HILLSBOROUGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

102 West Tryon Street Post Office Box 717 Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 732-3131 (Office) (919) 644-1185 Dr. Robert Brizendine, Pastor drbobbriz@hillsboroughpres.org www.hillsboroughpres.org

The Church Mouse March, 2016

Dear friends,

Thanks be to God! This is a momentous time in the life of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. As we are

celebrating the 200th anniversary of our church, we engaged in the “Faith Forward: Building Our Third Century of

Mission and Worship” Capital Campaign. Our goal was to raise $350,000 in pledges over a three-year period. At

our Annual Meeting on February 21, we celebrated the success of this campaign. We have raised $392,793 in

pledges and contributions, and I believe more will be forthcoming. Thanks to everyone who helped make this

possible. $59,273 was contributed in 2015, and we have received $36,000 already in 2016. We have an offer on the

Gerritsen property here in Hillsborough and there will be a called congregational meeting on February 28 to approve

the sale of that property. We have the property in Anderson, SC. Listed with a commercial broker, and we hope to

have a sale for that property soon. When that is done, we will be prepared to proceed with the renovation and

expansion project.

We have a big day of celebration scheduled for September 25, 2016. We have confirmations from the Rev.

Debbie Osterhoudt, former Pastor; the Rev. James Mickey Efird, former Interim Pastor; the Rev. Ted Churn,

Executive Presbyter of New Hope Presbytery, and Will Hildebrandt, son of the Rev. Richard Hildebrandt. It will be

a great day of worship, as we celebrate our past, present, and future. We will have lunch at New Hope Camp and

Conference Center, and we will show a video highlighting our history. You will be hearing more about this later.

We will have host events throughout this year, celebrating our 200th anniversary and reaching out and

inviting the community. One of the issues our church has struggled with is the problem of racism. HPC is co-

sponsoring with the Orange County Historical Museum, a Women's Black History Event. Originally scheduled for

February 7, it will be held on March 20 at HPC beginning at 3 PM. We will meet in the sanctuary to honor Sally Rae

Harris, Maddie Gaddis, Marie McPhearson, Martha Villines, and Dolores Simpson. Following the presentation,

there will be a reception in Strudwick Hall.

Our Mission Commission is inviting Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove to be speaker on Sunday, March 13 at 5 PM

in Strudwick Hall. Jonathan is the Director of the School for Conversion in Durham which works for racial

reconciliation. Join us for a simple meal, hear Jonathan, and engage in conversation about what we can do today to

be faithful witnesses.

Part of celebrating our history is acknowledging our history. Last month I began the story of two members

of HPC who were brought before session on the charge of “negro-trading.” I continue with the report on Mr. Wall.

“The following is relative to Mr. Wall. That he having for some time a desire to visit the southern country with a

view to engage in the carpenter's business there, should an opening offer, he had determined to embrace the first

opportunity that offered of doing so. Some time since he was applied to by a person (who had engaged to take to the

south and sell for others some people of colour) to accompany him in his journey; without reflecting upon the view

which others, unacquainted with the circumstances of the case, might take of it, he promised to go. He had no

property or interest in them, or the sale of them. He sincerely deplored the injury which he had done to the cause of

religion and the reproach he has thoughtlessly brought upon the church of Christ.

The session trust that this public statement will be fully sufficient to relieve the minds of the members of the

church, as it has their own; and that it will free the character and conduct of Mr. Wall from these imputations which

an ignorance of the circumstances of the case may have cast upon him.”

“The Church, reformed,and always being reformed by the Word of God.”

- Bob

FELLOWSHIP / COMMISSION NEWS

HOLY WEEK AND

EASTER SCHEDULE

We will celebrate Communion at the

Maundy Thursday Worship, March 24, at 7:30

PM in the Sanctuary.

We will celebrate Communion at the

Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, March 27 at

7:00 AM. Join us in the cemetery for the Sunrise

service (weather permitting) followed by breakfast

in Strudwick Hall (prepared by our Men’s

Fellowship)!

Adults and children are invited to the Easter

Intergenerational Sunday School gathering in

Strudwick Hall at 9:45 a.m. on March 27th

.

