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CROSS PURPOSES LANGHORNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH // FEBRUARY 2020 // VOLUME 2

IN THIS ISSUE

A Letter From The Pastor - Pg. 2

Feeding the Hungry

- Pg. 4

Upcoming Events

- Pg. 7

Clothing Drive

- Pg. 8

~Annual Chili Cook-Off~ It was a great turnout at the Chili Cook-off! Everyone enjoyed ten varieties of amazing chilis from sweet to spicy to smoky. Not to mention the fabulous sides and desserts. Thank you to all who brought a dish making the cook-off complete.

Congratulations to first place chef, Abby Cramer with her Flavor Country Chili! Tied for second and Third place were Mary Wertz’s MMCO Chili and Kimberly Bellis’ Party in a Pot Chili.

February begins with a trip to Guatemala and ends with a rare 29th day. In between we go to the Super Bowl – but who has a team in it? – celebrate our favorite valentines, and pick one of the 45 presidents, or all of them if you like, to give a day.

Three days before that rare 29th, Christians will gather to mark the beginning of the ancient practice we call Lent. Ash Wednesday is February 26, and LPC will

worship that day at 7:30 p.m.

So why this practice? Theologian Jarislav Pelikan once said, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” He was a wise man.

In Christian terms, tradition is the gift given us by the past. It is passed on to us by saints and martyrs, that great cloud of witnesses that urges us on in the life of faith. Tradition gives the best answers to important questions. “What is the chief end of man?” “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” Tradition reminds us to say “Thanks be to God” after we have heard the reading of the Word of the Lord, or to rise to our feet and sing, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,” after we have heard the good news that in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.

Tradition asks us to receive the ashes of Ash Wednesday as a sign of our contrition and desire to repent of our sins. It reminds us that the journey to the cross is hard and way narrow.

Traditionalism is suspicious of anything we haven’t done before or of a slight variation in the means to the same good end.

Tradition is the gift the church receives from the saints and martyrs. Traditionalism is poison that leaches all life from the church.

Lenten traditions – Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, self-denial and contemplation of the cross – help us in our Christian walk. Traditionalism is anxious that the exact right words are always said and thinks that forgoing chocolate and meat is a sufficient response to God’s love poured out upon the cross.

Ash Wednesday worship is a tradition at LPC. I pray that we use it wisely. Traditionalism says “we’ve always done it that way – let’s do it again.”

See you in February,

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A Letter From The Pastor

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Maintenance Activities Miscellaneous repairs have been done during the month. Cost gathering in-formation continues related to the door for the handicap ramp, gutter guards for the front of the church where leaves routinely block the gutters and downspouts, and fascia and pointing work on the chapel.

Cabin Use

Initiatives to disconnect the electrical from the cabin have been started. An analysis of costs, benefits, and liabilities for various scenarios for the cabin is being prepared to present a proposal to Session in the near future.

Winter Safety When the weather does get cold again, which it will,

please be aware of potential slippery spots on the

sidewalks, ramps, and parking lots. We make every

effort to keep these areas free of ice and snow, but

the weather does not always cooperate from a timing

perspective. There is salt available next to several doors

that can be used if you see a specific spot needing

attention. Notify the office or a Trustee if you have concerns.

December’s Monthly Giving

December income was 3% below budget after a very favorable November. This reflects normal seasonality with some timing issues. Year to date revenue is 2% below budget, ~$12,000. General Fund spending year to

date is 5% below budget. This sav-

ings combined with investment

returns resulted in an overall net

income of ~$22K.

An Update From The Trustees

Milestones

Among The

Church Family

Bill and Carol Degenhardt

celebrated their 54th

wedding anniversary on January 1st

Audrey Ambruster celebrated her 90th

birthday on January 7th

Mary Whitley celebrated her 99th

birthday on January 31st

Congratulations!

Happy Birthday!

