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

April 1, 2010

Our email is churchoffice@fpcmp.org

Our website is www.fpcmp.org


In This Issue:

·       Prayer concerns

·      Congratulations to Wally Blodgett (NEW)

·      An Invitation to all Women (NEW)

·      Seder Supper Salad Recipe (NEW)

·      Kroger Rewards Re-enrollment Program

·      A Message From the Personnel Committee about the new Interim Pastor (NEW)

·      SJP Report from Noisy Offering(NEW)

·      Report from House & Grounds

·      Members Needed

·      PW Silent Auction

·      Spring Clean-Up

·      Isabella Community Soup Kitchen Chef Extravaganza

·      Progressive Dinner

·      Announcement about Evolution Sunday

·      Holy Week Schedule

·      One Great Hour of Sharing

·      Lions Annual BBQ

·      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, Helen Louise Hamel & Wendy Shugert.

 

·      Prayers for World peace.

 

Holy God, we thank you for your son Jesus on this night.  As we prepare to partake of Communion, help us to examine ourselves and rest in the assurance that although we have fallen short of following your ways, it is through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that we are able to live for and serve you.  In the name of Christ we pray.  Amen.

 

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


Congratulations to Wally Blodgett

He is being presented with the William Brehm Tourism Award on April 20 at noon at the Mt. Pleasant Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel & Conference Center.  The Brehm award is presented in recognition of outstanding support to the tourism industry in Isabella County.  In addition to the award, a $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a Central Michigan University student studying the tourism industry.


An Invitation to All Women

All Women in the Church are Presbyterian Women.  Please join together in the Parlor during coffee hour on Sunday, April 11, to learn more about PW, what we do, and how your ideas are needed.  Childcare will be provided in the Witherspoon Room, with games and refreshments.


Cam & Jeff’s Seder Salad Recipe

Salad

3 “on the vine” tomatoes – wedged

½ red bell pepper – chopped

Handful of baby carrots – semi julienned

3 small McIntosh apples – sliced

1 can artichoke hearts

½ can black olives

Heart of Romaine

Dressing

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1TBS parsley

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup rice vinegar


Kroger Re-enrollment Program

You may want to remind yourself to contact members of your organization and encourage them to re-sign up for Kroger Community Rewards this April. All participants must sign up for the program in order to earn funds for your group during 2010.

 

Even if you have members who sign up for Kroger Community Rewards in February or March—which will earn your organization funds as part of the 05/01/2009 to 04/30/2010 program—they must sign up again in April to continue earning rewards during the coming year 05/01/2010 to 04/30/2011.

 

It’s easy for your members to enroll or re-enroll in Kroger Community Rewards. They can visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com, click on “Michigan” and click on “Enroll” or “Re-enroll” All participants must have a valid online account at Kroger.com and must sign up online to participate. Organization members can no longer scan their group’s barcode at the registers or service desk

 

Step by step instructions:

Go to www.krogercommunityrewards. Com

Click Michigan

Click “Re-enroll” if you were registered in the program last year.

1.       Put in your e-mail

2.       Put in your password -(If you forgot the password you set up please go thru the “Forgot you password”)

3.       Find your organization by typing in your organization’s NPO number

4.       Click the “Select Your Organization

5.       Click the” Save Changes

--or--

Click “Enroll” If you have never been a part of Kroger Community Rewards.com, Kroger.com or registered with the scan bar method last year.

1.       “Sign up today” (to the right)

2.       Enter your zip code and click “Search

3.       Click on the arrow to display the list of stores in your zip code and highlight your  preferred store

4.       Enter in your email and password

5.       Click “Next

6.       Key in you Kroger Plus Card Number (If it says that this card has already been used, please call the number on the back of your card)

7.       Enter the security code (from the box above it)

8.       Enter in your contact information.

9.       Click on “next

10.   Verify that your account information is correct.  Check box for agreement of the terms and conditions and click “complete information

11.   Kroger will send an email that you entered earlier in the process. (this can take up to 10 minutes)

12.   Open the email that Kroger sent. Read the email and either click on the link within the email or copy and paste it into your browser.

