2014

ROME PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHP O BOX 189939 MAIN STREETROME, PA 18837

“Behold…the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!”

---Sitting Bull

Believe it or not, the calendar says that spring has sprung! I hope someone tells the thermometer that soon!

We are continuing our journey through the ECO Polity document and we are up to the portion of the document defining what it means to be part of a congregation.

1.03 The Membership of a Congregation

1.0301 Baptism and Membership

Through baptism an individual is joined to the Church universal, the body of Christ. Through the covenant of membership an individual is joined to the local congregation, and is able to be fully involved in its mission to the local community and the world.

Nothing earth shattering there. This is how it always has been. Baptism is a symbol of our discipleship, a sign that we intend to follow Christ and/or to raise our children to follow Christ. We believe that discipleship requires that we be in community with one another and that’s where membership come in.

1.0302 Openness to All

The congregation’s fellowship shall be open to all who seek to explore spiritual life by participating in the fellowship of the risen Lord. The congregation shall be gracious in providing pastoral care to all who consider themselves a part of the congregation, in the hope that these spiritual friends might become members of Christ’s body. All who put their trust in Jesus Christ are welcomed to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Now catch this! Even if you have not officially “joined” the congregation, we will still consider someone who participates, one of us and extend to them hospitality and service. This is how we’ve operated as long as I’ve been here. This also fits any who have worshiped with us all along but who have not yet

chosen to move into ECO along with us. They are still welcome here.

1.0303 Entry into Membership as Covenant Partners

After completing a meaningful preparation process as determined by the session, those who wish to embrace the congregation’s covenantal expectations may become covenant partners (members) by action of the session after hearing testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For those not previously baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism is to be provided for these new members and offered to children under their care. Individuals may testify to their faith in one of the following ways:

a. Public profession of faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, after the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit yields personal faith in Christ.

b. Reaffirmation of faith, for those previously professing faith publicly and already baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. If they are members of another congregation, this transfer of membership shall be communicated to the former congregation.

THOSE OF YOU IN THE COVENANT PARTNERS CLASS, TAKE NOTE!This is what we are doing with you!

We are preparing you toembrace the congregation’s covenantal expectations

so that youmay become covenant partners

I’ll just take the opportunity to say what a delight it has been to work with those folks who are exploring the possibility of covenanting with us! Great group of people who will employ their gifts to bless others in our congregation!

I’m going to stop there because the next part is so meaty that I want to give us time to digest the above before digging in!

But let me encourage all who are reading to think about this. What difference does it make in your life that you are part of this body? Why is it important to you, personally? What promises have you made to this body over the years? Do you think of yourself as a vital part of the ministry here? Are you using your gifts to serve Christ in and through this congregation? What does your story of being here sound

like?

Ponder those things until we move on to what comes next in May – when surely we will feel warmth in our bones and see green grass and flowers in our yards. Do continue to live in hope!

Peace, Pastor Karen

April Worship Opportunities

April 6 Genesis 5:1-32 (If you’d like to read all the names out loud in this

passage, feel free to let Pastor Karen know!)

Celebration of Communion

April13 Palm Sunday

April 17 Maundy Thursday Service

7:00 p.m. @ North Orwell Community Church

April 18 Good Friday Cross Walk

12:00 p.m. @ R.P.C. to R.U.M.C and various points in between

Good Friday Tennebrae Service

7:00 p.m. @ R.P.C.

April 20 Sunrise Service

6:00 a.m. @ Sarah Tyrell’s

with breakfast following at North Orwell

9:30 a.m. Easter Worship!!!

April 27 Guest Preacher – Elder Ed O’Connor

Session Meeting Summary

Elders met together with Deacons and Trustees on March 17, 2014, in the sanctuary. In addition to Pastor Karen, seventeen leaders were present. This “Triad Team” meets quarterly to worship and praise God as a unified leadership team. Dan Williams opened with prayer. Hebrews 10:23-25 was the center of devotions. Each triad team discussed the following questions: v. 23 - What are some ways we “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”?

v. 24 - How might we, as leaders of the church “spur one another on to love and good deeds”?v. 25 Why is it important to keep meeting together? What do you think is meant by “meeting

together”?Elders then shared with their Deacon and Trustee how much we appreciate and care for their spirit and their life. Pastor Karen then prayed a blessing on all gathered with a beautiful slide show and inspirational song. Deacons and Trustees convened their own meeting, while Elders continued by discussing the following:

Current roll is 107 members on active list 6 Shut-ins - Reuben and Jenny Brimmer, Marion Jones, Ethel Parks, Charlotte Sandor,

and Virginia Wilson – please keep them in your prayers. Will add a link to ECO on RPC website Thanks to generous donation of Raymond and Betty Allis, we will proceed with

the process to have digital copies made of session records housed at thePresbyterian Historical Society

Received a generous donation from the estate of Glynis Reed (Jim Novak’s mother) Elders continue to discuss the narrative questions for the Health of the Church document

in preparation for our Mission Affinity Group (MAG). Will have an informal get together with this group on May 17 to get to know one another.

Registration is open for the ECO Gathering in Dallas, August 18-20. Pastor Karen is registered – currently no others have committed to going.

