The Mission of First Presbyterian Church: To Help People Know God Through Vital Worship… Dynamic Growth… Faithful Service Deadline for the April 2018 Newsletter is Monday, March 19 Deadline for articles or information for News & Notes is to be turned into the office for the following month’s publication by the nineteenth of each month. You are invited to email [email protected]or fax 419-636-8252 as well as submit in written form! NEWS & NOTES First Presbyterian Church, Bryan Ohio March 2018 Remember our church in your will Sunday Morning Worship Schedule 9:30 am Traditional Service 10:30 am Fellowship Time 11:00 am Contemporary Service See you in church!!
Transcript
The Mission of First Presbyterian
Church: To Help People Know
God Through Vital Worship…
Dynamic Growth…Faithful Service
Deadline for the April 2018
Newsletter is Monday, March 19
Deadline for articles or information for News & Notes is to be turned into the office for the following
month’s publication by the nineteenth of each month.
or fax 419-636-8252 as well as submit in written form!
NEWS & NOTES First Presbyterian Church, Bryan Ohio
March 2018
Remember our church in your will
Sunday Morning Worship Schedule
9:30 am Traditional Service
10:30 am Fellowship Time
11:00 am Contemporary Service
See you in church!!
HYLA. OUR CHURCH ORGANIST RETIRES
Hyla Sharrock has been our organist for 36
years. What an incredible blessing she has
been to us! What a gift! She loves music and
loves the Lord and gave her all to the music
ministry of this church, to the Lord, and to
each one of us! She has vision and she tried
to always give her best. Hyla retired on Feb-
ruary 15 after a wonderful and delightful
music ministry here at our church. She will
be missed. We hope her retirement years
are filled with new adventures, new joys,
new opportunities and a sense of the new
wonderful thing God is leading her toward.
There is life after retirement and we hope
Hyla finds that life and enjoys it to the full-
est. We will be planning a celebration in her
honor in the near future! We have a lot to
celebrate. Watch for information to come
about that in the near future.
Welcome Tami Smith! Tami has been play-
ing organ and piano for us for some time as
a volunteer. Recently, she joined the staff
as a co-organist which is a paid position. As
of February 15 she will cover the full musi-
cian position until someone can be found to
share 1/2 of this position with her. When
you see Tami make sure you warmly wel-
come her.
TWO STAFF SEARCH COMMITTEES
We are beginning the search for tow staff posi-
tions. We need a new technology coordinator.
Woody ahs been the interim technology coordi-
nator and it is time to pass those responsibili-
ties on to someone new. We also are looking
for a church musician to cover half of the or-
ganist/pianist job responsibilities on to some-
one new. Tami Smith will cover half of these
and we need someone else to cover the other
half.
If you are interested or you would like to sug-
gest a name for us to consider or you need a
job description—check the church office. They
should be ready soon. We look forward to see
who God will send our way.
Easter Flowers Easter is April 1st this year! We invite you to or-der flowers for our Sanctuary so we can cele-brate the Resurrection. Flowers cost $8.00. We will purchase tulips, daffodils and other spring plants for display on Easter morning or in place of flowers you can contribute to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund that helps people in need.
You may designate your gift of flowers or money in honor of someone, in memory of someone or simply given to the Glory of God.
Forms (that are included in this mailing and will be available outside the church office) with mon-ey (cash or checks made out to 1st Presbyterian Church) need to be turned into the church office b Palm Sunday, March 25.
March 2018
The Session and the Staff have been reading the book Chase the Li-
on by Mark Batterson. It is a book about courage and going after
God-sized dreams and vision and how to be future-focused as a
church. Two quotes from the book speak deeply into my life.
