Monthly Newsletter of Christ Presbyterian Church March 2014

Our Mission:

United through Christ’s love we are called to graciously

invite people to Jesus Christ; encourage spiritual growth; promote enriching worship;

foster community; and equip members for faithful

service in our church, community, and world.

Tom Schwartz, Pastor

Kris SchondelmeyerAssociate Pastor

www.cpctoledo.org

Inside:Prime Time

Page 2

Feed Your NeighborsPages 4

Christian Discipleship

Page 5

Contemplative Lenten ServicesWednesday Nights 7:00 -7:45 p.m.

Encourage God’s spirit to work within you this Lenten season by participating in one or all of our Wednesday Night Contemplative Services. All too frequently prayer gets crowded out by the busyness of our days. We will offer a quiet, calm place to contemplate what Lent means--to us and for us. Each Wednesday night service will include prayer, scriptural reflection, silent contemplation, music, and participation in a spiritual discipline or practice.

March 12 Temptation and Forgiveness Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

March 19 Remembering Our Baptism Scripture: Psalm 51: 1-12

March 26 Trusting in God and Scripture: Psalm 32 Praying for Others

April 2 Finding Rest and Anointing Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

April 9 Staying Focused with Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46 Healing Power

Each service will begin with silence at 7:00 p.m. Childcare will be available for those who call the church in advance. Please call the church by March 5 to make arrangements for your children.

Join with us for an evening of worship and reflection on Ash Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. We will observe the imposition of ashes.

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Pastor’s Desk

Dear Friends,

The gifted blind and deaf woman Helen Keller wrote:

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched . . . but are felt in the heart.

The writer Mark Nepo in The Book of Awakening builds up the thoughts of Keller to explain that over time our experiences may eventually give clarity and meaning to many questions raised throughout our lives. Mark writes:

“There is an ancient Chinese art of painting on porcelain. It requires, more than skill and precision, a deep trust and patience in the process. It involves painting thin layers of pigment, one at a time, on the porcelain, letting each dry and soak into the porcelain itself. But even when dry, the pigment doesn’t yet reveal its color. You never know what the color will be until the porcelain is fired in the kiln – that is, until the pigment is burned into the porcelain itself.

This is remarkably like the life of questions that come from living. . . But only after the fire of experience, only after our felt questions are burned by experience into our heart, only then do we see the color of truth emerge.”

The season of Lent provides us with a time to pause and examine the layers of our life experiences. It provides a time to reflect on the truth that can be witnessed in our Christian living. I encourage you to take the time this Lenten season to discern how God has been actively engaged in your life and ways that you can allow God’s presence to shape your future. May God’s spirit touch our hearts, minds and souls so that the truth of our faith will be deeply felt this Lenten season. Blessings,

Tom Schwartz

Prime Time LuncheonWednesday, March 5, 2014 12:00 P.M.Toledo Area Ministries (TAM) - Kizzie Williams Armstrong, Program Director for Second Chance, and Donnajean Stockmaster, Community Connections Director/Feed Your Neighbor Program Director will present two of the programs offered within TAM, particularly highlighting the Second Chance Program, which provides comprehensive services to victims of domestic sex trafficking and prostitution.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 12:00 P.M.We are going to take a trip to Kenya, South Africa!!Nena and Jim Wagner are going to present the program on their 2013 trip to Kenya with food, stories and pictures.

All persons interested are welcome to attend!Please NOTE the change in making reservations!Call in your reservations by 3 P.M. the Monday before the program by calling Barbara Brownlee at 419-381-2088 or by emailing her: bdbrownlee@prodigy.net.

First Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. All services combined in the Sanctuary

Our children will benefit from “Godly Play” and the Tween “We Believe” Program at 10:00 a.m.

All Other Sundays8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Chapel10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary11:15 a.m. - 12:00 noon Contemporary/Praise Worship in Hansen Hall

We will be holding education programs for children at 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and a special Music

Performance/Education program will be offered at 11:15 a.m. for children.

