Final April SPIRE 2019 - wpreschurch.orgwpreschurch.org/spire/april19spire.pdf · WESTERN SPIRE APRIL 2019 “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has

WESTERN SPIRE APRIL 2019

“So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

~2 Corinthians 5:17 Friends in Christ,

This Lent we have been Cultivating & Letting Go. As winter has waned and spring emerges

(slowly but surely!), the seemingly dead branches that have swayed in the growing warmth of the sun

are starting to find new life. Leaves and flowers are beginning to bud from what was the cold ground.

At times it felt like winter would never cease, but spring is being ushered in.

This Lent we have pruned to the reaching branches in ourselves, watering them, putting them in

sunlight that they might grow. We have stripped bare, shedding that which has gotten in the way of our

knowing God, and we have cultivated those things in ourselves that lead to richness in community, in

our world, and in ourselves.

This Lent we have been journeying toward the cross of Good Friday, but fully expectant of the

joy of Easter Sunday. We have tended to the parched areas of our lives, cultivating practices that

enliven our faith, and letting go of those things which keep us out of sync with God’s movement. We

are experiencing a shifting into a season of wile, dramatic flourishing - a bursting forth with the

fruits of God’s work in our lives. As you can see, the logo for our Easter Sunday, done by A Sanctified

Art (© a sanctified art | sanctifiedart.org), the letters are engulfed by full-grown, bright fig leaves,

stretching flower petals, and plump, vibrant figs. Death has been overcome, the tomb is empty, and we

are invited into the work of ushering in a new creation.

We are a new creation! We have been resurrected with Christ! The hard work of Lent is not yet

over - we still have work to do. And when Easter arrives, the hard work will continue - being the light

of Christ in the world is never easy, but it is full of joy!

As the Easter season approaches, consider the new thing God is working in your life; the new

thing God is working in our congregation; the new thing God is calling our world to be.

Grace & peace & newness,

~Pastor Kyle

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Preaching and Worship

April 2019 April 7, 2019 Fifth Sunday in Lent 9 am Visio Divina Pastor Bob Ike preaching Reader: John Cook Usher: Sue Leonard

Toddler Room: Jan Taylor

April 14, 2019 Palm/Passion Sunday 9 am Visio Divina 7 pm Service of Healing

Reader: Irene Fadden Usher: Sue Leonard Toddler Room: Irene Fadden

April 21, 2019 Resurrection of the Lord Easter Sunday Communion Sunday No Sunday School Reader: Randy Kennard Usher: Sue Leonard

Toddler Room: Ruth Dantz Communion Elders: Alicia Lynch, Bill & Elaine Hassl er

April 28, 2019 Second Sunday of Easter 9 am Book Club Vacation Bible School Preview Event Pastor Bob Ike preaching

Reader: Deborah Trombino Usher: Sue Leonard Toddler Room: Jody Pruitt

The deadline for the next SPIRE is Tuesday, April 16th, 2019.

Thank you!

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"One More Year"

by Hannah Garrity

Inspired by Luke 13:1-9, Acrylic on Canvas

Visio Divina

Sunday Mornings @ 9 am Visio Divina is latin for “divine seeing.” This is a method of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of intentional seeing. Visio Divina extends the 6th century Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina by the use of visual imagery. Traditionally, Visio Divina was accompanied by Benedictine iconography and illuminations, however, different faith traditions have adapted the process over time, utilizing both secular and nonsecular images. Starting at 9 am in the Parlor, we will gather for 45 minutes to consider an image that accompanies that Sunday’s lectionary passage. This will be an opportunity to dive a little deeper into the gospel lessons Pastor Kyle will be preaching on, as well as a chance to explore these texts in a new and creative way. No need to sign up or RSVP! Come as you are, as often as you like! No preparation necessary! Sundays April 7 and 14.

Special Services in Lent

Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 18th at 7 pm Park Presbyterian Church Newark We have been invited to join our brothers and sisters at Park Presbyterian Church for their annual Maundy Thursday service. This is a service that commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and anticipates the events of Good Friday.