Friday Night Fellowship dinner – 77 people attended dinner on February 28 – people continue to give donations - $132 was collected and deposited for the Blanket Fund

Men’s fellowship breakfast on March 8, Tapping into our Gifts, with 20 men attending – will be cooking for the women on May 10th.

Chow for Children continues to thrive. Have sent annual letter requesting donations and have begun to receive some funding. The cost to support one family during the school year is approx. $340.

Auditor - have located an external person who will begin the audit process later this spring

During Lent, Rose Gross is teaching the Children’s message during Worship and doing a fantastic job

Have purchased Bibles for all XFA children – they will take them home on March 27 which is the final XFA session for this school year

Elder/deacon serving team for April is Ed O’Connor and Mary Cole. 81 people were served Communion on March 2 Next Session meeting: April TBA @ 6:30 @ the Abrams’ home

Respectfully submitted,Sylvia Abrams, Clerk of Session

4/3 Seth Roshak 4/16 Kelly Daum 4/25 Cliff Robinson4/5 Makaylah Holbert 4/24 Claire Allen 4/27 Jim Coleman

Jayce Brown

4/11 Bob & Lola Kunkle

Restored water XFA singing Michele-tumor removed and healingZulia-speech Deb Shipp Colleen Close Sandy for a published bookJim Coleman Cheyenne Butcher Purchasing of new homes EmploymentDick-bladder Jenna Mike Ricci Carl Russell Joan Cowles

Nick & Christy Vanderpool Carmen Families of those on the plane in AsiaMen’s breakfast Deb Barrett-Father Grandparents The LeFever’sAwesome Sight & Sound—Moses The Felter Family Marilyn CheyenneBibles for XFA Daily Family Casey Williams Walk for Nick JennaYvonne Cragle and her Mom Frank Lindsey The person on the busAnniversaries Lily’s Grandma Shelba’s brother Danielle Deb ShippGene Lewis Barney All cancer patients Families spending time together

EASTER FLOWER ORDERS

If you would like to purchase flowers to help decorate our church for Easter Sunday, please fill out the order form below and return it along with your correct money or check. Please leave your order and money in my mailbox or the offering plate. THE DEADLINE FOR ORDERING IS April 6th. Your flowers can be picked up following Easter Sunday service.

Peggy C

Plant Quantity Cost Total

6” Lily ___________ $9.00 each __________

6” Tulip ___________ $8.00 each __________

6”Hyacinths ___________ $8.00 each __________

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

In Honor of: __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

In Memory of: __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

The peacock’s symbolism

The beautiful peacock is likely one of the lesser-known Christian symbols. Based on an ancient myth that its flesh doesn’t decay after death, early Christians appropriated the bird as a symbol of immortality. The molting of its tail feathers each year to be replaced with supposedly more beautiful ones led to use of the peacock as a sign of resurrection and glorification.

Additionally, the eye-like pattern in the peacock’s tail feathers made it a symbol of conscience and of God, who sees all. However, the peacock also represents arrogance as it struts to show off its plumage. During the Baroques period, the peacock was often part of artwork at the tenth Station of the Cross, depicting Jesus stripped of his clothing—atoning, according to some teachings, specifically for our sin of vanity.

Early Christians believed peacocks shriek when they catch sight of their feet, which they consider ugly. Christians took this as a reminder that we, too, should lament our spiritual imperfections that detract from the beauty of life lived in Christ.

Minutes for Trustee Meeting 3/17/2014

Members in attendance:

Jim Crawford Faye Daum Mickey MorrisSherry Potocek Karin LeFever

The February minutes were reviewed.

Church/AnnexThe recessed light in the sanctuary is loose and either needs a scaffold or to be serviced through the attic crawlspace. The water is running again. A slow drip is running in both the janitor’s closet and/or the Blair Hall in order to keep it from freezing again. The bill from Histand’s was about $1200. Mac hasn’t charged for defrosting the pipes. Karin will bring a thank you card for the church to sign and send to him. Karin will call G & H to see if they can repair the church carpet. We have salt enough for the balance of the season.A new bulb is needed for the fixture on the back of the CE building.The insurance company did an inspection and suggested that we enclose the copper piping to prevent theft.

Ed BldgKarin has worked up a set of guidelines for use of the CE building. Jim will forward them to Sherry for finishing touches. After she spoke with Deb Shipp, it seems like the Girl Scouts are doing better with the building.

Collections/AccountsWe have 7 counters. Jim would like to see a schedule established to avoid confusion. If for some reason we don’t have a counter, the $$ should go in the vault in Peg’s office to be counted asap during the week. Our counters are Joan, Karin, Jim C, Faye, Barney, Mickey, and Bev.

GroundsThe parking lot is cause for concern. It is cracking badly at the V and where the pipe runs under it. This has been a hard winter on everything. Jim will call Roberts to see if they will stand behind their work, but he feels that it was an excessively cold winter and that the issues are not their fault. Mickey noted that this is not a surprise as we paved over existing foundation rather than doing the whole job.Karin is hoping for a May cleanup day. She is looking for a 6-8’ fiberglass stepladder.

PersonnelThe need for a new handyman was discussed. It was decided that we will ask John Ford (Mac’s brother) if he will do our handyman work and keep Mac as our emergency man. That is assuming they will do it!