Newsletter for Presbyterian Women of FPC Mesquite
April 2022
Happy Spring! It’s so exciting to see the trees and plants beginning to bloom and sprout. It certainly gives us an appreciation of the nature that God created and fills us with the hope that in all things we can find excitement and growth. As we continue through this season of Lent, we imagine the pain and suffering as Christ died on the cross; and the feeling of hopelessness felt by all Christians. But soon we will be reassured that He is Risen! I hope that as you experience Easter this year you are filled with the blessed assurance that our God is with us always!
Love to you all!
Paula
Carol’s Corner:
I have enjoyed this year’s lessons up to this point. This lesson is history through the ages of the many ways that Mary has been worshipped and venerated by different religions. Then it says, “Don’t do that!” If you wish to read it as history, please feel free to do so, but I’m going to talk about Mary’s life, which is mostly ignored. What might her life have been like?
We have heard about the virgin birth, the angelic visits to Mary and Joseph, the manger, the angels and shepherds, the Magi, and Jesus being left in the temple at 12 years old. That couldn’t possibly be all there is to Mary’s life. Let’s look at some scriptures which refer to her and also to occasions where it’s logical for her to have been involved.
To begin, she was an unusually devout young girl at the time of Jesus’ birth, experiencing a normal pregnancy and normal, painful birth in a cave or a barn with only Joseph to assist and no drugs! Jesus was fully human and just like any other human baby, keeping them awake at night, learning to walk and talk, etc. He would have been a good kid, but He wasn’t such a standout that the people of Nazareth recognized him as different. That’s shown when, at one point, he came to Nazareth to minister and teach. Mary must have been really hurt as her friends and neighbors mocked him and rejected him. This is reported in Matthew 13:54-58, when the people said, “Where did he get his wisdom and miraculous powers? Isn’t he Joseph and Mary’s son, the brother of their other children? Where could he have possibly gotten these things?” As a result, Jesus left town and didn’t perform many miracles or help those who could have been helped because of their lack of faith. This occasion is where we find Jesus’ famous saying: “A prophet is without honor in his own hometown”. To them, he was an ordinary person and they had no intention of listening to him. They missed out.
Joseph apparently passed away before Jesus began His ministry. Mary’s other children would have been grown and gone. No doubt, until then, Jesus participated with the other boys in supporting her. When his ministry began, she would have been free to travel with him at least some of the time. (There was a group who traveled with him and the disciples, including several rich women who supported the group.) Galilee was a small place, so even when she wasn’t with him, it wouldn’t have taken long for her to hear the news of whatever He was doing.
She probably wasn’t there when Jesus asked John to baptize Him. Everyone present was amazed when the dove came down and God declared that Jesus was His Son, with whom He was very pleased. When she heard that, she probably took it as one more affirmation that Jesus really was God’s Son and was joyous about it.
There were probably many other joyful moments as she watched His ministry: the respectful way He treated women, (not the norm for the day,) the tearful or prayerful acknowledgments of those who accepted Jesus as their Lord, and the joy of those whom Jesus healed or freed of their demons. The miracles were a spectacular method of drawing people to Him. News of them drew large crowds, including His mother.
Jesus worked long hours and walked many miles every day. Between attending to the crowds and teaching the disciples, he often didn’t take time to eat. Even if he was where He might eat, the demands of the crowd often prevented it. He had no place to live and often slept outdoors with his cloak for a bed and a rock for his pillow. The workload got so intense that at one point, Mary and some of her children mistakenly thought he must be out of His mind. No one in his right mind would work that hard or sustain such a schedule. Jesus’ response was to work harder. The family didn’t see the private prayer life that sustained Him.
In order to protect and care for Him, they came to where he was teaching and tried to compel him to come away for some rest. At the time, Jesus was embroiled in an intense battle with Satan and demons. He didn’t have time to come out and talk to them but sent a message which seems confusing to us and probably did to the family: “Who are my mother and brothers?” (Mark 3: 20-22; 31-35) He wasn’t rejecting his physical family but was emphasizing that his spiritual life and family had to come first. We don’t know how Mary felt about that or when she might have been able to talk with Jesus to clarify it. We do know that she remained a devoted follower.
Mary would have been watching closely as Jesus’ enemies and detractors assailed Him at every opportunity. She would have been concerned as the situation became more and more dangerous, knowing that she could do absolutely nothing to protect Him.
Mary and some of the other women followers might have been in the upper room at the Last Supper and heard Jesus once again predict His death, just as he had been telling the disciples for weeks. She understood what was being said and it would have pained her greatly. Could these threats really be part of God’s will? She might have been holding her breath as Jesus and the disciples left for the garden and she and the women cleaned up after the supper.
