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TidingsA Publication of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn Vol. 14 Issue 4, April 2009
PARSON TO PERSONDear Members and Friends,
Lent is 40 days—no more, no less. It is so carefully counted that it begins on a Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) and ends on a Saturday (Holy Saturday) and does not include the 6 Sundays in between. Got that?
Sundays are feast days—always—in the Christian calendar, and so are not included in the count because the days of Lent are to be spent fasting, reflecting on the costli-ness of Christ’s sacrifice and in self-examination which lead to repentance.
Easter marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Eastertide—a time of feasting, celebrating the resurrection of Christ and in grateful expressions for our salvation.
These things are timed annually and precisely. But they are not timed individually.
Perhaps, just perhaps, this year will be a longer Lent for some. The ongoing work of confessing our sin and hearing our Savior’s forgiveness may require a length-ened and sustained effort. Perhaps. Perhaps our nation is experiencing a long Lent. Perhaps. Perhaps our church may experience a longer Lent. Perhaps. Sometimes in national, congregational and individual life it feels that way. Perhaps.
But make no mistake about it. On Easter Sunday, April 12, we will celebrate the Day of Resurrection! It is not to be neglected; it cannot be postponed. The triumph over the grave and death was untimely then and the world was not prepared. It is untimely now.
Our congregation works hard on the continuing tasks before her. Our nation and our world struggle for justice, mercy, and to walk humbly with God. So do I. My sin is ever before me.
I have often said that preaching in Lent is easier for me than in Eastertide. My sin is so close to me and Christ’s sacrifice so real for me. I get my need and God’s gracious provision for that need. I learned it as a child. As an adult I am learning the power of the resurrection and God’s provision for the whole world.
Early in Lent I went away to study and write. I did, completing my self-assigned tasks. I spent much more time in confessing my sin before God than I had planned. Yet I came home early because some of the Lenten work I needed to do, I needed to do with others. Though that work continues, Easter is scheduled—perfectly and precisely.
I may never have anticipated nor needed Easter Sunday more than I do now. Prepared or not, the Day of Resurrection comes. And yes … I plan on feasting.
Praise be to God.
550 N. Main StreetGlen Ellyn, Illinois 60137P. 630-469-2007 F. [email protected]
In This Issue . . .
Holy Week 2009
Stewardship of Time: “Share Your Stories”
Finding Our True Selves in a Resurrection Moment
Worship Schedule
Saturday Evenings 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Childcare is available for K and under in the nursery.
Sunday Mornings 9:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Christian Education Starting at 9:30 a.m.
Highlights from
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Holy Week & Easter 2009
April 6, Palm Sunday 9:15 a.m. Worship (Contemporary, Sanctuary)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Traditional, Sanctuary)
April 9, Maundy Thursday 6:00 p.m. Seder Meal (Gathering Place) 7:30 p.m. Worship (Sanctuary)
April 10, Good Friday Noon–3:00 p.m. Open Time for Prayer (Chapel) 7:00 p.m. Worship (Celebration Hall)
April 11, Holy Saturday (Communion) 5:00 p.m. Worship (Chapel)
April 12, Easter Sunday 8:00 a.m. Worship (Contemporary, Celebration Hall)
9:30 a.m. Worship (Contemporary, Celebration Hall)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Traditional, Sanctuary)
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICEApril 9—7:30 p.m. in the SanctuaryMusic • Scripture • Sermon • Foot Washing (optional) • Communion
Maundy Thursday is the day during Holy Week when we remember Jesus’ final words to his disciples before his arrest and trial. He said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13) Before breaking the bread, pouring the wine, and engaging in a sacred meal with the disciples, Jesus washed their feet. The embar-rassed disciples were largely opposed to this sacramen-tal act of cleansing, but they nonetheless submitted to the Lord’s wishes. They knew his servant heart.
Jesus removed his outer garment, wrapped a towel around his waist, picked up a basin of water and began, one by one, to wash their feet. This action showed the humility and love of Jesus. It was a sacramental reminder of their mutual call. The foot washing was an invitation to follow in the way of self-giving and humble service.
This year, as we gather to remember the Lord’s Last Supper, we also gather to wash each others’ feet. During the service, worshippers will have the option of coming forward to one of several stations to have their feet washed. Remember to dress in a way so you can easily bare your feet should you choose to partici-pate in this meaningful ceremony and act of service.
