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News - March 2009
These Longer Days Can Be Better Days - Lent!
Is March the month when we really start to worry? Did
the groundhog see his shadow, and despite the mild weather—is winter
just about to turn around and head back our way? Is the recession only
going to clobber the folks in the cities, the coasts, and the Sun
Belt—or is it going to clobber us, too? Does God speak to us now, or do
we have to figure this out for ourselves?
Its almost Spring, which means we’re into Lent. Ash
Wednesday was last week, and the countdown (40 days, counting weekdays)
is underway. Lent is an old word for Spring (longer days). Planning for
summer mission trips is already underway. And even if Winter comes back,
Summer will not be far off. We have entered the introspective, longer
days of Lent. We start hoping and praying for the good that comes at the
end: Easter—Jesus’ Resurrection Day.
What will you give up? I grew up Baptist, and we
ignored Lent, as did most Presbyterians until recently. My Catholic
schoolmates had fish on Fridays, skipped some meals, and went to church
more often. Some of them gave up chocolate, or pop, or candy. What
should you do now? If you think doing without luxuries or TV or silly
romance novels will do you good, I suppose that fits the spirit of Lent.
You will NOT get extra credit with God, but discipline can help you
focus, redirect your time, and pray like it means something to you and
the Lord. Lent is not about self-denial, but about focus on Jesus
Christ, savior and lord.
Give Up Your Newspapers! Our Green-Fiber recycling bin needs
your newspapers! Our Presbyterian Women sponsor the recycle bin
in our parking lot. It turns out that we need a certain amount of
recyclable paper each month for the bin to be provided free of charge,
and even more so we earn money. Your newspaper, cardboard, and other
kinds of waste paper are welcome!
101 Membership Class takes two Sunday afternoons—March 8 & 15 @
2-4 PM. We want every potential new member to know not just
what we believe, but who we are and how to navigate our buildings! You
will meet several elders (that’s what “Presbyter” refers to in our
church name—elders!), share your faith and experiences with each other,
and be received into membership if you desire. This class comes up only
once in the Spring and once in the Fall.
Lent means special opportunities on Wednesday evenings.
The 6:30 Psalm services in the Sanctuary are open to everyone. They will
be preceded by a 5:30 light dinner. (Earlier time!) We will follow the
service with a new small group study and discussion, open to new
drop-ins as we start a new book, Changes that Heal by Dr. John Cloud.
March Sunday Worship (9 & 11)
1 Lent 1 Jesus for Our Times: “Who Shares Your Table?”
Communion John 4:1-27
8 Lent 2 Jesus for Our Times: “A Tale of Two Cities”
Daylight Savings Time John 4:19-42
15 Lent 3 Jesus for Our Times: “It’s a Miracle!” John
4:43-46
22 Lent 4 Jesus for Our Times: “Working on God’s Day
Off?” John 5:1-47
29 Lent 5 Jesus for Our Times: “Finishing the Job” John
12:1-11
March Weds. Psalm Services (6:30-6:55)
4 Psalms 120-121 “Waiting Too Long—Where’s My Help?”
11 Psalms 122-123 “Let’s Go to God’s House! Yippee!”
18 Psalms 124-125 “Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD!”
25 Psalm 126 “It Was Like a Dream”
A personal note. We are pleased to announce the
engagement of Andrew (our younger son) and
Shermayne Moody (whom we just adore!). They live in Austin, where she
produces the morning show for KXAN-TV and Andrew recruits software
engineers. We’ll be part of their wedding in Austin on July 18 in
connection with Gateway Community Church!
Lent: What’s It All About (for Presbyterians)?
The History: The Bible says nothing about this season. The early church
did not have common practice about fasting even during Holy Week until
after 300 AD. As established at the Council of Nicea in 325, Lent was a
40-day Season of fasting (typically limiting the participant to one meal
a day) and prayer beginning on Ash Wednesday. This was the time of
preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated
study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil. The entire
community was called to preparation to receive the new members.
Why 40 days? Jesus spent 40 days in fasting and preparation for his
ministry, and that period of time has great significance throughout the
Bible. Ash Wednesday is 40 weekdays before Easter.
