PASTORAL PONDERINGS

I am seeing signs on TV and in yards that say “Science Will Win” and “Faith over Fear.” While never sure ifthere is a subtext going on, I can affirm I believe in both. I believe our great scientific minds will keep workinguntil they find a cure or a preventative or both. I believe that our faith in God will help us weather the weeksahead until we get that scientific victory. Sometimes, there seems to be an either/or view in our world thateither we believe in science or we believe in God. We trust human reasoning or we have faith. I am not aneither/or person. I believe deeply in both/and. They are not mutually exclusive. My image of God, when I amanthropomorphizing God, is of a parent who claps hands in delight when a new scientific truth is discovered

justlike I did when Glenna figured out a new way of multiplying that was not my way, or the way a teacher doeswhen a kid laboriously sounds out each letter to hear the word in the reading that had eluded him. God

doesn’tjust shine in the gaps of human abilities but through human achievement. Let’s help our world see that faithand science aren’t incompatible. Let’s show that God’s power and human achievement are not opposing

forces.

SERMON SCRIPTURESFor the next couple of weeks, I will be doing a series on the Beatitudes. They are found in Matthew 5: 1-12.

ZOOM OPPORTUNITIES: Here are the links:Worship: May 3 and May 10: https://zoom.us/j/225286925Worship: May 17, 24, and 31:https://zoom.us/j/92067917692Tai Chi: April 30, and May 7:https://zoom.us/j/418601671Tai Chi: May 14, 21, 28https://zoom.us/j/97826907579

We can’t meet together in a building, but we are meeting in many places via Zoom, an app that you downloadand then use to connect for Adult Discipleship, Worship, Youth Group, Session, Tai Chi. Some committees aremeeting via Zoom. Please check with your chair for those links. Youth Group link is by invitation for safetyreasons. Here are the times and links or contacts for our programs.Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM Adult Discipleship: Sundays at 9:15 AMYouth: Wednesdays at 3:00 PM. Call the Martins for the link and password.Tai Chi: Thursdays at 3 PMSession: Third Wednesdays at 6 PM. Contact Mary Beth Neeley or Church OfficeCongregational Care: 2nd Tuesdays at 2. Contact Gina Camilleri.Adult Discipleship Ministry Meeting: 1st Thursday at 1:00pm, Contact Mary Beth Neely

PRAYER LISTIN CARE CENTERS:

FORT KINGPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

LINK LITEMay 2020

Margy and Dick Marshall: Brookdale at Pinecastle Aileen Zimmerman: Harbor House, Dunnellon Bob Rile: The Bridge Caroline Sperring: Timber Ridge Nursing and Rehab Fred Stewart: OakhurstFOR THOSE GRIEVING: Family of Arlene Bowman who died April 19. Sue Thomas on death of husband Carl on April 20. Gene Moore on death of his brother Dean April 15. Marge Noe and Anne Winters on the death of their sister, Trish McConnell Mary Doyle and her family on death of her aunt last week. Rosemary and Peter Messmore on the death of friend CarolFOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS: Those battling cancer: Lyle Hamilton, David McChesney, Bob Lamont, Diane (Georgia Butler’s Daughter),

and Dick Marshall. Lyle has finished radiation but has begun his infusions. Those at home with health issues: Jane Garrett, Mary Jo Bernier, Judy Simonin, Maria Madigan, Nell Blumel,

Melvin Winkler, Judy O’Hern, Nilsa McNeil, Janet Mitchell, Moseley Ruark, Jeannine Tyler, Bobbie Burns, Elliana O’Hern (Judy’s great granddaughter), Midge Barrett, Bob Henry, and Pam Lewin’s friend, Al Murray, has COVID-19.

FOR THOSE SERVING IN AT RISK JOBS: (Please inform of others. We know we are missing some) Military: Jessica F Raker, Dick and Nancy Haydon’s granddaughter serving in Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska In hospitals or Health Care Centers: Afriyie Dankyi, Georgia Butler’s son, Ray and Moseley’s daughter, Shelly

Dyson (Jo Anne’s sister in law). In other settings: OTHER CONCERNS: Those who have lost employment, those who cannot visit loved ones in care centersWORSHIP UPDATES: We aren’t sure when it will be safe to resume worship in the Sanctuary. When we do, it is likely there will

be extra safety precautions implemented for a time like social distancing, masks, no hugs or hand shakes. Communion and offerings will likely be done differently. If the Stay at Home order gets lifted, then Drive In worships will likely resume. All changes will be updated on the Robo Call and website. For now, we have Zoom worship at 10:30 and virtual communion on first Sundays. Virtual Communion is where you have some bread like item and some beverage that we will partake together. If you are not on Zoom, please read the beatitudes in Matthew 5: 1-12 and meditate on them. Join us at 11 AM on May 3 as we partake as a congregation. The blessing of the elements is for everyone at that time.