We serve on another in the body of Christ. We wash one another’s feet. We care for one another in symbolic ways and in very real ways. Prayerfully consider your participation in this humbling and profound act of love and sacrifice.
SEDER MEALApril 9—6:00 p.m. in the Gathering PlaceWhen Jesus celebrated his Last Supper with the disciples, they were gathered
for a Seder Meal. This traditional Jewish feast brings family and friends together around the table to recount the story of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt. This is an occasion for praise and thanksgiving as we look to God’s provision, direction, and salvation.
You are invited to join the First Pres family and the Senior High youth ministry for an intergenerational, experiential night of learning as we gather for a Seder Meal. Jamie will teach through the components of the meal, with both a histori-cal focus and a Christological focus, and tables will participate in the prayers and conversations surrounding the meal. All ages are welcome; in fact the meal is intentionally designed for children and adults to interact together around the re-telling of the story. We will meet in the Gathering Place Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. for the meal; then the Maundy Thursday Service follows at 7:30 in the Sanctuary. Childcare is provided, though children 1st grade on up are encour-aged to eat with us. There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. E-mail Jamie Thompson at jthompson@fi rstpresge.org by Sunday April 5, and let him know how many will be attending.
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CREATION CARE DISCUSSION: “HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED”
Come and hear five respected local speakers dis-cuss New York Times colum-nist Thomas Friedman’s book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, and how Christians might respond, at First Presbyterian on Sunday, April 19, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Our panel-ists are:
David Neff: editor-in-chief at Christianity Today Magazine, speaking on Global Poverty and Politics
Norm Ewert, associate profes-sor of economics, and Sharon Coolidge (Ewert), chair of English at Wheaton College, on Sustainable Living
Erin Tuttle, The Conservation Foundation, on Biodiversity
Shefali Trivedi, SCARCE, on New Jobs in a Green Economy
Presentations will be followed by a Q&A and refreshments (provided by our sister creation care group at First Congregational), with time to meet and chat with the speakers. We’ll also give away a copy of the book.
This "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" seminar is sponsored by The Earthlings at First Presbyterian, with the hope we can make the church a place where ideas such as Friedman’s are discussed, debated, and acted on. Come, learn more about alleviating poverty, finding new jobs, taking care of creation, and how you can live more peace-ably and sustainably in God’s Kingdom.
RSVP appreciated to Cindy Crosby, [email protected], or 630-942-0827.
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GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIPApril 10. Noon—3:00 p.m. The chapel will be open for three hours (come and go as you
please) for meditation and prayer. Spiritual Formation ministry members will be available for those who want to pray with someone. Meditative music will be played intermittently on piano from 1:00–2:00 p.m. and on our new chapel organ from noon–1:00 p.m. and from 2:00–3:00 p.m.
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VBS 2009June 22–26, 9:30–NoonFor all kids, ages 4 through those
entering 5th Grade in Fall '09.
Register now! Forms are in the church office. Register early. Cost is $15 per child ($50 maximum per family) before May 1. After May 1, the cost goes up to $25 per child ($75 max/family).
STEWARDSHIP OF TIME: SHARE YOUR STORIESLast year we were challenged to spend ourselves in new ways. The
Stewardship Team explored the concept of “Stewardship as a Way of Life” through purposeful development of our time, talent and treasure for Christ’s service. Your response was wonderful in its testimony of desire to more deeply spend yourselves for Christ.
But a com-munity of stew-ardship cannot flourish if pur-sued in isola-tion. Therefore we are asking for stories of what has happened as you sought to follow your commitments, beginning with “stewardship of time.” For example, what have you discovered, what are the challenges, what have been the surprises?
Wise stewardship of time is crucial to both our own and our church’s spiritual health. With the sometimes-frantic pace of family, business and social activities it can become difficult to carve out time for our magnificent God. We need time to spend in His Word, both alone and in small groups, in prayer and contempla-tion, in fellowship with our faith community and in worship. By so doing Christ’s power to renew and redeem is unleashed in unexpected, amazing ways.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss your experiences and how they can help to build up the life of our church. Numerous paths of communication are possible, from a Sunday Witness to a Tidings article/note to an anonymous dis-cussion that can be used as background or included in a larger communication on our congregation’s progress. All of your experiences are important and valu-able!
