Weekly Eblast
Hodges Boulevard
Presbyterian Church
January 29, 2019
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Sunday, February 3, 2019
9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship
10:00 a.m. Education Hour
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Luke 4:21-30
"We Want a Better Story"
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Dear Hodges family,
After worship this past Sunday, one of our members came to me and suggested that I include a short portion of the sermon in this week’s EBlast, so that those who may not have been present on Sunday would have access to the same information. Sooooooo, here ya go!
“It’s been 18 months since your last pastor left, and I think a lot of the congregation is sensing a little bit of angst, or agitation, or impatience, or irritability. The most obvious area is the critical, ongoing work of your Pastor Nominating Committee – the PNC. These folks (Chris, Tod, Wezi, Bruce, Ryan, Maryellen, and Alice), whose names are in your bulletin to be prayed for every week, probably work harder right now than any other committee we have in place, and believe me, we have some hard-working committees. You’ll hear another update from the PNC next Sunday [February 3], but, suffice it to say for the moment, that they work like Trojans. This has been going on for a year now, as I’m sure you recall – they were elected January 18, of last year. So, first, can you get your head around the fact that they are meeting for
hours
every single week? They do another couple of hours’ worth of work and reading and research between meetings. They are absolutely tuned in to the Spirit’s movement and leading, however, there is no answer yet – or, possibly, the answer is “not yet.” As you might imagine, they are just as anxious, probably much more so, than you are to find your next pastor. In addition, and this is my observation, amidst all the tons of work they’re doing, it could rightly be postulated that they need to feel your love and support now more than ever. Any critical word impacts them greatly, and, surely, no one wants that. I don’t need to tell you how it must feel to be on the receiving end of something like that.
I’m sharing this observation in the hope that we will take to heart the scriptural admonition that
…if one member suffers, all suffer together.
Also, in our session meeting last week, we again acknowledged the fact, another observation, that almost without fail during an interim time, stewardship, participation, and attendance suffer. It is not an indictment of anyone or anything. It’s just what happens, and it happens when the members of the body are less concerned about the good of the whole, the body, and really more interested in their own personal pursuits – choosing to go to non-church events, choosing not to pledge, choosing to take a pass on showing up. I mention this not to fuss, but rather, as a reminder and a word of encouragement. It’s all completely normal, documentable, in fact (you can ask anyone who has studied interim ministry), and it’s our job to work to overcome these tendencies. When we do, other members of the body notice, it affects other members of the body, and oftentimes it influences those other members of the body. My hope is that being made aware that this happens will be enough to encourage some of us to modify our behavior as one of those essential parts of the body.”
I hope this gives you some sense of peace about where the Hodges Church is right now. I am certainly always available to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, …
Pray, pray,
pray
,
pray
,
PRAY!!
Remembering from the Gospel of Matthew (7:7) …
Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened for you.
In Christ’s service,
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A Message from Session
Many of you have heard the adage: “the only thing about change is that change is constant” or something like that. And because that is true at Hodges, as previously shared in a special edition of the e-Blast, we are taking a hiatus from the Wednesday night dinners. The dinners were unsustainable, from both a cost and work-effort expended, with the current low attendance. To be very frank, we were not covering the cost of the dinners; Session agreed this was not good stewardship of our resources.
This is not to say there will never be Wednesday night dinners or a Wednesday night program again. The Education Team of Session, along with staff, will continue to evaluate Wednesday night programs, so stay tuned for that information.
Watch the e-Blast and bulletin each week for all activities at Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church to see where you can ‘plug in’ and add to the fellowship and JOY in service. And, by all means, please share your ideas with Session and staff.
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Our annual congregational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 10, at 10:00 a.m., in the sanctuary. The purpose of this meeting will be to receive the 2018 Annual Report, to receive the 2019 budget, to amend the church bylaws, to elect corporate officers, and to elect new elders. There will also be a presentation regarding the sanctuary repairs immediately following the meeting, to include fundraising information. Please plan to be with us for this very important meeting!
