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FIRST PRESS
Volume 27, Issue 5
First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, VA
March 6, 2008
Dear John,
While growing up, one of my friends had a rock polishing machine.
Actually, it was a plastic container that was being rolled over and
over, around and around, by the wheels of the electric tumbler.
The rocks inside the container would rumble and rub
against other rocks and sand long enough to grind off all the rough
and jagged edges, arriving at last at a shiny, smooth stone. Something
worth admiring and worth keeping. It's the same
principle that smoothes the rocks along the seashore. The constant
pounding of the surf and
the rolling of the rocks against the sand gradually smooth them.
Have you ever found a pretty and smooth transparent rock at the beach,
admired its green hue, and then realized that it was once part of a
soda bottle? All of its rough edges had been worn down.
These days prior to Easter always get me thinking about Simon Peter
and my friend's rock tumbler. It strikes me that a rock tumbler is, in
many ways, an apt allegory or parable for thinking about the Christian
life, as various forces rub up against a person over and over and over
and over. Eventually, at the end of the chipping away process, it is
hoped that the result is something smooth and shiny. Something God
might pick up along the beach and say, "Yes, here's something worth
keeping, something to add to my heavenly collection."
I think we can look at Simon Peter's life as
epitomizing or characterizing a Christian's life. It was only over
time that he became a finished product . . . something worth keeping.
It took a long time for rough, impulsive, self-centered, promise-
breaking Simon Peter to become a courageous
preacher and bold apostle. And to live up to his name: "Peter,"
"Rock."
The fact that all Christians need help in smoothing their rough
edges (and that's putting it delicately) in order to be turned into
faithful disciples means that we're a lot like Peter. The Holy Spirit
has to take us also, and put us in the spiritual rock tumbler we call
life, to grind off our jagged spots: our pride, intolerance,
self-satisfaction, selfishness, false piety, and always wanting our
own way, so that we're shiny and pleasing to God. Worth keeping, in
other words.
After all, few things speak more convincingly about the beauty of
God's church than the beautiful lives of God's people.
Your friend, Gus
-4.4110- 40.-
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Sunday, March 30 th
6:00 — 7:30 P.M.
Would stricter gun control laws reduce the number of violent
crimes? Meet at church at
6:00 P.M.and bring $3 for dinner. Be ready for some debating as we
engage in some controversial discussions! (not limited to the example
above)
Middle School Youth
Sunday, March 9 th
5:00 - 6:30 P.M.
Dinner out at La Carreta!!!
Everyone meet at La Carreta on Langhorne
Road across from the hospital at 5:00. Bring $5.00 to offset the cost
of your meal.
Sunday, March 16 th
5:00 — 7:00 P.M.
"The Cooking Challenge" An
outside group will be leading us in a cooking challenge that you don't
want to miss! They are expecting a big crowd, so be there!! There is
no charge
for dinner tonight. What a deal!
Sunday, March 23 rd
— Easter Sunday — NO YOUTH GROUP
Sunday, March 30 th
5:00 — 6:30 P.M.
IthgiN drawkcaB
It's Backward Night. Come for a wacky
evening where everything is backwards! Bring $3 for dinner.
Summer Trip!
Attention all 6 th,
7th,
and 8th
graders! What are
10th _13th?
you doing July 1 Well you
should head
to Massanetta with the youth group for a conference. It will be a
great four days full of recreation, worship, workshops, and fun in the
sun with middle schoolers from all over Virginia and beyond. Contact
Meggan for more information!
384-6231 (W) or 239-5439 (H) or by email
megganAfirstpresivnchburg.org
Remember the first 10 people to sign up will get $75 off the trip
cost. Instead of $275 you will only pay $200!!!! Hurry, you don't want
to miss out. Checks can be written to First Presbyterian Church!
Spaces are filling up so reserve yours today!!!
mullin
'rc
Volume 27, Issue 5
Health Ministry News.. .
Part D Pays for Shingles Vaccine
In earlier years, the shingles vaccine was covered only by
some
Medicare Part D plans. As of 2008, all plans must cover the cost of
the vaccine. If you have ever talked to someone who had shingles, you
will hear sound justification for getting vaccinated against this
painful condition. Most of the pharmacies in Lynchburg will carry and
administer the vaccine. Because it is expensive, they may only carry a
few doses so you should call the pharmacy first to make sure they have
it in stock.
Lending Closet
The church maintains a closet of medical supplies that are
available for church members to borrow. You may keep them for as long
as you need them, but we do ask that you please return them when you
are finished and do use the log sheet provided. If someone has the
long shower seat and is not using it any more, please return it to the
closet.
New at PC(USA)
The PC(USA) website has a new feature called, "Living Longer,
Feeling Better," that is geared to members age 50 and over. The link
is hft ://www.•cuse.or /health livin . The website contains
information and links about positive aging.
New Book
There is a new book in the Health Ministry Team library called,
After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger by Julie K.
Silver, MD. Dr. Silver recently spoke in Lynchburg. This book has been
reviewed by a church member and gets a resounding "thumbs up!" Sounds
like a worthwhile resource if you or someone you love is dealing with
cancer or has in the past. Also, check out the other literary
offerings in the Parish Nurse's office.
Page 3
March Life Issues Seminar
Don't forget to mark your calendars for Sunday,
March 9, to hear Dr. Ken Burger's presentation, "When Do You Know It's
Time?" Dr. Burger will
discuss the many issues surrounding the decision to leave your home
and enter into a community for older folks. What precipitates the
decision? How do you decide? Who needs to be involved in the decision?
