« Sunday, April 30 Bulletin | Main | Sunday, May 7 Bulletin »
May 01, 2006
May Newsletter
Pastor's Pen
Bonnie and I are very grateful for the flowers and many cards and emails in which you shared our grief after you learned of my mother’s death. We have been grateful and surprised at this outpouring of kindness. It makes me feel sad that I have not always thought to share the grief of others, not realizing how much this means. It makes me hope I do better in days to come.There are heavy matters afoot about which it is my duty to communicate with you. But these must wait, as I’m not satisfied with anything I’ve so far written.
Does it seem to you as it does to me that nearly everything now written for public consumption is HEAVY? Take the latest issue of Newsweek for example. Check it out. Sleeplessness. Pregnancy blues. The heated discussion of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. Children of soldiers killed in Iraq. A Sicilian mafia boss finally snared after 43 years. Duke’s Lacrosse team scandal. Oil prices. Starvation and AIDS epidemics in Africa. Really depressing.
The antidote is not to bury one’s head and stop watching the news. It is to focus on what is good. Loyalty, Faithfulness. Honesty. Loving one’s family and friends. Caring for those it is possible to care for, anywhere. Immersing oneself in the life of a community of faith.
One good piece in Newsweek was by a young mother who commented on sidewalks
“those evenly spaced concrete blocks [that] stitch a town into a neighborhood.” Walk the sidewalks and I get to know the neighbors.
On Maundy Thursday before Communion I focused my remarks on the Gospel of John’s story of Mary of Bethany who lavished care on Jesus. Her ointment was expensive. It smelled beautiful to high heaven. Her attention was lavish, almost unseemly. This is a passage I’ve never heard honestly exposed in a sermon.
Yet here we may see described the purest example of Jesus’ intentions for the ways of His followers. Jesus was the one absorbing her care but Jesus elsewhere teaches us that we should treat everyone as we would treat Him. How should we treat everyone? We should treat others in the way someone treated Him, the one of whose deed He remarked, “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (Matthew 26: 13). Here is a lesson in Christian behavior.
I have often pondered this woman’s display of affection, and that all four Gospels report this without a blush. All four Gospels tell of a like incident, which may mean this happened four times. Or it may be that the same incident is told a little bit differently by the four Gospel writers.
There is no other glimpse of Jesus with someone in the New Testament that has the gleam
of care and affection this picture gives. We don’t know quite what to make of it. I’ve never heard a sermon on it. As I ponder this it reminds me of an image C.S. Lewis described of a boy who’d never seen the ocean rejecting a chance to go to the seaside because he was so enchanted with his mud puddle. We have all sorts of ideas about how to relate to each other that take into consideration our differences of view, our annoyance with this or that, but here we have an image of gratitude and love on the part of this woman, and total acceptance on the part of Jesus. There were plenty in Jesus’ day who took exception to Him. We are entranced with our mud puddles as Jesus offers us the seaside.
For one moment in time we get a glimpse of eternity. It reminds me of a setting described in Revelation 5 where “myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands” say with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” This amazing passage then proceeds to describe “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea giving echo to that unrestrained praise. In the case of the accounts of this woman that scene from the end of times is shown in miniature. Take what she did and multiply it by myriads upon myriads.
Multiply it where? How about in the Church? Not only that but look at the story from the other side too. It is amazing what this woman did for Jesus. It is even more amazing what Jesus did not only for the woman, but for us too. She poured out costly, fragrant ointment. He poured out His life’s blood. Each for the love of the other.
And then I remember Jesus taught us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” And I remember Jesus said that everywhere the Gospel is told her deed would be told too.
I hear a fair amount of criticism that to emphasize love is to neglect the weighty matters of judgment of sin in the Bible. I hear it said that to emphasize love too much is probably due to not reading all the Bible says. But in the story of this woman, it is her love that steals the show even for Jesus.