Good Friday Service - Friday, April 19th at 7 pm Join us in the sanctuary on Friday, April 19th at 7 pm for a quiet, reflective service on this, one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar. We will remember Christ’s suffering and death, and though the light will be hidden in the shadow of the grave, we rest secure in the knowledge that the light shines in the darkness, and that life will overcome.

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"Where the Fruit Lies" by Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Inspired by Luke 13:6-9

Acrylic on Canvas

A Special Service of Healing - Sunday, April 14th at 7 pm

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells a story of a fruitless fig tree once planted with promise, only to grow barren and brittle. The landowner in the parable has returned to its empty branches for three years. With patience worn thin and hope withered, he commands the gardener to cut it down, seeing it as a liability to the soil. But where the landowner sees waste, the gardener perceives possibility that lies fallow. The gardener has learned from the land that life flows in cycles—budding, flourishing, pruning, death. And so, he requests one more year. Cutting the earth with a shovel, he loosens the clots that have settled like stone so that when water comes, the earth with receive it like a soft kiss. He blankets the roots with manure so that growth can be steadied by hope. And then he lets go. What happens to the fig tree? Does it live? Does it die? Does it bear any fruit? We don’t know. And so, if we can’t read the end of this story, then we must write it with our own lives. Because we know what it feels like to be the fig tree, to be deemed worthless, to be weary enough to believe that we don’t deserve to be well. And perhaps we also know what it’s like to see the world through the eyes of the landowner—calculating worth based on what we produce, what we accomplish, what we provide. Can we cultivate the vision of the Great Gardener, the One who sees you for what you are becoming? The one who tends and prunes, nourishes and lets go? Perhaps for us, the fruit is not the ending. The fruit is in the waiting, in the dead of winter, in the manure; the nurture, the rest, the darkness. The fruit is in all of it, sowing seeds we can’t yet see. This is a service for all - those who are ill in body or spirit and those who simply want to draw nearer to Christ. There is much we can learn from the lesson of the Fig Tree.

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From the Fellowship Team

Be sure to mark your calendars and plan to join us for a pot luck following service on Sunday, April 28th. Please bring a dish to pass and your table service. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the Fellowship Team.

A Mission Team Challenge!

The Mission & Social Concerns Team is issuing a challenge to all the Teams and members of WPC: Put together a minimum of 10 Theme Baskets for a Silent Auction!

This is to benefit Family Promise when they have their BED CITY event on May 11, 2019 from 4 pm to 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. All proceeds will go to Family Promise. What kind of theme basket can you put together? Each team (Property, Worship, etc.) is being challenged to put together a basket that will be auctioned off during the event. So far, ideas that have been claimed are: Music Theater, Mary Kay, Movie/Night In. What ideas do you have? If you are not a member of a team, you can still participate! Team up with one or two other members to put something together! If you have any questions, please reach out to Irene Fadden, Jody Pruitt, or Edie Chapman. Thank you! ~WPC Mission and Social Concerns Team

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THANK YOU FROM THE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Our February 10th Blanket Sunday appeal here at Western Presbyterian

Church raised a record $655.00 for this Church World Service ministry of

the National Council of the Churches of Christ of the U.S.A.

A warm winter blanket or a summer weight blanket is the first item

provided to people in emergency situations around the world. A blanket

means “We do care for you”.

A heartfelt thank you to our always generous and “caring” congregation.

Jacob McFarlane is going to Italy from April 12th until April 20th with the Pal-Mac Select Choir. Listed below is the link to follow Jacob and the Select Choir in the Italy trip blog. We will also share the link on the church Facebook page and share his updates from time to time!

https://pmsc2019.home.blog/?fbclid=IwAR1OjLOknep_hEGeTgHgSvT2bGbLwwkv95apZSWCxz

o-jlrnCuIDRQswhmg

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WE ARE LIVE at WPC!

As a way of reaching more people through our weekly worship, our services will now be live streamed through our

church Facebook page! Over the past couple of years, we have experimented with how this can best be done, and

because of our new A/V system, we now have the ability to share our worship with anyone who wishes to join us

virtually. So, no matter where you are - in Floria for the winter; away for the weekend, at a Bills’ game - you can worship

with our community at Western Presbyterian Church! We pray that this will be a valuable gift to those who cannot

physically be with us, and for those who may want to just check us out!

