Weekly Eblast
Hodges Boulevard
Presbyterian Church
October 30, 2018
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Commitment Sunday
Sunday, November 4, 2018
9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship
10:00 a.m. Education Hour
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
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No B.E.A.C.H. Nite Dinner or Program October 31
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Dear Hodges Church family,
Part 1 of 2:
Why the need for a two-part Eblast article?
Last week was a heartbreaking week, which has evoked more than one tear at my house. This week is our final week of stewardship, something that evokes overwhelming joy at my house. These two seem so completely unrelated that they needed to be separated. However, there is also a conclusion at the bottom. If you heard Sunday’s sermon (10/28/18), it may sound ever-so-slightly similar. :)
The headline on the news Sunday afternoon read:
“72 hours in America: Three hate-filled crimes. Three hate-filled suspects.”
Last Wednesday, a white man shot and killed two African-Americans at a Kentucky Kroger, after a failed attempt to barge into a black church. Friday, a man who had railed against Democrats and minorities, was arrested for sending pipe bombs in the mail – 14 in all. Saturday morning, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people who were attending worship. We read these things and we shudder almost uncontrollably, our skin crawls, and we whisper a secret prayer of thanks that it wasn’t a loved one of ours. I confess, with all this vitriol swirling around, it was difficult to be in the pulpit preaching on Sunday. I wasn’t feeling very perky. I was feeling like I wanted to grab my African American and Jewish friends (and FAMILY – my son-in-law is Jewish), and I wanted to hug them and squeeze them until all my strength was gone. I wanted to tell them I would protect them. Instead, I was in worship trying to keep my act together. The original Pastoral Prayer I had written contained the plaintive, oft-repeated question from Psalms: How long, O Lord? I ditched the prayer I had written in favor of a Kaddish (a Jewish prayer recited by mourners after a death) for the 9:00 service, that my daughter reposted on Saturday night; for the pastoral prayer at our 11:00 service, I used a hymn, WRITTEN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, called, “O God, This Day We Grieve.” (Both prayer and hymn are attached elsewhere in this edition of the Eblast.) These words of prayer are painful to utter, tear-jerkers, in fact, but they are what bring me, and hopefully you, a tiny bit of solace and the will and commitment to try and help make a difference in what is rapidly becoming (or is already?) an insane, maniacal world … a commitment not just to more civility, or a
veneer
of civility, but to crazy-radical, inclusive, unconditional love for ALL humankind, to include painstaking humility and openness of heart and mind for those neighbors who are sooooooo hard to love … the kind of all-too-rare love that actually sets us apart and has our observers saying, “I don’t know what she’s got, but whatever it is, I want it.” Well, what she’s got is JESUS.
Part 2 of 2:
Jesus. There’s always Jesus. When I think of stewardship, to tell you the truth, the very first thing that comes to my mind is my relationship with God/Jesus/Spirit. When things go my way, I thank God. When I’m feeling confused, I chat with Jesus. When I need encouragement, Spirit is Who I turn to. When I’m frustrated, thrilled, mad, sad, glad, fearful, satisfied, disgusted, surprised, indignant, joyful, distrustful, shamed, confident, envious, high spirits, low spirits, desperate, benevolent, anxious, patient, impatient, helpless … you get the idea … I know I can turn to my God for reassurance and redirection. This applies to all areas of my life, even though I am not as faithful as I know I could be. Even so, my relationship with God never fails to brings me contentment and joy. Do I feel that way all the time? Oh, heck no. But I also know that’s all about me and nothing about God, because we have always, always known God to be 100% steadfast in faithfulness, and there’s no reason for me to doubt that. All to say, what that in turn does to me is it gives me a desire to worship and serve my Lord in all aspects of my life – with my time, with the gifts for service and financial resources I’ve been granted so abundantly. (And, if you ever doubt how materially blessed you are, … do you know how to Google??? You might be surprised at the degree of your blessedness, in fact, you may even be dumbfounded in comparison to the rest of the world.) One of the (many) ways my joy – OUR JOY – manifests itself is in the response of giving our tithes and offerings.
