Jeff’s thots on living the Faith

Upcoming

Communion Dates March 5th & 6th, 12th & 13th, 19th & 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th & 27th April 9th & 10th May 7th & 8th June 11th & 12th July 9th & 10th Aug 13th & 14th Sept 10th & 11th Oct 1st & 2nd Nov 5th & 6th, 26th & 27th

Dec 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th

17th & 18th, 24th & 25th

March 2016 CHIMES

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

7100 Harvard Hills Rd.

P.O. Box 846Harvard, IL. 60033

Office Phone 815-943-4473 Jeff’s Home 815-943-4572

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover Lamb was sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us…” Luke 22:7-8

The night we know as Maundy Thursday is the same night the

Jews of Jesus’ day celebrated the Passover meal. This was the

happiest night of the year for them—something like the

Fourth of July and Christmas all rolled into one big day. So the

meal that we call “The Last Supper” was this great and

wonderful family gathering. Even today Jewish people will

celebrate the same meal which they call their “Seder”.

Much of the subtle meanings of the last Supper are enriched

by understanding the Seder meal. Important elements of the

Seder celebration are actually part of our communion

celebrations. Even the idea that the Passover meal is a happy

event adds new purpose to our Communion practices. This

year our Worship committee is offering a Seder supper for our

Maundt Thursday worship. The meal will begin at 6:00 so that

it can be enjoyed by families with young children.

Because it is the Passover meal the food we will share has to

be in keeping with Jewish dietary laws. So for instance dairy

foods are not to be mixed in with any other foods. Bread will

be unleavened—that is without yeast. The worst part of all

for some of us is NO PORK. That means NO BACON. When I

was in Israel the Christians were the envy of Jews and

Muslims because we a eat ham and bacon. But not this

Maundy Thursday.

The Seder meal includes some fun activities for the children. A

piece of bread is hidden and the children are sent to find it. In

order for the meal to continue the Rabbi [in this case the

preacher] has to buy it back from the children. All during the

meal we will be remembering the loving goodness of God and

how HE has guided us through the trials of our lives. I hope

you will set aside this evening March 24 to be with us. I

promise you that the next time you take communion it will be

with a greater understanding of what the Last Supper meant

to Jesus and his disciples.

Rev. Jeff

www.fpcharvard.org

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Daily scripture readings for weeks 10 to 13 of reading through the bible in 50 weeks

Week 10 March 7-13

Day 1 Judges 1-3 & Psalm 55 Israel struggles to be a people of God

Day 2 Judges 4-8 & Psalm 56 Deborah and Gideon

Day 3 Judges 9-12 & Psalm 57 Shibboleth and Sibboleth

Day 4 Judges 13-16 & Psalm 58 Samson’s story

Day 5 Judges 17-21 & Psalm 59 Days of chaos

Day 6 Ruth 1-4 & Psalm 60 Jesus’ ancestors

Week 11 March 14-20

Day 1 1 Samuel 1-3 & Psalm 61 The Call of Samuel

Day 2 1 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 62 The Ark goes traveling

Day 3 1 Samuel 9-12 & Psalm 63 Samuel anoints Saul king

Day 4 1 Samuel 13-16 & Psalm 64 Saul as a flawed king

Day 5 1 Samuel 17-20 & Psalm 66 David and Goliath

Day 6 1 Samuel 21-24 & Psalm 67 David on the run

Week 12 March 21-27

Day 1 1 Samuel 25-28 & Psalm 68 Saul’s last conversation with Samuel

Day 2 1 Samuel 29-31 & Psalm 69 The death of Saul

Day 3 2 Samuel 1-4 & Psalm 70 David mourns Saul

Day 4 2 Samuel 5-8 & Psalm 71 David anointed king

Day 5 2 Samuel 9-12 & Psalm 72 David and Bathsheba

Day 6 2 Samuel 13-16 & Psalm 73 Absolom rebels

Week 13 March 28-April 3

Day 1 2 Samuel 17-20 & Psalm 74 The revolts against David

Day 2 2 Samuel 21-22 & Psalm 75 David’s last battle

Day 3 2 Samuel 23-24 & Psalm 76 David makes a bad decision

Day 4 1 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 77 The wisdom of Solomon

Day 5 1 Kings 4-7 & Psalm 78 Solomon builds the Temple

Day 6 1 Kings 8-10 & Psalm 79 Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

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CHIMES, SCREEN AND BULLETIN

ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINES

Bulletin and screen announcements MUST be in by

9 am the Wednesday morning before that Sunday.

