E-CHIMES

A Weekly Update of Joys, Concerns and Ministry with

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday Worship Hour

10:30 a.m.

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Pastor's Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday mornings,

(Thursdays: home office, Fridays: Pastor's day off, office closed)

OUR MISSION

We are committed to inspiring a

sense of identity and belonging

through love, faith, and service in Jesus Christ

March 18, 2010

Our email is churchoffice@fpcmp.org

Our website is www.fpcmp.org


In This Issue:

·     Prayer concerns 

·     Members Needed (NEW)

·     Help CROP Walk Earn an extra $1,000 (NEW)

·     PW Silent Auction (NEW)

·     Thanks from Social Justice & Peacemaking Committee(NEW)

·     Spring Clean-Up (NEW)

·     Isabella Community Soup Kitchen Chef Extravaganza (NEW)

·     Progressive Dinner (NEW)

·     Volunteer Opportunity

·     Share & Care Request

·     Announcement about Evolution Sunday

·     Holy Week Schedule

·     One Great Hour of Sharing

·     Annual Rummage Sale

·     Lectionary Readings

·     A Glimpse at The Week Ahead

·     Looking at Events in the Church, Around the Town and Beyond

·     Birthdays and Anniversaries

·     Web Links of Interest


PRAYER CONCERNS

·     Prayers of Concern for Dorothy Nugent,  Dorothy Scheibner, Neil Sowle, Maxine Tanner, Kelly DeWitt (Kim DeWitt's brother), Wally Blodgett, Shelly Roy,  Betty Enders, Dick Featheringham and Lois Austin.

 

·     Prayers for World peace.

 

·     Prayers of Congratulations to Lindsay Stark and Dillon Marthaler for the birth of their new baby daughter, McKenna Lee Marthaler-Stark who was born March 15, 2010.  Proud grandparents are Alain and Carol Shannon.

 

 

We look to you, O God, whom we do not see, to renew all that we do see.  Train our eyes to see what is to be seen in Christ – new life from the dead, fresh hope from the grave, divine love transforming human emptiness.  Amen.

 

Prayer taken from the 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.


Members Needed!

Members needed for various committee’s to plan Rev. Stephen Shugert’s retirement party.  Please contact Laurie Patton @ 779-7142, Pam Baker @ 854-0226 or Carolyn Monahan  772-1852 for more info.


Help Crop Earn an extra $1,000

Take the opportunity to help the Mt. Pleasant CROP walk earn an extra $1,000 for this years walk.  There will be a meeting of the Central Michigan Area CROP events.  The CROP event, ours is the Mt. Pleasant walk, who has the most people represented will get $1,000. 

When – March 27th at 9:00 to 1:00 pm

Where – First United Methodist Church, 400 Main St. Mt. Pleasant.

Come and share good food and fellowship and take a step to help fight hunger in our community, in the USA and worldwide.

Please see, find, get a hold of Heidi Zwuyghuizen to RSVP.


PW Silent Auction

The Presbyterian Women are holding a silent auction on April 18 and 25.  Sale items will be on display in the Witherspoon Room on April 18 with the final bids received on April 25.  Everyone, we need your help.  Please bring your donations to the church office—baked goods, canned goods, crafts, white elephants, etc. – the week of April 12.


Thanks from Social Justice & Peacemaking Committee

Thanks to everyone who helped provide physical help, food donations and prayers for the food truck on the 13th.


Spring Clean-Up at the church is Saturday April 24, 9:00 am till 12:00 noon.

Lunch will be a lunch served at noon.


Isabella Community Soup Kitchen Chef Extravaganza

Annual Smorgasbord Friday, April 9th from 4:30 pm till 7:00 pm. 621 S. Adams Street, Mt. Pleasant (1/3 block north of W. High St. (W. M20) between Freddie’s Grille & Mill Pond Park)

 Cost:  Free will donation from your heart, helping to feed needy people of your community.


Progressive Dinner

There will be a Progressive Dinner at First Presbyterian Church on April 17th.  The dinner will begin at 5:30 pm.  Look for more details soon on how it will progress. Prepare for fellowship and a fun adventure!


Volunteer Opportunity

The Department of Human Services is seeking volunteers to transport foster children.  We are seeking drivers to transport children in Foster Care to visits with their parents and to medical appointments.  When a child is in the care of the Department we are responsible for transporting the children to visits and appointments.  If you feel that any of you would be interested in helping The Department of Human Services please contact Sarah Lorenz.

Requirements:

·     Criminal record check.

·     Central registry check.

·     Good driving record/valid driver’s license.

·     Own vehicle for transportation with proof of insurance/

·     Three personal references.

Benefits:

·     Chance to make a difference in the lives of children throughout the community.

·     Reimbursement for gas mileage.

·     Reimbursement for meals (depending on time of transportation).

·     Good way to give back to the community.

