Midweek on August 14th, 2024

Happy Birthday!

·        Hannah Lee: Monday, August 12th

·        Margi McConnaha: Friday, August 16th

Quarterly Communal Luncheon

Please join us Sunday, August 25th after Sunday service in the Fellowship Hall. The church will provide Kroger fried chicken and drinks. Members may bring a dish to share (appetizer/desserts/main dish).

FPC History Notes

Last week, I, Neal, had commented on the mystery of the 1873 Cornerstone for the church building, wondering if it still exists or if its contents were ever opened.

This week, I make note of another mystery, at least to me. What was the design of the original 1875 church building? It was heavily damaged by a September 1878 tornado, and when rebuilt the following year, it was significantly changed, resulting in essentially the sanctuary portion of our current building more or the same today as in 1879. But what would the 1875 building have been like? It was never actually completed before the tornado knocked it down. The few notes we do have suggest that it was to be a two story structure with the main sanctuary on the upper floor. On Christmas Eve 1874, the partially completed building was opened for a public viewing. They held a supper on the lower floor and a Christmas Bazaar in the unfinished upper sanctuary. The only other clues as to what the original building was to have been like are 1) A note from an 1878 newspaper article stating that the design called for "the front is to be built up after the old style and made higher. The main tower is to be built up thirty feet in height and capped in gothic style, as will also the spire in the northwest corner," 2) A comment in a 1984 "Church History" document written by Al McConnaha that states that the rebuilt structure was "essentially as it is today - without a second floor. Only the small windows near the sanctuary ceiling mark that ambitious project," the "ambitious project" being the original two story design. One other clue is that it took only 5 mainly winter months of reconstruction effort, from later November 1878 when work started until April 27, 1879, when the now first floor sanctuary was sufficiently complete to allow FPC to resume services there, a stunningly short time period given the heavy damage the building supposedly sustained by the tornado and the scale of the redesign.  To me, those cryptic clues add to rather than diminish the mystery of the original design, but it is fun to try to imagine what that original design might have looked like and what it would be like today if that tornado had not happened along.

Check out the church website for more on the history of our church. On the homepage, go to “About Us” on the top menu, and then Church History, or simply type https://www.lebanonfpc.org/about-us/church-history. If you would like to have a printed version of the church history, please contact the church office.

Session Meeting

Session will meet Tuesday, August 20th at 6:30 in the library.

Faith Circle

Meeting today (Wednesday, August 14th) in the library at 1:30pm.

Saturday Bible Study

Will meet in the library Saturday, August 17th at 11:30 am. We are continuing our study of  Hebrews. Coffee and tea will be provided but you need to bring your own lunch.

Gourmet Seekers

The next gathering will be at Klooz Brewz on August 23rd at noon. If you would like to attend but need a ride please let the church office know. RSVP to the church office or pastor Je, so that we can get a reservation.

Want to Add Music to the Service?

Summertime and the livin’ is easy… and music is needed! If you have ever wanted to play an instrument or sing (solo or as a group), now is your chance. The congregation is always appreciative of music so do not be afraid to add to worship with your song! Also, if you have a favorite hymn (even if it is not in our hymnal), please email Lisa Hutcheson (or see her at church) and if it is covered under our music license, and fits into the service, she will do her best to include them. Let us all make a joyful noise to the Lord!

Coming Sunday Hymns

·        475. Come, Thou Fount
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo4JjCprFnE

·        59. The Steadfast Love of the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=057TNYW4_i4

·        435. There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfyZIJUHKpU

·        Prelude: Morning Litany; Smith

·        Postlude: Forward in His Name; Boesiger

Sunday Scriptures and Sermon Title

·        OT Lesson: Joshua 2:1-24 (NLT)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+2&version=NLT

·        NT Lesson: Matthew 5:7 (NRSV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A7&version=NRSVA

·        Sermon Title: Blessed Are the Merciful

Communion Server Sign-up

The Communion is one of the two Sacraments in the Reformed Church, and it signifies the union and unity with Jesus Christ our Saviour. We repeatedly remind ourselves of this truth, so we have monthly Communion on the first Sunday of the month. To serve the Communion, we need pastor Je and four elders. If you are an ordained elder and willing to serve, please put your name on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway across from the church office. Our next Communion will be Sunday, September 1st.

Communion Servers for September:

·       Kendra Whipkey

·       Benjamin Piper

·       Nancy Kincaid

·       Bob Duff

Voice Actor Needed

Don’t you love hearing the dramatized Scripture Readings during the Sunday Worship Services? You can join the bliss of being part of it. If you are willing, let Neal know before the Worship Service on each Sunday. Coming Sunday’s OT reading is from Joshua 2, and we need four voices beside the liturgist. One of them must be a woman’s voice for Rahab.

Wanna Be on the Visit Team?

The sign-up sheet for August is blank. If you want to help pastor Je visit our home-bound members, please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office.

Prayer Request?

If you have a prayer request, please contact Phyllis Duff at raduff2@att.net.

Good News?

Do you have something you wish to share with the church family? Sharing good news will double it. Sharing sad news will halve it. Is your child or grandchild excellent? You can boast about them. Contact pastor Je or the church office if you want your story in the weekly Midweek or monthly Newsletter.

This Week’s Humor




Serving This Week

·        Visiting team: Neal Crouse

·        Liturgist: Susan Giger

·        Elder of the Month: Bruce McConnell

·        Pianist: Lisa Hutcheson

Contact the Church

·        Address: 128 E. Main St., Lebanon, IN 46052

·        Tel: 765-482-5959

·        Website: http://lebanonfpc.org

·        Office: office@LebanonFPC.org

·        Pastor: pastor@LebanonFPC.org

·        Blog: https://pastorje-lebanonfpc.blogspot.com/

·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstpreslebanon

·        YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@firstpresbyterianchurchofl3509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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