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The Newsletter of
First Presbyterian Church
Roswell, New Mexico
April 2019
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The Pastor's Reflections
He Is, Indeed.
But the Celebration Must Wait.
"He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.' Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.' Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.'" Luke 22:39-46.
Resurrection Sunday is April 21st. We are not there yet. There remains the journey to Jerusalem. There remains the agony in the garden. There remains the betrayal. There remains the three-times denial. There remain the mocking and the beatings. There remain the nails and the blood and indescribable pain and suffocation. There remains the death.
The journey is not yet done. The 40-day period of self-examination, repentance, and self-denial is not over. We are not allowed to leap from here to Easter, nor are we allowed to leap from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday.
He requires that we stay awake, that we stay alert. He commands us to pray that we will not come into the time of trial.
Resurrection Sunday will come. But we are not there yet. May your Lenten Journey continue to transform you.
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The Lord's Supper
Sunday, April 7th
Come celebrate the Feast of the Lord!
If you would like to receive home Communion,
please call the Church Office at 622-4910.
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April Calendar
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April 2nd
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Men's Fellowship Luncheon - Noon,
Peppers Restaurant
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April 4th
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Deacons Meeting - 5:00pm
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April 3rd
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Lenten Midweek Study & Dinner - 5:30pm
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April 6th
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Southeast Cluster Meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Roswell
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April 7th
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Communion Worship Service - 10:00am
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April 10th
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Lenten Midweek Study & Dinner - 5:30pm
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April 14th
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Palm Sunday - 10:00am
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April 15th
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Holy Week Midday Gathering at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church - 11:30am
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April 16th
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Holy Week Midday Gathering at First Methodist Church - 11:30am
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April 17th
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Holy Week Midday Gathering at St. Mark's Lutheran Church - 11:30am
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April 18th
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Holy Week Midday Gathering at FPC - 11:30am
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April 18th
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Maundy Thursday Service at Westminster Presbyterian Church
Agape Feast - 5:30pm, Worship Service - 6:30pm
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April 19th
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Holy Week Midday Gathering at First Nazarene Church - 11:30am
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April 19th
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Good Friday Service at FPC - 5:30pm
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April 21st
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Easter Breakfast - 8:45am
Easter Egg Hunt - 9:15am
Easter Sunday Worship - 10:00am
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April 25th
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Stated Session Meeting - 5:00pm
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Wednesdays
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Wednesday Breakfast Group - 7:30am,
Martin's Capital Café
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Wednesdays
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Choir Rehearsal - 6:30pm during Lent
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Fridays
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Prayer Group - Noon, Parlor
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Every Day
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Noon Prayer and Meditation
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April Worship Schedule and Scripture Readings
April 7 - 5th Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14;
John 12:1-8
April 14 - Palm Sunday
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Luke 19:28-40
April 21 - Resurrection of the Lord
Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26;
John 20:1-18
April 28 - 2nd Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31
Read the Scripture passages HERE.
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Serving in April
April 7
Service Elder: Bill Wolf
Liturgist: Margy Barbour
Phone Message Reader: Bob Carroll
Deacon Hospital Visitation: Lorrie Miller
Chancel Guild: Lynn Karnes, Ann Hultman, Connie Wolf
April 14 - Palm Sunday
Service Elder: Deb Prince
Liturgist: Margo Fullinwider
Phone Message Reader: Roberta Pess
Deacon Hospital Visitation: Ann Ruback
Chancel Guild: Mary Lou Glass, Rebecca Johnson, Roberta Pess
April 19 - Good Friday
Service Elder: ________
April 21 - Easter Sunday
Service Elder: _______
Liturgist: Bob Entrop
Phone Message Reader: Anna Maria Matteuci
Deacon Hospital Visitation: Mary Lou Glass
Chancel Guild: Wendy Lunsford, Betsy Cunningham, Lucy Tucker
April 28
Service Elder: Bob Kurtz
Liturgist: Margy Barbour
Phone Message Reader: Wayne Glass
Deacon Hospital Visitation: Rebecca Johnson
Chancel Guild: Margo Fullinwider, Martha Brown
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M
idweek Lenten Gatherings
Midweek Lenten Gatherings are scheduled on Wednesday evenings through April 10th at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.
The gatherings feature a study entitled "Entering the Passion of Jesus" by New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine. A soup and bread dinner follows the study. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend!
