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Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church |
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Easter Our History Activities
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APRIL
2007 HOW
EASTER IS JUST RIGHT FOR US
Whenever I am asked to describe our church, I end up with two key words: worship and community. The hallmarks of our church center around our desire to be about caring for each other, knowing each other, and living the life of faith together. And, we find our community doing that intentionally in worship – each Sunday and then on Christian holidays. So,
when Easter comes along, the crossroads of our gathering during Holy
Week and our hallmarks joins up to give us many times to gather in
community. Easter is,
therefore, a rich time for our particular congregation.
This year, consider inviting another into our warm community to
celebrate the greatest gift we could hope for – life in Jesus. HOLY
WEEK worship opportunities are: Palm
Sunday,
where we will start worship remembering Palm Sunday, waving
our branches and watching the children celebrate.
Then, we will rest
in the beauty of music as the choir prepares us for the week ahead with
their Easter Cantata, “This Is the King.”
But the joy is not intended
to last into the week. We
will pause midweek and remember that
Jesus died for us, in our very place. Thus,
Maundy Thursday at 7:30 PM is a critical time of worship, with a tenebrae
(“darkness”) communion service that leaves us acutely aware of
the severe price paid for our souls. Good
Friday
holds a community service at 7 PM in the Wallaceton Church of God where we
face the reality of Christ dying and forgiving us, even in the midst of
his death. This
year, I have the privilege of offering the sermon to our Philipsburg
Osceola Ministerium Community. Holy
Saturday
reminds us of the time in between, where the disciples waited
in fear, but where we wait in hope, for Christ’s return.
And then, we
get to celebrate as a worshiping community on Easter morning – taking
in the Sunrise service at 7 AM, the breakfast following, the
children’s egg hunt during Sunday School, and the thrill of our Easter
Worship at the 10:30 service. Let
the community of Jesus Christ at First Presbyterian Church of
Philipsburg worship!
Grace and
Peace, NOTE:
If this newsletter has been passed to you by one of our members
as an introduction to our church, we welcome the opportunity to get to
know you better through coming to worship with us.
Our Sunday worship service begins every Sunday at 10:30 AM, with
Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 AM.
Our church is located on Presqueisle Street between 5th
and 6th Streets, with parking behind the building or on the
street.
MANY THANKS!
In
the last (we hope) of the winter months, many good folks worked behind
the scenes in the ministries of our congregation.
We give our thanks … to Butch Kitko, for refinishing and adding
glass protection to the offering plate
stands. To the Session who
provided the Agape Meal and communion … Thanks!
To Shannon Johnson, who planned, cooked and served the Agape meal
… Thanks! To Darrell
Hollis who hosted the groups providing Lenten Lunches … Thanks!
To the Helen Hollis, who worked with the Episcopal ladies to
provide the March 14 Lent Lunch and to deal with the snow
cancellation… Thanks! To those who sponsored Daffodils for the American Cancer
Society … Thanks! To Mouse Dixon, for keeping the parking lot plowed
… Thanks! To Fred Herman,
for taking care of the snow in the walkways … Thanks!
To Tom and Sarah Holden, for stepping in as interim custodians
… Thanks! To Holly
Kithcart, for doing snazzy bulletin boards and giving secretarial help
… Thanks! And many of you
continue to work behind the scenes in ways we don’t even realize …
Thank you so much!
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
2
– John Kashella
20 – Ruth Marie Kashella 3
– Ralph Nelson
24 – Rodger Pleskonko 7
– Chelsey Henry
25 – Lois Blake 10
– Paige Rishel
25 – Mary Beth Eyet 12
– Mikayla Henry
27 – Rose Calvin 15
– Christy Johnson
27 – Matthew Starner 15
– Tara Storck
30 – Fran Tepsic
17 – Morgan Phillips APRIL
ANNIVERSARIES 7th
– Brian and Tina Askey – 28 years 12th
– Rob and Colleen Viehdorfer – 27 years 26th
– Bob and Joy Branstetter – 27 years OFFICER
MEETINGS for APRIL
(in the parlor)
Deacons:
Tuesday, April 3rd @ 7:00 p.m.