“ What impossibility do you need to repent of?” (pg. 98)
“What excuse do you need to confess?” (pg. 133)
If we truly believe God can do anything and is limitless why do we
say or think things like: “Well, THAT will never happen,” or “THAT idea is a waste of
time,” etc. Do we serve a big, limitless God or not? The second quote shows our lack of
faith and the times we make excuses for not being willing to change or do things dif-
ferently just because we are comfortable with where things are. Too often we are lazy
and are unwilling to do the hard work required to make God’s Big Dream happen! Are
we ‘all in” or “only in” when it doesn’t cost too much of our money or our time?
If we are going to be a viable, vital, healthy congregation 10 or 15 years from now will
require change and new ways of reaching the Bryan community NOW! If we don’t
make the changes necessary we will decline as a church and cease to be useful in the
Kingdom building process.
Decisions we make today will impact this church for generations. Decisions we put off
or refuse to make today will also negatively affect this church for generations. Let’s
not limit a limitless God and let’s not make excuses for not seeking to creatively reach
the Bryan community with Jesus Christ.
What impossibility do YOU need to repent of and what excuses do YOU need to con-
fess so we can be faithful to God’s call here at FPC of Bryan?
Thing on it! Pray on it! Act on it!
See You in church!
Barry
A SPECIAL THANK YOU We would like to say a special thank you to all who have prayed, brought food to the house, those who came and stayed so Barry could go to work, those who sent gifts, who visited at the house or rehab center. Special thanks to Denny Smith for putting up “grab” bars all over the house so Judy could navigate and to Don and Rhonda Shrider for taking Judy to physical therapy and for some nursing care. Thank you for your patience during this long journey! You all have been won-derful! You have made this long journey easier to navigate. Judy is doing well since her tendon surgery. Her physical ther-apy is all out outpatient and she is making good positive progress! Each of you are a blessing to us! —Barry and Judy Sweet
Barry is continuing his sermon series
Real Grace for Real Life throughout
Lent to Easter! Below are the topics
he will be focusing on:
4: Real Grace for Real Life #4—
Making Love Not Just Having Sex”
11: Diana Moore Eschhofen will
preach for Barry while he is downstairs
at the Men’s Great Banquet.
Real Grace for Real Life #5—
Real Grace is Being Authentic.
Real Grace for
Real Life #6—Grace Is Forgiving Even
When It Is Hard.
March 29, Maundy Thursday:
Real Grace Is Let-
ting Go
Saturday Night March 10 move your clocks forward 1 hour
Thank You:
We would like to thank the following people for help around the church lately:
Tom Tilton and Gary Spurgeon for doing custo-dial work while Robert was on surgery leave.
Yvette Zedaker and Todd Campbell for all their work on a new budget for 2018.
The Fellowship Committee and congregation who provided food for our Ash Wednesday meal.
Mike Wortkoetter, Marjorie Buell, Barry Sweet, Diana Moore Eschhofen, Yvette Zedaker, Beth Hollabaugh, Lora Manon, for helping teach Con-firmation Class this year.
Denny Smith for solving our organ electrical problems.
Denny Smith and the captains of the Free Meal teams for working on remodeling our pantry downstairs.
Mike Wortkoetter, Yvette Zedaker, Jana Horton, and Mindy Wilson for taking 25 kids to Winter Jam and staying up LATE on February 8.
Dear Deacons, Thank you so much for the Valentine’s Day care package. It was very much appreciated. We feel very blessed to have a church family that’s always there and behind us. Thanks so much, —Jordan and Peyton Spiess
Thank you so much for the Valentine gift box. It will go to good use I know it! Hope all is well! —Sean Culler
THE SNOW IS HERE!! It is the official policy of the church that if we
are at a level 2 snow emergency that all
church events or worship services are can-
celled. On Wednesdays if school is cancelled
for snow (not fog) there is no Wednesday
KREW or Impact! This should help you deter-
mine if your event or worship service is meet-
ing during the winter months ahead.
For those of you involved with the Tuesday
Free Meal the policy is if there is a Level 1
posted the meal is cancelled for that evening.
