Vol. 62 No. 4 April 2017

The Tomb Is a Victory Symbol

During the Lenten season we are focusing on “The Jesus Cross”. At the close of the Lenten season is the result of what took place on the “Cross of Calvary” when Jesus died for “U”, “US”, and the whole world: the EMPTY TOMB. At Easter time the “Empty Tomb” is a sign of victory and joy. Rightly so because Jesus no longer laid in the tomb. He was NOT to be found in the tomb! “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” The empty tomb is a reminder of our victory over death. "… Don't you know that all of us

who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? {4} We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV). While the cross is the most recognizable symbol in the world. The “Empty Tomb” is a greatest resurrection symbol. Does the “Empty Tomb” have to be a victory symbol only for Christians? Paul wrote (Philippians 1:21f), "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” If we are separated from the body then we, Christians, are with our Lord in paradise. Someone once wrote, "When I go down to the grave I can say, like so many others: I have finished my work, but I cannot say I have finished my life…. My tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open in the dawn.” That dawn is life in heaven for those who believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior. The tomb apart from Christ is gloom. Paul went on to write, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith….” It is true that the empty tomb is a victory symbol only to Christians, that’s why it is imperative that we remain in the flesh so that Christ’s love can shine through us into the hearts of those in darkness that they too may see the empty tomb as a victory for them as well. The “Empty Tomb” of Easter is a victory symbol; because of the “Empty Tomb” we know that Jesus was victorious over sin, death, and the devil when He died on Calvary. We want everyone to be able to look at any tomb and know it is only a thoroughfare to heaven. “Neither death nor life … can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38,39). Christ’s victory is your victory too! Have a joyous and Christ-filled, Empty Tomb, Easter celebration!

Pastor

APRIL 2017 Mission of the Month

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MISSION TRIP?

By Nicole Hurley

“OUR FAVORITE MISSION TRIP WAS to Tisovec, Slovakia, in 1993. Five of us— pastor, professors and wives—renovated the Lutheran English-immersion high school by day, lived in student homes and attended four Slovakian Christmas services; we then flew to St. Petersburg, Russia, to observe the ministry of the Orphan Grain Train.”

Ed and Marilyn Bertram Etowah, North Carolina March 2017,Thrivent magazine, page 4

MPLC Members Ed & Marilyn Bertram quoted in the March 2017 Thrivent Magazine

Mt. Pisgah's Quilters Group

Mt. Pisgah's Quilters Group has 10 faithful members who meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 9 am to noon. We make pieced quilts from donated cotton fabrics using 6, or 10-inch squares (sometimes larger) and/or 2, 3, and 4-inch strips. Our quilts are finished by tying or in-line machine stitching, the latter or edged with binding. The larger quilts are delivered to the Orphan Grain Team, a Missouri Synod Lutheran charitable organization that serves U. S. citizens in need, disaster victims and those in need worldwide. The smaller quilts, "lap robes", are usually given to the Veterans Hospital in Asheville to distribute as needed to our vet-erans. We have also given lap robes to Hospice and several of our members. The Storehouse has received quilts, as has the Rescue Mission for their Women’s Home. Last year we made 78 quilts total. We like to hang the finished quilts in the Fellowship Hall so you can see how nice they are. We also present them to be blessed at the Sunday service just before they are delivered.

If you would care to join us, there are 3 ways you can help:

1. Come to our meetings 2. If you embroider, pick up one of the kits provided (in a small container in the Fellowship

Hall), embroider the 6 inch squares and return them to Mikki Reinicker, Jan Tharp, or another of our members and we will build a quilt around them.

3. Donate cotton fabric and/or medium weight batting or used blankets. These may be placed on the benches in the Fellowship Hall.

We've been a Mission of the Month participant/benefactor in the past, which is how we can purchase large quantities of batting and yardage of fabric for backing our quilts. We are coming to the congregation again for its support to continue our work.

Small Local Church builds classrooms in Haiti

Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church announces a major building program to add eight new classrooms for a school to educate over 500 children. But you will not see a building permit for 2606 Chimney Rock Road in Hendersonville where the church is located. This building project is for their sister school in Laotchikit, Haiti, a small village near Hinche, Haiti. Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church is in fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti to operate a school for 520 children. Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church is the sole sponsor for the staff of the school in Laotchikit. While Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church may be a small congregation of 200 members, their mission outreach expands far beyond the church property. In Haiti, there are very few public schools. Most schools are private or run by non-government organizations known as NGO’s. Since Haiti is the poorest na-tion in the Western Hemisphere, few Haitians are wealthy enough to pay for their children to receive an education. According to UNICEF, less than half the population of Haiti can read. Making education a priority is definitely part of breaking the cycle of poverty.

