1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

April 2015
THE VIEW FROM HERE
Greetings,
As April approaches, we are entering into a very busy
season of the year. April 2nd is Maundy Thursday, with a soup
supper at 6:00 pm and Maundy Thursday service with
communion at 7:00 pm. Maundy Thursday is when we
remember the night on which Jesus was betrayed, and when
he celebrated “The Last Supper” with his disciples.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus didn’t pass the bread or cup as
in the other three Gospel accounts. Instead, he washed the feet
of his disciples and gave them a new command:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
That’s where we get the term “Maundy Thursday.” Maundy
means “Commandment.”
“Love one another as I have loved you.” said Jesus.
What would happen if we would love each other that way?
What if we laid down our lives, our agenda, our power, our
control and even our opinions the way Jesus laid down his
life? What a different world this would be if we humans really
cared about other people, especially those who have no voice
and no power; no wealth or status; the way Jesus treated them?
Jesus’ words are NEVER easy for us to hear. He never
supported the status quo; or the rich and powerful. He always
sided with those who were left out and left behind, and that’s
what he challenges each of us who would follow him to do.
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
That’s what Maundy Thursday is about. It’s a night to
remember Jesus’ challenge to all of his followers to actively
demonstrate love and caring for all people, just as he did. It led
him to the cross, where will such actions lead us?
“By the power of your great love,
O God, you have raised Jesus from
death to new life. We ask to be
joined in his resurrection so that
we may be freed from all that
binds us. Roll away the stones
covering our lives so that we might
serve you with joy. By your Spirit,
grant that we may follow the Risen
Christ into the future you are ever
creating. Make us excited to live
by the kingdom you have begun
and are bringing to our world in
Christ Jesus, in whose glorious
name we pray. AMEN.”
(Lawrence W. Farris)
The Mission of First Presbyterian:
As followers of Jesus Christ, we will
nurture a Christian community that:
grows in God’s love,
cares for one another, and
responds to the needs of the world.
WING
We’re GRO
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ken Ribe
disciples of Jesus
who…
GROW in God’s love through...
weekly worship
regular group, family & personal study
CARE for one another through…
daily prayer
friendships in our church community
RESPOND to the needs of the world through…
service in and beyond First Presbyterian
generous giving
We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.
2 www.firstpresgf.org
First Presbyterian Church, April 2015
CLERKS CORNER
Dennis Junk, Clerk of Session
At its Stated Meeting in March, Session:


Heard that the Pastor Nominating Committee is continuing work on the Mission Information Form.
Heard that during the past month, Pastor Ken has:

Planned Ash Wednesday Service;

Worked with Tatiana on service/bulletin details, performance and future;

Met with Finance Committee;

Met with Traditional Worship Committee;

Led Adult study on the Reformation;

Met with Personnel Committee;
Met twice with Music on the Edge planning team;

Made a hospital visit

Decided, based on a recommendation from the Finance Committee, to rescind and earlier action and to pay Per Capita
due from 2011 as soon as possible and to pay Per Capita due for 2015 by the end of this year.

Heard from the Personnel Committee that Tatiana has finished her contract with Express Personnel and will be hired
as a church employee when she returns from vacation a week from Monday.

Heard from the Worship Team: that there would be one service for Easter (5 April 2015) but no meal.

Decided to discontinue with the “Meet and Greet” at the beginning of the service and to replace it with a formal
welcome to visitors and a sharing of birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

Discussed whether to attempt to hire an intern for summer and determined that there would need to be a commitment
from parents before such a step should be attempted.

Discussed revising our team structure to a committee structure, with each committee having a Session representative
to report on the committee’s activities. Agreed on the following standing committees, with representation as indicated;
more work is needed to define what each committee will do and to recruit additional committee members from the church
membership at large.

