April 2015
Notes from the Clergy
A familiar hymn provides words that
express what many people feel as they
gather to receive the Lord's Supper.
glimpse of what is to be…of a day
when we no longer need to look for the
Lord for we will know the Lord is here.
On that day we will join the saintly
crowd in glad celebration that "death's
dark shadow (will have been) put to
flight."
In the meantime, what does it mean
for us to join the glad celebration even
now? What does it mean to live in the
great glow of such love? How can we
live this day in such a way that declares
we will follow where our Lord has gone?
Here, O our Lord, we see thee face
to face. Here would we touch and
handle things unseen, here grasp
with firmer hand eternal grace, and
all our weariness upon you lean.
This bold claim is made in the
knowledge we do not fully see God
face to face. We believe that day will
come, but is not yet.
The Lord's Supper gives us a
L'Chaim (To Life),
Holy Week & Easter Schedule
Thursday, April 2 - Seder/Maundy Thursday Service
5:45 - Supper in Dunlap Auditorium
Saturday, April 4 - Easter Egg Hunt
11:00 - Easter Egg Hunt at Manse (6 White Street)
Sunday, April 5 - Easter
7:00 - Sunrise Service - our sanctuary
7:45 - Breakfast - Dunlap Auditorium
8:45 - Early Worship in our sanctuary (bring flowers to "flower" the cross)
9:45 - Sunday School
11:00 - Worship in our sanctuary (bring flowers to "flower" the cross)
A Service of Prayer for Wholeness and Healing
You are invited to attend our monthly Service of Prayer for Wholeness
and Healing. This service is held the first Sunday of the month at 5:00 in the
evening. This 45 minute service will be led by one of your pastors and will include prayers both general and specific, scripture reading, singing, and silence.
For those who may be so inclined, there will be opportunity for the laying on of
hands. Everyone interested is invited to attend the April 5 service. What better
day than Easter to hold a service of prayer for wholeness and healing!
1
Preaching Schedule for April
April 5
Easter Sunday
Texts: Acts 10:34-43 & Is. 25:6-10
Preacher: William M. Klein
Sermon: Death Is Swallowed Up
April 12
2nd Sunday of Easter
Texts: Jn. 20:19-23 & Acts 4:32-35
Preacher: William M. Klein
Sermon: Pentecost
April 19
3rd Sunday of Easter
Texts: Lk. 24:36-48 & 1 Jn. 3:1-3
April 26
4th Sunday of Easter
Texts: Jn. 10:11-18, 1 Jn. 3:16-24; Ps. 23
Welcome to:
Hadley Rae Braddick
Born March 11, 2015
Parents: Tim and Kara Braddick
Preacher: William M. Klein
Sermon: Be Thou My Vision
Preacher: William M. Klein
Sermon: Love-Walking
Sympathy to:
Kathy Kaiser
in the loss
of her
brother
Grandparents: Gary and Linda Franke
Thank you to my church family for its constant source of support, from the time I became ill at Christmastime right through
this current time. Friends in Need, Circle members, choir members, and many others have all been there, providing food, doing
errands, sending cards, and visiting, to say nothing of the transportation provided to my medical appointments over the last few
years. I will be forever grateful to you all.
Marjorie Phillips
2
News Items for
the May 2015
Newsletter
People like to
know what is going on in the
church. Write an article for the
newsletter and share the information. Please email to Mary
Atthowe by April 15th at
<[email protected]> in
Word format please, or leave your
information in the church office.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous has proven to
be a life-giving tool to many folks
seeking to manage alcohol addiction.
But in order for AA to be useful, people must be self-reflective enough to
know when they have a problem with
alcohol. If you would like the support
an AA group can provide, you are welcome to attend one of many meetings
that occur at RE Lee Episcopal
Church. AA meets:
The Community Table
The second Monday of every month this church
is responsible for supplying volunteers to set up, serve
and clean up at the Community Table. We have been
blessed with three ladies from Kendal, Caroline Bridges, Ibis Chambers and Rudie Terhune, who faithfully
set the tables every month. However, we need a minimum of six people to serve, 5:30-7:30 p.m. and at
least the same number to clean up, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
The clean up involves folding and moving tables and
chairs so it is helpful to have some men.
Our next date is Monday, April 13. If you are
able and willing to help, please call Mary Raine Paxton, 463-2075.
Presbyterian Women
1. World Outreach is assembling
health kits again. You may drop the
following items in the PW corner:
hand towels, washcloths, metal nail
clippers, bath size bars of soap, toothbrushes in
original packaging, Band-Aids.