Feeding the Hungry This year I have been given the opportunity to continue my faith journey by serving as a deacon. My main role as deacon has been to work with the food pantry to serve families in need within our congregation and the surrounding community. Recently, I am pleased to report, that we have seen an increase in donations for the pantry both from our congregation, as well as donations from Shady Brook Farms. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous giving, the shelves are overflowing! Although we have a surplus of items currently, there are a number of items that are in frequent demand and seem to fly off the shelves. These items include cereal, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, Ensure, Capri Sun (individual juice containers), canned kidney beans, canned meats including Spam, chicken, and tuna, as well as fruit cups, breakfast bars, and individual snack items like cheese crackers or Goldfish crackers. All donations may be placed in the bin marked Food Pantry located under the coat racks outside the Narthex. Occasionally, donations come in that are past the expiration date. In those cases, the Bucks County Housing Group will accept some “recently” expired items; however, it is helpful to check expiration dates before donating. The deacons are here to serve our community and you can help, not only through donations, but also by spreading the word. Please reach out to people you may know who struggle to obtain groceries, and let them know that we have a food pantry. The food pantry is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. If you do know someone who you think would benefit from help, please let one of the deacons know or direct them to contact Melynda Boyle in the church office for more information. Yours in service, Abby Cramer

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Deacon’s Corner

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FRIENDSHIP is a gift from God. In February the children in Kindergarten through 5th grade

will be studying about two great friends in the Bible, David and Jonathan. Read this story in the Bible with your children. It is found in I Samuel 17:57 through I Samuel 20:42. The Memory Verse comes from Proverbs 17:17 and is: “A friend loves at all times; He is there to help when trouble comes”. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss with your family the joys of friendship and remind them of the greatest friend, Jesus.

Mark your calendars!

July 20-24, 2020

VBS Rocky Railway, Jesus‘ Power Pulls us Through

Children’s Ministries

Youth Ministry This month has been full of a lot of small, much needed, relational moments in the youth pro-gram. I am very encouraged with the personal time I have been able to spend with students in smaller groups outside of regularly scheduled events. It is evident to me that God has been us-ing our youth program to truly disciple and train up the young people in our church, and it is pouring into every aspect of their lives.

From a larger program perspective, we are getting ready to kick off our Junior and Senior High Winter Retreats in the upcoming month and have enjoyed continued growth on Wednesday nights as we study the book of Colossians and the preeminence of Christ. Continue to pray for our students, volunteers, and church as we seek to proclaim the gospel to those who have not yet committed their lives to Christ and train up and encourage those who have.

Missions Corner: Where in the World is LPC?

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We are commanded by the Great Commission to be a missional church, that is, to be a “sent” church, going beyond our walls and out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed. In Acts 1:8, Jesus reaffirmed that we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth”. The intent of Christ’s words is clear! But what does that mean for us here at LPC? Where is our Jerusalem, Samaria or Judea? Do we really go “to the ends of the earth”? Here are some of the places where we, as a congregation, have been missionally in 2019.

Jerusalem:

Study With Friends: Study With Friends is a woman's bible study ministry.

LPC in Langhorne & Environs: Food Pantries and more -See Board of Deacons annual report.

Judea:

ChoiceOne: Choice One is a Christian, evangelical, missional Pregnancy and Sexual Health Resource Center with locations in lower and central Bucks County and Lawrenceville, NJ.

Life Abundant, Inc: Life Abundant is a small but vital and powerful Christian Bucks County Prison ministry.

Samaria:

Hunting Park Christian Academy: (HPCA): HPCA, located in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia, is our primary local urban mission. LPC has been a source of great encouragement to the HPCA staff and students in this difficult place in our world.

The Ends of the Earth:

Dr. John & Jess Cropsey, Hope Africa Kibuye Hospital, Burundi, Africa. Dr. Cropsey and a team of over 50 dedicated Christian medical personnel, along with their families, serve at the Kibuye Hope Hospital in Burundi, Africa.

Promised Land Ministries (PLM), Guatemala: Promised Land Ministries (PLM) is one of our ends-of-the-earth “focus” missions and is our oldest LPC mission partner. For over 19 years, LPC has been sending mission teams to San Lucas Toliman on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

A Couple of Christians (ACOC)/Misioneros Christano Unidos (MCU), Guatemala City, Guatemala: ACOC is a mission run by Pat & Yesinia Opperman, formerly missionaries with PLM. The work of ACOC involves a variety of “hands-on” missional initiatives in and around Guatemala City and in surrounding rural locations.

