(Light Bringer) April, 2014 Exposed But Not Ashamed April is a month in which we will both mourn and rejoice. We will run to an empty tomb, but only after we crawl to our knees in prayer. This is the Lenten journey: a walk to the cross and a run from the tomb. This is the Lenten journey: a time in which we are reminded of just how human we are, but a time in which we are reminded of just how much we need help. Our humanity quiets our mouths and hardens our heart. But our humanity needs to be exposed. Our humanity reminds us that we walk tired and beaten down through a life that continues to throw things onto our backs. Our humanity drives us to have filled schedules and changing priorities. Our humanity forces us to ignore the need in the world and focus on the want. What is humanity? Humanity is that inability to do anything right on our own. Humanity is that which holds us back from perfection. During Lent, we have been asked to dig our toes into the sands of our own desert as we name those places in our lives where we thirst or hunger. During Lent, we have been asked to admit how much our own questions and fears keep us in the dark. During Lent, we have been asked not only to come out of hiding, but to acknowledge why we are hiding. Yes in Lent, we are exposed to just how human we really are. But unlike Adam and Eve who were ashamed of their exposure, we are not ashamed. We cannot be ashamed because when we are truly exposed to our humanity, then we have to acknowledge our need. We cannot be ashamed because that need is met with Hope and name of that Hope is Jesus. So yes, we are made aware of our shortcomings and our humanity during this Lenten season. However, more than anything, we are made aware of the need and the presence of a savior. And that, my friends, is nothing to be ashamed of. So yes, like Adam and Eve, we are exposed, but we are not ashamed. Rob Psalm 119:105 “ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
Transcript
(Light Bringer)
April, 2014
Exposed But Not Ashamed
April is a month in which we will both mourn and rejoice. We
will run to an empty tomb, but only after we crawl to our knees in
prayer. This is the Lenten journey: a walk to the cross and a run from
the tomb. This is the Lenten journey: a time in which we are reminded
of just how human we are, but a time in which we are reminded of just
how much we need help. Our humanity quiets our mouths and hardens
our heart. But our humanity needs to be exposed.
Our humanity reminds us that we walk tired and beaten down
through a life that continues to throw things onto our backs. Our
humanity drives us to have filled schedules and changing priorities.
Our humanity forces us to ignore the need in the world and focus on
the want. What is humanity? Humanity is that inability to do anything
right on our own. Humanity is that which holds us back from
perfection.
During Lent, we have been asked to dig our toes into the sands of our own desert as we name
those places in our lives where we thirst or hunger. During Lent, we have been asked to admit how much
our own questions and fears keep us in the dark. During Lent, we have been asked not only to come out
of hiding, but to acknowledge why we are hiding. Yes in Lent, we are exposed to just how human we
really are.
But unlike Adam and Eve who were ashamed of their exposure, we are not ashamed. We cannot
be ashamed because when we are truly exposed to our humanity, then we have to acknowledge our need.
We cannot be ashamed because that need is met with Hope and name of that Hope is Jesus.
So yes, we are made aware of our shortcomings and our humanity during this Lenten season.
However, more than anything, we are made aware of the need and the presence of a savior. And that, my
friends, is nothing to be ashamed of.
So yes, like Adam and Eve, we are exposed, but we are not ashamed.
Rob
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
Bill Abernathy (cancer)
Sue Barbe (cancer)
Leo Cardon (health)
Cyndi Christian (cancer)
Dick & Linda Fitch (health)
Annie Fredricks (health)
Ghana Prison Ministry
Michelle Gremillion (heart)
Clayton Hagy (health)
Mary Ruth Hastings (health)
Adam Kiekland (adjustment—home
from military)
Dorian Lamb (cancer)
Melba Logan (health)
Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center
Officers/Leadership
Relationships (marital/family/spiritual)
Valora Spencer (strength)
USA: Safety of our troops/citizens
troops, U.S. Citizens, leaders
Renee Tice Zepeda (cancer)
Missions: Home and Abroad:
Habitat for Humanity Covington Food Bank
Operation Christmas Child STAIR
FINANCIALLY $PEAKING: For the Month of February
The Pledges & Gifts of $82,474.00
were received in February. Of this total,
$64,500.00 represents 2014 pledges prepaid in
December 2013. For the year-to-date through
February, Pledges and Gifts of $98,231 are
over budget by $5,331.00.