Commitment:

·     Would prefer that you agree to a six month through one year commitment.

For more information please contact: Sarah Lorenz at 989-772-8439


Share & Care Request

My name is Amanda Nixon.  I am an undergraduate student at Alma College and double majoring in Exercise and Health Science and Religious Studies.  I will be attending the Physician Assistant Graduate Program at Central Michigan University starting May 17th, 2010.  I am currently looking for a place to rent a one-bedroom place that has access to a kitchen, bathroom, and utility accommodations.  I am very flexible and responsible in my work and living ethics.  I am open to prices for rent during my stay.  I will not unfortunately have a job during my Graduate experience due to the demand of the program.  I do not have a set price range in view but would love to meet and talk with anyone who may be interested or have ideas of a place to live.  Thank you for your considerations and please either email or call me with any questions at: nixona87@yahoo.com or (231) 920-1875.  Thank you.  Amanda Nixon


 

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

 

Palm Sunday

March 28, 10:30am Worship

Donate your gently used coats for the

Palm Sunday Parade

6:00 pm Passover Seder w/potluck

 

Maundy Thursday

April 1, 7:30 pm

Worship and Communion

Dramatic Portrayal

 

Good Friday

April 2, 12:00 pm

Union Good Friday Service

Plachta Auditorium in Warriner Hall

Central Michigan University

 

Easter Sunday

April 4

8:00 am Sunrise Service/Breakfast

10:30am Worship Service

Including the Cross of Flowers,

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

After Worship:

Time for Fellowship and

Easter Egg Hunt


One Great Hour of Sharing

About the Offering

Gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering provide emergency relief, promote sustainable development and enable people to build better lives for their families and communities.  Nine denominations and Church World Service join together in this offering.  Our offerings also support the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance programs.  Like the gifts of God, our gifts multiply as we share. 

 

Serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.  1 Peter 4:10b

 

Offering received Easter Sunday April 4, 2010


Annual Rummage Sale June 12!

Please check your closets, cupboards, basements, under the bed.  Donations will be accepted the week of June 1 to June 8.  Call Linda at 773-5913 with questions. 


LECTIONARY READINGS for Sunday March 21, 2010

 

Isaiah 52: 13 –53: 2

Luke 23: 44-49


 A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday - Thursday)

All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted

Thursday March 18

9:30 am FPC Playgroup 

6:30 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal

 

Sunday March 21

 

9:30 am Sunday School for all ages

10:30 am  Worship/Communion

                                               “Two Men Beneath A Cross”    by Rev. Robert Lakey

                                                                      (Monolouge)

11:30 am Fellowship Hour

12:15  Prayer Ministry Team Meets

 

Tuesday March 23

10:00 am Interfaith Collaborative Task Force

 

Wednesday March 24

5:30 pm Bible Study

8:00 pm  AA

 

Thursday March 25

9:30 am  FPC Playgroup

6:30 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal


LOOKING AHEAD AT EVENTS IN THE CHURCH, AROUND THE TOWN AND BEYOND

Vacation Bible School 2010

Mark your calendars!  VBS will be July 12-15.  Get ready for a High Seas Expedition where we explore the mighty love of God.  More details coming soon!

FPC Playgroup

FPC Playgroup meets on Thursday morning from 9:30 am - 11:00 am in the Nursery.  Open to all parents and children (infant - preschool), this is a time for children to play together and parents to relax and connect.  Come for the whole time or drop by for part.  Everyone is welcome!

Wednesday @ First

Join us for a potluck supper on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm, followed by activities for all ages.

 *2010 Schedule

March 3  Variety Show

April 7 Mission Night

May 5  Picnic and Blessing of Animals

Bring place setting and a dish to pass.  Drink provided.

   Bingo

 

Mobile Food Pantry 2010 Schedule

 

March 27 - Finch Field House

 

April 10 - Mt. Pleasant Community Church

 

April 24 - Sacred Heart Parish

 

May 8 - Immanual Lutheran Church

 

May 22 - Central Assembly of God

 

June 12 - Sacred Heart Parish

 

June 26 - Zion Lutheran Church

 

July 10 - Location TBD

 

July 24 - Mt. Pleasant Church of the Nazerene

 

August 14 - Weidman United Methodist

 

August 28 - Mt. Pleasant Community Church

 

September 11 - Commission on Aging

 

September 25 - First Presbyterian Church

 

October 9 - Location TBD

 

October 23 - Central Assembly of God

 

November 6 - Sacred Heart Parish

 

November 20 - Mt. Pleasant Community Church

 

December 4 - Location TBD

 

December 18 - Location TBD


 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays       March

19         Nancy Enders

19         Judy Kirkey

24        Linda Rose

25        Nancy Kinney

 

Anniversaries


LINKS

Presbytery of Lake Huron www.presbylh.org

Presbyterian Church USA www.pcusa.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/hurricanekatrina-index.htm