March 2018 Newsletter - vassarfpc.files.wordpress.com · Fish Boxes & Giving envelopes are now ......

First Presbyterian Church

Newsletter 250 W. Huron, Vassar, MI 48768 VassarFPC.org March 2018

...from Doug’s desk... Once again we have entered the season of Lent. This time of preparation, 40 days not including Sundays, leads us to the events of Holy Week: beginning with Jesus triumphal yet poignant entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, healings and controversies at the temple, Jesus’ Last Passover meal with his disciples, his betrayal and arrest, the desertion of his disciples, his midnight trial and audiences with Pilot and Herod, his brutal flogging, carrying his cross, his crucifixion, death, and burial. Holy Week ends on Holy Saturday with us mourning with Jesus’ terrified and bewildered followers as our savior lay dead in a borrowed tomb.

Little did they know that the very next day everything would change: for them, for us, for everyone, forever.

The road through Lent and Holy Week to Easter is a road few willingly travel. It is a time of identifying with Jesus' temptation in the desert at the beginning of his ministry, and his suffering at the end of it. Yet, without Good Friday there is no Easter Sunday. The path that led to securing our eternal life and restoration of Shalom necessarily leads through suffering and death. This was true first and foremost for Jesus, and it is true of each of us if we are to follow him, serve him, and worship him.

The faith that Jesus modeled, taught, and inaugurated, and which has been passed on to us from his disciples, the Apostle Paul, and many men and women of God for the past 2,000 years, is not an elaborate self-help scheme. It is not a quest to make ourselves better, per se. We surely do want to improve, and we know it pleases God when we live in congruence with his character of love and justice. But what God wants to do in our lives is not so much to fix us as to… kill us.

Paul writes in Romans 6:3-8: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life… For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (NRSV).

If we follow Jesus, we are not simply promised a massive repair, like repainting and reupholstering an old rusting car, or even dropping a whole new engine and transmission into it. We are promised a new life—one that requires the old one to die. The car is put into the compactor and destroyed, and yet out the other end comes a brand new fully loaded 2018 Mercedes-Benz!

We all will face that death physically unless Christ returns before our time is up. We also all face that death spiritually, mentally, and emotionally too, as the Holy Spirit remakes us…if only we will let go and cooperate with God. In either case, such death is not to be feared… but embraced, because it leads to truly new life.

Lent is a reflective, even sobering time, yes. But it’s point is not to be morbid. It is our reminder to appreciate Jesus’ suffering and anticipate his cosmic victory over sin and death. We remember our suffering is never purposeless, and that the many “deaths” we die are the very means of our own resurrection.

I pray you will seize the opportunity Lent affords, let go of fear, open yourself to God’s transformative work in your life, and be made truly new.

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FINANCIAL NOTES

JAN 2018: ACTUAL BUDGET INCOME: 6,738.96 8,083.33 EXPENSE: 7,252.08 9,682.05 NET: (513.12) (1,598.71)

PASTOR DOUG’S CONTACT INFO: Cell/Text: (989) 780-2813

Email: [email protected]: facebook.com/pastordougabelLinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/pastordougabel

TWITTER: @REV_DSA

Do you or someone you know need visitation?

In the hospital? Home bound? In a nursing facility? Please let the church office know so that

Pastor Doug can visit them! You may also call your care team Deacon.

EASTER FLOWERS

The Celebration of our Risen Lord is just around the corner! How blessed we are!

Once again, we are offering you the opportunity to order a plant in memory of a loved one or to celebrate someone’s life. This year we are offering choices: Easter Lilies, Tulips, or hyacinths. The cost will be the same= $15.00. We would appreciate pre-payment, as we must pay when delivered. The order sheet is in the parlor, and you can pay either Connie Gamet or Sue Campbell. If paying by check, please make out to the church and write “Easter Flowers” on the notation line.

Our nursery is available during services.

If you would like to volunteer please

contact

Kim Wegrzyn

SAVE THE DATES!!!Our Summer Vacation Bible School will be held from July 23-26 in the evenings. The Methodist

Church will host and this will be a joint effort with them and Grace

Lutheran. We are looking for volunteers to lead small groups of children as well as helpers to assist them. Please prayerfully consider helping in this way. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Diane Rice

Fish Boxes & Giving envelopes are now available for our special offering: One Great Hour of Sharing. A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the Presbyterian Church to share God’s love with our neighbors0in0need around the world, giving natural disaster relief, food to the hungry, and assistance to the poor and oppressed. The offering will be collected on Palm Sunday, March 25th.

Fall Women’s Retreat Each year, Springhill hosts a women’s retreat in Evart, MI. This year it will be Sept. 28-30. We are putting together a

group of ladies to enjoy the main speaker, worship leader, breakout sessions, and

recreational actives. For more information, please see Nicole Baker. Registration will

continue until space is filled.

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COMMUMION SERVERS 04-01-2018 Assist-Steve Franko #1-Alex Campbell #2-Lynn Franko #3-JoLinda Manus #4-Dan Johnson

GREETERS 1st-Mark & Jill O’Connor 8th-Dan & Mary Johnson 15th-Kirk & Susie Atkins 22nd-The Wegrzyn Family

USHERS 1st-Lynn Childs, Bill Shoop & Tanya Steele 8th- David, Scott & Zack Wegrzyn 15th-Lori Hubbard & Mary Kennard 22nd-Mark Bilbee, Mark O’Connor & Bobby Staten

WORSHIP LEADERS 1st- Steve Franko 8th- Russ Hubbard 15th- Kim Wegrzyn 22nd-Tanya Steele

VIDEO/TECH 1st- Tanya Steele 8th- Nathan Abel 15th- Shelley Abel 22nd- Dianne Hackett

Nursery 1st- Bob Rice 8th- Shelley Abel 15th- Sue Campbell 22nd- Kim Wegrzyn

01 Mike Kennard 02 Kim Van Wormer 03 Rob Bulko 03 Dan Johnson 06 Becky Gorleski 10 Anna O'Connor 12 Nicole Baker 15 Ray Waggoner 15 Zack Wegrzyn 16 Helen Waggoner 16 Shane Pease 20 Alaina Poulos 23 Jody Franko 25: Lynn Childs

04 Dan & Betty Holzhei

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION DEADLINE

Mar. 27th

WHAT’S GOING ON???

Please note: this calendar is always on the website at

vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

and is subject to change.

March 2018Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

259:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

26 278:30 AM WIC

282:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Hand Bell Choir

12:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours6:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

2Holi

3

4COMMUNION9:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

5 69:00 AM Vassar Min-isterial Alliance

712:30 PM Study: All Things New2:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Hand Bell Choir

82:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours

9 10

11Daylight Savings Time BeginsDaylight Saving Time9:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

12 13 142:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Hand Bell Choir

152:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

16 17St. Patrick’s Day


1910:00 AM Book Club

208:30 AM WIC

2112:30 PM Study: All Things New2:00 PM Pastor's Of-6:30 PM Mission & 7:00 PM Joint Choir 7:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team8:00 PM Hand Bell

222:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Worship & Music Team

23 24

25Palm SundayPalm Sunday9:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

26 278:30 AM WIC


29Maundy Thursday2:00 PM Pastor's Of-fice Hours7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service7:00 PM Session

30Good FridayGood Friday7:00 PM Good Friday Service

31Passover


26 278:30 AM WIC



2Holi

3





9 10







208:30 AM WIC



23 24


26 278:30 AM WIC




31Passover


26 278:30 AM WIC



2Holi

3





9 10







208:30 AM WIC



23 24


26 278:30 AM WIC




31Passover


26 278:30 AM WIC



2Holi

3





9 10







208:30 AM WIC



23 24


26 278:30 AM WIC




31Passover

Page 1/1Eastern Time Time Zone

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

Vassar First Presbyterian Church Ministry Team Summaries

If you would like to be a part of any of these ministries, please contact the chairperson.Come find your place with us as we build God’s Kingdom together!Administration (Scott Wegrzyn)This team has two sub-teams: personnel and finance. It oversees these and other general administrative concerns of the church. It crafts a budget proposal each year for Session to approve, oversees staff, considers staffing structure, crafts job descriptions, and recommends building use policy. Buildings & Grounds (Lynn Childs)This team handles all things related to facility and property, such as routine maintenance, small repairs, facility or equipment upgrades, tech needs, or large projects as approved by Session. The church owns not only the church building and grounds, but also the upper parking lot and the pastor’s manse, as well as the equipment and appliances inside them.Communication and Publicity (Shelley Abel)This team’s focus is providing for and managing communications and publicity, with internally and externally, by prioritizing and appropriately timing these things and implying the most effective method for them. This is not only so that any given need gets the best exposure appropriate to it, but so that key events or initiatives don’t get “lost in the noise.” The team will work closely with the church secretary to execute communication and publicity, but will curate what, how, and when any communication publicity is done, and help establish processes and strategies for easy management of the same.Community Connections (Lynn Childs)This team’s focus is any event or project that brings the community together in Christian fellowship: which is “Christian-speak” for having fun and making connections. It serves a practical and cohesive function in our community of faith, and at the same time provides a safe space for new people to get to know us. The team executes several events each year to that end, and looks for smaller ways to facilitate a sense of connection between friends and members as well.Discipleship & Growth (Kevin Haines)This team’s stated mission is “Inviting you on a Journey with Jesus.” It oversees, enables, resources, and supports the person-inviting, disciple-making and disciple-growing aspects of the church’s ministry, from nursery to families to ecumenical Youth Group and VBS, to adult professionals, to retirees. It is concerned with education, but not merely as knowledge transfer, but heart changing: helping people of any age or stage meet Jesus, grow in faith, and become committed followers of Jesus. This team also oversees and resources any small groups that form, from study groups to affinity groups to service/mission groups. Mission & Outreach (Shelley Abel)This team concerns itself with supporting mission efforts that do not typically fall under our own congregation’s ministry. These may be local, regional, statewide, national, or global in nature. In many cases that support is financial, such as perhaps funding a missionary abroad. It may also sometimes be more personal, like forming a work trip to a devastated area of our nation.Worship & Music (Kevin Haines)The worship & music team concerns itself with providing for the worship and music aspects of our congregation, and considers not only present needs but future directions for forms of and tools for worship. There are practical matters like making sure ushering and children’s sermons are covered, resourcing our choirs and accompanists, making sure candles are stocked, etc. It also, in collaboration with the pastor and music staff, considers weightier matters like the practice and philosophy of worship.

CONTACT PERSONS

Pastor Doug Abel, (989) 780-2813 (Voice, VM, or Text) Angie Ayotte, Church Office: (989) 823-7671

Elders

Shelley Abel (989) 780-2817 Dan Johnson (Clerk) (989) 823-2525.............. ........

Nicole Baker (917) 776-9546 Diane Rice (989) 992-9333............. ........................

Alex Campbell (989) 823-3848 Scott Wegrzyn (989) 529-1147........... ..................

Lynn Childs (989) 868-4802 Winona Williams (989) 823-7696............... ...............

Dan Zuzula (989) 871-3173...............

Deacons

Louanne Campbell (989) 823-3624 Bobby Staten (989) 823-1235... ....................

Brenda Haines (989) 871-3293 Tanya Steele, Mod. (989) 823-2278.......... ..........

Mike Kennard. (989) 823-2192 Carol Swaffer (989) 823-3756........... ...................

Kate Pease (989) 670-8669 Kim Wegrzyn (989) 233-8460............... ....................

Cheryl Sholty (989) 823-2438............

PRAYER CHAINS

Telephone Chain: Louanne Campbell….(989) 823-3624

Email Chain: Angie Ayotte ([email protected]) or Pastor Doug ([email protected])

Contact Persons Session Ministry Teams: Administration (Finance & Personnel) Scott Wegrzyn (989) 529-1147 ........................... Buildings & Grounds Alex Campbell (989) 823-3848 ...................................................... Discipleship & Growth Diane Rice (989) 992-9333 ................................................... Communication & Publicity Nicole Baker (917) 776-9546 ............................................ Mission & Outreach Shelley Abel (989) 780-2817 ....................................................... Nominating Dan Johnson (989) 823-2525 .................................................................... Worship & Music Alex Campbell (989) 823-3848 ...........................................................

Deacons Tanya Steele (989) 233-8460 ...........................................................................

Choir (Shared with FUMC) Pat Middlin (989) 545-0948...............................................





SessionHighlights

Session met on Thursday, February 15th, 2018. Here are some of the highlights of the mee>ng. Pastor Doug Abel was our Moderator.

• Dan Johnson and Winona Williams were excused.

• Minutes of the January 11th, 2018 Session mee>ng were approved.

• Financial report shows a -$ 513.12 general budget deficit for the month of January.

2018appor*onmentis$26.94permember.Thisisvoluntary,butifwecouldeachwriteacheckforthatamount(permember),itwouldreallyhelp.

• Next 5th Sunday is April 29th. Dona>ons will go toward the Building Fund

• Communion was served on February 4th, 2018 by Pastor Doug Abel. Dianne HackeT assisted. Elders serving were Shelley Abel, Connie Gamet, Dan Johnson, and

Bob Strecker.

• Our membership rolls now stand at 127.

• Bellamy Tack was bap>zed on January 14th, 2018

• We are geZng between 3 and 9 kids in Sunday School every week.

• REACH will be in Vassar in the summer of 2018.

• The communica>on and publicity commiTee is in the process of re-designing our bulle>n and bringing a new church logo for session approval. Next mtg is February 21st.

• Vaca>on Bible School will be July 23rd to 26th, shared between VFPC, First UMC, and

Grace Lutheran.

• City wide rummage sale will be May 3, 4 and 5.

• The Mission and Outreach CommiTee is busy developing new projects.

• Next Session mee>ng will be Thursday, March 22nd, 2018. Session’s newly adopted

standing mee>ng is last Thursdays, however March 29th is Maundy Thursday.

Respecbully submiTed,

Dan Johnson, Clerk of Session

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 117

Vassar, MI 48768

March 2018 Newsletter - vassarfpc.files.wordpress.com · Fish Boxes & Giving envelopes are now ......

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