this issue...as always there are professional builders that are hired but volunteer projects will...

Newsletter of Lewes Presbyterian Church March, 2018

1

From the Pastor

2

Session Highlights

Treasurer’s Report

Easter Vigil

Easter Tulips

3

Holy Week Services

4

Easter Offering

PNC Report

Stewardship Program

5

Daylight Savings Reminder

Faith Filled Women’s

Conference

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Men’s Luncheon

6

Thank You

Kelly Class Luncheon

7

Lament for South Sudan Poem

8

Calendar

LPC s Editorial Staff

Dr. Buz Hughes, Pastor Connie Ballato Christina Best Bob Comeau Cathy Heronemus Jewel Levering Ellie Ziegler

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

disciples, whose culturally-conditioned expectations of what the Messiah would do, made it impossible for them to understand and accept Jesus’ prophesy in Luke 9:22:

The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Given their preconceptions, the only way that they were going to comprehend this was for them to go with Jesus to Jerusalem and live through it with him. And so he told them, in Luke 9:23:

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

It was only by experiencing the desolation of his death and the miracle of his resurrection, which the risen Christ then explained to him with reference to the Scriptures, that they finally came to understanding.

Likewise, as disciples of Jesus, we can only expect to appreciate what he has done for us if we deny ourselves and follow him, living with him and learning to emulate him.

The disciplines of Lent are designed to help us. So let us take a spiritual fast from the diversions of our culture and spend more time in the Scriptures and in prayer, while devoting ourselves to service and self-denial through almsgiving.

In His service,

We have entered the season of Lent, commemorating Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his earthly ministry that culminated in his suffering, death and resurrection for our salvation.

The church has traditionally observed Lent as a season of prayer, fasting, repentance, self-sacrifice and almsgiving, in preparation for the ritual reliving of Jesus’ suffering and death throughout Holy Week, and the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.

The spiritual disciplines of Lent are meant to help us move from an abstract, intellectual understanding of the Gospel to a more experiential appreciation for what God has done for us in Christ. Otherwise, we may find ourselves yawning through the Holy Week services, because the suffering of Jesus does not really seem to involve us. Or we may enter the Easter service with a smile painted on our faces, feeling that we should really be more joyful but somehow those words “He is risen!” just don’t seem to relate to us.

One problem is that we are overwhelmed by media overload in our materialistic culture, and find little time to meditate on the One whose mission it was to lay down his life for others. Conditioned by a culture that is devoted to self-gratification, and which has totally rejected the idea of sin and guilt, we have trouble appreciating what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

In that regard, we find ourselves in a situation that is somewhat similar to that of Jesus’ first

www.lewespresbyterianchurch.org Believing, growing and sharing the love of Christ.

2

TREASURER’S REPORT, Jack Lesher, Treasurer January 1, 2018-January 31, 2018

General Fund 2018 2017

Revenue………...$41,625 $49,364 Expenditures .... $38,527 $45,783 Excess Revenue $3,098 $3,581

Mission 2018 2017

Carryover………. $6,943 $3,162 Revenue………... $7,987 $7,417 Disbursements…. $6,835 $5,023 Carryover Update $8,095 $5,556

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS, Gerry Brown, Deputy Clerk of Session

Regular Session Meeting February 20, 2018

• Gerry Brown presented a report on attendance and discussed what seems to be a downward trend.

• T. J. Smith reported to Session on the requirements of electronic voting that he learned at a recent meeting he attended.

• The Endowment Committee presented funding recommendations which were approved for Habitat for Humanity, Lighthouse for Broken Wings, and retirement celebration for Pastor Hughes.

• Session followed up on previous meeting discussion in which all committees would compile their roles and responsibilities for purposes of determining any duplication.

• Working Group of all Session members will meet to discuss revamping committee structure and establishing an interim operations group.

• Gerry Brown introduced the topic of electronic giving and session approved going forward with research.

Easter Tulips Remember a friend or loved one.

Orders taken until March 26. Cost: $10

Contact church office at

645-5345 or fill out form in the Welcome Center.