Full financial statements are available
in the church office. Thank you for your
support.
1 Pet 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
2 Cor. 8:7 But just as you excel in everything - In faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Given by: _______________________________________________(Please print)
Questions? Please contact Katie Landry at 875-9334
Easter Lily Order Form
If you would like to give a lily(s) for the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 20, please complete this form and return it to
the church office or place in the offering plate with your check. Make your check payable to CPC and indicate “Easter
Lilies”on the memo line. The cost of one Lily is $9.00 each.
Please have your order in by Thursday, April 3rd.
IN MEMORY OF . . . (Please print) IN HONOR OF . . .
The Easter season is upon us! We will have our annual lilies decorating the sanctuary during the
Easter season. CPC members and friends will have an opportunity to order the flowers for $9.00
each. You may dedicate a memorial or honor someone through this beautiful floral presentation.
Your lilies will add to the charm of our lovely church for the season that we celebrate the resurrection
of our Lord in worship.
You will find the order form on the reverse side of this announcement as well as in upcoming
worship bulletins. Please fill out the form and place your orders early. You may drop them in the
offering plate or bring by the office.
You are encouraged to take home your lilies after worship on Resurrection Sunday.
Order deadline: Thursday, April 3, 2014.
In the midst of life’s challenges, it is faith that pulls
us through. We, as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
invite you to help fill the hearts of those weathering life’s
storms by restoring hope. Your compassionate gifts to One
Great Hour of Sharing will be used to provide relief to
those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the
hungry, and assist in the empowerment of the poor and
oppressed.
Envelopes will be provided one time only at the
Palm Sunday Service. If you would like to help in this
ministry, please use the special envelope and place in the
offering plate during the worship service.
Thank you to our Pastor, Rev. Rob White, for helping at our local Food Bank
every Thursday from 9am till noon. He is a joyful helper.
Our goal for 2014 is to donate 2,600 pounds of food to The Food Bank, or 217 pounds monthly. In January, CPC donated 241 pounds of food and $15.00 to the Food Bank for a total of 256 pounds of food. In February, CPC donated 117 pounds of food, $40.00 in donations and $576.38 from the Chili Cook-Off, for a total of 733 pounds of food. To date in March, we have donated 53 pounds of food. Please remember to bring your food donations each week and place them in the Food Bank barrels.
The food items most appreciated are: Jiffy Cornbread Mix, Oatmeal, Macaroni and
Butter and Canned Ravioli or other canned pasta. If you prefer to make a monetary
donation, drop your check in the offering plate with “Food Bank” designated on the memo
line. Each dollar you donate is equal to 1# of food.
CPC SUPPORTS STAIR . . .Start the Adventure in Reading - Six CPC members tutor five second graders at Covington Elementary on Monday and Wednesday after-noons from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. If you are interested in vol-unteering for STAIR, please let Conie Abernathy know.
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall
your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
Erin Johnston and Paula Kelley are
working with CPC children on the Habitat
“Angels in the Attic” youth project.. The
children bless the new homeowners by
writing a special note on a paper angel
which they later put in the attic of their
new home.
ABOVE: Two nice thank you notes from Abraham Kriel Children’s home and the Covington Food Bank.
ABOVE: Left - Rev. Rob White teaching the children a scripture lesson during the worship service.
Right - Our pastor on the right playing on/“testing the sturdiness of” the playground see-saw
with one of our Saturday Crew members, Hank Abel.
Lectionary Readings for the month of April, 2014 Our weekly “Robservation” devotionals and sermons will come from these readings.
For the week of: April 6 Ezek. 37:1-14; Ps. 130, Rom. 8:6, John 11:1-45
April 13 (Palm Sunday) Matt. 21:1-11; Ps. 118:1-2; 19-29; Isa. 50:4-9a; Ps. 31:9-16; Phil 2:5-
11; Matt. 26:14- 27; Matt. 27:11-54
April 20 (Easter Sunday) Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; Col. 3:1-4; Acts 10:34-43;
Isa. 25:6-9; Ps. 114; 1 Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-18; Cor. 5:6b-8; Luke 24:13-49
April 27 Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Ps. 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
May 4: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps. 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword,
piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“
Rev.
