PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Bell Choir Practice 7PM

Thu 2/16 Session 7PM Personnel 10AM

Sun 2/26 Congregational Mtg. 11:15AM

Sat 3/4 Coffee House-Music at 7PM

With Steve Palmieri

Deacons Update

The Deacons have put many new pamphlets in the rack in the Narthex.  They are there for your convenience. Please look them over and see what might be useful to you or your family.

The Deacons are also thankful to everyone for their soda tabs and other tabs.  We have just finished filling another big basket with them and we couldn’t do it without your help.  They all go to the Ronald McDonald House

to help seriously ill children and their families, who must stay at Ronald McDonalds while their children are

being treated at the Monmouth Hospital.  A special thank you to Bill Graham’s sport fan

April 21-24 Advocacy Training Weekend

PCUSA is sponsoring a Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day in Washington, DC on April 21. This program will be followed by Ecumenical Advocacy Days April 22-24. Almost one thousand Christian advocates will meet for workshops, lectures and concrete actions  for social justice. For further information, go to www.presbyterianmission.org, Advocacy Training Weekend.

Ḟaithworks

This Sunday we continue hearing Jesus’ teachings from a section in the gospel of Matthew known as the “Sermon on the Mount”. Our focus Bible reading is Matthew 5:38–48. For Jews in Jesus’ day, the Torah was the revelation of God to the people. It contained instructions about how to live in relation to God and one another. Jesus encourages his listeners to go behind the literal words of the law to discover the love that lies at its heart. Jesus said it is not enough simply to follow the rules, but our hearts must be in it as well. Jesus’ community lived in a hostile society in which for example, a Roman soldier could just order someone to carry his pack for a mile. There were many who demanded revenge for this

oppression. Jesus tells his followers that they have the power to choose to do more than is required, to go the extra mile. On this Sunday’s exploration of Jesus’ teachings, young people will be encouraged to see others or our neighbors through Jesus’ eyes and expand their boundaries to include those they may consider to be “enemies.” Children are engaged in different kinds of relationships. They recognize some of the differences in their relationships with family and friends, and those with classmates and team members. They may think of “neighbors” as those who live in the house or apartment next door to them. Or that “neighborhood” can also refer to a variety of people with whom they interact in their community. Also, our youth may have heard the word “enemy” in the context of movies, games, books, or adults sharing war history with them. They may understand at some level that an enemy is that person with whom you don’t get along. This session will help our youth to explore Jesus’ teaching about what it means to care for both, neighbor and those considered enemies. Also, we will learn that Jesus’ teachings to love one’s enemies should not be interpreted as to put ourselves in danger or to tolerate abusive relationships. Young people need a supportive community that helps them expand the boundaries of this new view of self and others. I hope and pray that in our conversations our young people will grow in their relationship with God

and be empowered to respond to others in ways that show God’s vision of peace, love and compassion for all. Pp♥

All children and youth are welcome to join us for Bible story time and activities on the 2^nd floor after the time of conversation with the pastor. Childcare is available for children 4 and under on the 2^nd floor as well.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday

of the month and anyone is invited to

come and discuss the books. The Book

Club will meet on Friday on February 24, 2017, at 1PM.

February 24 – One Second After by William Forstchen

March 24 – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

April 28 – I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

May 26 – When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship

service should be emailed to the church

office. If you would like the community

to pray with you please call the office at

201-891-0511.

Meeting Reminder

The Annual Congregational/Corporate Meeting will be held on Sunday February 26, 2017, at 11:15AM in the Sanctuary.          

                                              Sunday Server Sign-Up Sheet; First Quarter 2017

*Assigned families can decide who will be reader. Please inform Chris who is reading one week before you are scheduled.  If you cannot be available when assigned, please switch with someone else and inform the office of this change.  Please check PM regularly to see the date of your assignment.  We need a few more volunteers for the listed duties.  If you can help in anyway, please call the office at 201-891-0511 and we can add you to the list.  Thank you for your kindness and generosity in assisting with the church service.