Newsletter
"First Things":
February 2008
Contents...
Church
News
Session News
Campus/Youth/Children
Fellowship/Study Groups
And
More
From the Pastor's Pen
Dear Members and Friends of First Church:
I have hardly recuperated from the Christmas and New Year holidays
and now, with the coming of February, we will embark on another
important season in the church year, Lent. We will begin this
season on Ash Wednesday - February 6th, with a simple dinner of
soup and salad at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 825 E. Buchtel
Ave. from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (please get your reservations in to the
church ASAP), followed by worship at 6:45 p.m. (including the
distribution of ashes and Communion). The day is so named
because of the ancient practice of wearing ashes as a sign of humility
and repentance where Christians visibly show their total dependence on
God.
And then the five Wednesday nights in Lent (Feb. 13, 20, 27; Mar 5
& 12) we will be trying something new and, I believe, exciting.
We will be holding Bible Studies around the city in people's homes
(please see the article Listening to God During Lent) where we will
focus on 5 of the Christian Disciplines. Now there are a number
that we could study but 5 have been selected out of a study book
written by Andrea Sterk and Peter Scazzero Christian Disciplines.
Even though 12 spiritual disciplines are in the book we will study one
on Wednesday night and then that coming Sunday it will be topic of the
sermon (see February Sermons).
There are three themes as we look to the disciplines - Connecting
with God, Reaching out to Others and Staying on Track. Through
the spiritual disciplines we can strengthen our character and deepen
our relationship with Christ. I hope you will prayerfully
consider joining one of the five small groups that will be meeting
around the city and that you will join me for worship as we seek to
learn how God intends for us to live and how to grow to maturity.
May God bless you and you seek to follow Him.
See U in CH_RCH.
Yours in Christ,
Mark
From the Pulpit
- February 3rd Transfiguration of the Lord / Communion Sunday
- Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9, II Peter
1:16-21
Sermon: “A PROMISE YET TO HAPPEN"
February 10th First Sunday in Lent- Scripture: II Kings 22:1-23:7
Sermon: “BIBLE STUDY" (1st of a 5 part series)
February 17th Second Sunday in Lent- Scripture: Selected verses from Revelation 4 &
5
Sermon: “WORSHIP" (2nd of a 5 part series)
February 24th Third Sunday in Lent- Scripture: Amos 5:4-6:7
Sermon: “SOCIAL JUSTICE" (3rd of a 5 part series)
-
Church News
Baptism
We are pleased to announce the baptism of Alexandria Dickson on
January 13, 2008. Alexandria is the daughter of Jessica Sowell.
New Members Welcome
We would like to welcome two new members to First Presbyterian
Church. Alexandria Dickson and Marc Remy joined the church on
January 13, 2008.
Grade School Valentine's Day
Party
 Children
in grades K-5 are invited to a Valentine's Day Party on Sunday,
February 10th at 12:30pm - directly after the worship service.
The party will take place in room 300. Lunch will be provided.
We are going to have a lot of fun. There will be games and
crafts. Please r.s.v.p. by February 5th if you are planning to
come so that the right amount of supplies can be purchased.
Annual Congregational Meeting
The Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday,
February 24th, immediately following the morning worship service.
Annual Reports will be available no later than Sunday, February 17th
and can be picked up in the office or on the table in the coatroom
close to the educational building.
Session News
Session Highlights
Approved the Christian Growth and Development Team's motions
for youth mission trips for the summer of 2008: Junior high youth
to Project Shine, June 22-28, in the Kenmore are of Akron;
Grades 9-12 to Youth Works, July 20-25 in Philadelphia, PA.
Approved the Christian Growth and Development Team's motion, on
behalf of the Acts 16:5 Team, that 2008 continue with the theme of
"Year of Discipleship."
Approved the Christian Growth and Development Team's motion
that no regular board meetings and team meetings be held during
February in order to free officers' time to participate in the
Wednesday night Lenten series. Any necessary business should
be handled via e-mail or telephone.
Approved the baptism of Anna Mae Wilson, infant daughter of
Bobby and Wendy Wilson, on Sunday, January 27, 2008.
Approved the Long Range Planning Team's motion to hire Mr.
Terry Hanson of Hanson and Associates, LLC to facilitate a
strategic long range planning process for First Presbyterian
Church.
Campus/Youth/Children
Wide World of Youth
We are heading into Fabulous February! Read
all about it on the Youth page.
Fellowship/Study Groups
Tuesday Club
The Tuesday Club will meet on February 19th at Lindsays/Amber
Restaurant, 1395 Canton Road Akron at 1:00pm. Call the church office if
you have any questions.
Morning Circle
Morning Circle will not be meeting during the winter months.
WNGs
They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They
shall mount up with wings as eagles..." Isaiah 40:31
Women of the church are invited to participate in the Wednesday
Night Intergenerational Caring Group at 7:00 pm.
Evening Circle
Evening Circle will be meeting on Tuesday,
February 19th at 7:30. Call the church office for details.
First Faithful Friends
JOIN First Faithful Friends when it gathers Monday, February 4,
at 6:30 p.m. at Papa Joe's in the Valley for fellowship, as we
continue to survey Norman Vincent Peale's Positive Thinking. Contact the church office for more details.
Men's Bible Study
There are two men's bible study groups at First Presbyterian Church.
- Wednesday
morning at 6:30 am
- Thursday
morning at 6:30 am
Contact the church office for more information.
And More
Newsletter Deadlines
The deadline for the March issue of First Things is
February 10, 2008.
Plain English
The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace
of God will not protect you.
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
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