Session:
Monday, April 9th @ 7:00 p.m.
Trustees:
Tuesday, April 17th @ 7:00 p.m.
PW:
Thursday, April 26th @ 7:00 p.m. DEACONS
HIGHLIGHTS
·
Judy
Pleskonko and Rob Reed have offered to help train members of the church in
the use of the newly purchased Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
An
AED is a portable automatic device used to restore normal heart rhythm
to patients in cardiac arrest.
An AED is applied outside the body where
it automatically analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and advises the rescuer
whether or not a shock is needed to restore a normal heart beat.
If
the patient’s heart resumes beating normally, the heart has been defibrillated.
It cannot bring back someone who has already flat lined. The
AED cannot hurt anyone, but when pushing the shock button on the machine,
all hands should be off the patient.
The AED talks you through where
to place the pads on the cardiac patient’s body. It will also talk you through
CPR instructions by pushing the blue button.
If the patient has a pacemaker,
put the top pad 1 inch away from the pacemaker incision.
The
battery will last for 4 years, or when training for 10 hours.
The batteries and
pads must be purchased from the company (Philips), and there will be an extra
set in the AED case. The
battery will “chirp” when it is low.
The
AED will be centrally located in the church, but a location has not been
established
yet. Judy will be the main
person in charge of the device. Many
of the church’s
medical professionals already know how to use the device; however, Judy will be
training all the church boards, choirs, etc.
The AED we have now is for any person 8 yrs. old or older and 55 + pounds (cost $59.95). There is a child pack (cost $95.00) that will probably be purchased in the future; however, the majority of cardiac problems occur in adults. Thank you to the Session for this most important purchase. ·
$100.00
was given to the Relay for Life committee. ·
$92.00
was given to the American Cancer Society for daffodils ·
The
Deacons are sponsoring a Red Cross Bloodmobile at Trinity United
Methodist Church from 1 pm -7 pm on Tuesday, April 24th.
Workers
and refreshments will be needed that day. MARCH SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
March was very much a “business as usual” month
for Session – a month for the normal, nothing-very-exciting details
that are nonetheless important to the smooth operation of any
organization. Session
dealt with items of worship: communion
details, finalizing plans for the Easter week services, hearing a plan
to “resurrect” a junior church program, and discussing “emergency
music” for Sundays when Sally becomes unavailable at the last minute.
Session dealt with administrative details:
approving a membership transfer, benevolent donations, hearing
Deacon and Trustee reports, and hearing Session committee reports.
Session discussed some future plans:
possible uses for the Gray Memorial and plans for a centennial
celebration. Session dealt
with matters of the “larger church”:
hearing a report on a meeting of several small local Presbyterian
churches who are discussing common problems and attributes.
And finally, the members of Session became introduced to the new
defibrillator machine. Session
continues to serve God and you, even in the little things. MARCH
TRUSTEES NOTES
to
be installed at the entrance to the parking lot.
decided
not to make any changes before the current policy expires in
September.
April
27, 2008 is the target date for the 100 year memorial of
the sanctuary at which time the trustees would like to dedicate some
type of memorial.
accomplished. 5.
Reviewed the offering plate inserts and candle lighters that were
purchased
through the memorial fund. 6.
Discussed funding a summer dry cleaning of the choir robes. 7.
Authorized inviting a team from the high school to come to the
church and
work on the April 27th Day
of Caring. The trustees will plan work projects
for the high school team and serve them lunch. PALM
SUNDAY - CANTATA
On
Sunday, April 1st, the Senior Choir will present their annual
Easter
Cantata. Please plan to attend and enjoy hearing about Jesus’
journey to the cross through song. THIS IS THE KING Text by Frank L.