Rob
April 6: “Meet Us Where We Are” John 11:1-45
April 13 Palm Sunday - Choral Cantata
April 17 Maundy Thursday - Tenabrae Service
April 20 “Do Not Be Afraid” (Easter) Matthew 28:1-10
April 27 Guest Preacher - Rev. Jeff Sims
The MIDWEEK PRAYER SERVICE takes place on Wednesdays in the Sanctuary at 11:30 AM. This will be a time of prayer for those in congregation, our community, and the world. We will also read scripture and common prayers from the book of common prayer.
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.”
We have a busy month for our young ones. We will be focusing on all of the events of Holy Week this month.
Easter Sunday means so much more that an Easter basket or pretty clothes. Please take the time with your
family to take a short time each day beginning on Palm Sunday to remember and celebrate the Holy Week:
Sunday
Celebrate Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1–10).
Our Cross Country Kids will be bringing down our palms and singing a
special song they have been hard at work learning. We also will be
having our annual Easter Egg Hunt right after church.
Monday
Remember how Jesus’ friends helped prepare the Passover meal (Matthew 26:17–19).
Challenge everyone in the family to surprise one another with acts of kindness.
Tuesday
Celebrate the last meal that Jesus ate with his
disciples.
(Matthew 26:20–28).
Wednesday
Remember Jesus praying in the garden (Matthew 26:36–38).
Thursday
Remember Jesus praying about the hard thing he had to do.
(Matthew 26:38–46).
Friday
Remember Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:32–50).
Saturday
Remember Jesus’ burial (Matthew 27:57–61). In a darkened room, light a candle and talk about
the hopes the disciples must have had when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Blow out the candle, and
talk about what it is like when things go terribly wrong. Remind one another that Saturday was
a very sad day for Jesus’ friends, but it wasn’t the end of the story.
Sunday
Be sure to come and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Let us all find ways to
tell others the good news!
Pastor Rob is excited to be teaching a class on what it means to be Presbyterian.
Everyone is invited, but those who joined the church in 2013 or 2014, or those interested in joining are
encouraged to join us. (Dates for May and June to be announced)
Here is what we will talk about:
April 2: How do you spell Presbyterian: What do we mean when we say we are "reformed" or
“connectional"?
May: Confessions and the Bible: Some history of our denomination and what we believe about
the Bible.
June: The History of Covington Presbyterian Church: Hear from some longtime members the
history of this church.
Pioneer Club will be back on April 2nd. We all had a great time last month.
Thanks to Steele Mumphrey and Lori Edwards for running our Nursery.
Dinner is served at 5:00 and we will be starting around 5:45 with our programs.
This month one of our challenges will be designed by our Youth Director, Jason
Johnston. It going to be fun, try to come.
Paula Kelley and Tracy White – Pioneer Club Co-Leaders
The CPC Rummage Sale fundraiser will
take place on May 17th from 7am -
noon. Call Jason or Erin Johnston (985-
789-5994 or 501-626-8682) if you have
anything you would like to donate.
They will make arrangements with you
where to bring your donations or if you
need for them to pick up anything.
They are asking for volunteers also. If
you are interested, please let them
know. There will be coffee and finger
foods available for breakfast in the
Fellowship Hall kitchen for the
volunteers.
Do you have a graduating Senior?
Each year the PW honors CPC High School Graduates
(anyone who is a member or attender of CPC). Please let
Puddin Hawkins know if you have a graduating senior, and
watch for announcements as to the date. This recognition will
take place during a worship service some time in May.
An article, published in the New Orleans The Times-Picayune, was written by Geoffrey Mohan
of Los Angeles Times. The article was entitled “Music leaves some people indifferent, even when they
get to call the tunes.” There are many people who have preferences as to the type of music they select.
The music could be rock, country, easy listening and classical. A study published on line in Current
Biology reported some people were getting no pleasure at all from music. A team of researchers from
Spain and Canada developed an accurate questionnaire to gauge people’s sense of reward from music
and 5 percent of their study subjects reported no pleasure from music.