For the CHIMES you must have your signed article in by

9 am the morning of the 21st

[Disclaimer: All articles will be printed “as is” as content/spelling is responsibility of

submitted author]

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CHIMES ARTICLES:

We follow guidelines for non profit organizations bulk mailing restrictions.

These restrictions relate to the type of advertisements allowed: the

advertisement of a product, service or announcement of an activity must

substantially contribute to one or more of the purposes on which our

organization is authorized. Restrictions also apply to cooperative mailings,

credit, debit, charge or similar financial instruments, or advertisements. These

restrictions became effective on October 1, 1995.

CHIMES usually available on-line on church’s website after the 26th of each month.

There will be paper copies of the CHIMES available in the Narthex after its

completion each month

KITCHEN INSPECTOR for the month of MARCH

Is Laura Lucy

A kitchen inspector’s job is to check the kitchen and the parlor once a week during your month. Inspect

the refrigerator for spills, old food and beverages which should be thrown out because of being expired.

Please also take home any dish towels that need washing and return them the following week. If you are

unable to inspect for your month please get a fill in for you. Thank you for your help!!!!

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BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARY

ANNIVERSARIES March 15 Tom and Emily Treffenger March 19 Mike and Hannah Jesski

BIRTHDAYS

Mar 02 Laura Lucy Mar 02 Andrew Camp Mar 05 Herman Lucy, Joe Dapper, Dean Spesard Mar 06 Irma Prato, Joe Anderson Mar 07 Elizabeth Davies Mar 08 Lily Ann Wells Mar 10 Genny Mundis, Robert Mulvenna, Matthew Nail Mar 11 Penny Ashcraft Mar 14 Patrick Clinnin Mar 16 Allison Kratz, Timothy Soutar Mar 17 Walter Krause, Rachel Anderson, Daniel Beetstra

Mar 20 Elaine Fiducci, Aria Coffer Mar 21 Marlene Beetstra, Dylan Hildreth Mar 23 Tyler Bielski, Amberlyn Barton Mar 24 Bryan Sipe, Derek Wallner Mar 25 Dixie Blazier, Mar 26 Elizabeth Platt, Thomas G. Jones Mar 27 Damon Kleckner, Patricia Davis Mar 29 Jonah Beetstra Mar 30 Allison Amelianovich

2016 Per Capita is

$ 35.66 per member.

Initial offering per box of envelopes is:

$ 7.30 per Adult box and $ 6.00 per child’s box

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE DOOLEYS

For donating over 5 reams of copy paper to the church office.

What a cost saver for our budget !!!!

If anyone is interested in making donations of merchandise to the

church just contact the office on items that may be needed and give

your receipt to Janet. Your donations are tax deductible and the

Trustees thank you very much !

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CHURCH FUNDRAISERS

Sentry Funds for Friends: Shop at Sentry in Walworth, and save your cash register receipts,

A DATE MUST APPEAR ON EACH GROCERY RECEIPT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO

GIVE US CREDIT, please do not cut off the date on the receipts. GROCERY RECEIPTS

CAN NOT BE SUBMITTED IF THEY ARE MORE THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. Return your

receipts as soon as possible to the church with a Funds for Friends Sticker on the back and

place them in the container in the Narthex under our bulletin board.