Please remember to share your financial offerings by mail. We may not be in the building but there are still expenses to cover and especially salaries for all employees. We will be adding an offering aspect to Zoom worship where there will be a time to share something you have made, drawn, written, choreographed. If you have something you would like to share, please e-mail the church office by Monday so we can include you in the Sunday worship. Those of you willing to do one of the Bible readings, please contact Anne MacKay.

THANK YOUS Thanks to our Zoom Hosts: Mary Beth Neely, Peter Messmore, and Cate and Cadance Martin. Cudos to

Gina for figuring out Zoom for her committee meeting. Thank you for those who have done E-votionals. More will be coming. Thank you for your patience and forbearance as we figure out how to do all of this technology. Thank you for your faithfulness in continued giving in this time. Thank you for the Art 4 All steering committee who are continuing to create, make things for homebound,

push forward on the HOPE house and challenge all of us to use this time creatively.

UPDATES

GRADUATES:

If you have a child or a grandchild graduating this year, please inform the church office so we can celebrate

that milestone in our June Lite Link.

MAY RECOGNITION PROGRAM POSTPONEDThe Covered Dish Recognition Program that was scheduled for Sunday, May 17th has been postponed until the fall due to the COVID 19 virus. Hopefully, we will be able to do our recognition of our youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, and nursery assistants at our Fall Gathering in September.

SESSION REPORT

The Session met on April 15th via Zoom, with Rev Jo Anne Dyson moderating.After discussion, members agreed by consensus that we will hold a special celebration for the first time we areallowed to meet as a congregation after the COVID-19 protocol has been lifted. We will decorate the crosswith flowers for this celebration and celebrate communion.Most ministries are not meeting formally during this period, but Congregational Care, Youth Ministry, Tai Chi,Adult Discipleship and Adult Sunday School Class are meeting via Zoom.Sunday Worship is being well supported on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am via Zoom and will continue until weare able to meet together. All are welcome, the connecting link is available through the office.The Finance Ministry urges members to continue making their pledges by mail or dropping them off at thechurch.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

It is not just adults learning to adapt, our young adults are also coping with many changes. Please be sure to keep our young members in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks. Congregational Care will be sending cards to our college students to let them know we are thinking of them as they navigate the new world before them. If you would like to pass on an encouraging word, please contact Sheri at the church office for addresses.

As many of you know, Rev. Dyson’s daughter, Glenna Dyson, is graduating this May. Although she will not be able to have the traditional graduation ceremony or family and friends get togethers, we want to make sure she knows we are thinking of her. If you would like to send a graduation card or encouraging note to Glenna, the address is below.

We want to make sure our college students know we are thinking of them and sending cards to let them knowthey are in our thoughts and prayers. We have two students that are currently on our list.Glenna Dyson who is a senior at Western Washington University3426 Abbott St.Apt 202Bellingham, WA 98225

Darren Strawder is home from college (parents Joe and Sheletha Strawder) as all classes are now virtual.Darren is a freshman at University of Central FloridaDarren Strawder4176 NE 20th AvenueOcala, Fl. 34479

Congregational Care is meeting via Zoom. Our next meeting is Tuesday, May 12th at 2:00. If you would like to “attend” the meeting, please contact Gina Camilleri and she can send you a “Zoom” invitation.

NEWS FROM PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

If you are a woman and a member of Fort King Presbyterian Church, you are a "Presbyterian Woman" and you are invited to participate in all the activities of Presbyterian Women.

The Council Meeting, Circle Meetings, and the Annual Church Picnic are canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Prayerfully, our next meetings will be in September Please stay well and pray for all those affected by this infection.

WORSHIP

In today’s world, worship begins at home. While we are having services on Zoom, I encourage you to prepare a few minutes early by thinking of the words to our hymn, “Sanctuary.”

“Lord prepare me to be a sanctuaryPure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a livingSanctuary for you.”

Keep your faith strong through worship and the week ahead by beginning each day as a sanctuary of safety. This mindset can bring more peace and comfort to all of us. Remember that our church is not a building, but the members. The building may be closed right now, but our church family is open serving our Lord through prayer and deeds.

Looking forward to seeing your smile on Zoom, Joan Woods, Co-chairmanof Worship Ministry

Thank you for all the phone calls, cards and other expressions of sympathy on the loss of my sister, are so deeply appreciated. God bless you all, Roselle Pringle

Ft. King Angels,I feel so blessed having you as a major part of my support group. Thank you so much for the food, cards, and messages that have helped Carl and me down this incredibly hard path. The comment that “he is in a better place” could not be more true. The last month was unbelievable and my family is so relieved that Dad did not have to fight one more moment. Praise God that he passed peacefully.

Love to all from Sue, CG, Greyson and Allison Thomas.

I am still missing some of the Emergency Contact Forms. Please take the time to fill out and mail to the church office.

Gingers blooming on the

church grounds Celebration Easter and Palm Sunday

Sidewalk Art during this difficult time

Highlands Regional Ministry CenterFort King Presbyterian Church sent $2500 to support this center that has a Counseling Center, Days for Girls Workarea, houses a church and AA program. Until recently, the medical school of UF had a clinic there 2 days a weekand AmeriCorps was housed there in early March.