The Evangelical Lutheran School of Laotchikit offers classes for Pre-Kindergarten age 3 through the sixth grade. Students are placed in a class based on their ability, not their age. There may be teenagers in third grade, if the student started attending school later in life. The school follows the national curriculum assigned by the Haitian government, so graduates are prepared if they have the opportunity to continue their education after sixth grade.

As part of attending school, each school day all students and teachers receive a nutritious hot lunch provide by Trinity Hope based in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Receiving a daily meal is a huge benefit to promote learning. According to USAID roughly 2.5 million Haitians live in extreme poverty (below $1.25 per day). People are so poor in Haiti, food insecurity is a daily threat to most of the population. By receiving a meal at school, these students are given an opportunity to improve their health and it is a relief to their families struggling to provide a daily meal for each child.

This major building program will add eight new classrooms, and educate over 500 children.

The school in Laotchikit started in 2010 when Lutherans in North Carolina donated money to build a church in the village. From the church came a school providing free education to 200 children living in the neighborhood. However, there were an additional 300 children that could not be educated because there were not enough teachers. In 2016 Mt. Pisgah expanded their financial support allowing the school to hire more teachers and assistant teachers. Now the school has grown beyond the classroom structures and more classrooms are needed. “The problem we face is there are three classes of about 100 children located under one shelter” says Wendy White, a member of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church who recently returned from a visit to the school in Laotchikit. Classes are held under a roof with open sides. Noise from other classes is a big distraction to children trying to learn. The classrooms have gravel floors and no walls making class during rain storms impossible. The building program to provide new classrooms that would have divided rooms for each class with walls, floors, and windows costing about $30,000.

If you would like additional information on the Haiti Mission look at the church’s website at www.mtpisgahlutheran.com

or gofundme.com/mt-pisgah-lutheran-mission or call the church office at 828-692-7027. 100% of all donations to the Haiti Mission go directly to benefit the children attending school in Laotchikit. Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church simply acts as a transfer party for all donations. Because Haiti is consistently ranked as a nation of financial corruption, there are very stringent policies established in this partnership to assure financial transparency. These transparency policies give members of Mt. Pisgah great confidence and credibility in our Haitian partners. Mt. Pisgah is a 501(c)(3) charity. All donations are tax deductible.

The above article appeared in The Hendersonville Tribune, March 9—March 15, 2017 and can be viewed online at www.thetribunepapers.com.

MPLC HAITI MISSION MAKES LOCAL NEWSPAPER

The MPLC Haiti Mission Team will be traveling to Haiti at the end of April. Please keep them and all our brothers and sisters in Laotchikit

in your prayers for a safe journey.

Income and Expense – Year to date as of February 28, 2017

We are off to a good start financially for 2017. The Church and the Preschool are both showing positive net income for the first two months of the year. Let’s keep it going and have another good year financially and pray for a new pastor!

Church Exclusive Of Pre-school Preschool Income $39,596 $98,555

Expenses $32,423 $86,753

Net Income or Loss $ 7,174 $11,802

Dedicated Income - Year to Date Other Dedicated $5,452

Cash on hand Operational Accounts $165,325 Dedicated Accounts $176,272

Chuck Ginter Treasurer

CHURCH FINANCES FOR 2017

Dear Members,

A few weeks ago we asked you to consider investing at LCEF. We stated that if nine new members joined, Mt. Pisgah could join their Shared Blessings Rebate program. Well good news, ten people joined up and now Mt. Pisgah will start receiving a rebate. Thanks to all who joined and put us over the top. The following chart shows Mt. Pisgah's participation in LCEF. Rick Sanborn Chuck Ginter

Prepared for: Mt. Pisgah, Hendersonville 3/20/2017

> Communicant Members 188

>

Loan Balance $ 328,637

> Number of Investors Today 30

> Monthly Payment $ 1,925.34

>

Investors % of Mem-bers

15.96%

>

Interest Rate 3.875%

Shared Blessings Rebate %

Eligibility Threshold

Total

Investors Required

Investors Needed

Shared Blessings Rebate $ (Estimate)

First 12 Months 5-year Term

0.250% 15% 29 Qualified $807.38 $3,756.59

0.375% 25% 47 17 $1,211.08 $5,634.85

0.500% 35% 66 36 $1,614.76 $7,513.16

LCEF PARTICIPATION

Parish Life will be hosting a Continental Breakfast

on Easter Sunday, April 16th between services. There will also be an

Easter Egg Hunt for the kids

Everyone is welcome. A sign up sheet will be in the narthex.