2014 Worship Schedule

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Heard and “Overheard”(Congregation news compiled by Barb Ball)

This being an unusually cold and snowy winter has made it one where the sunnier and warmer climes seem very attractive. That’s what Marc and Kathy Franc thought when they scheduled their annual trip to South Carolina. But, they were in for a surprise! They arrived at their condo in Wild Dunes,

South Carolina at the same time as the January storm. For three days they were isolated from the outside world with businesses, bridges, and roads closed. Only one restaurant was open and reachable that offered relief from cabin fever. Once the storm cleared, the sun quickly melted the ice and snow and allowed Marc and Kathy to watch the golfers troop back onto the course. The brightest sunshine of their trip was a visit from their daughter Carrie (Frank) Mehne from Boston. Rachel Novakovic has been making some grandmother trips lately. The first was a week in December to Boston, Massachusetts, to welcome her grandsons, Peter and Gregory. The twins were born December 3, 2013 – Peter weighed in at 5 pounds and Gregory at 5.4. The boys are the first children born to parents Alex and Valerie Novakovic. Not wanting to miss anything, Rachel returned in January for another week to help with their care, and Grandpa Tony is making a visit this month.

Peter and Gregory make a total of four grandchildren for Rachel and Tony. Congratulations! The congregation was treated to a party following the 10 o’clock service on February 16, 2014 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Marshall Waters! All but one member of the Waters clan was there to honor the occasion – 22 in total. Marshall and Miriam have two daughters, Carol and Shirley, four grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Marshall was born on February 14 and happily shared the event with his grandson Jason, who born on February 14th also. Greetings to the snow birds, too bad you’re missing all the fun! Your news is always welcome and appreciated. Send it to Barb Ball at bar1tom2@bex.net, call me at 419-824-7906, or leave a note in my mail box in the work room.

Our new web site is available at cpctoledo.org for church information. The site has updated information, photos and schedules. As soon as the new CPC Directory is pub-lished, members only will be able to access the directory on this site. Additionally, the new monthly Beacon will be available on the web site. It can be found using the “About Us” drop down menu, then select “Publications”. This is also where you can find previous month’s issues, too.

New Website Launched

by the numbers

Our CPC children donated pairs of gloves, scarves and hats to The Sylvania Area Family

Services. They gave over thirty five items to keep children in need warmer!

the number of delicious soups and chili provided by CPC members for the annual meeting on

Sunday, February 2.

the number of quilts and blankets provided by our Sew and Serve small group for Project Linus

to Lucas County Children Services. Sew and Serve welcomes any who wants to learn or want

to share their skills!

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17

24

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Youth Summer Mission Trip

Summer Mission – Group: Week of HopeWe’ve passed the deadline for signing up…but there may still time. This summer, our youth in 6th – 12th grades will be heading to Cincinnati, OH from Sunday, July, 27 – Friday, August 1 for a Week of Hope mission trip sponsored by Group Mission Trips. Mission activities might include: providing meals to the homeless, providing programs for underprivileged children, helping in a pet shelter, and more. Your cost for the trip is $150. Confidential scholarship help is available. And, depending on our fundraising efforts, that cost may go down. If you are a middle school or high school youth, 12 years of age or older, and are interested in joining us on our Week of Hope trip, please RSVP with a $50 deposit to Pastor Kris ASAP: kris@cpctoledo.org

The Mom’s Small Group meets one Wednesday morning a month from 9:30am-11:00am at the church. We welcome all moms! We meet in the classroom area so that preschoolers may play while we enjoy the fellowship time with other moms. Our March date is “to be determined” after March 1st.

Please contact Kelsey in the church office or Kate Backoff and Allison Johnson.