For those who do not have a Facebook account, we are looking into ways to share the recorded services through our

website. Be on the lookout for more information!

*Directions: Go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WesternPresbyterian and look for the post that will share

the live stream (we will try to have the feed up ten minutes before worship begins). Simply click on the video - and make

sure your volume is turned on!

*Please note: if you join late and wish to watch the service from the beginning, you will have to wait until the conclusion

of the service after the video is uploaded by Facebook.

We will also be sharing pictures of each page of the bulletin so you can follow along!

The first one went so well, I’m trying it again! Book Club for Adult Sunday School with the book

Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott.

This book focuses on three essential prayers for daily life and will be divided in 3 sessions. Book Club will run Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 9:45.

Help on May 5 (Fellowship Hall) Thanks on May 19 (Fellowship Hall) Wow on June 2 (Mary Griffith room)

Come to all or any you are able!

Breakfast goodies will be served bring your own coffee/tea Details on cost of book coming soon as we will order locally through Dog Eared Books

Please sign up by Sunday, April 21. Questions to Emily Hunt [email protected]

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Easter to Pentecost Food Pantry Donations

Let’s help fill the shelves for this spring.

Each Sunday bring in different types of food.

April 28th – spaghetti and sauce

May 5th – several cans of canned fruit

May 12th – variety of canned vegetables

May 19th – pancake mix and syrup

May 26th – variety of fruit & veggies

June 2nd – spaghetti or alfredo sauce

June 9th – boxes of cereal

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Hello Friends, It’s just a few weeks away and time to sign- up for the Spring Rummage Sale. If you have never helped before - try it, you may like it! We will need everyone's help as our pool of helpers grows smaller. Without your help, the Rummage Sale may not be able to continue Thanks for helping where you can! A sign-up sheet is posted in the Church Hallway on the easel or contact Jody Pruitt

***315-331-3211 [email protected] Monday evening 4/22/19, we need people to help set up tables, clothes racks, bring up rummage sale stuff from downstairs beginning at 6:00 pm .

Tuesday evening 4/23/19 starting at 6:00 pm to unpack and set up donations on tables and hang up clothes. Wednesday during the day 4/24/19 to price items (Pricing is usually done 12 noon – 5 pm ) Wednesday evening 4/24/19 from 6:00-9:00 pm to unpack, set out and price last minute donations on the tables.

*Bake goods are needed for the Bake Sale and can be brought to the church on Wednesday, 4/24/19 anytime between 9 AM--8:00 PM. Goods can be packaged and priced at church - Thank You **If you make delicious soup , we would love a crockpot full to sell on Thursday. We need a total of 2 or 3 crockpots of soup and/or chili, Please! ***Now the hard part: we need 2 - 3 people for each shift: Please count yourself as scheduled for the day you sign up. Thank you in advance! Thursday , 4/25/19 Time Slots: 9 am-noon, noon-3 pm, or 3-5 pm (3 people per shift) Friday , 4/26/29 Time Slots: 9 am-noon, noon-3 pm, or 3-5 pm (1:00 to 5:00 pm 1/2 price sale) (2 people per shift) Saturday , 4/27/19 Time Slot: 9-11 am ($3.00 bag day sale) (3 people per shift) Tear-down starts Saturday 4/27/19 at 11:30 am (6 or more people plus) People are needed to help with tear down, boxing up items not sold, clean-up and reset Fellowship Hall with tables/chairs, help transport unsold items to Goodwill.

Please let me know ASAP if you can help with the Rummage Sale. Once I receive your response, please count yourself as scheduled ~ Thank You! ~Jody

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Bed City at WPC and Village Park

May 11th, from 4 PM to 7 PM

Support one bed –

Baskets for Silent Auction

The Mission Team has

agreed to provide pillows,

sheets, comforter, etc.

Sponsor’s donate $1,000

to Family Promise. Can we

get donations from

individuals for $20 - $50 -

$100 to cover the $1,000?

If we do, the $1,000 will

be doubled by the Bullis

Fund. Make checks out to

Family Promise.

• Create a theme basket

to be auctioned at the

event.

• List items and value of

items in basket.