Shop on line at www.igive.com to sign up. Enter your cause as “First Presbyterian Church of

Harvard” to earn us a % of your purchase for any of over 900 popular online sites. Many of

the sites are linked to igive.com, so once signed up, when you make a normal purchase we

will receive the donation automatically. You also can browse the participating sites at

igive.com and see the related % of giving through each retailer. Direct your questions to

Mike Engle.

WE ARE NO LONGER COLLECTING USED INK CARTRIDGES

HARVARD FOOD PANTRY

NEWS

Food Pantry Sunday

is the 3rd Sunday of

each month but you

can bring in donations

anytime and place in

our grocery cart in the

hallway. Perishable

items are purchased

from cash donations

to the Pantry.

Presbyterian Work Day for the month of

MARCH is the 29th

Contact Florence if you are able to help

CIRCLE IV

will meet on Thursday,

March the 10th

at 1 pm.

With Mary Jane hosting

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The Deacons are once again purchasing Easter Lilies. The Lilies will be available for pick up after the Easter services. The Deacons are also asking for donations for plants to be delivered to shut-ins prior to Easter.

This year’s Lilies cost $ 8,00 per plant.

Return this slip into the office by Friday, March 18th

PLEASE PRINT IN THE APPROPRIATE BOX!

I would like # ____ of plant/s for the Sanctuary. I will be picking them up after the Easter Services. I

would like it printed in the bulletin as follows:

Donated by: __________________________________________

___ in memory of ___ in honor of ___ as a thank offering

For: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

****************************************************************************

I would like to make a donation towards # ____ of plant/s that I understand will be taken to a shut-in by

a Deacon. I would like it printed in the bulletin as follows:

Donated by: ___________________________________________

___ in memory of ___ in honor of ___ as a thank offering

For: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

You may sign up to receive your copy of the

monthly CHIMES via your email by filling out a

yellow form available in the Narthex by the

bulletin board for Jeff’s weekly blog and return

to the church office.

Go to the church website

www.fpcharvard.org

And see the church’s

calendar and also

upcoming events.

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See what’s happening in Mission,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance :Your financial blessings to help disaster survivors throughout the world. Presbyterian Hunger Program : Alleviating hunger and eliminating its causes Self-Development of People : Self-Development of People is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that affirms God’s concern for humanity, entering into partnerships with groups in the United States and other countries who:

--are oppressed by poverty and social systems, --want to take charge of their own lives, --have organized or are organizing to do something about their own conditions, --have decided that what they are going to do will produce long-term changes for their lives and communities, and --will control the programs they own and will directly benefit from them.

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LADIES POTLUCK

TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH

at 12 noon

Bring a dish to pass and come and join us for a delicious luncheon and plenty of laughs.

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to make a dish, there is always plenty. Also ask a friend to join us.

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Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. John 20:29

Foundation meets on Thursday,

March the 3rd at 6:30 pm.

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NO CHARGE

Sympathies to

the family of

Mildred Hettinga

AND

Evelyn Pratt

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Palm Sunday, March 20th In addition to our regular Worship Services we will also have our Annual Palm Sunday Processional with a live donkey between services.

Maundy Thursday, March 24th at 6 pm A Christian Seder. This is a family dinner which we will do as a planned Potluck. It will illustrate the elements of the Jewish Passover Dinner and how The Last Supper followed the Old Testament Celebration.

Good Friday, March 25th at 6:30 pm We will have a Good Friday Service with an opportunity to place our regrets and confessions on a cross. This will be part of a singing and prayer service similar to what we have love in the past.

Saturday, March 26th at 5 pm This will be the Ancient Traditional Easter Vigil. The Mighty Acts of God will be recalled as we anticipate God’s greatest work in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

Easter Sunday, March 27th 7:00 am will be the Senior High Sunrise Worship with

breakfast to follow served by our Junior High Youth. 9:00 am will be the Contemporary Celebration of The

Resurrection of our Lord 10:45 am will be the Traditional Celebration of The

Resurrection with the Commissioning of our Communicants’ Class

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem - Mark 11:11