First Presbyterian Church
3/1/2015
Volume: 22 Issue: 7
FIRST NEWS From the pastor Joshua
L. F. Bower
“The school will be operating on a 2-hour delay.” That’s the text message I got on my phone. The weather forecast was for possible snow and a “wintry mix,” and the kids’ schools had both decided to operate on a 2-hour delay. I was at Body Shapers gym downtown when I got the message. Apparently other people got the same message at the same time because a collective “YES!” went up from half the people working out. But I didn’t feel like yelling “YES” at all. Just the opposite, actually. I started talking to a woman there and said to her, “Why’s everybody so excited? If it were up to me I’d either have school or have it canceled.” She looked like I was speaking a foreign language, so I explained: “If it’s canceled then everybody loses the day at the office, so I’m not behind. And if they have it everything goes on like normal and I can do the work I planned to do. But a 2-hour delay means I’m just going to be behind and have my day messed up.” I thought I’d made a pretty good point. It all seemed logical to me. And something felt good about complaining when it was clear everybody else was really happy. I felt like I was the voice of reason! And she said to me, “Are you crazy? It’s a morning off! Who in the world complains to get the morning off?!?!” Trying to justify myself, I said, “What am I gonna do with a morning off?” She said, “Sleep in! Watch some TV! Relax and have a cup of coffee! Do nothing at all. Just enjoy it!!!” She had a pretty darn good point. I was upset because I had a nice little plan for what I was going to do the following morning. At the bottom of my complaining was the reality that my day was not going to be what I’d planned it to be. In other words, nature wasn’t following my anal-retentive, obsessive compulsive agenda, and it was annoying me. Turns out the world really doesn’t ask me how I feel before it makes decisions! I’d made it all into a big problem. Any little bit of change and it threw me for a loop. Even while the rest of the gym basked in the chance to have a few hours off, I was grumpy. I wonder if this wasn’t a message to me that sometimes God gives us things in life that are not what we expect, but they’re what we need, and we should celebrate those things. Sometimes changes— things you didn’t expect—can be good, even if at first they seem to be a big problem. This was a good reminder to me to look for the good in the change I didn’t want. It was true: I needed an extra hour of sleep! It was true: it had been a long time since I’d been able to drink coffee and watch cartoons with my kids! It was true: it was a morning off, who complains about that? As it turned out, we got (less than ½”) of snow, some sleet, some freezing rain, and school was canceled. Then the next morning we had a 2-hour delay. And you know what? It was all wonderful, just like the woman at the gym said it could be. So what changes are going on in your life that you’re just angry about? God may just be calling you to look for the good in them and celebrate the new opportunities God’s giving you instead of being upset that the future won’t be exactly what you thought it would. Some food for thought as we head toward Holy Week and Easter, 2015. May the Spirit guide you and guide us all in the trip! Your Brother in Christ, Josh
March 2015 Worship Schedule Head Usher: Paul Pope March 1st 2nd Sunday in Lent Celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Lent 2015 sermon series, Looking to Jesus: Reflections on Following Christ: “The Battle Won: Colossians” Hymns: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus! In the Cross of Christ I Glory; Lift High the Cross Worship Assistants: Beth Owens Communion Servers: Beth Owens, Jason Klara (bread), Jenny Meekins (juice), Sarah Gray, Peggy Blanchard March 8th Sunday in Lent Looking to Jesus: “The Kingdom of the Son of Man: Matthew” Hymns: Stand Up and Bless the Lord; Fairest Lord Jesus; Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Worship Assistant: Jason Klara 3rd
March 15th Sunday in Lent Looking to Jesus: “The Glory of God: John” Hymns: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise; Thine Is the Glory; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Worship Assistant: Jenny Meekins 4th
March 22nd Sunday in Lent Looking to Jesus: “The Servant King: Mark” Hymns: Arise, Your Light Is Come! O Jesus, I Have Promised; Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! Worship Assistant: Jim Brooks 5th
March 29th Palm/Passion Sunday Celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper We will celebrate Palm Sunday, then observe Christ’s death with a dramatic reading of his Passion narrative from the Gospel according to Mark. Hymns: All Glory, Laud, and Honor; What Wondrous Love Is This Worship Assistant: Sarah Gray
BIRTHDAYS March 1 3 4 6 9 11 14 18 19 20 21 23 24 26 31 April 1 3 4 5 7 10 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 24 25 28 29 30
Church Calendar March 2015
Joe Kamberger Sidney Gibson, Diane Scott, Mary Anne Tyndall, Rob Waldron Steve Smith Will Spivey Phyllis Farley Wyche McColskey, Will Neisler Derik Williams Bill Turner, Kim Smith Kate Meekins Doug Spivey Ann Coburn Coke Gray III, Barbara Grigsby Walter Munroe, Chandler Thurston Ginger Scott Omar Ramos
Thad Thomas Raegan Parker Greg Blackmon, Dianna Bower, Anna Capps Kim Neisler Ethan Scott Judy Harritan Emily Kea Gray John Crabtree, William Crabtree Mark Smith Liam Scott Suzanne Blackmon, Nick Logan Susan Smith Margaret Gray Scott Crabtree Rachel Smith Annelle Waldron Mack Thompson Nancy Crabtree, Miriam Schulken
Happy Birthday!
COMMITTEE MEETINGS Worship Committee, Wednesday, 3/4, 7:00 p.m. Session, Wednesday, 3/11, 6:30 p.m. Spiritual Development Committee, 3/15, 5:00 p.m. MVE Committee, 3/17, 5:30 p.m. Outreach Committee, 3/18, 6:00 p.m. Facilities & Property Committee, Monday, 3/23, 6:00 p.m. Administrative Committee, Wednesday, 3/25, 7:00 p.m. Congregational Life Comm., Wednesday, 3/25, 7:00 p.m. If your committee meeting is not listed here, please check with your committee chair for meeting dates and times.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES Communion – Sunday, 3/1, 11:00 a.m. Evening Circle – Monday, 3/2, 7:00 p.m. with Emily Hooks Morning Circle – Tuesday, 3/3, 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room Family Night Supper – Wednesday, 3/25, 6:00 p.m.
Handbell Rehearsal – Sundays, 6:00 p.m. Ladies’ Bible Study – Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. CIRCLES of Hope – Tuesdays, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Adult Choir – Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
FPC - Whiteville First Presbyterian Church 511 North Thompson Street Whiteville NC 28472