They followed up by testing 30 subjects who had a relative affinity for music. The bottom
group, which expressed the least pleasure in music, exhibited the least changes in heart rate or skin
conductivity (proxy measures of emotional response) when listening even to pieces they chose. The
physiological responses were in accordance with what these individuals claimed. The people who
cannot process music well (about 4% of the population) have a condition called amusia. Others with
depressive disorders, neurodegenerative disease suffer from anhedonia. The study suggests that musical
enjoyment is not as universal as commonly assumed. The degree of pleasure or lack of pleasure varies
on the type of music used. The study was believed to help refine musical therapies for stroke victims and
major depressive disorders.
An article in “Runners Triathlete Magazine” by Joe Carey, President of HARRA (a non-profit,
all volunteer coalition of runners club) outlines his fascination with running and music. He equated Igor
Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” with running a 5K or 10K. “The Rite of Spring” has two main parts
that can guide you in running a 5K or 10K. The gun sounds and Part I begins. You are fresh and as the
music unfolds in your head, your heart and stride both reach race pace. You soak up and recall the
melody with the runners around you and glide in harmony. Part II, The Sacrifice. This is the point in
every race where you face the music by leaning into the discomfort and anticipate the finish ahead.
Many have a popular tune they internalize as they run. The melody and rhythm help the runner maintain
a steady pace and motivate one to finish the course.
Many of us have favorite hymns. They can be based on the lyrics, the music or both. However,
these hymns are a comfort to us when we are happy, sad or looking forward to a coming event or season.
Some hymns, like It is Well with My Soul, were born out of tragic events. The hymn of the month for
April, as requested by Conie Abernathy, is The Old Rugged Cross. For the people growing up in the
“Bible Belt,” it was one that permeated their lives. The words were known by heart and could be sung
any time of the day when they were plowing, washing the laundry or at times of joy or sorrow. The
author and composer was George Bennard (1873-1958) and he wrote the song in 1912. The completed
version was first performed on June 7, 1913. He was a native of Youngstown, Ohio and reared in Iowa.
After his conversion in a Salvation Army meeting, he and his wife became brigade leaders before
leaving the organization for the Methodist Church. One time, after returning to his home in Albion,
Michigan, Bennard passed through a trying experience, one that caused him to reflect about the
significance of the cross and what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of entering into the fellowship
of Christ’s sufferings (Philippians 3:10) until one day he could say:
“I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page,
form and act out the meaning of redemption. The more I contemplated these truths
the more convinced I became that the cross was far more than just a religious
symbol but rather the very heart of the gospel.”
“The Old Rugged Cross” has been an enormous country gospel favorite ever since it became
the title song of Ernest Tubb’s 1952 gospel album. It has been performed by some of the 20th century’s
most important recording artists, including Al Green, Andy Griffith, Anne Murray, Brad Paisley, Chet
Atkins, George Jones, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Price, Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans, Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others.
Grace Notes by Elizabeth Tosterud
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES:
2 Tim 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
1)FELLOWSHIP CLASS: (Fellowship Hall each Sunday morning at 9:15am) An adult class meets in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. The
study, starting on Sunday, March 2, will be: “You’ll Get Through This: Hope and
Help for your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado.” The author reminds
participants that God doesn’t promise that getting through trials will be quick or
painless. It wasn’t for Joseph – tossed in a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery,
wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten and dismissed. But his Old Testament story is in
the Bible for this reason: to teach us to trust that God will trump evil.
CONNECTIONS CLASS: (9:15am Library) This class uses the Bible-in-Life curriculum. Each lesson inspires adults, promotes community among others, and challenges them to grow spiritually. Adults are equipped to build a deeper understanding of Bible principles and encouraged toward in-depth participation and life application. Bible-in-Life supports adults of all age ranges.
The Wednesday Adult Bible Study is studying “The Storm Inside” by Sheila Walsh. Everyone is invited to join us.
OTHER CHRISTIAN ED OPPORTUNITIES
We can feel a storm brewing, we are in the middle of a storm, or we are facing the aftermath of a storm.
But don't be afraid because it is possible to grow through turbulent times. Storms show you what's really
going on inside, reveal what you really believe, and actually make you stronger. In this powerful book
Sheila will help you:
Redefine your failures as a new beginning instead of an end.
Replace the words always and never in your life with positive declarations of hope.
Know with confidence how to help a friend in chaos or crisis.
