Presbyterian News
Weekly Update
March 7, 2012
Church e-mails
Pastor Kip Murphy—pastorfpc@iowatelecom.net
CE Director Denise Hartnett—cedirectorfpc@iowatelecom.net
Coordinator of Music Ministries Katie Ashelin—k_ashelin@hotmail.com
Secretary Lynda Seehusen—secretaryfpc@iowatelecom.net
Church Website—http://fpchurchwilliamsburg.com
3:30 p.m. Good News Club
6 p.m. Potluck
6:45 p.m. Lenten Service led by Deacons
7:15 p.m. Jr/Sr High
7:15 p.m. Choir
Reminder that the GNC kids will sing on Sunday and M & M Puppeteers share during Worship.
The Lenten service tonight is led by the Deacons. The Men’s’ Group and the Operations Committee are responsible for set up and clean up.
FPC Supper Club— Fun, Food and Fellowship
On Saturday, March 17 at 6 p.m. hosts will invite people into their homes (you specify how many) for supper.
Hosts will provide the main dish while diners will bring side dishes.
Sign up now in the office as a host home, or to dine in a host home, or reply to this e-mail with that information.
A Greeter is needed upstairs this Sunday – if you can help, please reply to this e-mail.
Coffee Donations Needed
We are out of coffee at church – all donations are welcome and can be brought to the church kitchen or office. Presbyterian churches can get a discount on coffee at Café Del Sol in Iowa City.
Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend – remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night.
Women of Faith – Hot Cocoa Party
All women interested in learning more about Women of Faith and this year’s conference, plan attend a Hot Cocoa party at St. Paul’s UMC W’burg on Sunday, March 18th from 2-4 p.m. Any questions? Talk to Jodi Landeros (319) 660-9908 or Denise Hartnett (668-1375).
Please save lids from your gallon buckets of ice cream—we will need approximately 20 of these for a project during VBS. Lids can be brought to the church office any time.
Vacation Bible School
We are excited to announce our journey to Ancient Babylon during this year’s VBS! We will join Daniel who has been torn from his home and forced into the king's service.
We are looking for Tribe Leaders and Marketplace Shopkeepers who want to be part of this great adventure. Talk to Denise (668-1375) or e-mail cedirectorfpc@iowatelecom.net.
Do you need a ride to worship on Sundays? Know someone else who does? Angels with Wheels can help! Contact Michelle Blythe (668-1701) or the church office.
From Seminarian Leigh Benish’s Sermon
"Most of us do not encounter affliction and poverty and slander and persecution like those who were addressed in this letter, but that does not mean that we do not suffer our own forms of these things…we may not face the crushing pressure of the Roman Empire telling us to forsake our faith, but our culture certainly tries to get us to turn away from our faith and turn toward materialism, consumerism, and idol worship. We face our own types of persecution and oppression.”
To read more of Do Not Fear, click here: http://firstpresbyterianchurchia.web.officelive.com/sermons.aspx
To watch a video of this sermon, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yeFrdjYU0s
Easter Lily Mission Fundraiser
This Sunday, the youth will sell Easter lilies after Worship as a fundraiser for the Mt. T.O.P. Mission Trip. Each lily is $15. You can also use the order form in the March newsletter – bring completed forms to the church office by Monday, March 12.
Texts for this Sunday, March 1: Psalm 19; Revelation 2:12-17
Responding to Tornados
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to last week's destructive and deadly tornadoes by providing One Great Hour of Sharing funds to several of the affected presbyteries as they respond within their communities.
In addition, several members of the PDA National Response Team have been sent to work with the presbyteries to assess the damage and determine how volunteers will be able to contribute to the long-term recovery.
PDA encourages Presbyterians to stand in the GAP:
- Give Your faithful and generous support to One Great Hour of Sharing makes the initial response possible. Designate gifts to DR000015 (Disaster Relief - US Disasters & Emergencies) will help meet the long-term recovery and rebuilding needs of affected families (Checks can be written to FPC with DR000015 in the memo line).
- Act Contact the PDA Call Center by calling toll-free 866-732-6121 to let them know of your team's interest in volunteering to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts.
- Pray Our best response is prayer. Pray for those in the storm-stricken communities including congregations, families, and those seeking to salvage what little the storms left behind. Also pray for the strength of those offering assistance, and for those who will participate in the recovery efforts in the upcoming days and months.
2011 Contribution statements are available in the Vestibule. If you would like an electronic copy of your statement, please reply to this e-mail.
Financial Update
Weekly Need $3,981
Weekly Received $3,434
YTD Need $39,810
YTD Received $29,005
Per Capita Need $11,000
Per Capita Received $900
Pastor Kip is generally available at the church Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. If you would like to meet with him at another time, please contact him by phone (668-1375) or email (pastorfpc@iowatelecom.net)
Prayer Requests
Grace Fowler, following the death of her brother; Pastor Kip’s father Mike Murphy recovering from surgery; Those in active military duty: Sam Carns, Angela Chipman, Tyler Cremeens, Zach Roberts, Christopher Schreiber and Tiffany Schreiber.
Prayer requests and praises can be submitted any time to:prayerministry@iowatelecom.net or fill out a form in the Vestibule and put it in the Prayer Ministry box. All requests will be kept confidential unless you ask they be shared with the congregation.
Community Announcements
- The Reverend Dr. Robert Edgar, President of Common Cause (http://www.commoncause.org), will speak on Thursday, Mar. 8 at 9 a.m. in the Coffeehouse Room of the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St in Iowa City. This event is sponsored by the UI Association of Campus Ministries.
- Safe Haven’s 6th Annual Fur Ball takes place Saturday, March 10 at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Williamsburg from 7-10 p.m. Tickets in advance are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12 and are available at Star Drug, or $20 at the door.
- Starting Monday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m., Cornerstone EFCA (1702 230th Street, W’burg) begins a 10-week study called 10 Keys to Unlocking the Bible. This study is a great tool for reaching out to family/friends/co-workers who would like to have a basic knowledge of the Bible. All are welcome to attend at any time during the series. Questions? Contact Pastor Eric Nygren (623-3782) or pastoreric@cefcw.org.
· Dr. Iain Torrance will give a lecture at Newcomb Presbyterian Church in Davenport (2619 N. Division St.) at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Torrance's lecture, The Bible in English: Tyndale and his Followers and Imitators, will focus on the history and background of the King James Bible. 2011 marked the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, and 2012 marks Princeton Theological Seminary's 200th anniversary.
Volunteering This Week– 03/11/12
Greeters Upstairs—Matt & Robin Blythe
Greeter Downstairs—Paul & Vicki Sondag
Technical—Mark Adamson
Lay Leader—Lee Murphy
Shepherd—Bev Watts
Nursery—Melissa Gross
Time with the Youth—M & M Puppeteers
Candle Lighter—Communion
Coffee Fellowship—Barb Perry
Lenten Service Tonight at 6:45 led by Deacons
This Week’s Schedule
Wed (3/7) 3:30 p.m. –Good News Club
6 p.m. Potluck
6:45 p.m. Lenten Service led by Deacons
7:15 p.m. Jr/Sr High
7:15 p.m. Choir
Thurs (3/8) 6:30 a.m. Men’s Group
9:30 a.m. Prayer Group
Sun (3/11) 8:45 a.m. Sunday School
10 a.m. Worship (GNC/M & M Puppeteers)
11:15 a.m. Chr. Ed. Committee Mtg.
7 p.m. Small Group
Mon (3/12) 6:30 p.m. Outreach & Hospitality Comm. Mtg.
Tues (3/13) 11:30 a.m. Lunch Bunch
6 p.m. Boy Scouts