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4150 HIGHLAND AVENUE
BUTLER, PA 16001
WWW.MERIDIANPRES.ORG
724.482.2630
Meridian Presbyterian Church
Pastor
Rev. Dr. Stephen Franklin
Dir. of Youth & Family Min.
Mike Barton
Secretary
Nicole Vislay
Treasurer
Honey Royer
Media Director
Laura Franklin
Choir Director
Vicki Georgic
Musician
Debbe Picerno
Custodian
Dave Fox
Nursery Coordinator
Sarah Murtha
The Lens & Mirror
The Light of Meridian
Continued on page 2...
March
2020
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
We have hit max capacity in the Franklin household, and I’m not just
talking about kids. With 4 young boys we have more cars, trucks, balls,
and toys than we know what to do with. The clothes are piling up and the
storage places are full. I don’t share this because we don’t have enough
space, I share it because we have too much stuff! Over the last several
months, as the babies grow out of things, we have started to donate,
purge, and get rid of things we no longer need. This has given us some
breathing room and, in many ways, more order, at least as much as we
can have at this stage.
When I was a kid my parents would make us “Spring Clean” every year.
We’d work for a couple days, cleaning and organizing the entire house. I
hated it as a kid. However, looking back on it, with 6 kids in the house, I
get it. Ever have that satisfied feeling of cleaning out the mess? Have you
ever sat down in the clean house, after a lot of hard work, and felt a
sense of accomplishment and calm? This is what the season of Lent
is all about.
Romans 12:12
From the Desk of
Pastor Steve… Article Continued...
Lent is like going through a “Spring Cleaning” for the soul. We give something up
not out of ritual or religion, but because we’re readying the soul and spirit for the
resurrected Lord. NT Wright says, “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for
honesty, not because God is mean or fault- finding or finger-pointing, but because
he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he
now has in store.” We hope you will join us in this holy season of confession,
prayer, and fasting as we trust in the forgiveness of Jesus to cleanse us. It’s
cleaning out season. May we prepare our souls for the joy of the resurrected Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Steve
“Be joyful
in hope,
patient
in affliction,
faithful
in prayer.”
We would like to thank our Meridian
Church family for all the cards,
prayers, and visits during Arthur’s
recent heart surgery. Your love and
concern has touched us deeply.
Recovery is slow, but progressing
nicely.
Art & Marion Eckstein
Thank you for the prayers, thoughts,
and cards during my recent bout with
cancer. God does answer prayer.
Chery Wehr
Lent Series
Giving it Up, Letting it Go Many people practice fasting during the season of Lent. We often refer to this as, “giving something
up.” As we reflect on this practice, what does it look like for us to give up the ways of the world and
cling to what is good and righteous? As those who bear the image of Christ, we have to give up and
let go.
March 1st
“Giving Up Control”
Focus Passage: Philippians 4:4-8
Secondary Passage: Jeremiah 29:7-14
Synopsis: We live in a world and culture where
we have a good amount of control over the
things that happen to us in our lives. At least
we seem to believe we do. But what happens
when we can’t control our circumstances or
people around us? To follow Christ is to
surrender. To follow Christ is to give up control.
March 15th
“Giving Up Anger”
Focus Passage: Ephesians 4:26-31
Secondary Passage: Psalms 37:1-8
Synopsis: Anger only leads to evil. As
Christians we must carry ourselves with
patience and trust. We know the end of all
things is the glory of God.
March 8th
“Giving Up Prejudice”
Focus Passage: Galatians 3:23-29
Secondary Passage: Deuteronomy 10:17-21
Synopsis: We all carry with us some kind of
assumption about others. Reconciliation is
required by those who claim to follow Jesus.
For those who have been baptized with Christ,
have received a new identify, and we are all
called the children of God. In his kingdom there
are no Jew or gentile, male or female, slave or
free. For we are all one in Christ. May we be a
force for reconciliation in our world.
March 22nd
“Give Up Hate”
Focus Passage: Matthew 5:43-48
Secondary Passage: Proverbs 25:21-22
Synopsis: Hate can be a seed that grows deep
and wide in a person’s soul. Hate is destructive
and no good can come from it. As Christians,
we are called to a different way, the way of love.
We should love our enemies, not just in theory,
but in action. As Martin Luther King Jr.’ s words
still ring true today for the church, “Hate cannot
drive out hate, only love can do that.”
March 29th
“Give Up Revenge”
Focus Passage: Colossians 3:12-17
Secondary Passage: Isaiah 1:16-18
Synopsis: It’s easy to hold on to bitterness
about the past. People have wronged us and we
are justified in our anger. Yet Jesus does not
hold our sins against us. We want mercy for
ourselves and justice for others. However, the
gospel calls us to a life of forgiveness. Just as
we have received forgiveness of Jesus, we must
offer it to others. Give up revenge and fill your
life with grace.
March 15th continued
“Giving Up Anger”
Synopsis: How we carry ourselves and the way
we live tells the world what we believe. The
glory of God dwells within us. Let go of the
anger, bitterness, and rage and be set free to
dwell in his joy.
