4/10/2025 FPC E-News

First Presbyterian Church

April 10, 2025 E-News

Upcoming Service for the Lord's Day

Palm/Passion Sunday

Sunday, April 13, 2025 ~ 10:30 a.m.

Preacher: Rev. Leslie Roper

Sermon: "The One with the Maddening Crowd"

Scripture Lessons:

Psalm 118:25-29 and Luke 19:29-44

A Note from Pastor Leslie

I know that it is Lent, and the expected message from your pastor as we careen towards Holy Week is one about repentance and getting our lives ready to meet our savior at the foot of the cross. It’s a good message and, spoiler alert, you’ll get one of those next week. But a few things happened this week that changed today’s note.

Each Monday in Lent, we share with other followers of Christ (mostly from liturgical traditions similar to ours) in worship and in a simple meal, as both our souls and our bodies are fed along our walk to the cross. This week was our turn to host. People were warmly welcomed at each door. The handbell choir called us to worship with beautiful music. And as soon as worship concluded, our fellowship hall was filled with people enjoying sandwiches galore and delicious salads and lively conversations. And like the baskets of leftovers after Jesus fed the multitudes, sandwiches were delivered across the street as a special study-break surprise for our ASMSA neighbors.

By lunch time the next day, the fellowship hall had been transformed from a Lenten feast for our community to a family meal for our own congregation. Wednesday night, our First Presbyterian community gathered, feasting on fried chicken (and desserts) and rolls (and desserts) and salads and sides (and did we mention desserts?). After the meal, the program was our annual congregational report, and we heard a litany of the incredible activities and services that are provided by our hardworking committees, punctuated by laughter and fellowship. If that night didn’t make you sinfully proud to be a part of this community, I don’t know what would.

So, today, I tell you, in the words of the Apostle Paul, that I thank my God every time I think of you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of how you have shared in the gospel from the first day we met until now. You are a gift. Y’all are a gift. And for that, thanks be to God.

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Worship Service

Sermon: "The One with the Wee Little Man"

Spa City Youth (Rescheduled)

After last weekend's weather event, Spa City Youth has been rescheduled for this Sunday, April 13.

Easter Lilies

If you would like to contribute to the lilies that decorate the sanctuary for Easter, please click here for an order form. The deadline to order is this Sunday, April 13. A list of donors, “in memory of” and/or “in honor of”, will be listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin. You may also contact the church office (501-624-5646 or office@firstpreshotsprings.org) to place your order.

Holy Week is Upon Us!

The Worship Committee here at FPC has prepared another wonderful week of activities during this Holy Week meant to deepen your spirituality and enhance your celebration of the Resurrection. Try this year to take part in all of the opportunities for an even more joyous Easter Morning!

Sunday, April 13, at 10:30 a.m.—Palm Sunday

We will wave our palms as we sing our “Hosannas" while we stand with the crowds hoping to catch sight of Jesus on his way into Jerusalem.

Thursday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m.—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.

Sunday, April 20, beginning at 9:30 a.m.—Easter Sunday

Begin your day with a potluck breakfast with your church family, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt for all kids and grandkids! Worship will celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord in word and in song as we boldly proclaim that Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Risen, Indeed!

3rd Annual Lenten Worship and Lunch Series

As we near the end of our Lenten journey, you are invited to gather with us as we center worship around Jesus’ “I am” statements. We will begin at 12:05 p.m. on Monday, April 14, at Grand Avenue United Methodist (841 Quapaw Ave) with a brief time of worship followed by a light lunch and fellowship. The Rev. Gail Brooks will be preaching.

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.

Holy Week

Hello, Dolly!

The congregation is invited to attend Hello, Dolly! at Jones Performing Arts Center on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University, April 10-13. Familiar faces will include our choir tenor, Mac Ricks, as Horace Vandergelder and some other faces you've seen around church - Jayne (as Irene Molloy), Virginia (as Ermengarde), Mckenna (dancing ensemble), and Ian as Music Director and Orchestra Conductor!

Tickets available at obu.edu/boxoffice or 870-245-5555.

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.

Family Night Supper

Last night, everyone was a winner with our chicken dinner! There was so much to eat, including many yummy desserts. The congregational meeting was a competition as each table wrote down one thing each committee does before the committee gave their report. If you guessed the same answer as another table, neither got points. It was a lot of fun with many laughs.

Next month is our annual church picnic at Baseball Trail Park on Wednesday, May 14. Mark your calendars and plan to join us!!

Music Notes from Ian Aipperspach

The closing hymn for Sunday is what could be described as a quintessential Anglican hymn despite the author having been both dismissed from the church and embraced upon return. “My Song Is Love Unknown” is generally used as a response to Good Friday asking in the opening stanza “O who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?” As we read and sing through the text, Samuel Crossman continues the wondering that in fleeting moments the crowds cheer, then jeer as Christ made a way, yet a murderer was saved and that He healed the sick. Finally, the author closes out the text with an understanding of grace and the Gospel, “To suffering goes, that He His foes from thence might free. Here might I stay and sing...in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.”

Samuel Crossman (1623-1683) ministered to both Anglican and Puritan churches. He supported a vote to update the Book of Common Prayer so that it could be used by both Anglican and Puritan congregations. The vote failed and he was expelled from the Anglican Church in 1662 under the Act of Uniformity (an act of Parliament that required any individual in either the church or government to abide by the prayers, sacraments, and rites of the Church of England). His expulsion was short lived as he rejoined the Anglican Church in 1665. He wrote the poem in 1664 and was published in The Young Man’s Meditation with it officially becoming an Anglican hymn in 1684.

The familiar tune LOVE UNKNOWN did not align with the text until the 20^th Century. Records indicate the text was handed to composer John Ireland in 1918 and he wrote the tune on the back of a menu. Ireland (1879-1962) is generally classified as an Impressionist composer with his output of short piano miniatures and songs. He eschewed the folk-song style of English music in favor of French and Russian Impressionism (i.e.., Debussy and Mussorgsky). He served as organist and choirmaster at St. Luke’s Church in Chelsea and later as a professor at the Royal College of Music. As we journey into Holy Week, let us ponder that Christ, our “Friend indeed, who at my need His life did spend!”

Who Knows?

Last week we asked if anyone knew about this scketch that is hanging in the choir room. Helen Bumpas replied that she has the original. Helen and Tim Bumpas' daughter, Sarah, drew this one Sunday during service when she was 14 or 15 years old. She is now 42. We haven't figured out who was in the photo, but it does hold some special memories.

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!