LEWISTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

• Pastors Corner
• Rev. Zorn
• Session News
• Sunrise Service - CSI Jerusalem
• March Announcements
• Sunday Morning Volunteers

• Spring Bus Trip
• Krislund IS...
• Easter Lilies
• Krislund Korner
• Lithuanian Christian College
• March Events

PASTOR'S CORNER

It is hard to believe that the Easter season is upon us. Easter seems so early this year. Some of us are hardly finished putting away our Christmas decorations.

In fact, it will not be until the year 2160 that Easter will be celebrated this early again. The date for Easter ranges from March 22 to April 25. Simply put, it is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Early or late, Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar. It is the day of our Lord's resurrection. It is the day we celebrate God's victory over sin and death.

I hope you will be part of our Easter celebration at Lewistown Presbyterian Church. On Palm Sunday (March 16) we will be receiving our confirmation class into membership. On Maundy Thursday (March 20) our evening worship will begin at 7:30 pm and will include communion. On Easter morning, in addition to our 10:30 am service, we will have a 7:00 am sunrise service followed by breakfast at the church.

New Member Gathering Planned

A new member gathering is being planned for sometime before the end of April. Please contact Pastor Bill if you would like to participate in the gathering.

PNC Hard at Work

Please continue to pray for the members of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC):
Carole Auker
Jean Burlew
Marlene Creighton
Edward Curry.

Susan Ferguson
Ruth Fisher
Susan Garner
Donald Hirakis
Violet Miller

The PNC is hard at work sifting through dossiers and interviewing potential candidates.

Session Sets Committee Assignments

The session has made the following committee assignments for 2008:

Mission and Evangelism
Bill Sisson & Ruth Fisher
Worship and Music
Violet Miller & Tom Gross
Fellowship
Wade Walters & Lowell Stephens
Christian Education
Lynn Curry & Jeff Smith
Stewardship & Finance
Carl Haldeman & Jean Burlew
Nursery School / Preschool
Cathy McClenahen & Katie Buchanan
Building & Grounds
George Buchanan, Harold Aitkin & Gene Wheeler
Personnel
Brad Siddons, Marj Caldwell & Gloria Runk

Correction

Lowell Stephens name was left out of the list of new elders (class of 2010).

Pastor Bill will usually be in the office or community all day Wednesday and Thursday, Friday morning, and Sunday

Please inform Pastor Bill King, Pastor Bob Zorn, or the church office when a church member is in the hospital or in need of pastoral care.

LENT

During the Lenten Season, Carol’s and my memories go back to Western Pennsylvania, to the small red brick church which was, and is, known as the Tyrone Presbyterian Church which was organized in the year 1772. It takes its name from the township in Fayette County where it is located. It was my home church which, in an act of desperation, asked me to be their student pastor. Carol and I traveled from Pittsburgh each weekend. I preached at the morning service on Sunday and stayed through the afternoon. In the evening we led the youth group which was known as The Westminster Fellowship. The ten dollars remuneration per week that we received paid for our gasoline and an occasional meal on the road. Sunday night found us returning to Pittsburgh. Monday morning called me to classes at Western Theological Seminary and Carol to her secretarial employment in the city.

Inspiration flowed generously from the professors, classes and classmates at the seminary. This experience motivated us to produce the Easter Story in pictures and songs at the church which we served. I borrowed an Argus C-3 35 mm camera from my brother, Frank, and we purchased a reel to reel tape recorder. These devices would provide the sight and sound of the biblical story. False hair and spirit gum were found in a theatrical supply store on Penn Ave, Pittsburgh. Bed sheets, blankets and bath robes were used for costumes. Soon the kids were transformed into the characters of the passion story. Admittedly, the fifteen year old school girl did not quite present the picture of a rough Roman Centurion. One of the boys, who had been the best man at our wedding, was the unanimous choice to play the part of Jesus. A local farmer's pony reluctantly carried our "Jesus" for the triumphal entry scene.

So much for personnel; then we turned our attention to the scenery. The road was no problem because it remained unpaved for the next forty years. A cement enclosed water spring became the tomb when covered by a cardboard "stone" which could be rolled away at the appropriate time. The Golgotha scene presented somewhat of a problem. But, behind the church was a field rimmed by a series of pit holes from an old coal mine. There is where we placed the cross for the crucifixion scene.

The whole photo session took a little over an hour. We returned to the church and recorded the appropriate hymns for each scene. With a lot of trial and error, the slides and tape were matched to each other to provide the program. All in all it was a most meaningful and inspirational learning experience for all the participants and viewers.

The rest of the story took place after Easter. Some people from a local town, driving past the field behind the church, saw the cross and began to worry that some social statement, perhaps prejudicial, was being made.