Will You Watch With Me One Hour? - Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil is another meaningful way to celebrate WHAT JESUS DID FOR US ON THE CROSS. What is a vigil anyway? According to Mr. Webster, a vigil is a WATCH kept on the night before a religious feast, usually with prayer and devotions.

Traditionally, churches hold prayer vigils between SUNSET the Saturday before Easter and SUNRISE, Easter Sunday. LPC's Easter Vigil will be held in the Sanctuary beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 31st through 6

a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 1st. Prayer and reflection may also be done at home; pick up materials (if desired).

The Vigil is open to all members and friends of the congregation and community.

A commitment sheet will be available in the Welcome Center. The 12 hour Vigil is divided into one hour intervals, with at least two prayer warriors needed for each hour.

Bibles, appropriate Scriptures and reading material will be available in the Welcome Center and/or Sanctuary.


3

March 18 9 a.m. & March 25 11 a.m.—Easter Cantata

March 25 8, 9 & 11 a.m. —Palm Sunday Service

March 29 7 p.m. —Maundy Thursday Service

March 30 —Good Friday:

Bethel Cross Walk, 10-11:30 a.m.

LPC Tenebrae Service, Noon

Kids for Christ Holy Week

Presentation, 6-8:30 p.m.

March 31-April 1 — Prayer Vigil, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

April 1 —Easter Sunday:

Easter Sunrise Service, Lewes Beach, 6:30 a.m.

LPC Easter Services at 8, 9 and 11 a.m.


4

The Mission Committee has

designated Habitat for Humanity to

receive LPC’s Easter Offering this

year.

Our donation will go directly into a

planned building which is taking

place in West Rehoboth this Spring

with participation from LRAC.

Grier White attended a volunteer

meeting in Georgetown on 2/6/18

and it appears there will be two

construction days on Thursdays and

Saturdays. This project will need

ongoing prayer, financial support,

meal support and most important,

physical volunteers.

As always there are professional

builders that are hired but volunteer

projects will include work with

siding, painting, flooring, framing,

windows, doors, trim, cabinets,

sundeck/porch and landscaping.

There will be more updates on

volunteer opportunities. Please give

as the Lord leads you.

LPC’s Easter

Offering

Sunday, February 25 marked the

beginning of a new Stewardship

Program for the children of our

church to learn about sacrifice and

giving to others. Each child received

a plastic bread loaf bank for the

collection of coins throughout the

month. On the fourth Sunday of each

month the children will bring their

banks to their Sunday school classes.

One of the youth from Ms. Denise’s

class will collect their coins and put

the coins into a large jar. Then the

banks will go home again for another

month of collecting. The Sunday

School teachers, Ann Athey, Teresa

Lockerman, and Bill Baughman,

have agreed to encourage this

program with their students and

support the idea of Stewardship. The

money collected will be used by the

Soup Ministry here at LPC.

PNC Report

What’s Happening?

While days may go by with little

being reported from the Pastor

Nominating Committee, much is

going on behind the scenes. Starting

with frequent prayer, a logical

timeline began in October 2017 and

stretches out to September 2018 and

beyond. A myriad of details are

addressed on a bi-weekly basis. A

Church Information Form was

developed and provided to ECO

pastors. This led to 13 applicants

communicating to the PNC of LPC.

The committee took into consideration the following factors:

• Education

• Past Ministerial Experience

• ECO Ordained

• Credentials

• Sermon Review

• Telephone Interview

• References

• How do LPC and applicant “fit”

• Individual Qualifications

This evaluation process has led to

extensive communication and PNC

discussions in an atmosphere of

unanimity and thankfulness for the

presence of the Holy Spirit at

committee meetings.

Future tasks include:

• Applicant Visits to LPC

• Developing CALL

• Congregational Participation, Organizing Supply Minister Schedule,

• Continue to provide congregation pertinent information

• Continue to seek God’s wisdom & guidance. Pray our efforts will lead to Believing, Growing and Sharing the love of Christ.


5

The Male Bag

Men’s Luncheon

Lewes Diner

Thursday, March 15, 1:00 p.m.