This will be an informative discussion for parents and their adult
children. Please join us at 4:00 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall and
remember to invite your friends and neighbors.
Thanks from the McDonald Family
Bill and Rosemary McDonald would like to thank all of the many
people at First Pres who helped throughout Bill's cancer episode.
The doctors at Duke have declared him cancer free and the McDonalds
believe that the prayers and support of their family and friends had
a definite impact on his recovery.
The
Single Adult Fellowship will get
together for
lunch on
Sunday, March 9,
at Vine's Café. 2496 Rivermont Ave. Meet
at the restaurant by 12:30 P.M.
LIBRARY
Wynne is getting anxious to pass
the library torch. If you have any interest in working with
one other person to keep that valuable asset to our church in working
order, please contact the Church Office or Wynne Kowalski at 832-0082.
o p eipcitc4
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
- 1
Horizon Circle will met on Monday,
a
''4- March 10, at 10:00 A.M.
in the Officers'
.------,
Following Circle meetings there will be a
General Meeting of Presbyterian Women
in the Chapel at 11.15 A.M.
followed by brunch in the Narthex hosted by the Book Circle. Mary
Anderson, Laura Anthony, Jeannette Strunk and Sandra Wilson will each
speak on a book that has influenced her life. All women of the church
are cordially invited to attend.
The Young and Not So Young Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 11,
at 9:00 A.M. in the library.
Evening Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 11, at 7:30 P.M.
at the home of Jeannette Strunk,
200 St. James Place.
The youth Sunday school classes were joined by the Pastor's Class
and the Family Matters Class in supporting the Central Virginia Area
Agency on Aging in the month of February. These classes gave their
offerings in the amount of $368.41 for this ministry to the elderly in
our community.
Youth Sunday school offerings for the
month of March will go to
One Great Hour of Sharing.
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other
Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love with
people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster
response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community
development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and
work together to strengthen their families and communities.
The fish boxes for the One Great Hour of Sharing will be collected
Sunday, March 30 th
in the Sunday school classrooms. In consideration of this date being
the final weekend of Spring Break for most of our youth, fish boxes
can be returned at any time to the church or to the Sunday school
classes.
LEONARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Our church is the distribution agent for a financial needs grant
for undergraduate and graduate studies at a four-year accredited
college, university, and theological institution. The annual grant
offered is based on need and is subject to a maximum $3,500 per year
of study. Interested persons should contact the church office for
guideline and application for the 2008-2009 school year. Completed
applications must be in the church office no later than May 1, 2008.
Room. The
Book Circle will meet on Monday, March 10, at 10:00 A.M.
in the library. The book to be discussed
will be March by Geraldine Brooks.
DO YOU NEED A
PRAYER?
Cards are in the pew racks which may be used to request prayers. If
you. or someone you know. is in need of prayer, please fill out a card
or cards and place in the offering plate or drop in the Prayer Box in
the foyer. Members of the First Presbyterian Prayer Chain receive
these requests and will add their prayers to 'yours daily.
FIRST PRESS WELCOMES ITS RECENT NEW MEMBERS!
%A. .
Rebecca Wiltshire
4611 Fieldale Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24503
Tel: 434-384-1954
A very warm welcome to Rebecca Wiltshire who has recently moved
back to Lynchburg and transferred her membership from Naomi
Makemie Presbyterian Church in Onancock, VA.
Rebecca was active in her church on the Eastern Shore as well as in
her garden club. She worked as a realtor with Coldwell Banker Harbour
Realty where she also provided a "staging" service to
help other realtors and their clients enhance the sale of their
houses. Rebecca enjoys gardening, classical and choral music, Mahjong,
and most of all, spending time with her grandchildren, Harrison and
Liza Giles, and Charlie and Miller Co- mar. We are so pleased to have
Rebecca at First Presbyterian and delighted to have her singing in our
choir!
Thanks to Connie Messerschmidt and
Andrea Kittrell for being the February
Contact Persons
MARCH CONTRACT PERSONS
Sarah Jane Moore-384-1728
Jerry Craddock-384-3229
Chris, Luke and Annie Libbey
3516
Willow Lawn Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24503
Tel: 434-384-4368
First Presbyterian Church welcomes Chris and Annie Libbey as new
members who have transferred their membership from Second Presbyterian
in Norfolk (Chris) and First Presbyterian in Richmond (Annie). Chris
and Annie are both dentists and they own Libbey Family Dentistry. They
are the proud parents of a 2 year old son, Luke Harrison Libbey. In
their "spare" time Chris enjoys running and Annie enjoys "running
after" Luke as one can imagine with an active 2 year old! The
Libbeys met while in dental school in Richmond and were married at
First Presbyterian in Richmond. We are so fortunate that they decided
to make Lynchburg their home and we are so glad that they chose us as
their church home!
1 1
1 The next blood drive in the Rivermont Area i
d 1 Churches rotation will be at Peaklan 1
I United Methodist Church on Tuesday, 1
March 11th, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 P.M. :
1 1
First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, VA
1215 VES Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24503
Phone: 434-384-6231
Fax: 434-384-9156
Email: info@firstpreslynchburg.org
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Next Newsletter: MARCH 20, 2008
DEADLINE: MARCH 13 2008
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