March 2025 Newsletter
God’s Love Is Sweet
On the Sunday before
Valentine’s Day, each worshipper received Valentine’s Chocolate with the love
letter from God. We hope you tasted the sweetness of God’s love. Thank you
Lesley for shopping and preparing these chocolates.
In-Person Worship Cancelled
On Sunday, February 16th,
the in-person worship service was cancelled due to the severe winter weather.
The decision was advised by the session members and made by pastor Je for the
safety of our members. Neal Crouse made the online worship service via YouTube
streaming.
Special Guest Speakers for Luncheons
Matt Wilson from the Boone
County Mentoring Partnership, who was supposed to be our guest speaker, got
sick and could not attend. Lisa Hutcheson stepped in and prepared her
devotional in just less than half a day. Lisa did a fantastic job delivering
her devotion. We will have another opportunity to hear from Matt some other
day.
Nancy Morton Received Award
Nancy Morton was awarded
with ‘Margaret A. Corson Distinguished Senior Award’ by the Boone County Senior
Services at their annual celebration on Wednesday, February 19th.
SouperBowl of Caring
The SouperBowl of Caring
was on Sunday, February 9th. We collected $465 which was donated to the Lebanon
Caring Centre. Thank you all for feeding our hungry neighbors and also for
proving once again that we are awesome Presbyterians.
Gourmet Seekers
On Friday, the Gourmet
Seekers traveled to The Vintage Café in Frankfort for food and fellowship. If
you would like to join us, next month the location will be Cracker Barrel at 6398
Crane Dr. Whitestown, IN 46075, on Friday, March 28th at 12pm. If
you would like to rideshare, please be at the church by 11:30am.
Called Congregational Meeting
On the second Sunday of
March, we will have a called congregational meeting very briefly during the
worship service after the announcements. It is to elect Nancy Turner as a new
elder serving in the session for her first term of 2 years. Since Debbie Crouse
stepped down from the session due to her personal reasons, we needed another
elder in the session. Nancy Turner graciously accepted this role and now we
need to vote.
Per Capita
Per Capita is a financial commitment made by every
Presbyterian in the PC(USA) to support the broader mission and ministry of
God’s church. It helps fund the work of the denomination at all levels,
ensuring we can carry out God’s call effectively.
This year, the Per Capita contribution is $44.66 per
member, which is distributed as follows:
- $30.01 to the
Presbytery of Wabash Valley
- $3.81 to the Synod of
Lincoln Trails
- $10.84 to the Office of General Assembly
To contribute, simply mark your offering envelope or
cheque with “Per Capita.” Your support ensures that we, as a denomination, can
continue to serve God’s mission faithfully and effectively.
Thank you for your
commitment to the ministry of the church and for helping us make a difference
together.
Your
Contributions to FPC
I, Neal Crouse, am the Financial Administrator
for the church and for PPM. This is the first of a series of financial articles
I will be writing for the monthly newsletter. This month, it is on the topic of
your financial contributions.
The first thing I wanted to say was that your
contributions are between you and God. Pastor Je does not know who gives and
how much. The Session members do not know. No one will ever contact you (or
know) if you do not give. No one will give special thanks to you if you give
more than average. It is your business and yours only.
But second, we at FPC thank you very much for
how generous and faithful you have been in giving in the past and we know you
will continue to do so going forward.
Types of Contributions
There are five different types of contributions
that you might consider making to the church:
General Contributions
General Contributions allow FPC, our church, to
pay its bills. FPC and PPM jointly occupy the 128 E Main Street facility.
General Contributions are used to pay for the church’s portion of those
combined expenses. This includes all salaries, utilities, property maintenance
expenses, and all other operating expenses. I will provide more detail next
month on our operating expenses.
Any money that you contribute that has no
designation or is designated as General, Regular, Tithe, etc is considered as
General contributions.
In the current fiscal year that runs from June
of 2024 through May of 2025, our budget had projected that the church’s share
of operating expenses would be $182,000. The church’s 96 members are in 60
families. If, on average, each family were to contribute $3,000 annually or
$250 monthly, then we would be able to meet our expenses from contributions
without needing to deplete our reserves. However, many of these 60 families are
not local, are not active, or are not in a position to be able to contribute
money, so among our actively contributing families, the average to meet our
budget would be closer to $4,500 per year or $375 per month. Some families can
give more than this, and many families will give less, but if the average
giving remains in this range, then we should be able to continue to operate.
Per Capita Contributions
Per Capita is our way of helping support the
different Presbytery organizations, including the local Presbytery of Wabash
Valley and the larger Synod and General Assembly. Per Capita is how they pay
their operating bills.
