This Week: May 22, 2021

THIS WEEK (007-362) IS PUBLISHED BIWEEKLY EXCEPT ONCE IN DECEMBER BY PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 4124 OAK LAWN, DALLAS, TX 75219, PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT DALLAS, TEXAS, 75219. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THIS WEEK, 4124 OAK LAWN, DALLAS, TX 75219-3152

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m.

24/7 PRAYER HOTLINE: 214-224-2680 or 24/7prayer@pcpc.org

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PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRICIA COTHRAN, EDITOR 4124 OAK LAWN AVENUE DALLAS, TX 75219-3152

THISWEEK@PCPC VOL. XXXII, NO. 10 | MAY 22, 2021

Park Cities Presbyterian Church exists to extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in Dallas and to the world.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

Available May 23 At PCPC our desire is for people to Connect to Christ, Abide in Christ, and Extend Christ. We have developed a daily resource to read Scripture and spend time in prayer. Grab a hard copy outside the Sanctuary or read along on the PCPC app (download via Apple App Store or Google Play Store for free), so you can have access wherever you are. This guide is an invitation to experience the wonder of God’s transforming presence in daily life. pcpc.org/resources

RE|ENTER VISION SERIES

Have you seen the stories? Don’t miss them because they are amazing!

And we encourage you to watch any Sunday message that you missed.

We are excited about our vision to Connect to Christ, Abide in Christ, and Extend Christ. pcpc.org/re-enter

EXTEND CHRIST As we begin to open our New Doors, we need you to help welcome and serve our guests! We have volunteer opportunities available in PCPC Kids, the Bookstore, ESL, and our Frontline Ministries. We also partner with organizations like Apartment Life, Bonton Farms, OurCalling, Vickery Trading Company, Mercy Street, and more as we extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in Dallas and to the world. pcpc.org/volunteer

POP & PLAY Wednesdays | June 2 & 23 | July 7 & 21 | 2:30-4:30 p.m.

The PCPC Kids Ministry invites young parents and kids to beat the heat this summer by visiting us in our gym and indoor playground. Bring friends to enjoy bounce houses and basketball with your preschool and elementary students. Invitation is open to all young parents, and no RSVP is necessary. pcpc.org/events

HOME RUN DERBY OPENING DAY CELEBRATION Sunday, June 6 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | PCPC Parking Lot Join us for an evening of food, fellowship, and fun! A time of worship and a preview of VBS 2021 will also be held. Everyone is welcome!

(VBS registration is not required to attend) pcpc.org/vbs

MEN’S TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays, June 15-July 20 | 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. | Fellowship Hall Join us as we spend time in the Psalms and around the table. Come for great teaching, table fellowship (no breakout rooms), and coffee. No registration required. All sessions will be live streamed. pcpc.org/men

FALL SILENT RETREATS

THISWEEK@PCPC

VOL. XXXII, NO. 10 | MAY 22, 2021

Women – October 13-17 | Men - November 10-14 Abide in Christ at a Silent Retreat this fall in Ute Trail, Colorado. Registration coming soon. pcpc.org/silent-retreats

EXTEND CHRIST Robby Higginbottom

What would you do if you woke up in a whole new life? Like a movie character who opens her eyes to discover she has been transported to a new reality—only it’s your life. You’d quickly ask: “Where am I? Who am I? What am I supposed to do?” Imagine getting your bearings and discovering that you’re in a new place with a new assignment. You’ve been sent to a foreign country to represent the interests of the United States. It dawns on you: “I’m an ambassador.” As you walk the streets, you realize that you’re in a strange place with unfamiliar people all around you. These people don’t seem to share your interests or passions. Your mind begins to race: “What do I say? How do I represent home in this place?”

This scenario, which seems worlds away, is really the daily reality for those who are in Christ.

When Christians open their eyes each day, they wake up in a whole new life. Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” We have new answers to old questions, because the old has gone and the new has come. So where are we? We are in Christ, and we are here, but our relationship to this place has changed. Who are we? We are a new creation thanks to the reconciling, renewing grace of Jesus Christ. And what are we supposed to do?

We are no longer to live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and was raised again. We have a new home, a new identity, and a new mission. In short, a whole new life. The Lord has sent us to a strange place, not to represent ourselves, but Him. Have we really grasped the significance of being Christ’s ambassadors?

As much as we long for something novel, most of the time we just need a reminder.

Reminded of the kind of vision that should frame every day of our lives. It’s a vision that is easy to say but hard to live. We say that “we exist to extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in Dallas and to the world”, but what does it mean to live that? It means moving from words on a page to lives on a mission. It means embracing our calling as ambassadors. It means seeking to extend ourselves for the sake of the Gospel.

It means rejoicing that we are now involved in the most significant thing happening in the world: God’s ministry of reconciliation.

OUR FAMILY BIRTHS

• Margaret Anne Peel, daughter of James & Paige Peel (Park Cities Bradfield Parish) on March 11, 2021.

• Lucy Lorraine Waid, daughter of Jake & Sarah Waid (Northeast Dallas Parish/PCPC Missionaries) on May 5, 2021.

MARRIAGES

• Brittany Harris Fersing and William Christopher Bridges on May 1, 2021.

BAPTISMS

Jack Martin Davis Son of Amy and Walt Davis

The vision of EXTEND is more a return than a revolution. As we always do, we return

Collins Elizabeth Floyd Daughter of Laura and Bill Floyd

Otto Felix Hilkemann Son of Erica and Adam Hilkemann

Ashton Alexander Johnson Son of Margo and Alex Johnson

Grace Elizabeth Rench Daughter of Anna and Jordan Rench

Charlotte Leigh Stevenson Daughter of Lindsay and Sean Stevenson

Samuel James Stewart Son of Cara and Joel Stewart

to the good news that Jesus, through His incarnation, death, and resurrection, has extended Himself to us. Paul writes, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” The cross is the ultimate picture of what it means to extend. Jesus exerted Himself to the utmost. He took our sin upon Himself and held out His grace to us. And through His loving sacrifice and the power of His Spirit, He continues to cause His transforming presence to cover an ever-expanding area.

As we reflect on the Gospel, we’re reminded of what the Lord did for us and what He intends to do through us. The Lord could accomplish His purposes however He wants, but Paul says that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. As we think about the world that needs Jesus Christ, it’s as though God is making His appeal through us. If we have received His message, we have become His messengers. Wherever we go, the Lord is calling us to be His ambassadors, to extend ourselves so that the world might catch a glimpse of the One who extended Himself. The vision of extending has always been with us as a church, but the Lord has given us this season to realign our hearts with His. And as we do, our prayer is that the Lord would transform us, our city, and the world.

May 9, 2021

general fund

budget

2020/2021 operating budget July 1, 2020—May 9, 2021 budget July 1, 2020—May 9, 2021 giving Budget Variance

$13,500,000 $12,071,220 $11,398,947 –$672,273