Reservations: Ron Trupp 645-8927

Ryan Cannon ............................. 17

Kathy Ross ................................. 19

John Mullecker .......................... 20

Larry Luckenbaugh .................... 21

Jack Warrington ......................... 22

Al Davis ..................................... 25

Avery Reese .............................. 25

Amanda Swain ........................... 26

Jim Miller ................................... 28

Nicole Silicato-Miller ................ 30

James and Vicki Keyzer will celebrate their 35th anniversary on March 4.

Alex and Stephanie Brown will celebrate their 10th anniversary on March 8.

Connie and David Simmers will celebrate their 35th anniversary on March 12.

Frank Toomey and Dora DiDomenico will celebrate their ninth anniversary on March 14.

Bob and Denise Barnes will celebrate their 28th anniversary on March 17.

Kathy and Rob Marshall will celebrate their 24th anniversary on March 19.

Carol and Gerry Brown will celebrate their 45th anniversary on March 24.

Frank and Ginny Small will celebrate their 66th anniversary on March 29.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

March

Sarah Chorman ........................... 1

Helen Maull ................................ 1

Justin Cannon .............................. 1

Soloman Prosser ......................... 1

Beau Gooch….…………………..2

Denise Larson……………………2

Anthony Westgate....................... 2

Diane Bowyer ............................. 7

Thelma Warrington ..................... 7

Brielle DiStefano ........................ 7

Jim Athey .................................... 9

Alan Waldron .............................. 9

Maria DiPasquale ....................... 10

Nancy Krail ................................ 12

Marianne Miller ......................... 12

Adelia Hughes............................ 12

Anthony Hughes ........................ 12

Geni Roskos ............................... 13

Pat Macintire .............................. 14

Margaret Goodwin ..................... 14

Beth Barnes ................................ 15

Trudy Puglia .............................. 15

Marie Savin ................................ 15

Dillon Koster.............................. 16

Beau & Dawn Gooch will celebrate their 23rd anniversary on March 31.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Wicomico Youth and Civic Center

Salisbury, MD

10 am - 5 pm

It's not too late! You can still

register for the Faith Filled

Women's Conference on

March 24th at the Wicomico

Youth and Civic Center.

The price for the ticket is $63.55.

Sign up by March 11th in the

Welcome Center.

See Sylvia Gilmore for more

details.


6

Kelly Class Meeting

& Luncheon

Monday, March 12,

12:30 p.m.

at Victoria’s Restaurant

$20 inclusive

RSVP Patsy Macintire

645-9049

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your donation of $2995, to Hurricane Harvey Relief. It has been very encouraging to receive generous support from ECO churches and presbyteries throughout the country. To date, Texas Presbytery has received approximately $155,000 from the ECO community!

As the hurricane response moved from relief to recovery, we have concentrated the disbursement of the funds on the clean-out, repair, and rebuilding of homes in disadvantaged communities in Houston and Corpus Christi, together with much-needed training for dealing with trauma:

• $15,000 to First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi; FPC- Corpus Christi is building “tiny homes” for people currently living in tents.

• $40, 000 to Rebuilding Houston Tether, a strategic ministry partner of First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood.

• $25,000 to Attack Poverty, a strategic ministry partner of First Presbyterian Church of Houston

• $55,000 to Agape Repair, also a strategic ministry partner of First Presbyterian Church of Houston in response to a proposal from Agape Repair to donate all of the labor needed for the work on 189 hurricane-damaged homes.

• $10,000 for Trauma Healing Training through a program offered by the Trauma Healing Institute of the American Bible Society

Thank you again for your outpouring of prayers, care and support.

Grace and peace in Christ,

Mark Story Moderator/ECO Presbytery of Texas

Dear Pastor Hughes,

Thank you for your generous gift of $1000 that allows us to help more families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership.

Importantly, your support enables us to focus our efforts and more fully engage communities for increased impact. In addition to our traditional homebuilding program, we are concentrating on neighborhood revitalization, a holistic approach to individual families, neighbors, and communities. In Laurel, for example, our goal is to help transform the Old Town neighborhood into a vibrant, safe, and inviting place for current and future residents to live. While this initiative takes us to communities like Laurel and Seaford, our success depends on people and organizations from across the county who support Habitat mission.

