FREE EXERCISE

February, 2018

When the founders proposed a Federal Consti-

tution to replace the Articles of Confederation

they encountered some stiff resistance, particu-

larly in Virginia, among those who were suspi-

cious of centralized and powerful government.

A compromise strategy gained traction

through the ratification process, to amend the

Constitution with more explicit language ad-

dressing the concerns of the resistance. Ulti-

mately twelve amendments were proposed,

ten were ratified, and these became known as

the Bill of Rights. The first concern to be ad-

dressed was limiting government involvement

in religion: the Federal government (and later

the states as well) was prohibited from estab-

lishing a particular expression of religion as

official, or of threatening the religious commit-

ments of individuals.

In adopting the First Amendment (which also

affirmed free speech, free press, and free as-

sembly) the states enshrined a powerful tradi-

tion later known as Freedom of Religion. It is

hard to imagine now how revolutionary it was

then. Few Westerners believed it possible to

have a unified state without a state church at

its center. One might explore limited toleration,

but religious dissenters, it was thought, threat-

ened the well-being and coherence of society.

Madison and his small band of followers insist-

ed on an American experiment in which reli-

gious sentiment and commitment were per-

sonal and individual (but not necessarily pri-

vate) and should be free from government

coercion. In the First Amendment freedom is

not reciprocal; instead, religion – and not simp-

ly the church – is protected from government

involvement. A “wall of separation” is Jeffer-

son’s terminology, but it is not the language of

the Amendment, which puts no limits and of-

fers no walls to fence in or keep out religion.

One result of this radical idea was a land brim-

ming with religious experimentation. There

were, of course, Presbyterians and Congrega-

tionalists, Baptists and Methodists, Episcopali-

ians and Lutherans, all trying to preserve their

PLEASE NOTE: Lent begins on

Wednesday, February

14th. Please join us at

7:00 pm for Ash

Wednesday services in

the Sanctuary

“A neighborhood church where the Story is told.”

Session Synopsis 2

Prayer Requests 3

Worship Volunteers

3

CASA 4

Souper Bowl 5

Presbyterian Women

6

Musical Musings 7

Worship Schedule

8

Inside this issue:

John Knox Presbyterian Church

KNOX ABOUT

traditions and beliefs in an ever more com-

petitive marketplace of theology and prac-

tice. There were also, at the beginning, a few

Catholics, almost no Eastern Orthodox, a tiny

number of Jews; Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists,

and others from the East would come later.

But there were home-grown practitioners:

Quakers and Shakers, Mormons, Millerites,

Adventists, Christian Scientists, Pentecostals,

Wesleyan holiness groups, sects and cults

proliferating at a prodigious rate, all making

their way in this land that by its freedom en-

courages fertile, boundless religious imagina-

tion. Free exercise indeed!

Our Wednesday Study, starting February

21st, will survey a small slice of the American

religious experience: Christianities in the 20th

Century. We will explore the social gospelers

who discovered in the Bible their central con-

cept of a kingdom which could not be re-

duced to personal salvation, but required

civic engagement. We will turn to the move-

ment called Fundamentalism which began

as a response to the rapid social and intellec-

tual change of the gilded age and became

ever more defensive and insular in conflict

with mainline churches and society. We will

explore the phenomenon of Pentecostalism,

the rise of Dispensationalism, and the reform

of Fundamentalism known as Evangelicalism.

We will briefly engage the thought of two

influential public theologians, the brothers

Reinhold and Richard Niebuhr. We will take

a look at the trajectory of Catholic experience

from marginalized minority to mature and

fully engaged American tradition. We will dig

into the recent rise and fall of the Christian

Right as well as their successors, the so-called

New Evangelicals. We will explore the indus-

try of Bible translation and publication, and

we will lift up some of the most influential

and contentious Supreme Court decisions.