Building and Property: Richard Jorde

Communication/Publicity: Laurie Elhard

Education: Delphine Gregoire, Bonnie Jacob Forsyth

Finance and Stewardship: Laurie Elhard

Hospitality: Linda Shaw Elgin, Donna Thompson, Judy Simmons

Nominating: Josh Lindenberg




Outreach and Mission: Linda Shaw Elgin, Donna Thompson
Personnel: Mike Swanson, Josh Lindenberg
Worship:
Session meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The next stated Session meeting is April 9, 2015. As
always, members with concerns or ideas are encouraged to come to the open forum at the beginning of each stated
Session meeting. If you are not able to come to the meeting in person, but would still like your voice to be heard, you are
welcome to write a letter to the Session or to seek out a member of Session prior to a stated meeting.
3 www.firstpresgf.org
SUN
MON
First Presbyterian Church, April, 2015
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
2
3
4
6pm Soup Supper
7pm Maundy
Thursday Service
9am Bulletin
Folding
7pm Korean Prayer
8am Men’s
Breakfast
9:30am Church
Quilters
9
6:30pm Church
Quilters
5
6
Communion
10am Combined
Service
Office Closed
9am CD Ministry
1pm Community
Quilters
10
11
4pm Finance Team 7pm Session
6:30pm Church
Quilters
7pm Middle School
Group
9am Bulletin
Folding
7pm Korean Prayer
9:30am Church
Quilters
14
15
17
18
1pm Community
Quilters
6pm Quilting class
7pm Book Study
4:30 Ladies Night
Leading Well, Leading Long
Out
6:30pm Church
2pm After Eve
9am Bulletin
Quilters
6pm KIN @ Day
Folding
7pm Middle School Report
7pm Korean Prayer
Group
7
1pm Community
Quilters
6pm Quilting class
8
NO Potluck
12
9am Contemporary Service
11am Traditional
Service
4pm Praise Team
13
9am CD Ministry
1pm Community
Quilters
16
9:30am Church
Quilters
Presbytery of Northern Plains Meeting
19
20
21
22
23
24
9am Contemporary Service
11am Traditional
Service
4pm Praise Team
9am CD Ministry
1pm Community
Quilters
2pm Hessed Bible
Study
1pm Community
Quilters
6pm Quilting class
7pm Book Study
6:30pm Church
Quilters
7pm Middle School
Group
5pm Quilts &
Coffee (Sanctuary,
Great Room &
Kitchen)
9am Bulletin
Folding
7pm Korean Prayer
26
27
28
29
30
1pm Community
Quilters
6pm Quilting class
7pm Book Study
1pm Newsletter
Folding
6:30pm Church
Quilters
7pm Middle School
Group
9am Contemporary Service
11am Traditional
Service
4pm Praise Team
5pm Music on the
Edge
9am CD Ministry
1pm Community
Quilters
25
9:30am Church
Quilters
10am Rummage
sale Meeting
4 www.firstpresgf.org
First Presbyterian Church, April 2015
APRIL
BIRTHDAY’S
Howard Smith
Travis Holum
Kenneth Hallgrimson
Devin Sherve
Karen James
Tad McGurk
Lois MacGregor
Susan Sheppard
John Whitcomb
Donna Helgerson
Paul Chan
Chad Moses
Shaylee Moses
William Crow
Delphine Gregoire
April 2nd
April 4th
April 8th
April 13th
April 15th
April 15th
April 18th
April 19th
April 21st
April 23rd
April 25th
April 25th
April 25th
April 26th
April 30th
VISIT THE CHURCH LIBRARY
A wide selection of books & magazines.
Check out books using the pocket card.
Children’s books are also available in the
Gloriosa Room.
Praise Team
Passionate for music? Then perhaps you are just the right type of
person to sign up for Praise Team.
If you are interested in joining please
seek out a member of the team, who
can be seen singing their hearts out in
the front of the church.
Adult Studies &
Discussion Groups
Men’s Breakfast (conversation) -1st Saturdays at
8:00 am at Perkins on Columbia
Women’s Circles
A Bible Study groups meets the second Monday of
each month at 2:00 pm. A book group meets the third
Thursday of each month at 2:00 pm, During the Fall/
Winter months. Please contact the church office for
details
Ladies Night Out
Every 3rd Wednesday at 4:30 pm-7:00 pm at
Dakota Harvest.
Book Study
Book study every Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm in the
conference room.
Sunday Programs for
Children
Young Children & Worship
10:10 am
Age 4 - Grade 6
April 12th, 19th, & 26th
Middle School Group
The First Presbyterian Church of Grand Forks, Middle
School Youth Group will meet on Wednesdays from
7-8:30 pm at the church. Come and join us in
discussions, devotions, music, service projects, and
socializing on:
April 8th
April 15th
April 22nd
April 29th
Check us out and see what you think! It will be a great
time to hanging out and have some fun.
5 www.firstpresgf.org
First Presbyterian Church, April, 2015
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP LEADER!
New Contemporary Worship Leader Ben Breidenbach is a Freshman at UND
studying Finance and Economics. He is involved in ONE, an advocacy and
volunteering organization, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and the UND
Varsity Gentlemen, an acapella group on campus. Music has been a huge part
of his life and he is looking forward to being able to make music with First
Presbyterian.
“I will sing for your love and justice, to you, Oh Lord, I will sing Praise”
Psalm 101:1
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING!
On Easter Sunday, we join with many other Presbyterian Churches, the United Church of Christ; United
Methodists and a few other mainline denominations in receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering
(OGHS). The OGHS is one of the offerings that we support that makes a huge difference in the lives of people
here in the United States (US) as well as around the world. It is, in my mind, one of the best things we do as a
church. All across the world our denomination works in many communities where people lack access to basic
necessities like food, clean water, education, or sanitation. Your gift supports programs that work to end
hardships and address many of the things we take for granted here in the U.S. For example, each year 1.4
million children die because of poor sanitation; one in nine people around the world do not have access to safe
and clean drinking water. In many countries, each day, women and children walk miles to a river to get water
for their families for the day.
Through the OGHS we are working to provide for some of these basic needs that we take for granted. You can
