The Pastor's Ponderings

Sing to the Lord a New Song!

That phrase taken from the Psalms is a way of expressing our faith and devotion to the Lord. It acknowledges the sung Word fills our hearts to overflowing and the only response is to sing. I know that while the spoken and written Word instructs and builds us up, a song can make our hearts soar!

On Sunday, May 11, we will have opportunity to feast on the Word expressed in music. The youth and adult choirs have been working on special anthems for our choir appreciation Sunday. The bell choir and ensemble have had extra rehearsals to prepare as well. Augustine was right when he said: “Those who sing pray twice.”

In the last couple of months press releases from the General Assembly have announced that work in beginning on a new hymnal. News like this is always greeted with a mixture of groans and cheers. I can imagine the comments: “Another hymnal?” “We haven’t gotten used to the new blue hymnal as it is.” On the other side some may be saying: “Well, it’s about time.” “We need some newer, fresher hymns.” “What about a paperless hymnal – one that can be online and downloaded to project on a screen or copy directly into a bulletin?”

The current hymnal was presented to the church in 1990 and the new hymnal is projected to be completed in 2013 or 2014. That’s about a quarter of a century and the typical cycle for hymnals. “The Presbyterian Church has published a new hymnal roughly every twenty years, or about every generation. Precursors to the forthcoming Presbyterian hymnal include The Hymnal (1933), The Hymnbook (1955), The Worshipbook (1972), and The Presbyterian Hymnal, (1990)” (information taken from the website).

What color will the new hymnal be? How can I make sure my favorite hymn is included? Your input is important. A new website has been developed (www.presbyterianhymnal.org) to give us regular updates. The Hymnal Committee is now being formed and will be seeking our input for this new hymnal.

Singing the faith –
Denise

The Pall – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pall? How and why do we use it? What does it mean?

Perhaps you have attended a funeral service and noticed a large, white fabric draped over the casket. Someone may have mentioned that it is a “pall” and you’ve always wondered why we have one and how is it to be used. If so, you may find the following information useful.

Palls used to be black. But recently, in the liturgical renewal that has influenced so much of Christian worship, palls are returning – not black, the color of death and mourning, but white, the color of Easter, the color of life and hope for all who are in Christ. Romans chapter 6, speaks of baptism as being buried with Christ: “We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” What a beautiful thought – that since we were buried with Christ, we will also be raised with him. We come into the world with nothing, and we all leave the same way – but Christians leave clothed in the righteousness of Christ, which is all we need. A pall reminds us of that.

The funeral pall re-clothes the body in baptismal white to remind us of our hope in the resurrection. The pall also signifies equality. It clothes every deceased Christian in the same garment so that we appear as equals before our all-knowing Maker and Redeemer.The pall is placed over the casket before it enters the sanctuary. No flowers or other ornamentation of the pall is necessary.

Our pall was recently cleaned and is kept in the church office.

Wow! We only have one more month of preschool. Where did the time go! We’ve spent the month of April learning about bees, caterpillars and butterflies. Last week we went outside for the first time. A “Bug Walk” around the church was great fun but we returned with an empty bug box. For Earth Day we raked the cut grass and pulled the weeds in our play area.

The 3-year olds are becoming more confident each day and are so cheerful and eager in the morning. The older boys and girls seem very ready for “Big School” and most of them have registered for Kindergarten this week. Graduation is right around the corner. On Friday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. the children will have their ceremony in the sanctuary. We have already begun to practice!

Enrollment for next year is steady, with most of our 3-year olds returning. The basement area (our bike room) is going to get some much needed attention as soon as school is out, but we are desperate need of a place to store the toys for the summer. If anyone has any suggestions please let me or Ellen Kendall know.

Kim Szydlowski, (Mrs. “Ski”)
 Preschool Director

Students say “Thank You”

Just wanted to drop a quick note to you and say thank you for the goodies I received from the you and the Church family.  I really appreciated the snacks and the motivating notes many of the members took time to write to me.  Looking forward to seeing you this summer.
Sincerely,
David Sanford

To Everyone,
I wanted to thank you all so much for my wonderful package. The letters were very uplifting to read during the busiest time of the semester. All of the goodies are wonderful also! They will certainly help me during those days when I need a little something extra. Thank you all again. I loved all of it. God Bless!
Amy Sherman

To Bob and Elinor Vasquez who are the recipients of the 2008 Suzie Miller Community Service Award presented by the Chamber of Commerce!

To Alice Crane who completed the Kinetic Sprint 2008 Triathlon Event at Lake Anna State Park. Alice completed a 750 meter swim, an 18 mile bike ride, and a 5K run. Way to go, Alice!