In twelve weeks we will cover – or if not cov-

er, at least touch upon – movements,

thoughts, and personalities that are still

Page 2

Free exercise (continued)

SESSION SYNOPSIS The Session met for its monthly stated meeting January 21, 2018.

The Session devotional reflected on one of the Great Ends of the Church from our Book of Order (F-1.0304): the

maintenance of divine worship.

Fritz reported on the travails and progress of our sanctuary heating system: about $2000 to replace the blower mo-

tor and about $4,200 to replace the boiler circulating pump.

Harry reported on year-end financial figures, which turned out much better than feared: only $2100 in the red in

spite of overestimating income and ongoing facilities maintenance.

Our “Under This Roof” campaign is in the home stretch, having received $134,000 with $32,000 remaining. Total

debt to Bank of North Georgia, including the roof, is about $94,000.

Harry also reported on the proposed budget for 2018. Based on pledges and track record for giving, Harry recom-

mended , and Session adopted, a pledge-receipts line of $147,000 ($8,000 less than last year but $5000 less than

we actually received). The Session then asked the Treasurer and the Pastor to adjust the 2018 budget line items

based on last year’s expenditures and this year’s projected needs. The result is a budget $9000 in deficit, a managea-

ble amount.

Lent begins Wednesday February 14th with an Ash Wednesday service with imposition of ashes 7:00 PM.

Our neighborhood postcard outreach was discussed. Two issues emerged: (1) should we continue last year’s pat-

tern (Holy Week / Back to School / Christmas – each costing about $1100 to print and distribute about 3000 cards)?

And (2) if we do continue, should we also continue to target our neighborhood, or reach out to other areas? The

US Postal Service Every Door Direct Mail program is a handy and relatively inexpensive way to designate specific

areas for outreach: https://eddm.usps.com/eddm/customer/routeSearch.action

Harry Allen was once again elected Treasurer, but with some urgency insisted that the Session address a replace-

ment sooner rather than later. Nan Smith served notice that we should begin immediately to recruit a new clerk

asap, but in any case before September when her Session term is up.

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation was held Sunday, January 28th following worship. Annual Reports were

distributed, and the Pastor’s Terms of Call were affirmed with no change from last year.

Next Session Meeting: February 18th following worship.

Next Presbytery meeting: Saturday March 10th, 10:00 Marietta First Presbyterian Church.

KNOX ABOUT

relevant today. Names like Walter Rauschenbusch, C. I. Scofield, Aimee Semple McPherson, Hal Lindsay, Billy Graham,

Jerry Falwell and many others, famous and scarcely known, will make their appearance. It will be only part of a much

broader and deeper story, the story of religion in America, but it will be a start. I hope it will be enlightening. Come join

us Wednesdays in Fellowship Hall Room B beginning February 21st, 1:00 – 2:30, or 7:00 – 8:30.

Fritz

John Knox Presbyterian Church PAGE 3

Our At-Home Members:

Janelle Bridges, Dick Coe, Louise Fahrenkopf, Betty Grove, John Mackey &

Betty Romine

Recent Concerns:

Jerry Black, Betty Izard, Stephanie Glymph-Ramsey

and Evelyn Samples

Oversight Officers 04 - Kim Archer 11 - Steve Bennett 18 - 25 - Larry Ramsey

WE NEED YOU!

Liturgists 04 - Kay Reeve 11 - Steve Bennett 18 - Mike Misencik 25 - Floyd Bushey

Communion Prep

Erma Jones

Communion Servers Kim Archer, Larry

Ramsey and Shelby Robert

Thank you to Betty Izard, Mary

Lapp, Evelyn Samples and Mary

Seagroves. Their efforts are truly

appreciated!

