First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup · Introducing our new Office Manager, Darice Hermann! Darice, her husband Scott, and their children Margo and Trygve, have been a part of our

FEBRUARY 2016

VOLUME 64, ISSUE 1

412 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371 253-848-7243 www.fpcpuyallup.org

Rev. Sue Watkins, Pastor

First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup

Join Us This Ash Wednesday February 10th at 6:30 pm

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count). Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for East-er by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.

Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. They are mostly observed by the Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics. The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the cus-tom of Lent, however, the practice of repent-ance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Sam-uel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

During our Ash Wednesday service, you will be invited to come forward to have your fore-head marked with ashes in the sign of the cross. (The ashes are from last year’s branches from Palm Sunday.) Come and join us for this brief service of reflection and repentance. After-ward you are invited to come to our Parlor for an introduction to our Lent devotional guide. “Be Holy.”

“Be Holy” Devotional Guide and Discussion Groups Lent is a holy journey with God, but what does it

mean exactly to be “holy”? For some, it’s all about doing the right thing and not messing up. We turn Christianity into a list of rules and put God at the top of a staircase we’re determined to climb. But what if holiness is not good marks on a chalkboard but a gift from God?

Pastor and author Brian Coulter has penned a series of brief daily reflections, paired with a short, ancient form of praise and petition called a breath prayer, to explore what holiness means for Christians today. He invites us to receive from God this blessed gift that makes our lives more compelling, more enjoyable, and more faithful.

Copies of our Lent devo-tional guide are now available in the Narthex and in the church office. Please consider making a donation of $2.50 to cover the cost.

Scriptures for February

February 7, 2016 Transfiguration of the Lord

Holy Communion Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

February 14, 2016

1st Sunday in Lent

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13

Luke 4:1-13

February 21, 2016 2nd Sunday in Lent

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27

Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35

February 28, 2016

3rd Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9

You are welcome to read the lessons in

preparation for Sunday Worship.

Do you want to take a walk with me? Having journeyed through Better Than Before with ErrolLynne Marsh and others, I have learned a few things about myself and I am working on developing healthy habits, both physically and spiritually. This includes making sure than I am walking every day. With the rainy weather and slippery sidewalks this time of year, I am not always inclined to walk outdoors.

Sometimes at night I do the tiny circuit around my kitchen island. When I am at the church on a quiet weekday afternoon I can take a break, step into the Sanctuary and walk up one aisle, across the back, down the other aisle and around. It occurred to me that there may be others who are wanting to get out and walk too, but are hampered by the weather.

Let’s do this! Starting in February, I will be walking in the Sanctuary on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9:00-10:00, except when the Sanctuary is in use for another purpose. (On February 9 we will only walk for 30 minutes because our piano teachers will be coming in at 9:30.) Even if you can only do limited walking, our Sanctuary has plenty of seating so you can stop and rest whenever you need to.

We can use this time to get to know one another better, but we can also use this time to pray for our church and our community. I am picturing spending some of the time walking while praying silently, and some of the time talking with each other. We can figure out together how much time for praying and hoe much time for talking. On Tuesdays we will pray for our church, our ministries, and the people in our church. On Fridays we will pray for our community, for families and schools and businesses all around us. Once the weather improves, we can start walking through the neighborhood around our church on Fridays.

I will be walking and praying regardless of how many show up to join

me, or even if I am alone. But I would much rather walk with you. Our

first day is Tuesday, February 2. Are you with me?

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Lent Devotional Guide Study Group There will be two opportunities to join in a weekly discussion group, Sunday morn-

ings at 9:00 in our Library, and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in our Parlor. Each time we will reflect on the daily readings for the previous week. Sign up on the clipboard in the Office during the week or in the Fellowship Hall after worship on Sunday. Copies of our Lent devotional guide are now available in the Narthex and in the church office. Please consider making a donation of $2.50 to cover the cost.

Not to praise our works, but to focus the light.

Once, upon a tree, Adam and Eve chose something that sent them far away from God. Each Lent, we re-member the tree that God used to bring us all back to paradise again. Throughout Lent, children will add a sticker to their tree standup and read a devotion and Bi-ble verse. The stickers help to tell the story of God’s growing family and God’s plan (planted in the garden of Eden) to save us all through Jesus’ sacrifice on the tree of the cross. When Easter Sunday arrives, celebrate the happy truth that Jesus is risen!

We are providing this guide through Lent to all the children in our church family. They will be handed out in Sunday School on February 7 and Wednesday CORE on February 10. Watch for them!