Mark
your calendars

Vacation Bible School
July 7-11, 9-11:30am

New Orleans Work Team May 4-10, 2008

Ways to support the Work Team of Susan Anson and Gene Whitaker and, from Olivet Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Pastor Albert Connette, Al Reaser, Blake Yongue and Will Dinwiddie that will be working out of the First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans (http://fpcno.org) during that week.

Sign-up to pray for the Work Team.
Help financially (checks can be made to Orange Presbyterian Church and note in the Memo line: Mission trip)

Presbyterian Men Breakfast Meetings

The Presbyterian Men will hold their monthly breakfast meeting on the usual third Sunday on May 18th at 8:00 a.m. to hear speaker Al Packard talk about his many occupations during his Christian life (music teacher, lobsterman, actor, funeral-home director, musician, choral director, band director, and fireworks employee).  Al and Barb created our local “Picnic in the Park” and “Music on Main Street” community celebrations, created our Orange Community Band and Chorus, and have a history of such accomplishments in previous lives in other communities.

Presbyterian Men will not meet in July and August but have invited all members of the congregation to attend a Richmond Braves ballgame Tuesday, July 8th and a lunch and play at the Riverside Dinner Theater in Fredericksburg. Reservation forms are available in the church office and are due back by May 1st for both events. Please call Bill Chapman at 672-1794 for information.

Hebrance Scholarship Reminder

If you are planning to go to school or you are already in school, you can apply (or re-apply) for the Hebrance Scholarship. The Joseph A. Hebrance Scholarship was established by the family of Mr. Hebrance to provide financial assistance for those in the church family who are furthering their education. The awards are made directly to the recipient’s school. Applicants should submit a one-page typed essay which includes the following:

• A description of your future educational plans.
• A description of your activities within the community.
• A description of how the church and church family influenced your life and goals.

Please send this essay to the church office no later by May 10, 2008. If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Sherwin at 672-5574.

Prayer List of Churches: (churches in the Presbytery of the James)

• Week of  May 4: Pryor Memorial Presbyterian Church, Crewe; Rennie Memorial Presbyterian Church, Amelia; Richmond First Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Richmond First United Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Richmond Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond
• Week of May 11: Richmond Third Presbyterian Church, Richmond; River Road Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Rivermont Presbyterian Church, Chester; Rockfish Presbyterian Church, Nellysford; Rosewood Presbyterian Church, Prince George
• Week of May 18: Salem Presbyterian Church, Studley; Salisbury Presbyterian Church, Midlothian, Sandston Presbyterian Church, Sandston; Scottsville Presbyterian Church, Scottsville; South Hill Presbyterian Church, South Hill
• Week of May 25: South Plains Presbyterian Church, Keswick; Southminster Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg; St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Kilmarnock

Presbyterian Women’s Circle Meetings

The Morning and Luncheon Circles will meet for a joint meeting on Thursday, May 1, at 12:30 p.m. in the East Room at the church. The circles will have a kitchen shower for Sheltering Arms. Pastor Denise will lead the Bible Study. Please bring a gift and a covered dish. Any questions call Elinor Vasquez at 672-3292.

The Evening Circle  will meeting on Thursday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. at Gail Hassmer’s home in Gordonsville. Any questions call Lynne Clements at 672-1120.

Treasurer’s Report as of April 20, 2008 

Income for Operating Expenses -- $10,907.43
Estimated Budgeted Expenses -- $6,645.42
Income needed monthly to cover budgeted expenses: $15,153

Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Session Highlights

At it's April meeting the session:

• Approved spending an additional $1,500 from the Bailey fund for the work the Presbyterian Men are planning for the basement.
• Approved the use of the building for a day camp for children of alcoholics in late July.
• Approved the use of the building for the High School's Foreign Language Department banquet on May 8
• Approved the Financial Operating Procedures Document.
• Heard a report from the Congregational Care and Commitment Committee regarding the Shepherd Plan.
• Approved the Mission and Outreach Committee's request to raise funds to send two mission team members to New Orleans.
• Approved moving $999 previously raised for mission trip activities from the Money Market account to be available for the mission trip.
• Approved Men's Sunday for the second Sunday in June
• Approved a celebration of Pastor Hall's 25th anniversary of her ordination for Sunday June 29.
• Approved usher guidelines for funerals.
• Approved Sunday speakers for Pastor Hall's vacation and study leave: Crawford Harmon and Mrs. Lynne Clements.
• Decided not to celebrate communion in July. (Pastor Hall is on study leave.)
• Heard a report from the Weekday Preschool Task Force.
• Approved a Bible Study on Tuesday evenings in May and June led by Pastor Hall.

Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Sherwin, Clerk

Acolytes

Millie Tyner

Kendall family

Anna Grey Hogan 

Elinor Vasquez

If you are unable to help on the day assigned, you are expected to obtain your own substitute and call the church office so that the correct information will appear in the Bulletin each Sunday.
If you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please secure your own substitute.
Thank you for sharing in our common ministry.