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Easter Joy By Joanna Fuchs Jesus came to earth,
To show us how to live,
How to put others first,
How to love and how to give. Then He set about His work,
That God sent Him to do,
He took our punishment on Himself;
He made us clean and new. He could have saved Himself,
Calling angels from above,
But, He chose to pay our price for sin;
He paid it out of love. Our Lord died on Good Friday,
But the cross did not destroy
His resurrection on Easter morn
That fills our hearts with joy. Now we know our earthly death,
Like His, is just a rest.
We’ll be forever with Him
In heaven, where life is best. So, we live our lives for Jesus,
Think of Him in all we do.
Thank you Savior; Thank you Lord.
Help us love like you. Worship NotesUpcoming WorshipWorship Services. Fellowship HourJoin us for Fellowship Hour in the Gathering Area before and after the worship service on Sundays. Stop by for fellowship and refreshments and snacks. Session NotesYour Session met on February 16 with Shelley Wiley from Presbytery as our Moderator. The following are actions taken: Moving forward in our search for a new Pastor, we reviewed a letter written by a few Session members to Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry to explain and confirm action taken at our January meeting - that we choose to search for a Designated Pastor rather than an Interim Pastor. An Interim would have to leave after a new Pastor has been selected; whereas, a Designated Pastor may choose to leave or may become our called Pastor. The letter will be finalized and presented to COM at their meeting on Tuesday, February 28. We hope for approval and to then move forward with the election of a Designated Pastoral Nominating Committee (DPNC). Rev. Marc van Bulck will be our liaison to Presbytery throughout this process. Approved Sunday, March 19, for the Annual Congregational Meeting to elect new church officers. · Accepted various committee reports. Encouraged attendance and participation to special Education, Worship and Music happenings during Lent.
Please continue to pray for your Session as we work to do God’s will for First Presbyterian, Middletown. Next Session meeting will be held on Thursday, March 16, at 6:00 p.m. Notes from the Director of MusicThose who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty,
This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting Him.
(Psalm 91:1, 2) Holy Week begins with the excitement of Palm/Passion Sunday featuring the wonderful music of the Sanctuary Choir and Renaissance Ringers and waving of palm branches. The Rev. Edward McNulty will be preaching. It is a day to rejoice in the jubilant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem but ending on a more somber note as we move toward the betrayal on Maundy Thursday. Our Maundy Thursday Service this year is a service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows”. The Sanctuary Choir, combined with the St. Luke Presbyterian Choir, is excited to present “Hope in the Shadows”, a Tenebrae Service, by composers Lloyd Larson and Joel Raney with narration by the Rev. Edward McNulty and the Rev. Dick Sedgewick. “Hope in the Shadows” recalls Christ’s journey to the cross by examining the shadows of betrayal, injustice and agony that marked that journey. It contrasts the selfish exploits of humanity with the divine nature of a loving God. As you take this sacred journey with us, may the words of James be a reminder of the hope which is ours: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17) Our Maundy Thursday Service will be presented on Thursday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m. This service is open to the public. Please invite friends and family to this beautiful and inspiring service. The glorious light of the resurrection blots out the darkness on Easter morning. Our Easter Sunday Service will feature the cantata, “A Festival of Easter”, which is being created collaboratively by the Rev. Ed McNulty, Joyce Zigler, and Brian Shepard. Glorious music from the Organ and Brass Quartet will begin this exciting celebration. The Sanctuary Choir and Brass Quartet will lead us to the glorious resurrection and the promise of eternal life through beautiful music and inspiring narration. You will not want to miss any part of this inspiring and moving journey. Come, let us worship together. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. Tenebrae is a meditation on Christ’s suffering. Readings trace the story of Christ’s passion, music portrays his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness suggests the drama of this momentous day. As the candles are extinguished, we ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death; we remember the cataclysmic nature of his sacrifice; and through the return of the small but persistent flame of the Christ candle at the conclusion of the service, we anticipate the joy of ultimate victory. Christian Education NotesJourneying Together during the Lenten SeasonThe mystery of Easter is such a big mystery that the church sets aside six weeks as a time of getting ready. People can walk right through a mystery without even realizing it. We hope you will join us in the many opportunities to gather in community as we share this journey to Jerusalem during the season of Lent. Lenten Lunch Series: Poems, Prayers, and Pastries!Each Wednesday in March, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” - Mary Oliver’s instructions for living. We value gathering during the season of Lent and sharing fellowship and faith together. In this season of transition, a new idea formed, honoring the tradition of the Lenten Lunches in a new way. In this new format hosted by The Purple Table, you are invited to bring your own lunch along with a poem or prayer you might like to share during the event. Coffee, tea, and pastries will be provided. Our event hosts will guide us through a time of welcome with an opening poem, an invitation for others to share their poems and prayers, and a closing prayer or blessing. Invite your friends to this time of fellowship and a shared meal. It will certainly be fun to hear the variety of poems and prayers offered in this shared journey in faith and community. We are grateful for the event hosts who will facilitate each gathering: 3/1 - Rod Thomson and Mary Brehm 3/8 - Paula Cohen and Tim Rudd 3/15 - Joyce Zigler and Diana McVay 3/22 - Ann Veith and Marty Hensler 3/29 - Darrell Templeton and Anne Frantz
What is The Purple Table? The Purple Table is a pop-up welcome space, online and in-person, that builds community, affirms, and supports healing. Let us encourage one another as we play, share stories, listen, and find a way through life and faith, together! Special Opportunity: Making Prayer BeadsInspired by Rev. Lynn Bova’s recent sermon, we are planning a few gatherings to make Protestant Prayer Beads! Guided prayer resources will be available for you to take home and practice this new form of tactile prayer. Tuesday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m. during Bible Study in the Youth Room Sunday, March 12, following worship in the Gathering Area Wednesday, March 15, at 1:00 p.m. during Prayer Group in the Memorial Room
Save the date for the Easter Egg Hunt!Come to the Easter Egg Hunt in the courtyard following worship on Palm Sunday, April 2! This year, we are not requesting donations of candy. Tuesday Morning Bible Study for LentWeekly Bible Study meets in the Youth Room at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings (no meeting on 2/28 or 3/21). During the season of Lent, we’ll follow the study resource, “Meeting Jesus at the Table” by Cynthia M. Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr. The Gospels are full of stories of Jesus sharing meals with disciples, friends, even tax collectors and Pharisees. Whether multiplying bread to feed a whole crowd, relaxing with his inner circle, or telling curious elites stories about even greater banquets, Jesus imparts wisdom as he shares the wine and grants forgiveness as he distributes the fish. Come, let us gather at the welcome table! March 7 - The Welcome Table: “He Eats with Tax Collectors and Sinners!” (Matthew 9:9-13) March 14 - Surprised by Grace: Dinner Interrupted (Luke 7:36-50) March 28 - Relationships and Reciprocity: Making Room at the Table (Luke 14:7-14)
Wednesday Fellowship and KnittingAn informal group of people from the church knit and crochet at Triple Moon Coffee, 1100 Central Avenue, around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Lisa Kaufer. Wednesday PrayerThis month, Prayer Group will meet on March 15 in the Memorial Room at 1:00 p.m. (no meeting on March 1). During this gathering, we will also make Protestant Prayer Beads. We typically meet on the first and third Wednesdays for prayer. All are welcome! In-person Nursery Care and Sunday SchoolThe Christian Education Committee continues to prayerfully consider and implement safe practices to support the full participation of all ages. We continue to require universal indoor masking in these classrooms by all individuals (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status. Nursery Care is available for infants and children up to 5 years old, located next to Room 110. Two childcare workers, Monique Watkins and Ingrid Cuadra, provide exceptional care for which we are grateful. Sunday School (children ages 6-12) is offered most Sundays* in the Godly Playroom following the Passing of the Peace at which time leaders will escort children to Sunday School. When worship concludes, parents/guardians will need to come to the Godly Playroom to pick up their child(ren). (*Note: This month, Sunday School will meet on 3/12 and 3/26. We especially want to include children and youth in special worship celebrations such as Communion, etc.)
PYC Retreat at Kirkmont: April 14-16, 2023Students in grades 7-12 are invited to this retreat hosted by our Presbytery’s Presbyterian Youth Connection. We’ll explore familiar Bible stories in a new way through the theme “Be Curious.” We look forward to keynote leadership from Marcus Hong, who serves at Louisville Theological Seminary as the Director of Field Education and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology. Marcus is also the Project Director for a new grant to facilitate innovation in youth ministry that emerges out of a collaborative, co-creative, and embodied way of being together inspired by the ideals and practice of community-engaged art. Students and adults from our congregation at First Presbyterian Church, Middletown are part of the Planning Team, and we are so excited to share this adventure with you! Women’s Spiritual Nurture Retreat at Kirkmont: April 21-23Registration is now open! Would you like to spend a weekend growing in relationship with God and with other women in our Presbytery and beyond? Are you in need of rest, renewal, and recreation? Are you interested in learning more about God’s call for us as stewards of the living creation? With the theme, “Creation: Help! Thanks! Wow!”, and leader Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Nowak, we will share time in study, fellowship, and a variety of activities! All who participated last year found the weekend to be deeply meaningful, and we hope you’ll join us in April! For more information about Faith Formation opportunities, contact
Lisa Kaufer (lisa@fpcmiddletown.com). Christian Education Team: Sharon Dowden, Lisa Kaufer, Barb Nein, Martha Robertson, Ann Veith. Odds and EndsMen’s Monthly MeetingMen’s Monthly Meeting is an opportunity for the men of the church to get together and socialize over dinner. On Tuesday, March 14, the meeting will be at Wildwood Golf Club, 601 Aberdeen, at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there! We celebrate the birth of. . .. . .Kamiyah Dawn Jernigan, born on January 21, to Alhmad and Lily Jernigan. The proud great grandmother is Bonnie Saunders. In MemoriamWe give thanks to God for the life of. . .. . . Frances Huntzinger, who died on January 27. Online CalendarThe church calendar is now online! Go to https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/calendar.
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