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Crocheted Bedspread $5 donation ticket

Veronica House has crocheted a queen-sized bedspread. Buy a

ticket and donate $5 to Family Promise. You might get to go

home with the bedspread if your ticket is drawn. See Jody, Irene,

or John for your ticket.

Crafts

Do you make something that can be sold at the Bed City Event?

Maybe hats, windchimes, purses, bags, neck scarves, candles,

jewelry, etc.

WPC will have a booth to

sell chili/soup raising

funds for Family Promise.

Anyone wanting to be

part of this booth?

Thank you for your support.

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Crocheted Queen-sized Bedspread

Made by Veronica House for Family Promise

$5 Donation

Tickets available from Host Coordinators or at Bed City

Drawing of ticket at Bed City on May 11th

See Irene Fadden for more information.

[email protected]

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The prayer concerns listed are current as of 03/24/ 19. Please remember that all prayer requests are a utomatically removed from the list after one month unless the gi ver specifically requests continuation. Our Prayer Concerns Grieving: Family & Friends of Dorothy Naetzker (requested by Jan & Dave Taylor) Family & Friends of Marcia White (requested by the Delhagen family) Family & Friends of Harold Elsenheimer (requested by Irene Fadden) Family & Friends of Shelly Crandall (requested by Rochelle Morse) Serving in Armed Forces: (Please contact church office if no longer serving) Jeffrey Bavis, AJ Bliss, Kyle Chapman, Tim Henderson, Jake Hewitt, Adam Hill, Sarah Jagger, Joe Krebbeks, Patrick Magno, Brandon Maxwell, D.J. Phee-Henderson, Adam Stephens, Adam VanNatta, Logan Warner, Shod Williams Others for whom prayers have been requested: All caregivers, All victims of violence, hatred and hunger, Brooks Ballard, Matt Barbalato, Pat Beato, Jane Becker, Mary Blake, the Brown Family, Bill Coene, Harry DeCook, Gladys DeBruyne, Art Duel, Yvonne Ferraro, Ed Forman, Emily Fowler, Geoff Hargrave, Mary Kay Jones, the Jorgensen Family, Marta Lydia & Pastor Ricardo, Mason, Janna (Kirchhoff) McGlynn, Sandy McMenamin, Myles, Ginny Palmer, Marilyn Pitts, Wesley Pruitt, Ray & Fran Stein, Oscar Stevens, Becky Strause, Ted’s son, David Thorn, Steve Vanderwedge, Bob Wyllie Please pray for those who wish to remain anonymous as they, too, need our prayers. Others for whom we continue to pray: Doris Coffman, Tracy D’Arduini, Harold M. Delhagen, Ed Elsenheimer, Jack Lamphier, Laura Loomis, Nick Loomis, Ashley Maragas, Cim McFarlane, Luke Medina, Christie Romano, Melissa Taylor, Jonah Wieber Congregation members in nursing homes or shut-in: Peg Eskild, Jamie Hemmings, Beverly Koeberle, Bev Mouton, Patricia Nash, Grace Williams Please remember that all prayer requests are automatically removed from the list after

one month unless the giver specifically requests continuation. In the event of an emergency for which prayer is requested, please call Deacon Sandy McMenamin @ Home 315-597-6181 [email protected] You may also call the church office 597-9171 to communicate your request through the Deacons Emergency Prayer Chain.

Your Property Team would like to remind you that we have a monthly point person on call. If you spot an urgent issue that needs attending, please contact the appropriate person rather than the person you may have reached out to in the past.

Month Name Home Phone Cell Phone Email Address April James

McFarlane 315-597-1496 N/A [email protected]

Thank you! We appreciate all the members of our congregation being eyes and ears for our facility.

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Toddler April Schedule

Below is the Schedule for staffing of the Toddler Room during the 10:00 AM

Sunday morning service. Thank you in advance for your extremely important

mission of providing infant and toddler care. Please arrive about 10-15

minutes early. If you find you are not available on your assigned date, please

find a replacement. Many, Many, thanks!