Once a year, the Presbytery of Wabash Valley
“bills” us for our Per Capita obligation. That bill is calculated by
multiplying the Presbytery’s suggested cost per member by the number of
official members that we have. In 2025, this is $44.66 per member and 96
official members, and the “bill” for 2025 is therefore $4,287.36. We will pay
that full amount in December, and we will ask all members to contribute their
portion of that amount prior to then, typically in the fall. All of the money
so designated and contributed will be used to offset the payment that we make
to the Presbytery. Most years, we receive less in contributions than we send to
the Presbytery, so we have to make up the difference from other funds. Please
be sure to make your Per Capita contributions separately from any other
contributions and mark it as Per Capita.
Pass Through Contributions
If you designate an offering in any of the
following ways, then we simply pass it on to the target organization:
·
The Caring Center
·
Live for Life
·
Souper Bowl Sunday
·
One Great Hour of Sharing
(OGHS)
·
Christmas Joy
·
Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance (PDA) (such as for California Fires or earthquakes or other)
·
Pentecost Offering (60%
goes to the Presbytery, 40% remains with us)
·
Peace & Global Witness
Special Contributions
You can designate an offering to go to a
particular “mission” activity or other specific activity within the church. For
example, people sometimes give to the Malawi project and that money might go
towards purchasing supplies for assembling the kits that we send.
Memorial Contributions
You can make a contribution in the name of
someone who has recently died as a memorial to that person. We place all such
donations into a special fund, to be used as authorized by the Session. Such
money is never used for “operating expenses.”
Ways of Giving
There are several ways you can give, including:
·
By bringing a check or cash
on Sunday and placing it in the offering container at the back of the
sanctuary.
·
By mailing your checks to
the church.
·
By credit card using the
Give Now link on the church’s website.
Please contact me if you have any questions or
concerns about this.
Neal Crouse
Financial Administrator
neal@lebanonfpc.org
224-622-6385
Children’s Worship
Amy Morrison and Janet McConnell began holding the
Children’s Worship on the second and third Sundays of each month since
February. There are no words that can adequately describe how happy I am that
we are having children’s worship services. Thank you, Lord, and of course thank
you Amy and Janet.
Church and PPM Custodian
Ruth Deem used to be the
cleaning person for both PPM and Church, but PPM hired their own cleaning
person beginning Monday, February 24th. The new PPM cleaning person is Rose
Lyons. She used to be a PPM teacher and already knows what needs to be done.
Ruth is now cleaning only the church spaces. Since she works the same hours as
before, but the cleaning area has been reduced a lot (much less than half), we
expect the church to be much cleaner than before. The areas Ruth is responsible
for are:
- Sanctuary
- Lesley’s office and
pastor’s office
- Library
- Lobby and hallway
- Ground floor bathrooms
- Choir loft
- Tower entrance to the
sanctuary
- The closed area
between the organ side sanctuary door and the choir loft door
- Fellowship hall (only
after church events)
One Great Hour of Sharing
During Lent (from Ash
Wednesday through Easter Sunday), we will collect one of the four Special
Offerings of PCUSA–One Great Hour of Sharing. This offering supports efforts to
relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development
through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and
assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. All three
programs work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need.
From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work
fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.
Thermostat Replacements
A few months ago, LMC (the
contractor for church heating and cooling maintenance) found that ten
thermostats were leaking air which makes the heating inefficient. Lesley found
the thermostats at a much cheaper price at Amazon than in the estimates of LMC.
LMC agreed to install them if we buy them, which we did. Ten pneumatic
thermostats were replaced on Monday, February 17th. Also, the PTAC unit by the
stairs between the two front doors was also repaired on the same day.
DST Begins
Daylight Saving Time begins
on Sunday, March 9th. Please turn your clocks one hour forward on Saturday
before you go to bed. Smart devices such as smartphones or tablets do not need
to be adjusted, but we have hundreds of other clocks to work on from car clocks
to oven clocks.
Lent Begins
Lent is a sacred season spanning 40 days, inviting us
into a period of prayer, fasting, and self-examination. It calls us to step
away from the busyness of life and focus on deepening our relationship with
God.
Throughout Lent, we are encouraged to embrace
practices that foster spiritual growth. Whether through fasting, acts of
service, or dedicated prayer, this season offers us a chance to confront our
imperfections, seek forgiveness, and renew our commitment to the teachings of
Christ. This journey of transformation mirrors the path of Jesus as He prepared
for His passion and resurrection.
Lent is not solely a time
for individual reflection; it is also a period where the faith community comes
together to support one another. As we share in our struggles and celebrate our
victories in spiritual growth, we become a living testament to the enduring
power of faith, hope, and love.
