Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
The cross on the chancel is made from three Christmas trees. It symbolizes the connection between cradle and cross as we celebrate the gift of God’s Son and His sacrifice for our salvation.
The Church Buildings will be closed Good Friday, April 14. Worship will be held at 12:10 p.m. in the Chapel.
Next Week’s Sermon is “Pray for Each Other”, by Bill McCoy. Epistle Lesson is James 5:13-18.
Lenten Memorials: Envelopes are in the pew racks for contributions to our Worship Memorial Fund in honor or memory of loved ones. Names will be printed in a special insert for the Easter worship bulletins. The deadline for submission is today. These Lenten Memorials are given to enrich worship at the church.
The LAY ACADEMY continues to study “The Addictive Brain,” this Sunday, April 9, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Dining Room of the Activities Building. Dr. Thad Polk will lecture (DVD) on “Alcohol, Social Lubricant or Drug of Abuse?” followed by discussion. Research shows that alcohol claims more addicted persons than any other psychoactive drug. Why is this true and what shall we do to alleviate human suffering and economic distress? Everyone welcome to this free and open public forum. Bring a friend or neighbor. For more information, please call the Church Office at 304-343-8961.
One Great Hour of Sharing offering is received on Easter Sunday. A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed. Isaiah 58 describes a new kind of fast, not to give up bread but to share it. Isaiah calls us to “loose the bonds of injustice,” to “let the oppressed go free,” to “share bread with the hungry” and to “invite the homeless poor into our homes.” We are called to offer help to those in need and restoration to those who have been broken down. One way we answer this call is through our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing. Please consider how you will give to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering next Sunday.
Our Parish Nurses will be providing blood pressure checks in the Cablish Room following worship service. This ministry is available to everyone.
Summer Events Lunch: Join us in fellowship for a lunch after worship on Sunday, April 23. We will be highlighting all of the events, camps, ministries, and missions that the church will be offering or involved in this summer.
Summer Event Lunch April 23 After Worship
Please contact the church office (304-343-8961) for reservations.
Sunday Lunch –April 23, 2017– After Worship
Menu: Presbyterian Chicken, Vegetable, Salad, Rolls & Dessert
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Canned Great Northern Beans, Kidney Beans & Pork & Beans
Manna Meal Sandwich Making Thanks: Thanks to the Elementary Sunday School Children and adult helpers who made 200 sandwiches during the Sunday School Hour this morning. The sandwiches and fruit were delivered to Manna Meal by the students.
Youth will not meet tonight or Wednesday April 12, Sunday, April 19. Will resume meeting on Wednesday, April 19.
Wow!–Have you seen the Children for Chicks Challenge bulletin board? There are Chicks Everywhere! Thank you to our elementary age children and congregation for your offerings to support this effort. To date your gifts’ total $1,859.83 which equates to 372 chicks! The elementary children will continue the Children for Chicks Challenge thru Easter Sunday, so continue to give and continue to watch the bulletin board and hallway fill up with chicks. One family of chickens costs $25.00, individual chicks cost $5.00 each. The offerings received for this challenge will be sent to PC(USA) to enable World Mission to purchase a family of chicks (5 chicks) for people in need of a sustainable source of good nutrition. To participate, simply stop by the Children for Chicks Challenge bulletin board located in the main hallway. Select a chick, write your name on it and put it along with your offering in the provided chick envelope. Take your envelope to the front office and a staff member will add your chick (s) to the flock on the bulletin board. Let us all do our part to help our Elementary Children help their brothers and sisters throughout the world!
Presbyterian Women: The April Luncheon of Presbyterian Women will be held at noon in the dining room on Thursday, April 20. This will be a special potluck event to pay recognition to the staff at First Presby. Please make a reservation through your Circle leader or call the church office, 304-343-8961. We look forward to an exciting program. Please invite a friend.