That way there is no confusion for our guests
as to whether there is a meal on a night of bad
weather.
Holy Week this year is March 25 to April 1. Below are our worship plans through Holy Week Palm Sunday, March 25:
Worship at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. Passing out of the palms celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusa-lem.
Maundy “Holy” Thursday, March 29 @ 7pm: We will remember Jesus’ last supper and the crucifix-ion with Tenebrae, Communion and a message
Good Friday Community Service, :
We join other churches in Bryan in remembering Jesus’ death for our salvation
Easter Sunday, April 1 at 10:00 am We have breakfast together at 9:00am and we will worship in one service at 10am. We will celebrate the Resurrection with praise, joy, music and communion.
Every year we take up a special offering called One Great Hour of Sharing. This offering funds Presby-terian Disaster Assistance and helps with the Self Development of People Fund to help people over-seas learn basic life skills and how to be self-sufficient. It provides help with growing food, devel-oping businesses, and etc. This offering will be tak-en up on Easter Sunday at our single service at 10am.
NEWS & NOTES is published 11 times a year by the Fir st Presbyter ian Church, ▪ 506 Oxford Drive, Bryan, OH 43506. ▪ Tele .# 419-636-4208. ▪ Fax # 419-636-8252.
▪ E-mail: [email protected], ▪ Web site: www.firstpresbryan.org ▪ Staff: Rev. Barry Sweet, Pastor ([email protected]); Mike (Woody) Wortkoetter, Children, Youth and Family Ministries Co-
ordinator ([email protected]); June Webster, Director of Music and Arts; Tami Smith, Organist; Joanne Israel, Office Administrator ([email protected]); Mike Bever, Financial Secretary ([email protected]); Robert Smith, Custodian.
2 – John Hamilton 2 – Lori Ely 2 – Dominic Wortkoetter 4 – Bob Meuleman 8 – Pat Goshorn
9 – Joseph Eschhofen 12 – Marjorie Buell 14 – Mike Culler 15 – Evelyn Witzerman 18 – Judy Shilling
19 – Nancy Berkheiser 19 – Jana Horton 20 – Tim Hollabaugh 21 – Harry Dalby 22 – Judy Karnes
22 – Grant Nicholls 27 – Patrick O’Dwyer 29 – Bill Brewer 30 – Joe Tokunaga
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
Please put these events on your calendar so you can plan to attend!
April 1 --------------------Easter—one service @ 10am ----------------------------- Breakfast prior to the service at 9am April 8 --------------------Praise Fest at 11am worship service May 3 --------------------National Day of Prayer May 20 -------------------Pentecost June 10 ------------------Graduation Sunday—I service in the courtyard at 10am June 24 -----------------BAMA worship at McDonald Ice Rink—no worship here July 13-15 --------------Girls’ Awakening July 20-22 ---------------Boys’ Awakening
CHURCH STAFF SCHEDULES This is a reminder regarding times our staff will be in the church and available to you:
Barry Sweet, Pastor : usually available most mornings in the office. Fr iday is his day off. Contact via phone, email or Face-book. ([email protected])
Mike Bever , Financial Secretary: available on Monday and Fr iday 12:30-4:00 or you can contact him via email ([email protected]) or leave a phone message in the church office.
Robert Smith, Custodian: Monday, Tuesday, Thur sday 6:30-2:30, Friday 6:30-10:30 (he is not here on Wednesdays).
Mike (Woody) Wortkoetter , Children, Youth and Family Ministr ies Coordinator : Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30-2:30 and Wednesday 8:30-8:00.([email protected])
June Webster and Tami Smith, Music Depar tment—No set office hours, contact via phone
1 – Daniel and Emily Dwyer 5 – Chris and Diana Moore Eschhofen 31 – Ralph and Deanne Beerbower
Congratulations to Matt and Laura Higgins on the birth of their daugh-
ter, Aubrey Gwen Higgins born on Thursday, February 1, 2017