We are a community of saints traveling together on God’s wonderful path. Let’s share our stories, sure in the knowledge that “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
ADULT EDUCATION: “SCHOOL OF
CHRISTIAN LIVING”April 19–May 17
The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice
Facilitated by Adult Education ministry team members Amy Treier, Jeff Crosby, Bob Fryling, and Ron Blaukamp
9:45 a.m.Far too many of us have nar-
row definitions of worship. But what does the Bible say about this important topic? We’ll look at Mark Labberton’s book that challenges us to authentic worship that points us upward to God and outward to the needs of the world.
Glorifying God in Your Business Life
Led by Mark Birchler and Jeff Seifert
10:30 a.m.Integrating our Christian faith
into business careers can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. The sheer pace, complicated by difficult ethical dilemmas makes every day a new challenge. Sometimes we may even wonder if it’s possible to serve and glorify God fully within this vocation. In this class we’ll explore how this can indeed be accomplished. Let’s examine Scripture and engage with each other in dialogue to seek the answers.
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FINDING OUR TRUE SELVES IN A RESURRECTION MOMENT
Some thoughts from Barbara Hughes on behalf of the Spiritual Formation Ministry Team
And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here. St. Augustine
Imagine going to the garden on Easter morning. You are deep in despair and grief. The One you saw as the Messiah, the Savior of the world—the One who would establish a new kingdom—has been crucified and buried without ceremo-ny. The One you loved, the One at whose feet you sat, is gone from you. How can you go on?
And then, a radiant angel appears. The angel says, “Don’t be afraid! . . . go quickly and tell his disciples.” Then Jesus Himself appears in all His glory and says, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers.” You are afraid, but you are also “filled with great joy.” Matthew 28
In her book, Inner Compass, Margaret Silf suggests Mary Magdalene’s first thought, now that Jesus has returned, may have been that things can go on as they were. But the message of the angel, and of the Savior Himself, was to call her to how things would be. “In that brief but timeless encounter, Mary, and we along with her, moves forward from the frightened person who seeks to hold on to what she so fears to lose, to the confident and empowered apostle who leaves the garden to become the channel for the first flow of the pre-resurrection gos-pel. . . . into the promised fullness of life in Him.” This is “His liberating love . . . His unfailing faith” in us.
In Waking the Dead, John Eldridge speaks of this liberat-ing love and unfailing faith in us in another way. “Not only does Christ say to you that your heart is good [in Him], He invites you now out of the shadows to unveil your glory.” This is a glory God gave us when He created us, and which He encourages us to lay bare to others in Christ, even though we may fear exposing our own nakedness by letting them see “the truest us.”
Margaret Silf also urges us to seek and trust our own “true north,” that is, the point from which we lean into Jesus and know who we truly are in Him, because then “we touch the resurrec-tion glory ...” and move toward satisfying God’s purpose in our lives. She inspires a commitment to know and reveal our true selves through the knowledge of the risen Savior, saying, “Resurrection is a now moment, a sacramental moment that at once points us toward and brings about the fulfilling of God’s dream.”
“Return to our heart” (Augustine), “the truest us” (Eldridge), “our ‘true north’” (Silf). The resurrection opens us to a new resolution and true joy in our call to share genuine resurrection glory, to allow the radiance of the Son to reflect through us to the world.
This is our hope. This is our courage. This turns away all fear. This enables us to shine. Hallelujah!
Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. Pope John Paul II
ON THE ROAD AGAIN!The Older Adult Ministry Team is
sponsoring a great trip for Thursday, May 21—The I & M Canal Corridor Tour. A luxury motorcoach will depart First Pres at 9:00 a.m. The first stop will be Starved Rock Lodge for a deli-cious buffet, which will include hot entrees, sides, soup, salad, rolls and dessert. Following lunch, everyone will enjoy the beauty of the spring day on a trolley tour of Starved Rock Park. The day’s trip will continue on to the I & M Canal where everyone will board a boat for a guided tour down the historic canal.
Plan on returning to First Pres at 5:00 p.m. The cost for entire day, including lunch, is $83 per person. Call the church office, 630-469-2007, to reserve your spot!
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CALVIN’S CORNERIn celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin,
Pastor Jerry is offering monthly reflections during 2009 on the life, work, and influence of Calvin in the Church and in the world.
