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Come Worship Together

First Presbyterian Church is an inclusive community of faith called to proclaim the good news of the love of Jesus Christ for all people, and to join God in the building of a just, peaceful, and compassionate world.

First Presbyterian Church 1328 Griffith Avenue Owensboro, KY 42301

May the peace of Christ be with you!

March 25

Palm /Passion

Sunday

March 29

Maundy

Thursday

March 30

Good

Friday

March 31

Great

Easter Vigil

April 1

Easter

H O L Y

W E E K

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In this Issue

Page

1 From Christine

1 Quote of the Month

2 Birthdays/Anniversaries

2 Session Highlights

2 Meeting Highlights

2 Church Work Day

3 From Christine cont.

3 Holy Week @ FPC

3 Lenten Services

4 February Happenings

4 Pastor’s Book Study

4 In Memorium

4 March Madness

4 Safety Speaker

5 Our Youth

5 Children’s Day Out

5 Sunday Church Doors

5 Multicultural Fair

5 Easter Flowers

6 Sunday School

6 Group Study

6 Fellowship

6 Weekly Prayer Group

6 Hour of Sharing

7 March Calendar

8 Holy Week

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The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled.

Have a Holy Holy Week! If you are anything like me, Holy Week and Lent may feel like relatively new concepts to you. It was not so long ago that special services for occasions like Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday were not offered at Presbyterian churches. Here at First Presbyterian, the days leading up to Easter were often marked by special services, such as the Christ in the Upper Room production, but the full liturgical tradition of Holy Week has not always been observed.

The notion of a “Christian Year”, where we mark the different events in the life of Christ (birth, baptism, death, ascension) as we go through the year, traces its roots to the first and second centuries. In the earliest days of celebrating Easter, the dates preceding it were marked by fasting and solemn services of readings and prayers. These traditions grew from one day to two and eventually to an entire week. The days leading up to East-er came to be connected with particular events in the Gospels – Jesus’ entry into Jerusa-lem (Palm Sunday), his Passover meal with the disciples (Maundy Thursday), and his death on the cross (Good Friday). The most ancient of all traditions – the Great Easter Vigil – began on the Saturday before Easter, reflecting the ancient Jewish and early Christian understanding of the new day beginning at sundown (which is why we cele-brate Christ’s birth on Christmas Eve!).

When the Reformation took off and various traditions came under the microscope of the reformers, Lent and Holy Week traditions shifted. While early leaders in the Refor-mation did not object to the biblically-inspired, Christ-centered celebrations of the “Christian Year”, they did rail against certain practices and superstitions that had be-come common during the season of Lent. Eventually, under the influence of Puritanism, the church calendar was so thoroughly purged that not even Christmas and Easter re-mained. For two-centuries, Presbyterians in North America only observed the Lord’s Day – the Sunday service – following the counsel of the Westminster Directory for Pub-lic Worship which taught that “there is no day commanded in Scripture…but the Lord’s Day, which is the Christian Sabbath. Festival days have no warrant in the Word of God.”

Thank goodness for Sunday School teachers in the 19th century, who started to again make reference to Christmas and Easter. Following them came a broader protestant ecu-menical movement to reclaim the liturgy and tradition of the early church. Worship books in the early 20th century began reintroducing prayers for Advent, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter. The 1946 worship book made mention of the “Thursday before Easter.” In 1970, Ash Wednesday was mentioned again for the first time. When the northern and southern Presbyterian churches reunited in 1983, a new directory for worship included the season of Lent. The current version (written in 1993), finally came full-circle, including orders of worship for all of the most ancient celebrations of Jesus’ dying and rising, including Ash Wednesday, Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Easter Vigil. This spring, a new Directory for Worship will be published, and it will be fascinating to see how this “new” resources continues to connected us to ancient traditions. (Continued page 3)