Lenten Sermon Series
Our Lenten journey will be
marked with pastor Je’s Lenten Sermon Series with the theme of “Journey to the
Cross: Following the Steps of Jesus” and the weekly topics are:
- The Steps into the
Wilderness
- The Step of Compassion
- The Step of Living
Water
- The Step of Light
- The Step of Surrender
- The Step toward
Victory (Palm Sunday)
- The Step to the
Eternal Life (Easter Sunday)
Two Lenten Devotionals
Besides the sermon series,
the church will provide two Lenten Devotionals. One is the daily audio
devotional which you can watch on YouTube (the daily emails will be sent to you
with the video link and PDF for each day). The other is PCUSA’s 2025 Lenten
Devotional with the topic of “Grieving Change and Loss.” This is a PDF version
which will be emailed to you each week. If you prefer to have a printed copy,
please contact the church office.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season
dedicated to introspection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. As we receive
the mark of ashes on our foreheads, we are reminded of our human frailty and
the call to return to God with a humble and contrite heart.
This solemn day encourages us to pause, reflect on our
lives, and prepare our hearts for the coming season of Lent. The ashes, symbolizing
mortality and penance, serve as a tangible reminder that from dust we came and
to dust we shall return—a call to renew our commitment to living a life of
faith, compassion, and service. This sacred tradition invites us to examine our
inner lives, seek forgiveness, and embrace the opportunity to grow closer to
the divine.
As a congregation, Ash Wednesday unites us in a shared
journey towards spiritual transformation. It is a moment to come together in
prayer, support one another in our struggles, and renew our commitment to
living out the teachings of Christ. Let us use this day to open our hearts to
God’s grace, fostering a spirit of humility, hope, and renewal that will guide
us throughout Lent.
According to our tradition,
we will have the joint Ash Wednesday Service with Central Christian Church.
Pastor Je and Rev. Nathan Kibler will lead the worship together. This year,
pastor Je will preach and Rev. Kibler will preside over the communion. The
location will be at the Central Christian Church on Ash Wednesday, March 5th,
at 7PM.
Lenten Wednesdays Soup & Supper
Many churches in Lebanon have been coming together for
fellowship and spirituality during Lenten Wednesdays in the past years. This
year is no different! Lenten Soup Supper will start Wednesday, March 12th
and end on April 9th. The suppers will start at 6pm, followed by a
worship or prayer service in the respective traditions at 7pm. The schedule and
locations for the suppers is listed below:
March 12th- St. Joseph Catholic Church
March 19th- Trinity Lutheran Church
March 26th- First Presbyterian Church
April 2nd-
TBD
April 9th- TBD
We need volunteers to bring soups and other foods to
serve on Wednesday, March 26th when we host it. Please contact Nancy
Kincaid for confirmation or any questions.
Leanna Woody's Birthday
Leanna Woody celebrated her
92nd birthday on Sunday, February 23rd at Homewood where she is under hospice
care. She was alert and looked very nice and happy. Thank you to all who came
and celebrated her birthday.
Purim
Friday, March 14th is Purim which is a
vibrant Jewish festival commemorating a remarkable deliverance recorded in the
Book of Esther. It tells the story of a hidden intervention in the life of the
Jewish people—a narrative that resonates deeply with themes of hope and
redemption, values we cherish in our own faith.
The Purim story unfolds in ancient Persia, where the
Jewish community faced the threat of annihilation. Queen Esther, a courageous
figure, risked her own life to reveal a sinister plot hatched by the royal
advisor Haman. Through her bravery and wisdom, the hidden workings of
providence were made manifest. Though the text of Esther does not mention God
explicitly, many see His guiding hand behind the scenes, orchestrating events
to save His people. This hidden yet powerful presence mirrors the Christian understanding
of God’s subtle yet profound influence in our lives.
Central to Purim is the reading of the Megillah—the
scroll that recounts these dramatic events—followed by celebrations that
include feasting, the exchange of gifts, and charitable acts towards the less
fortunate. These practices not only commemorate a past deliverance but also
foster a spirit of unity, generosity, and joy within the community. For us,
they offer an opportunity to reflect on the importance of sharing our blessings
and extending compassion to others, echoing the Christian call to love our neighbors.
You may think that Purim is just a Jewish festival
which is irrelevant to Christians, but Purim invites us to consider the ways in
which God’s providence can work in our lives, often in ways that are not
immediately apparent. Just as the Jewish people experienced a dramatic turn of
events through steadfast faith and communal support, we too are called to recognize
and embrace the often-unseen miracles in our own journeys. In a world where
challenges may seem overwhelming, the Purim narrative reminds us that courage,
faith, and a spirit of togetherness can transform despair into celebration.