Mom’s Small Group

The BeaconThe Beacon can be accessed on-line the first

of every month at www.cpctoledo.org. They can be found under the “About Us” tab, then select “Publications”. If for some reason you are having trouble accessing The Beacon, please

call the church office.

In the event of severe weather resulting in a Level Two snow emergency or higher for Lucas County, all services, programs, and events at Christ Presbyterian Church will be canceled. If it is a Level One snow emer-gency, the church will be open as usual.

Severe Winter Weather

There is a tremendous need for food and toiletries for the Feed Your Neighbor Program. Each Sunday, there will be a specific item listed in the bulletin for those wishing to participate. There will be marked boxes on carts in the Narthex and near the Hansen Hall doors.

March 2 Canned meats, pastas or stewsMarch 9 Cereal or Peanut butterMarch 16 Soup or saltinesMarch 23 Canned vegetablesMarch 30 Toilet Paper

Feed Your Neighbor

Exploring Membership Class

Individuals who desire to be members of Christ Presbyterian Church are encouraged to get actively involved in worship and our wide variety of educational and service opportunities. To learn more about our church and its mission, you are invited to attend one of our Exploring Membership Classes that are taught by Pastor Tom Schwartz. This class includes participating in our “Discovering and Sharing Your Gifts, Talents, and Passion” course. Come with your questions, concerns and enthusiasm. The next class will be on Thursday, April 3 and Thursday, April 10 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. dinner will be included. Please sign up at the welcome cart in the Narthex or the welcome table in Hansen Hall or with Kelsey in the church office at 419-475-8629 for more information.

The next Deborah Circle meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join us. We will be meeting at Christ Presbyterian Church.

Deborah Circle

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Second Sunday SabbathThere will be no Second Sunday Sabbath in March due to the youth fundraiser, “CPC’s got Talent” which will take place on Sunday, March 2. We encourage families to join us for that spaghetti dinner and talent show to support our youth.

Sermon Talks Sermon Talks is a Bible study opportunity where participants read the passage for the upcoming week’s sermon and then dialogue about what the passage says to them. The group meets on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the church. Please contact Pastor Kris if you are interested in attending. All are welcome!!!

Christian MarriageThe 220th General Assembly (2012) in a desire to promote the peace, unity, and purity of the church moved that the whole denomination should enter into a season of study and discernment concerning the meaning of Christian marriage. As states begin to legalize the marriage of LGBT persons, pastors have been asking for clarity in their role in officiating at marriage services. There is a diversity of opinions on who should be allowed to be married in the church. The denomination has prepared a study guide for churches to use. Tom Schwartz will be leading a four-week study on Christian marriage using the study guide and his resources as a former college instructor in sexual ethics. Sundays 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. March 9 – March 30

Animate: FaithHave you ever wrestled with tough faith questions? Have the answers to questions from your childhood Sunday School ever caused you more confusion than faith? Have you lost your passion when talking about God, or Jesus, or the church? Join us in a 4 week series during the month of March called “Animate: Faith” that is sure to animate your faith and ignite love in your heart. Small Groups will be offered on Sunday morning at 10:00am starting the 9th of March, and Pastor Kris will lead a group on Thursday evenings from 7:00 – 8:00pm starting on March 6. Come and discover the theologian in you as you wrestle with faith questions and discern God’s truth for your life.

Christian Discipleship6th – 12th grade youth are invited to join in faith, fun, and fellowship on Sunday evening from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. We will meet for dinner, faith-based lessons and games, and mission. Periodically we will meet at other times for mission and fellowship based special events. If you are interested in being a part of our regular Sunday evening Youth Group, please contact Pastor Kris: kris@cpctoledo.org

Sunday, Mar. 2 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Youth Fundraiser: CPC’s got Talent & Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, Mar. 9 6:00 – 8:00pmYouth Group: Team Work

5:00pm Friday, Mar. 14 – Saturday, Mar. 15 at 7:00pm30 Hour Famine: Food-for-Thought and Cardboard Village / Parents Meeting

