Jeff’s thots on living the Faith

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April 2016 CHIMES

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

7100 Harvard Hills Rd.

P.O. Box 846Harvard, IL. 60033

Office Phone 815-943-4473 Jeff’s Home 815-943-4572

In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; he reigned

forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-

sheba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all his days, because the priest Jehoiada instructed him.

2 Kings 12:1-2

As we turn to the next month’s readings in our 50 Weeks Through the Bible, we come to the section of the Old Testament that records the history of the Kings of Judah and Israel. Shortly after King Solomon’s son succeeds him there is a civil war in the land and the kingdom that Saul and David had established gets broken up into two countries. The Northern Kingdom known as Israel and the Southern Kingdom known as Judah. As many times as I have read these chapters I find myself paging back and forth to keep track of who is who. But there is one consistent theme in these chapters.

The author of Kings will make a simple evaluation of the ruler over Israel or Judah with the simple phrase “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord” OR “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Sadly, most of the time we are told the king did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Over and over again the king leads his nation into sin and rebellion against God.

But for me the critical lesson is not so much whether the king did good or evil. For me the most important part of the record is the simple, easily overlooked phrase— IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD. It didn’t matter whether or not the King was doing what he thought was right. It wasn’t important whether or not the king was following his dream. The historian of the Book of Kings didn’t care a bit if the King was trusting his feelings. The only thing that counted was whether or not the King did what was right in the sight of the Lord.

We have gotten awfully confused about that. In the case of Jehoash he didn’t trust his own point of view. He relied upon the objective direction from God that was provided by a man of God. As we study the scriptures we get direct, objective knowledge of what is right in the sight of the Lord. To keep us balanced with what we are learning it is always good to check out the conclusions we have made with other spiritually mature Christians. There is much to be learned in a study of history. And this study of God’s people can be especially illuminating. May these lessons give you the grace to better discern what is right in the sight of the Lord.

Shalom,

Rev. Jeff

www.fpcharvard.org

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Daily scripture readings for weeks 14-18 of Reading Through the Bible in 50 Weeks

Week 14 Apriil 3-9

Day 1 1 Kings 11-13 & Psalm 80 The nation is divided by civil war Day 2 1 Kings 14-17 & Psalm 81 Ahab begins his battles with Elijah Day 3 1 Kings 18-20 & Psalm 82 Elijah’s victory over the Prophets of Baal Day 4 1 Kings 21-2 Kings 2 & Psalm 83 Elijah passes on his mantle Day 5 2 Kings 3-6 & Psalm 84 Elisha and the chariots of fire Day 6 2 Kings 7-10 & Psalm 85 Jehu returns the nation to YaWeH Week 15 April 10-16

Day 1 2 Kings 11-14 & Psalm 86 Joash the child king is advised by Jehoiada Day 2 2 Kings 15-17 & Psalm 87 Israel is destroyed because of its sins Day 3 2 Kings 18-20 & Psalm 88 Good king Hezekiah Day 4 2 Kings 21-23 & Psalm 89 The evil Manasseh and the good Josiah Day 5 2 Kings 24-25 & Psalm 90 The last days Day 6 1 Chronicles 1-4 & Psalm 91 A different perspective on the kings of Israel Week 16 April 17-23

Day 1 1 Chronicles 5-8 & Psalm 92 The history of the clans of Jacob Day 2 1 Chronicles 9-12 & Psalm 93 The beginning of David’s reign Day 3 1 Chronicles 13-16 & Psalm 94 David brings the Ark to Jerusalem Day 4 1 Chronicles 17-20 & Psalm 95 David’s victories Day 5 1 Chronicles 21-24 & Psalm 96 David charges Solomon to build the Temple Day 6 1 Chronicles 25-29 & Psalm 97 The organization of the temple Week 17 April 24-30

Day 1 2 Chronicles 1-4 & Psalm 98 Solomon prays for wisdom Day 2 2 Chronicles 5-8 & Psalm 99 Solomon dedicates the temple Day 3 2 Chronicles 9-12 & Psalm 100 The civil war divides the nation Day 4 2 Chronicles 13-16 & Psalm 101 Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord Day 5 2 Chronicles 17-20 & Psalm 102 Jehoshaphat is a righteous king Day 6 2 Chronicles 21-24 & Psalm 103 Jehoram dies to no ones regret Week 18 May 1-7

Day 1 2 Chronicles 25-28 & Psalm 104 Evil Ahaz gets it all wrong Day 2 2 Chronicles 29-32 & Psalm 105 The restoration of the Passover feast Day 3 2 Chronicles 33-36 & Psalm 106 The Book of Deuteronomy is discovered Day 4 Ezra 1-3 & Psalm 107 The exiles return to Judah Day 5 Ezra 4-6 & Psalm 108 A new Temple is built Day 6 Ezra 7-10 & Psalm 109 The returning exiles trust in God for protection

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CHIMES, SCREEN AND BULLETIN

ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINES

Bulletin and screen announcements MUST be in by

9 am the Wednesday morning before that Sunday.