Children, ages toddler-5th

grade, should bring a

basket for the annual egg hunt which will take place

following the lesson.

Our Easter Worship will be at 11:00 AM in

the Sanctuary.

EASTER ACTIVITIES

Adults and children are

invited to the Easter

Intergenerational Sunday

school gathering in Strudwick

Hall at 9:45 a.m. on March

27, 2016.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place

after the lesson. Children, ages toddler-5th

grade,

should bring a basket for gathering eggs outside of

Strudwick Hall (weather permitting).

SUNSET GAP MISSION WORK TRIP

Please contact Joe Crane, Cynthia Latta, Jim

Mathewson, or Sam Nesbit if you are interested in

joining the crew that will be working in eastern

Tennessee for the Sunset Gap Mission trip. If you

are the proper age, we could use your talents. The

people listed above are members of the Sunset Gap

Subcommittee. We anticipate reviewing possible

projects by the time this Newsletter is published.

CALLING ALL ADULTS

Your help is needed on

Easter Sunday. We will have an

intergenerational Sunday school

lesson but we need someone

that will lead it. Mostly, we

need someone to “read a story”

and/or give a brief lesson/discussion that would

include young children to adults young at heart. An

activity can be included, but remember the younger

children will be anxious to get out for their Easter

egg hunt.

Christian Education

needs you. We are looking for

people who would like to spend

45 minutes on some Sundays

with our younger Sunday school

children. At present, we have two Sunday school

classes for children ages 4 to grade 5. Since there

are often a large number of children for the Sunday

school class covering grades 1 – grade 5, Christian

Education would like to split that class into grades

1-2 and grades 3 – 5. In order to do this, we need

more teachers. If you can take a month, (beginning

March or April) and teach ANY of our Sunday

school classes, please contact Karoline Mathewson.

Please give this thoughtful prayer. Our children

would benefit from this greatly.

EASTER EGG

DONATIONS

Donations of small wrapped

candies, stickers and toys are

for stuffing plastic eggs to be

used at the Annual Easter

Egg Hunt.

Please drop off your donations in the box

across from the nursery no later than March 20th

.

- Many thanks from the Christian

Education Commission

FELLOWSHIP / COMMISSION NEWS

HPC BOOK

CLUB

Please note the new

meeting dates!

On March 6th

we will

discuss A Deadly

Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in

the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel.

In this ambitious, compelling, and beautifully

written book, Matt Richtel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning

reporter for the New York Times, examines the

impact of technology on our lives through the story

of Utah college student Reggie Shaw, who killed

two scientists while texting and driving. Richtel

follows Reggie through the tragedy, the police

investigation, his prosecution, and ultimately, his

redemption. In the wake of his experience, Reggie

has become a leading advocate against “distracted

driving.” Richtel interweaves Reggie’s story with

cutting-edge scientific findings regarding human

attention and the impact of technology on our

brains, proposing solid, practical, and actionable

solutions to help manage this crisis individually and

as a society. (amazon.com)

Our April selection will be the New York

Times Bestseller Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of

Injustice and Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-

Cannino and Roland Cotton.

Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by

a man who broke into her apartment while she

slept. She was able to escape, and eventually

positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker.

Ronald insisted that she was mistaken-- but

Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling

evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven

years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that

proved his innocence. He was released, after

serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he

never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and

Ronald met face to face-- and forged an unlikely

friendship that changed both of their lives.

(amazon.com)

Book Club meets one Sunday evening most months

of the year (exact dates are to be determined) in the

church library at 7:00. Refreshments will be served,

and visitors and guests are always welcome!

ANNUAL MISSION DINNER -

School for Conversion

Please join us for our annual Mission Dinner

on March 13th

at 6:00 pm. This year our guest

will be Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove who will talk

with us about his work as founder of the School for

Conversion in Durham. This non-profit works to

find new ways to build relationships between

typically separated communities in Durham.

Through a youth mentoring program, classes taught

inside prisons, and other workshops and events, this

organization models ways to build “surprising

friendships” between strangers and neighbors that

convert people to a new way of living. Their vision

is to work towards the “beloved community” that

Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of when he said: “the

aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the

beloved community so that when the battle is over,

a new relationship comes into being between the

oppressed and the oppressor.”