Sunday, Mar. 23 6:00 – 8:00pmYouth Group: Super Hero Faith: Part 1

Sunday, Mar 30 6:00 – 8:00pmYouth Group: Super Hero Faith: Part 2

Youth Group on Sundays

The Youth Ministry Team with the CPC Youth Group will be hosting a variety show fundraiser on Sunday, March 2 to raise money for our Summer “Week of Hope” Mission Trip. Our youth will act as servers for a Spaghetti Dinner, and we will enjoy the entertainment of CPC members who wish to share their talent in a variety show called, “CPC’s Got Talent.” Please put Sunday, March 2 on your calendars now, think about what talent you might have to share, and plan to be at CPC to support our youth.

CPC’s Got Talent

Vacation Bible SchoolWeird Animals Where Jesus’ Love Is One-of-a-KindJoin us June 23-June 27 from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 for an exciting Vacation Bible School. Come on an amazing adventure with Sing & Play Stampede, One-of-a-Kind Bible Adventures, Untamed Games, Kidvid Cinema, Imagination Station, Critter Cafe and The Tail End. Contact Monica Mancy at Monica@cpctoledo.org to be a part of Weird Animals; help make this an exceptional VBS!

Crafts and Treats for the Homebound on February 9th

Crafts and Treats Benefit the Homebound On February 9, children decorated 17 treat bags that included trail mix treats, crafts, and greeting cards to give out to our homebound members and others in need of some Valentine’s Day cheer.

“Splash!” NewsletterParents of infants, toddlers and twos are now mailed a monthly parenting newsletter specific to the age of their child. Parents of little ones receive their first newsletter when their child is one month old, and they continue to receive it until their little one reaches 36 months. The newsletter contains an abundance of fun and whimsical ideas, including a music CD, to help parents with their little one’s faith formation. We hope parents enjoy this resource as they watch their child grow and change during these important years.

Sunday Morning Children’s Schedule

Godly Play for 3 years old to 3rd gradeChildren age 3 through 3rd grade may accompany their parents to the worship service. Children will then be dismissed from worship about 15 minutes later with Monica Mancy for Godly Play. Children can be picked up after the service in their designated classrooms in the children’s wing.Godly Play at the 10:00 a.m. serviceAge 3-3rd grade Room 5

Bible Discovery for 4th grade & 5th gradeChris Gaynor and Kim Long will be teaching “We Believe” for children in grades 4th and 5th. The children will spend the one year learning and experiencing the New Testament and another year on the Old Testament. After completing the two years the children will be presented with their own Bible. The children will be dismissed during the 10:00 a.m. service to the Tween room.We Believe at the 10:00 a.m. service4th-5th grades Tween Room

Software SundayChildren age 3 through 5th grade will learn Bible Basics, Books of the Bible, and How the Bible Came to Be through video-game adventures.Software Sunday at 11:15 a.m. Room 9

Children’s ChoirChildren’s Choir will meet every Sunday to rehearse in the choir room from 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. The children will sing on Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. service.

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Children and Family News

Confirmation for 6th – 9th Grade Students

Confirmation: Tough QuestionsThe Confirmation class for 6th - 9th grade students started a “Tough Questions” unit when we returned from winter break. The following schedule is to inform you of the “Tough Questions” we will tackle in March. If you have any questions about the “Tough Questions” unit for Confirmation, please speak with Pastor Kris: kris@cpctoledo.org

Upcoming Confirmation Schedule:Sunday, Mar. 9 10:15 – 11:00am Tough Questions: Is it okay to be angry at God?

Sunday, Mar. 16 10:15 – 11:00am Tough Questions: Can you accept the theory of evolution and still be a Christian?

Sunday, Mar. 23 10:15 – 11:00am Tough Questions: Can God stop loving me?

Sunday, Mar. 30 10:15 – 11:00am Tough Questions: Why does God let bad things happen?

