FEBRUARY, 2012
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St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
From Rev. Steve Arndt, Pastor
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FROM PASTOR STEVEN
"The Season of Lent"
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/worship-resources-lent/
The season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. It is a period of 40 days — like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Mount Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call to Ninevah to repent and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness. (The Sundays in Lent are not counted in this reckoning of the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter, as every Lord’s Day is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.)
The Paschal mystery
An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003 110-111)
What we hear during Lent is the power and possibility of the paschal mystery, and that the way of the cross, the way to Easter, is through death. To appropriate the new life that is beyond the power of death means we must die with Christ who was raised for us. To live for Christ, we must die with Him. New life requires a daily surrendering of the old life, of letting go of the present order, so that we may embrace the new humanity. “I die every day!” asserts Paul in 1 Corinthi-ans 15:31. Resurrection necessitates death as a preceding act. The church’s peculiar Lenten claim is that in dying we live, that all who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death. To be raised with Christ means one must also die with Christ. In order to embrace the resurrection, we must experience the passion of Jesus. The way of the cross, the way to Easter, is through death of the “old self.” In dying, we live.
Therefore, at the beginning of Lent, we are reminded that our possessions, our rulers, our empires, our projects, our families and even our lives do not last forever. “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The liturgies throughout Lent try to pry loose our fingers, one by one, from presumed securities and plunge us into unknown baptismal waters, waters that turn out to be not only our death tomb but surprisingly our womb of life. Rather than falling back into nothingness, we fall back upon God’s everlasting arms. Death? How can we fear what we have already undergone in baptism?
It is the power of the resurrection on the horizon ahead that draws us into repentance toward the cross and tomb. Through the intervention of God’s gracious resurrection, lifelong changes in our values and behavior become possible. By turning from the end of the “old self” in us, Lenten repentance makes it possible for us to affirm joyfully, “Death is no more!” and to aim toward the landscape of the new age. Faithfully adhering to the Lenten journey of “prayer, fasting and almsgiving” leads to the destination of a joyous Easter.
During the final week, Holy Week, we hear the fullness of Christ’s passion, His death, and resurrection. From Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and on to the Triduum (Maundy Thurs-day, Good Friday and Holy Saturday), all of Holy Week focuses upon Jesus passion and the events of His week. As His followers, we travel Christ’s path of servant hood through the Lord’s Supper and the suffering of the cross toward the glory of Easter’s Resurrection, all of which underscores the inseparable link between the death and resurrection of Jesus for us who are His disciples.
Yours, in Christ's abounding love, Steven
STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING
St. Andrew will host the winter meeting of North Alabama Presbytery on February 18, 2012. There will be opportunities for you to be involved in our hosting responsibilities. We will provide morning refreshments and prepare and serve lunch. Volunteers are needed to help in several different ways. We will need coffee breads, muffins, cornbread, fruit, desserts and workers on the day before and on the day of the meeting. A sign up sheet will be in the office. For more information, please contact the church office.
PW NEWS
The Presbyterian Women’s morning and evening circles will meet on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. The morning circle will meet a 9:30 a.m. in the church library and study Lesson 6, “Greatly Honored are the Poor in Heart.” The evening circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall and study the lesson, “How Wide is a Boat?”.
Our February project is love boxes for our college students. (Is your child in college? Please send his/her address to the office so they can be included!) Ladies are asked to bring some small items for the boxes to the February circle meetings. Ideas: pens, paper, gum, wrapped candy, paper clips, highlighters, tape, bookmarks, and nail files. We will fill the love boxes at the February circle meetings.
FAMILY NIGHT SUPPER
“Let Us Entertain You!”
Family Night Supper - February 19, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
Love those ‘Golden Oldies?’ So do we!!!
Join us for a musical evening featuring favorites from the 40’s … 50’s … 60’s ...
And maybe a surprise or two!
SEEKERS SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
On Sunday, January 22, 2012, the Seekers Sunday school class began a new study using the book, Who Is God in Three Persons? A Study of the Trinity.
“Who Is God in Three Persons? A Study of the Trinity explores the doctrine of the Trinity from the perspective of the Bible, tradition, and church history. It addresses such questions as the following: Is the Trinity a Bible doctrine? Where did we get this doctrine? What issues and questions have emerged in the life of Christian faith over the centuries? Who are the persons in church history associated with these issues and questions? What difference does the doctrine of the Trinity make in contemporary Christian life? What are the real issues at stake in the doctrine of the Trinity? What does the doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the deity of Jesus? about God? about the Holy Spirit?
“This book is for adults who want to know more about the doctrine of the Trinity and its implications for contemporary Christian faith and discipleship and who want to know more about the nature of God, of Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit as expressed in the doctrine of the Trinity (preface Who Is God in Three Persons?).”
Come join us for fellowship and study in the new year.
LIBRARY NEWS
The library committee wishes everyone a joyful and peaceful 2012.
We have two new books in our library:
1. The Promise of Spring; this is a beautiful book of poems and outstanding photography by William H. Johnson.
2. Jesus & The Land by Charles R. Page II; signed by the author in 1996.
The library has found two books, Place Names in Alabama and Uh-Oh, which were left in the library recently. We are not sure if these books are donations or were just accidently forgotten in the library by someone. When you make a book donation to the library, please leave a note in it, stating that the book is being donated to the library. If you have donated either of the two books mentioned above, please contact the church office. Thank you!
Why not curl up with a good book from the library on these cool winter nights??
VALENTINE BASKETS
Give hope and love this Valentines Day and support Hospice of the Valley, all at the same time. Hospice is offering a Valentine Basket ($35, with $20 of the amount tax deductible) filled with wonderful treats!
Your basket will include the following:
* Your choice of wine or cider
* Assorted chocolate hearts from Morgan Price Candy
* Spreadable cheese wedges
* Savoritz crackers
* Columbia Empire Farms mango peach pepper jelly
* Key lime cookies
* Legacy by ROOT Candle, spiced pear and fig scented
* Novelty napkins - It must be love!
See the full details about the baskets on the bulletin board. Please order by Sunday, February 12, 2012. There are order forms in the church office. You may also place your order by calling Hospice of the Valley at 256-350-5585 or online at www.hospiceofthevalley.net. To have your basket shipped, just add $11 per basket.
MISSION OPPORTUNITY
Have you ever wanted to visit a third world, developing Caribbean island where you’d have opportunity to worship and work with people seeking to show God’s love? Now is your chance!
In Barahona, Dominican Republic, there is an 85-year old church, a Christian school, mission house, and soon-to-be orphanage — ready to welcome you with a mission team, finding ways to be of service. For the past two years, members of North Alabama Presbytery have stayed in the safe, gated Rivers of the World compound, building, teaching, painting, and playing with bright-eyed children at the orphanage next to the Haitian mountains.
If you’d like to be part of the next team, email uptonmiller@knology.net, or talk to Charlotte. The date is November 2-10, 2012. A deposit of $100 will hold a spot for you, or you can help sponsor another member eager to go. (estimated total is ><$1,000 (plus insurance) with another $300 due in June and $600 due by September at address below).
The 2011 Faith Presbyterian Mission Team would love to tell you about their experience! Send $100 deposit by February to:
Charlotte Upton Miller (who will accompany team)
8601 Esslinger Court, SE
Huntsville, Alabama 35802
St. Andrew Ministry Teams
Administration, Planning and Nominations
Building, Landscaping and Maintenance
Communications, Outreach and Evangelism
Education and Spiritual Formation
Finance and Stewardship
Member Care, Fellowship and Nurture
Mission
Personnel
Worship
Clerk of Session