Dear First Presbyterian Family,
Sunday, March 20 we welcomed Spring 2022. I am writing on the first official days of the season. We have had warmth and cold, sunshine and rain, fair weather, and foul-and all in just a few days. The days are turning and new seasons are upon us. Currently, we are in the midst of Lent. I want to commend the following prayers to you for Holy Week (April 10-April 17). They come from the Book of Common Worship.
April 10-Palm Sunday: Merciful God, as we enter Holy Week and gather at Your house of prayer, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that united with Christ and all the faithful we may one day enter in triumph the city not made by human hands, the new Jerusalem, eternal in the heavens, wherewith You and the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in glory forever.
April 11-Monday: Gracious God; Out of Your love and mercy, You breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve You and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of tenderness, and strengthen us to face our mortality; that we may reach with confidence for Your mercy; in Jesus Christ our Lord.
April 12-Tuesday: Almighty God, Whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin: Give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to Your Spirit, that as You know our weakness, so we may know Your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
April 13-Wednesday: God of mercy, You are full of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and always ready to forgive. Grant us grace to renounce all evil and to cling to Christ, that in every way we may prove to be Your loving children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
April 14-Maundy Thursday: Holy God, source of all love, on the night of His betrayal Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment, to love one another as He loved them. Write this commandment in our hearts; give us the will to serve others as He was the servant of all, Who gave His life and died for us, yet He is alive now and forever.
April 15-Good Friday: Merciful God, You gave Your Son to suffer the shame of the cross. Save us from hardness of heart, that seeing Him who died for us, we may repent, confess our sin, and receive Your overflowing love, to Jesus Christ our Lord.
April 16-Holy Saturday: Eternal God, in Jesus Christ You have given the light of life to all the world. Sanctify this new fire and inflame us with a desire to shine forth and the brightness of Christ’s rising, until we feast at the banquet of eternal light; through Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.
April 17-Easter Sunday: Glory to You, O God, Who on this day won victory over death, raising Jesus from the grave and giving us eternal life. Glory to You, O Christ, Who for us and for our salvation overcame death and opened the gate to everlasting life. Glory to You, O Holy Spirit, Who lead us into the truth. Glory to You, O blessed Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
Worship: Will be vibrant in April. We will have a Lent Cantata on April 3. For the first time since 2019, we will have a procession of children, youth, and choir members at both services on Palm Sunday, April 10. The choir will share music at both services. We will observe our traditional Maundy Thursday again in the Fellowship Hall on April 14. We will gather in the sanctuary on April 15 for the Good Friday Service. On April 17 we will mark Easter. Students from the MISD will share music with their brass instruments. On April 24 the youth will lead us in worship at both services. May 1, Rev. Jim Witherow will lead in worship and celebrate Holy Communion with you all. We will also hear the Jubilate Ringers again.
Christian Education: The Easter Egg Hunt will take place on April 16. Our interim Sunday School format will continue through the late Spring. Our Faith Builders and L.I.F.E Youth have active plans for the spring and early summer. Vacation Bible School will take place June 26-30. The Christian Education Committee is exploring a unique format for Sunday School for Youth and Children over the summer as well. Stay tuned for further updates.
Mission: We continue to exceed our 100 Can Challenge each month. Over 20 people showed up to give blood on March 20. We enjoyed a fellowship meal in March that highlighted some of our mission support. The youth are currently raising the funds to cover the Presbytery Youth Mission Trip. Our youth will join with the youth of at least five other Presbyterian churches. We will stay on the campus of Menaul School. You can learn more about the school at this link: https://www.menaulschool.org/. We will do needed upkeep repairs during the week of June 12-June 18. Thank you for your continued support.
Fellowship: We have slowly reengaged with fellowship events since October. Mark your calendar now for May 22. We will enjoy lunch after the 11 AM worship service. Events for Faith Builders and the L.I.F.E. Youth will take place in connection with the event. This will be a big day to mark the final countdown to the end of the school year.
Mission Support: Our Spring Clean Day is Saturday, April 9 at 9 AM. This will be a time to tidy up the grounds. Also, we had the land surveyed behind the former manse for sale. Surveyors are in high demand these days. We lined up the survey over two months in advance. We should be able to proceed with the sale in the next few weeks. Finally, Restoration Solutions continues to knock out the last steps on Wilbanks Hall.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Jones Doughton
