Worship

10:00 a.m.

Sanctuary

March Newsletter Deadline:

February 21st

Please send submissions via email

To see our worship up close at home,click one of the links below!

From the Pastor's Desk

Lent is almost upon us.

And while my brethren back down south where my children were born are enjoying their King Cakes and parades, we northern bunch are getting ready for something completely different.

Lent is a season of preparation. Of taking stock. Of considering what is actually important.

The English word repent comes from a Latin verb that means to crawl or to creep. Like a reptile. Trodging one's self through the mud and the muck of the street.

However, the Greek word in the New Testament that is translated as repent actually means something quite different. Metanoia means literally to change one's mind or spirit or purpose or understanding.

And its Hebrew sibling means to turn back to that which you have looked away from or ignored.

Both of which suggest that the Lenten season of repentance has nearly nothing to do with breaking ourselves, let alone others, apart for perceived things we have done wrong, and far more to do with reexamining our entire way of being in this world.

Is what I am doing, saying, thinking... Christ-like?

From what we know of Jesus in the gospels, would he be content with the way I am in this world?

If not, how might I start to change that? How might I start to make amends as I turn back to all of those human siblings I have harmed in the past?

Food for thought as we approach the cross on Ash Wednesday.

Blessings,

Pastor Janie

Together in Worship

Holy Communion

This month we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

Did you know?

We believe there is a connection between worship and our whole lives?

"Christian Vocation: We respond to God’s grace through our Christian vocation. In Baptism we offer our whole lives in service to God, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit with gifts for ministry in Jesus’ name. Therefore we are called to honor and serve God at all times and in all places: in our work and play, in our thought and action, and in our private and public engagements. Such service and love is an act of gratitude for God’s grace. This has been a particularly important theme of the Reformed tradition: the life and work of every Christian can and should give glory to God. As we honor and serve God in our daily life and labor, we worship God. Whatever our situation, we have opportunities each day to bear witness to the power of God at work within us. Therefore, for Christians, worship, work, and witness cannot be separated" (W-5.0105).

Ash Wednesday

February 14

7:00 p.m.

Chapel

Lent I: Sunday, February 18

Forty Days

Genesis 9:8-17

Mark 1:9-15

Artwork: "River of Grace"

by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Lent II: Sunday, February 25

Lose It

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Mark 8:31-38

Artwork: "Lift Off"

by Rev. Nicolette Penaranda

Learning Together

Lenten Devotional

Where will we find God this Lent? This season, our Christian Education Team has selected this resource crafted by the publishers of the beloved Presbyterian Outlook entitled Local Pilgrim. From the creators: "A cemetery, a bar, a library, an emergency waiting room: what do all these places have in common? In Local Pilgrim the writers explore what God might reveal to us if we intentionally explore our communities. Who do we see? What do we hear? God reveals God's self when we look. Lent is the perfect season for a pilgrimage such as this, leading to meaningful contemplation and sacred discoveries." This devotional is available either over email or in hard copies outside the church office.

Family Devotional

For our families with young children, our Christian Education Team has selected a devotional based upon the Psalms of the season and centering on coloring pages for young and more mature artists. This resource will be emailed to the families before Ash Wednesday, but can also be emailed to you if you contact the Church Office now!

As a gift and a preview, below is the coloring page for Ash Wednesday:

Together in Fellowship

Soup Saturdays

Our congregation is hosting on the first three Saturdays of February: 3, 10, and 17. There are still spots available to help with soup, dessert, and volunteering for all three Sundays. Sign-up sheets are outside the Church Office. Thank you for your help!

Serving Together

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 11, 2024, we will once again have baskets available to choose which team you will support - or the commercials! All nonperishable items and cash donations will go to support American Rescue Workers and feed the hungry in our community during these coldest months of the year.

Since 1990, over $193 million worth of support for local food pantries around the country has been raised over Super Bowl weekends thanks to the simple prayer of a youth pastor named Brad Smith in Columbia, South Carolina. From the $5,700 raised by 22 area churches in that first year, this fight to "tackle hunger" has grown exponentially over the past thirty plus years to include nearly every state, as well as NFL teams, the Department of Defense, countless companies, and raising millions every single year, all of which stays local.

Caring Together

Please hold in prayer members of our church family and friends who are in special need: Britta Albright, Reggie Arford, Marlene Aurandt, Bonnie & Corinne Barstow, Lois Beer, Ann & Laird Benton, Nancy Buchanan, Eleanor Carson, D, Miriam Dalby, Anne Forsht, Rodger & Sally Hammond, Paula Heim, the family of Ticky Hendricks, Bobbi Hill, Jimmy & Cathy Hines, Solomon & Heather Kaspi, Ron Kennedy, Norma McPhee, Betty Meyer, Tristan Meyers, Booker & Janet Moore, Nancy Musselman, Eleanor Myers, Sarah Ocker, Ray Overdorff, Pat Parnell, Ed Pratt, Aleta & Brad Reist, June Slep, Doug Soisson, John & Diane Stultz, Grace Waite, Bill & Deb Wandersee, Avery Marie Wineland.

Please also hold our troops in your prayers, including Trent Sipes, Kyle Gardner, Andrew Rosamilia, Cameron Sellers, and Harrison Heim, who are directly related to our congregation. Pray for our leaders and the leaders around the world as they are making decisions in the coming days. And please pray for all those who find themselves in harm's way that they may know God's presence and that they will have what they need.

Leading Together

Session gathered for its stated meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2024. After reviewing and approving the minutes for the past two meetings, the remainder of the meeting was spent studying the statistics that had been gathered for Session concerning the past twenty years of membership, finances, and pastoral terms of call & responsibilities. In addition, further conversation was spent upon the Annual Report and the Annual Congregational Meeting. Finally, the Session divided up the entire congregation in order that they might reach out to them ahead of the Annual Meeting to remind them of the date and time.

Pastor Janie's Duties and Responsibilities are attached for those who have been asking about what all she does at FPCH.

Yours in Christ, Binky Moxin, Clerk of Session

Pastor Janie's Duties & Responsibilities

Did you know?

Just as Paul wrote of in his letter to the Galatians, we Presbyterians believe in Unity in Diversity:

"The unity of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the Church’s membership. In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall guarantee full participation and representation in its worship, governance, and emerging life to all persons or groups within its membership. No member shall be denied participation or representation for any reason other than those stated in this Constitution" (F-1.0403).

Want to know more?

Click below to read the PCUSA Constitution

Book I: The Book of Confessions

Book II: The Book of Order

Sunday, February 4, 2023

Following Worship

Going to be out of town?

Join the Annual Meeting via Zoom!

We will send the link in the digital bulletin the night before the meeting. Just click the link by 11:05 a.m. to have full voice and vote at this annual stated meeting.

Annual Report