Igreja Presbiteriana no Jardim América (IPJA), Belo Horizonte, Brazil: IPJA is a Brazilian Presbyterian congre-

gation strategically located near the Favela de Ventosa in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The mission of IPJA is to share

the Gospel with the residents of the favela.

The Caldwells, Missionaries in the Philippines: The Caldwells were commissioned as missionaries by the EPC

this summer and are now serving in the Philippines.

Do you need to go to “the ends of the earth” to be a missionary? Absolutely not. Anyone and everyone can participate in mission in one form or another, and your Mission Committee encourages each of us to do so. For a much fuller resume of LPC’s missional activities in 2019, please see the full Mission Committee report in the LPC 2019 Annual Report.

Your Mission Committee

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Upcoming Events:

2/1 - 2/8 Guatemala Mission Trip 2/8 7 am - Gideon’s Breakfast

2/9 11:30 am - Annual Meeting

2/21 - 2/23 Youth Retreat

2/26 7:30 pm - Ash Wednesday Worship Service

2/28 6 pm - Friday Night Hangout

Women’s Ministry

The women of LPC return to the beautiful countryside of Kenbrook Bible Center in Lebanon, PA on April 17 – 19 (the weekend after Easter) for the 2020 Spring Retreat. We are excited to host Dr. Sheryl Vasso as our guest speaker for the week-end, helping us put our anxieties aside as we move From Worrier to Warrior. It’s a chance to “get away from it all”, to relax and rewind, to spend time in the Word alongside friends. Use your free time as you wish; explore the grounds and trails of Kenbrook, join in games or a craft, read, take a nap. Accommodations are two to a room with private bathroom; meals are provided beginning with breakfast on Saturday morning. Program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and ends with the Sunday noon meal, around 1:00 p.m.

Registration ends March 15th OR when the reserved rooms are filled. A $95 de-posit is needed with registration; additional balance of $100 is due by March 15th. A limited number of first-timer and partial scholarships are available; please con-tact Sandy Heuckroth at women.lpc@gmail.com. Registration forms are available in the turnstiles in the Narthex and Chapel, on the “latest news” section of the LPC website, or click the link at https://www.langhornepres.org/womens-spring-retreat/. Please return to the Women’s Retreat mailbox outside the office door. Regardless of your plans, Sheryl encourages everyone to share in her devotional

website at www.wordsofworth.com/blog.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Worrier to Warrior

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May your season be decked with jolly and all kinds of warm, cozy wintertime fun!

Thank you for the prayers, fellowship and friendship.

Also, pray for Jake as he heads to a new, undisclosed location for the military."

In Christian Friendship, Michelle Wiatrowski (Michelle included her new address. Please give the Church office a call if you would like to have it.)

Dear LPC Board & Congregation,

February 2020 Volume 2

Affix label here

The Reverend Wil l iam A. Teague, Pastor WORSHIP SCHEDULE

(September to Mid-June) 8:30 a.m. Chapel

10:00 a.m. Sanctuary Children of all ages dismissed from 10:00 service for Sunday School

Church Office hours: M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 215-752-3200 langhornepres.org

LPC Langhorne Presbyterian Church 125 East Gillam Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047 A Congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

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Looking For Gently Used Clothes of All Sizes

Our church supports Choice One which is a Christian, evangelical, missional Pregnancy and Sexual Health Resource Center. They have asked us to hold a clothing drive for Good Stuff thrift store. They receive funding from Good Stuff and in return Choice One has clothes drives for them. We will be collecting all sizes of gently used clothes from March 1st to March 8th. You can support Choice One by placing your bags of cloth-ing in room A. If you have any questions please feel free to call Cathy Reese. Thank you for all your support.

Mission Support: Choice One

ASH

WEDNESDAY

February 26th

7:30 pm

Join us for

worship