Usher Captain Mary Jane Guzman

Ongoing Concerns:

Dee Allison, Dick Glymph, Richie Ehrman, Hope Hanson, Mardi

Hoofnagle, Madeleine Moseley, John Spangler and our soldiers in

harm’s way

Page 4

CASA CONNECTION You’ve got to love winter in the south!! One day sunshine, one day snow/ice…school is open, school is closed – let’s just say the kids have been thrilled with the weather! Hopefully February will have a more consistent pattern with more school than not. A special thanks to the CASA staff who were willing to come in and open CASA for the full days when the schools were closed, but the streets in this area were safe for driving. In general, we follow the weather closings of the county, but there are times when clos-ings really just apply to the northern area, so we try to help out when parents need to work. Our Friday Clubs (French, Chess, Cheer & Outdoor Sports) were big hits in the Fall. We will be starting those again in March with different club options. A special thanks to the McCallum family for naming CASA as a benefi-ciary to memorials for Carl. It is an honor to be recognized as worthy of this gift. We will offer 1 week camps in February and April for school breaks – remember that these are open to neighborhood kids as well as CASA kids if you know of families looking for a fun, safe alternative to staying at home. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this program!

Staci

KNOX ABOUT

John Knox Presbyterian Church PAGE 5

The Souper Bowl of Caring was born from a single prayer: “even as we enjoy the Super

Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to

eat.” Brad Smith spoke these words as a seminary intern serving the Spring Valley Pres-

byterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina in 1990, and a movement was born. In

1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring’s first year, 22 churches participated and collected

$5,700 for local food relief agencies. Since 1990 more than $100 million in cash and food

has been collected. Those totals continue to grow annually with the generous efforts of

volunteers across the U.S. In 2016, thousands of groups participated in the Souper Bowl

of Caring generating over $10.5 million in cash and food donations. All of the money

collected is donated to a charity selected by the participant (in our case MUST). None of

the money is sent to Souper Bowl headquarters. Organizers only ask that each partici-

pant report their collection so national totals can be determined and announced.

This year, 110 million Americans will tune in to the

Super Bowl football game. There will be parties

with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At

the same time, there will be 48 million Americans

worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a

meal, 1/3 of them children. Please join churches

and organizations around the US as they demon-

strate God’s love by loving their neighbors through

the Souper Bowl of Caring. It’s a simple, yet signifi-

cant act of caring for others. Drop $1 (or more) in

the soup pot as you leave worship on February 4th.

Those who need help may not know that you cared,

but God will.

KNOX ABOUT Page 6

Seekers Circle

Please join Seekers Circle as we con-tinue our study, Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in He-brews, by Melissa Bane Sevier. We meet in the Narthex the First Tuesday of the Month at 10 AM.

Seekers Circle will be supporting Mission Haven, which is an organization that provides a home for missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) working in one of many countries around the world. It is located adjacent to Columbia Theologi-cal Seminary in Decatur, Georgia and provides short-term lodging for missionaries visiting the States, those studying in the area, or those who are in transition after retirement or the end of their term.

Mission Haven is owned and operated by Presby-terian Women in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missis-sippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Mission Ha-ven is a 501 (c) organization.

Presbyterian Women

Fellowship Circle

Fellowship Circle will meet Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30 PM at Mazzy’s Sports Bar and Grill located at 2217 Roswell Road. Please let Mary Seagroves or Alice Allen know if you will at-tend. Come join us!.

Serving Sisters Circle

Serving Sisters Save the Date: Our next time to serve at the Women’s Extension will be Mon-day, April 26th. Be think-ing of another tasty menu!

Arise, shine, your light has come!

Presbyterian Women will begin a new triennium at the 2018 Churchwide Gathering. The new triennium will bring PW a new budget, new priorities for mission and justice work and a new Churchwide Coordinating Team of PW. Among the list of nominees to be presented for election at the business meeting on August 1-2, 2018 is our own Erma Jones, as Search Committee Moderator. The entire slate of nominees is listed in the November/D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 7 i s s u e o f H o r i z o n s . The 2018 Churchwide Gathering will be held August 2–5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. It would be very nice to see you there.