When she heard of His arrest by a huge contingent of soldiers, it would have been a shock. Perhaps she ran to the courtyard where she could stand outside in the shadows and watch as He was being questioned by Pilate. She understood that the Jews were accusing Him of crimes against the Roman State so as to almost certainly guarantee His death. Didn’t they realize how much He loved them and had done for them? She dared to hope when Pilate gave the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas and would have been shocked when she heard the crowd shout, “Crucify Him”.
Roman punishments were public, the better to serve as a deterrent. Perhaps Mary and some of the other faithful women stood on the fringes to watch as he was stripped naked and abused by the soldiers. It would have been painful to what a bloody mess he ended up. It was even more painful when He was clearly very weak, and they placed the heavy cross on His back, ordering Him to drag it up the hill to Golgotha.
By that time, most of the disciples were nowhere to be found, but Mary and the other women stayed on top of the hill and quietly watched. They heard the nails being pounded in and the ripping of flesh as the cross was crudely uprighted and dropped into the ground. They could only imagine the pain. Perhaps she was where she could occasionally make eye contact with Jesus and give Him a little support. The women stayed through the earthquakes and the hours of darkness, wondering if it would ever be light again.
Jesus didn’t forget Mary even in his agony but asked John to take care of her as though she were his own mother. When the sword pierced Jesus’ side, she remembered clearly what the old man, Simeon, had said in the temple, that a “sword would pierce” her side.
When Jesus died, it was late in the day. Mary and the women would have been grateful that Joseph of Aramathea and Nicodemus took his body and placed it in Joseph’s own new tomb. Often the bodies of crucified men were left on the hill for animals to scavenge and to serve as a deterrent to future criminals. It was too late in the day for the women to properly prepare His body for burial, so they determined to return to the tomb after the Sabbath in order to do the job right.
Mary probably still had the frankincense and myrrh that the Magi had given her. Now she knew how these common burial spices were to be used. The women hastily assembled the items they needed and returned early on Sunday morning, wondering who would roll the stone away for them. They were confused when they found the stone rolled away and an angel sitting on top of it. When they looked inside, the burial clothes were neatly folded but there was nobody. Only then did they recall what Jesus had predicted, as the angel said, “He’s not here. He has risen”.
They ran as fast as they could to tell the disciples who were still huddled in a small room in town, hiding out just in case they might be arrested next. Women weren’t considered to be good witnesses in any case, so they weren’t believed. Only after Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw for themselves did the men believe.
By that time, about 120 of the closest believers were huddled in that room, unsure what to do next. Then, to their surprise, even though the door was locked, Jesus was there with them, talking with them, eating, showing them his hands. It was truly amazing. Think about what Mary’s emotions must have been.
Over the next weeks, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people. It’s reasonable to believe that he might have even had a quiet talk with his mother at least once during those days.
Then He took some disciples out to the mountain and, after telling them to wait for further instructions, ascended to heaven. When she heard that, Mary must have been joyful and excited.
No one knew what would happen next as the Festival of Pentecost arrived and many thousands of people crowded Jerusalem. By that time, the believers were among the crowd when the tongues of flame came down and the believers proclaimed the gospel in many languages. Mary knew this came from Jesus. Life was full of surprises.
There is no doubt that Mary lived the rest of her life (to about 60, the historians believe) as a faithful disciple, probably working with women converts. She would have lived in Ephesus with John and his wife. Today, there is a house that they say is where they lived, but no one knows for certain.
Mary was more than just a virgin teenager who was greatly blessed by God. Her life was far more complex than that. Her life was full of both joys and sorrows as she watched what happened with Her Son. She probably still pondered all the wonders and sometimes the confusing events in her heart to the day she died.
Whatever we say about Mary, she was an ordinary person. She is not to be worshipped or idolized, which Jesus himself pointed out when someone in the crowd shouted out that his mother must be very special and blessed. (Luke 11:27-28) The point of all our lessons this year is that the women in Jesus’ genealogy were real people with real flaws. The point is that ordinary sinners were in Jesus’ heritage. He was truly human and truly divine.
Related verses:
John 2:1-10: The Wedding at Cana. (What made Mary believe Jesus could solve the problem?)
Luke 2:34-35: Simeon blesses baby Jesus in the temple (“And a sword will pierce your side”)
Revelation 19:10: John wants to worship the angel who is his guide in heaven. (“I’m a fellow servant. Worship only God.”)
Related music:
“Then Came the Morning” by Tony McNeeley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VskgPVSFfEM Try to watch this music video from Mary’s perspective.
“God Gave the Song” by Sandi Patti and Bill Gaither https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W3j4XH67Uo
Message from Meg:
Please mark your calendars for the 14th of May, for the Spring Workshops presented by the C. T. of the
Grace Presbytery P.W. will be at First Presbyterian in Tyler with lots of fellowship and interesting information
about the 2022/2023 Bible Study about Keeping Sabbath, there will be workshops for Officers, Moderator,
Treasurer, and Mission. We will enjoy being with P.W. from across the Presbytery and gain much knowledge
about what other groups are doing, and how they have survived this pandemic. We will have lunch with them,
and visit many displays from PCAHS, Evergreen, etc.