While I was on a study leave, I had the privilege of being the guest lec-turer for my son-in-law’s World History class, which he teaches at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He was in Dubai delivering a lecture on the Middle East and his scheduled history class was to be on the sixteenth century, so he asked me to lecture on the Protestant Reformation. A hundred and twenty students were thereby sentenced to hearing me hold forth for two hours on the excellencies of Calvin and Calvinism. At the end I almost gave an altar call. In the interest of full disclosure I told them that these ideas and practices were very influential to many of their contemporaries and that I am a Calvinist. Later I read that TIME magazine has listed the top ten ideas that are reshaping the world right now. Calvinism was number three.
I read a book that discusses the practical spread, influence and consequences of Calvinism in the first century after its beginning—Philip Benedict’s Christ’s Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of Calvinism. Benedict is a Jew teaching history and Religion at Brown. His book supported all my prejudices—primarily, whenever there was an even playing field in the sixteenth and seven-teenth centuries Calvin’s ideas and the practices built on them swept that field. This was not so because they were the easiest ideas, they are not, nor because they are the easiest practices, they certainly are not, but because they were deemed most truthful and life giving.
Whenever and wherever Calvinism spread, life changed. The life of the indi-vidual and the community was reformed. (Because this was so, the Calvinistic ideas and practices became known as Reformed.)
Let me illustrate with a tender and familial scene. Imagine it is the late sixteenth century. You are in a village somewhere in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, or England. It is twilight. You are stand-ing in the middle of the narrow streets that run through a neighborhood filled with modest homes. You close your eyes. You listen. You can tell if this is a Reformed or unreformed village. In the unreformed village, the mothers are putting their children to bed and singing the traditional lullabies — songs of the woods and streams filled with fairies and goblins—all the while attempt-ing to diminish the fears of the impending darkness, fears often found in the parents. In the Reformed village you can hear the mothers singing the Psalms to their children—
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;He leadeth me beside still waters.He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For thou art with me.Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…
The love of God is such as to save us. Completely. We will not fear. A sov-ereign God holds us in his hands. Nothing befalls us that is against his will for us. The doctrine of election—God choosing us for salvation—brings comfort to adult and child alike, and it influences even how we put to bed our children. That’s a reformation. The life so ordered is Reformed.
And no … though I told the filled lecture hall this story, I did not sing the Psalm to them.
E-MAIL TIDINGS IS ALMOST HERE!
To continue being good stew-ards of our budget and our resources (both the church’s and the earth’s), we are moving up the deadline for using e-mail as the primary delivery method for monthly issues of Tidings.
We have changed our July 1 deadline to May 1. Starting with the May issue (that’s next month) most copies of Tidings will be distrib-uted via e-mail as a PDF attach-ment. (This means everyone will be able to read Tidings. Just download a free PDF Reader. Then you can either read it onscreen, or print it out and read it using the traditional method.) Print copies will be available throughout the church for pick-up.
Call Dawn at the church office if you have questions or com-ments. Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to Tidings.
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STUART BRISCOE TO SPEAK AT OUTREACH COMMUNITY MINISTRIES SPRING BANQUET
Thursday, April 16 at The Abington.Known for his logic and wit, Stuart Briscoe
has been preaching since age 17. Now, close to 80, Stuart shows no sign of slowing down. He continues to proclaim the Gospel on nearly every continent.
After years of evangelism and Bible teach-ing in England, Stuart and Jill Briscoe moved to Wisconsin in 1970 where Stuart became senior pastor at Elmbrook Church. Over the next 30 years, weekly attendance grew from 300 to 7,000 and numerous sister churches were planted. Telling the Truth was founded during these exciting years to repurpose Stuart and Jill’s teaching so it could reach outside the walls of the church. It has grown into an international broadcast and internet ministry heard around the world.
In 2000, Stuart stepped down from his head pastor position, and he and Jill now serve as Elmbrook’s ministers-at-large, preaching in more than 100 countries. Stuart has authored over 50 books, including his memoir, Flowing Streams.
Call Bill Thompson for more information, 630-752-9181 or Debbie Page, 630-469-7687.
WALK-IN MINISTRY NEEDS OUR HELP
Walk-in Ministry (WIM) is the coordinated effort of Glen Ellyn churches to provide a coordinated source of compassionate aid to individuals and families in need, aiding clients in obtaining assis-tance for rent, utilities, clothing, transportation, prescriptions, food, and many other needs. WIM pro-vides financial assistance toward these needs within certain guide-lines, and helps clients to obtain further financial assistance from community and county resources. We try to be His voice and His hands. Volunteers from member churches staff the office Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
First Presbyterian provides funds and volunteers for WIM; but we need to provide more volunteers to carry our load in staffing the office. Volunteers need only to provide a once-a-month com-mitment. Those interested may contact Charlie Varvaro at 630-858-0276 or Dick Major at 630-690-2444.