What’s Happening……….
• Approved the contract with the Montessori
Preschool of Meridian for the 2020-2021
school year. They will be renters and not
associated with church.
• Approved a final reading of the new
church bylaws and have sent them for
review by the Deacons and Trustees.
• Recommended Elder, Dave Freund, to
begin the commission lay pastor program
offered by ECO.
A craft project is being planned for early in
November. Buttons with 2 or 4 holes will be
used. All colors are needed, especially larger
ones! Please don’t throw out that old button
box just yet! Date and time for the craft
project to be announced in the fall! Thank you!
• Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday,
April 5th after worship service at 12 PM
• Spring Summit Youth Retreat at Camp
Fredrick in Ohio May 8th—May 10th.
• Summer Mission Trip to Tennessee
June 14th—June 20th.
• Vacation Bible School June 22nd—June
26th.
• Summer Blast Kids Summer Day Camp
July 20th—24th.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Mike’s Page
Our Club 35 Program
split up in February!
The guys enjoyed some
time playing pool,
foosball, and watching
some of the Daytona
500! Some serous guy
time! Our ladies
enjoyed an afternoon of
pampering, watching a
chick flick, getting their
nails and hair done.
Both groups enjoyed
snacks and their time
hanging out!
CLOSED FOR MARCH!
Our Club 35 program will be on
break until April 19th! Please
check out our Kingdom Kids
program during our Faith and
Fellowship Wednesday Nights
during Lent!
Whether its our All Church mission trip in March or the
youth mission trip in June our youth are committed to
helping those in need. Robyn and Mike will represent
the youth group in Florida in March. We will be
rebuilding four roofs on homes that were damaged
during hurricane Michael a few years ago. The
families affected by that hurricane have yet to be able
to return home. A new roof will be one of the last
steps that will help those families be able to return
home.
Our trip in June will be to Gatlinburg Tennessee.
Gatlinburg, as many of you know, has become a tourist
area but back in the hills of the Smokey Mountains
there are a lot of people who cannot afford repairs to
their homes. We will be running a fundraiser in April
to support our efforts in Tennessee. The youth hopes
you will consider donating towards the trip.
Youth Group March Calendar:
Saturday, February 29th - March 7th
All Church Mission Trip Florida
Sunday, March 15th :
9 AM - Community Lunch Packing
11:45 AM - Deliver Lunches
12:00 PM - Youth Group
Youth Group Skiing!
Jacob, Josh, and a few of
Jacob’s friends joined in on
some fun skiing at Peak’ n Peek
on Saturday, February 22nd. No
lessons for anyone this year so
it was a solid day of skiing!
03/01 Stephanie Toniolo
03/03 Pat Doutt
Diane Sweet
03/07 Hannah Gregor
03/09 Russell Forsythe
Ruth Monnie
03/10 Gary Schneider
03/11 Rodney Doutt
Kathy Stewart
03/12 Melissa Ann Rudolph
Robert Myers
03/13 Rebecca Longdon
Debbe Picerno
03/18 Cora Murtha
03/19 Art Kearns
Philip Kearns
03/20 Louise Bush
Ernie Oesterling
03/24 Eric Shiever
03/25 Frank Mutz
Lori Campbell
03/26 Peg Morrison
Brielle Siefker
03/28 Tyler Karner
03/29 Robyn Freund
03/30 Timmi Longdon
Cole Lyons
Harriet Sanderson
03/10 Mark & Laura Jordan
03/20 John & Linda Oesterling
03/22 Greg & Carolyn Timko
03/25 Scott & Timmi Longdon
If your birthday or anniversary is missing
or incorrect, please call the office
(724-482-2630) or email Nicole at
so it can be corrected.
Thank you!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Mission Trip
Through March 7th
Communion Sunday
2
6:30 PM M.O.M.S
312 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
NO Deacon’s &
Trustee’s Meeting
4
No Coffee and
Conversation
10 AM M.O.M.S
5:45 PM Kingdom
Kids
5 6 7
8
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
9
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
1012 Noon-
Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
6:30 PM Session
Meeting
11
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
5:45 PM Kingdom
Kids
5:45 PM Faith &
Fellowship Dinner
12
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
13
14
15
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
9 AM Pack
Community Lunches
12 PM Community
Lunch
12 PM Youth Group
16
6:30 PM M.O.M.S
17
12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
18
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
10 AM M.O.M.S
5 PM Community
Dinner
5:45 PM Kingdom
Kids
19
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
20
21
22
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
23
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
24
12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
25
8AM Coffee and
Conversation
5:45 PM Kingdom
Kids
26
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
27 28
29
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
12 PM Youth Group
to Pinball PA
30
10 AM—2 PM
Sewing Group
31
12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
*WEEKLY
SUNDAY
EVENTS
9:45 AM Sunday
School
11 AM Worship
Meridian Presbyterian Church
4150 Highland Avenue
Butler, PA 16001