A time for Prayer, or Giving it up for Lent? Lent for Catholics is
marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Some churches
today still observe a rigid schedule of fasting on certain days during
Lent, especially the giving up of meat, alcohol, sweets, or other types
of food on weekdays. Sundays remain feast days with no fasting required.
Among the Protestant churches that have adopted the Lenten season, none
specify “giving up something for Lent.” The season is above all a time
of preparation for Easter, the central holy day of the followers of the
resurrected Jesus Christ.
What about Presbyterians and Lent? The showy practices typical of
Lent—fasting and vigils, ashes and incense—once helped define the split
of the Reformation. When they broke away in the 16th and 17th centuries,
most Protestant churches left behind anything that smacked of Catholic
practice. The Swiss Protestant reformer Ulrich Zwingli mounted one of
the first protests against Lenten traditions in 1522. Zwingli defended
Zurich printers who insisted they needed their daily meat to have the
strength to do their work properly. He complained that the rules of Lent
had more to do with obeying Rome than with obeying the Gospel, which,
after all, said nothing about whether or not to eat sausages in the
weeks preceding Easter. Martin Luther cautioned against fasting "with a
view to meriting something by it as by a good work," arguing that
Catholic teachings gave believers the false idea that fasting could
cancel out sin and win points toward salvation. In his Institutes of the
Christian Religion, John Calvin criticized Lent as a "superstitious
observance."
Observing Lent has become a part of a Protestant move in the last
generation toward more classical forms of spiritual discipline. The
introduction of the Common Lectionary in 1970 following the reforms in
the post-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church encouraged Presbyterians to
incorporate disciplines and services previously seen as Catholic. Quaker
theologian Richard J. Foster’s influential 1978 book Celebration of
Discipline encouraged churchgoers to rediscover fasting and meditation
in "answer to a hollow world" and as a way to turn toward God. More
recently, Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Purpose” campaigns have made focused
seasons for spiritual growth more accessible to many churches.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before
Easter Sunday, is the first day of the Season of Lent. Its name comes
from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or
foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and
sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. It not only
prefigures the mourning at the death of Jesus, but also places the
worshipper in a position to realize the consequences of sin. Ash
Wednesday is a somber day of reflection on what needs to change in our
lives if we are to be fully Christian.
Who receives ashes? In the early church,
ashes were not offered to everyone but were only used to mark the
forehead of worshippers who had made public confession of sin and sought
to be restored to the fellowship of the community at the Easter
celebration. However, over the years others began to show their humility
and identification with the penitents by asking that they, too, be
marked as sinners. Finally, the imposition of ashes was extended to the
whole congregation in services similar to those that are now observed in
many Christian churches on Ash Wednesday. Ashes became symbolic of that
attitude of penitence reflected in the Lord’s prayer: “Forgive us our
sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” (Luke 11:4,
NRSV)
A key scripture for the church: ". . .if my
people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and
will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2Chronicles 7:14)
Resources: Dennis Bratcher (online article), Andrew Santella in Slate,
and The New York Times on-line.
Giving Up Calvin for Lent
Tammy Weins, PC (USA) associate for spiritual formation, Theology
Worship and Education.
In a year dedicated to John Calvin’s legacy, it is intriguing to note
one thing Presbyterians cannot trace back to him: our practice of Lent.
Those of us who choose to “give up” something for Lent are not doing so
with Calvin’s blessing. More than likely Calvin would also be surprised
to find Presbyterians wearing ashes on their foreheads at the beginning
of Lent, because Protestants have historically avoided that practice.
For many years Presbyterians and other Reformed
Christians shied away from all things Roman Catholic. The timidity, of
course, was something we inherited from the Protestant Reformation. In
their efforts to free Christians from what they saw to be the oppressive
rule-making of the Catholic Church in Rome, Calvin and other Reformation
theologians sought to eradicate practices of popular piety that were not
singularly Christ-centered. As with any major shift or movement,
however, the pendulum swung so far away from Roman Catholicism that much
of the Reformed tradition lost ties to some Christian practices that we
are now moving to recover. Practices such as pilgrimage, iconography and
veneration of saints were not necessary practices for salvation, and, in
fact, said the Reformers, these disciplines could sometimes lead people
away from Christ. What’s worse, the costs involved in carrying out these
practices had become a means to line the pockets of the church.