HPC’s own Carynne McIver, who now works

for the School for Conversion, will introduce

Jonathan and join us for our shared discussion to

learn about how this unique organization was

founded, what some of its current programs are, and

insights into ways we too, might build community

here in our town to further justice, friendship, and

peace.

A simple meal of soups, breads and fruit will be

served beginning at 6:00 pm with a short

presentation and a time for questions afterwards.

Please join us then to learn more about this vital

ministry.

Green Note for March

Use Lent as a time to make small, easy

changes in your routine. Carry a reusable bag to

avoid using plastic bags and a travel mug to avoid

carry-out cups.

- from PCUSA Environmental Ministry’s 2016

Lenten Calendar and your Stewardship Commission

FELLOWSHIP / COMMISSION NEWS

CIRCLE #1 NEWS!

Circle will meet at 11:00 on Monday,

March 7th

at the home of Lisa Flinn. Robin will

lead us in Lesson 7, “Streams of Mercy -

Forgiveness.” Bring a sandwich – the hostess will

provide beverages and dessert. As always, guests

and visitors are welcome! Questions? Call Robin

Bedingfield.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

The annual Orange County Women’s

World Day of Prayer celebration will be hosted by

The Vertical Church, conveniently located just

north of Hillsborough, east of 86N on Route 57.

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at

noon on Friday, March 4th

for a short worship

service, followed by a buffet lunch provided by

women from local supporting congregations. This

year’s service was written by the women of Cuba.

The service and lunch are designed to fit into a one-

hour lunch break. Questions? Contact the church

office, or call Robin Bedingfield.

HPC IS HOSTING BLACK HISTORY EVENT

on Sunday, March 20 at 3 PM

HPC, in conjunction with the Orange

County Historical Museum, will honor six local

women for their historical achievements. A variety

of speakers will inform us about these women’s

endeavors in business, community service and

education in a one hour program in the sanctuary.

Program at 3:00 PM in the Sanctuary followed by a

reception at 4:00 PM in Strudwick Hall.

Questions? Contact Lisa Flinn or any

Magnetic Church member.

DIACONATE NEEDS

YOUR HELP!

Lemonade on the Lawn: From

Easter through September,

congregation members offer

light refreshment after the

11:00am service each Sunday.

The 2016 Lemonade on the

Lawn signup sheet is located on the bulletin board

opposite the church office. Please sign up to

celebrate your own special day, or just for the joy of

sharing with others!

Caregiving: HPC Caregivers provide meals

in times of need, celebration, recovery, and

bereavement. Coordination of this important

service to our congregation is led by Shari Latta.

Please contact Shari if you can help as a Caregiver.

Member Directory: In 2011 we distributed

an HPC directory in a small 3-ring binder which can

accommodate added pages. Printed directory

updates were provided in 2013.

Electronic updates for our HPC Directory

started with the April 2015 Church Mouse

newsletter at http://www.hillsboroughpres.org.

People can print the HPC Directory update page,

hole punch, and place in their own directory at

home.

Do you need a new family photo? Send

updates about your contact information or request

for new photo, to JoAnn Harrison at the church

office hpchurch@hillsboroughpres.org, or to Jan

McKelvey jlmkel@nc.rr.com. We will arrange for

one of our expert photographers, Pierre Jaubert or

Jim McKelvey, to take your picture. Did you know

that our HPC Directory makes a handy scrapbook,

too? I put wedding and bereavement bulletins in

mine!

Have questions about how to get more involved

with supportive and fellowship activities? Contact

me! Thanks, Jan McKelvey

FELLOWSHIP / COMMISSION NEWS

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

Mark your calendars

for Saturday, March

19th

! Breakfast will

begin at 9:00, and you

are invited to stay

afterwards to join the

Sew-n-Sews

workday. This event

is open to all HPC women and their guests. Child

care will be provided! An email invitation for

potluck sign-up will be coming soon.

Thanks to the Sew-n-Sews for sponsoring our super

February event!

