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Pastor Amy's Thoughts

2/2/2016

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Greetings!
 
It is February, a month dreaded by singles, celebrated by couples and turned into art projects with lots of red construction paper by teachers everywhere. February brings Valentine’s Day. Although the Roman Catholic Church no longer lists Valentine among the saints whose days are celebrated with special services, there’s a long list of legends associated with the third century Roman priest. One of my favorites records his defiance of the law when he continued to perform weddings for Catholic couples, a crime under the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius II. Another legend tells of how he prayed for and healed the daughter of his jailer. Some say he left the girl a note on the day he was martyred signed “your Valentine,” which became the precursor of our Valentine’s Day cards. Valentine was a man of conviction and compassion, virtues that would go well with our modern celebrations of his feast day.
 
February also brings the beginning of the season of Lent, the season of the church year where we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter. It is fitting that Lent begins in February. Our cultural celebrations of love can remind us that Easter, too, is about love. As the first letter of John proclaims:
 
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
 
Our Sunday scripture readings during this Lenten season will encourage us to take a closer look at God’s love for us. We will see anew that God’s love is multi-faceted, unconditional, and more faithful than any human love could possibly be. Come join us for worship as we consider together what it means that God loves us, and how we might extend that same love to one another.
 
With prayers of thanks,
Pastor Amy
 


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Wednesday Night Bible Study

2/2/2016

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The Wednesday night Bible Study will continue our study of the cultural context of Jesus’ ministry, beginning with a series on the parables of Jesus on February 3rd at 6 PM. Our discussion will be informed by videos by Dr. Ken Bailey who lived and taught in the Middle East for over 30 years. (Note: we will not meet on Ash Wednesday, February 10th.) This is an amazing immersion into the “assumed text” of the bible. The “assumed text” is those things that the first listeners and readers would not have needed to be told about the text because it was common knowledge to them. An example of this a wedding – what was that like? We know that unlike our celebrations, first century Jewish weddings lasted many days, and included several days of feasting. We aren’t given those details in the gospel references to weddings – it is assumed that you know what a wedding is like. Bailey brings those details to life for us with teaching and story-telling.
 

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​The Season of Lent

2/2/2016

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Lent is the season of the church year when we prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is the 40 days preceding Easter, excluding Sundays. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, the day when we recall our need for God, remembering our own mortality – “dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Again this year we are invited to participate in Renewal Ministries’ special Ash Wednesday evening service at Calvin Presbyterian Church, Wednesday February 10th at 7 PM. Lenten devotional booklets will be available on the back table with readings and prayers to assist you in a prayerful Lenten journey.
 
Wed. Feb 10, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location
Calvin Presbyterian Church
Phone:
206-542-6181
Address:
18826 Third Avenue
Shoreline, WA 98177
 
An Ash Wednesday Observance for the whole family. Children will have their own special time of worship and will be included in the imposition of ashes at the end of the service. Nursery provided for ages 0-3 with RSVP.
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The word “Selah” is found inserted throughout the Psalms and was probably a musical term delineating a pause or rest. The Selah Service offers the opportunity to pause and rest together in prayer, song, reflection and worship before God. Incorporated into the service, is a ten minute period of silent prayer providing a time for participants to bring their concerns, confessions and petitions to the Lord and to rest in the mercy and grace that Christ offers each one of us. ABOUT JEFF JOHNSON.
 
Jeff Johnson leads Selah worship for churches, pilgrimage groups and retreat centers around the world. His many ArkMusic recordings feature music from Selah as well as collaborations with Irish flutist, Brian Dunning inspired by Stephen Lawhead’s novels and guitarist, Phil Keaggy. To learn more about Jeff Johnson and his music, visit www.arkmusic.com.
 
Join us for this very special observance of Ash Wednesday, as we begin the Lenten Journey to Easter by remembering that from dust we have come and to dust we will return.
 
No pre-registration necessary (unless nursery care is required); a free-will offering will be taken during the service.
To reserve a nursery spot, please email  renewalministries@live.com
 
 

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​Per Capita – What does this have to do with me?

2/2/2016

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I had never known what this “Per Capita” thing that kept showing up in my church newsletter was. It didn’t look very spiritual so I always ignored it.
Several years ago, it was explained to me by Norman R., that Per Capita is your membership dues in the Presbyterian Church. He told me, that if you want to be a Presbyterian, you pay the Per Capita for dues. I understood that just fine, as I am the advisor of the DECA club at Lynnwood High School and anyone who wants to join is welcome, as long as they pay the membership dues.
For 2016 the membership dues or Per Capita for Edmonds Presbyterian Church is $47.65.
At school, if you don’t pay your dues you can’t be a member. Fortunately we don’t have the same rules at Edmonds Presbyterian Church. If you don’t pay the membership dues, the church takes the money from the general fund. Taking money from the general fund lowers the amount of money we have to keep the church going day to day.
Please pay your Presbyterian Club membership, Per Capita. But remember if you are not able to pay, we still want you to be a member of the club, and you are loved.
Last year Minna D., wrote an excellent explanation of what Per Capita is.
Per Capita is a set amount of money (an apportionment) per member that congregations pay to the larger national Presbyterian Church (USA) once a year. Per Capita is one fundamental way by which about 11,000 congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) stay connected, and participate in the work of the whole church. 

We send our apportioned amount to our Presbytery (Northwest Coast Presbytery—$39.03) but funds are shared further with the Synod ($1.50) and General Assembly ($7.12), for a total of $47.65. Please remember your per capita payment as you plan out your pledge amount for 2015. 
 
Don I.
 
 
 

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​2015 Budget – Thank you!

2/2/2016

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Thanks to your generous and sacrificial giving we ended 2015 with a SURPLUS of $981.00 – PRAISE THE LORD!
In preparing the 2016 Budget, your Session anticipates a shortfall of $600.00 after using the surplus from this year.  Please pray how you can help keep our church spiritually and financially sound.   Thank you!
 

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​Annual Congregational Meeting

2/2/2016

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The annual meeting of the congregation was held on Sunday January 31st. Copies of the annual report are available for you on the back table in the sanctuary. At the meeting we received the budget for 2016, approved the pastor’s compensation package, elected new corporate officers and added to the nominating committee  a member-at-large representing the congregation.
 

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​Sunday, February 7th - is Souper Bowl Sunday!

2/2/2016

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It is Super Bowl time, so we are collecting Soup! We will be collecting cash and food after the worship service to support the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace. Come join us on Super Bowl Sunday and give a can of soup or a $1 as a small reminder of all who do not have soup.
 

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​WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 5 AT 10 AM.

2/2/2016

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The women of Cuba have written the service this year and share their stories of inter-generational  wisdom, traditions, and experiences of God’s love and acceptance. Please join us. We are hoping by having the service on a Saturday that more women who are working during the week might be able to attend and participate. We will be holding the service in memory of Maplewood’s own Louise Baker who was instrumental in the planning of these community services for many years. 


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​Mission Report

2/2/2016

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Operation Nightwatch sends us their thanks —”Thank you for your continued partnership and generous support on providing 221 pairs of socks. They are distributed at our shelter program and on the street. God grant joy as you serve.” 
 

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​Congregational Life Event

2/2/2016

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A Valentine’s Day Potluck!
Sunday, February 14th, following Worship
Bring a dish to share.
 


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