First Presbyterian Church
P
Murphysboro Church – 684-3466
Pinckneyville Church – 357-8017
www.fpcmurphysboro.org – Website
fpcmoro@frontier.com – E-mail
February – April
2013
From the Pastor’s Pen
Pastor Charles Walden
Kick-Off to 2013
INSIDE PREVIEW
Page One
From the Pastor’s Pen
Page Two
Session Highlights
Page Three
The title to this article seems especially appropriate, since
I am writing part of it on Super Bowl Sunday. According to
what I read in the newspaper last week, last year’s Super
Bowl was the most watched event in television history. It
is not only the football game itself that attracts parties and
viewers, a sizable number of people say that they watch
the Super Bowl for the most amusing and entertaining
advertisements of the TV year. Still others say that the
big-name, high-dollar halftime entertainment show is the
biggest attraction of the whole
experience for them.
Reaching Out with Outreach
Page Four
Photo Gallery
Page Five
Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the “high holy
days” in American culture. Many churches that have a
Sunday night worship or prayer group tradition will cancel
services for Sunday evening during the Super Bowl.
Calendar of Events
Page Six
Ways with Words
Continued on Page 2
Pastor’s Pen - Continued from Page 1
during the Super Bowl. Many other
things in our culture come to a halt for
the big game. Contrast this with the fact
that more things are scheduled and
happening on any given Sunday morning
than ever before.
There are many reasons for these
diverging trends. One is that there is a lot
more concentrated fervor during the
Super Bowl in America than during
Sunday morning worship in this country
in the twenty-first century (I’m speaking
generally here; there are notable
exceptions). Another reason is the big
money involved with the big game. Much
of this can be anticipated, and is
understandable
given
various
circumstances. What I find troubling is
the gap in awe and expectation between
a big entertainment or sports event, and
a typical service of Christian worship.
Some think this is partly due to venues;
hence one of the largest churches in
America now worships in a converted pro
basketball arena.
Other mega-churches facilities resemble
sports arenas. Perhaps we should consider
stadium-seating for our sanctuary!
Or
perhaps more realistically, we could seek to
be a part of the movement to reclaim each
and every (or nearly every) Sunday morning
as a “high and holy day” for our faith.
Combining worship with service &/or spiritual
disciplines, we might just find that our spiritual
strength will increase along the way. Now that
would be Super!
To God be the Glory!
Pastor Charles
Session Highlights
for February
† Discussed our historical, commemorative
church quilt. Inquiries are being made to properly
preserve and display it for posterity.
† Approved the special Easter Presbyterian
offering: One Great Hour of Sharing.
† Discussed theological issues that are often
the focus of young adults and teenagers.
† Affirmed and endorsed the efforts of the
Outreach and Worship committees, as well as the
work of PW.
† Pastor Charles highlighted his efforts and
preparation for Lent, work with a presbytery
committee, and his recent work to moderate
Scholar Bowl matches at the high school.
Our Mission
Proclaim, Promote and
Share God’s Love to all
Through Christ
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
March is National Nutrition Month 2013 and the
theme is, “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.” This
theme supports the importance of using healthy
eating guidelines such as those found in
MyPlate.gov and using them to make it work for
your own lifestyle, everyday. Registered Licensed
Dietitians are uniquely qualified to help people fit
healthier foods into their family’s busy schedule.
March 13th is Registered Dietitian Day. The
celebration is designed to increase awareness of
registered dietitians as the indispensable providers
of food and nutrition services and recognizes RDs
for their commitment to helping people enjoy
healthy lives. For more information about healthy
eating visit Eatright.org or Myplate.gov.
Lenten Schedule for United Presbyterian Church
Pinckneyville
Services start at 7:30 pm
First Sunday in Lent – February 17, 2013
Host – New Hope
Preacher – Jim Barnett
Second Sunday in Lent – February 24, 2013
Host – First Presbyterian
Preacher – James Clardy
Third Sunday in Lent – March 3, 2013
Host – St. Paul UCC
Preacher – Augustine
Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 10, 2013
Host – Methodist
Preacher – Cindy Bean
Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 17, 2013
Host – St. Bruno
Preacher – Charles Walden
JOIN THE DIABETES FREE ZONE!
The Diabetes Free Zone system
is a targeted wellness program
designed to provide structure and
support to prevent or improve
diabetes. Participants can expect
to lose weight, to improve blood
sugar, reduce or eliminate
diabetes medications, feel better
and enjoy a happier, healthier life.