read more about this offering in the bulletin inserts. Please give generously because your gift will make a
difference in the lives of real people. Thanks
ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR PRESBYTERY!
What is “Presbytery?” If that is a question that you are
asking, do we have an opportunity for you!
On April 17 and 18, we are hosting the Spring
Presbytery meeting of Presbytery of the Northern
Plains. We are expecting somewhere in the vicinity of
80 to 100 people here from all across the region. Bob
and Susan Sheppard are coordinating the evening meal
on the 17th, but they will need help with both set up
and clean up. We also need people to bring cookies;
bars; pastries; fruit and veggie trays, etc. for afternoon
snacks as well as morning snacks on Saturday the 18th.
We need people to be at the registration table; and
others to greet and help our guests to feel welcome
here.
This is also an opportunity for you to come and
observe what goes on at a presbytery meeting, and
learn a bit about how we are a “connectional church.”
There are many opportunities for you to serve. Please
sign up on the big board by in the fellowship hall, or
call the church office and let us know how you are
willing to help.
If you have an idea for an
article or advertisement that could go in the newsletter.
Please feel free to contact Tatiana at 775-5545 or
[email protected].
Prayer Chain
To request prayer
for yourself or a loved one,
please call:
Bonny Crow at 775-6425 or
email Tatiana at [email protected]
Please secure permission
before using a person’s
full name in your request.
6 www.firstpresgf.org
First Presbyterian Church, April 2015
CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE!
Mark your calendars for the upcoming church rummage sale on Saturday, May 2nd! The
sale is planned from 8:00 am-2:00 pm with an early entrance at 7:00 am for those that want
to pay $2.00.
You may start to bring your donations to the church on April 20th and have them here no
later than noon on Friday, May 1st. We ask that all items be clean and ready to sell. We
will accept clothing but ask that it is up to date and gently used. We will not be taking any
TVs or computer monitors. If you are able to price your items that would be very helpful as well.
In order for our sale to be a success we will need many volunteers to help with set up, cashiers the day of the
sale and of course clean up. Please consider signing up to help as you can! A portion of the money collected at
the sale will be donated to The Third Street Clinic with the remaining used for a new foosball table for the
church and other church projects.
We will be making signs for the sale on Saturday April 25th at 10:00 am at the church. All are welcome to
help. Set up for the sale will start Thursday, April 30th. A sign up board for opportunities to help with the
sale will be posted at the church soon!
Preston E., Emily W., Zoe E., Charlie E., Tanner F., Avery G, Delphine,
Kelly F., Youth not Pictured: Abby F., and Brooke J.
YOUTH MAKING AN IMPACT!
On Saturday, March 14, 2015, the Youth Group
delivered the items collected for the Circle of
Friends Humane Society. They were also able to
present a check of $209 from the bake sale that will
go towards medical cost of the animals in the
shelter. Thank you to everyone who donated items
and purchased the treats.
The youth and their families had a tour of the
humane society and learn different aspects of pet
care and about animals in general. Many of the
youth (and their parents) had one or two animals
who had became their favors throughout the
afternoon.
In April the youth group will explore their faith and
science. They plan on building rockets and have a
guest speaker, Ron Fevig, an Professor at the
University of North Dakota.
If any youth are interested in joining us, we meet
on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. at the church. All are welcome.
Zoe E. playing with adoption hopeful Landon (the dog).
THANK YOU!
Your recent gift to the Circle of Friends Humane Society was deeply appreciated. Thank you for your commitment to the welfare of
animals.
7 www.firstpresgf.org
First Presbyterian Church, April, 2015
VOLUNTEER AT NORTHLAND RESCUE MISSION!
You are invited to volunteer at the Northland Rescue Mission with other Presbyterian churches in our
region. We will gather at the Northland Rescue Mission on April 22, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. Where we will get a
tour of the facility and help serve the noon meal. Then we will help brain-storm future events for our region.
First Pres is part of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains North-East Ministry Region. Regions were
formed to create opportunities to better get acquainted with your nearby Presbyterian brothers and sisters and
unite in mission and ministry. It is expected these will be unique times of sharing.
It is a great opportunity to give back to the community and get to know each other as we plan future
gatherings together! Please RSVP to the church office by April 15, 2015.
TEN REASONS TO VOLUNTEER!
#10: It's good for you.
 Reduces stress.
#9: It saves resources.
 Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.
#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.
 You can test out a career.
#7: It brings people together.
 Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
#6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem.
 Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.
#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.
 Support families
 Improve schools
 Support youth
#4: You learn a lot.
 Discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self worth.
#3: You get a chance to give back.
 People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care
about.
#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.
 Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in
it.
#1: You make a difference.
 Every person count.
https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/involvement/community/reasons.html