iii Knox Notes iii February 2012 A Newsletter From John Knox Presbyterian Church • 9104 Westport Road • Louisville, KY 40242 ‘A Work in Progress’ hat’s what we are at John Knox—and guess what? You have a role to play in shaping our ministry and worship for this new year! Many great suggestions have already come out of the survey you took last fall, for example. In particular, two themes were mentioned more than once: nonemergency visitation and singing older hymns in worship. In talking about these areas, the Session and I have come up with a plan designed to help us honor each person’s individual preferences. Starting in February, we’ll have a survey form where you can indicate how often you’d like to have a scheduled visit with the pastor. This can take place at your home, at the church, or even at your favorite coffee shop. If you’d like to be free to just have visits on an “as desired” basis, no problem—there will be a way to mark that option as well. We are asking each of you to fill out the form, sign it, and leave it in the church office. Once we have them all, we’ll put together a visitation schedule for the year. (Please keep in mind that you can change your indicated preference at any time.) We will also have a box or basket in Fitzsimons Hall, along with a stash of index cards, for receiving your hymn requests. If there is a special favorite or two that you want us to use in worship, let us know! The cards will be collected on a regular basis and then matched with the Sunday in 2012 that seems to fit best with each hymn’s theme. If you sign your name to the card, I will let you know the date that your special hymn will be used. As our year unfolds, I look forward to shaping our ministry and worship together. I thank you for your input—and I thank God for you! T — Janice As we continue our study of the Beatitudes, the lesson in February will led by Barbara Spiers. The key idea is that Jesus upholds those who, with genuine hearts, wrestle with God, are changed, and live a way that strengthens the whole people of God. We will be looking at the sixth Beatitude, “Greatly honored are the pure in heart.” I think this is an appropriate lesson to have the day after St. Valentine’s Day. And since February is National Heart month, I suggest that we wear something red. To prepare for this lesson, the following are some things to think about. Look at our newsletter or bulletin and think about these questions. • What does John Knox do as a congregation? • What is most important to this congregation? • Does the picture you have described reflect our congregation as you see it and as you want it to be seen? Would you make any changes? Remember to bring your “Brown Bag” lunch; Dolores Jarvis will provide the dessert. If you need a copy of the study information, let Linda Schenk know; my number is 423-7057. Looking forward to seeing you at the PW Bible Study on February 15, at 12:15 p.m. in the parlor. — Linda Schenk, PW Co-Moderator 2 Knox Notes February 2012 TREASURER’S REPORT - 1/1/2012 - 1/21/2012 Income received: $7,295 Expenditures to date: $5,705 $1,590 2011 Capital Campaign: $255 Memorial Gifts: $0 emergency. In case of inclement weather, such as snow storms and extended power outages, the doors of John Knox Church will be open for anyone seeking shelter. We are a community that is open to the community, to serve and be there in time of need. If you don’t have access to the church, please contact me on my cell number, (502) 724-5704. Your building & Grounds Committee stands ready to serve. —Bob Schenk, Committee Chair Special Offerings: Peace Offering $0 One Great Hour of Sharing $0 Bellewood $0 Three Cents a Meal $32 Kroger Gift Card funds $0 General Mission $0 Kentucky Refugee Ministries $0 Hope4Child $0 Disaster Relief $0 Joy Gift $25 Total $57 WORSHIP AND MUSIC NOTES The Worship Committee would like to extend thanks to all who helped prepare the Sanctuary for our Advent season. The decorations were lovely and added so much to our worship experience. Thanks, also, to those who ordered the beautiful poinsettias. They are a reminder of the beauty of the season. Our committee met on January 11, 2012, and had a very productive meeting. Among items discussed were plans for the Lenten season. The following are