The Newsletter
of 
First Presbyterian Church
Roswell, New Mexico
  
March 2018
 
   

THE PASTOR'S REFLECTIONS
 
LENT
   
Our 40-day journey through the Season of Lent continues. How is your journey going?  Have you discontinued some particular practice or initiated a new one?  Have you learned anything about yourself, or been surprised by some new revelation you received in reading Scripture or in prayer?  Do you have some sense of walking with Jesus over these six and a half weeks, as he walked toward Jerusalem where the cross waited? 
   
The gospel passages for these six Sundays all focus on particular, startling events or lessons from his days walking the hills of Galilee and Judea:
  • His testing by Satan in the wilderness (February 18)
  • His challenge to his disciples, and to us, to take up our own crosses and follow him (February 25)
  • Driving the merchants and moneychangers from the temple (March 4)
  • His mission as his Father's agent for the salvation of people (March 11)
  • The necessity of his death and resurrection to procure that salvation (March 18)
  • His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, knowing that the cross was only days away (March 25)
Join us for worship through these remaining Sundays in Lent. Join us for midweek Lenten Worship (Wednesdays at 5:30pm).  Join us during Holy Week for Maundy Thursday (March 29, 5:30pm) and Good Friday (March 30, 5:30pm).
   
God's deepest blessings on your Lenten journey.
   
Pastor John
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Dates to Remember!
  
The Deacons will meet on Thursday, March 1st, at 5:00pm. 

Communion Sunday is March 4th.
 
The March Men's Fellowship Luncheon is set for Tuesday, March 6th, at noon at Peppers Restaurant.  (See more details below.)
     
Brief Lenten Worship Services are scheduled for Wednesday evenings through March 21st at 5:30pm. (See more details below.)
 
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 11th!  Be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour. 
  
The March Stated Session Meeting is set for Thursday, February 15th, at 5:15pm.
 
Happy St. Patrick's Day on March 17th!
 
An Emergency Preparedness Workshop is set for Sunday, March 18th following worship, in the Fellowship Hall. (See more details below).
 
The First Day of Spring is Tuesday, March 20th!!
 
Holy Week Begins on Sunday, March 25th.
  
Maundy Thursday Worship is set for Thursday, March 29th, at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary.
 
Good Friday Worship is set for Friday, March 30th, at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary.
 
Easter Breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt, and Worship: April 1st.  (See more details below).
 
 
The Prayer Group
meets every Friday at noon in the Parlor.

Choir Practice during Lent happens on Wednesday evenings right after Midweek Lenten Services and dinner.
 
Breakfast at Martin's Capital Café every Wednesday morning at 7:30am.
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March 2018 Worship Schedule
and
Scripture Readings
 
March 4th - 3rd Sunday in Lent
10:00am Communion Worship Service 
Scriptures:  Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19;
1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
  
March 11th - 4th Sunday in Lent
10:00am Worship Service
Scriptures:  Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22;
Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21  
 
March 18th - 5th Sunday in Lent
10:00am Worship Service
Scriptures:  Jeremiah 311:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12 or
Psalm 119:9-16;
  
March 25th - Palm/Passion Sunday
10:00am Worship Service 
Scriptures: Palms:  Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

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Communion Sunday March 4th!

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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Men's Fellowship Luncheon
 
The March Men's Fellowship Luncheon is set for Tuesday, March 6th at noon at Peppers Restaurant!
  
The guest speaker for the luncheon will be Dr. John Chavers, Director of the Roswell International Law Enforcement Academy.  Women are invited too!  Please RSVP to Wayne Glass and call him for more information.
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LENTEN WEDNESDAYS
 
On Wednesdays through March 21st, First Presbyterian is holding brief services of worship at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall, followed by a simple dinner of soup and bread.
 
The Fellowship Committee is seeking volunteers to help with meals; please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, or contact Kate Daniels or Lynn Karnes.
   
Worship includes prayer, Scripture, and solemn hymns. Consider making these services a part of your Lenten discipline. Come worship with us.
   
Pastor John
   
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Out of Chaos -- HOPE
A Church Emergency Preparedness Workshop 
   
A Church Emergency Preparedness Workshop, led by FPC member and Commissioned Pastor, Dixie Loy, will be held on Sunday, March 18th, in the Fellowship Hall following worship.  Learn how we can be better prepared for emergencies that may occur at church. 
   
Everyone is invited to attend to come and participate in FPC's SAFE Program (Safety Awareness For Emergencies), a ministry of safety for natural and other events.  We will learn how to respond to events in readiness and willingness.  Be Aware...Be Prepared...Be Ready!  This program is made possible through the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. 
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Lilies for Easter Sunday!
 