WHY JESUS? GROUP

You are invited to join us for a small group

study of the book “Speaking Christian” by Marcus

Borg. We will meet Friday evening March 18 at 6

pm at the home of Pip Merrick. Bring a potluck

dish to share. We will join together for dinner and

then divide into small groups for discussion of

Chapters 17 (The Only Way); 18 (the Ascension);

and 19 (Pentecost). These are stand-alone chapters,

so please come join us, even if you have not

attended previous sessions. Let Pip know if you

plan to come. Contact Marc Fowler or Carolyn

Norris if you need a book or for more information.

DONATIONS TO HPC

With Capital Campaign contributions being

made on a regular basis, it is important that your

checks and contributions be clearly marked. When

placing a check in the offering, please be sure to

note on the memo line the breakdown for the

donation. If nothing is on the memo line, it will be

placed in the General Operating Fund.

BEARD

SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATIONS

Applications for the

Beard Scholarship are due

to the Church office by MARCH 31. The family of

L. E. and Mary Beard has generously endowed this

scholarship to be given by HPC to a deserving high

school senior. We encourage seniors from our

church to pick up application materials from the

church office. Please call the church office or one

of the Beard Scholarship Committee members

(Cynthia Latta, Jarrett Barnhill, or David

Remington) if you have any questions.

A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS

Save the Dates - HPC will engage in A

Brush with Kindness project this spring more

challenging than any before. The work will occur

over the weekends of May 14/15 and May 21/22.

Look for more information in April.

Questions? See Hervey McIver or Joe

Crane.

SERMON SCHEDULE FOR MARCH

3/6 “The Character of God” (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

3/13 “Love and Death” (John 12:1-8)

3/20 “Surely There’s An Easier Way!”

(Luke 23:1-49)

3/27 “Am I Living on the Wrong Side of Easter?”

(Hebrews 13:20-21)

FELLOWSHIP / COMMISSION NEWS

HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAY TO:

01 Karl von Ramm

02 Bethany Remington

06 Katy Fuqua

06 Jennifer Erdosy

06 Bob Wisniewski

09 Amanda Taitt

10 Ann Sebesan

12 Tyler Brown

13 Drew Ely

13 Katya Wysocki

15 Christina Brizendine 20 Barbara Younger

16 Erica Strickland 21 Chris Ely

16 Brandee Strickland 26 Michael McKelvey

17 Kim Bryant 28 Charles McKelvey

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO:

9 David & Pascale Scheidt

To update the Birthday List or Anniversary List

please contact JoAnn in the church office

(732-3131) or hpchurch@hillsboroughpres.org).

MARCH LECTIONARY

READINGS

6 Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32;

II Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

13 Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126;

Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

20 Luke 19:28-40; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29;

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians

2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49

27 Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm

118:1-2, 14-24; I Corinthians 15:19-26;

John 20:1-18; Luke 24:1-12

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

March 6 Fourth Sunday in Lent

Liturgist: Sam Nesbit

Children’s Sermon: Barbara Younger

Acolyte: Jack Stephenson

Nursery: Lisa Flinn, Cathey Ely d

Greeters: Robin Bedingfield and Tom Brown

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March 13 Fifth Sunday in Lent

Liturgist: Kathy Remington

Children’s Sermon: Kathy Remington

Acolyte: Elijah Stevens

Nursery: Stephanie Morgan, Karoline Mathewson

Greeters: Robin Bedingfield and Tom Brown

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March 20 Passion / Palm Sunday

Liturgist: Rich Erdosy

Children’s Sermon: Rich Erdosy

Acolyte: Jaiden Lytle

Nursery: Jane McIver, Robin Barnhill

Greeters: Jeanne Childers and Jane Gaede

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March 24 Maundy Thursday

Greeters: Alicia Gonzalez, Bill Flinn

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March 27 Easter Sunday

Liturgist: James Watts

Children’s Sermon: Eric Cathey

Acolyte: Mackenzie Salem

Nursery: Rich Erdosy, Robin Bedingfield

Greeters: Alicia Gonzalez, Bill Flinn

7 Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29;

Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

The 2016 FLOWER CHART is located outside

the church office. Sign up -- and share with your

Church the joy of an anniversary or other

occasion, or memorialize or honor someone

important to you!