As we mark this day on the
calendar, let it serve as a reminder of the universal themes of deliverance and
hope. While Purim is rooted in Jewish tradition, its message transcends
boundaries, inviting us all to celebrate life’s victories and to remain open to
the unexpected ways in which divine grace may enter our lives.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, honors
the life and legacy of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, whose
missionary work transformed a nation. His story is not only one of cultural
pride but also a testament to the transformative power of faith.
St. Patrick’s journey from captivity to a life devoted
to spreading the Gospel is a stirring reminder of God’s grace and resilience.
Arriving in Ireland as a slave, he eventually returned as a messenger of hope,
using symbols such as the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Trinity. His
teachings helped to lay the foundation for the deep spiritual heritage that
still defines Ireland today.
Over time, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a
celebration of Irish culture and Christian evangelism. Festivities include
parades, music, and the wearing of green—a color that has come to symbolize not
only Ireland but also the renewal of life and hope. Within our own faith
community, the day provides an opportunity to reflect on the power of
transformation and the importance of sharing our faith with others.
The legacy of St. Patrick
invites us to consider our own call to spread love, kindness, and the teachings
of Christ. His life reminds us that, regardless of our beginnings, God can work
through us to bring light to those in darkness. As we join in the celebration
of St. Patrick’s Day, may we be inspired to embrace our heritage, celebrate our
diverse traditions, and continue to be a beacon of hope in our communities.
BYOB
Don’t forget the BYOB—Bring Your Own whatever B— is the
second Friday of every month. Hope you can join us this month!
Saturday Bible Study
Bible Study
will meet on Saturday in March at 11:30amin the church library. We are
currently studying the Book of Genesis, focusing on the ancient Middle Eastern
and Hebrew cultures that shape its narrative. Coffee and tea will be provided but you need to bring your own lunch
Communion Servers Needed
We have Communion once a month, on the first Sunday of
each month. We need elders to serve the communion. You can volunteer to serve
if you are an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church of U.S.A. (PCUSA).
Session has voted to invite those that are not ordained elders to serve as
well. If you are interested, there is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board
across from the church office. April and May still need volunteers.
April Communion Servers:
·
Roy Flanary
·
Don Sanders
·
Your Name
·
Your Name
Voice Actor for the Scripture Reading
We usually have two Scripture readings each Sunday, one from
the Old Testament (traditionally read by the liturgist), and the other from the
New Testament (traditionally read by the preacher). To make the Scripture come
alive to us, we are dramatizing the Scripture reading whenever there is
conversation involved in the Scripture readings. If you would help in making
the Scripture readings more dynamic, please let Neal Crouse know on the Sunday
of your choice.
March Church Calendar
Sat. 1st
11:30am Bible Study
Gary Hill’s Birthday
Sun. 2nd Communion
Sunday
Mon. 3rd Pastor Je & Hannah’s
Anniversary
Tues. 4th Debbie Goodnight’s Birthday
Mardi Gras/
Shrove Tuesday
Wed. 5th Lent Begins/ Ash Wednesday
7pm
Service at CCC
Sat. 8th 11:30am Bible Study
Sun. 9th DST Begins
Called Congregational
Meeting
Wed. 12th
6pm Lenten Soup Supper @ St.
Joseph Catholic Church
Thurs. 13th Caleb Reynold’s Birthday
Fri. 14th 11:30am
BYOB
Purim
Sat. 15th
11:30am Bible Study
Mon. 17th Steve Shaw’s Birthday
St. Patrick’s Day
Mon. 18th
6:30pm Session Meeting
Wed. 19th 6pm Lenten Soup Supper @
Trinity Lutheran
Church
Fri. 21st Amy Morrison’s Birthday
Kendra
Whipkey’s Birthday
Sat. 22nd Allen Woods’ Birthday
Mon. 24th Roy
Flanary’s Birthday
Tues. 25th Casey
Reynold’s Birthday
Wed. 26th 6pm Lenten Soup Supper @
First
Presbyterian Church
Fri. 28th Sharon Clem’s Birthday
11:30am Gourmet
Seekers
5:30pm Worship
Team Meeting
Sat. 29th Nancy Morton’s Birthday
Sun. 30th Caring Sunday
Church Contact Information
Office Email: office@LebanonFPC.org
Pastor Email: pastor@LebanonFPC.org
Phone: 765-482-5959
Address: 128 E. Main St. Lebanon, IN 46052
Website: https://www.LebanonFPC.org
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