1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

RESS
P RESBYTERIAN
A
Newsletter Vol 32, Issue 4
P
R
I
IN THIS ISSUE
L
PASTOR TIM
2
PNC REPORT /GIVING
3
EVENTS & UPDATES
4
KIDS NEWS
5
YOUTH NEWS
6
WHAT’S NEW
7
EASTER WEEK
8
OGHS
9
APRIL CALENDAR
10
A P R I L 5|2 0 1 5
HE IS
RISEN!
MATTHEW 28:6
GOD IS
GOOD!
PASTOR
TIM

APRIL
2 0 1 5
A WORD FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear FPC Family and Friends,
You’ll be receiving this edition of the PRESS sometime
during Holy Week! The events of those decisive seven days
2000 years ago continue to stir up controversy, shed light
in dark places, call people to decision and surrender, and
transfom the lost and broken into healed and set-free
people. The reason being is simply put: “He is risen!”
That has made and continues to make all the difference.
I’ll hope to see you on both Good Friday and then with
friends and famiy in tow on Easter morning as we
celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (See
inside this issue of the PRESS for a calendar of events!)
Surrounded by the reality of Jesus Christ who lives and
reigns, let me put in writing what I shared with you in
worship on March 29th as something to be aware of and
pray about.
Many of you know that last summer the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (our denomination)
passed a proposed amendment to the Book of Order (Part
II of our constitution) which would change the definition
of marriage.
The language of the definition up to this point has
included:
“Marriage is a civil contract between a man & a woman,”
and “for Christians marriage is a covenant thru which a
man and a woman are called to live out together before
God their lives of discipleship” (Book of Order W-4.9001)
The proposed change of language would eliminate those
sentences and replace them with: “Marriage involves a
unique commitment between two people, traditionally a
man and a woman, to love and support each other for the
rest of their love and support each other for the rest of
their lives.” The obvious difference is that the
definition of marriage would now include same sex
couples.
Amending the Book of Order requires a majority (86) of
the 171 presbyteries (regions) in the PCUSA. Our
presbytery (Los Ranchos)voted against the proposed
change at its February meeting. On Tuesday, March 17th,
however, the threshold of 86 presbyteries was reached
to approve the change in definition. (As of writing to
you, the count has risen to 98 in favor.)
This means that the PCUSA, as of June 21st, will officially
recognize same-sex “marriages” as a form of marriage
blessed and intended by God. As of June 2014 the PCUSA
already allows (does not require) Pastors and sessions to
perform and host same-sex marriage ceremonies in
states where same-sex marriage is legal.
What does this mean for FPC Downey? Last year the
FPC Pastor Nominating Committee asked for guidance
from the FPC Session
on this matter as they began reviewing candidates. What
should the PNC say and do if, for example, a prospective
candidate asks where FPC stands on this issue, or, if the
PNC learns that a candidate affirms and would wish to
perform same-sex marriages, how should the PNC
respond?
Session responded simply and clearly: “We affirm the
traditional view of marriage (as a covenant between a
man and a woman).”
Without getting into all the details of all the related
issues, your Session felt that this enough to say for now.
We want you to know that. AND we want you to know
that with respect to marriage nothing really changes here
at FPC Downey.
Please pray for our denomination and for our country.
Pray and stay steady with this commanding reality in
sight: Jesus Christ is risen!
Pastor Tim
PROGRESS REPORTS

LUKE 6:38
Luke 12:34
GIVING
Y-T-D GIVING
MONTH
AMOUNT
2015
JANUARY
$22,911.66
2014
JANUARY
$18,794.26
FINANCES
MONTH
INCOME
EXPENSES
NET INC/ (EXP)
Y-T-D
INCOME
Y-T-D EXPENSES
Y-T-D NET
INC/(EXP)
JAN
28,967
29,967
(1,000)
28,967
29,967
(1,000)
FEB
21,411
25,169
(3,758)
50,378
55,136
(4,758)

Events Updates
&
P R A Y ABOUT
Everything
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
PRAY FOR SHUT-INS
MARGIE KALIE
Hacienda Grande, Long Beach
MIYO YOKOTA
Sunrise, Hermosa Beach
ROBERT QUILLIN
LARC, Norwalk
W E LC OM E
J O I N US !!!

This month the first Friday of the month is Good Friday. As
a result, we won't be holding our Fun Friday event. We
are encouraging everyone to attend the Good Friday
service on Friday evening and then attend the Easter
Eggstravaganza on Easter Sunday morning at 9:00.
Watch for details for May's Fun Friday event.

S U N D A Y SCHOOL
SESSION 9AM
EVERY NIGHT
PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH!!!
APRIL 3 FRIDAY
W

EASTER
E
K
REMEMBER HIS SACRIFICE
APRIL 5 SUNDAY
APRIL 5 SUNDAY

DOWNEY
ONE GREAT Hour
of
Sharing
SHARING BRINGS JOY. TO OTHERS, TO GOD, AND TO US.
Imagine the joy when your gift positively affects
someone’s life—both the joy someone feels as their
burdens ease and the joy you feel when you realize
your gift has helped. As Christians, we speak of
God providing us with blessings in abundance, but
there are many in the world who live without the basic
necessities of life. Surely God calls us to share.
By giving to One Great Hour of Sharing, you make a
conscious decision to bring the joy and love of
Christ to some of the most vulnerable and desperate
places and people around the world.
With your generous gift to One Great Hour of
Sharing,you can be a channel through whom God
Satisfies the hungry, comforts the distressed, and
Brings hope to the poor and oppressed.
Learn more about this annual offering each
Sunday! BE BLESSED AS YOU GIVE!
Thank you
For your gift!


APRIL 2015
SUN
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
1
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND
THE L I F E JOHN 11:25-26
5
6
7
7:30pm BAND
12
13
10am Worship
19
14
Circle 1
Bible Study
7:30pm BAND
20
21
7pm DEACONS
10 am Worship
26
7pm ALL TEAMS
7:30pm BAND
27
28
2
3
CHOIR
7:30pm
YOUTH
7-8:30 PM
8
9
CHOIR
7:30pm
16
YOUTH
7-8:30 PM
22
CHOIR
7:30pm
29
CHOIR
7:30pm
Jerry Scott
Don Dragovich
Marcella Jones
Diego Curiel
Peggy Fisher
7:30pm BAND
6
8
11
11
14
16
Henry Wale
Sharon MacCallum
Christine Gonzalez
Kendalynn Graham
Karen Trejo
Bruce McCaughan
9AM PRAYER
HOLY COMMUNION
STUFFING
@7:30 PM
@ 10AM
OFFICE
CLOSED
11 9AM
PRAYER
7:30pm Spanish
Bible Study
OFFICE
CLOSED
18
9AM PRAYER
7:30pm Spanish
Bible Study
24
OFFICE
CLOSED
25
9AM PRAYER
7:30 pm Spanish
Bible Study
OFFICE HOURS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1
2
3
5
5
4
30
7pm SESSION
10am Worship
SAT
GOOD FRIDAY EASTER EGG
17
23
YOUTH
7-8:30 PM
OFFICE
CLOSED
10
YOUTH
7-8:30 PM
15
FRI
18
19
22
23
23
29
30
MON-THUR: 9-4pm
FRI: Closed
Harold Hougland
Anthony Garcia
Kathy McCaughan
James Heine
Katherine Ruckman
Javier Garcia
Elizabeth Dayhoff
Fpc
First Presbyterian Church of Downey
PO Box 5069, 10544 Downey Avenue
Downey, CA 90241 (562) 861-6752