Quote of the Month

“People of Grace” A monthly newsletter for First Presbyterian Church

MARCH 2018

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Christian Education

• 10 Youth going on Mission Trip

• Stephanie Dube to coordinate VBS

Congregational Care

• No meeting

Congregational Life

• March Fellowship night: Bowling

Night March 11th

• Breakfast and children’s activities

on Easter

• Confirmation class reception on

May 20th

Finance

• Current unrestricted funds availa-ble were reported

Mission

• Received thank yous from our benevolence recipients

• Next Pitino meal is April 29th

Personnel & Planning

• No meeting

Outreach & Evangelism

• New meeting time: first Thursday

of the month at10:00 am

f

Meeting Highlights - February 2018

1 Jack Mason

1 Larry Yates

1 Alex Bates

4 Jeff McKeever

4 Brock Brubaker

4 Barbara Sharp

4 Reid Thomas

4 Lydia Tinsley

4 Flor Bravo

4 Brissa Gonzalez

5 Matthew Griffith

6 Glenn Young

7 Linda Morris

7 Willaim Harrison

9 Bill Duncan

10 Marisue Coy

10 John William Hall

10 Pei-Pei Lin

11 Nancy Kramer

11 Kellie Schmeal

13 Collin Jones

14 Mel LeClear

16 Pat Taylor

19 Bob Smith

20 Jane Stevenson

21 Elizabeth LeClear

22 Margaret Clancy West

22 Meredith Zengel

25 Jeanne Park

25 Karen Sanders

27 Alissa Sommerfeldt

27 Doug Black

28 Pat Corkran

28 Allison Bates

28 Tom Payne

28 Mattie Baker

30 Edna Horrell

30 Emma Jane Kirkland

31 Alex Bates

Anniversaries

12 Esther & Bill Jansing

15 Leigh & Lockhart Riddle

20 Anne & Bryan Leazanby

28 Patricia & Kevin Smeathers

Session met on Monday February 12th

• Annual Statistical Report for 2017 was presented and approved • A strategic planning group is being formed • CDO name change to Presbyterian Weekday School • Request for funds to upgrade our security system was approved • Allison Bates was Commissioner for the Feb. 13 Presbytery meeting • Congregational Care Committee Liaison role approved

Session Highlights - February 2018

Property

• New snow/ice/lawn provider

• Security system to be upgraded

• Church has been rekeyed

Worship & Music

• Scheduled upcoming acquisition

of bread and cup and cleanup

• Plan for Ash Wednesday service

• Plan for Holy Week

Deacon’s Report

• Meet the first Wednesday of each month

• Plans for introductory visits have been made

Pastor’s Report • Wrote January 20th On Faith col-

umn in the MI • Officiated Tony Yunker funeral;

wrote service for Ron Busch led by Dennis

• Chose B90 program as a Lenten theme for reading the Bible in 90 days.

• Attended Association of Presby-terian Christian Educators confer-ence

Church Work Day - Getting Ready for Easter

Our next Church Work Day will be Saturday March 17th from 8:30 am to noon. Work will focus on the outside and ready-ing it for Easter. More hands needed for this task so please considering helping out. As always there will be food and beverages. If you have questions, contact Chris Gramelspacher: 270-316-8519.

March Birthdays

Birthday Flower: Daffodil

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March

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 2 World Day of Prayer

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11:30 Worship Mtg. 1:00 B90 Group

5 9:00 Staff Meeting 10:00 Outreach Mtg

6 10:30 Lydia Circle

7 10:00 Book Grp

3:00 Coffee Cup Theology

4:00 Prayer Grp

4:30 Deacons Mtg

5:30 Dinner

6:30 Service

7:00 Choir

8 11:00 B90 Group

International Women’s Day

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11 1:00 B90 Group 5:00 Youth Group

12 9:00 Staff Meeting 2:00 B90Group 6:00 Session

13 6;00 SpiritLifters

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10:00 Book Grp

3:00 Coffee Cup Theology

4:00 Prayer Grp

5:30 Dinner

6:30 Service

7:00 Choir

15 10:00 PW Coordinat-ing Team Mtg

11:00 B90 Group

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17 8:30 Church Work Day

St. Patrick’s

Day

18 1:00 B90 Group 5:00 Confirmation

19 9:00 Staff Meeting 2:00 B90Group

20 10:30 PrimeTimers

21 10:00 Book Grp

3:00 Coffee Cup Theology

4:00 Prayer Grp

5:30 Dinner

6:30 Service

7:00 Choir

22 11:00 B90 Group

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25 Palm Sunday

11:30 Christian Ed. Mtg

11:30 Mission Mtg. ___________ 1 Easter

One Great Hour of Sharing

26 9:00 Staff Meeting

2:00 B90Group

27 4:00 Property Meeting

28 10:00 Book Grp

3:00 Coffee Cup Theology

4:00 Prayer Grp

7:00 Choir

29

11:00 B90 Group

5:30 Maundy Thursday

30 10:00 Pastor’s Book Study 6:00 Good Friday

31 Passover Begins

Every Week In March

9:00 Spanish Worship & Nursery Available 9:30 Sunday School

9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Fellowship

10:30 Worship 4:00 Spiritual Formation

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Group Study

Children’s Sunday School (preschool - 5th grade class) Begins at 9:30 in the first floor Kindergarten Room.