Sundays: 6:30 PM (women only)
Tuesdays: 8:00 PM (step meeting)
Wednesdays: noon (open meeting) &
8:00 PM (closed meeting)
Fridays:
8:00 PM (open meeting)
Saturdays: 10:00 AM (open meeting)
11:15 AM (Step Al Anon)
8:00PM(big book meeting)
Sundays at the hospital at 8:00 PM
(open meeting)
2. Women’s Retreat—-The Sacramental Life will be
on April 17-19 at Massanetta Springs. Contact Sarah Hill or Deb Klein.
Open Door Al Anon Meeting at Stonewall Jackson Hospital Conference
Room A on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
3. May 13, 2015 will be the PW annual Birthday
Luncheon in Dunlap at 12:00 p.m. All Presbyterian
Women are invited.
All meetings are non-smoking meetings. Call 463-3411 for more information.
Myra Young
3
April Food of the Month,
Donated to the RARA Food Pantry:
Jelly and Peanut Butter
Please leave the food in boxes in the front hallway outside of the
church office.
LPC Annual Statistical Report Summary
2014
Membership
Active Membership 12/31/2013---548
Gains
17 & Under
18 & Over Certificate
18 & Over Other
Total Gains
2013
5
3
3
11
2014
5
14
0
19
Losses
Certificate
Deaths
Total Losses
4
9
13
6
13
19
Active Membership 12/31/2014---548
Baptisms
Child
3
6
Officers
Male Session
Female Session
13
12
13
11
Christian Education
Birth-3
Age 4
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
5
1
3
1
4
1
5
6
6
2
1
4
1
4
1
5
(continued pg. 5)
4
Annual Statistical Report 2014 (continued)
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Adults
Teachers/Officers
2013
6
2
10
6
6
5
7
51
18
2014
5
6
2
11
6
4
5
64
39
Finances
Budgeted Income
Budgeted Expenses
$552,000
$571,000
$705,500
$586,440
Receipts
Regular Contributions
Capital Building Fund
Investment Income
$515,000
$112,000
$240,000
$553,400
$91,200
$60,900
Expenditures
Local Program
Local Mission
Capital Expenses
$462,500
$74,500
$27,000
$467,040
$62,240
$29,000
Submitted by Mary Atthowe, Clerk of Session February 2014
2015 Sessional Committee Assignments
Christian Education: David Dugan (chairperson), Robin Telsch, George Ray,
Katie Lee, Liz Ramsey.
Communications: Betsy Lee (chairperson), Snookie Caldwell, Mary Ellena
Ward, Kelly Nye, Mary Atthowe, Gretchen Sukow
Congregational Life: Pat Jones, Macy Coffey, Derek Carter
Financial Management: Mary Ellena Ward, John Jensen, David Dugan
Nominating: Skip Hess (chairperson), Mark Keeley
Outreach: Ann Massie (chairperson), Kelly Nye, Neely Young, Bill Dawson
Personnel: Mark Keeley (chairperson), Ann Massie, John Jensen, John Morman
Planning: Mark Keeley (chairperson), Betsy Lee, Bob James
Property: Skip Hess (chairperson), Mike Strickler, Mac Felts
Worship: Barbara Winfrey (chairperson), Skip Hess
5
Helping Hands
On April 6th Helping Hands will meet in Westfel Lounge
from 10AM until 2PM. Bring a sandwich if you can stay through
lunch. Our projects of cutting out, sewing baby gowns, receiving
blankets, sewing and stuffing animals will continue.
Thanks to the knitters and those who crochet for the baby
hats, those who sew at home and Mary Ellen Page for sewing up
and decorating the animals.
We can always use light weight flannel and cotton fabric,
thread and bias tape – as well as light weight yarn. Thanks for all of the supplies that
have been left on the PW table. Does anyone know how to operate a Singer serger?
Please call me—464-5141.
Call Ellen Smith at 464-5141 if you have any questions.
Please notify
[email protected]
when you have
a change of mailing
and/or email address.
Thanks!
Check us out at
www.lexpres.org
From Friends in Need:
Please let us know about any special needs of members or families in the congregation so we can help! Maybe an illness, injury
or surgery has occurred and home delivery of a couple of meals
would be appreciated; maybe there has been a birth to celebrate,
or a death to mourn; maybe there is a special need for visitation,
or maybe help is needed with transportation to/from church or a
doctor’s appointment or to visit a family member in the hospital.