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“THE PASTOR RECOMMENDS . . .”by Pastor Joan McKenzie
When I read the following article I was obviously reading it with our new President in mind. As time has passed and the severity of the crisis
this nation faces deepens and affects our community, I have become convinced that these prayers must be rightly solicited for the leadership of the church. We are in difficult waters with concerns for the well-being of a church (as well as a nation) leading to decisions needing to be made regard-ing the manner in which we live.
And so I will recommend that you read this article with a view to its similarities to our congregational life. The pastors need your prayers, the staff needs your prayers, the elders (the ruling body) of this church need your prayers. I will ask that when you finish reading (it shouldn’t take you long) you take two minutes to pray for the very things the author sug-gests we should pray for … except pray them for our church leadership. (Of course, I would suggest that you do this for the President as well but you can do that after the two min-utes of prayer for us!) We need your prayers to be equipped with “the strength of character and will to seek, say, and do what is right.” I ask you to join us in prayer that together we might seek and find God’s way, a way that has been dis-cerned through prayer, the truth of God’s Word, the leading of the Holy Spirit and that leads to shalom (“peace”), justice and God’s richest blessing not only for us but for the com-munity in which we serve.
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Mark Labberton, January 16, 2009
There is no better time to renew our commitment to pray for our leaders than the start of a new presidential adminis-tration. Barack Obama needs our prayers and we should give them freely and eagerly no matter how we may have voted.
I know our president needs prayer, because I know I do. My own life and pastoral leadership depends on prayer. I am aware that much of the blessing in the life of our church unfolds because of the prayers of people united in seeking God’s way. Blessings are not earned by prayer, nor should blessings be presumed because of prayer. But I do believe prayer increases our readiness to live humbly, wisely, and courageously.
These are also the qualities our new president needs. After a divisive campaign, an extraordinary economic collapse, a period of ecological vulnerability, and a time of war and global instability, our president and our nation need humility, wisdom, and courage. Wherever we or our congregations may be politically, these three qualities should guide our prayers for the leaders responsible for our nation and our
world. Leadership that is lacking in any of these three will be far less constructive than these trying times demand.
Our president needs the humility to live and lead in depen-dence upon God, practicing a clear estimate of our human and national limitations. Few qualities are more characteristic of Jesus than his willingness to serve in dependency on the Father, “emptying himself and taking the form of a servant.” Humble servant leadership is the essence of Jesus’ power. Let’s pray that as a new season of presidential leadership begins, Barack Obama will live before God with a clarified awareness of who he is and who he is not.
When we lead our people to pray for our national leaders, we are praying for them to be wise. That means that they will be men and women led by the truth, who will act with discernment and justice. We may be tempted to pray that certain policies or political ideologies are enacted by the gov-ernment, or for the authorities to establish our own utopian vision. This kind of prayer mistakenly treats the United States as a theocracy.
Instead, we should be praying for leaders to have the wisdom to seek the shalom of the city, country, and world. This kind of prayer asks God to grant leaders the power and authority that allows people and communities to thrive. It is a prayer that neither over-reaches nor under-reaches.
When we lead our people to pray for this new administra-tion, we also need to pray that President Obama, and every-one in government, will have courage. Given the social, eco-nomic, environmental, and security threats today, we could accumulate a pile of fear-inducing situations to rival Everest. This is an exceptional time, when our leadership needs the strength of character and will to seek, say, and do what is right.
When we pray for a pluralistic, conflicted, and divided nation like our own, we should recognize that we are not just praying for the church, for the community of God’s peo-ple. Instead, we are stepping into our role as faithful exiles, surrounded by a widely varied people, who seek God’s life-giving love, mercy, and justice, especially for the marginal-ized and for our enemies. We cry out to God for his shalom to be poured out upon others. That will be the evidence to the world that the blessing we seek isn’t just for ourselves, but that we truly care for all peoples, tribes, and nations.
When we pray for these things—humility, wisdom, and courage—we are stepping beyond our own party affilia-tion or preference, beyond the bickering of the campaign, beyond the places where divisions are real and substantial. We are seeking instead to be prayerful partners of God’s shalom that comes, at least in part, through governments, civic leaders, and even presidents.