Ash Wednesday and other Lenten observances were among those practices
that Reformers sought to eliminate based on their conviction that they
manipulated the hearts of believers to trust in ritual and right
practice, rather than devoting their lives in pure service to Christ. In
his Institutes (IV.12.20), John Calvin criticized the fasting associated
with Lent as a “superstitious observance,” believing that the discipline
had become a substitute rather than an aid to right relationship with
Christ and service to God. 1
So, what has prompted Presbyterians to revive Lenten observance? For one
thing, Vatican II brought major reforms within the Roman Catholic
Church. These reforms embraced the best of Protestantism and opened a
door that had been closed to increased dialogue and relationships
between Catholics and Protestants. It paved the way to a mutual sharing
of the best of both traditions which in turn led to liturgical resources
that would allow the two traditions to worship in greater unity. For
instance, in 1970 The Westminster Press published a new Worshipbook that
offered Presbyterians a full Lord’s Day lectionary, and thereby, a
resource to promote lectionary-based preaching. Following the lectionary
made the church year more visible to worshipers. In turn, those who
planned worship began to take greater notice of special days and
seasons, which over the years has played a significant role in the
Reformed tradition’s reclamation of classical spiritual practices tied
to the season of Lent.
Another factor in Presbyterian reclamation of Roman Catholic practices
such as those associated with Lent is that the boundaries between
traditions are not what they used to be. If you survey Presbyterians
today you are as likely to meet someone who was raised Roman Catholic as
you are to find someone who was raised Baptist. Recent studies have
disclosed that over 40 percent of adults have switched to a religious
affiliation that is different from the tradition in which they were
raised. 2 Even among those who were raised in and remain in the
Protestant faith, a goodly number change denominations at least once in
their adult lives. It only makes sense that as people migrate from one
church to another (or from one religion to another) they bring pieces of
their previous worship traditions with them. An increasing number of
Protestants are dipping into the well of Roman Catholic spiritual
practices such as lectio divina, centering prayer and Benedictine
observance of the Daily Office. In this sense, Lent may be part of a
trend toward a recovery of classical spiritual disciplines — a trend
that is also increasing our willingness to embrace mystery, ritual and
awe.
In this year of honoring Calvin’s 500-year legacy, it is intriguing to
speculate what the Reformer might say to Presbyterians in the 21st
century concerning our return to Lenten practices. If Calvin’s chief
opposition to Lent was around fasting, then we should not worry that
we’ve become overly rigorous in our Lenten devotion. Few, if any,
Presbyterians have taken to the extreme abstention from food that was
prescribed by the Church in the days before the Reformation. There are
practices in which Presbyterians “give up” something during Lent and may
remove one thing from their diet, such as chocolate, sugar, carbonated
sodas — or even something as substantial as all meat or dairy products.
Some choose to fast for one meal each week or perhaps for 24 hours and
donate the cost of the food they would have eaten to a Presbyterian
mission. There are also those who are expanding the notion of “fasting”
to encompass something other than food, who will instead observe a
Lenten practice of abstaining from something like watching television or
using a vehicle.
Such practices are perfectly in line with Calvin’s theology if we are
engaging them as a means of increasing our attention to Christ. If
Calvin were here to see the creative acts of Presbyterian worship,
perhaps he might indeed be willing to modify his earlier critique of the
Lenten observance. Calvin was opposing a system that demanded acts of
piety as proof of unconditional loyalty to the church when these acts
had become a substitute for authentic devotion to Christ. He objected to
Lenten fasting on the basis of its elevation to a practice that somehow
earned God’s favor and he would have nothing to do with it.
