A Note from Pastor Leslie

Our kitchen is a mess right now. And it’s a bit of absolute perfection. Let me explain. When we moved in, we loved almost everything about the house, though we weren’t entirely sure about the tile that made up the kitchen countertops (the same tile, by the way, that we love on the floor). As we used it, we liked the tile less and less. There is no amount of cleaning that would ever lead me to believe that the grout is actually clean. So, after two and three quarters years of living with them, the countertops got an eviction notice this week, replaced by smooth (and very clean looking) quartz. I am a happy camper!!

At the same time, we are getting the cabinets painted to match the new look. So, currently, most of our kitchen is boxed up in the guest room or stacked on the dining room table. Cabinet doors are all gone, and the few cabinets that still wait to be emptied are showing off their mess for all the world to see. I both love and hate walking into the kitchen right now. It’s a disaster of glorious perfection.

If we take our faith seriously, though, in a way we are always in that balancing act. We are an Easter people, a people who already (and always) know that the story has a happy ending. Not only the story of Jesus on the cross, but the story of humanity, too. We know that the promise of the coming Kingdom of God means that as much as some days bad news seems to be the victor, good news is coming. We know that anger can win a fight, but love wins the war. We know that while we may feel the sting of disease, the heartbreak of separation, the agony of death, God finishes our story with healing and with reconciliation and with resurrection. One of my favorite Frederick Buechner quotes (and that’s tough because I often love what Buechner has to say) is that “resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing”. As Easter people, when we see tragedy, we know that God is not finished yet. Now, maybe God is going to finish things on this side of death and maybe we have to wait for the other, but the promise we know to be true from God is that good news is coming. Buechner explains further: “The worst isn't the last thing about the world. It's the next to the last thing. The last thing is the best. It's the power from on high that comes down into the world, that wells up from the rock-bottom worst of the world like a hidden spring. Can you believe it? The last, best thing is the laughing deep in the hearts of the saints, sometimes our hearts even. Yes. You are terribly loved and forgiven. Yes. You are healed. All is well.”

I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life when I don’t feel the laughter from deep in the hearts of the saints. There are times that I read the news and weep. There are times that I answer my phone and am silenced by heartache. There are times I listen to the report of a doctor, the pain of a parent, the fear of a child and wonder how on earth good news can be sprouting up from deep in the heart of our broken world. Those are the moments I feel anchored in Good Friday, and those are the moments I most need to remember that I always, ALWAYS, have one foot in Easter. So, as we round to the end of this Lenten journey, may we always live our lives marked by the foolish-looking hope and constant assurance that Good News is on the way!

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Worship Service

Sermon: "The One with the Beggar with a Name"

Lenten Friends

This year, as we journey with Jesus, we are going to pay a little extra attention to the cast of supporting characters that we meet along the way. Some of them will be old friends, but we will possibly see them in a different light. Some may be new friends that we will meet along the way. All of them, though, will have something to teach us. So, come journey with Jesus and his cast of supporting characters as we walk our Lenten journey.

3rd Annual Lenten Worship and Lunch Series

Each Monday in Lent, you are invited to gather as a Hot Springs faith community as we center worship around Jesus’ “I am” statements. We will begin at 12:05 p.m. each Monday in the host sanctuary with a brief time of worship followed by a light lunch and fellowship. This Monday, April 7, we are the host church with Rev. David Fleming preaching.

Sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches!

This coming Monday, April 7, we are hosting lunch for the Lenten Worship and Lunch Series. If you signed up to bring sandwiches, please bring them to the church by noon this Sunday or by 10:00 a.m. Monday morning. Thank you for your contribution!

Spa City Youth

Family Night Supper

Holy Week

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 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.

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.

Music Notes from Ian Aipperspach

The hymn after the sermon this week is newer with a publication date of 1987. Originally written to celebrate the conclusion of service by a volunteer youth minister, “Will you come and follow me,” also known as “The Summons” is a series of questions posed by Jesus with a response by us: “Will you come and follow me,” “Will you leave yourself behind,” “Will you let the blinded see,” and “Will you love the ‘you’ you hide” all followed by “if I [i.e., Jesus] but call your name.” Our response in the final stanza is one that recognizes Jesus’ voice and ultimately: “Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.” It was composed by the Scottish writers John Bell and Graham Maule associated with the Iona Community on the Isle of Mull in Scotland and is known for ecumenism, peace, and justice issues. Both Bell and Maule have been associated with the Church of Scotland and wrote hymns for youth events in Glasgow.



The tune KELVINGROVE is a Scottish tune first published in The Harp of Kenfrewshire (1820) with the title “Let us haste to Kelvin grove, bonnie lassie, O.” The tune is lilting with a simple guitar like accompaniment. This week, we know where Kelvin Grove is located – a wooded dell where the Kelvin river flows, northwest of Glasgow. Bell and Maule enjoyed writing new texts and setting them to folk songs. Let us follow and never be the same!

Congratulations to Dr. Johnnie Roebuck!

Henderson State University will honor six outstanding alumni at the Alumni Association’s annual awards banquet April 4, and our Johnnie Roebuck is one of them! Congratulations, Johnnie! We are so happy for you!!

If you are interested in reading about the distinguished alumni, click here.

What Can You Get with a Quarter?

The Mission Committee turned YOUR quarters into *flocks of chicks! But wait, there’s more! Heifer International, at this time, has multiplied that flock by three times. Our $130.00 (x3 = $390.00) will buy lots of chicks hopefully producing lots of eggs. So, during this Easter season, keep those chicks and their owners in your prayers. 

Remember to bring your quarters to church and let’s fill that tube to the top!

*A flock of chicks costs $20.00.

Who Knows?

At some point, someone drew a sketch of our choir members. Do you know who drew it? When was it drawn. The members look familiar...do you know who they are?

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

If you have church news

or announcements for the newsletter,

please email the church office by

noon on Wednesdays.

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!

Sunday, April 6 – 5^th Sunday in Lent/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal

10:30 a.m. - Worship/Communion

5:30 p.m. - Spa City Youth at Baseball Trail Park

Monday, April 7

9:00 a.m. - Bargain Box Marking

12:05 p.m. - Lenten Worship & Lunch here at FPC

1:00 p.m. - Jackson House Grocery Bagging

1:30 p.m. - PW Coordinating Team Meeting

Wednesday, April 9

10:30 a.m. - Women’s Bible Study

12:00 p.m. - Bargain Box Open until 3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. - Family Night Supper

Thursday, April 10

9:00 a.m. - PW Mission Sewing Project

1:30 p.m. - ASPSF Meeting

Friday, April 11

9:00 a.m. - P.E.O. Chapter Meeting

Sunday, April 13 – Palm Sunday

9:30 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal

10:30 a.m. - Worship

First Presbyterian Church

213 Whittington Ave

Hot Springs, AR 71901

Phone: 501.624.5646

office@firstpreshotsprings.org

Church Office Hours:

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Lunch Hour:

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.