There are a lot of people willing to help in such situations, but we
need to know about them to match needs with those in the congregation who can
help. Please let us know by contacting the church office, or by contacting Carolyn
Worrell or Elizabeth Lauck, co-chairs of Friends in Need.
Church office: 540-463-3873
Carolyn Worrell: 540-463-6674, [email protected]
Elizabeth Lauck: 540-817-0607, [email protected]
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Rafiki Report
Report from Rebecca Taylor on Rafiki Village Malawi
My husband and I had the opportunity to serve with
Rafiki for the month of January in Malawi Africa. As always, God’s timing is perfect and He works his plan
through his imperfect people. He sent another mini-missionary at the same time who
was to be my perfect “teammate.”
The first week we entertained 100 orphans with games and activities on their
last week of Christmas break, ending with an Olympic competition and celebration.
The rest of the time we were fully engrossed in every aspect of the Rafiki school.
With the headmaster of the school and director of the village on medical leave for five
months, much help was needed.
In Africa, if you don’t have experience in an area, you just “learn what you can,
as fast as you can. Then do the best you can, and rest in the knowledge that you
can’t, but the good Lord can!” Thus, we went about our duties of sorting a cargo load
of curriculum, evaluating three grades for mastery of skills and placement, training
teachers, offering remediation to students, establishing a school disciplinary plan, and
role modeling teaching methods. When the fourth grade teacher went into the hospital for a long term pregnancy complication, I became her full time substitute for the
remaining three weeks I was there.
Challenging? Yes, and often overwhelming. However, the blessings gained
from seeing growth in the heart and mind of a student; excitement in a child’s eyes as
he anticipates special activities; the smile of an appreciative teacher; the joy in the
heart of a native as he shares what little he has; and the relief and encouragement a
missionary feels to have someone walk beside him to help carry his heavy
load…..these are the blessings of serving God, that outweigh all else and keep you
coming back for another helping.
There is a tremendous need for more people. God wants to continue to work
his perfect plan in his perfect time through his imperfect people.
Rebecca Taylor
February Offerings:
Sunday School-$10.26
Koininia-$13.80
Bible-$13.00
Total-$37.06
A-Z Books Assembled—-380 by 12 people
Rafiki website—-www.rafikifoundation.org.
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Faith Village
The Story of Easter will be the obvious choice for the April Faith Village story. Through the story of the Resurrection, the children will explore that Faith, Hope, and Love was given to us in Easter. We will
use Art to see how open hearts are full of love, Science to see how nature can show us a way to Hope , in the cinema room the video and in storytelling we will
see how Faith Hope and Love all work together to fulfill God’s plan for us.
_______________________________________________________
Thantastic Thursdays
The first Thursday in April (2nd), we will celebrate the Passover Meal that
Jesus and his disciples ate before Jesus was arrested. We call this Maundy Thursday. Join us as we hear ancient words that were the elements of
faith spoken by Jesus. Let us rejoice in the promises made to God’s people that have
come down to us. Come early this evening, the meal will begin at 5:30 pm. (The grape
juice will be provided this year.) The next Thursday, April 9 we will hear from Sarah
Hughes father and uncle in their long-term work in Haiti to help that struggling country provide safe living conditions for its citizens. On April 16 John Morman will delight us with a
video and history of the Scottish cathedral, Rosslyn Chapel. This chapel was made particularly famous by being the setting for the movie, The DaVinci Code. The Brunch after the 11
am service this month will be on April 19. Since everyone had such a grand time in our
hymn sing around the organ in January, we are going to repeat that experience on our final
Thantastic Thursday, April 30. Come for a delightful dinner and any-and-all can sing the
great hymns (we are expanding our choice to any in the new hymnal!). What a wonderful
year we have had.
_________________________________________________________
Needed for the Nursery:
A gently used “Pack and Play” would be
greatly appreciated
for our youngest members!
______________________________________________________
The Secret Pal Program
Save the Date!
The Secret Pal Reveal Party and Lunch will be on Sunday May 3 after the
11 am worship service in Dunlap.
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April Youth Activities
Youth and parents mark your calendars for our April plans!
 April 4—Easter Egg Hunt
 April 5—Easter—No youth group
 April 11—Outing to Thunder Valley—leave church at 3:30 and return at 8:30
 April 19—Regular Meeting
 April 26—Hiking—leave after 11 o’clock service, bring a bag lunch
The Results Are In!