Mark Labberton is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
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HOMESTAYS NEEDED FOR WOMEN’S CHORALE FROM NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE
The Women’s Chorale from Northwestern College (a private Christian college in Minnesota) will participate in our Sunday morning worship on April 26. They will arrive in town Saturday evening, April 25, around 7:30 p.m. We are looking for many of our church members to provide the singers a place to sleep that night, and a ride to church Sunday morning. You must be able to host at least two singers (if you have a spare room with a double bed or a couch, that will be sufficient for them). Fancy accommodations are not necessary—there are 75 singers in the choir! Please contact the church office (630-469-2007) as soon as possible if you are interested in hosting two or more singers.
NEW ONLINE BIBLE STUDY FORMINGHave you wanted to be part of one of the First Pres Bible studies or Discipler
groups but just can’t find the time to do it? Beginning after Easter, an online Bible study called Word of the Week (WOW) will form that anyone with access to the internet can join. At your convenience, go to the church web site (www.firstpresge.org), click on “Ministries,” click on “Spiritual Resources,” and then scroll down to the place that says “Bible Blog.” Double click. You have found the WOW. If your com-puter won’t let you see this page, you need to change the security setting to allow pop-ups from this web site only (or go directly to www.1stpresgeworshiplife.wordpress.com).
Each Monday morning, a new Bible passage(s) will be posted. Read it. Print it out and carry it around in your pocket if you wish. Check back in during the week, and let us know your thoughts about the passage. Did it help you maintain patience with that difficult co-worker or toddler? Did it give you insight into the faith of your mom? Did a confusing passage become clear? Did it raise more questions? Did the passage give you hope during a difficult procedure? Did the passage make you smile and bring you joy and confidence? Let us know.
So you've never “Blogged” before? Here are some simple instructions:
Click on the link that says Comment. A box will pop up.
Sign your name (a nickname, or initials, or another ID will suffice if you want some anonymity).
Add your e-mail address (this will NOT be seen online in your comments.)
Add your web page address (this is optional).
Write your comments in the large box.
Check on the box that says “Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail” if you want to know when others comment on your comments.
Hit the Submit Comment button.
Our hope is that as people join this virtual Bible Study, meaningful online conversations about faith will aid in deepening your relationship with God. I look forward to meeting you through WOW.
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FROM GLEN ELLYN TO MONTANA (VIA ROME?!?)
Please join us this year as we take our own church’s VBS on the road! We will travel from Glen Ellyn to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. We’re driving July 24 & 25; we wor-ship July 26; we have VBS and work projects July 27-31.
Share VBS with the kids. Enjoy fellowship with each other and with our friends on the reserva-tion. Joe Riley will lead a work team, and projects will be done on two churches on the reservation. (If you can hold a paint brush you are qualified to help!)
You may participate with us in VBS, in work projects with Joe—or both! We welcome all families, singles, empty nesters, etc. We have a wonderful time with a good mix of hard work, fellow-ship, good food, even some relax-ation.
For lots more information, please call the church office, 630-469-2007.
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“‘For I know the thoughts that I
think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Father, We know that Your heart's desire for us is to be at peace with You and with those around us. Place within our hearts the desire to live for You and to listen to the leading of Your Spirit. Let us diligently search for You. Open our eyes that we might see what is good, honorable, and just for this country and for the well-being of all people.
From If My People . . . A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation, by Jack Countryman. ©2008, Thomas Nelson, Inc.
STORIES OF THE SONGSby Megan Marshall, Director of Music & Worship
CONTEMPLATING THE MEANING OF CALVARY
Isaac Watts was born on July 17, 1674, in Southampton, England, the first of nine children. Illness plagued Dr. Isaac Watts throughout his life (1674-1748), and for most of his last thirty years he was an invalid. In 1699 he became assistant pastor of the Mark Lane Independent Chapel, London. By 1702, he was its pastor. Between 1705-1748, he wrote a prodigious number of books and more than six hundred hymns, including such enduring ones as “Jesus Shall Reign,” “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” and the Christmas carol “Joy to the World.”
Watts was driven to write religious verse by the lamentable singing in the churches of his day. He said, “The singing of God’s praise is the part of worship nighest heaven, and its performance among us is the worst on earth.” One Sunday after returning from a morning worship he considered to be dreadful, he complained to his father that the hymns sung at that time were tuneless. His father suggested that he provide something better.