April 5th-Mid-week Lenten Services 10:30am & 7:00pm

Holy Week

April 13th Maundy Thursday Services 7:00pm April 14th Good Friday Service 7:00pm

2017 Lenten Schedule

Spring has sprung and soon it will be time for our Preschool graduation ceremony, on May 19th. As our four year old class moves on to kindergarten next fall, they will take with them special memories of Wednesday Chapel time with Pastor Phil. Our Lord truly draws these little ones to himself through Pastor Phil, as he engages and teaches them about the love of their heavenly Father. We are so grateful for Pastor Phil and all those at Mt. Pisgah who pour out their time and love to be a guiding light in the lives of our preschool families. We would

especially like to thank Wendy White and Head Elder Paul Mincer, who are here every week supporting and encouraging our children and staff. As always, we invite you to join us at chapel on Wednesdays at 9:30AM, to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit as he fills your ears with the singing voices of our children and your hearts with the joy of Christ shining bright on their dear little faces.

From the Preschool

Altar Guild— Seeking Help! If you are interested in helping to prepare the altar for Sunday worship, we would love to have you as part of the Altar Guild team. Please contact Adell Keeney for more information (828) 891-9286.

Greeters and Ushers Serve on Sundays at 7:45 a.m.

Contact Tony Selius at 692-5489 or anth5489@bellsouth.net

Serve on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Contact Chuck Ginter 685-0112

Memorial Garden A person or committee to oversee the man-

agement of the Memorial Garden; maintenance of the Garden, facilitate advance purchase contracts,

arrange for inurnments and handle finances. Contact Jim Volk 693-5692 or

jvvolkmd@ioa.com

Quilting Group Meets on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.

Contact Marilyn Bertram at 891-7403

Prayer Shawl Ministry Meets on 1st Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Contact Jean Siebold at 692-7535 or

jsiebold@bellsouth.net

Preschool Board We are looking for individuals willing to share their knowledge and experience on the Preschool Board.

The Board meets quarterly and on occasion for special meetings. For more information, please contact Jan Tharp at 698-3451

or hvilletharps@bellsouth.net.

Service Opportunities at Mt. Pisgah

There will be NO

COUNCIL MEETING

IN APRIL

The next Council Meeting

will be

Thursday, May 11th

at 7:00PM

LADIES GUILD

THE APRIL MEETING DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO

MONDAY, APRIL 3RD.

We will continue to work on our ongoing pro-ject. Meetings will resume on the second Monday of the month beginning in May.

A Special Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, April 2nd between the early and late services regarding:

• Paving and patching the parking lots and driveway

• Sealing the tower

• Applying for a line of credit with LCEF

“T.V. EARS” - A television speaker system, donated by Larry & Linda Corn, is in the church office for anyone who might be interested (first-come, first- served). This system attaches to a T.V. to help those who have a hard time hearing the television. Call or come by the Church Office (828) 692-7027.

Weekly Bible Studies

Wednesday @ 10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Study in the Library

with Pastor McLain Women’s Bible study will resume April 26th

Thursday @ 8:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study at Denny’s Restaurant (with breakfast).

Sunday @ 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study

Pastor McLain

Holy Week

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT 1

2 Communion 8am Special Cong. Meeting Communion 10:45am Choir rehearsal

3 Ladies Guild 1PM

4 Cards 6:30pm

5 Lenten Mid-week Services

10:30AM & 7:00PM

Prayer Shawl Ministry 1pm

6 Men’s Bible Study 8 am

Quilter’s Ministry 9am

7

8

9 PALM SUNDAY Worship 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Worship 10:45am Choir rehearsal

10

11 12

13 Men’s Bible Study 8 am

Maundy Thursday

Service 7:00pm

14

Good Friday Service 7:00pm

15

16 EASTER SUNDAY Communion 8am Continental Breakfast Communion 10:45am Choir rehearsal

17

18

19

20 Men’s Bible Study 8 am

Quilter’s Ministry 9am

21

22

23 Worship 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Worship 10:45am Choir rehearsal

24 25 26 Women’s

Bible Study 10am

27 Men’s Bible Study 8 am

28 29

30 Worship 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Worship 10:45am Choir rehearsal

4/3 Logan Clancy 4/15 Dailyn Rappley 4/4 Marilyn Pittman 4/17 Russell Rappley

4/5 Vicki Lee 4/21 Leah Ryel

4/8 Bea Luecke 4/21 Mary Rappley

4/11 Beverly Duszak 4/21 Majorie Zell

4/11 Colin Smith 4/27 Karen Ude

4/13 Jeff Reid 4/28 Charles Ginter

4/14 Peggy Blythe 4/29 Jean Siebold

Thank you to all those who contributed articles and information to this months “View”.

Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church & Preschool 2606 Chimney Rock Road Hendersonville, NC 28792 PH 828-692-7027 FAX 828-692-7667 Rev. Philip McLain—Vacancy Pastor