Something special happened in Sunday's Transfiguration worship service at Bush Hill, something of the Spirit's making. Each leader played their part, not really knowing what the other would do, just knowing the other would do well.

Rebekah delivered a children's sermon that compared the chemical reaction of vinegar and baking soda to the power of God's love in our lives, all transfiguring into something bigger. I delivered a sermon about the power of gazing at Jesus' image that changes us from the inside out as he is changed during his transfiguration and resurrection. The choir lifted us up into a place of awe with their magnificent piece, human voices, organ, and other ethereal sounds blending in amazing ways. Mark followed this to give witness to the power of being remembered with a care package while serving abroad in the military. He suggested that we can all pick up something at the grocery store and put it in the box in the narthex to be sent to Evan Ferree and his fellow soldiers who are serving in Bahrain. Even a small package of gum can lessen loneliness. Evan's mom, Betty, got up to share his huge thanks for our initial military care packages which have been received. We also learned that Evan knew one of the helicopter pilots who crashed in California. The realities of loneliness and even death were in tension with the promise of God's love in real ways for our community of faith, and in that moment we were together and there for one another. Thankfully, Rebekah's loving pastoral presence knit our vulnerabilities into a beautiful prayer that settled us into God' ever-present love. Our own inner radiance ignited, we found each other in the narthex for coffee and homemade cookies. Someone stepped into Elaine's place to make the coffee. Bakers left their delicious morsels from the previous night's "Notes, Words, and Colors" which raised over $1,200. More importantly, we delighted in the many and amazing talents of our members who made beautiful music and poems, paintings, a quilted wall hanging, Christmas ornaments, drawings, notecards even with matching scarves, much pottery and knitted wonders. All these coming from within someone to express our love for Bush Hill Church.

We always trust that we are in the presence of God when we come to Bush Hill Church. We are indeed a sanctuary, not just on Sunday mornings, in a troubled and chaotic world. We never really know how God will touch us--sometimes, in small ways, sometimes in big ways. When we offer ourselves to God--our presence in worship, our presence to each other--God becomes very real, and we become very loved. Thank you for giving yourselves to us!

Pastor Barbara

Prayers of the People

God who never abandons us or lets us walk alone, when we choose to go off pursuing our foolish choices, your love is never held back. You wait for us to return home and you welcome us in with your love and embrace.

If we turn our backs chasing after those pied pipers of politics, pride, and prejudice, your love never wavers. Like a sibling that is ever patient with us, your love lets go of all frustration, Jesus who walks with us side-by-side.

As we continue to attempt to shape you in our image, your love waits for us to come to our senses. Like a mother who sits by the bedside and calms us as you listen to our worries, your love gathers us to your heart, ever-patient Spirit. You always love us, you never stop believing in us, and your hopes for us never case. You walk through everything with and for us.

We offer our prayers to you, O God, whose love knows no bounds. We give thanks for the blessings of this life, especially the beauty of all creation. We pray for the world and the unity of all peoples. And we pray for the joys and concerns of this community. We pray for:

• People who are grieving the deaths of loved ones;
• Happy birthdays for Doris S. and Dot C.;
• Those living with sores in need of deep healing;
• A friend facing a career crisis;
• Judy S. as she recovers from a knee replacement;
• Mary S. recovering from a fall; 
• Evan and deployed troops, that they return home safely; 
• Those who died in the helicopter crash and their families;
• Elaine's mother and sister and Elaine as she cares for her family; 
• Thanksgiving for gifts of art and music offered at Words, Notes & Colors;
• Peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and an end to violence everywhere;
• Prayers during a job search;
• Wisdom and courage to navigate challenging relationships;
• Thanksgiving for the marriage of Rebekah and Ben;
• Lois Male;
• Those who show up at our door asking for help;
• Victims of gun violence and their families;
• Todee Mission School in Liberia;
• The medical staff caring for the sick and wounded;
• Travel mercies for those traveling at home and abroad;
• Those impacted by natural disasters;
• Those in the military and their families;
• Those suffering with dementia and their families and care givers;
• Those suffering with bodily afflictions whether it be Covid, migraines or other health challenges;
• The earth and our care of it;
• The BHPC community and its support of one another.

*Adapted from Thom Shuman’s Lectionary Liturgies

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from last week's Sunday worship service:

There will be an Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday, February 14

7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

in between handbells rehearsal and choir rehearsal.

The first activity of the Lenten season for the congregation is a chili potluck after worship on February 18. We are keeping it simple and asking those who participate to bring just one of three items:

Chili

Bread

Dessert

This is not a competition because we know everything will be delicious!

Note: If you bring chili, please add a card letting people know what kind of chili it is and some indication of how spicy it is. We want to please all palates. You may bring your dishes to the Dickson Room before church and the committee will take care of them for you.

Bush Hill Presbyterian Church

Sunday, March 10 @ 12PM

Rise Against Hunger food packaging will be returning to Bush Hill Presbyterian Church on March 10th, 2024! This community service event is open to all who wish to contribute. Rise Against Hunger is growing a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives and responding to emergencies. They will be bringing 3,000 pounds of rice, soy and fortified grains, which we as a congregation will then weigh out into individual portions, place them into bags, and seal them for further distribution. These meals will be provided as part of disaster relief and to food insecure regions and will provide essential nutrition to those who need it most. Lunch will be provided in the Narthex following service and the event will begin at noon and will run approximately two hours – or as long as it takes to package the food! 

There are jobs for all ages, and families are welcome. We will need volunteers for set up and clean-up as well! If you are interested, please sign up by clicking the link below.

Koinonia is running low on several items in the food pantry. Any donation would be greatly appreciated! The items highlighted below are in short supply.

The Clothing Closet is also in need of sweaters (size SMALL) and jeans/pants (size 30 waist) for men. They are also accepting fall and winter clothing.

Thank you!

From Evan Ferree:

"I was able to finally get my care packages that you all sent today. I cannot express how excited everybody was about the care packages. The senior pilots and aircrew who have been on multiple deployments are all in agreement that it was "the best care packages we've ever seen". Everyone - Pilots, Rescue Swimmers, and Maintainers - was incredibly grateful for all the snacks and the goodies that were sent. It helps keep the morale high out here more than everyone probably realizes. We'll all keep working hard to fly as much as we can to support the mission in front of us, and we'll all come home safe very soon. Thank you all!"

If you would like to donate, please CLICK HERE to see the list of items Evan and his squadron would like to have. Place the items in the donation box in the narthex.

This Week at BHPC...

TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the Kurtz Friendship Room

Can you serve as a lay leader? Please sign up here:

Youth Help Needed

We are fortunate to be seeing an uptick in families with little ones attending BHPC following Day School Sunday. In addition to Mosammed, we would like one youth to volunteer each week. This provides support in the event one caregiver needs to leave the room for any reason.



There is an updated sign-up for youth coverage in the nursery. Thank you!

Nursery signup

Would you like to offer flowers for Sunday worship? Please sign up here: