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Presbyterian ‘Connection’ March 2016 Volume 23 Issue 3

“THE BIG QUESTION” Easter will soon be here. The Season of Lent, which began this year with Ash Wednesday on February 10th, for many Christians, is a period of prayer and penance. It is to remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. Placing ashes on the head was a common practice during Bible times when a person was trying to do some serious praying. The Sundays are not counted in the numbering of the 40 days of Lent. This led to thinking about events of Holy Week as we refer to the week today. This brought to life out of the archives an article I wrote back in the year 2000 titled “The Big Question”. This is the time of the Christian year we need to ask ourselves the big question. It is the same question Pontius Pilate asked the crowd standing before him when he was trying to decide what to do with Jesus. Do you remember the question and the response? Let’s take a look at it.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?

They all answered, “Crucify him!” (Matt. 27:22)

What are we going to do with Jesus? Are we going to figuratively crucify him by giving him no more consideration than a we would a common criminal or are we going to make him the risen Lord of our lives? To not let Jesus be the Lord of our lives is to crucify him. It is to make him dead to our souls and way of living. I doubt we give much thought to that. Whether we give conscious thought to it or not, that is the way it is. Anytime we choose something or someone over Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, we are saying we value that choice over him. Our value choices can say, Crucify him!” or, “I’ll live for him. I’ll serve him!”

What shall I do? “What shall I do?”

Let’s stand up for Jesus and let the world know that we are with him! Let’s remember Matthew 22:37-39, known as “THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT.”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

God bless! Fred

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Church phone # - 870-445-4622

Our church email address

presch@suddenlinkmail.com

Connection Online

If you would like to read the “Connection” newsletter

online, go to our website;

http://www.presbyterianchurchofbullshoals.com

Click on the ‘Info Center’ tab at the top, then on the

drop-down menu, click on “Presbyterian Connection”,

then choose the month of the newsletter you would

like to read. The most recent newsletter will be at the

top.

Coffee & Fellowship

Be sure to drop in for coffee, maybe a

Danish or cookies and wonderful fellowship on

Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in Memorial

Hall!

January Income - $3,923.29

January Expenses - $5,246.50

THURSDAYS, FROM 11:00 A.M. TO NOON IN

MEMORIAL HALL. MEN & WOMEN WELCOME.

PW&M Monthly Meeting

PW& M will resume our monthly meetings in

March at Hank & Kate’s Bakery & Café at 9:30

a.m.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and kindness

during this difficult time.

“By This Everyone Will Know That You Are My

Disciples, If You Love One Another” - John 13:35

I want to thank every one of you for the prayers you

have prayed, the cards and letters that were send and

the love you have shown to our mother, Vivian Meyers.

Thank you all who helped during Mom’s Memorial

Service.

Thank you from all of us,

The Family of Vivian Meyers

~ Forrest

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WORSHIP IN MARCH

MARCH 6th

“The Keystone of Discipleship”

Mark 10:17-31

COMMUNION

MARCH 13th

“The Keystone of Humility”

Mark 10:35-45

POT LUCK

MARCH 20th

PALM SUNDAY

“The Keystone of Enthusiasm”

Mark 11:1-10

BLESSING OF THE FOOD PANTRY

MARCH 27th

EASTER SUNDAY

“The Keystone of Triumph”

Mark 15:42-16:8

MINUTE FOR MISSION

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CHURCH USHERS/GREETERS COMMUNION SERVERS

March 6 - Ken Hobart & Dr. Simons Ed & Peni Lloyd

March 13 - Linda Allensworth & Betty Craig

March 20 - Roger & Celia Millard

March 27 - Irene Bere & Sandy Erickson

PRAYER LIST FOR CONGREGATIONS, PRESBYTERY OF AR.- 2016

March 6 - Second, Little Rock First, Yellville

March 13 - Youth & Children’s Program Directors First, Mena

March 20 - First United, Fayetteville Lyon College, Batesville

March 27 - First, Harrison First, North Little Rock

PLEASE NOTIFY PAT ERLEWINE IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO SHOULD BE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.

BIRTHDAYS

March April March 3 - Dick Sass April 6 - Mary Ann Smith March 10 - Allen Althof April 10 - Betty Craig March 20 - Betty Perrin April 19 - Norma Taylor March 22 - Pat Erlewine April 19 - Garrett Carpenter March 28 - Betty Aaron March 30 - Jini Sass

ANNIVERSARIES March 14 - Roger & Celia Millard No April Anniversaries

March 18 - Dr. Roger & Meg Simons

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LIBRARY LINES - MARCH 2016

Thanks to all the donations to the library in memory of our Library Angel, Vivian Meyers, we have some new fiction books:

Walking Series by Karen Kingsbury: #1 ANGELS WAKING, #2 CHASING SUNSETS, #3 BRUSH OF WINGS; The Prairie State Friends Series by Wanda Brunstetter: #1 THE DECISION, #2 THE GIFT, #3 THE RESTORATION.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the first in a brand-new series about second chances—a dramatic story about a washed up baseball player, the love he left behind, and the miracles that might save them both. “When former national baseball star Tyler Ames suffers a career-ending injury, all he can think about is putting his life back together the way it was before. He has lost everyone he loves on his way to the big leagues. Then just when things seem to be turning around, Tyler hits rock bottom. Across the country, Tyler’s one true love Sami Dawson has moved on.” “A series of small miracles leads Tyler to a maintenance job at a retirement home and a friendship with Virginia Hutcheson, an old woman with Alzheimer’s who strangely might have the answers he so desperately seeks.” “A team of Angels Walking take on the mission to restore hope for Tyler, Sami, and Virginia. Can such small and seemingly insignificant actions of the unseen bring healing and redemption? And can the words of a stranger rekindle lost love? Every journey begins with a step.”

Book 1 THE DECISION (Prairie State Friends)

It is time for the mission to begin…

“Discover along with Jonah Miller how life can begin anew in the prairie state of Illinois. Moving from Pennsylvania, finding rewarding work, and leaving heartbreak behind is the best decision Jonah ever made. But is he ready to consider love again when he meets Elaine Schrock? Will his scarred heart mend when she chooses family loyalty over love”

We also have three new stand along fiction books: ARMS OF LOVE by Kelly Long, WAITING FOR DAYBREAK by Kathryn Cushman, and COTTAGE BY THE SEA by Robin Jones Gunn

We want to thank all those who so generously donated to the library. We will have more books coming soon.

Faye Brackett, Librarian

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MISSION MINUTE

MARCH-2016

We took in $200 for the Food Pantry from the Souper Bowl Sunday collections. Thank you to everyone. We will be celebrating One Great Hour Of Sharing thru March until Palm Sunday. The donation envelopes are located in the pews. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, The Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People. These all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. Some of the ways Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has helped: Northeast snowstorm: Boston and New England endured more than 100 feet of snow--a record high. At least 33 Presbyterian congregations sustained damage from winter storms. PDA responded to the Synod of the Northeast with an OGHS grant of $300,000 to help in response. Superstorm Sandy: Ongoing response includes nine PDA-related sites serving communities in New York and New Jersey. More than 7,900 Presbyterians have volunteered their time and efforts. International aid: 15 countries received aid and support after catastrophic events, including the Vanuatu cyclone, Nepal earthquakes, flooding and drought in Malawi, response to religious minorities fleeing ISIL, and ongoing assistance for refugees and internally displace persons related to Syria.

Submitted by the Mission Committee

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Till We Speak Again

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail telling us that Easter’s on the way. Does this bring back memories of dying eggs, filling baskets, and picking out new Easter shoes for our kids or grandkids? Well if it doesn’t, just go to Wal-Mart and get a glimpse of the Easter explosion of candy, baskets, toys, stuffed animals, games, cards, flowers, etc…

Easter is on the way and we don’t need baskets, candy, flowers, new shoes or new hats. All we really need is an open heart and mind. This is the time to remember and reflect on God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus and his death on the cross for the purchases of our sins. We now have everlasting life if only we believe and are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Nothing at Wal-Mart, or anywhere else for that matter, can compare with that!

Have a happy and joyous Easter.

Luv, Millie

Thought For the Day: A little chocolate never hurt anyone!!

(Hint, Hint)

Evangelism and You

As this new year begins, let us each start a new beginning also; It is hard to always remember someone else

who needs help, a ride or an invitation to come to our church when we are wrapped up taking care of

ourselves or our loved ones, but we still need to reach out to others, and by doing so, others will reach out to

us.

Whenever we share in communion, Fred always lets us know that the table is not the church’s table, it is the

Lord’s table, there for everyone to partake. Not all churches share this same belief, and I feel that is one of the

most positive things about our church, and something I try to share with others outside our congregation.

It would be wonderful to be able to share this with outsiders whenever possible, and I am going to try to

remember to invite someone to our service so they can share in the wonderful act of communion.

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MARCH PUZZLE

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RECIPE FOR MARCH

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THIS WE BELIEVE FOR MARCH

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.”

“Psalm 73:26”

~MISSION STATEMENT~

“We will be scripture-based to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and spiritually led to guide all people to be active doers of the Word”

Approved by Session on November 16, 2007

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor: Fred Taylor, Clerk of Session: Vicky Bair, Church Treasurer: Ken Hobart,

Secretary: Christi Partee, Financial Secretary: Elaine Miller

DEACONS

Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018

Sandy Erickson Ed Lloyd Pam Hobart

Pat Erlewine Amy Johnson Vacancy

ELDERS

Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018

Vicky Bair Meg Simons Ken Hobart

Vacancy Peni Lloyd Steve Broskovak

Presbyterian Church of Bull Shoals

P.O. Box 305

Bull Shoals, AR. 72619