I know many people are hinky about talking about money, I get that. But when it comes to a joyful response to God, that changes the context, and I’m not hinky about that, so let me share a little bit with you about our tithes and offerings. Are Steve and I tithers (give 10% of our income)? Yes, we are, and have been for a long time. You want to know how we got there? Through prayer! For most of our adult lives, we pretty much spent everything we made – and then some. We were regular givers, but didn’t try very hard to increase that amount. To tell the truth, we mostly didn’t pay much attention to it at all. It was just something we did. We were consistent, but didn’t bother to be challenged. UNTIL, for whatever reason, we decided to really commit “what should we give” to prayer. Whoa! You should always be ready to be surprised when you do that! The short story is that God asked us to increase what we were giving, but it wasn’t to a point of us feeling deprived or resentful. So, we did. And we did the year after that, and the year after that, until we got to a level of tithing. The initial increase was just enough for us to feel a difference, enough for us to notice, but in the noticing, what we realized was that we were paying attention and giving more thanks for our blessings. It’s a little crazy how it works that way, but I mean crazy in the very coolest way!
As you consider your financial commitment at this time of the year, all we want you to do is pray about it, and the rest – the decision about what to do or not do – is completely up to you.
Conclusion:
As we pray and consider how God wants us to respond to the ways in which we are blessed, we do so understanding that it is, indeed, far more than just our money. In a society and a world that some days seems to have gone stark raving mad and that the bad guys are winning far too often, our responsibility as Children of God is to BE the love of Christ to the world, a word of hope and compassion, and to work for God’s justice in the world. If that sounds too convoluted to get your heads around, start by treating everyone you meet as if that person was Jesus himself. That loving act is a grateful response to God’s goodness. Because …
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!
In gratitude for the privilege of serving you at Hodges Church,
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Join us for worship and the Celebration Brunch at either 10:00 am or 12:00 pm.
Please click the link below to make your reservation:
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Attention Parents of Tweens!
Please contact Malinda Harris at
mharris@hbpcusa
, if your 3
rd
- 5
th
grader is planning to go bowling with us on November 4! The Tweens will need to eat lunch at the Celebration Brunch, and the bus will leave the church at 12:30 p.m. to go to Bowl America. They will need to bring $12 and a pair of socks.
Please remember that there will be
NO Wednesday night nursery, children’s program, adult class or meal served tomorrow night, October 31
! Enjoy Halloween with your family. All programs will resume on Wednesday, November 7.
This Sunday, November 4, since it is Commitment Sunday,
children age 6 years old and older will remain in worship with their parents.
They will be hosting two Celebration Brunches in Fellowship Hall. After the Children’s Moment, children 5 years old and
under
are invited to leave the service with Nursery personnel.
Did you know . . . the day after All Hallows’ Eve, Halloween, is called All Saints Day. Historically it was a day of remembrance for all saints (people in our lives who were instrumental in our faith development and that of the church who are no longer with us). Perhaps there are some in your life who led you closer to God. This would be a good day to pray for them in thanksgiving!
Debbie Abbott will return soon! Look for her to be back in the office on November 14.
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Calendar
Wednesday, October 31
7:00 am Bibles & Bagels
9:00 am Preschool Trunk or Treat
9:15 am Women's Bible Study
4:30 pm And the Story Continues
Thursday, November 1
6:00 pm Outreach Meeting
7:00 pm Worship Mission
7:00 pm Youth Reno Team
7:00 pm Property Meeting
Sunday, November 4
Commitment Sunday
Time Change
9:00 am Contemporary Worship
10:00 am Brunch
11:00 am Traditional Worship
12:00 pm Brunch
12:30 pm Tweens Bowling Outing
6:00 pm Mid & Sr High Youth
Monday, November 5
1:30 pm HR Ministry Team
7:15 pm Scouts
Tuesday, November 6
9:30 am Painting Buddies
11:30 am Staff Meeting
7:00 pm PWCT Board
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Remember In Prayer....
