First Presbyterian E-News 4/17/2025

First Presbyterian Church

April 17, 2025 E-News

Upcoming Service for the Lord's Day

Resurrection of the Lord / Easter Day

Sunday, April 20, 2025 ~ 10:30 a.m.

Preacher: Rev. Leslie Roper

Sermon: "Believing in the Unbelievable"

Scripture Lessons:

Isaiah 25:6-9 and Luke 24:1-12

A Note from Pastor Leslie

I was in high school when the movie Titanic came out. I went on a date to see it with my boyfriend at the time, who could not understand my tearful response to Jack’s hand slipping from Rose’s in that cold water. (There was, by the way, PLENTY of room for him on that door, but that’s an argument for another day). “It’s not as if you didn’t know how the movie was going to end,” was his oh-so sensitive response.

We have reached the part of our Lenten journey where things have turned dark. And we could take my ex-boyfriend’s advice and ignore this part of this story, since we do know how it all turns out. We read the whole story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion with Easter-colored-glasses, knowing full well that the resurrection is on the way. We know that it will end with good news. But that doesn’t mean this part of the story is any less important.

I promised earlier in Lent that we would return to Wendell Barry’s character of Jayber Crow when we got closer to the end of our journey. Jayber struggled throughout his time in seminary and then for the rest of his life with questions of faith. And during this Holy Week, Jayber’s questions might just be our own:

Christ did not descend from the cross except into the grave. And why not otherwise? Wouldn’t it have put fine comical expressions on the faces of the scribes and chief priests and the soldiers if at that moment He had come down in power and glory? Why didn’t He do it? Why hasn’t He done it at any one of a thousand good times between then and now?

I knew the answer. I knew it a long time before I could admit it, for all the suffering of the world is in it. He didn’t, He hasn’t, because from the moment He did, He would be the absolute tyrant of the world and we would be His slaves. Even those who hated Him and hated one another and hated their own souls would have to believe in Him then. From that moment the possibility that we might be bound to Him and He to us and us to one another by love forever would be ended.

This story that defines our faith could have ended differently. Jesus could have used power to overcome crucifixion, used authority to conquer death. Instead, he used love.

What wondrous love is this.

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Worship Service

Sermon: "The One with the Maddening Crowd"

Easter Lilies

If you purchased Easter Lilies to decorate the church sanctuary on Easter, please take your lily/lilies following worship.

Church Office Schedule

The church office will close at 12 noon tomorrow Friday, April 18. We will also be closed on Monday, April 21. Please plan accordingly.

Maundy Thursday - Tonight!

Join us tonight at 6:00 p.m. for our Maundy Thursday. At this special evening service, share with the disciples in the Last Supper and hear the powerful story of the crucifixion in word and song. As we leave the service, you’ll be invited to drop the nail provided into a metal bucket as we listen to the echo of Christ’s sacrifice through the centuries.

Easter Sunday

This Sunday, April 20, is Easter Sunday! Begin your day at 9:30 a.m. here at FPC with a potluck breakfast with your church family, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt for all kids and grandkids! Worship is at 10:30 a.m. when we will celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord in word and in song as we boldly proclaim that Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Risen, Indeed!

One Great Hour of Sharing

The One Great Hour of Sharing will be received Easter morning during worship. Each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center

The Mission Committee has planned a 1-day volunteer mission opportunity on Friday, April 25, at Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock. We will meet here at First Presbyterian Church Hot Springs (213 Whittington Ave.) at 8:30 a.m. and plan to return around 3:00 p.m. We hope you will plan to join us for this volunteer mission opportunity!

Birthday Sunday - April 27

Sunday, April 27, is Birthday Sunday where we honor our members and friends celebrating birthdays in the month of April. Following worship, we invite members, friends and guests to the Fellowship Hall for Birthday Cake. Please join us!