some of the plans discussed: • Ash Wednesday Service – February 22, at 6:30 p.m. St. Mary Magdalen will be invited to participate. • Orders for Easter Lilies and Tulips will be taken beginning Sunday, March 4. • Easter Cantata, “We Were There” – Sunday, March 18, during 11:00 a.m. worship. • Palms will be ordered from EcoPalms through the PC(USA) for use on Palm Sunday, April 1. • Wednesday evening Lenten services at 6:30 p.m. will be planned and led by Daniel Tipton. Linda Schenk will again prepare the Lenten Table for the meditations. • Maundy Thursday Communion Service – April 5. • Good Friday Service – April 6. • Easter Sunday – April 8. The Living Cross will be available for decoration with fresh flowers and palms from Palm Sunday. The Living Cross is a tradition at John Knox. Last year, Gary Torrens Detailed report posted on bulletin board near kitchen WINTER AND ITS HAZARDS I know the calendar says “its winter time” and with it come the snow, cold weather, and the occasional strong winds. Oh no, you are right—the winds don’t come until the spring, but tell that to Mother Nature. Just in case you were out of town last Tuesday the 17th, we did have a few strong winds come through town in the form of tornados—seven to be exact—doing quite a bit of damage not too far from John Knox Church. Power was knocked out to several homes in the area. What would you do if it affected you? What if your power would be out for several days with the temps being in the teens? What if you also did not have a telephone? Where would you go? John Knox Church has been very fortunate in the 20 years or so since Linda and I have been here, not to have lost either power, heat or phone service. John Knox Church has been a haven for anyone seeking comfort from the elements and stands ready to help those in need. As a matter of fact, John Knox Church has been recruited and has been approved by the Red Cross as a shelter in case of a community-wide (Continued on next page) 3 Knox Notes February 2012 (Worship and Music Notes, continued from page 2) replaced the torn netting on the Cross and repainted it. Members of the congregation placed flowers and flowering branches (we also used some of the palms from Palm Sunday) into the wire on the cross. It was lovely and added so much to the beauty of the sanctuary. Editor’s Note: We will begin the morning with our annual Easter Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Details will appear in next month’s newsletter. You will be getting more information about upcoming events as we work out the details. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or any other member of our committee. Our committee members include: Gail Maloney; Barb Spiers; Arlene Torrens; Gary Torrens; Sue Wilder; Janice Catron, Pastor; Angela Fitzpatrick, Music Director; Daniel Tipton, Student Intern. —Arlene Torrens, Committee Chair NEWS FROM EACM As your EACM liaison for John Knox, I will be giving you updates on items of interest from the EACM Board of Directors quarterly meetings. If you would like more information on any of the following events, please let me know. On January 26, Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School Professor of Business Administration will give two lectures on “How will you measure your life?” The first will be at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Louisville’s College of Business, Harry Frazier Hall, in Horn Auditorium. (Parking is available at the Speed Museum garage or at DuPont Manual High School). The second will be at 7:30 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 6401 Westwind Way, Crestwood, KY. The Kentucky Baptist Fellowship Youth Project will be on Saturday, March 10. We are looking for volunteers to work with the youth. They will be filling bags for the EACM clients. Check with the EACM office if you can help. Their number is 426-2824. The March Madness - Spring Fund Raiser, will be on March 24 at Founders Hall, U of L Shelby Campus. Plan now to get your tickets, as there are only 350 available. The cost is $50 per ticket. Our goal for this Fund Raiser is $12,000. We are asking for donations of gift cards. The amount can be anything that the merchant would like to give or you can purchase a gift card yourself. If you can