Classes are at First Presbyterian
Church, 51 Crescent Drive in
Murphysboro on Thursday nights
from 6:30 – 7:30 pm with
questions afterwards.
The
program is designed like popular
weight loss programs and
targeted for diabetes and pre-
diabetes.
Everyone is
invited to come and see
how it works without
obligation or cost—invite
your friends to a meeting!
+
For more information
1st Presbyterian Church of
Murphysboro Member, Cynthia
York- Camden,
MS, RD, LDN, Registered
Licensed Dietition Nutritionist,
SI Nutrition & Diabetes
visit
http://www.sinutrition.com
or call
618-967-9535
Photo Gallery
Scenes from our church family
Byron and Sue York getting
ready to sing.
The Church’s Thanksgiving Feast was enjoyed by all
generations!
Giving Tree decorated by the
Presbyterian Women’s group
FEBRUARY
SUN
3
10
Soup Fellowship after
worship
17 Lent Wk 1
P’ville Lenten Service at
New Hope Church
7:30 pm
24 Lent Wk 2
P’ville Lenten Service at 1st
Pres Church
7:30 pm
3 Lent Wk 3
MON
4
WED
THUR
FRI
SAT
1
2
7
8
9
5
6
PW Meeting
10 am
Session 7 pm
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
1
2
7
8
9
14
15
16
4
P’ville Lenten Service at St.
Paul’s UCC Church 7:30 pm
MARCH
TUES
5
6
PW Meeting
10 am
Session 7 pm
12
13
Communion Sunday AM
Worship
10 Lent Wk 4
P’ville Lenten Service at 1st
UMC, 7:30 pm
11
17 Lent Wk 5
18
19
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
28 6:30 pm
29
30
Maunday
Thursday with
communion
Good
Friday
4
5
6
Ash
Wednesday
P’ville Lenten Service at St.
Bruno’s Catholic Church,
7:30 pm
24
Palm Sunday
Passover
Begins
10:45 am
31
Easter Sunday
10:45 am
APRIL
1
2
3
PW Meeting
10 am
Session 7pm
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
29
30
Family Game Night at
church 5:30 pm
28
FROM AROUND THE PRESBYTERY:
(From the January 2013 Presbytery
Newsletter)
To the PSEI:
I wanted to let you know that the First Presbyterian
Church in Urbana, IL was recognized as an Earth
Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church
(USA) Environmental Ministries through Jan. 2014.
This honor speaks to the great commitment that First
Presbyterian Church has to caring for God's earth.
To become an Earth Care Congregation, First Pres
Church affirmed the EArth CAre Pledge to integrate
environmental practices and thinking into all facets
of their church life and completed projects and
activities in the fields of worship, education,
facilitates and outreach.
The earth care congregation certification is designed
to recognize churches that have made the
commitment to take seriously God's charge to "till
and keep" the garden.
The Earth Care Congregations program was started
in 2010 by PC(USA) Environmental Ministries. The
goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for
God's earth in a holistic way, through integrating
earth care into all church life. The Earth Care
Congregations certification honors churches that
made that commitment and encourages others to
follow their lead.
First Presbyterian Church of Urbana joins First
Presbyterian Church- Hoopeston and First
Presbyterian Church- Champaign as PCUSA
Certified Earth Care Congregations in the Presbytery
of Southeastern IL.
- Rebecca Barnes-Davies
Associate for Environmental Ministries, PCUSA
Ways with Words . . .
First PC-Urbana Recognized as
Earth Care Congregation
Boot Lesson
A teacher was helping one of her
kindergarten students put his
boots on.
He asked for help and she could
see why. With her pulling and him
pushing, the boots still didn't want
to go on.
When the second boot was on,
she had worked up a sweat. She
almost whimpered when the little
boy said, "Teacher, they're on the
wrong feet."
She looked and sure enough, they
were. It wasn't any easier pulling
the boots off then it was putting
them on. She managed to keep
her cool as together they worked
to get the boots back on - this
time on the right feet. He then
announced, "These aren't my
boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get
right in his face and scream, "Why
didn't you say so?" like she
wanted to. Once again she
struggled to help him pull the illfitting boots off. He then said,
"They're my brother's boots. My
Mom made me wear them."
She didn't know if she should
laugh or cry. She mustered up
the grace to wrestle the boots on
his feet again.
She said, "Now, where are your
mittens?"
He said, "I tucked them in the toes
of my boots..."