REFOCUS FOR LENT

Give up complaining — focus on gratitude.
Give up harsh judgments — think kind thoughts.
Give up worry — trust God to provide.
Give up discouragement — be full of hope.
Give up bitterness — turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred — return good for evil.
Give up anger — be more patient.
Give up pettiness — become mature.
Give up jealousy — pray for trust.
Give up gossiping — control your tongue.
Give up sin — turn to virtue.
Give up giving up — persevere.                                               

                                                  —Author unknown

 

 

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

                 - Luke 18:9-14, NRSV

 

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector above is the Gospel reading from the daily lectionary for Ash Wednesday, with which the season of Lent begins.  Lent is the forty day period (not counting Sundays) prior to Easter during which we prepare ourselves to celebrate the good news of Easter: our redemption through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  We prepare by focusing on our need for repentance and for the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We also prepare by recommitting ourselves to the spiritual disciplines of self-examination and penitence, of prayer and fasting, of works of love, and of reading and meditating on the Word of God.

In the parable, Jesus reminds us of some of the greatest dangers faced by committed Christians, such as spiritual pride, divisiveness, and trusting in our own goodness.  To counter such dangers, Christ commends the kind of humility Lent seeks to foster within us.  Isaac Watts points us to the foundation of that humility:

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

On February 22, beginning at 7:00 PM, we will once again observe the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service.  As usual, provision will be made for any who want to participate in this service but who may be uncomfortable with receiving ashes.  Please plan now to join us.  And may God grant you a most blessed Lent!

                                                                             Yours in Christ’s Service,

                                                                                   Pastor Jim

 

SESSION MEETING

The Session of Calvin Presbyterian Church met on Sunday, January 8, 2012.  The following items were discussed:

 

Communion scheduled for February 26 (Lent) will be postponed until March 4.

The 2012 communion schedule was approved. 

The windows in the church building have been repaired. 

Board of Deacons meeting minutes from May through November 2011 were approved.

 

“SOUPER BOWL” SUNDAY

On Sunday, February 5, we can all be winners at church by celebrating “Souper Bowl” Sunday.  The Souper Bowl started more than 20 years ago when a youth group prayed, while watching the Super Bowl, that they would be mindful of all the people who didn’t even have a bowl of soup to eat that day.  Since then, more than $71 million has been raised to support charities across the country.  Calvin Church has taken part in the Souper Bowl for ten out of the last fifteen years.

Once again this year after church, we will be having a soup lunch prepared by Coffee Group A.  We are asking that you bring canned soup that will be donated to the Ellwood City Food Bank. 

 

The essence of the Christian life is knowing God and walking with him.  It’s about sticking with him when the sky is blue and also when it’s filled with clouds or choked with smoke.  It’s about walking with the Lord through thick and thin, and pressing on through every heartache and trial that happens to come our way.                                                                          - Greg Laurie

 

CONSTRUCTORES PARA CRISTSO 

The next mission trip for Constructores Para Cristo to Piedras Negras, Mexico will be from Sunday, July 1 to Saturday, July 7, 2012.  We will be building a home for a Mexican family that week.  You do not need to have any building skills to help.  Applications will be available in the church office by mid-January.  Please complete the entire application and return it to the church office by Monday, March 5.  Along with your application, please include a check for $100, payable to Calvin Presbyterian Church.  On the “memo” line write, “Special Mission Fund.”  Anyone who has participated in any of these trips over the last sixteen years will tell you that this will become a mountain top experience.  Please call or see anyone on the Mission Committee for details.

 

MISSION COMMITTEE 

Please contribute the following to the Ellwood City Food Bank in February: boxed meals, cereals, canned and boxed soups, tuna fish, and paper/personal hygiene products.

  

40 

This number appears many times in Scripture, often indicating a time of trial or testing, or simply marking something significant.  It rained 40 days and nights during the Great Flood.  Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  Jesus fasted for 40 days and was with the disciples for 40 days between his resurrection and ascension.  Taking this symbolic number to heart, the Christian church has long observed 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays).