Cross Music by Roger C.
Wilson Tracie Bullis, Narrator "This
is the King" "O
Savior, Kind and Dear" "The
Unanswered Prayer" Lisa Holden, Soloist "The
Trial" "Why?" "Ballad
of the Roman Soldier" Dan Nelson, Soloist "Joy
Cometh in the Morning" NITTANY BELL
FESTIVAL
Westminster
Bells will be attending the Nittany
Valley Handbell Festival in State College on
Saturday, April 14, 2007. They
will work all day, along
with twenty-four other choirs and the director, Kevin McChesney.
A
concert will be preformed Saturday night in the State College High
School gym at 7:30 p.m. There
is a $5 admission fee. Come
hear our choir as we help ring the piece that was commissioned for our
festival and written by Kevin McChesney, "Simple Gifts". We also will be playing some fun songs and are
looking for Johnny Depp when we play "Pirates of the
Caribbean"!
FISH
BAZAAR & FRY, April 14 Do
you like to fish, eat fish, watch fish, or talk about fish?
If
so, all ages are invited to sign up for the all day Fish Bazaar at
Krislund. Registration fees
($25 under 16; $35 over 16) cover T-shirt,
continental breakfast, light lunch, and the Fish Fry.
Prizes will be awarded for longest and heaviest fishes and
the quickest to their limit. RSVP
by 4/06, and for more information
e-mail: info@krislund.org. CHURCH
WORK DAY
When
we hold Church Work Days, we manage to knock out about 100 hours of
labor on tasks that are too much for any one person.
Please make time in your schedule to join a work day on Saturday,
April
21, 9 AM to noon, and be part of these great projects.
Sign up for a specific job at the 5th Street Bulletin
Board, or just come and work where needed!
Lunch is served to all the workers, which is a great time of
fellowship! YOUNG
AT HEART
Monthly
luncheons resume on Wednesday, April 25th at noon in
Westminster Hall. If
you are at least 50 years old and “young at heart,” please plan to
join in the fellowship. Enjoy
lunch followed by some form of entertainment.
The cost is a $3.00 donation, and
reservations can be made by contacting Gertie Clyde at 342-4571. WOMEN’S BIBLE
STUDY
You
are ALWAYS welcome to join in the
Women’s Bible Study, even if we have
just one more study left! Come
and
join in on Monday, April 30, 7-8:30 PM in the Parlor.
MOTHER/CHILD BANQUET
Mark your calendars NOW for the upcoming Mother/Child Banquet to
be held on Thursday, May 10th at 6:00 p.m. in Westminster
Hall! More
information will be forthcoming in next month’s Newsletter.
KRISLUND
CAMP SUPPORT
WOW!
Even though our congregational donations
for the Krislund Camp Campaign got
off to a slow start, the congregation came
through by exceeding our $1,000 goal
by $5! Thank you for supporting this wonderful,
Christ-centered ministry! DIRECTORY
CORRECTIONS
Please note these
phone number updates Casey
Blake: 553-2761 Ann
Rishel: 553-5768 Jason
Rishel: 553-6164 Jason
and Krystal McMillen: 342-0360 Jim
and Judy Gearhart: 353-8361 Please note these
address updates Eric
and Sarah Rodgers 509
Benyou Lane New
Cumberland, PA 17070-3004 Jim
and Judy Gearhart 1314
Joanna Drive Bellefonte,
PA 16823 Please note this E-mail updatejpleskonko@comcast.net POTHOLE After
a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a
young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddle through
her kitchen window. The
older of
the two, a five year old lad grabbed his sibling by the back of his head
and shoved his face
into the water hole. panic.
"Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!"
she asks as she shook the older
boy in anger.
name
of the Father, the Son and in...the hole-he-goes."
*Easter Sunrise @ 7:00 a.m. w/breakfast
// Egg Hunt @ 9:30
a.m. // Worship at 10:30
a.m.
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