In our tense day when the church is riddled with mutual disregard where liberals and
conservatives sit across the aisles from each other in their correctnesses, I ponder the lack of categorical distinction in Jesus teaching about how His followers are to be to Him and to each other. I ponder the fact that this woman probably didn’t have a sophisticated theology of the Incarnation in mind when she cared for Jesus. All she knew was that here was a man who treated her as she’d never been treated before. And she was grateful to the point of being unable to restrain her gratitude.
This says something to me about how to be to you, that is, if, when I see you I remember Jesus taught me that I should treat you as if you were Jesus. Imagine a congregation, a denomination, a Christendom where such a standard governed our ways to each other. I hear an echo of “Yes, but . . .” But the echo of this scene in Jesus’ life with this woman echoes an awful lot more loudly.
Pastor Stuart D. Robertson
Inquirer's Class
The next Inquirer’s Classes (a two-week series) will be offered on Sunday, June 4 and Sunday June 11. These classes are for anyone interested in learning about the ministry and teachings of Faith Presbyterian Church. This includes those who want to become members as well as those who aren’t sure they want to become members but who would like to find out more about our church. Please contact Michael Bergmann, Glenn Sparks, or the church office if you’re interested. Worship Information May 7th – Sermon: “The Sign of Joy and Sorrow” OT: Amos 9: 11 - 15 NT: John 2: 1 - 11 CommunionMay 14th – Sermon: “The Importance of Marriage”
OT: I Kings 8: 14 - 21
NT: John 2: 12 - 25
May 21st – Sermon: “God Loves the World”
OT: Numbers 21: 4 - 9
NT: John 3: 1 - 16
May 28th – Sermon: “What is it to Believe in Jesus?”
OT: Isaiah 51: 1 - 6
NT: John 3: 17 - 21
Clerk's Corner
At its meetings on March 14 and April 18, 2006 the Session took the following actions:• Approved a bid of $ 15,210 for exterior renovations of the church property
• Set up a committee to determine the needs for interior redecoration and repairs in the education wing
• Designated Sunday April 30, 2006 as the date for prospective new members who have attended the Inquirer's class to meet with Pastor Robertson. These individuals will be publicly received into fellowship with the Congregation at Sunday morning services, May 7, 2006
• Granted Pastor Robertson the following leaves: Study leave May 1 -5, 2006 for attendance at a Synod-sponsored meeting in St. Louis, on conflict management; personal leave of absence July 9 – 16, 2006; study leave and travel time August 4 -13, 2006 for duties as Chaplain in Residence at Presbyterian House in Chautauqua, New York
• Approved June 4 and 11 as dates for the next Inquirer's Class
• Approved June 26 – 30, 2006 as the dates for Vacation Bible school. Elder Carolyn Kessler and Pastor Robertson will be in charge, with assistance by Elders Janet Hem and Grieke Toebes
• Approved a five-week pilot program headed by Vicki Kennell and Lou Ann Johnston as an initial response to the program of building up a Children's Ministry to the church neighborhood. Targeted at the E-K to 6th grade age group, it is scheduled for five Sundays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM beginning April 23, 2006. Invitations have been sent out to church families.
Jurgen Honig, Clerk of Session
Eternal Promise Update
Eternal Promise Ministry, one of the missions supported by Faith Presbyterian Church, is run by Mrs. Sunday Bunch. With the encouragement and support of her husband, Hillard, Mrs. Bunch carries out a wide range of ministry activities from her home in West Lafayette, including organizing Vespers services at Friendship House, ministering to local nursing and retirement home residents, and ministering to prison inmates. Mrs. Bunch’s main focus, in conjunction with Crossroad Bible Institute and Prison Fellowship Ministry, is showing prison inmates that they are valuable to God and that He has a plan for their lives through the teaching of the Word, counseling, and in many cases, acting as a surrogate family member and friend to individual inmates. She also ministers to and encourages nursing home residents, showing them the way to Jesus, helping them to realize their worth in Him, and showing them that they are still useful to Him and others around them. Mrs. Bunch and her husband asked me to extend their deepest gratitude to our congregation for the support of their ministry. The gift cards we donate to their ministry assist them with the purchase of ministry supplies, clothing, and food, and help them to pay medical bills. Eternal Promise’s biggest ministry challenge remains Mrs. Bunch’s health, as she faces various physical limitations that prevent her from carrying out her ministry to the extent she’d like to do so. She asks prayer for physical strength and for wisdom for her doctor to know the best actions to take, so that she may continue to bring God’s word and love to those who are going through dark times in their own lives. Submitted by Barbara JacobusParking
The Building and Grounds Committee is asking everyone that is able, please park in the lower lot on Sunday mornings so that the upper lot can be reserved for those who have difficulty walking and Faith guests. Thank you.Spirit of Adoption
Is adoption really God's plan B? Please share the answer to this significant question by inviting your friends and church family to a free America World Adoption Association "Spirit of Adoption" seminar. We will be holding a seminar at the following location: Saturday, May 6th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon at Faith Presbyterian Church 3318 State Road 26 W West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 Whether your friends are just beginning to consider adoption, or have already started the paperwork, this seminar will be of value to them. We will be there to share our story of how America World began, and present an overview of the adoption process. They will hear personal experiences from families like you who are in the process or have already adopted, and they will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer time. This seminar will also be a great opportunity to learn more about the life-changing adoption experience.