Change for Helping Hand

We’ve started Spicing it Up, now let’s

keep that going and Mix it Up too!

What shall we Mix Up in our giving to

keep our drive for Change for Helping

Hand going? The shortest month of-

fers so much; to name a few... Friend-

ship Month; reach out to your friends,

especially on Feb 7th, Send a Card to a

Friend Day. Canned Food Month, each

time you donate food to MUST, drop a

couple of coins in for CHH. Random

Acts of Kindness week; be intentional

instead of random. Mix up a new reci-

pe for Snack Food Month, Bake for

Family Fun Month, or Heavenly Hash

Day and let CASA be your taste testers.

It’s time for our Annual Mission

Pledge for 2018. Mission Pledge of

Presbyterian Women supports PW

at all levels of the church. The

pledge is $10; $2 to support the

PC(USA) and PW in the PC(USA)

including missionaries in the field,

$3 To support the work of PW in

the Synod, and $4 To support the

work of PW in the Presbytery. The

additional $1 is for our JKPW. You

may pledge at a circle gathering or

to our PW treasurer, Ellen Golliver.

Sometimes in seeking out music for church choirs to sing, one comes across an anthem by an

unknown, or lesser known, composer that has a profound text. Two of my favorite texts set to

music are below. I hope they will bless you as they have me.

Jerry

God Our Refuge - Text Richard C. French (1834-1896)

If there had anywhere appeared in space another place of refuge where to flee, Our hearts had taken refuge in that place and not with Thee.

For we against creations bars Had beat like prisoned eagles through great worlds;

Had Sought but a foot of ground to place our feet Where Thou were not. And only when we found in earth and air,

In heaven or hell that such might nowhere be That we could Not flee from Thee anywhere,

We fled to Thee.

Battle Array - Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931)

An endless line of splendor, These troops with heaven for home, With creeds they go from Scotland,

With incense go from Rome.

These in the name of Jesus Against the dark gods stand,

They gird the earth with valor, They heed their King’s command.

Onward the line advances,

Shaking the hills with power, Slaying the hidden demons,

The lions that devour.

No blood-shed in the wrestling But souls new born arise.

The nations growing kinder, The child hearts growing wise.

What is the final ending? The answer can we know?

Will Christ out live Mohamed? Will Kali’s altar go?

This is our faith tremendous

Our wild hope, who can scorn

That in the name of Jesus, The world shall be reborn!

Page 7 John Knox Presbyterian Church

MUSICAL MUSINGS

11:00 AM Traditional Service— Sanctuary 10:30 AM Brazilian Christian Service - Fellowship Hall

18 February 2018 1st Sunday in Lent

Genesis 9:8-17 Mark 1:9-15 Preparation

25 February 2018 2nd Sunday in Lent

Genesis 17:1-7 Mark 8:27-38

Exorcising Good Intentions

As disciples of Jesus Christ, together we seek to grow spiritually and to

demonstrate God’s love by serving others.

E-mail:

Rev. Fritz Bogar

fritz.bogar@johnknoxpcmarietta.org

Kathy Kestin - Office Manager

kathy.kestin@johnknoxpcmarietta.org

Karen Otto - Preschool Director

preschool@johnknoxpcmarietta.org

Staci Bushey - C.A.S.A. Director

staci.bushey@johnknoxpcmarietta.org

505 Powers Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30067

Phone: 770-973-5050 Fax: 770-973-0238

John Knox Presbyterian Church

We’re on the web!

WWW.JOHNKNOXPCMARIETTA.ORG

Adult Sunday School

Spares & Pairs - Book Discussion :

Run with the Horses

By Eugene Peterson

Church Office Hours

Monday — Friday

9 AM — Noon

4 February 2018 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 40:21-31 Mark 1:35-45

Exuberant Thanksgiving Communion

Souper Bowl Special Offering

11 February 2018 Transfiguration of the Lord

2 Kings 2:1-12 Mark 9:2-13

Listen to Him