Paula has included the flyer about the Synod Women’s Gathering in New Orleans coming up in July, this is
the opportunity to meet even more P.W. from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and of course Texas. The writer
The Bible Study will lead a workshop on Keeping Sabbath, and we will have the opportunity to ask her questions,
etc. Also, I have been assured there will be plenty of free time to explore New Orleans, with at least one guided
tour of the Garden District, as that is where this event takes place. Also, scholarships are available to help cover
the costs of the event. Gather a group together and carpool, enjoying the fellowship on the way.
In His Service,
Meg
Also from Meg, we are looking forward to the next two years’ PW studies:
2022/2023 Study: Celebrating Sabbath: Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight
2023/2024 Study: Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts.
Notes from the Coordinating Team:
We will gather in Wilbanks Hall for our PW Birthday Celebration gathering at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 5th. Included will be our meeting, installation of officers for 2022-2023, and some much-needed fellowship. The Coordinating Team members are your hostesses for this event- we will provide a light dinner and dessert. Please plan on joining us!
As mentioned above in Meg’s column, May 14th is the Spring Workshop at First Presbyterian Church in Tyler. We are hoping to get a group together and go to represent FPC Mesquite within the larger group of Grace Presbytery. The Grace Coordinating Team met on our campus on February 19th and they have some wonderful plans for this Presbytery-wide event. If you are interested in attending, please contact Paula or Meg for more information.
Also attached is a flyer on the PW Synod Gathering this July in New Orleans, LA. This looks like an outstanding event with fun, fellowship, and a little learning, too! If interested, please see Meg for more information.
Mission Update:
It’s not too early to start thinking about Mission Projects for next year. If you have any ideas, please share them with Barbara Follansbee.
Thanks to Barbara Follansbee and the Mission Team for all their coordination with Hope Supply Company. They provided a truck to pick up the Boxes of Hope that we made and were extremely grateful for our efforts.
| Share your servant’s heart with others… Pray for Peace in our world, and that those without a relationship with Christ might feel drawn to him this Easter Season. |
Dates to Remember
Sunday School continues! Please call or email Renee to request reservations for attending a Sunday School class. Some classes are waiting to begin meeting until Wilbanks Hall Building will be completed. Others have decided to meet but have been relocated into the main building. If your class is choosing not to meet, you are still welcome to join any adult class that is meeting. However, there will be an occupancy limit on each classroom being used for Sunday School, and reservations are needed so that classes can be placed appropriately. All are hoping that the construction is finished soon, and we can enjoy clean, updated, DRY classrooms!
Sunday, April 3rd– Communion at both services
Tuesday, April 5th– 9:30- Morning Circle will gather for Lesson and Study
Tuesday, April 5th, 6:30 pm- PW Birthday Celebration Gathering…We will gather for a meal and a joint meeting in WILBANKS HALL! Dinner and dessert are provided by the Coordinating Team
Saturday, April 9th– Church Workday
Sunday, April 10th– Palm Sunday
Thursday, April 14th, 6:30 pm-Maundy Thursday Service with Communion in Wilbanks Hall
Friday, April 15th, 6:30 pm-Good Friday Service
Sunday, April 17th– EASTER SUNDAY
Tuesday, April 19th, 7:00 pm- Evening Circle will gather for their Study Lesson
Monthly Care Teams:
April- Terri Bragg and Debra Ford
May- Paula Kusewitt and Dr. Carol Stephenson
DON’T FORGET…..
Services are still being recorded for YouTube: Watch for an email every Sunday afternoon with a link included. The efforts by all involved continue to be a blessing for all of us- and they are much appreciated!
THE CHALLENGE continues! We are still collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for Sharing Life. All donations can be dropped off at church and will be tallied each month.
For those of you interested, the new These Days booklet for April, May, and June is available in the Welcome Center. This is a wonderful daily devotional- a great addition to the April portion of your Lenten study if you haven’t tried it.
A Treasured Tidbit….
“There is a green hill far away, outside a city wall, where the dear Lord was crucified who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell, what pains He had to bear; but we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.
He died that we may be forgiven, He died to make us good, that we may go at last to Heaven, saved by His precious blood.
There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has He loved, and we must love Him, too, and trust in his redeeming blood, and try His works to do.”
-“There Is a Green Hill Far Away,” The Hymnbook, #202
“Among the most joyful people I have known have been some who seem to have had no human reason for joy. The sweet fragrance of Christ has shown through their lives.”
-Elisabeth Elliot
How does the Easter Bunny keep his fur looking so nice?
-He uses “hare” spray!!!
What do you call the Easter Bunny the Monday after Easter? -EGGS-hausted!