Watts created the model for English hymns and became known as “the Father of English Hymnody.” His Hymns and Spiritual Songs, published in 1707, became the first hymnbook in the English language.
Watts reached the high point of his devotional poetry with his classic, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” His words speak to the matchless sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The words of this hymn were inspired by the apostle Paul’s impassioned declaration of Galatians 6:14: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the opening line, “survey” suggests not mere sight but contemplation on the meaning if Calvary. The cross is “wondrous” because this instrument of death became God’s means for redeeming a world. “Prince of Glory” speaks of the highest exaltation of the Savior. In the light of the cross we are led to “pour contempt” on our pride.
During each Lenten season we again contemplate the meaning and message of Calvary. May the imagery, insight, and passion of this enduring hymn lead us to deeper devotion to the Son of God, who on a felon’s cross paid the supreme price for our salvation.
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
(This information is credited to the writers of Songs in the Night by Henry Gariepy; 1996, Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI and “One hundred and One Famous Hymns” by Charles Johnson, 1982, Hallberg Publishing Cor., Delavan, WI).
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OUR STAFFJerry Andrews, Pastor
John Curphey, Pastor
Joan McKenzie, Pastor
Bill Albert, Parish Associate
Charles Alcorn, Parish Associate
Judy Andersen/Cathy Colten, Administrative Assistant
Kerri Andersen, Director of Handbells
Suzi Benes, Administrator
Sue Clary, Director of Westminster Preschool
Leroy Huizenga, Parish Associate
Robin Jones, Parish Associate
Dawn Koyzis, Coordinator of Communications
Kathryn Long, Parish Associate
Megan Marshall, Director of Music & Worship Ministries
Sheryl Nielsen, Bookkeeper
Mario Nieves Custodian
Cinda Siligmueller, Coordinator of Membership Care
Mary Smith, Organist
Steven Smith, Associate Director of Music & Worship Ministries
Jocelyn Smolik, Associate Director of Youth Ministries
Jamie Thompson, Director of Youth Ministries
SHARING YOUR NEWS IN TIDINGS
Do you have faith stories, wit-nesses, news, “thank you’s,” invi-tations, etc. to share? Submit your information to the Tidings mailbox in the church office or via e-mail to [email protected]. — by the 15th of each month for placement in the following month’s issue. Tidings is released the 1st of each month. For information, contact Dawn Koyzis at the church office, 630-469-2007.
NEXT AT FIRST
Thursday, April 2 (9, 16, 23 & 30)PADS
Saturday, April 4Book Group—8:30 a.m. Parlor
April 5–12Holy Week
Sunday, April 5Palm Sunday—
Monday, April 6Session Mtg—6:30 p.m. Parlor
April 6 (13, 20, 27)Prayer in the Chapel—7:00 p.m., Chapel. The congregation & friends are invited for prayer every Monday.
Tuesday, April 7 (21)PIT (People In Transition)—7:30 p.m. Conference Room.
Wednesday, April 8Sewing Circle— 9:30 a.m., Lower Gallery. All sewers, knitters, & crocheters are invited. Call Phyllis Ludwig, 630-858-7761.
Thursday, April 9Maundy Thursday—Seder Meal at 6:00 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Worship at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Friday, April 10Good Friday—Chapel open for prayer & med-itation. Noon-3:00 p.m.
Worship. 7:00 p.m. in Celebration Hall
Saturday, April 11Holy Saturday—5:00 p.m. Worship in the Chapel. Communion served.
Sunday, April 12Easter Sunday—8:00 a.m. Worship in Celebration Hall (Contemporary)9:30 a.m. Worship in Celebration Hall (Contemporary)11:00 a.m. Worship in Sanctuary (Traditional)
Wednesday, April 15LUNCH BUNCH—12 noon. Gathering Place.
Sunday, April 192nd Sunday in Eastertide—
"Hot, Flat, & Crowded" Seminar—3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Parlor
Film Club—5:00 p.m. Room 33. Discussion of “Rachel Getting Married”
Monday, April 20Deacons Meeting—7:15 p.m. Celebration Hall.
Sunday, April 263rd Sunday in Eastertide—
First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn550 N. Main StreetGlen Ellyn, IL 60137-4497
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PERMIT NO. 238Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-4497Non-Profit Organization
Tidings April 2009