We can discern the appropriateness of our Lenten observance by
evaluating our practices in light of the gospel. We honor Calvin’s
legacy when we refrain from empty rituals that are not prescribed by the
gospel. More important, we honor Christ when we choose Lenten
disciplines that are in keeping with the gospel. As we prepare to
observe another season of Lent, let’s consider how our practices offer
an occasion for more focused prayer and attention to Scripture, and
thus, devotion to Christ himself.
$
Look at what’s happening at FPC!!
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UNLEASHED
Meets every Wednesday
from 7-9 p.m. as we continue “The Disciple Experiment.” All
6th-12th graders are welcome to come as early as 6:30 and
stay as late as 9:15 p.m. Come for worship, a lesson, Bible
study, prayer, discussion, and FUN!
Koinonia dinners will
start @ 5:30 on Wednesdays through Lent.
Join us for a light meal, worship at the Lenten Psalm
Service @ 6:30, and enjoy a study and discussion time
afterward.
Cost: Free.
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Chatter & Coffee Group
Meets every Tuesday at 9:00 am at Hy-Vee West, weather
permitting. Please come and join us for some good coffee
and conversation!
Tuesday Night Study & Discussion Group
The Tuesday Study & Discussion Group meets every Tuesday at
7:00 pm in the narthex.
We are
continuing the study of the book
The Ten Commandments
by Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Rabbi Stewart
Vogel. Come
join our fellowship & study.
Lost & Found Box is FULL!
SEVERAL items have
been in our lost and found box for a very long time and need
to find their rightful home.
Some of these items are eyeglasses, many hats,
toddler’s shoes, handbags, and several pieces of
jewelry. Please stop by the office and check to see if any of these items
might be yours.
March Greeters/Ushers
| March 1 |
9:00 Ann Letheby,
Karen Reimer, & Derek & Barb Beckmann |
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11:00 Greeters: Sherrilee Jones
Ushers: Mtika Family |
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| March 8 |
9:00 Greeters/Ushers:
Ann Letheby, Karen Reimer, & Derek & Barb Beckmann |
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11:00 Greeters:
Ushers: Joel & Marsha Cleveland |
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| March 15 |
9:00 Greeters/Ushers:
Ann Letheby, Karen Reimer, & Derek & Barb Beckmann |
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11:00 Greeters: Mtika Family
Ushers: Bev Cleveland |
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| March 22 |
9:00 Greeters/Ushers:
Ann Letheby, Karen Reimer, & Derek & Barb Beckmann |
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11:00 Greeters:
Ushers: |
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| March 29 |
9:00 Greeters/Ushers:
Ann Letheby, Karen Reimer, & Derek & Barb Beckmann |
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11:00 Greeters:
Ushers: |
March Coffee Host
March 1
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Deacons |
March 8
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March 15
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March 22
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Janie, Jodi, & Jerry
Botsch
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March 29
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Need a ride?
The deacons are
coordinating transportation for those who need a ride to worship
services. Please contact Jodi at the church office (371-1635) if you
would like a ride to church
ATTENTION: College Students
If you are
headed to college this fall, please contact the office with your
address and phone number. We would also like to have your email
address if you have one. You can either call or email the office
with your new address. If you were in college last year and your
address has changed, please notify the office of those changes also.
Church contact info: (402) 371-1635 or www.firstpresb@conpoint.com.
WOMEN OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
You Are Invited
MARCH 7, 2009
11:30 AM
Show and Tell and Grow Time
At
Bailey's Bistro
1201 South 13th
Come, visit, eat, hear what PW does!
And Brainstorm what more we can do!
There will be a Memorial Service for deceased members for
2007-2008
All women of the church are most welcome!
Lunch will be dutch treat
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Calendar
Naomi Circle March 10th, noon Prenger's
Ruth Circle March 19th, 1:15 PM Narthex
Fiber Friends Each Tuesday, 1 PM Fellowship Hall
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GREEN FIBER DUMPSTER ALERT!
We need your papers, books, magazines, cardboard, etc. to make
our monthly quota for the GreenFiber dumpster. Please be sure to
recycle and help our church do it’s part to save our planet and
clean up our community. Thank you!
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