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Men's Fellowship Luncheon
The Men's Fellowship Luncheon group will meet on Tuesday, April 2nd, at noon at Peppers Restaurant. Women are very welcome!
Pastor John will speak on the history and significance of the Season of Lent.
Please RSVP to Wayne Glass.
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Gathering of the Southeast Cluster
Presbytery of Sierra Blanca
The Southeast Cluster of Sierra Blanca Presbytery (Presbyterian churches in Hobbs, Lovington, Carlsbad, and Roswell) will meet at Roswell FPC on Saturday, April 6th from 11:30am to 3:00pm. Lunch will be provided.
A staff member from the Roswell Refuge will discuss the ministries of the Refuge following lunch, then attendees will work in the pantry (at FPC) of Roswell Community Disaster Relief Services. RCDRS Director, Enrique Moreno, will be present to talk about the work of the organization and to lead cluster workers.
Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to Pastor John if you will be joining us for this cluster gathering.
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Holy Week Ecumenical Midday Gatherings
Holy Week Ecumenical Midday gatherings with lunch and worship are scheduled Monday through Friday, April 15-19, at 11:30am. Come join saints from several churches as we worship together through the days of Holy Week.
Monday, April 15 - St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Tuesday, April 16 - First United Methodist Church
Wednesday, April 17 - St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Thursday, April 18 - First Presbyterian Church
Friday, April 19 - First Church of the Nazarene Church
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Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services this year will be held jointly with Westminster Presbyterian Church.
On Maundy Thursday, April 18th, the combined congregations will worship at Westminster with an "Agape Feast" (cheese, crackers, and fruit) at 5:30pm and worship with the Lord's Supper at 6:30pm.
On Good Friday, April 19th at 5:30pm, the combined congregations will worship at First Presbyterian, and the combined choirs will present a cantata by Benjamin Harlan, "Behold the Darkness." The service will include readings from the Passion Narrative and extinguishing of candles: a service of progressive darkness.
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One Great Hour of Sharing Offering 
"You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in"
Isaiah 58:12
OGHS is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world--sharing God's love with our neighbors-in-need around the world through these three programs:
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters.
Presbyterian Hunger Program - Takes action to alleviate hunger and the systematic causes of poverty so all may be fed.
Self-Development of People - Invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills.
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FPC will collect the OGHS offering on Palm Sunday, April 14th. Envelopes are available in the pew pockets for those who cannot be present that day.
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Please give generously. Thank you.
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 Lilies for Easter Sunday
Easter lily order forms are available in the weekly worship bulletins, narthex, and church office. The cost is $20.00 per plant. Please complete a form and return it with payment earmarked for the lilies by Monday, April 15. Call the office at 622-4910 for more information.
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The Resurrection of the Lord!
Sunday, April 21st
8:45am - Easter Breakfast
9:15am - Easter Egg Hunt for Children
10:00am - Worship
Bring a friend!
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The new site includes information about FPC ministries and current activities. Several pages provide information on church committees. Other pages describe fellowship activities that are part of the church's life. The site outlines various opportunities for service. The site is mobile-friendly so that you can navigate it on your smart phone and other mobile devices.
I hope that the website will be a resource for our members and a welcome invitation to visitors. Please visit the new website. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
The old website, http://fpcroswell.com, will be decommissioned soon.
God bless you in this Lenten Season,
Joan Arnold
Director of Communications and Outreach
Director of Communications and Outreach
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Staff Email Addresses
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John Guthrie
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Nova Rogers
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Joan Arnold
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Nova's old address, fpcroswell@qwestoffice.net, will be decommissioned soon. Please update your address book.
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The Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates
The Nominating Committee seeks the names of those who may be called by God to serve FPC as Ruling Elders, Deacons, and members of the 2019-2020 Nominating Committee. You may surely nominate yourself. Please relay nominations to Mike Hunter, Chair.
The Nominating Committee consists of four at-large members elected by the congregation (Roberta Pess, Bob Carroll, Doug Lunsford, and Jon Hitchcock) plus two members designated by Session (Mike Hunter and Bob Kurtz) and the Deacon representative (Betty Young).
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Highlights of Session Meeting
March 21, 2019
Bob Kurtz, Clerk of Session, reported that the inventory of church property (for insurance purposes) is complete. Bob is also nearing completion of the first draft of a church Emergency Action Plan (for response to emergencies like storms, fire, armed intruders, etc.) The clerk will pursue replacing first aid kits, a fire department inspection of FPC facilities, and purchase of a defibrillator. Bob is pursuing the acquisition of insurance bids from a couple of insurers.