Order forms for Easter Lilies are available in weekly worship bulletins, Narthex, and in the Church Office.  The cost is $18.00 per plant.  Please complete a form and return it with payment earmarked for the lilies by Monday, March 26th.  Call the Church Office for more information at (575) 622-4910.
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PRAYER GROUP
  
The Prayer Group gathers every Friday at noon in the Church 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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ECUMENICAL HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
   
The "downtown churches" of Roswell, plus a couple of others, will once again host noontime worship with meals during Holy Week, Monday through Friday, March 26-30. Worship and meals are scheduled to run no longer than one hour. Participating churches include First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, St. Andrew's Episcopal, and others not yet determined. Worship and lunch will rotate among the participating churches.
  
The schedule of venues will be made available as soon as it is determined, but FPC is firmly set to host on Tuesday, March 27, with Martin's Capitol Cafe catering lunch.

Join us for these opportunities to worship with Christians from other traditions during Holy Week.
   
Pastor John
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HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
   
Thursday, March 29, 5:30pm
Maundy Thursday Worship with the Lord's Supper
  
Friday, March 30, 5:30pm
Good Friday Worship:  A Service of Darkness
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EASTER SUNDAY
THE RESURRECTION OF
THE LORD!
April 1st  
 
Breakfast at 8:45am                
Easter Egg Hunt for Children at 9:30am
                  Worship at 10:00am             
Bring a Friend!
  
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING
PALM SUNDAY, MARCH 25 
   
When the forces of chaos and calamity rip the fabric of human life, your One Great Hour of Sharing gifts are there to sew it back together. Your generosity fulfills a vision rooted in the biblical witness and beautifully stated in Isaiah 58:12. The prophet writes: "You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." Around the world, One Great Hour of Sharing ministries bridge the divides that tear apart the lives of individuals and communities.
    
In Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory that was devastated by Hurricane Maria last year, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance promised help to the island's Presbyterian leaders even before the storm made landfall. Days after Maria hit, the first wave of PDA grants arrived and immediately pressing community needs were being met. Desperately needed items such as food, water, diapers and medical supplies were in the hands of hurricane survivors swiftly. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing made it possible for PDA to act promptly in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and other places when disasters struck in rapid succession last year.
 
In Akron, Ohio, Diretha's recovery from drug addiction was threatened by more than a decade of unemployment. She says her decision to join the Front Porch Café community helped her get a job and remain drug-free. The Front Porch consists of individuals who struggle with drug addiction or who seek to re-enter society after spending time in prison. At the Front Porch, they can eat a good meal, learn and grow among others who have experienced similar struggles, and receive guidance on employment opportunities. A Self- Development of People grant, made possible by One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, helped renovate and equip the building that houses the café. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing gifts contribute to positive change that lasts. 
    
In Uganda, Najjuma, a 56-year-old widow, depends on eight acres of farmland to feed three children and eight grandchildren left orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, her in-laws ordered her to leave the land her late husband had inherited. Thanks to training programs held by Action for Rural Women's Empowerment (ARUWE), a partner of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Najjuma knew the law was on her side. She successfully appealed for help through local land-governance structures. Your One Great Hour of Sharing gifts helped Najjuma continue to farm the land and improve farming techniques in order to feed her children and grandchildren.
 
In places far and near, your One Great Hour of Sharing gifts repair breaches that pierce the wholeness that God wants for everyone.

FPC will collect the OGHS offering on Palm Sunday, March 25, but special envelopes are now in the Sanctuary pew pockets; you may surely give earlier. You may also drop off a check in the church office.

Please give generously. Thank you. 
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DEACON FLOCKS

The Deacons of First Presbyterian have initiated a new ministry to make sure that all members and friends of the congregation receive regular contact from our church.  Each Deacon has been assigned a "flock" of families and individuals.  These Shepherds will contact the members of their flocks regularly to make sure their connection to our congregation remains vital and strong.

Look forward to hearing from your Shepherd soon! 
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SESSION REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2018
  
The session of FPC-Roswell met on Thursday, February 15. Pastor John moderated the meeting. John led a discussion on attracting guests to church, including an article entitled "Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-time Guests."
 
The Clerk has completed the on-line church statistical report and has emailed the approved 2018 Pastor Terms of Call to the Clerk of Sierra Blanca Presbytery.
 
It was moved, seconded, and passed (M/S/P) to approve three building use requests: PEO Meeting on Tuesday, February 13th, the Roswell Jazz Festival Board of Directors and Membership Meetings in 2018, and Miranda Fuentes Baby Shower (Joe Fuentes' granddaughter) on February 24th.
 
Lynn Karnes, Chair of the Church Management Committee, gave an update on the cost estimates for new carpet in the Narthex and the pastor's office. There remain a couple of windows on the west side of the building needing repair. The assessment of the roof indicated that there are skylights and flashing that need replacing from the hail storm last May. Insurance will cover the cost minus the church's deductible.
 
