On Sunday, 2 August, 2009 the congregation of Old Landmark Ministries began sharing space with St Paul for worship, Christian education, and other church activities. This will be an opportunity for both to grow in many ways. We look forward to a year of getting to know each other, working together, and sharing our faith and fellowship with each other

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LENT

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2010) and ends Saturday, April 3, 2010.

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The six-week season of Lent, a season of self-examination, practicing spiritual disciplines, and preparation for the gifts of Holy Week and Easter, begins on 17 February, Ash Wednesday.

We offer Mid-Week Gatherings each Wednesday evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a simple meal organized by the Deacons. A free-will offering for the compassionate work of the Deacons will be accepted for the meal. Take a night off of cooking and enjoy good food and companionship!

After dinner, we will share in a time of study, discussion, and worship. This Lent, we will use as our discussion resource Marcus Borg’s and John Dominic Crossan’s book The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem. The worship leader will present a chapter of the book and lead us in discussion, along with simple Taize music and liturgy. The Ash Wednesday worship service will include the traditional ritual of Imposition of Ashes.

Let us come together during Lent to prepare ourselves, through study, prayer, and worship, as individuals and as a church, for Christ’s Easter gift of salvation.

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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

LORD, WHEN WAS IT THAT WE SAW YOU?

On January 12, a powerful earthquake hit approximately ten miles from the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. An earthquake of this magnitude would be devastating to any city, but in one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere its effects are catastrophic. Millions of people have been affected by this disaster and tens of thousands—possibly hundreds of thousands—are feared dead. With many of the established sources of safety and security demolished—churches, schools, hospitals and government buildings—survivors are searching for signs of hope and help.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA is rushing an initial $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to provide immediate emergency relief to the affected people. Funds are being sent through our ecumenical and local partners working in Haiti.

Presbyterian World Mission is gathering information on the safety and status of our mission personnel and ecumenical partners in the area. For updates on the earthquake and the church’s response, please visit the PDA Web site. Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR000064.

Gifts can also be made by phone at (800) 872-3283, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST), and checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

What you can do

As God’s people, we are called to stand in the “GAP”—

GIVE, ACT, PRAY.

Give – Financial support for relief efforts can be made online and designated to DR000064. Your gifts, combined with those of others, provide a visible and tangible demonstration of God’s care in the midst of this tragedy. Recovery will be a difficult and long process, but Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has time and time again modeled a faithful response over the long haul.

Act – Congregations and individuals can put together hygiene kits and baby kits to be distributed through Church World Service. For information, visit the PDA Web site.

Pray – Join with others in lifting up the people of Haiti and those seeking to provide aid in this critical time. As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:

God of compassion, please watch over the people of Haiti, and weave out of these terrible events wonders of goodness and grace. Surround those who have been affected by tragedy with a sense of your present love, and hold them in faith. Though they are lost in grief, may they find you and be comforted; guide us as a church to find ways of providing assistance that heals wounds and gives hope. Help us to remember that when one of your children suffers we all suffer. Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives and rules this world with you. Amen.

Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008), Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Linda Valentine, Executive Director, General Assembly Mission Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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THANK YOU

Our appreciation goes to two young neighbors who have completed assigned community service at our church. They worked hard and we benefited greatly.

Boy Scout Troop 1, which meets here on Tuesday evenings, are repairing our Celebration Center chairs. To date, they have repaired and strengthened with nuts and bolts 45 chairs. They plan to do all of our chairs over a brief period of time.

FABULOUS FLYING FLAMINGOS

The final total raised from this fundraiser was about $600. Thank you, St. Paul, for providing for our music programs so generously and playing along! And much thanks to the drivers from the groups that kept those birds moving, and to Gayle Fidler for managing the whole thing with me! Not an easy job!

Some members have actually expressed the desire to purchase some of those flamingos (much to my amusement and horror). There are a handful that are still in good shape that I would be willing to part with for whatever you would choose to donate for them. Just call me or find me on a Sunday morning, and we’ll work it out!

Next fundraiser—Talent show in February.  Start thinking about it… Hey Bruce, do we get more Elvis???

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