From the Pastor’s Desk
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
This verse is probably one of the first ones we ever memorized in Sunday School. It has been said to be “the gospel, in one verse.“
Love is a difficult thing to understand. One reason may be our language. In English, we have only one word for love. In Greek, which Jesus knew, there were different words for different kinds of love: Eros = love of ourselves; Philos = brotherly love; Agape = perfect love.
For large groups of us, Eros is the word we could use more than any other. Almost all of our decisions are made with ourselves in mind. That’s not all bad – sometimes we need to be sure of what we are and what we can do before we can help anyone else.
However, Jesus did say, “Love your neighbor as yourself“, so we must pass that love around. Philos is the kind of love that will allow us to have a good relationship with each other.
It’s almost impossible for us as humans to understand Agape, a love that is perfect. We have had a look at it though. As we celebrate Lent, we can once again remember how Jesus gave us that very kind of love as he gave his life for us. Agape means that the needs of others is more important than our own. We are to work toward that kind of love! We are not just to have eros, or philos but to take it further.
We get glimpses of that love when we are parents; as we see the lives of missionaries; the sacrifice of soldiers; those who are willing to give organs so that another can live. The actions in these situations are probably pretty close to Agape.
The important thing to remember is WE ARE NOT GOD, we cannot do everything but we can do something.
I’d like to close with this prayer by Daisy Townsend, “When You Can’t Fix It
O God,
I’m overwhelmed.
Your world is so wounded -
Filled with hurting, broken people
And much as I want to
I can’t fix it.
Never have I been more aware
Of my helplessness,
My impotence,
My own great need of You
Come, Holy spirit,
Come, Heavenly Counselor,
Fill my weakness
With Your Strength -
My darkness
With Your penetrating light.
May Lent be a time to recognize your loving ways!
Pastor Marilyn
The Church Owl
The Book of Confession contains many comforting theological insights.
Q. What are God’s works of providence?
A. Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death. We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God’s revelation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
-The Theological Declaration of Barmen (BC, 8.11; 8.12
-The Presbyterian Handbook
Announcements
Sunday School – 8:30 AM in the Community Building
Choir Practice Every Wednesday at 4:00pm
Pastor Marilyn : You can reach her at 607-222-8261. If anyone needs to meet, or need a visit or counseling, be sure to call. Winter Address: Rev. Marilyn and Ray Barnard, 5201 W. Camelback Rd. Lot B 31, Phoenix, AZ 85031
Friday, March 1st – World Day of Prayer
Sunday, March 3rd – Third Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 3rd – Coffee Hour follows our Worship Service in the Community Building
Sunday, March 10th – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 10th – Daylight Savings Time Begins
Saturday, March 16th – Family Supper in the Community Building – 5:30PM
Sunday, March 17th – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Wednesday, March 20th – First Day of Spring
Sunday, March 24th – Palm Sunday
Tuesday, March 26th – Newsletter Deadline
Thursday, March 28th – Maundy Thursday
Friday, March 29th – Good Friday
Sunday, March 31st – Happy Easter!!! – Sunrise Service – 7:30AM at the home of
Bill & CarolynWhite. Breakfast to follow at 8:00AM in the Community Building.
Worship Service at 9:30 am. All our welcome!!!
Organ Meditations at First Presbyterian Church in Montrose will be held on March 6th and March 13th. These are half hour organ meditations beginning at noon and followed by a soup and bread luncheon. Roberta Raybold will be doing the first, followed by Martha Denkenberger, and ending on the 13th with Sara Bertsch.
Easter Flowers
The Worship Committee is planning to have live plants decorating the sanctuary for Easter Sunday again this year. Envelopes will be available on the pedestals in the vestibule to support this endeavor. The committee plans to have daffodils and tulips as a sign of spring since Easter comes early this year. Please mark the envelope for what plant/plants that you would like as well as if they are in Honor or Memory of someone. The deadline for ordering is Sunday, March 17th so the flowers can be ordered. The cost is $10.00 per plant. Give the envelopes to Jim or Marcia Perkins with the money.
Souper Bowl
Our church joined with churches across the nation to support Souper Bowl Sunday culminating on football’s Super Bowl Sunday. Everything raised during this campaign stays in the local community. The support of the Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church once again was terrific. Our totals have been reported to Presbytery and the national Souper Bowl Campaign. Our church collected $501.20 and 71 food items. The Souper Bowl provided these food items and grocery store gift cards to four families in our neighborhood. Thank you for you most generous support again this year.
Here is Chris Ralston’s address while he is in Tech training. He will be there until mid September:
Ralston, Christopher J.