Tom Abbey, Mary Alderman, Bob and Pam Benson, Charlotte Berglund, Gale and Elaine Boylan, Glenn Conner, Lary & Gerry Cook (friends of Judy Klein), Diana Dana, David (Malinda Harris' son), Charles Gaines (Debbie Abbott's father), Jose Gonzalez, Carl Heldwein, Bob Hiller, Carolyn and Tom Hopper, Dave Keim, Dorothy Martin (Brad Russell’s mother), Nancy (Linda Martin's friend), Katie Meredith, Jack Moore, Josh Moore, Gloria (Jim Morton's mother), Kathy (Larry/Glenyce Payne’s daughter), Merrylin Opendo, Ray Paul (Amy Zalusky’s father), Nolan Perret, Betty Phillips, Mary Plante (Matthew's mother), Bill Salisbury (Tammie Wright's father), Roger (Judy Schuler’s brother), Robin Soergel, Catherine and Bill Trask
(Names added this week are in bold.)
PNC
Maryellen Beiletti,
Wezi Blunt, Chris Gesdorf, Ryan Gulick, Alice Harper, Tod McVey, Bruce Neu
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Stewardship Thoughts
by Edie Tebbs
Stewardship Season seems a very appropriate way to usher in the Thanksgiving Season which follows. It is a time for expressing gratitude and making it tangible.
I come to the season with a thankful heart for God’s bountiful blessings and find joy in making a commitment to share my own treasure with my church and congregation.
For many years I have come gladly through the welcoming doors of Hodges where I always find God’s hands and feet engaged in a multitude of ways following Jesus’ charge to love and care for our neighbors, in our congregation, in our community and abroad. Surely such a church and congregation deserve my support so that heaven’s blessings can be spread to others.
From a full and grateful heart I will be among the cheerful givers celebrating on Commitment Sunday.
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NOVEMBER ANNOUCEMENTS
HOME GROUPS: November 4
Join us this Sunday, November 4 from 6:00-7:30 pm for special, Youth Group Home Groups and a chance to win some prizes! The Mid-High group will meet at George Ross’ home (31903 Johns Island Court, 32224) and the Senior High group will meet at Lauren Grady’s home (8767 Harpers Glen Court, 32256). We will spend our time enjoying each other’s company and discussing the importance of a good name!
Whoa Wait – Check it out!!! Want to win a prize? You will get a raffle ticket for attending Home Groups, and if you bring a guest, you will get an extra ticket (as will your guest!). The more friends you bring, the more raffle tickets you get!
If you are able to join us, please contact Kim Ross or RSVP on the GroupMe app. See you THIS SUNDAY for fun, friends, food, and prizes.
BAKE SALES: November 4 and December 2
Help raise money for the youth group by contributing to the bake sales on November 4 and December 2
during Sunday School hour. Youth, please get those ovens preheating and plan on donating a baked good or come and help sell the sweets. It is always best to package cookies, cake slices etc. in plastic bags to sell individually. Please contact Kimberly Ross at 904-631-7727 with any questions.
BRING A MEAL
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Parents, you can help support the youth group by bringing a dinner! Sign up by contacting Lauren Grady at 904-509-1619 or click the link below:
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Kaddish: a Jewish prayer recited in the daily ritual of the synagogue and by mourners at public services after the death of a close relative
A Kaddish after Gun Violence: For When Humanity Fails Itself
by Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’may rabba…
Exalted and Holy be Your great name…
Yet little feels holy today.
Another mass shooting
An incomprehensible horror
Too many dead and too many wounded
And we are left
to mourn the dead
to heal the wounded
to wonder ... why?
…b’alma di v’ra chirutei…
…in the world which You God created, according to plan…
But is this part of Your plan?
That death and destruction emerges from the free will You entrusted to us
That automatic gunfire rains down unceasingly
That people kill people, using weapons we designed and created with the minds You accorded us
…v’yamlich malchutei, b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon…
…may Your majestic love be revealed, in the days of our lifetime…
In your Torah we are taught,
When Moses and the Israelites stood praying at the shores of the Red Sea while the Egyptians army was bearing down on them, You called out to us “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” (Ex 14:15).