Crosses may be seen everywhere today. We see them on hilltops, on church buildings, and worn as jewelry by heroes and villains alike. But for Christians there is never a question about the meaning of the cross. It is the symbol of God's love, and the promise of eternal life.

"For we preach Christ crucified….to some a stumbling block and foolishness. But to them that are called, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God." I Corinthians 1:23, 24

Robert L. Zorn
Minister of Visitation

Back to TOP

Session News  

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING – Leading up to Easter on March 23, three “Minutes for Mission” will be presented requesting support for the One Great Hour of Sharing. This year’s theme is “sharing resources – changing lives.”

Your gifts will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Self-Development of People, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Please give as you are blessed.

Stewardship Committee

• A proposed amendment to the first “Overture” to change approval from a 2/3 super majority to s simple majority was defeated, so the motion as introduced by the AUT was approved.
   
• On the second “Overture” the presbytery agreed to take no action on the overture from the Curwensville and Clearfield session which was primarily asking for at least a two year period of study before our form of government would be changed from what they call a “regulatory polity” to a “missional polity.”
   
• The third “overture” from the AUT of Huntingdon Presbytery was voted on and will be sent to the 218th General Assembly of 2008 regarding ordination standards—specifically ordination of homosexuals.
   
• Altoona Broad First name changed to Providence Presbyterian Church
   
• Anne Ard gave an interesting presentation on sexual misconduct in the church. It was indicated that Lewistown Presbyterian had a “model” policy on this matter.
   
• Steve Cort promoted Krislund Camp. 

Worship with the Presby Youth

Easter Sunrise Service 7 a.m. Sunday, March 23

All students in Grades 6-12 are encouraged to participate in this crime-scene investigation about the crucifixion. This Easter drama by Bob Grinsell examines the evidence of the life and death of Jesus, including prophesies, miracles, and His message. Rehearsals are continuing 6-8 p.m. Sundays, March 9 and 16, and immediately following the Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 22. See Elaine Siddons for more information.

Back to top

YOUR SESSION has recently conducted its annual reorganization for the 2008 church year. Elected to serve you were Clerk of Session – Burnette Runkle; Treasurer – Marjorie Caldwell and Financial Secretary/Assistant Treasurer – Susan Ferguson. Congratulations and thank you for your service.

CONGRATULATIONS to our newly elected officers of the board of Deacons: Moderator – Gerri Aitkin; Vice Moderator – Gladys Hay; Treasurer – Gwen Knudson and Secretary – Peggy Shilling.

IN LIEU OF HIGH NOON IN MARCH the Fellowship Committee will be preparing the Lenten luncheon, Wednesday, March 5, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Rick Bender as the speaker. The following Wednesday, Pastor Bill will be the speaker.

MAUNDY THURSDAY – Communion Service, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Lewistown Presbyterian Church.

OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE to sponsor the memorial flowers on April 6, 13 and 27 and the bulletins on Maundy Thursday – March 20 and Easter Sunrise Service – March 23. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please call the church office (248-4561).

CSI: JERUSALEM - SUNRISE WORSHIP CELEBRATION – An Easter Sunrise Service will be at 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 23. We welcome you to a celebration of the resurrection of our Risen Lord. An Easter breakfast will be served following the service.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to attend the Ordination and Installation Service of Barbara E. Mosch to be held at the Milesburg Presbyterian Church, 103 Turnpike St., Milesburg, PA, Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 3 p.m. Snow date: 4/20/08 at 3 p.m.

THE FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE is taking the responsibility of placing the orders for the Common Warehouse (kitchen paper products). A clipboard has been placed on the coffee counter in the kitchen with a sheet listing the common items that we stock. Should any group or person find the stock for any of the items is low, a check mark can be placed in the box next to the item and it will be restocked. If the need is immediate, please inform Wade Walters or the church office.

HOSPICE: The Bridge

The staff of HOSPICE: The Bridge, Lewistown Hospital believes that:

As we give the gift of time,
we receive the gift of gratitude.
As we give the gift of presence,
we receive the gift of trust.
As we give the gift of caring,
we receive the gift of love.
There is no greater gift than love.

If you are willing to share a part of yourself with others experiencing an end-stage illnesses, the staff of Hospice: The Bridge, a service of Lewistown Hospital, invites you to join the Spring Hospice Volunteer Training scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday evening from March 25-April 22. The training will be held at the Hospice office located on the second floor of Lewistown Hospital from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

Hospice: The Bridge is in particular need of volunteers who are available to provide caregiver relief to family members for short periods of time and bereavement volunteers who periodically contact family members following a death. Please call 242-5000 to register before March 20.