Youth Sunday School Class Meets at 9:30 in the Youth Room to study Echo the Story curriculum.

The Adult Sunday School Class Meets at 9:30 in the Gardenside Parlor to look at various topics related to the church, Bible, current events and social topics.

The Men’s Bible Class Meets at 9:30 downstairs and uses The Present Word literature.

Spanish Language Worship Group Meets at 9:00 in the Chapel. All are invited whether or not you speak/understand Spanish.

Sunday School

SpiritLifters

Tuesday March 13th 6:00 pm Restaurant:

RSVP to Patti Price 270-314-6099 pprice0204@gmail.com

PrimeTimers Tuesday March 20th 10:30 am

Program: Lunch will follow ($5.00) RSVP to Charlotte Puckett charlotte214050@yahoo.com 270-926-2532

Church Night Out Due to the NCAA Basketball Tournament and Holy Week, we will not have a Church Night Out this month.

Fellowship

As a community of love and care, we want to know how we can be in prayer for one another. Because of this, we meet on Wednesdays at 4:00 in the Gardenside Parlor. Just come if you would like to pray with

us - March 7, 14, 21, 28. If you have a prayer request, email Christine and your person or request will be in-cluded.

Spiritual Formation Meets on Sundays at 4:00 pm Dates: March 4,, 11, 18, 25 Reading: Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle

Lydia Circle Meets First Tuesdays at 10:30, bring a lunch Date: March 6 Reading: Cloud of Witnesses, Lesson 7

PW Coordinating Team Meets quarterly on the 3rd Thursday at 10:30 Date: March 15

Wednesday Book Group Meets on Wednesdays at 10:00 am Dates: March 14, 21, 28 Reading: Days of Awe and Wonder by Marcus Borg

Coffee Cup Theology Meets on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm No meetings in March because of Lenten Services We will resume on Wednesday, April 4th

Pastor’s Study Group Meets on the last Friday of the month at 10:00 am Date: Thursday March 29 Reading: Nearing Home by Billy Graham

Weekly Prayer Meeting

Join with Presbyterians worldwide in sharing God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief from natural and human-caused disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed.

The church is happening right now, all around us—because we share Christ’s love. One Great Hour of Sharing is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for

a better world. On Easter Sunday, please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing

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(Cont’d from page 1) All of this month, we will dwell in this season of Lent – this special time set aside for penitence and reflection. The final week of March will be Holy Week, beginning with Palm/Passion Sunday and leading us into the joy of Easter on April 1. In between, we will mark the days many consider the most holy in the entire church year – days which carry us into the Paschal

mystery, meaning the mystery of God experiencing death, triumphing over it in resurrection and, in the process, provid-ing our salvation.

So how can we fully engage in this mystery? First, don’t rush to Easter. Allow yourself to dwell in that tension we will first experience on Palm/Passion Sunday, where the crowds turn so quickly from exuberant cheering to betrayal, leading to the arrest, denial, trial and crucifixion of Christ. Second, celebrate the fullness of the Three Days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, which is meant to be one service extended over three days. We will host all three at our church, and you can read more about each in the next column.

Ultimately, I hope that all of this will help you to have a holy Holy Week. The joy of Easter is on the horizon, and it is all the more meaningful if we fully journey together into the breadth and depth of God’s story for us. May it be so!

Christine

Community Lenten Services

Have a Holy Holy Week!

Community Lenten Meals and Services

March 7 Woodlawn UMC Rev. Chris Michael

March 14 Trinity UMC Rev. Keith Switzer

March 21 First Christian Church Rev. Betty Sivis

Meal: 5:30 pm Suggested donation: $5.00 adults, $3.00 children under 12

Service: 6:30 pm Please RSVP for dinner to church office by noon each Monday

2018

Mission:

Working

Hands

Maundy Thursday - March 29 @ 5:30

On Maundy Thursday, we explore Christ’s “mandate” (maundatum) during the last supper that we love one another. Our Maun-dy Thursday service will be held on Thursday, March 29th at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall. A simple meal will be offered. Please call the church office by March 27th to let her know if you plan to attend. Great Easter Vigil - March 31 @ 6:00

This year we will offer an Easter Vigil service, combining a self-directed exploration of Scripture with a culminat-ing service of worship at 7:00pm.