As we enter our 27th year building and repairing homes in Sussex County, we have a clear sense of our responsibility and an abiding appreciation for friends of Habitat who give so generously. With your continuing support, we can replace substandard housing, fortify neighborhoods, improve communities, and strengthen lives. Thank you for all that you do to improve the lives of people in Sussex County. Thank you to everyone at LPC for your faithful support!

Sincerely, Kevin Gilmore/Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity

Dear LPC members,

We are in receipt of your donation of $3350. Thank you so much for thinking of us as you decide where

to send your charitable dollars. Every penny you send will go to good use in the coming months. We will be in touch as things progress with the shelter.

All the Best, The Immanuel Shelter

Board of Directors

To our wonderful friends at the Lewes Presbyterian Church,

Thank you for your gift of $2,000 to the Community Resource Center. I am so grateful for your continued support of our service to the community.

The purpose of the Community Resource Center is to assess the needs of individuals and families; identify and coordinate on-site delivery of services, food, baby items and financial assistance based on need. With dignity and respect, the Community Resource Center helps individuals and families get to the next step of their journey towards self-sufficiency and stability.

So again, thank you for your generosity and support. Together, we are creating a community of caring and truly making a difference.

With Gratitude, Jo Allegro-Smith

Director


7

God most High, who designed this earth in fine detail, You blessed this fertile land and formed the peoples who call it home.

We see them laugh, embracing life, teeth gleaming white against night-dark skin. Ornate beadwork and bright flowing robes distinctly mark their tribe.

They are always eager to welcome a stranger with a meal. Tall, strong people, their courage proved by the deep cuts of the knife in their youth

that leave the scars across their forehead. Some tilled fertile land to abundant harvest or plied the web of rivers rich with fish.

Others raised their boys to follow the cows – perhaps hundreds, kept without fences because they were affectionately known and cared for.

Lord, we celebrate these beautiful and diverse peoples in the land of South Sudan, Surely you blessed them by giving them this land.

The tribes together endured the long years of war with their northern neighbor, oppressed and forgotten as power changed hands.

They cried out to you, God, earnest prayers of united hope, While working and fighting for years on end. You answered their prayers, rescued them.

Independence at last, and freedom from oppressor. “We praise and glorify you for your grace on South Sudan”,

declare the opening words of the national anthem. You answered prayers – surely peace had finally come.

Lord, we cry to you – we trust in you; You alone are our salvation, you alone are our hope.

Lord, did you turn away just as South Sudan rejoiced? ‘Uphold us united in peace and harmony’, people sang at national events;

But inner turmoil quickly soured the barely tasted peace. Cattle raiding, revenge killing, child abductions, ethnic cleansing;

People are fleeing, weeping, hiding, dying. Forced from home, waiting in camps for elusive peace; New enemies now– hunger, cholera, poverty, despair.

A fresh agreement signed by factions, but hopes dashed when hostility resumes. Lord, where are you now?

Lord, we cry to you – we trust in you; You alone are our salvation, you alone are our hope. Lord, do you see your children here?

Susan, a widow, scrubs floors and washes clothes, But does not earn enough for her son to go to school. We watch boys wearily pick up their cardboard mats in the early morning,

building a fire out of trash to warm themselves. They left their families – because of hunger? Or war? Or pushed out when poverty weighed down and parents needed someone to blame. Eager young children want to go to school –the future of South Sudan, people say.

But long months without pay make teachers desperate – they refuse to teach, or withhold the reports that allow students to start a new year.

Prices climb higher, but salaries don’t, as the currency slides. Now the sack of flour that feeds ten days takes the whole month’s lot.

Even the soil heaves a sigh and shudders from the struggle, Farmers too afraid to plant because of raiders lurking near.

Lord, we know that you see the suffering, you care for the poor. Why do you let this continue? Will there never be relief??

Lord, we cry to you – we trust in you; You alone are our salvation, you alone are our hope. God, you created this mosaic of peoples, you called them good.

You gave them faith that perseveres, that continues to call out to you. In spite of the greed or power or disregard from their leaders, the people low in the world continue to hold up this land;

As they gather to worship and pray for peace. They are the hope for South Sudan. Lord, we cry to you – we trust in you; You alone are our salvation, you alone are our hope.