help, it will be much appreciated. Individual gift cards can be purchased at Kroger, Walgreens, and similar stores in the area. Other Fund Raising events: • February 20, from 1:00-10:00 p.m. FUNDay - Senor Iguanas, 9242 Shelbyville Road (near Hurstbourne Parkway). EACM receives a percentage of sales. Be sure to mention their name. • April 7, Shredding Event, Westport Road Baptist Church, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Free shredding for community - Donations accepted for EACM. Located at the corner of Westport Rd. and Hurstbourne Parkway. • October 1, 11:30 a.m. Golf Scramble at Persimmon Ridge Golf Course. More details later. —Linda Schenk, EACM Board Member THE THIRD MONDAY The January Session Meeting was a retreat, held on Sunday the 22nd, which was after the deadline for the newsletter. So instead of minutes from that meeting, you are getting a preview of the business that was to be discussed. Twice a year, once in the winter and again in the summer, your Session meets “in retreat” to spend several hours discussing the future of your church. While some of the topics covered are routine business, they also do some thinking about activities that cannot be covered during the 22.5 hour-long monthly Session meetings. This month’s retreat will begin with a meal together, followed by a brief business meeting. Even in retreat we have to approve minutes and discuss items such as Reception/Dismissal of Members, Baptisms/Deaths, Communion and Correspondence. In January we elect the Corporation President and Secretary, appoint the Clerk of Session and Treasurer, approve Parish Associates and the Communion schedule for the year. As time allows, we also approve the two reports prepared by the Clerk for submission to the General Assembly and Presbytery. Session will be discussing the budget, including opportunities for rental income and other fund raising ideas, a new memorial gift policy and a change in our payroll vendor. They also will discuss the Easter Breakfast, the church newsletter and planning for a new pictorial directory. Pastor Janice will provide an update on a hymn request plan, a revised visitation schedule and related survey, her office hours and a revised class schedule. Session will also be discussing next steps for her sabbatical leave. The retreat will wrap up with a “State of the Church,” including updates on church committees and exciting things they want to share. Session will be looking at how we are doing overall and what they need to be thinking about in the days ahead, including events to be noted on the annual calendar, which is located on the bulletin board outside the Choir Room. As you can see, this will be a very busy four hours! —Sue Wilder, Clerk of Session 4 Knox Notes February 2012 ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Please remember with thoughts and prayers... FROM WITHIN OUR CHURCH FAMILY: Gloria & Jack Bryant; Carrol Clements; Mary & Tom Cook Jr.; David Crouch; Cathy Grant & family; Mary Scott Howser; Dan Mohn: Nilkanthi Nicholas; Judith Niles & family; Don Richardson; Jim Rosene, Beverly Ross-Simpkins; Bonnie & Tom Skoner; Ann & Ryan Stellingwerf; Mary & Ernie Vest. EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE CHURCH: Sue Almy (Rosemary Almy); Henry Collier ( Peggy Collier); Doug Conley (Sally Azbill); Cathy Craig (Rev. Janice Catron); Dana Day (Donna Hubbard); Betty Dobbs (Donna Melloan); Beverly Dolly (Dianne Foster); Carol Frazier (Sally Azbill); Peggy Harris (Linda Schenk); Mary Ellen Horton; Ray Hurley (Pat Mills); Junior & Judy Maddox (Rosemary Almy); Suresh Mather (Chris Nicholas); Virginia McCormick (Mary Cook); Ellen Nealy (George Street); Jed Nuss (Lis Jacobs); Candy and Steve Osteen, (Tim Reno); Lisa Schenk (Bob & Linda Schenk), Carol Lee Seavers (Linda Schenk); Karena Smallfoot (Rev. Janice Catron); Dr. Charles Stout (Ed Mitchell); Becky Torrens (Gary Torrens); Janet Torrens (Gary Torrens); David Tsai (Sue Wilder); Doris Yochum. If you know of anyone needing a “Get Well” or “Sympathy” card, please give Nan Hopkins a call at 426-6889. HOME COMMUNION: If you are homebound and wish to have home communion, please contract Pastor Janice Catron (4359693), any member of Session or, leave a message at the church (425-6770). People