The Youth Chili Cook-Off and Auction was an incredible success
with over 95 items donated and many of those went into the live
auction. We are grateful to all of those who donated items, those
who made chili, those who bid (and won) auction items and everyone who came to watch and enjoy the show. Beside the stellar and hilarious auctioneering by the youth, particularly memorable was the crowning of the new Chili
Queen (Robin Telsch) by the former Chili King (David Dugan). In all, the fundraising
effort brought in over $4300. As the Christian Education Committee decided before
the auction, the monies will go to send youth to conferences this summer at Massanetta (Middle School) and Montreat (High School). There is plenty of evidence that
these opportunities can be life changing and faith strengthening experiences. Remaining funds will go toward similar Youth mission opportunities in the future. Thank
you to everyone who participated and supported the youth!
Educational Grant
Assistance Fund
Each year, Lexington Presbyterian Church offers grants for educational assistance.
These grants are not limited to college; they can also be used for vocational/technical
schools, graduate or professional programs, or other specialized training. Information about the Educational Grant Assistance Fund, instructions for submitting an
application, and the grant application form can be found on the Lexington Presbyterian website (www.lexpres.org/html/grants_edu.htm).
All applications for the Educational Grants are due in the church office by May 1.
Complete and submit the application online or print the application from the website
and return it to the church office by May 1. Awards will be announced by June 1.
Call the church office if you have questions.
9
THE ROAD THROUGH EASTER
The road through Easter began with a road through death—-and not death
made tolerable by the hands of some skilled mortician, but a death that reeked of
blood, of thorns crushed down on a sweating brow, of flesh pierced by a spear. It was
a death that had its origin in betrayal, hypocrisy and fear. None of us has ever seen a
crucifixion, let alone experienced it; but the stark language of Biblical description
leaves no doubt that it was gruesome.
What was God’s purpose in allowing this to happen? The second chapter of
Hebrews tries to explain. “Since we, God’s children, are human beings—-made of flesh
and blood—-He became flesh and blood too, by being born in human form; for only as
a human being could he die and in dying break the power... of. death. Only in that way
could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as
slaves to constant dread.” (The Living Bible paraphrase)
The men who did this were men of power. But these men of power had some
uneasy feelings about the whole procedure. So to hasten death they broke the legs of
the two criminals crucified with Jesus, but found Jesus himself already dead. Dead
bodies were unsightly and it would soon be the morning of the Sabbath. They closed
his tomb with a rock, sealed it in place, even set a guard. With a cleaned-up landscape
they went to worship, while the body of Jesus lay where men of power wanted it sealed in a tomb. Observed Ginny Barksdale in the March 1977 Presbyterian Survey,
“So much for law and order. Love had other plans.”
And we of the Christian faith, many centuries later, are the beneficiaries of that
love and those plans, despite our tendency to leap-frog over Maundy Thursday, Good
Friday and Holy Saturday. For many of us, the pinnacle of Easter joy comes when we
hear the music of Handel’s Messiah, especially the conclusion to Part Two with its crescendo of The Hallelujah Chorus. The Messiah as a whole was written in a little more
than three weeks, during which the composer, working morning, noon and night, hardly
touched the food set before him. When he had finished The Hallelujah Chorus he
rushed to the window weeping with joy, and his servant heard him cry, “I did think I did
see all heaven before me and the great God himself!”
Such passionate joy cannot be sustained at that peak indefinitely. But as we
settle back into a more routine existence, there is a sense of renewal that persists, that
even invades the world of nature that surrounds us. Years ago this columnist tried to
give that feeling words:
Through soft woods earth from cradle seeds of brown
The small green shoots push up their spikelet heads
To seek the light of sun above the ground
And leave beneath their shells of winter beds.
Through hard, cracked clay of soul and spirit dry
He comes, so long despaired; and hearts grown dull
With hours of waiting under darkest sky
Are bathed in light of Easter Miracle.
10
cdg
The Lexington Presbyterian Church
Session “At Work”—March 3, 2015
DATA
 Current Membership—546
 Transfer-Roy Rudasill to a church
in Florida
 Pastoral Concerns were shared
and prayer offered.
 Shared thank you notes from
presbytery Budget and Finance
Committee, Union Presbyterian
Seminary, RARA, Rockbridge Area Hospice, and Rockbridge Area
Health Center.
Outreach
 Working with Congregational Life
to feed the Project Horizon volunteers on March 26.
Congregational Life
 Project Horizon builders, Timber
Framers, will be fed at our
Thantastic Thursday meal on
March 26.