Additionally, we would love to have you attend--whether you are in the beginning stages of your adoption or have already returned with your child(ren). It is always great to have AWAA families there to encourage others to experience the 'Spirit of Adoption'. It also gives me a great opportunity to meet you and your family!
For more information about this seminar please contact Andy & Angie Wiggines at thewiggins@awaa.org
Saying Goodbye
It is time to say Good-bye, Thank You and God Bless to Arthur Semotan, our Youth Group Leader this past year. Arthur has done a great job working with our youth and their friends. His energy, creativity and love for Christ have made a positive impact on everyone, and he will be greatly missed. Arthur graduates from Purdue this month and next year will be a full-time intern with Campus Crusade at Purdue, where he’ll continue his work to build disciples for Christ. Please join me in thanking Arthur for leading our Youth and for being a part of Faith Church this past year. Arthur - we wish you God’s guidance and peace in the days ahead. Come back to visit anytime! Lonni KucikHooray for the eaters— Hooray for the hosts— Hooray for the students who ate the most!
Stay tuned for our next installment of Sunday Home Fellowship Dinners. We had sixty participates enjoying the delicious food. Don’t forget to sign-up when the next one is announced.Youth Group Update
Starting in May, we’ll plan one special Youth Group event each month. Then in the Fall Youth Group will resume the normal Sunday evening schedule. If anyone has ideas for special summer events and/or would like to volunteer to help plan and implement summer events, please contact Lonni Kucik, 497-5696.National Day of Prayer
Three citywide events will take place on May 4th. The National Day of Prayer begins with a prayer breakfast at 7:00am at the University Inn in West Lafayette. Our speaker this year is Jonathan Graf, the founding editor of Pray! Magazine and currently serves as Vice President of Harvest Prayer Ministries. He also provides leadership to the National Church Prayer Leaders Network. Jon and his leaders are passionately involved in mobilizing prayer in hundreds of churches through out the United States. He brings a unique perspective about prayer in our community. He is the author of the book The Power of Personal Prayer.This will be followed by the outdoor noonday observance at the Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette starting at 12:10pm. This gathering will be filled with worship and prayer to God for our governmental leaders, churches, families and other important areas of our community life. A local worship band will lead us in public praise of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Concluding the National Day of Prayer will be a Community-Wide Concert of Prayer at Covenant Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette at 7:00pm. A special feature will be a combined choir of area churches leading us in worship.
It will be significant for our community if everyone would join with other followers of Jesus Christ at one or all of these events.
The day’s events are sponsored by the Tippecanoe Evangelical Association of Ministers and Ministries – T.E.A.M.M.
Mel Gibson's Passion
Purdue Press has published a book called Mel Gibson’s Passion. Pastor Robertson says that the articles are very interesting and thought some of you might be interested in reading it. He wrote the last chapter in this book, “A View from the Pew,” based on his experiences as a pastor here at Faith Church after seeing the movie twice. This book is available through Purdue Press at 800-247-6553.Choir Info.