Church Worship Attendance: Jan 21st, 62; Jan 28th, 61; Feb 4th, 67: Feb 11th, 63. The Worship Committee reported that Lenten Services will be held on Wednesday Evenings at 5:30pm beginning February 21st and ending March 21st. These services will be followed by a soup and bread dinner.
 
Approved by email on January 28th for recommendation to the congregation: Four at large members of the Nominating Committee: Jon Hitchcock, Roberta Pess, Doug Lunsford, and Robert Carroll. Unanimously approved by the Congregation at the February 4th Congregational Meeting.
 
The Mission Committee met January 16th. The committee has petitioned the Church Management Committee to remove the per capita assessment from the Mission Budget and place it elsewhere in church's budget, while maintaining 10% of the church budget for mission in 2019 and beyond. 
 
The Fellowship Committee reported the Valentine's Day Luncheon held Sunday, February 11th. Soup and bread suppers will be held during Lent beginning February 21st.  The committee is planning on an Easter Sunday Breakfast.  Lynn Karnes and Kate Daniels will prepare a meal for attendees at the funeral for Kalith Smith's father on February 17th in Portales.
 
The Evangelism Committee is working to update the church's website and publish a new trifold brochure.

The Pastor reports that his January/February Bible Study has concluded. The Pastor's Study will resume after Easter and will break at the end of May for the summer.
The Prayer Group continues to meet on Fridays at noon in the Parlor. 

The church's Building Use Form has been revised to include the provision that alcohol is prohibited and that a church member must open and close the building.

FPC member Dixie Loy will offer an Emergency Preparedness Workshop after Worship on Sunday, March 18th, 2018.
 
M/S/P to host a presbytery Southeast Cluster event on Saturday, June 16, 2018 for attendees to view opening worship of the PCUSA General Assembly by video link. A light lunch will be served.

Next Session Meeting: Thursday, March 15, 2018, at 5:15pm.  Adjourned with prayer at approximately 6:35pm.
 
Robert C. Kurtz
Clerk of Session 
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Daily Inspirational Phone Message

 
Start your day with a meaningful, positive message!
Call (575) 622-4923!
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Choir

 

The Choir meets at 6:30pm in the Choir Room for rehearsal during Lent, following Wednesday Lenten Worship and dinner. For more information about the choir, please contact Ralph Kaler, Music Director, through the Church Office, (575) 622-4910.
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Wednesday Breakfast Group

 

You are warmly invited to enjoy breakfast at

Martin's Capitol Café every Wednesday at 7:30am. 

See you there!
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Serving This Month

March 4th
Service Elder:  Rebecca Johnson
Liturgist: Sally Anderson
Inspirational Reader:  Bill Wolf
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Michele Hillman
Chancel Guild:  Margo Fullinwider, Martha Brown, Brenna Smith
 
March 11th
Service Elder: Lynn Karnes
Liturgist:  Rebecca Johnson
Inspirational Reader:  Paula Grieves
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Connie Wolf
Chancel Guild:  Kate Daniels, Martha Mayer

March 18th
Service Elder:  Bill Wolf
Liturgist:  Margo Fullinwider
Inspirational Reader:  Mary Hubbard
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Nancy Peterson
Chancel Guild:  Lynn Karnes, Ann Hultman, Connie Wolf

March 25th
Service Elder:  Bob Kurtz
Liturgist: Sally Anderson
Inspirational Reader:  Margo Fullinwider
Deacon Hospital Visitation:  Martha Mayer
Chancel Guild:  Mary Lou Glass, Rebecca Johnson, Roberta Pess

March 29th, Maundy Thursday Service
Service Elder:  Margo Fullinwider
Liturgist:  Margy Barbour

March 30th, Good Friday Service 
Service Elder:  Lynn Karnes
Liturgist:  Dixie Loy
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MARCH BIRTHDAYS 

  
Happy Birthday to You!
              
                        2nd  Delores Blair     
      4th   Kailith Smith
      6th   Deb Prince
      7th   John Guthrie
      16th  Louis Lujan
                        23rd  Bob Entrop
                        24th  Ann Ruback
                       
                      MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
 
                       5th  Kalith and Abie Smith
                      28th Jim and Karen Bloodhart
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New Service Opportunity

 

The New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy is seeking tutors for students working on their GED certificates.  Call Andrea England at (575) 625-1369 for more information.

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Westminster Presbyterian Church Women's Bible Study

 

The women of WPC welcome others to join them in a study called "Cloud of Witnesses: a study of Hebrews," on the second Monday of every month from 9:30am to 11:00am in the WPC Library.  Light refreshments are provided!   

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Thank You Letter from Kalith Smith

 

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VALENTINE'S DAY LUNCHEON

Sunday, February 11th

 

   

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