More About The Music: Below is an excerpt from Glory to God: A Companion about this morning’s processional hymn, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”: “Most of this text appears as it was originally printed, with a few exceptions. The present reading of ‘joyful’ in 1.4 was formerly ‘lovely’; ‘earth and heaven’ in 2.5 was ‘men and angels; ‘blissful’ in 3.7 was ‘royal.’ Also the present second stanza represents a merger of two stanzas, the first four lines coming from the first half of the original second stanza and the last four from the last half of the original third. The resulting text is structured so that two stanzas narrate the story of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem in the past tense, while the final stanza shifts to the present tense to call attention to the actions and the hopes of the singers of the hymn.” For more tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of Glory to God: A Companion by Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph.D in our church library, or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
Geneva Choir for youth and adults’ welcomes sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, and everyone in between. No prior musical experience is required; just a servant heart and a sense of humor. We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Choir Room at the top of the stairs above the Susie Early Room. Come sing with us!
New Walking Community! Join us for a weekly walk on Mondays at 5:30 pm. We’ll meet in the parking lot by the activities building for a one hour walk and time of fellowship. If the weather is good we will walk outside, and if it is poor we will walk in the Activities Building. This is a great way to jump start your week with some exercise and time for reflection. But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:5.
Opportunity to Serve: Van or Bus drivers are needed for a collaborative effort to benefit children and youth on the West Side of Charleston. Your time of 3-4 hours, 3-4 times per year is needed to make cultural experiences and live art performances available to children who may never otherwise get that experience. This is a collaborative effort with St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Other churches are being asked to participate as well. The van or bus will be provided by St. Christopher’s. Will you please give consideration to being a vital part of bringing fun and worthwhile experiences to the lives of children who will benefit greatly by your service. If interested and for more details, please call Sue Webster at 304-343-8961 ext.139 or sue@firstpresby.com.
Many Ways to Support our Ministries: In addition to traditional cash and checks in the offering plate, you can give on our website firstpresby.com via your computer or smart phone, through our mobile app “Church Life” (you must first set up a user profile on our website to use the Church Life app.) or by texting 73256 and typing “firstpresby” in the message line. Use the QR code card in your pew rack to go directly to our giving page. God loves a Cheerful Giver.
Be a Part of First Presby’s Mission Division – all are welcome! We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in Room 406 to discuss and plan the far-reaching mission outreach of our church. First Presby is known in our community and beyond for our mission involvement. Be a part of our ongoing efforts and help us to develop new plans and ways to worship our Lord through the service and kindness to others. Your ideas and input are greatly encouraged. Just come, or for more details contact Sue Webster.
Kroger Rewards: Do you shop at Kroger? The Kroger Family of Stores is committed to bringing hope and help to local communities. They do this through a variety of activities, including charitable giving and the Community Rewards Program. Kroger is also committed to carefully protecting customers’ personal information and have adopted a simple policy to never share a customer’s personal information. Our First Presby families (86 households) who have enrolled their Kroger Plus Card in this program and shopped at Kroger between 12.1.2016 and 2.28.2017 have contributed to Kroger’s $1,431.17 total donation to First Presby for the quarter. Please consider helping us receive a larger donation from Kroger by enrolling your card at https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow. If you would like the church to enroll your card for you, please stop in or call the office and have your Kroger Plus Rewards card available. What a simple way to help the church do more to help others! Thank you!
Holy Week Worship Calendar:
- Maundy Thursday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Chapel
- Good Friday, April 14 at 12:10 p.m. in Chapel
- Easter Sunday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m.in Sanctuary
NO WEDNESDAY CHURCH FELLOWSHIP DINNER
SPRING BREAK
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, 4/09
Palm Sunday
Blood Pressure Check
9:15 Sunday School
9:15 Manna Meal Sandwich-Making
10:00 Music Warm-up
10:30 Worship
4:00 Lay Academy
Monday, 4/10
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, 4/11
No scheduled activities
Wednesday, 4/12
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
11:45 Wednesday Men’s Group
6:00 Rebecca Dinner Circle
Thursday, 4/13
Maundy Thursday/Communion
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
12:00 Martha Circle
5:30 Capella Bells Rehearsal
7:00 Worship,Chapel
8:15 Geneva Choir
Friday, 4/14
Good Friday (Church Buildings Closed)
7:00 Men’s Breakfast Group
12:10 Worship, Chapel
1:00 Decorate Sanctuary
Saturday, 4/15