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- Don’t forget to sign-up for VELOCITY AIR! The Youth Group is going to VELOCITY AIR this Sunday, February 3. We will leave right after the Sunday school hour and arrive back to the church around 1:00. Cost is $25 and you will also want to pack a sack lunch and a pair of socks. Please also fill out the release form for Velocity Air (which can be found at this link) as well as the annual church release form if you haven’t already done so (in this link, or available in your Sunday school class room). Please RSVP to Kim Ross no later than Thursday, January 31.
- Mission Trip Meeting: If you are interested in hearing about the youth mission trip options, join us this Sunday, February 3, during the Sunday school hour. Dave McVaney will be sharing details and gauging interest. All parents and youth are welcome.
- SAVE THE DATE: Vision Summit, February 22-23. The consultants from Ministry Architects will be back on February 22 and 23 to guide the entire church in casting a vision for the youth of HBPC and we would love for you to join us. Save the dates and keep a look out for more details about exact time and location.
- The next Bake Sale date is February 24. We hope to see you then!
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Our last B.E.A.C.H. Nite dinner will be Wednesday, January 30, at 5:30 p.m. The menu is charcoal grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings, assorted chips, and dessert.
Jamie Hoener will be our guest speaker finishing up the series,
"Living the Questions."
Please call the church office to make your reservation.
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Calendar
Wednesday, January 30
7:00 a.m. Bibles & Bagels
9:15 a.m. Women's Bible Study
4:30 p.m. The Story Continues
5:30 p.m. BEACH Dinner
6:30 p.m. Program
6:30 p.m. Youth
6:30 p.m. Traditions Rehearsal
Friday, February 1
6:00 p.m. Russian Fellowship
Sunday, February 3
9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
12:00 p.m. Youth to Air Velocity
6:00 p.m. Youth Groups
Monday, February 4
1:30 p.m. HR Meeting
6:30 p.m. Scouts
Tuesday, February 5
Jax Campus Ministry
9:30 a.m. Painters & Crafters
11:30 a.m. Staff Meeting
5:30 p.m. Worship Meeting
7:00 p.m. PW Meeting
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Remember In Prayer....
Kimberley Aden, Judy Bedillion (Debbie Braden’s mother), Pam Benson, Charlotte Berglund, Gale and Elaine Boylan, Glenn Conner, Larry and Gerry Cook (friends of Judy Klein),
Bob Danberg
, Jose Gonzalez , Bob Hiller, Carolyn and Tom Hopper, Dave Keim, Nancy (Linda Martin’s friend), Katie Meredith, Jack Moore, Josh Moore, Kathy (Larry/Glenyce Payne’s daughter), Merrylin Opendo, Nolan Perret, Betty Phillips, Bill Salisbury (Tammie Wright’s father), Roger (Judy Schuler’s brother), Robin Soergel, Catherine and Bill Trask, Sue Williams, Patricia Zalusky-Taylor
PNC
Maryellen Beiletti,
Wezi Blunt, Chris Gesdorf, Ryan Gulick, Alice Harper, Tod McVey, Bruce Neu
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Betty's Buddies
February 14, 2019
11:30 a.m.
The Fish Company
725-12 Atlantic Blvd
Contact Lynn Holmes
904-524-2134 or
Mary Blanchard
443-377-5544
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Stated Presbytery Meeting
February 9, 2019
9:00 a.m.
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Highlands United Presbyterian Church
10900 McCormick Road,
Jacksonville, Florida 32225
If you would like to attend and ride the church bus, contact Milton Fulton at 904-616-6348. Bus will leave at 8:00 a.m.
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Officer Training
Saturday, February 9
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This is an informative and necessary training meeting for all Elders and Deacons. Lunch will be provided.
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Save the Date!!
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Join the Presbyterain Women
for our 2019 Fundraiser
Mardi Gras Celebration
To include Cajun cuisine, a silent auction,
a fifty/fifty drawing and fun and frivolity!!
Costumes encouraged!!
Donations for the silent auction are being
accepted, including art, baskets, gift cards,
and new items!
Ticket sales begin February 10
REJOIGNEZ-NOUS POUR LE PLAISIR!
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phone: 904-223-6922 email: hodges@hbpcusa.org
website: hbpcusa.org
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