We hope you enjoy receiving  our weekly email  designed to keep  you informed on current and upcoming events scheduled here at Roland Park Presbyterian Church.   

In This Week's Email:

 

It's Not About Me: A Lenten Challenge
Rev. Emily C. Heath   
  
 
Love and ashes don't often go together in our minds. But this time of year, it's the ashes that remind me of what Jesus tried to teach us about love.

In Lent we remember the great truth: It's not all about us. 

Each Lent I feel myself called back to community, both human and divine, by that message. And when that calling comes, so does the reminder of those two commands of Christ: Love God, and love others as you love yourself.

For centuries Christians have undertaken a form of Lenten discipline, which is to say a practice that will in some way turn their hearts to Christ and prepare them for the new life that comes with Easter.
 
For many, Lent is a time to give something up: meat or candy or Facebook. But Lent doesn't have to just be about giving up. In fact, at its best it isn't. Because if our Lenten discipline is only about us, and what we will allow ourselves, we miss the point.  

Instead, what if we embrace Lent as an opportunity to show our love for God and others? We spend so much time focused on ourselves and on our own needs, but what if we use these forty days to focus on something else? What if we take these days and dedicate each to reminding ourselves that it's not about us as individuals, but it's about God, and it's about all of us together?

When we start doing this, the daily walk turns into an opportunity for prayer. The trip to the grocery store yields a few more cans of soup for the food pantry. And a few extra dollars turn into donation that makes a difference. We don't have to turn the world on its axis. We simply have to turn our attention outward, and make the small things matter in big ways.
 
This is my challenge to myself, but I'd like to offer it to others who are journeying this Lenten path. Here's how it works: Each day I want to do at least one thing that either strengthens my connection with God, or shows my love for my neighbor.  
 
In the end, my hope is to have 40 days of growing closer to God, and of trying to honor the commandment of love that Christ gave us. Along the way, I hope that I might make things a little better for some folks around me too. Not because it will make me a better person, but because it will be a tangible reminder of Christ's love for others. I've had plenty of blessings in my life, and plenty of grace from God. Lent can be a journey of recognizing those blessings, and blessing others. Because it's not a journey that's about me.


ashes
Ash Wednesday Service
 This Evening @7pm
ash wed  

RPPC will hold a service in the sanctuary at 7pm this evening for the imposition of ashes and celebration of the Lord's supper. All are welcome.

closed
Office Closure
out of office   

The office will be closed on 2/12 and on 2/15 in observance of President's Day.

book
Faith and Fiction Book Club
Rescheduled:   February 23 @7pm

All are welcome to join our Faith and Fiction Book Club in reading our selection: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Due to the blizzard we were forced to reschedule our meeting date to February 23rd at 7pm. We hope you can make it!

Nominations
Call for Nominations for Elders and Deacons
  volunteer
The Nominating Committee invites nominations for Elders and Deacons. Do you know someone gifted for leadership? Do you feel called to participate more fully in the life of the congregation? We are looking for people of vision and creativity, compassion and humility.
 
Serving in church leadership is both a gift and a responsibility. It is an opportunity to give of your time and talents, as well as a chance to explore your faith more deeply with your fellow leaders. We welcome nomination of others and self-nominations. Is God calling you to serve? Do you believe the church would benefit from the gifts of someone you know?
 
Nominations can be submitted to chair, Quincey Renwick ( qrenwick@gmail.com ) and Pastor Mark ( pastor@rolandparkchurch.org ).
commontime
Common Time 
3/6 after Worship
   mission
Please join us in the assembly hall after worship on March 6th for a meal and a special guest speaker. The Mission committee is pleased to present Christian Hall, Community Builder for the York Road Corridor for Strong City Baltimore (formerly Greater Homewood). He will shine a spotlight on several mission opportunities close to home. A meal and childcare will be provided.
give
Did You Know?
Mobile-Friendly,
Online Giving Available

RPPC now offers convenient ways to give using your mobile device. Just scan the QR code above and it will allow you to make a secure, one-time gift to RPPC. 

Worship
Worship This Sunday
February 14, 2016
1 0am 

 
Scripture:   Mark 10: 17-31
Message: When Giving Everything Isn't Enough
childrenschoir
Children's Choir
Weekly Rehearsal Schedule Begins this Sunday 
 
Children's Choir will rehearse weekly from now on in our very own new space in the Orange Room. We welcome new members who might want to give it a try! Just stop by after worship.
bingo
Deacons' Bingo Night
 February 19 @6:30pm
 
Everyone's a winner at Deacon's Bingo! Join us for what is always a fun evening for all ages, children and adults alike. You might just come home with the perfect prize (and please unload those well-meaning gifts that you realize you just won't use, or lightly-used, but no longer needed items that someone else will fancy). Take a chance on the 50/50 raffle! Pizza, snacks and desserts will be available for purchase.

Drop your prize donations on the stage in the Assembly Room or bring them with you on the 19th.

Questions? Email David Patterson at dpatter583@msn.com. Thanks!
tangible
Tangible Offering
March 6
 

At RPPC, we explore themes of stewardship and mission through a monthly offering on Communion Sundays. We ask the whole congregation to participate so that our youth can have a real and tangible view of the giving and commitment to mission we display as a church family. Our tangible offering in March will be school supplies for the International Rescue Committee in Baltimore.

strawberry
Strawberry Festival 2017
Brainstorming Meeting
Call for Participants
sf  
Looking for a team of about five people interested in a one time commitment (unless you choose otherwise) to meet and brainstorm about Strawberry Festival 2017. If interested, please email me at qrenwick@gmail.com by February 22. Meeting date and time to be determined.
blood
Blood Drive at St. David's
March 11 @12:30-6pm
  
Red Cross Blood Drive
Saint David's Church
4700 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD  21210
 
March 11, 2016
From 12:30 - 6:00 P.M.
In the Great Hall, use side door on Oakdale Road
410-467-0476 to sign up
Walk-ins Welcome
Roland Park Presbyterian Church
4801 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD  21210

 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00am -- 2:30pm

410/889-2001
410/889-2990- Pastor's direct line
410/889-2000-fax