The Church Management Committee (Lynn Karnes reporting) continues to pursue repair of the main entrance steps, sidewalk repairs, exterior light replacement, wood fence replacement, and a stair railing for the choir. The recent roof repairs have been inspected by the roof warranty company. Replacement of ceiling tiles in the Fellowship Hall and elsewhere can commence following an insurance company inspection.
The Worship Committee (Bob Entrop) presented plans for ecumenical Holy Week worship services and for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday joint services with Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Lenten study series continues through April 10th.
The Personnel Committee (Bob Kurtz) reported that Joan Arnold, FPC's Director of Communication and Outreach, has completed and published a new website. Joan will oversee maintenance of the website.
Nominating Committee chair, Mike Hunter, reported on the committee's plans for identifying nominees for Ruling Elders, Deacons, and 2019-2020 Nominating Committee members. Mike plans for the committee to complete its work before June 1st.
The Mission Committee (John Guthrie, interim chair) reported that the Disaster Relief Services pantry is being stocked. The vehicle used by the director of the organization to assist people in need must soon be replaced or have major repairs.
The Fellowship Committee (Lynn Karnes) will host breakfast and an egg hunt for children on Easter Sunday.
The Evangelism Committee (Deb Prince) will pursue car window stickers and front license plates featuring FPC (more visibility for the church).
The Christian Education Committee (John Guthrie, interim chair) reports a very satisfactory Disciple Bible Study, to finish on March 25th.
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2019 Fifth Thursday Potluck Dinners
Fifth Thursday Potluck Dinners are scheduled for the following dates in 2019. If you would like to host one of these dinners please see or call Karen Bloodhart.
May 30
August 29
October 31
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The Chancel Choir 
The choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30pm during Lent. Rehearsal returns to 7:00pm starting April 17th. New choir members are very welcome! For more information contact Ralph Kaler, Music Director, through the Church Office.
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Wednesday Breakfast Group
You are invited to enjoy breakfast at Martin's Capitol Café any Wednesday at 7:30am. |
Prayer Group
The Prayer Group gathers every Friday at noon in the Parlor. Participants pray for our church and its members, and for our community, nation, and the world.
Come as you are able. Everyone is welcome. Contact Pastor John for more information.
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Daily Inspirational Phone Message
Start your day with an inspiring message!
(575) 622-4923
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A Message from Jeanette Schaffer, Director
Presbyterian Outreach Ministry
April 2019
"We have this as a sure and steadfast ANCHOR of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV
If you are reading this, it means you survived the tornado and fierce wind storms that hit our area last week. Anything that was not securely strapped down or anchored firmly into the ground either became a flying torpedo or a pulverized indescribable pile of rubbish.
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 Featured PC(USA)
Mission Co-workers
for April
Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell
Mission Co-workers Serving in Brazil
The Gartrell's are serving at the invitation of the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Reverend Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell work in partnership with the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU) in ministries of leadership development and evangelism. Because there are more churches than pastors in the IPU, the Gartrells are helping to develop lay leadership and are providing resources for local churches.
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| 2nd |
Ann Hultman
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| 3rd |
Charles Stevens
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3rd
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Lois Wilson
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| 4th |
Matt Hinkle |
| 6th |
Shirley Foster |
| 7th |
Katie Shanor |
| 8th |
Mary Kling |
| 9th |
Colton Miller |
| 15th |
Wayne Glass |
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17th
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Neil DeFranco |
| 17th |
Randy Miller |
| 19th |
Ross Robertson |
| 21st |
Brenna Smith |
| 23rd |
Betty Patton |
| 24th |
Roberta Pess |
25th
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Margo Fullinwider |
| 28th |
Roxanne Yates |
| 30th |
Jack Cully |
| 30th |
Mark Daniels |
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April Anniversaries!
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| 24th |
Bob Entrop & Rebecca Johnson |
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Margo Fullinwider, Nanette Schumacher, Mary Lou Glass, Connie Wolf, Shirley Foster, Roberta Pess, Martha Mayer, and Enrique Moreno set aside a few hours recently to organize the Roswell Community Disaster Relief Services pantry.
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Bob Carroll was ordained and installed as a Deacon on
Sunday, March 10th, 2019.
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Ann Ruback and Margy Barbour
Bill and Connie Wolf and Betty Young
Ash Wednesday Worship and Supper
March 6th
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