140 Phantom St. 15344
Keesler AF Base, Ms 39534
One Great Hour of Sharing – Immediately following World War II, Protestant Churches in the United States made appeals for the relief and reconstruction of areas devastated by the war, primarily Europe and Asia. In 1949 the leaders of several denominations formed a committee to organize an appeal to support their churches’ separate campaigns. A program called “One Great Hour” was broadcast on March 26, 1949, over major networks and many independent stations. The broadcast closed with a request that listeners attend their local church the following morning and make a sacrificial contribution. No exact measure of receipts was possible, but it was estimated that more than 75,000 church participated. The next year, the offering was repeated using the name “One Great Hour of Sharing”. All funds are used for ministries of disaster relief, refugee assistance and developmental aid. We have seen some of these funds in our own area during the flood. You may give in one of the envelopes provided, or in your own envelope marked One Great Hour of Sharing, or in one of the fish shaped containers. Sharing Resources……… Changing Lives.
Coffee Hour – There is a sign of sheet on the board in the foyer, we still need a couple people to sign up and you would need to see that the coffee is made and the juice is out and that things are set up. We are then asking that each family bring something to share. Homemade is great, but it does not need to be, and let’s try to bring healthy foods, such as little finger sandwiches, fruit, veggies, healthy snacks and maybe a few sweets for a treat.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Group – Since the beginning of this year, we have distributed 10 scarves and 3 hats to Bill’s Kids and 5 shawls. If anyone knows of anyone in need of a shawl, we have a few more ready. Please let Carolyn White know.
Thursday, April 4, 2013 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm – At Dreyer Lodge, Montrose Bible Conference -
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Women’s Resource Center invites you to a reception celebrating the support given by Susquehanna County community members for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Special Guest Speakers are Debra Tomeo and Martha Cuomo.
There will be hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
Loose Change Offerings
1st Sunday – Local Emergency/Deacon’s Fund
2nd Sunday – Local Emergency/Deacon’s
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – Building Maintenance
5th Sunday – Habitat for Humanity (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
Don’t forget our card ministry – If you would like a card sent to a particular person to give them a lift or let them know they are missed or offer encouragement, etc. etc., just give the name and address to Joyce. Cards, envelopes and postage will be provided and placed on a table in the Community Building the first Sunday of each month. As we file past the table on our way to the coffee pot, we will be able to sign each of the cards and Joyce will address the envelopes and mail them.
200th Anniversary Celebration
We are attempting to contact as many people who used to live on Franklin Hill as possible to invite them to the 200th Anniversary Celebration on September 8th of this year. If you have contact information; addresses, phone numbers, e-mails etc. please contact them or give the information to Jim Perkins. If anyone is not able to attend the celebration on the 8th we would enjoy hearing from them or have them visit church some time this year. Thank you in advance for you cooperation.
Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church History
At the time of our 150 celebration in 1963, members of the Historical Committee were,
Mr. Charles Armstrong, Mr. Bertram Hanson, Mrs. Lona Winamute, Mrs. Francis Stevens,
Mr. Guy Willson and the Pastor, Mr. Mitchell.
Members of the Session were, Mrs. Charles Armstrong, Floyd Gow, Albert Wells, Charles Armstrong,
Guy Willson, Frank Lewis, William Perkins, Francis Stevens, Mrs. Hubert Watkins,
Mrs. Floyd Watkins and Delbert Darrow.
The United Presbyterian Women members were, Mrs. Floyd Gow, President, Mrs. Elmer Darrow, Vice President, Mrs. Walter Smith, Secretary, Mrs. Charles Armstrong, Treasurer. Also, Mrs. Newton Willson, Miss Emma Hanson, Mrs. Francis Stevens, Mrs. Elmer Darrow and Mrs. Charles Armstong.
The Ladies Aid Officers were, Mrs. Frank Lewis, President, Mrs. Charles Armstrong, Vice President, Mrs. Ivan Lindsley, Secretary and Mrs. Floyd Gow, Treasurer.
The Pianist was Mrs. Hubert Watkins and Choir lead by Mrs. Francis Stevens.
There’s Something Better Coming
This season of Easter is a special time for Christians to celebrate the ultimate reason for our hope: Christ is risen, and invites us to rise with him to new life.
• Easter is an invitation to try again with God’s help to break that addiction we had given up all hope of ever breaking. There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is a chance to work at renewing the marriage we had given up all hope of ever saving. There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors who, in our busyness, we neglect. There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is an invitation to look at our lack of love and seek God for compassion. There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is a chance for all no-hopers to regain their vision of what can be! There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is an opportunity to renew our faith. There’s something better coming. …
• Easter is a chance to “renew our strength and mount up with wings as eagles; to run and not faint.” There’s something better coming. …
—Homiletics