who are homebound are individuals who are unable to attend worship due to health and/or physical situations. ODDS & ENDS: Announcements for the bulletin need to be to Sue Wilder by noon on Monday. Also, send your prayer concerns to Sue Wilder and please let her know when they should be taken off the bulletin list. Names of those with longer term needs should also be given to Sue for Knox Notes. We want to keep both lists current and to continue praying for those in need of our prayers. Call Sue at 244-5456 or e-mail her at suewilder@juno.com. If you want to receive news of the church via e-mail, send your e-mail address to Sue at this same address. NOTE: If you are on Sue’s e-mail news, but prefer to be called, please let Sue know. Church Web-Site: http://home.insightbb.com/~jkpc/ John Knox Presbyterian Church 9104 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40242 JOHN KNOX CALENDAR January 29, 2012 - March 03, 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Jan 29 Jan 30 Jan 31 Feb 5 Feb 6 11:00 AM Worship 7:45 PM Westw ood (Parlor) *Dan Mclean **The Farrs 9:30 AM Church School Feb 7 12:30 PM Tuesday Discussion Group Wednesday Feb 1 Thursday Friday Saturday Feb 2 Feb 3 Feb 4 6:30 PM Prayer Circle *Anita Reno 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal *Sahab Bolhari Feb 8 5:30 PM Worship Comm ittee (Parlor) Feb 9 7:00 PM Islam Study (Parlor) Feb 10 *Harry Bolhari Feb 11 *Linda Schenk 6:30 PM Prayer Circle 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal *Evelyn Farr Communion Food for First Feb 12 Feb 13 9:30 AM Church School 11:00 AM Worship Feb 14 Feb 15 12:30 PM Tuesday Discussion Group 12:15 PM PW Bible Study (Parlor) 7:30 PM Rolling Hills (Parlor) 6:30 PM Prayer Circle Feb 16 Feb 17 Feb 18 Feb 24 Feb 25 Mar 2 Mar 3 *Beverly Simpkins 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal Transfiguration of the Lord Feb 19 Feb 20 9:30 AM Church School 6:45 PM Session (Parlor) 11:00 AM Worship 3 Cents a Meal Offering Feb 26 Feb 27 9:30 AM Church School 7:00 PM Harm ony Place III & IV (Fitzsimons Hall) 11:00 AM Worship Feb 21 Feb 22 12:30 PM Tuesday Discussion Group 6:30 PM Ash Wednesday Service 6:00 PM LaLeche League (Parlor) 7:15 PM Choir Rehearsal Feb 28 12:30 PM Tuesday Discussion Group Feb 29 Feb 23 *Adam Farr Mar 1 6:30 PM Prayer Circle *Gary Torrens 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal *Jane Niem an World Day of Prayer UPCOMING SCRIPTURE READINGS To help as you prepare to worship God on Sundays among the folk of John Knox PC(USA), here are one suggested Old Testament and one New Testament reading for each week. Make these readings a part of your weekly schedule. February 05, 2011, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Psalm 30; Mark 1:29-34 February 12, 2011, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany- Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Mark 1:21-28 February 19, 2011, Transfiguration Sunday - Psalm 50:1–6; Mark 9:2–9 February 26, 2011, First Sunday in Lent - Psalm 25:1–7; Mark 1:9–15 AFTER WORSHIP REFRESHMENTS February 05 - Sue Wilder February 12 - Linda & Bob Schenk February 19 - Vicki Campbell, Donna Hubbard, Lori LeBeau February 26 - NEED A VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENTS NOTE: A refreshment sign-up sheet for future Sundays is on a bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. If you want to help or have questions about volunteering in February, you can contact Nan Hopkins (426-6889) or Sue Wilder (244-5456). Refreshments can be as simple as cookies or donuts from a bag. They merely give us something to munch on as we take time to catch up on news of the church after worship. MOWING NOTE: The mowing schedule will resume in spring, 2012. BREAD MINISTRY BREAD MAKERS BREAD GIVERS February 05 February 12 February 19 February 26 Nilkanthi Nicholas Bonnie Skoner Vivian Simms Dolores Jarvis Chris Nicholas Vivian Simms Pat Mills Sandy Broderick BREAD MINISTRY NOTE: This list is subject to change. If you are unable to participate on your scheduled day/week, feel free to trade dates with another committee member or contact Pat Mills (893-8490). Sue Wilder (244-5456) is the back-up baker (please give 48 hours notice) and the back-up bread giver is George Street (426-3096).