May 1, 2018
Kennewick First Presbyterian Church
2001 W. Kennewick Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 582-9537
kfpc.org
25  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
Happy May Day!  Since I can’t make it to your doorstep this morning with fresh flowers, I thought I would send you a virtual bouquet from our garden here at KFPC. I remember as a child, receiving flowers and giving flowers to my grandmother and others in our neighborhood on May Day. What a fun tradition it was to create a little paper basket and pick a few tiny flowers from the yard to share with someone else. Isn’t is incredible how easy it is to brighten someone else’s day when we take the time and intention to do something special?
 
I think that’s what God is doing all the time, all around us. God is doing special things and giving us wonderful gifts of beauty and grace, if we have eyes to see them and take the time to appreciate and notice them. Spring is bursting forth all around us. Some of you are bemoaning the allergens associated with all that blooming of spring… sorry for that. I love to see God’s creativity and care for such delicate plants and flowers. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus taught his followers to trust God more and worry about their lives less. He used the example of flowers of the field – how beautiful and delicate they are and how God provides for them. 

What causes you to worry today? My worry is about where we will live. We are trying to sell our house. Don’t worry, we aren’t going very far. We found a lovely home in Burbank with a little acreage for me, a shop for Jamey, and a pool for the kids. The sellers accepted our offer and now we are trying to sell our home in Pasco. It’s stressful to get your home cleaned and organized and keep it clean and looking perfect when you have two kids, two dogs, two cats and two adults living there! Did I mention the kids?? We hoped and expected that we would have an offer in the first few days. But after a couple days being on the market, we received no calls or appointments to show our house. What a discouragement! Perhaps it means that this is not the time for us to move? Or perhaps it means we can’t be in control of God’s timing. In this life, we must remember to trust God more and worry less, but that isn’t an easy accomplishment. My hope and my joy in this time of waiting and wondering is that God is in control. If this new house is God’s plan and gift to us, then God will make it happen in His time… not mine. If we are intended to stay put in the home we have, then God will make that clear to us as well. 

So, if I may add a little to Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount, don’t worry about where you will live. God provides homes for the foxes and birds, the mighty eagle and the simple robin. God will take care of you, too. Seek God’s kingdom above all else. Take time to notice the blessings and the beauty around you today. Stop and smell the roses, or tulips, or give someone a surprise of May Day flowers.

Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God, my Father. Your mercies are new every morning. Help me this day and every day to see your provision. Help me to notice the beauty and the blessings all around me. And if it is your will, help us to sell our house! And if it is not your will, give us grace and peace in accepting that answer as well. Thank you for everything you do for us. Give us eyes to see them and thankful hearts to praise you.  Amen.

~Pastor Hanna Peterson Shearer

Sunday, May 6, 2018
Communion

8:30 am: Contemporary Service
9:45 am: Sunday School - Adult Ed & Kid's Sunday Small Group
11:00 am: Classic Worship Service

Sermon: "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise"
Scripture: Acts 8, 12
 Preacher: Rev. Hanna Peterson Shearer

For recordings of past sermons, please visit KFPC Past Sermons
To watch live sermons, please visit KFPC Stream
Church Inside/Out Project
Thank you for all your hard work at Church Inside/Out!!! It was truly a great day to be the church serving as the heart and hands of Jesus Christ. Thank you to Pastor Ashley for all your hard work coordinating these projects and facilitating this event. We were blessed to be a blessing to others.
IT'S TIME FOR A UPDATE!
It's time for a new picture directory! Get your family ready!

Rick Reil from Realife Photography will be at the church on the following Sundays to take family photos:

May 6: 9:30 —11:00 am
May 13: 9:30—11:00 am & 12:00—1:00 pm
May 20: 10:30 am—1:00 pm

He will take photos for the directory and will also offer discounted prices on your family pictures. Pick your date and sign up at the Information Table or call the office and we will add you to the list.  If needed, a follow-up session will be added on June 3. 
Kennewick First Presbyterian Church
Invites you to join us in PRAYER on
Thursday, May 3, 2018
11:30 am - Main Sanctuary

We will be live streaming this service
at kfpc.org

On this day May 3, 2018, our nation stands together in prayer.

As members and friends of Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, we want you to know we are praying for you. We are praying for our...
*Government Officials
*Military Personnel
*Educators
*Medical and Emergency Personnel
*Businesses
*Our Churches
*Families

National Day of Prayer was established in 1952. In 1988, it was designated to be observed each year on the first Thursday of May.
Blood Drive
Thursday, May 10, 2018
12:00 - 5:00 pm
Our March Blood Drive was cancelled by the Red Cross, but we have another one coming up.  Our next Kennewick Community blood drive is Thursday, May 10, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the First Pres Center. You can schedule an appointment to donate blood by calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767 option 1); or register on-line at redcrossblood.org. But walk-ins are always needed; no appointment is necessary! 

In addition, plan to eat lunch or an early dinner with us. For the past several years, we’ve been providing a complimentary baked potato bar for our donors and their families.
 
As always, we need volunteers to bring the fixings, including potatoes, chili, onions, butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and cheese. Also, homemade cookies and cakes are really appreciated by all the blood donors. And assistance is always needed at the registration table and kitchen (it just takes a couple of hours). If you can help on Thursday, May 10, please sign up at the Information Table. Thanks!
CRAFT DAY
May 12, 2018
9:00 am - FPC

Cost: One potluck dish!

Bring your favorite craft and spend the day with others creating!
SAVE THE DATE....
Pentecost Sunday, May 20, will be a special day at KFPC. Join us for a combined worship service at 11 am as our youth lead us in our annual Youth Sunday worship. We will gift our graduating seniors with their quilts and welcome New Members to the church. We will also receive our biannual Deacon Fund Offering which occurs at Pentecost and World Communion Sunday, (first Sunday in October). This offering provides the funds for our assistance program to give gas cards and grocery vouchers to individuals in our community. It is truly a gift to those in need and we pray that you will give generously to this ministry. Thank you. 
Please present your articles for the newsletter no later than the Thursday before the Tuesday you want it published.
Thank you, Debbie
debra.bilodeau@kfpc.org