Presbyterian Volume 55, Issue 2, March 2015

R E P O R T E R

Published by the First Presbyterian Church

11 Washington Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502

301-777-3700 www.fpc-cumberland.org

“The Joyful Feast of the People of God”

Caroline M. Kelly, Pastor

Lent is a good time to reconnect with the foundations of our faith and how they impact our lives. This year, we

have joined with friends from Emmanuel and St. Paul’s to think more deeply about our understanding and prac-

tice of communion in each of our traditions. This week we will gather at Emmanuel for supper and study/

conversation about communion in the Lutheran tradition led by Marsha Garrett, St. Paul’s pastor. One of the

differences we want to explore this week is why Episcopalians and Lutherans use an altar for communion instead

of a table, like Presbyterians.

Last week, I presented an understanding of communion in the Presbyterian tradition, beginning with a history of

the sacrament in the Bible and tracing the developments in the early church, middle ages, reformation and modern

times. For most mainline denominations, Presbyterians included, we are learning to reclaim the fullness of the

sacrament practiced in the early church, based on the recent discovery of ancient texts from that time.

Whereas, communion has continued to reflect the somber and penitent practice of the Middle Ages, and the

private, individual practice of the 18th and 19thcenturies, we have been rediscovering in the 20th and 21st centuries

the more joyful and communal nature of the meals in the Bible that lend themselves to a renewed appreciation of

the sacrament.

In addition to the primary story of the Last Supper, our celebration of communion also embraces the stories of

post-resurrection meals that Jesus had with his friends – the Emmaus Road story and the fish fry on the beach

being primary examples – in which the disciples recognized their risen Lord in the breaking of the bread.

We also are reclaiming the stories of the wedding banquets to which the host extended invitations to all kinds of

people, as a glimpse of what God envisions for our relationships with one another. Thus, “They will come from

north and south, east and west and sit at table in the kingdom of God”- black and white, rich and poor, young and

old, Democrat and Republican.

You still hear in the communion liturgy the words recalling the Last Supper but, if you listen carefully, you’ll

also notice the references to the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection, which every Sunday service was originally

intended to be, and the vision of a table in God’s kingdom where all will be reconciled and welcomed to gather.

Hope you can join us one of these Thursdays!

The Presbyterian Reporter, page 2 March 2015

BIRTHDAYS!

FEBRUARY SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

The Session of First Presbyterian Church met in the church library at

7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2015, for its stated monthly meet-

ing. The Rev. Caroline M. Kelly served as Moderator. Ann Kellermeyer

served as Clerk.

The Session took the following actions:

Approved the recommendations of the Worship and Music Committee

to serve communion by intinction on Ash Wednesday, February 18,

and to invite Rev. Marsha Garrett from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to

serve as the celebrant (presiding over communion) and Rev. Martha

Macgill from Emmanuel Episcopal Church to preach.

Approved the recommendation of the Worship and Music Committee

to collect an offering during the Ash Wednesday service with the

offering going to Jane’s Place.

Approved the recommendation of the Building and Grounds

Committee to charge a fee to Cumberland Music Academy for the use

of the sanctuary for recitals on May 2 or 9. The fee would be $100 for

use of the building and $100 for security and sound engineer support,

with an additional $25/hr. for each hour over four hours the sound

engineer is required.

Approved the recommendation of the Administration and Finance

Committee to adopt a Endowment Investment Policy for First

Presbyterian Church.

Approved nunc pro tunc the youth Souper Bowl fundraiser held on

Sunday, February 1, to benefit a local hunger program chosen by the

youth.

Approved the youth Sweetheart Luncheon and Dessert Auction on

Sunday, February 15, to subsidize youth participation in summer

conferences and quarterly retreats.

Approved May 17th as the date for confirmation.

Approved the invitation to Cindy Zirlott, from FSU’s Campus

Ministry, to preach on March 22 in Rev. Kelly’s absence.

Approved the year to date financials as of January 31, 2015.

In addition, the Session heard:

A program from Theoacademy on the correlation between fellowship

and mission in the Presbyterian Church.

A report from Pastor Kelly and Worship and Music Co-Chair

Carolyn Mathews on the upcoming Lenten events with the other

churches on the “Hill”.

