Happy February!

Greetings!

Romans 12:9 begins, “Let love be genuine…”  What does it mean to show genuine love?  What does it mean to love not as the world does, but as Christ has loved us?   That’s the question I am pondering as I look forward into the month of February. 

    On Sunday the 5^th we will collect a few dollars and food donations in support of “Souper Bowl” Sunday, feeding the hungry in the name of Christ.   When we love, we share what we have with others, especially those in need.  Let’s “tackle hunger” together on Sunday the 5^th.

 The 14^th is Valentine’s Day.  It is a joyous holiday full of opportunities to let friends and family know of your love if there are folks to share it with in your life, but a little lonely otherwise.    It seems to be a day in honor of couples, doesn’t it?   Yet, a legend surrounding Saint Valentine suggests something quite different.   As the story goes, Valentine was a Roman Catholic Priest during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius II.  Valentine was imprisoned for refusing to submit to the required Emperor worship, choosing instead to worship God alone.   While in prison, Valentine was missed by the children whom he had befriended.  They would toss flowers and notes through the openings between the bars of his prison window to encourage him.  Others say that he befriended the Roman jailor’s daughter, who was the one to bring him flowers and notes, to which Valentine would reply, signing his name “your Valentine.”   On Valentines’ Day may we, too, remember those without friends or visitors – the homebound, the prisoner – and show them the love of Christ that day.

Another day on our calendars in February is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season of the church year.  In Lent, we prepare our hearts and minds for the events of Holy Week and the joyous celebration of Easter.  We begin our Lenten journey with an Ash Wednesday service of repentance at 7 PM on the 22nd.  Each of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s good plan for our lives.  On that night, we will examine our own lives and the many ways we are undeserving of God’s free and abundant grace.   Humbly we will pray together, ask for forgiveness and the strength to amend our lives, and be marked with the sign of the cross in ash on our foreheads.  This cross visibly reminds us of our human frailty, our need for forgiveness, and is a visible reminder of the forgiveness offered us through the cross of Jesus Christ.   Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross is the ultimate expression of love.

February is shaping up to be a month bursting with signs of God’s love for us, and opportunities for us to share that love with others.   I’m looking forward to hearing your stories as you notice signs of God’s love in your life this month!

In Christ,

Pastor Amy

Your temporary supply pastor

 

  

EDMONDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

   WOMENS MEETING OF December 2011 & January 2012

Edmonds Presbyterian Women’s Meeting

    

DEC: Margaret Smith opened our meeting with prayer.  In the proper order, we had opening prayer, minutes from the  previous (Nov.) meeting and the Treasurer’s report (which were approved).  

After a very short business meeting, where we found out the Bake Sale sold out!  Ruth Roberts shared that our missions: Pathways for Women and the  Everett Gospel Mission were taken care of on  December i14 & 15th.  Many thanks to all the ladies who participated and to Ruth Roberts and Rose Leyda.

Pastor Amy offered communion and we had a salad luncheon followed by a wonderful video on Joseph—was he young; older?  Shirley Lubeck played the violin and we sang Christmas carols and read some scriptures.

JAN: Margaret Smith opened our meeting with prayer.  In the proper order, we had opening prayer, minutes from the  previous (Dec.) meeting and the Treasurer’s report (which were approved).

Ruth Roberts shared that the Pathways family for Christmas and Thanksgiving went well and they were thankful.  With many things coming up, Valentines, College kids, Easter Baskets (Mar. 31) and Mission Offering for April.  We also had a short report on Habitat for Humanity activities in this area.

Barb Sellevold introduces our Red Cross Program speakers, Vickie & Sheral who gave a blessed program.  After which we adjourned.

Martha Circle will meet January 25th at the home of Barb Sellevold.

   Respectfully submitted Joan Vannet

 

24 Hours That Changed the World:   During the season of Lent both the Youth Group and the Tuesday morning Bible Study will use Adam Hamilton’s videos, “24 Hours that Changed the World,” to explore the meaning of Holy Week.   The series begins with the Last Supper and moves in   seven weeks through the events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection.   Each video is about 15 minutes in length and provides footage from the Holy Land sites where these events took place. Come join us at 10 AM on Tuesdays, beginning February 28^th for the bible study session, or at 6 PM on Wednesdays for the youth group session starting February 29^th.   All ages are welcome to join the youth for this series.  For a preview, click below:

NEWS  TO  USE!

Session Notes:  The Session & Board of Deacons had a joint dinner meeting in December.  It was a delightful time of fun and fellowship.

Following the election, ordination and installation of new officers, the session met on Monday, January 23^rd and reorganized our work together.  Here are the elder assignments for this year: 

Don Ide	Finance & Stewardship	Class of 2012
Gay Hawkins	Building & Grounds	Class of 2012
Janet Hollingsworth	Worship & Fellowship	Class of 2013
Nancy Becker	Clerk	Class of 2013
Dick Sellevold	Personnel & Nominating	Class of 2014
Roza Kifelew	Mission & Education	Class of 2014

 AGAIN?  Knit & Crochet changes nights!  -  Knit & Crochet moves again to Tuesday nights. Our next meeting is February  14th at        6:30 PM in Pastor Amy’s office.  All are welcome as we work on our unfinished projects and share a time of fellowship together.

 Per Capita:  North Puget Sound Presbytery, of which we are a member, recently published this helpful article.  We contribute $49.83 per member per year towards the work of the Presbytery, the Synod of Alaska Northwest, and the work of the General Assembly of the PC(USA).   This is called “per capita.”  Per capita pays for the operating overhead of the church at all levels beyond the congregation. It works like an insurance policy: the churches together provide services for congregations. Presbytery, funded by per capita, engages, equips and encourages people and congregations.   With their large network of people, expertise, and resources, Presbytery is able to assist congregations with developing & supporting leadership as well as providing help during difficulty.    We  pay the per capita regardless of whether individuals help to offset the expense.  If you would like to offset this expense by a special donation, that would be helpful.    You may make checks payable to Edmonds Presbyterian Church, noting in the memo line that this is for “per capita.”   

 Ash Wednesday:  Come at 7PM on Wednesday, February 22^nd, to mark the beginning of the church season of Lent.  Lent is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) during which we prepare to celebrate the events of Holy Week and the joyous celebration that is Easter.  It is a season of repentance and reflection.  Come worship with us and be marked on your forehead with the sign of the cross in the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday fronds as we remember our total dependence upon God.