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Congratulations to our 2015 Yule Candle recipient, Christine Howard! Christine has a long history of helping others. Her journey at First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup began in 2010. She be-came a member in 2011 and has worked with the Deacons as a board member and secretary. She has dedicated her time and tal-ents to fundraisers and receptions, but her passion is for the Freez-ing Nights ministry. Christine, a mother of two, works as a bookkeeper. She is an avid runner and belongs to a running club in Tacoma. She is a Pace Leader and enjoys working on events and activities. Christine is perhaps best recognized by her huge smile and ready handshake. Thank you, Christine!

Yule Candle Recipient

Children’s Lenten Devotional Guides

CORE Children’s Ministry

Our Mid week CORE Ministry meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm. This is for newborns-6th graders. We will review what we have been learning in Sunday School, play games and do fun crafts to enhance all of your learning. Dinner is provided.

Upcoming CORE dates are:

February 10 & 24

Office News The church has new of-fice hours. The office will be open from 9:00am to 1:00 pm Monday through

Friday. Please note, the office will be closed Monday,

February 15 in ob-servance of Presidents’

Day.

Supper Club

Sometimes scheduling is complicated and difficult. With that said, Supper Club will not be meeting in February. We will gather together in-stead on March 12

th. At that time, Steve Fox, volunteer with Earthwatch,

a nonprofit environmental organization, will share an archeological pro-gram on the Canary Islands, Kualas of Australia, and Hyenas of Cape-town, South Africa. Our potluck dinner will be at 6:00 pm followed by Steve’s presentation. Hope you will join us in the social hall for this inter-esting program.

The Supper Club dates for the remainder of the year will be:

April 23 – Lighthouse Gospel Quartet

May 21 – Lloyd and Jan Morgan will share their Rafiki Experience

June (date to be determined): BBQ/Picnic

Be sure to mark your calendars for these exciting events!

.

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.

Presbyterian Women

Now that the holidays are past and we are returning to our usual

routines, you are encouraged to add our first Presbyterian Women

Gathering of 2016 to your calendar. We will meet at noon for our

salad lunch on February 1st. Pastor Anne-Cecile Porter will be shar-

ing her “Journey to Ordination” with us. All women are invited to at-

tend.

A Message from your Health Ministries

Come get your blood pressure checked during our clinics on Feb-

ruary 21st and March 13th. Your Health Ministries is participating in a research study for the Faith Community Nurse program at CHI-Franciscan. Let's show our support for this important work while knowing our numbers. Contact Nola-Gene Byrd, RN, BSN, CAPA Parish Nurse for details or questions.

February is Go Red for Heart

Health Month!

Pick up your healthy

tips at the blood pres-sure clinic in February.

2nd- Noah Forchione 5th- Ayverie Ulmer

6th– Byron Emmett Bentley Moon 6th– Jimmy Scott

7th– Malakai Moyer 8th– Carol Moon

12th– Ender Kesler 12th– Ann Runger

13th– Katie Potasky 13th– Mary Ellen Sparks

14th– Lois Sand 15th– Lyla Frieben 19th– Jane Elam 20th– John Dowie

24th– Sally Zeiger Hanson 24th– Annette Kenyon

27th– Shirley Bruce

February Birthdays

11th ~ Ken & Karen Cockle, celebrating 55 years!

14th ~ Mark & Heather Toomey,

celebrating 16 years!

22nd ~ Paul & Joanne Hackett, celebrating 63 years!

February Anniversaries

Happy Anniversary to Diane Gibbons!

February 17th marks the five year anniversary of Diane’s service to First Presbyterian Church. Diane

has been working faithfully as our custodian, for which we are grateful. However, her delightful opti-mism and kind heart are perhaps her greatest con-

tributions to the First Pres family. Thank you, Diane!

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We will be celebrating Ann Runger’s 100th birthday on Sunday, February 14th during fellowship time . Please plan to join us for this wonderful event. If

you are unable to attend, feel free to send the birth-day girl a card.

Greeting can be sent to: Ann Runger

c/o/ Peoples Retirement Community 1720 East 67th St #153B

Tacoma, WA 98404

Introducing our new Office Manager,

Darice Hermann!

Darice, her husband Scott, and their children Margo

and Trygve, have been a part of our church family since 2013, thanks to an invitation from friend and neighbor Ju-lie Giltner. Darice began her work with us on January 4 and is quickly learning the ropes! Her office hours are 9:00-1:00 Monday through Friday. If you need to reach me after 1:00, go ahead and call the church and enter my extension “12” when you hear the recording. If I am at my desk, I will answer. If I am not at my desk, I will get back to you. Remember that I do not work on Mondays.

Pastor Sue

First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup 412 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371-8625

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