Presbyterian Women 5th Wednesday Night Out

The next PW 5^th Wednesday Night Out is April 30 at 5:30 p.m. We will dine at the Little Italy Italian Bistro (3812 Central Ave, Suite E – in the Boardwalk kind of across from Cornerstone). They are handicap accessible and we will have a fairly large private room. Now that the sun stays up longer, we hope everyone can make it. A sign-up sheet is hanging on the “Sign-Up Board” located in the Fellowship Hall right outside the kitchen, along with a menu for you to look over.

Travelers Baseball Night - Presbytery of Arkansas

Friday, May 30, is Presbyterian night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock when the Arkansas Travelers play the San Antonio Missions. A picnic dinner will be served from 6:05-8:05p in the Club Car area across the walkway from our seats. Burgers, brats, chips, beans, popcorn, and drinks will be served. The first pitch is at 7:05p, and there will be post-game fireworks.

As long as the temperature is above 75 degrees, the splash pad will be available at no additional cost for children in the 5th grade and younger.

The total cost is $20 per person (all ages). Sign up by Wednesday, May 14, by contacting Tammy in the church office.

Spa City Youth

Last Sunday, April 13, the Spa City Youth played kickball at Baseball Trail Park...youth vs. adults. The youth really gave it their all but were defeated by the adults. However, the youth were rewarded for their efforts with hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob cooked on the grill. And of course...cookies for dessert. We appreciate everyone who came out on such a beautiful evening and making it a fun night to remember.

Music Notes from Ian Aipperspach

Tonight, as we end communion and shift to the Tenebrae Service, we will sing “An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare” set to the folk tune O WALY WALY. The text is an encapsulation of the Last Supper and a reminder that “in Christ our joy shall be made complete.” It is bookended with the room idea of the upper room where the last supper was held and the rooms of our heavenly Father’s house where Christ will be. Author Fred Pratt Green was a prolific Twentieth Century hymn writer and a clergy member of the British Methodists. His 113 texts appear in hymnals all around the world and often speak to topics pertinent to time and place. The tune is a Scottish folk song dating to the 1700’s but also features prominently in Appalachian music.

On Sunday, we open the service with the glorious hymn, “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today.” Our hymnal has creatively combined texts by the Charles Wesley and a Latin hymn from the 14^th Century. The text is punctuated by proclaiming Alleluia which during Lent we have figuratively buried, due to its joyous exclamation of praise. As we progress through each verse, we start with the reason for the day; how we respond; a reminder of the cross; and a concluding variation of the Gloria (Praise our God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Musically, the tune is known by different names EASTER HYMN (as it appears in our hymnal) or LYRA DAVIDICA, a reference to the lyre of David and also title of a book entitled: Lyra Davidica, or a Collection of Divine Songs and Hymns, Partly New[ly] Composed, Partly Translated from the High-German and Latin Hymns. Whew, what a title! It was first published in 1708 and is from an era where German Pietism influenced Anglicanism. The only surviving hymn is our rousing hymn. Melodically, it was originally very florid (meaning that there were a lot more moving notes, think the Alleluia’s but many, many more notes!). Enjoy singing the glorious strains of Alleluia on the greatest of days!

Who Knows?

Does anyone know who this gentleman is? Is there ANYTHING you can tell us about him? We want to hear from you!

If you know, email office@firstpreshotsprings.org and we will post the updates in next week's newsletter.

First Presbyterian Newsletter

Every week we send out an updated church news email. If you would like to be added to the email list, please contact the church office, (501) 624-5646. Alternatively, if you or someone you know would like to receive a paper copy, please call the office.

The 2025 Flower Board is available to sign up to donate Sunday flowers!

Located on the wall by the 2 large closets in the Fellowship Hall, pick your date, add your name and special dedication. If you do not wish to write it on the board, or if space does not allow, please call, email or visit the office. You may do this at any time well in advance of your day. Cost is $38.50

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Thank you!

God Bless You on Your

Special Day!

Share your birthday blessings with our graduating Seniors! Each month on the 3rd Sunday, we celebrate church members' birthdays and ask those celebrating this month to make a donation in honor of their birthday to our scholarship fund. Thank you for supporting our graduating seniors!