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(If you have trouble viewing this Patio eNews on your e-mail, please view it on the church Web site) Visit our new Photo Gallery February 15, 2009 8:30 AM - Communion Service - Chapel |
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Peter's Message The season of Lent is not something we have to hurry up and get ready for. In fact, Lent doesn't involve preparation at all. Lent is preparation. That's its purpose. The word Lent means lengthen -- what happens at this time of year when daylight gradually increases and the sun waits longer to set. Lent has to do with personal lengthening too -- with spiritual stretching and personal disciplines that ready us for Easter. While it seems counterintuitive, adding spiritual disciplines stretches time. Prayer is like taking a walk with a child, with frequent stops to notice the small all-important things. Lent's six weeks are a timely blessing. But Lent's spirituality is not solely solitary and introspective. Increasing light, after all, doesn't mean shutting ourselves in a closet. Being with others is a special gift during this season; getting ready for Easter is a group activity. Sundays are a weekly celebration, especially during Lent. They are a feast day, not a fast day, so they are definitely days to enjoy God, one another, creation, and life itself. Our midweek evening services in the chapel during Lent (7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Ash Wednesday, February 25) are another chance to worship and be together. Members of the congregation will share their faith stories, something I especially look forward to. God's grace is so evident when we reflect and share in this way. We'll sing hymns and share the sacrament weekly. It will be a season of riches indeed. May it be so for you. Grace and peace, Peter |
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Judith Shares Sabbatical with Seniors |
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Gerry and Claire Larson send greetings to all together |
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LIFE OF THE CHURCH THE FLOWERS this morning are dedicated by Judith Muller and Dave McEachen in loving memory of their parents Art and Beth Muller and Bob and Beth McEachen. The Flowers are also given by the Fowler Family Flower Fund in loving memory of Barbara Ralston. The flowers will be taken to those who are ill or homebound and unable to attend worship. ADULT EDUCATION FOR February 15 & 22 - FPC member Meryle Gaston will facilitate a series based on the documentary THREE FAITHS, ONE GOD: JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM . This series is a further exploration of the issues that Harold Englund introduced in his series on The Patriarchs last June. FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH! With the Family & Friends CPR Anytime Personal Learning Program your whole family can learn this lifesaving skill. Sharon Troll, Parish Nurse and CPR Instructor for Cottage Hospital, will present this program. Sign-up in the office; Call Sharon at church (687-0754, x 103) for day and time. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY! Presbyterian Women invite you to a luncheon on Thursday, February 26 (noon in the CFC) to hear George Goodall speak about FPC’s first 140 years. Sign up at the front desk or call Carrie (687-0754 x 101) Cost is only $8. HISTORY BRIEFS by George Goodall. You’ve heard about those events that were happening the same year our Church was founded – 1869 – such as: the Civil War ended; the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory Point, Utah; Gen. U. S. Grant was inaugurated as President; the Brooklyn Bridge was begun; the vacuum cleaner was invented; the first coastal steamships were able to land passengers on the new Chapala Street pier in Santa Barbara; etc. But you probably didn’t know that the membership of the Presbyterian Church USA in 1869 totaled 172,560. That year the budget of the National Committee of Home Missions was $159,245 and they sent out 465 missionaries with about $343 per missionary. Our founding pastor, Rev. H. H. Dobbins, was one of those missionaries. YOUTH ACTIVITIES! High School Confirmation Class begins Thursday, February 26. Learn more about your church and faith. Call Sheri at 680-5609 for details. NO YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY due to High School Ski Trip. Next week: 10:30 – 11:30. THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Monday, February 16 – OFFICE CLOSED TODAY —7:00 p.m. – Charistans (Bible Study) in homes, contact Loyda at 687-4995. Tuesday, February 17 - 7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study in Anderson Lounge; 4:00 p.m. Congregational Care Team and; 5:30 p.m. Deacons in Anderson Lounge Wednesday, February 18 - 9:30 a.m. – Chariot of Friends meet in reception Office; 3:30 p.m. Painting Class in Youth Annex. Thursday, February 19 - 7:00 p.m . Choir Rehearsal (contact Nelson Huber, 687-0754, x 111); 7:00 p.m. High School Youth Group (contact Sheri, 680-5609) Friday, February 20 - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Senior Activities Program for active seniors in Garden Room ; 5:30 p.m. – ECC Literacy Night in CFC; 6:00 p.m. Junior High Slam (contact Sheri, 680-5609) Sunday, February 22 - 12 noon – Inquirers’ Class and luncheon in Christian Fellowship Center (call 687-0754). THE PRAYER CHAIN is available to pray for your needs. In the Narthex and Fireside Lounge are Prayer Boxes provided by the Congregational Care Ministry. Please place a request form in the box, email Chuck at: ccurtis@fpcsb.org or call 687-0754 x102. Requests are kept confidential. PRAYER AND INTERCESSION Pray for: | Missionary Debbie Shawa in Zambia | Our Staff, Elders and Deacons | Those who are sick, hospitalized or recovering and need our support | Our military personnel serving in the Middle East: Tech Sgt. Donald Adams (nephew of Jay and Marilyn Torrey); 2 n d Lt. Gregory Adams (grandson of Earle and Susan Howey); Capt. Sean Gardner, (grandson of Jeannette Klingler); Kyle Lauth (grandson of Dolores Crisp); the people of the Middle East, the pastors and people of the churches and for all those working for peace in Iraq and around the world | Minister members at large Jim Huang of Ventura and Varre Cummins of Oxnard |
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The eNews Update is published weekly by The First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara. Dave McEachen is the Editor. Please submit articles and photos to david@mceachen.us. For more information, see guidelines for articles. If you would like to be removed from this list, please send an email to Dave with "Remove Newsletter" in the subject. |
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