Lament For South Sudan- By Kristi Rice

March 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

25

8:00 AM Communion Worship (S) 8:15 AM Faith in Action Study (CR) 8:45 AM Nursery 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School (L) 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship (FH) 9:15 AM Children's Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Worship (S) 12:30 PM Bible Project (L) 6:30 PM Youth Group(SH)

26

9:00 AM Beatitudes

(L) 10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class (FH) 7:00 PM Parables

Bible Study(L)

27

11:00 AM Soup Fellowship (FH) 12:30 PM Parables Bible Study

(L) 2:00 PM Parables Bible Study(L) 7:00 PM Moms In Prayer (CR)

28

10:00 AM Intercessory

Prayer (CR) 6:00 PM Classic Chimers

(L) 6:00 PM Praise Band

(FH) 7:00 PM Choir (MR)

1

10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class

(FH)

2

11:00 AM

Congregational

Fellowship/

Outreach Mtg

(MR)

3

4

8:00 AM Communion Worship (S) 8:15 AM Faith in Action Study (CR) 8:45 AM Nursery 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School (L) 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship (FH) 9:15 AM Children's Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Worship (S) 12:30 PM Bible Project (L)

5

9:00 AM Beatitudes

(L) 10:30 AM Fit &


Bible Study(L)

6


(L) 2:00 PM Parables Bible Study(L)

3:30 PM Mission Committe(MR) 7:00 PM Moms In Prayer (CR)

7





8

10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class

(FH)

9

6:00 PM Kids

For Christ(FH)

10

11

Hunger Offering Sunday 8:00 AM Communion Worship (S) 8:15 AM Faith in Action Study (CR) 8:45 AM Nursery 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School (L) 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship (FH) 9:15 AM Children's Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Worship (S) 12:30 PM Bible Project (L) 6:30 PM Youth Group(SH)

12

9:00 AM Beatitudes

(L) 10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class (FH) 12:30 PM Kelly

Class 5:30 PM Crosswalk

(FH) 7:00 PM Parables

Bible Study(L)

13

9:00 AM Finance Committee

(MR)

11:00 AM Soup Fellowship(FH) 12:30 PM Parables Bible Stud(L) 2:00 PM Parables Bible Study(L) 7:00 PM Moms In Prayer (CR)

14





15

10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class

(FH) 1:00 PM Men's

Luncheon

16

12:00 PM

M.A.A.M.

17

Newsletter

Deadline St. Patrick's

Day

18

8:00 AM Communion Worship (S) 8:15 AM Faith in Action Study (CR) 8:45 AM Nursery 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School (L) 9:00 AM Easter Cantata (S) 9:15 AM Children's Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Worship (S) 12:30 PM Bible Project (L)

19

9:00 AM Beatitudes

(L) 10:30 AM Fit &


Bible Study(L)

20

9:30 AM LASP Advisory Mtg.

(MR) 11:00 AM Soup Fellowship (FH) 12:30 PM Parables Bible Study

(L) 2:00 PM Parables Bible Study(L) 7:00 PM Moms In Prayer (CR) 7:00 PM Session (MR)

21





22

10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class

(FH)

23 24

10:00 AM

Faith Filled

Women

Conference

( Wicomico

Youth&Civic

Center)

25

PALM SUNDAY 8:00 AM Communion Worship (S) 8:15 AM Faith in Action Study (CR) 8:45 AM Nursery 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School (L) 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship (FH) 9:15 AM Children's Sunday School 11:00 AM Easter Cantata(S) 12:30 PM Bible Project (L) 6:30 PM Youth Group(SH)

26

9:00 AM Beatitudes

(L) 10:30 AM Fit &


Bible Study(L)

27


(L) 2:00 PM Parables Bible Study(L) 7:00 PM Moms In Prayer (CR)

28





29

MAUNDY

THURSDAY 10:30 AM Fit &

Flexible Class

(FH) 7:00 PM

Maunday

Thursday

Service (S)

30

GOOD

FRIDAY 12:00 PM Good

Friday

Tenebrae

Service (S) 6:00 PM Kids

For Christ(FH)

31 6:00 PM -

6:00 AM

Prayer Vigil

(S)

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