JOYS AND CONCERNS

Prayers and Sympathy for

Tracey Klickman and family

on the death of Tracey’s

father, Eugene Geimer, on

February 15, 2015.

Pam Jan 3/2

Dinah Searles 3/4

Joe Aurigemma 3/6

Sheri Sterne 3/6

Suanne Casseday 3/8

Sandra Burton 3/11

Cody Ellsworth 3/11

Doug Holler 3/11

David Steele 3/14

Randy Stroup 3/15

Matt Levitas 3/16

Kathy Wilhelm 3/16

John Johnson 3/17

Linda Smith 3/17

Melinda Cunningham 3/19

Derrick Morgan 3/19

Gary Hartung 3/20

Kay Williams 3/20

Allie Gambrel 3/24

Jane Mease 3/25

Joe Weaver 3/25

Irene Kuykendall 3/26

Rolfe Singerman 3/27

Roberta Barb 3/29

Bryan Wodaski 3/30

March 2015 The Presbyterian Reporter, page 3

(Session Highlights continued from page 2)

A report from Bob Courtney, Co-Chair of the Buildings and Grounds

committee, that members of his committee, some staff members and

representatives from the Worship and Music Committee met with an

architect on February 1 to discuss possible renovations to the Sanctuary

to better accommodate worship and other activities in the space. This

group of people will continue to discuss possibilities and will provide a

scope of the project to Session in the near future.

A report, also from Bob Courtney, that some members of his committee

are meeting with representatives of the Allegany County Farmers’

Market to discuss the possibility of licensing the church kitchen as a

“commercial” kitchen for that group to use to prepare foods for sale.

A report from Bryan Wodaski and Rev. Kelly on their trip that day to

Bel Air, MD, to attend the Gathering of Baltimore Presbytery.

A reminder that the next Stated Session Meeting will be on March 12,

2015, at 8:15 p.m. following the Lenten Study.

If you have any questions, please contact the Clerk of Session or the

Moderator.

LENTEN STUDY SERIES:

Thursday, March 5, 6:00 PM

Dinner & Program

Emmanuel

Communion in the Lutheran

tradition Thursday, March 12 6:00 PM

Dinner & Program

First Presbyterian

Communion in the Episcopal

tradition Thursday, March 19 6:00 PM

Dinner & Program

St. Paul’s

“The Traditions of Holy Week,

The Three Days, Part 1” Thursday, March 26 6:00 PM

Dinner & Program

Emmanuel

“The Traditions of Holy Week,

The Three Days, Part 2”

Palm Sunday: March 29th

Maundy Thursday Service:

Emmanuel Episcopal Church,

April 2nd at 7:00PM

Good Friday Service:

First Presbyterian Church,

April 3rd at 7:00 PM

Easter Vigil:

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,

April 4th at 7:00 PM

Easter Sunday: Sunrise Service

at Rocky Gap at 7:00 AM

Regular Worship at 11:00 AM

AN OPEN INVITATION:

CALLING ALL

MUSICIANS!

If you would like to participate in our Music Ministry by contributing

your voice or instrumental skills for an upcoming worship service,

please be in contact with me or a choir member.

We would love to have you and welcome your participation!

-Judie Brown

The Presbyterian Reporter, page 4 March 2015

COMPASSION, PEACE AND JUSTICE TRAINING DAY “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation”

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC

Friday, April 17, 2015: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people:

It is you who have devoured the vineyard;

the spoil of the poor is in your houses.” (Isaiah 3:14)

Everywhere people are facing severe human rights violations for political and economic gain.

Low-income children in the United States whose education has been systemically neglected

Young children forced to work in mineral mines in the Congo

Native Americans watch their land and rights being stripped away

African farmers forced off of their land as part of corporate land grabbing

The United States holding nearly a quarter of the world’s prisoners

It’s hard to imagine that these things occur in our country and our world today, but they do. People are facing

severe human rights violations for political and economic gain. How can the church turn these tragedies

into triumphs? This year’s Advocacy Training Weekend will take a long, hard look at these issues and seek

solutions that are theologically and biblically based.

This one-day Presbyterian conference will focus on a variety of human exploitation in our country and the

world, such as mass incarceration, human trafficking, environmental exploitation and racism, just to name a

few.

The Presbytery of Baltimore has offered to offset the costs of transportation and lodging for anyone

in our congregation who would like to go. Please contact Susan Kreihbel for more information at

skrehbiel@baltimorepresbytery.org

Eric LeCompte from Jubilee USA will be one of the guest speakers.

Registration: $75 ($30 for students/youth under 30)

For more information, go to: www.pcusa.org/washington

March 2015 The Presbyterian Reporter, page 5

THE PARABLE OF THE WELL:

The needs of the world are so big and deep, and we are so small,

yet all is given to us, and all that is needed is just a little bit of

work.

So ended the Sunday School program on January 11th led by Jan

Dus and Jeremy Ault, with the Diaconia of the Evangelical

Church of Czech Brethren’s “Center for Humanitarian and

Development Aid”. Besides being part of the service, they also

presented a program during Sunday School entitled “Imagine

Living as a Refugee”.

Imagine that you’re living in the Jordanian Za’atari Refugee

Camp for Syrians:

*You had a comfortable, professional lifestyle in Syria and now you have nothing, in a country you’ve looked

down on. Desert covers 90% of Jordan, only 7.8% is farmed. Two of every three counties lack water.

*Of the 6,270,000 inhabitants of Jordan, 21 million are Palestinian refugees who have been there for decades;

900,000 are Iraqi, and 700,000 are Syrian. That means that three out of five inhabitants is a refugee, or 60%

(you’re one of those three).

*The camp opened in July 2012 in the middle of a desert, near the border.

*You walked several days or weeks, often at night, to get here. When you did, your passports were taken

away, you were taken to the camp, and given a number when you registered and a ration card that determines

how much food you get.

*There are 150,000 people on several square miles, divided into 50 sections of 3,000 people each. Each street

has 1,000 families, managed by a leader chosen from among the refugees. There are no police inside the camp.

*You’re living in a tent or cubicle. Privacy is nonexistent.

*There are two containers of water per street. They’re refilled twice a day. There are 20 toilets and 1 public

bathroom on your street. You wash your laundry in a bucket. Water and daily hygiene are a problem.

*There is one kitchen per street. At 7am bread is distributed from one location to the whole camp. The food is

brought to the homes by volunteer refugees.

*Work or activity is hard to find. You can volunteer with the NGOs or the Diaconia. Your children attend

school or a daycare center. Teens and young adults can enjoy activities at the Peace Oasis, instead of being on

the streets.

*There is: heat; dust; cold, raw days; snow; unrest; lack of water, lack of activities,...

This is where our $1,070 from “Reason for the Season” will be put to good use.

The ECCB Diaconia, which was just getting back into action to help Czechs in 1989 after the “Velvet Revolu-

tion”, is now expanding to be a giver of aid internationally. Jan and Jeremy explained the types of ministries

they help fund and support in person. Several are in countries in which the U.S. does not or cannot work for

political reasons, such as Burma/Myanmar, and Cambodia. Being from a former Communist satellite, they

have better insight into how the system of some countries work, such as Ukraine, Moldovia, and Georgia. The

Diaconia also has projects in Ethiopia and Zambia. They may be starting off small, but God has given them all

they need, and they’re getting to work. They are a witness to Czechs that the ECCB is a living church. Just as

we want to be in Cumberland.

The Presbyterian Reporter, page 6 March 2015

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http://wwwfacebook.com/First.Pres.Cumberland

AN UPDATE FROM THE YOUTH

MINISTRY COORDINATOR

Friends,

The youth are busy learning how they can become the “dirty hands and feet” of

Jesus through their various activities. We were quite busy this past month:

Small Group Bible Studies: Both boys and girls are now having Small

Group Bible Study on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The girls

are continuing with their study from the fall and the boys have just begun a

new study called “Dangerous Devotions for Guys”.

Joint Youth/Congregation North Korea Book Study: On February 8, we

held our first book study. We had just over 30 people in attendance! A total

of 17 adult members from the congregation (and some youth parents) are

participating in our study. It was a great first night that included a shared

meal, a get to know you activity, sharing of what we already know about North Korea, and viewing

segments from a documentary called “Inside North Korea”. We will begin reading the book, “This is

Paradise”, this month before convening together again on March 22.

Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) Event at First Pres.: LiNK is a nonprofit group that strives to educate

people about the situation in North Korea as well as rescue refugees from North Korea, helping them

transition into society outside of the country. This Winter/Spring they are conducting a nationwide tour,

presenting a program called “TO: The North Korean People”. They describe the program as:

"The international narrative on North Korea has created an environment of fear and isolation. This

disempowers ordinary North Koreans, who have northing to do with the political circus. We are

launching an exciting NEW initiative this spring to give millions of people the opportunity to send a

personal message of support TO: the North Korean people. Our goal is to show North Koreans that

the world is united in support for them. We need YOU to change the narrative on North Korea by

adding your community’s voice of support to our collective message."

LiNK has agreed to come to our church on Tuesday, March 3 from 7-8pm and we are THRILLED to

have this opportunity. We have partnered with the Mission Committee to get out the word and host the

event not only for the congregation but for the public as well. I have posters available for anyone who is

interested. Please consider attending that evening. We would love to have you!

SOUPer Bowl Collection: With your support, the Youth collected almost $550.00 for the SOUPer Bowl

of Caring collection on Febuary 1st. As a part of our Winter/Spring Theme, “Jesus with the Dirty Feet”,

the youth will be partnering with an organization in the community not only to learn more, but to serve

as well. The money will be put to good use with our service to that organization.

(Continued on page 7)

March 2015 The Presbyterian Reporter, page 7

Watch us live on Livestream- Sundays at 11 a.m.

You can either signup through your email address or Facebook account.

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(Youth update continued from page 6)

Valentine’s Sweetheart

Luncheon and Auction:

While it was a cold and

snowy Sunday, we were

thrilled to have so many come

out for the annual Sweetheart

Luncheon and Auction. Due

to your generosity, the youth

raised just over $2000 that

will help with our year round

retreats. Thank you so much

for your continued support!

As always, thank you for your

continued support.

Blessings,

Robby

Easter Music 2014

You can also celebrate Easter by contributing to the Special Music Fund.

This fund is separate from the budget and is used to pay guest musicians

for special music during worship on holidays and throughout the year.

Note: Special Music money may be given any time of the year.

Special Music Contribution $ ___________

My Special Music gift is in honor/memory of: __________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Given to the Glory of God by: _______________________________

Checks for flowers & music should be made payable to First Presbyterian

Church and returned to the church no later than Sunday, March 22nd if

you want your dedication listed in the bulletin.

EASTER FLOWERS & MUSIC

If you would like to purchase flowers to decorate the

Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, please indicate below

whether you wish to take your plants home, or if you

wish them to be given to one of our home-bound mem-

bers. Please indicate your selection and total below.

Orders are due by Sunday, March 15th.

Price each Quantity Cost

Lily, 6” potted (single plant) $13.00 _______ $__________

Lily, 6” potted (double plant) $24.00 _______ $__________

Tulips (3 bloom) $8.00 _______ $__________

Hyacinths (1-b) $8.00 _______ $__________

Mum, 6” potted $14.00 _______ $__________

(yellow, white, lavender)

Bulbs, 4” potted $8.00 _______ $__________

(3 Tulips, 1 Hyacinth, 1 Daffodil)

Bulbs, 6” potted $12.50 _______ $__________

(6 Tulips, 3 Hyacinth, Several Daffodils)

Hard Azaleas, 8” (12-15 inches across)$26.00 _______ $__________

(red, pink, white, or purple)

Total _______ $__________

My floral gift is in honor/memory of: _________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Given to the Glory of God by: _______________________________

Please indicate: I would like to take my flowers home _____

I would like to donate the flowers _____

The Presbyterian Reporter, page 8 March 2015

Address Service Requested

First Presbyterian Church

Eleven Washington Street

Cumberland, Maryland 21502

301-777-3700 www.fpc-cumberland.org

Worship Calendar March 1: 11:00 AM Worship: Holy Communion

2nd Sunday in Lent

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31;

Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38

March 8: 11:00 AM Worship

3rd Sunday in Lent

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 March 15: 11:00 AM Worship

4th Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22;

Ephesians 2:1-10 ; John 3:14-21

March 22: 11:00 AM Worship

5th Sunday in Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34 ; Psalm 51:1-12; Psalm 119: 9-16

Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

March 29: 11:00 AM Worship

Passion/Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16;

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11;

Mark 14:1-15:47

We Thank God For: