BAKE SALE:
no bake sale in March.
LADIES NIGHT OUT: meets the first Tuesday
of each month at 7:00 PM.
MORNING CIRCLE: will meet Thursday, March
11th at the church, hosted by Judy Denecke.
EVENING CIRCLE: will meet Tuesday, March
23rd at the home of Shahla Layendecker.
STEPHEN MINISTRY: The Stephen Ministry
is a program that teaches lay people to provide high quality, one-to-one
Christian care to people in need. There will be an informational workshop
Saturday, March 20th at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit
Rd, Plano.
Anyone wishing to attend please call Wanda Roy or Jannie Clark.
THANK YOU: to everyone who volunteered
their time and talents to make the Garden Bazaar such a big success.
A special THANK YOU is extended to Kathy Miller, Laura Tennent, Felie
Cotti, and Mary Crutchfield.
Long
Range Planning
Writing
continues on the draft long-range plan. We have several more sections
to complete, and our plans call for submission of the draft to the
Session this month. Cotton Marshall joined with Russ Urquhart and
Jack Woodliff to complete the section on Facility Planning. The next
LRP group meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 14th following worship.
Bill
Sinclair
FINANCIAL
REPORT:
2004 Budgeted Pledge
& Plate Income for February $23,472
Pledge
Income for February 22,202
Plate Income for February 2,797
Immediately
following morning worship March 21st, we'll celebrate the birthdays
of all our March "Babies" in the fellowship hall. They are:
Mandi Adams
Marie Breland
Caitlin Demura
Reg Denysschen
Geoff Detgen
Glenn Detgen
Preston Dobbs
Johnathan Dutsch
Art Hendon
Mike Kersey
Dick Kirk
Kevin
Lawson
Martin Parks
Wanda Roy
Meredith Ruland
Mike Tennent
Jimmie Thompson
Russ Urquhart
Emma Woodliff
Jan Yosenick
If
you know of a March birthday that's not listed here, please contact
the church office.
The
other day, on the drive to the church office, I heard a commercial
on public radio for Subaru Motors whose sales line was "You drive
what's inside." The Subaru people are forthright in saying theirs
is the best - all of every car's "innards" are
the best that can be provided. They are proud of their record for
reliability, safety and quality.
It seems
to me that we, as people of faith, could make that our sales line,
too. We certainly have the conviction that we want everything we do
here to be the best. We work to make this church family a place where
we can depend on the good will and trustworthiness of others in this
faith community, and we study together our record for reliability,
the scriptures and the actions of those who came before us in faith.
If we
were actually to make that our sales line, we would have to pay special
attention to the ways we make that authentic among us. The Subaru
people send out questionnaires after each visit one makes to their
service facility. When I purchased my Subaru, the manager told me
that if they receive too many negative answers on those questionnaires,
they could lose the privilege of being a Subaru dealership.
What
are the ways we make God's Word authentic among us? How do we make
sure that "what we drive is inside?" Worship is first, of
course. We come together in celebration and thanksgiving for the gifts
God bestows in each life, each day. Another way we can become aware
of those gifts, and we can come to understand how faithfully God has
remained with us is through the Christian Education Program of the
church. This program's goal is to assure that people in this community
of faith have the opportunity to learn the stories of our faith, and
to learn about the many ways God has been with human beings throughout
all time.
If you
are an adult reading this, you may think you already know all you
need to know to be a faithful person. Keep in mind that the Subaru
people send out those questionnaires every time a service is performed.
They are intent on being the best-not just good. They want to measure
up to the machines they sell-cars they believe to be the best-inside
and out. What is it that will bring you here to be reminded, renewed,
refreshed and reassured about God's presence in your life?
We seek
to bring the best to all of the church's people; the opportunity to
grow, to know our faith, and to affirm your place in this faith community.
We offer classes for all ages, and we are always on the alert for
what is meaningful for you. Our Workshop Rotation classes are for
those in 1st-6th grade. We have a class for younger children, too.
We have both a Senior and a Junior High school class, and there are
presently two adult classes, one that is studying prayer, and another
that is studying the life of Jesus. This is my questionnaire to you
about your curiosities, your interests, and the matters of faith that
could bring you to join us here at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, or
on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. I hope you will take this invitation
seriously, and write me a note, or have a conversation that shares
your needs.
Meantime,
like the Subaru people, we are working to make the classes we offer
the best we can provide. We have an excellent and dedicated group
of teachers who are always looking for others to join them in their
work. We always need people who want to be a part of helping to share
our faith through greater knowledge, activities, and just plain fun.
We are establishing a Planning Team whose work will be to look ahead
to assure that we offer the widest possible range of stories, readings,
and experiences for developing our faith. For those who feel called
to be involved with this, please see me, or Jill Culmo, or any member
of the Christian Ed. Committee. And please-ask questions of our teachers.
The Season of Lent is a great time to reflect on what you are being
called to do, and to be. We look forward to being a part of that with
you.
Nancy Tiegreen
Associate Minister
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
March 21, 10:00 hour: the Workshop Rotation Church School classes
will plant the Demonstration Plot. This was postponed from when we
studied the Parable of the Sower.
EASTER
SUNDAY: (no Sunday School) it's the big Easter Egg Hunt
following the 11:00 worship service. We will need lots of volunteers,
please let Nancy know if you can help. Also needed: plastic eggs and
blown egg shells. Please leave these items in the C.E. office.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ROCKWALL
CELEBRATES 150TH ANNIVERSARY
This
year First Presbyterian is celebrating its 150th along with the city
of Rockwall, and what a special year it will be! A 150th committee
is in the process of planning numerous festive and commemorative activities
for our church. A calendar of events will soon be posted in the fellowship
hall, so be watching!
Beginning
Sunday, March 28th an "Historical Moment" will be presented
during both church services. These presentations will continue monthly
until our November 7th birthday weekend.
Saturday,
April 17th is the city's Founders Day Festival at Harry Myers Park
from 10:00 AM until 11:30 PM. First Presbyterian will have a booth
at this festival to spread the good news of our involvement in this
community since the church's founding on November 7, 1854 by John
Vance. We will have an historical theme to our booth and dress in
clothing of the 1850's. Anyone interested in helping, please contact
Laura Roughton.
The main
goal of our 150th is to inform our church members about the rich history
of First Presbyterian and to involve all of its members - adults and
children alike in the many planned events.
Please contact Joanie Mehl, moderator of the 150th committee, to volunteer
your talents and abilities to this wonderful endeavor.