The Nursery is room # 5 – South Side located on the 2nd floor. Snack will be on the counter

and a Vacuum will be in the closet next to the Green Room. Age appropriate toys will be available as

well as a changing table. Please let Jody know when we need to refill the snacks. Once again, Thank -

You for your help

04/07/19 Jan Taylor 315-597-4293

04/14/19 Irene Fadden 585-802-7594

04/21/19 Ruth Dantz 315-597-2143

04/28/19 Jody Pruitt 315-331-3211

05/05/19 Nancy Talma 315-597-5003

05/12/19 Logan & Kelly Babcock 315-210-0368

05/19/19 Carol and Andy Sloan 315-597-5182

05/26/19 Sue Leonard 585-734-4027

06/02/19 Rena Haigh 315-597-5971

06/09/19 Maxine & Kelly Babcock 315-210-0368

06/16/19 Sue Pringle 315-597-9533

*If anyone or anyone you know may be interested in joining the team in providing infant and toddler care

during the 10:00 am service please contact Jody Pruitt, we would love to have you! Also, if you are no longer

able to help please let Jody know as well.

Thanks ~ the CE Team Jody Pruitt 315-331-3211 [email protected]

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY April 3 Richard Kirchhoff April 12 Terry & Valerie Gendron

April 8 Emily Hunt

April 8 Amie McMullin

April 9 Amie Fabrizio

April 10 Jonnie Fontaine

April 11 Mina Talma

April 15 Paul Dlugosh

April 18 Doris Coffman

April 18 David Pinkney

April 22 Valerie Gendron

April 24 Benjamin Dlugosh

April 24 Jan Semans

April 26 Ronald Pieters

If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact the office at 597-9171 so we

can add it to our list next time!

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APRIL 2019 SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT.

1 4:30 pm CTNS Board

7 pm Fellowship

2 2 pm Deacons

3 11 am to 1 pm FH Women’s Gathering 1 pm Mission/Social Concerns 7 pm Book Study

4 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

5 6 10 am to 2 pm FH Marr Family

7 5th Sunday in Lent 9 am Visio Divina Pastor Bob Ike preaching 11:15 am Family Promise Training at 1st Baptist Macedon

8

9 7 pm Worship

10 7 pm Book Study 7 pm Christian Ed.

11 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

12 13

14 Passion/Palm Sunday 9 am Visio Divina Palm Sunday Parade 7 pm Service of Healing Family Promise host families

15 Family Promise host families

16 SPIRE DEADLINE 7 pm Generosity Family Promise host families

17 6:30 pm Property Cleaning sanctuary & meeting 7 pm Book Study Family Promise host families

18 Maundy Thursday 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir 7 pm Service Park Presbyterian Church Family Promise host families

19 Good Friday 7 pm Service Family Promise host families

20 Family Promise host families

21 Easter Sunday Communion Sunday No Sunday School Take down Family Promise

22 Earth Day 6-9 pm Set Up Rummage Sale

23 6-9 pm King’s Daughters Parlor 6-9 pm Set Up Rummage Sale 7 pm Session

24 Noon-9 pm Set Up Rummage Sale 7 pm Circle IV Parlor 7 pm Finance

25 9 am to 5 pm Rummage Sale 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

26 9 am to 5 pm Set Up Rummage Sale

27 9-11 am Rummage Sale 11 am to 1 pm Tear Down

28 9 am Book Club Pastor Bob Ike preaching VBS Preview Event Potluck Brunch

29 30

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MAY 2019

SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT.

1 11 am to 1 pm FH Women’s Gathering 1 pm Mission/Social

Concerns

7 pm Christian Ed.

2 National Day of

Prayer Sanctuary Open

6 pm Potluck

3

4 8 am to 5 pm CTNS

Vendor Event

5 3rd Sunday of

Easter

9 am Book Club FH

6 4:30 pm CTNS Board

7 pm Fellowship

7 2 pm Deacons

8

9 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

10

11 4-7 pm Bed City

Fundraiser

12 Communion

Sunday

Mother’s Day

13 2:30 pm Select

Choir Rehearsal

14

7 pm Worship

15 6:30 pm Property

7 pm Select Choir

Recital

16 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

17

18

19 9 am Book Club FH

Youth Led Service

Last day of

Sunday School

20

21 SPIRE DEADLINE

22

23 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

24

25

26 6th Sunday of

Easter

27 Memorial Day

Office Closed

28 7 pm Session

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30 6 pm Bell Choir 7 pm Chancel Choir

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