 

SCHILL MANOR OPENINGS 

Schill Manor has two one-bedroom apartments that will be available February 1.  To qualify, the maximum income for a single person is $19,550 and $22,350 for a couple.  Interested parties should contact Linda Smith at Schill Manor, 724-752-9660.

 

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE 

The Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive on Tuesday, February 21 from noon until 6:00 p.m. in the church dining room.

There is always a need for donors.  All blood types are needed, but type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage.  If you are able, please plan to attend and donate blood.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

                                               8 - Charmaine Jackson

                                             16 - Larry Murphy

                                             18 - Joseph Krupa

                                             24 - Karren Grossman

                                             24 - Ken Brady

                                             28 - George Reese

 

ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS!

 

                                            14 - James Foley and Peggy Nido 

                                            15 - Chuck and Marsha Timblin

 

Secretary’s note: If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please call the church office at 724-758-4258, or email a note to calvinch@verizon.net. 

 

GREETERS NEEDED 

We need greeters for the coming year!  Please sign up for any month(s) in 2012 when you are available to serve as a greeter.  A sign-up sheet is in the church office, or call the office at 724-758-4258.  Thank you!

 

GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Joshua Boots who recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in civil engineering!

 

WEEKLY PRAYER LIST CHANGES 

Please note that, effective the first of the year, Session has made changes to how long we list a person in the Special Prayer Joys and Concerns section of the weekly bulletins.

 

On the first Sunday of each month, we will remove all names from this prayer list unless someone specifically requests that a name remain on the list.

 

To keep a name on the prayer list for the new month, please call the church office, 724-752-4258, or email us, calvinch@verizon.net.

 

 

VALENTINE BOXES 

The Deacons will be packing Valentine boxes for college students at their meeting on Monday, February 6.  Donations of candy, cookies, or other goodies are welcome and much appreciated.  Please have your items to the church by Sunday, February 5.  The Deacons thank everyone for your ongoing participation in this program for Halloween and Valentines Day.

 

 

TCP SPAGHETTI DINNER
Mark your calendars!  The Carpenter’s Project will hold its annual spaghetti dinner at the Catholic Center on Sunday, February 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Ticket prices are $7 (adult) and $4 (child).  Children age four and under are free.  Tickets are available at the door. 

 

THANK YOU!

 

The following groups expressed gratitude and appreciation for recent donations made by Calvin Church:

Meals on Wheels    

City Rescue Mission

Hands Along the Nile

Habitat for Humanity

Constructores Para Cristo

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

We hope all of you had a most blessed Christmas and your New Year is off to a great start.  We want to thank you for the Christmas poinsettia.  It continues to grace our home, we hope for a long time to come.

Blessings,

Jim and Doreen Latta

 

Board of Deacons,

John and I want to thank you so very much for the beautiful poinsettia plant that we received on Christmas Day.  It is such a beautiful and full plant that we enjoy every day.  John takes such good care of them that it will probably still be blooming this summer.  Our family is very appreciative of this special gift.

Yours in Christ,

John and Elaine Van Gorder

 

Thank you for the beautiful poinsettia!

Pat Owens

 

 

Dear Deacons,

What a nice surprise today, when Midge came to my door with a beautiful poinsettia.  Thank you so much!

Love always,

Jean Meehan

 

 

Thank you for the beautiful poinsettia.  It was so kind of you to think of me at Christmas.  I have it in a special place in my room and it helps to cheer me up when I look at the beautiful plant.  I wish you all a blessed New Year.

Sincerely,

Reggie Turner

 

Dear Calvin Presbyterian Deacons,

Please accept this donation in memory of Olly Gillespie.  We appreciate the offer of the use of the sanctuary for her funeral service.  As past members of Calvin and with Mom’s connection to the work of the Deacons, this time of year ordering poinsettias was something she was busy doing.  May God bless your ministry.

In His love,

The Gillespie Family

 

 

 

TRANSFIGURATION