Sunday, May 14 will be the last day for adult choir.There will be summer choir for the month of June and anyone that would like to participate is welcome. Practice will be Sunday’s 8:45am – 9:15am and 11:00am – 11:30am.
Need Help?
These last few Sundays, I have had the pleasure of meeting two delightful ladies. Both live at Westminster and I have taken them home after Church. Gerda Kohnke is blind, but gets around quite well and told me that she can see some things - like the black line that separates the two slabs of concrete that forms the walk on the West side of her apartment. She said that up until about 5 years ago she could see, but has a problem that has resulted in the loss of her sight. She has a wonderful personality and does not seem inconvenienced by this problem. Dorothy McCaw lives in the same building and was telling me that when she and her husband were first married, he got a job in Massachusetts and purchased a Hupmobile. A very large car with spare tires located on both front fenders. The car was so large that they would use it on weekends and other holidays for traveling. They would camp out two nights in the back seat and the third night seek showers with more comfortable facilities. Her father had a heart attack and she flew to Texas to be with him. Her husband drove their car and it took him 9 days to drive from Massachusetts to Texas. She said that the top speed was 55 mph downhill and 45 mph uphill. Keep in mind this was well before modern highways.My haven’t times changed?
Kathy Bowker and Maxine Jones have brought them to church whenever the ladies have expressed an interest to attend.
If these ladies keep telling me these stories I may have to find a longer route to get them to their apartments. Now, are there others who may need some kind of assistance? There are several who are interested in helping. I suspect that they will enjoy listening too.
John Miller, 743-5781
Vacation Bible School
Plans are going well for an exciting Vacation Bible School June 26 through June 30. Our main teachers are in place for music, Bible stories, travel (something new!), crafts, and recreation, but we are still looking for helpers (“hand holders”) who will accompany the children to the various activities and help with memory work. We also need one or more caretakers for the nursery, depending on how many little ones we will have. For the first day we are looking for people to help at the registration table, and if one or two persons would like to coordinate the teachers’ and helpers’ lunch after the closing program, that would be greatly appreciated. Please talk to Carolyn, Jan, or Grieke, or leave a message at the church office if you are willing to be a part of the Vacation Bible School week. The first meeting for teachers, crafts, kitchen, and recreation leaders, will be held on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:00pm in the church library. The second meeting, for everyone, will be on Monday, June 5 same place, same station. In the meantime, invite children you may know to Vacation Bible School, and join us in prayer for this important outreach to our own and other children.The VBS Planning Committee
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
The last meeting of our study of the Gospel of Matthew will be Tuesday, May 30. We will begin a new study in September. Contact person--Deb Johnson 477-6569.Birthdays
May 1 Reed Elijah Clinton May 1 Marilyn Hinze May 2 Grace Michelle Czerwonky May 3 Laura Tyler May 5 Robert Landolt May 8 Jeremy Powell May 9 Jacqueline Kay Meriwether May 17 James Bosler May 18 Knox Clinton May 20 Jackie Tyler May 20 Alice Mundell May 22 Piers Hunter Houtsma May 27 Eve Hanson May 28 Madison Castongia May 31 Jan HemAnniversaries
May 6 Dave & Lonni Kucik May 12 Jay & Jenne McMillin May 22 Steve & Mary Lou Varys May 26 Donald & Penny WinshipCommunity Worship Services
• Sun., May 7 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm • Sun., May 14 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm • Sun., May 14 Friendship House 3:00pm • Sun., May 21 Davis Manor 3:00pm • Sun., May 28 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm The Deacons invite you to become a part of this ministrySchedule Information
You can contact Pastor Robertson by calling the office, 743-3683, on Wednesday mornings 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pastor Robertson's day off is Monday. Outside of office hours please feel free to call Pastor Robertson at home at 497-2162.Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am and each Wednesday morning at 7:00am. We also invite you to participate in the prayers, fellowship, work and activities of this church. For more information about this opportunity to be involved at Faith Presbyterian Church, please call or talk to any member of Session, Pastor Robertson or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at May 1, 2006 01:04 PM