Looking Toward the Fifth Sunday in Lent - April 2, 2017

Sermon: In Life and In Death We Belong to God: When Life Feels like Death
Scripture: Ezekiel 37: 1-14

Lib McGregor Simmons will preach at 8:30 and 9:45 in Lingle Chapel and 11:00 in the Sanctuary
This week's Scripture lesson, the story of the prophet Ezekiel's vision in the valley of the dry bones, is one of the most imaginative and dramatic readings to be found in the Bible.  Historically speaking, the dry bones represented the hopelessness of God's people that they would ever be able to return home to Israel from their place of exile in Babylon.  Ezekiel's vision enabled the prophet and the people to glimpse the future and the coming to fruition of God's promise of life beyond hopelessness.
 
Ezekiel's vision speaks to the times in our lives when it seems as if life and breath have been sucked out of us, whether by circumstance or choice.  On Sunday, we will attend to Ezekiel's vision and how it works to enable us to see the future and thus to live into the hope that comes from trusting that in life and in death, we belong to God.

The Geneva Choir with Colleen Bosak-Harrison as solo will sing O Dearest Lord, Thy Sacred Head at the 8:30 service.
The Chancel Choir will sing Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing at the 11:00 service.
Christina Tarry will sing Blessed Assurance at the 9:45 service.

Adopt-A-Student Lunch
The Campus Ministry  committee is sponsoring a lunch this Sunday, April 2 after church for the families and students in the Adopt-A-Student program. Join us for fried chicken and home cooking on the Appleyard patio outside the student center.
Faith & Families News

Youth News
CLICK HERE

Children's News 
4th & 5th GRADE FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT is Friday April 14 6:30-8:30 pm. Meet in the Congregation House for pizza and the Holy Week Story . Please RSVP to Jenny Alexander .
 
PRESCHOOL THROUGH 3RD GRADE EGG HUNT is Saturday April 15 10-Noon. Meet in the Congregation House. Please RSVP to Jenny Alexander.
 
Children's Sunday School
9:45 am
Preschool: Ages 3-5 room 118
K/1st Grade: Godly Play room 206
2nd/3rd Grade: room 207
4th/5th Grade: room 208
11 am
K-5th Grade: room 207
Candy Needed!
Candy donations needed for our church egg hunts. Please place NUT-FREE candy in the donation baskets across from Concord Rd. stairwells or upstairs next to children's Sunday School classrooms. Thank you!
Join the Easter Band!
If you play a band or orchestra instrument, you are invited to our "y'all come" Easter Band. We accompany the hymns on Easter Sunday along with the organ. There are three rehearsals to accommodate people's schedules; please come to two out of three. Sunday, April 2, 4:00 p.m. in the Choir Room Sunday;  April 9, 4:00 p.m.; Monday, April 10, 7:00 p.m. If you are interested or have questions, contact Jane Cain.
 Spiritual Yoga on Sundays
6-week yoga series during Lent led by Mardee Johnson.  Sundays through April 9 at 5 p.m., in room 201. All levels. Bring a mat if you have one. All are welcome. Donations to offset the cost of instruction happily accepted. Come to any or all sessions. RSVP to srollans@dcpc.org  for "Lenten Spiritual Yoga".
Prayer at the Close of Day
Our congregation and musicians will again be uniting with members of Davidson United Methodist Church for Prayer at the Close of Day, in the manner of Taizé. The service is April 2 at 7:30 in our sanctuary chancel. This lovely, peaceful candlelit service offers an opportunity for prayer and reflection and serenity.
The Peoples' Choice
This summer the DCPC preachers will preach a series of sermons on a selection of topics suggested to them by YOU, the members of the congregation.  Submit your suggestions to Lib McGregor Simmons no  later than April 15. 
Servant Leaders Needed!
The DCPC 2017 Nominating Committee seeks servant leaders to serve a three-year term as ruling elders and deacons of our church. We also seek candidates for one youth elder and one youth deacon; each serves a one year term. Your recommendations, with comments, would be most appreciated. Should you feel called to serve, please submit your own name. Submission forms are available at the Church Information Center or CLICK HERE. You may also contact any member of the committee: Sallie Kerr, chair; Phyl Justus, Linda Griffeth, Dennis Appleyard, David Batty, Greg Fawcett and Dottie Sloan, youth representative. We would appreciate names and suggestions by Sunday, April 2.
VBS Registration
July 10-13, 2017
Marketplace: A Holy Land Experience 
To Volunteer CLICK HERE

To Register your children (age 3 as of Jan 2017 through completed 5th grade) CLICK HERE
$20 / child  -- $40 Family max. Pay online or in the church office. Complete a health/emergency form for each child.
Prayers and Concerns
We extend sympathy and the hope of resurrection to eternal life to: 
Meredith Allen upon the death of her mother, Jeanne Allen.
Adult Faith Formation
Covenant (9:45 a.m. Congregation House) April 2 -Karen Soos, the Chaplain for Catholic students at Davidson College, accompanied by her students, will present two sessions on "The Francis Effect" in the Roman Catholic Church. The  sessions will consider how Pope Francis has affected The Catholic Social Teaching tradition, the organization and levels of authority in the church, and global Catholicism and the diversity within the church.

Maloney (9:45 a.m. Parlor) The Pines (Marshall Room)
April 2: God as Our Shepherd Psalm 23
April 16: God's Love as Victory Over Death  John 19:38-42; 20:1-10; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Jubilee (9:45 a.m. Upper Room (212) The Jubilee Class will study the Creed's confession, "He descended into hell."  The class will meet in Room 212 at the 9:45 Sunday School hour.  We invite all interested persons to attend

Faith & Life (11:00 a.m. Room 201) Faith and Life will wrap up the church school year with studying 5 key Old Testament figures: Abraham, David, Elijah, Jacob, Moses and Ruth.  Through these stories, we will look to deepen our own relationship with God and with others. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday mornings!
April 9 - Faith Life will explore the faith of Abraham, patriarch and prophet of three faiths, as it intersects with our own faith journey and its demands, struggles, and potential for deep relationship with God.
April 23 - using the story of Jacob, Faith and Life will explore the story of God's graceful initiatives with
our ancestor in the faith, called both Jacob and Israel, whose faith journey reflects God's blessing and challenge and who comes to reflect the identity to which God calls him; to consider the identity to which God may be calling us.
April 30 - Faith and Life will consider the character of David, a man with both character flaws and virtues, and discern about living in covenant relationship with God.
May 7 - Looking at the life and times of the prophet Elijah, Faith and Life will explore how the will of God confronted the original recipients through the prophet Elijah and consider how God still confronts us today through these same words.
May 14 - Faith and Life will wrap up the year by looking at the story of the foreigner Ruth, and how God's blessing is given to all of Israel and to us. This blessing is made possible by the hesed (loving-kindness) revealed in human interactions and in God's own steadfast faithfulness.

Financial Update

Davidson College Presbyterian Church
PO Box 337
Davidson, NC  28036
704-892-5641
www.dcpc.org