week and Pastor Je’s Study Leave, our regular Saturday Bible Study will be on hiatus. However, we have exciting plans for our next gathering!

Date/Time: Saturday, April 13th, 11:30 AM

Agenda:

  1. Movie Screening: We had previously planned to watch ‘The Mission,’ and now we have the opportunity to do so. Join us for this thought-provoking film.

  2. Discussion: Following the movie, we’ll engage in a discussion. Feel free to share your insights and reflections.

  3. Next Book Selection: Let’s decide together on the next book we’ll study as a group.

We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions or need further details, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Pack a Baby Pack

We are excited to announce that we will be delivering baby packs to expecting mothers in Malawi. These packs contain essential hygienic supplies, which are crucial for clean and healthy baby deliveries. Unfortunately, due to the lack of these items, many newborn babies and mothers face serious risks.

Date: Saturday, April 27th

How You Can Help: Until the packing event, you have two ways to contribute: Donating Necessary Items or Financial Gifts. You write “Baby Pack” on the memo line of your cheque.

The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. Please sign up by Saturday, April 20th.

If you have any questions about this initiative, feel free to contact Debbie Crouse, the chair of the Mission & Outreach committee. Let’s come together to make a difference for these mothers and their precious babies!"

Caring Sunday

This Sunday is Caring Sunday, a day dedicated to donating food items for our hungry neighbours and other items that, although we may not need them, could be treasures to others. If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Caring Centre, please write “Caring Centre” on the memo line of your cheque.

Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting is swiftly approaching and is scheduled for the second Sunday in April, the 14th. Following the worship service, we will hold the annual meeting in the fellowship hall during our Communal Quarterly Luncheon. This crucial Presbyterian gathering offers an overview of our church’s activities over the past twelve months through reports from the committees and clusters. Additionally, it provides a glimpse into our plans for the upcoming year, including the budget for the next fiscal year.

Eclipse Day Advice

The total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th, is expected to bring a significant influx of people to Lebanon, with many passing through. Traffic conditions will be extremely challenging, compounded by numerous road closures downtown. For a more enjoyable and safe experience, we recommend watching this awe-inspiring cosmic event from the comfort of your own backyard rather than venturing into the downtown area. Stay safe and enjoy the spectacle!

Prayers Needed

Arlene Quinn is still at Withan, recovering from pneumonia and COVID (not 19 but older version).

Doris Hayden is at home, recovering from her bad fall two weeks ago.

Gretel Magnuson, former church secretary for her new work.

Carmen’s daughter Sara in Colorado.

Dick Self is at Homewood, recovering from the blood clots and shingles.

Sharon Clem is at the Waters for rehabilitation.

We have four members at the Crown Pointe in Lebanon: Mildred Flanary, Marylynn Boatright, Ginny Hussong, and Mary Beth Pauley. Please keep them in your prayers, and you may want to send a card or write to them.

We have other home-bound members such as Leanna Woody, Marty Willard, Nancy & Jerry Jones, Steve MacPherson, and on. Please keep them also in your daily prayers.

Beware Children

Lebanon Schools will be closed this coming Friday, March 22nd, although our PPM will remain open. With the schools closed, anticipate seeing more children out and about on the roads, in the parks, and in various public spaces. Even the public library is expected to be less quiet than usual on that day.

Bud Hunter to Play Organ

Our beloved former organist, Bud Hunter, will grace us with his presence and play the organ at the Easter Sunday morning worship service. Please join us to appreciate his music as we glorify our God and Saviour in the joy of the resurrection.

Wanna Be a Visit Team?

Pastor Je has been making occasional visits to our home-bound members. Now, he aims to visit each of them at least once a month, a goal that requires visiting several people each week. In addition to offering companionship, Pastor Je wishes to bring Communion to these individuals, and for this, he needs your support. Would you like to join him as a visiting partner? Jesus promised, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Together, you and Pastor Je can bring the presence of Christ to our saints at home or in facilities. The visiting schedule can be flexible, adjusting week by week. If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet located on the bulletin board outside the church office.

Prayer Request?

If you have a prayer request, please reach out to Phyllis Duff at raduff2@att.net. She will ensure that your request is shared with the saints of our church. James, the brother of our Lord, reminds us in his letter that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). Let us join together in prayer for our members, families, and neighbours in the name of our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Je’s Weekly Off Day

Pastor Je typically takes his day off on Tuesdays each week. However, this can change based on other commitments during the week. For instance, when the session meets on a Tuesday once a month, Pastor Je will take a different day off that week. If you wish to schedule a meeting with Pastor Je, please make sure to contact him or the church office in advance to confirm his availability.

Contact the Church


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Original Sin

Image
OT Lesson: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (NLT) Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb any more in Israel. For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.” “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you? When righteous people turn from their righteous behaviour and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. And
Read more

Two Leaders

Image
OT Lesson: Exodus 32:1-14 (CEB) The people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain. They gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come on! Make us gods who can lead us. As for this man Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t have a clue what has happened to him.” Aaron said to them, “All right, take out the gold rings from the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took out the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He collected them and tied them up in a cloth. Then he made a metal image of a bull calf, and the people declared, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. Then Aaron announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” They got up early the next day and offered up entirely burned offerings and brought well-being sacrifices. The people sat down to eat and drin
Read more

Why Keep Sabbath? Week Two: Because Worrying is Overrated (Sunday, July 9th, 2017)

Bible Reference(s): Matthew 6:25-31 Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn On this second week of the sermon series, Why Keep Sabbath, I'm wondering what does Sabbath-keeping mean to you?  For those over 40, it probably equates to a list of do's and don'ts about what is allowed on Sundays.   For most of us, honoring the Sabbath meant that you did go to church on Sunday and you did not go shopping.  During my childhood, we called Sunday, Holy Day, and there was a specific routine we followed.  All the women, all the children, and some of the men, went to church every Sunday.   Interestingly though, not everyone went to the same church. I'm sure there's a good story behind that - all I know is that my mom and grandparents took me to the Baptist church.  On a typical Sunday, we all gathered at my grandparents farm - even the heathen uncles who didn't go to church - for a huge Sunday afternoon meal.  Afterwards, the cousins were allowed to play together outside -- only if rem
Read more