So help us move on
Not by forgetting this horror
Not by explaining it away
Not by blaming the easy targets
But by having courage to
Mourn the dead
Heal the victims
Bless the first responders
Lead with love
Change the laws
And save lives
…y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’chayim aleinu…
…may there (soon) be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us…
Peace that comes
because we did NOT
become inured to the continual violence in our concert venues, our schools, our malls and neighborhoods
and we did NOT
allow the calls for prayers to turn us away from the actions we must take to end mass shootings
But because we DID
find the courage to stand up, speak up, act out
…oseh shalom bimromav, Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu,
…may the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us,
v’al kol Yisrael, v’al kol yoshvei teivel,
to all Israel, and all the world,
So one day Your world, free from this violence, will finally reflect Your exaltedness and holiness.
…v’imru:
…and we say:
Amen.
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O God, This Day We Grieve
By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette 10-27-2018
Vigil for the victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, PA – 10/27/18 REUTERS/John Altdorfer
LEONI 6.6.8.4 ("The God of Abraham Praise”)
O God, this day we grieve
your children who were lost,
and we, as one, are horrified
by hatred’s cost.
For people loved by you—
your children, called and blest—
were murdered on their Sabbath Day
of prayer and rest.
We grieve for those who died,
for families left behind,
for those who wonder if this world
can still be kind.
So many lives were changed,
so many dreams were crushed.
There’s so much hatred! God,
what has become of us?
We thank you, God, for ones
who bravely entered in,
to serve and to protect,
so hatred would not win—
and for the ones who lead,
we offer you this prayer:
May they be good examples of
respect and care.
God, teach us all to love—
and may we understand
that hatred cannot have a place
in this good land,
and guns cannot secure
the peace we pray will be.
May we, together, build
a true community.
O God, unite us all,
no matter how we pray,
and may we work together for
a better day—
where all may safely live
and have no cause for fear.
May we together seek your peace
and justice here.
Tune: Traditional Hebrew melody ("The God of Abraham Praise") (MIDI)
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Sunday, November 4, 2018
2:00 p.m.
CROP WALK for HUNGER is an annual outreach activity sponsored by Church World Services to feed people globally. Seventy-five percent of funds raised will be dedicated world-wide, while 25% will stay locally with the Arlington Community Service food bank.
The walk will take place at the Ed Austin Park at the north entrance of the 1.75 mile walking track. Registration will be on site at 1:30 p.m. and all participants are asked to bring a jar of peanut butter for ACS food bank.
Anyone sponsoring walkers should make checks payable to Church World Service.
This is a great event for family or youth! For more info contact Pastor David Lee at Highlands United Presbyterian Church at
904-641-9622.
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November 8
11:30 a.m.
Safe Harbor Seafood
2510 2nd Ave North
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Contact Lynn Homes
904-524-2134
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November 4
12:30 p.m.
3rd-5th Grades
The church bus will leave at 12:30 p.m. Bring socks, $12, and have a great time with friends. To register contact Malinda Harris at
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November 10
8:00 a.m.-noon
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Volunteers are needed to help spruce up our campus. Please sign-up to help!
Contact Gerald Schmidt at 904-463-6953
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WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CONGREGATION!!
THANK YOU
to everyone for your participation in the photos for our new church directory!
Whether you were a volunteer or a photo subject, this project is on a successful track because of YOU! Your support is appreciated immensely and we hope you found the experience to be enjoyable.
There will be another photo session in early November for those who had to cancel, were out of town, ill or just unavailable. Please stay tuned for that date and time.
Scott & Karen Nichols
904-223-7878
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Donate Blood
November 11
8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
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OneBlood will be in in our church parking lot to make donating blood convenient. All donors will receive a FREE OneBlood Fleece Blanket and a wellness checkup.
Contact Tim Keeley for more information
904-314-3374
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Visitors' Welcome
Sunday, November 18
Have you considered becoming a member of HBPC?
Join us after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services for refreshments on the left side of the sanctuary near the pond. You will have an opportunity to meet our Evangelism Mission Team, find out about the activities and goals of our congregation, and ask questions about joining the HBPC family.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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phone: 904-223-6922 email: hodges@hbpcusa.org
website: hbpcusa.org
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