Youth Ministry

Sun M

on Tue

Wed

Thu Friday

Sat

1

2 10:00 a.m. First Sunday Service

11:00 a.m. Fellow

ship Time

5:30 p.m. CPC’s G

ot Talent &

Spaghetti Dinner

3 10:00 a.m. O

utreach Team

Meeting

5:30 p.m. The Corner

7:00 p.m. Com

munity

Outreach Sm

all Group

4 9:00 a.m. Serm

on Talks Bible Study 6:00p.m

. Special Events Team

Meeting

7:00 p.m. D

eacons Meeting

5 9:30 a.m. Staff M

tg. 12:00 p.m

. Prime Tim

e 2:00 p.m

. Joys and Challenges 5:00 p..m

. Worship, M

usic, and the A

rts

6 6:45 a.m. M

en’s Small

Group

5:30 p.m. Celebrate Singers

6:15 p.m. H

andbell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 p.m

. Choir Rehearsal

7 8

9 10:00 a.m. Traditional W

orship 10:00 a.m

. Confirm

ation Class

11:00 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal

11:00 a.m. Fellow

ship Time

11:15 a.m. Contem

porary/Praise Worship

12:00 p.m. Fellow

ship Time

6:00 p.m. Y

outh Group

10 9:30 a.m

. Sewing and

Service Small G

roup 4:00p.m

. Building and G

rounds Team M

eeting 5:30 p.m

. The Corner

11 9:00 a.m

. Sermon Talks

Bible Study

7:00p.m. Pet Loss

Seminar

7:00p.m. M

ission Team

Meeting

12 9:30 a.m

. Staff Mtg.

12:30 p.m. D

eborah Circle

13 6:45 a.m

. Men’s Sm

all G

roup 5:30 p.m

. Celebrate Singers 6:15 p.m

. Handbell Choir

Rehearsal 7:15 p.m

. Choir Rehearsal

14 5:00 p.m

. 30 H

our Famine:

Food for Thought and C

ardboard V

illage / Parents M

eeting

15 7:00p.m

. Y

outh 30 Hour

Famine Ends

16 10:00 a.m

. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. C

onfirmation C

lass 11:00 a.m

. Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:00 a.m

. Fellowship Tim

e 11:15 a.m

. Contemporary/Praise W

orship 12:00 p.m

. Fellowship Tim

e

17 5:30 The Corner

18 9:00a.m

. Sermon Talks

Bible Study

19 9:30 a.m

. Staff Mtg

2:00 p.m. Joys and

Challenges

20 6:45 a.m

. Men’s Sm

all G

roup 5:30 p.m

. Celebrate Singers 6:15 p.m

. Handbell Choir

Rehearsal 7:15 p.m

. Choir Rehearsal

21

22

23 10:00 a.m

. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. C

onfirmation C

lass 11:00 a.m

. Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:00 a.m

. Fellowship Tim

e 11:15 a.m

. Contemporary/Praise W

orship 12:00 p.m

. Fellowship Tim

e 6:00 p.m

. Youth G

roup

24 9:30 a.m

. Sewing and

Service Small G

roup 10:00a.m

. Thrift Shop Board M

eeting 5:30 p.m

. The Corner

25 9:00 a.m

. Sermon Talks

Bible Study

7:00p.m. Session

Meeting

26 9:30 a.m

. Staff Mtg

27 6:45 a.m

. Men’s Sm

all G

roup 5:30 p.m

. Celebrate Singers 6:15 p.m

. Handbell Choir

Rehearsal 7:15 p.m

. Choir Rehearsal

28

29

30 10:00 a.m

. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. C

onfirmation C

lass 11:00 a.m

. Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:00 a.m

. Fellowship Tim

e 11:15 a.m

. Contemporary/Praise W

orship 12:00 p.m

. Fellowship Tim

e 6:00 p.m

. Youth G

roup

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March