If you would like to provide flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday morning services, please contact Gwen Messer at 828-506-8370, or Janice in the church office to be placed on the calendar.
A Holiday Afternoon at the Library Was Busy!
Seven children participated in this event on March 18. Included in the afternoon was a story about Easter, a spring craft, making a delicious snack — a cookie and fruit flower, practicing for the Palm Sunday processional, and an Easter egg hunt. It was a busy but fun time!
Left: Siler Messer shows off his flower cookie topped with delicious fresh fruit.
Right: Strider Drum is caught in the act of eating his flower creation.
Recipes Appreciated!
Each week we include a recipe in the Church Chimes and we hope that you are enjoying reading and trying them. You can add your favorite recipes to the Chimes by sending them to Cheryl Beck at cabeck@ncsu.edu. This is an ongoing WMU project.
Thanks for participating!
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update
Read how exciting last week was for 1st Explorers from Assistant Director Kayla Hartman:
“St. Patrick Week was awesome! We learned a lot about his life’s work. He converted most of Ireland to Christianity and to this day 90% of the country still claims to be Christian! Donnie Smith (staff member) cooked Shepherd’s pie for everyone on Tuesday as it is a common Irish dish.
We made shamrocks and had a shamrock relay race. We played Irish Bull Dogs and a game called 'Top of the Mornin’ to Ya!'
Olivia Rooney had been to Ireland before and got to share with the group about her trip. It was a fun and educational week!"
Easter Sunrise Service
Easter Sunrise Service will be held at First Presbyterian’s pavilion Sunday, March 31st at 7am. A light breakfast will be available following the service. Attendees have been invited to provide breakfast items such as fresh fruits, donuts, pastries, bagels, etc. Coffee & other drinks will be provided by First Presbyterian.
Bible Study TONIGHT!
Please join us TONIGHT Wednesday, March 20 in the MFC at 6:00 p.m. for Bible study, and choir practice will follow at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Yelton will lead us in Bible study. No meal.
Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
I mowed my grass this season for the first time. I didn’t want to however, my neighbor across the street mowed his. It looked so good and by comparison, made my lawn look sickly. So, now the Yelton landscape looks a little better. But you know, mowing grass is much like dusting furniture ... it shows improvement instantly, but almost as quickly, needs to be done again, and again.
Most of us are busy people. We’re moving at such a pace that we lose sight of why we got in the race in the first place. Jacques Ellul said, “Man has set out at a tremendous speed ... to go nowhere.” That resonates.
Not infrequently, I come home in the evening tired, even exhausted, without being able to point to one thing I’ve accomplished that genuinely matters. Yes, my time was exhausting, but not essential. I did no harm, but also missed opportunities for good.
Time, once spent, cannot be retrieved. So then, as we approach the beginning of Holy Week this coming Sunday, it makes sense that we enter the season a bit more aware, sober, focused on living well. At the end of the season, it will not be a blur. It will be an anchor, held in the crucified hands of our Risen Lord. “Lord, teach us to live more intentionally. Teach us the sacredness of each tick of the clock. Teach us the opportunity being with other believers brings. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!
A huge “thank you” to Ally Lima and Andrew Beck for serving in the church nursery on Sunday so that child care was provided during the luncheon meeting. We appreciate you!
This Sunday, March 24, Beth Moore and Lucie Moore will be in charge of the nursery.
Thank you for giving of your time.
There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings. It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.
Another Opportunity to Help the Pastoral Search Committee
We are thankful to everyone who had the opportunity to participate in our first Church-Wide Conversation this past Sunday under the leadership of Dr. Andy Hale and Dr. Lou Ann Gilliam from CBFNC. Those present completed a “Pastoral Assets Survey Handout.” If you were not present, please drop by the church office and Janice Trull will provide a copy of the survey tool. Please take a few minutes to answer, sign your name to the survey and return to Janice. Answers most frequently selected will be used by the Pastor Search Committee to guide their search.
Joy SS Class To Supply Candy For Easter Goody Bags
The Joy Sunday School class led by Arlin Middleton has been tapped to supply candy for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt goody bags. Please bring individually wrapped candies to the church office by March 28. We need to pack around 40 bags. Thank you, Joy Class!