Planning
 Session Retreat—3/21; 9-12:00
SESSIONAL COMMITTEES
Worship
 The old hymnals will be picked up
for use at Sunnyside and Craigsville.
Communications
 LexPres Welcome Kits were developed and mailed to all in the
congregation. They will begin being used right away.
 The City implementation is being
planned to begin phased use
soon.
Property
 Mold abatement in the manse has
been completed and the manse
cleaned. Mike Strickler and Doug
Caldwell were overseers of the
project. The co-op will test the
house on March 4. Then the pastors may move back into the
manse.
 Randolph St. landscaping project
to begin in Spring. Two dogwood
trees were donated for this project.
 Stage electrical box work has
been completed
 Sanctuary carpet being cleaned
 The steeple project continues.
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Major Report
The Major Report of the Christian Education Committee was presented by
Elder Dugan and Sarah Hill (see page
12 for synopsis of the report).
Exploring Our Calling
The group read and discussed an article by Philip Yancy called “What he
observes about churches”.
The meeting ended with a Prayer of
Dedication and a responsive Charge
and Benediction.
Next Administrative Council meeting: Wednesday, April 1, 2015,
4:30 p.m.
Next Session meeting: Tuesday,
April 7, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE ANNUAL SESSION REPORT
March 3, 2015
(Synopsis of report—-see the full report in the church office)
The Christian Education Committee currently consists of the following members
Session: David Dugan (Chair), Robin Telsch (Vice-Chair), George Ray, Katie Lee,
Liz Ramsey, Derek Carter
Congregation at large: Fran Elrod
Ex Officio Members: Bill Klein (Pastor), Sarah Hill (Associate Pastor)
The 2014-15 Christian Education program consists of four sub-committees:
Children:
Sub-Committee: Derek Carter (Chair), Mary Dugan, Betsy Woody, Gaye
Johnson
Activities and Projects include: Secret Pal Program, Elements of Faith class for
fifth graders (led by Sarah Hill), Easter egg hunt, Bibles to 3rd graders, Christmas
Pageant – “Double Take – the Nativity from Matthew and Luke” – including Monte Python out-takes.
Youth:
Sub-Committee: Robin Telsch (Chair), Ruth Floyd, Karla Murdock, Liz Shupe,
Katie Lee, Elizabeth Schwartz, Amy Oblinger, Gretchen Sukow and Andrew Jewell.
Youth Group Activities and Projects include: Sunday evening dinners (provided
by members) and program (average 15 youth); 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off and Auction
(raised $4,300); Youth Sunday; Bowling; Corn Maze; Pool party at member’s private
pool; Set-up for Community Table; work in Campus Kitchen Garden; Christmas Basket
Packing; Gathering with community Youth Groups for game night; Souper Bowl of
Caring collection; Canned Sculpture Contest with community Youth Groups; 5 Confirmands: Claire Moreschi, McKenzie Perkins, Keely Doyle, Mallory Keeley, Grace
Huffman in 2014.
Campus Ministry:
Sub-Committee: Liz Ramsey (Chair ), Mac Baker, Carol Bryan, Snookie Calwell,
Vern Fairchild, Bill Grace, George Ray, Sarah Hill (staff)
Activities and Projects include: Educational Grant (in 2014 awarded $4,695 to 13
recipients); pizza supper during VMI Summer STP; Rat Sunday Breakfast; table at
VMI and W&L matriculations; reorganization of Adopt a Student Program (at least 7
host families); Lunch at Tong Dynasty; VMI/W&L fall exam bags; Subway Christmas
gift cards (approx. 30 LPC students); Campus Kitchen Souper Bowl; Adopt LPC Students (committee members ‘adopted’ LPC college students).
Adult:
Sub-Committee: Fran Elrod (Chair), Mary Dugan, Debbie Friedman, Donna Garnett, Moni Keeley
Activities and Projects include: Thantastic Thursdays (average 70) dinner/
program; Lectio Divina (Tuesday mornings); Festival of Faith (bi-annual: next 2016).
David Dugan, 2015 Chair CE Committee
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Table of Contents
Inside This Issue
Page Numbers
Notes from the Clergy……...……..….1
April Preaching Schedule…….......….2
Miscellaneous…………………….…3-5
Helping Hands/Friends in Need... ….6
Rafiki Report…………………………...7
Christian Education/Youth..……..…8-9
Road Signs….…………..…...…...….10
Session………………………………..11
Christian Education Major Report.....12
April Calendar…....….…...….............13
13