March, 2016

SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

1

2

Youth Group

6:15 PM

3

Food for All

5:00 PM (Strudwick)

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 PM (#205)

4

World Day of Prayer

12:00 Noon (The

Vertical Church)

5

Youth Trip

(March 5/6)

Fourth Sunday in Lent 6

9:45 AM Lenten Study

12:15 PM Mission (#201)

1:00 – 4:00 PM Session Retreat

(Strudwick Hall)

7:00 PM HPC Book Club (#103)

7

Circle #1 -- 11:00 AM

(Lisa Flinn’s)

8

9

Youth Group

6:15 PM

10

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 PM (#205)

11

12

Poverty Initiative

9 AM (St. Matthews)

Turn clocks ahead one

hour tonight! Daylight

Savings begins on 3/13

Fifth Sunday in Lent 13 9:45 AM Lenten Study

12:15 PM 200th

Anniv. Mtg (#100)

6:00 PM Mission Dinner (Strudwick)

14

15

16

Youth Group

6:15 PM

17

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 PM (#205)

18

“Why Jesus?” 6 PM

(Pip Merrick)

19

Women’s Potluck

9:00AM

(Strudwick Hall)

Passion / Palm Sunday 20

3:00 PM Black History Event

(Sanctuary / Strudwick Hall)

5:30 PM Session (#201)

21

Deadline for

HPC Newsletter

1:00 PM

22

23

Youth Group

6:15 PM

24

Maundy Thursday

Worship / Communion

7:30 PM

Choir Rehearsal

6:45 PM (#205)

25

Good Friday

26

Easter Sunday 27

7:30 AM Sunrise Service

8:00 AM Breakfast

9:45 AM Intergenerational Sunday

School / Egg Hunt for Children

11:00 AM Easter Worship

12:15 PM Lemonade on the Lawn

28

Church Office

Closed

29 30 31

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 PM (#205)

Announcements for

the Bulletin are due

in the church office

by Wednesday

(noon) each week.

Bulletins printed

on Thursday.

NOTE: If you have any April calendar dates or articles that you would like included in the newsletter – just send an email

(hpchurch@hillsboroughpres.org) or call the church office (732-3131) – by 1:00 PM on the 21st of March!

Early Worship at 8:30 AM

Sunday School for Adults/Youth at 9:45 AM

Bible Story for Children at 9:45 AM

Traditional Worship at 11:00 AM

Join us on Sunday mornings!

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

This is the 18th

year our Youth Group has

participated in the national SOUPER BOWL of

Caring - Will we meet our 2016 goal of 200 cans

and $200?

On March 6th

we’ll announce our 2016

SOUPER BOWL collection totals for OCIM’s

Food Pantry. Thank you in advance for your

generous support of HPC Youth and our neighbors

in need.

YOUTH GROUP DINNERS

I am seeking assistance in coordinating

meals for the HPC Youth Group for our

Wednesday sessions. We have (5) youth that

consistently attend our youth activities. The youth

are with a strong supporting HPC family. Several

congregational members have offered and

contributed toward our Wednesday meals. We

have a sign-up sheet in the church hallway (1st

floor Education Building). Please sign up or let me

know if you wish to participate. We generally

meet at 6:15pm. The youth will wash all dinner

and cooking ware. The only food restriction I am

aware of is NO celery. Feel free to reach me if you

have any questions.

Thanks for your continued support of our

HPC Youth.

-- Eric Cathey

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

Hillsborough Presbyterian Church

102 West Tryon Street

Post Office Box 717

Hillsborough, NC 27278

(919) 732-3131

E-Mail: HPChurch@hillsboroughpres.org

Web page: www.hillsboroughpres.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Contemplative Worship 8:30 AM

Sunday School 9:45 AM (for youth and adults!)

Bible Story Time 9:45 AM (for children)

Traditional Worship 11:00 AM

Children’s Sunday School follows

Conversation with Children (4 years – 5th

grade)