Holy Week @ FPC

Good Friday - March 30 @ 6:00

Our Good Friday service will be held at 6:00pm on March 30th. It will be a Tenebrae service, where through reading and song, we will hear again the story of Christ’s arrest, trial and crucifixion, accompanied by a gradual ex-tinguishing of light in the sanctuary. The choir will offer several pieces of special music for this power-ful service. Easter Sunday - April 1

We will have breakfast and brass, egg hunts and ‘Alleluias!” Watch for your April newsletter for more details!

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March Madness Fundraiser

February Happenings

If you love doing brackets for March Madness and you love oour youth here at FPC, this March you can let these loves meet. For $20, you cn enter a bracket into the 2018 FPC

March Madness pool. All money will go toward our youth proram and their summer mission and Montreat trips. The winner will receive bragging rights and a special trophy designed by our youth group. To enter ick up a bracket from the front desk.

All brackets and entry donations must be turned in by Wednesday, March 14th, Standings will be announced throughout the tournament on Facebook and PresbyNotes. Please join in the fun and support both your favorite teams and our youth!

The new book for the pastor’s book study which will be Maundy Thursday, March 29th at 10:00 am in the Gardenside Parlor, will be Nearly Home by Billy Graham, written in 2011 when he was 93! In this narrative, Graham refects on his long life and explores the challenges of aging while gleaning foundation-al truths from Scripture.

Scripture, he notes is filled with examples of men and women who God used late in life - ordi-nary men and women who discovered that the later years of life can be some of the most rewarding and fulfilling. Graham says, “Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life. I would never guessed what God had in store for me, and I know that as I am nearing home, He will not forsake me the last mile of the way.

If you’d like to come and discuss this book, Sasha will be happy to order the book for you for $9.00 if you let her know no later than Friday, March 1st.

Pastor’s Book Study

1. Bill & Patti Fill in for Christine

2. Church Workday cleans closets

3. B90 Group Begins

4. Ash Wednesday @ FPC with Randy Jones preaching

Brescia Church Safety Program

The Church Safety Sub-Committee invites interested members to attend a church safety program at Brescia College on Wednesday, March 7th at 6:00 in the Taylor Lecture Hall.

Retired general Allen Youngman will be present-ing. (He was to be at PrimeTimers in January).

He will speak about ways that individual churches can effectively evaluate their safety plans. All church leaders and others interested are invited to intend. Please RSVP to Chris Gramelspacher if you plan to attend.

Martel Wightman

September 13, 1927 - February 20, 2018

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Easter Memorial Flowers

Children’s Day Out

February’s themes were friendship and families. The children focused on how to be a good friend by treating our friends and family with respect. Each class also had their own Valentine’s Day Party, which gave them the opportunity to practice their manners and share special treats with all of their friends.

Upcoming Dates March 27 Library Visit April 3-5 Spring Break

The Worship Committee will provide memorial flowers - tulips, hyacinths, mums, and lilies - in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 1st. This is a special purchase from the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation for a donation of $9.95 each. The funds from the flow-ers will be used to aid in the treatment, drugs, care and needed health insurance for chil-dren and adults.

If you would like to order flowers in honor or in memory of loved ones, please fill out a form, available in the Sunday bulletins, and drop it in the offering plate or return to the church office by March 23rd. You may also place your order by calling the church office, 270-684-1467. Checks should be made out to First Presbyterian Church with “Easter Flowers” on the memo line.

It’s Not Too Late! The deadline for our June mission trip has been extended to March 6th so if you are interested there is still time! See Stephanie or Will for more information.

February Focus and Fun

In February, the Youth focused on social justice and diversity—what does it mean? For Christians, being just is not simply about doing the right thing and paying consequences for mistakes. It also means treating people with generosity and equality regard-less of race, religion or social status. The Olympics provided the perfect opportunity to expand and learn about other people and their cultures. We wrapped up this unit up by hosting our own Youth Olympics. The youth competed in luge, curling, mogul racing and much more!

Coming in March March 11 Church Bowling Night March 25 Youth Group

Our Youth

Multicultural Festival 2018

On August 18, 2018 First Presbyterian Church will cele-brate the 20th anniversary of our Multicultural Festival. If you’d like to help plan this special event, contact Debbie McCoy.

To make sure we are all safe when we are in church on Sundays, we have begun to lock all of the non-sanctuary doors at 10:40. Our Front/Narthex/Griffith entrance will remain unlocked and two church

members will sit in the Narthex during the service. If you find you are running late, please come to this door.

Sunday Church Door Safety