For the CHIMES you must have your signed article in by

9 am the morning of the 21st

[Disclaimer: All articles will be printed “as is” as content/spelling is responsibility of

submitted author]

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CHIMES ARTICLES:

We follow guidelines for non profit organizations bulk mailing restrictions.

These restrictions relate to the type of advertisements allowed: the

advertisement of a product, service or announcement of an activity must

substantially contribute to one or more of the purposes on which our

organization is authorized. Restrictions also apply to cooperative mailings,

credit, debit, charge or similar financial instruments, or advertisements. These

restrictions became effective on October 1, 1995.

CHIMES usually available on-line on church’s website after the 26th of each month.

There will be paper copies of the CHIMES available in the Narthex after its

completion each month

KITCHEN INSPECTOR for the month of April

Is Florence Spesard

A kitchen inspector’s job is to check the kitchen and the parlor once a week during your month. Inspect

the refrigerator for spills, old food and beverages which should be thrown out because of being expired.

Please also take home any dish towels that need washing and return them the following week. If you are

unable to inspect for your month please get a fill in for you. Thank you for your help!!!!

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APRIL BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARY

Anniversaries Apr 06 M/M Thomas G. Jones Apr 07 M/M James Yates Apr 10 M/M John L. Beetstra Apr 13 M/M Joe Anderson Apr 13 M/M Craig Gleason Apr 16 M/MAndrew Sieck Apr 17 M/M Pete McDevitt Apr 22 M/M Gerald Kohel Apr 24 M/M Jim Gesselle Apr 28 M/M Dennis Bowe

Birthdays Apr 02 Landon Dolgach Apr 03 John Barton, Alexandra Wood Apr 04 Scott Thomas Apr 05 Gordy Ballweg Apr 07 Meghan Vermett, Zac Greco, Makalyn Peterson Apr 08 Mabel Hoey Apr 10 Kevin Williams Apr 11 Brian Robinson Apr 12 Coda Coffer Apr 13 Kim Krause, Pat Towne Apr 16 Nancy Clinnin, Rachael Hayes, Emma Finfrock Apr 17 Justin Grivna, Benjamin Woodcock Apr 18 Mallory Davis Apr 19 Thom Dapper, Anna Block Apr 21 Michael Jesski, Emma Sieck, Michael Davies Apr 23 Patrick Towne Apr 24 Noah Harvey, Jacob Walters Apr 26 Jeffrey Lenz, Carla Sipe, Kaleb Dapper Apr 27 Samantha Perales, Dan Olbrich Apr 28 Karen Kruckenberg Apr 29 Cody Salzman

POP TOP COLLECTION PROGRAM:

Little things can make a big difference. You can help the Ronald McDonald House in Chi-

cago by saving the little tabs you pull to open soda, soup or other aluminum can. The funds

generated from recycling these aluminum gems help offset the House’s expenses.

You can help by bringing your tabs to the church and placing them in the box by the door

of the work room.

Thank you, Florence Spesard

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CHURCH FUNDRAISERS

Sentry Funds for Friends: Shop at Sentry in Walworth, and save your cash register receipts,

A DATE MUST APPEAR ON EACH GROCERY RECEIPT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO

GIVE US CREDIT, please do not cut off the date on the receipts. GROCERY RECEIPTS

CAN NOT BE SUBMITTED IF THEY ARE MORE THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. Return your

receipts as soon as possible to the church with a Funds for Friends Sticker on the back and

place them in the container in the Narthex under our bulletin board.

Shop on line at www.igive.com to sign up. Enter your cause as “First Presbyterian Church of

Harvard” to earn us a % of your purchase for any of over 900 popular online sites. Many of

the sites are linked to igive.com, so once signed up, when you make a normal purchase we

will receive the donation automatically. You also can browse the participating sites at

igive.com and see the related % of giving through each retailer. Direct your questions to

Mike Engle.

WE ARE NO LONGER COLLECTING USED INK CARTRIDGES

HARVARD FOOD PANTRY

NEWS

Food Pantry Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of each

month but you can bring in donations anytime

and place in our grocery cart in the hallway.

Perishable items are purchased from cash

donations to the Pantry.

NO Presbyterian Work Day for April

Contact Florence if you are able to help.

CIRCLE IV

will meet on Thursday, April 14 at 1 pm

With Gladys hosting.

You may sign up to

receive your copy of the

monthly CHIMES via

your email by filling out a

yellow form available in

the Narthex by the

bulletin board for Jeff’s

weekly blog and return to

the church office.

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Sympathies to the

Families of:

Tom Davidson,

Steve Vermett,

Pat Moore

Whom we lost last month.

ICE CREAM SUNDAES !!!!!!!

Hosted by our Senior High Youth to benefit their

Mission Trip this year.

Saturday, April 16th and Sunday, April 17th

Go to the church website

www.fpcharvard.org

And see the church’s calendar and also

upcoming events.

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Mission

in the Works……….

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