13.   Sign in: click on the “Click here “button and then type in your email and password.

14.   Under Kroger Community Rewards Section at right, click “Edit Kroger Community Rewards Information.”

15.   Find your organization by typing in your organization’s NPO number

16.   Click on the organization name that you want.  Please make sure that you click on the circle to the left of your organization so that it becomes highlighted.

17.   Click on “Save Changes

18.   Scroll over the page and make sure all information is accurate

You are now “registered


A message from the Personnel committee. 

We have secured and interim pastor.  Her name is Reverend Sandra Hanna.  She is coming to us from the First Presbyterian church in Independence, MO.  She has made a career of being an interim and this will be her 11th call!  She has been a pastor all over the county, and actually has roots here in Michigan, as she attended Wayne State University in the early 1970’s.   She has a degrees in childhood education, music and a master of Divinity from McCormick Theological University in Chicago. 

 

One thing we really need everyone’s help with right now is housing.  It’s up to us to find her a house.  She’s looking for a 2-3 bedroom house with a fenced in yard and possibly a fireplace. She has 2 dogs and a fenced in yard is really important. We’re looking for something in the $800./month range.  If anybody knows of anything, please contact Jane Staples   thestaplesfamily@chartermi.net  home#  773-4504  or contact any session member.  Thank you! 


SJP Report from Noisy Offering

On Palm Sunday, March 28 SJP took up a Noisy Offering for 2 Coins a meal and raised $126.50.  Thank you to all who so generously gave to this cause.


Report from House & Grounds

The new lights have been installed in the Sanctuary.  The cost to us was $5,000.


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.


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.


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

Please plan to attend the Third Annual Progressive Dinner on Saturday, April 17, 2010.  We will meet in the Church parking lot for those who wish to carpool.  The locations for appetizers and entrees have not yet been finalized completely.  Appetizers for the entire group will begin at 5:30 pm. At one location.  Members will go to their selected entrée location at 6:45 pm and then the entire group returns to the Witherspoon Room for dessert at 8:15 pm.  There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.  Contact Carol Shannon, Amy Madsen, or Laurie Patton with questions.


 

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


Lions BBQ

The Mt Pleasant Lions Club is having their 56th annual Chicken Barbeque, Sunday May 2nd, from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm in Island Park here in Mt Pleasant. Tickets are $8.00 in advance or $10.00 at the Park.

 

Last year, the Lions Club raised over $16,500 from this event of which 75% of this amount was spent on local projects. This year one dollar of each ticket sold will go towards the New Woodland Hospice house here in Mt Pleasant.

 

The Lions Club barbeques 5,500 chicken halves. The meal includes a  chicken halve, a baked potato, apple sauce, a roll, a large “Robaire’s” sugar cookie, a drink and utensils are all packed in a foam container for pickup in the Park.

 

Tickets are available from any Lions Club member or call Bill Sowle at 944-2935


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 April 1,  2010

 

I Corinthians 15: 19-26

John 20: 1-18


 A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday - Thursday)

All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted

Thursday April 1

9:30 am FPC Playgroup 

7:30 pm  Maundy Thursday Communion Service

 

Friday April 2

12:15 pm Union Good Friday Service at Plachta Auditorium at CMU

 

 

 

Sunday April 4

 

8:00 Early Service followed by Breakfast

 

9:30 am Sunday School for all ages

10:30 am  Worship/Cross of Flowers/One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Received

                                               “Resurrection Faith”    by Rev. Stephan Shugert

11:30 am Fellowship Hour & Easter Egg Hunt

 

Monday April 5

10:00 am Staff Meeting

 

Wednesday April 7

10:00 am  PW Coordinating Team

Noon Lydia Circle

6:00 pm Wed@First Potluck Mission Night

8:00 pm  AA

 

Thursday April 8

9:30 am  FPC Playgroup

6:30 pm  Bell 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

 

 

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                               April

1     Sue Carlson

1     Peg Crapo

6    Alene Brittain

6    Lisa Zomer

6    Diane Loseth

7    Waldo Sauter

 

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