The Pastor's Ponderings

Happy Easter!

Now before you think I’ve completely lost my mind, let me hasten on with a reminder that Easter is not a one day celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. We speak of Easter as a seven-week season or the Great Fifty days. (The end of the Easter season is marked by Pentecost -  this year celebrated on May 11.)

The other day I was doing a little research on Easter and came across a resource that encourages some journaling through the Easter season. Journaling is an opportunity to do some reading and reflecting, and then writing your thoughts on paper.

I want to share with you one of the reflection pieces: “Spring is a time of year when the heaviness of deep winter lifts, and lightness unfolds around us like petals. Our spirits feel lithe and hopeful. New possibilities lie before us like the pages of a book. Lost energy is regained, frayed hopes are mended, the darkness of sadness is turned to joy, and the future stands before us with new potential. The resurrection of Jesus is a symbol to us of the reality of that ‘newness.’ As we revel in a new found vibrancy of spirit, we will find we need ways to concretize and bring to life the seeds of potentiality that quietly wait to be released in our life.” (See explorefaith.org/oasis/journal/easter.html for more.)

Now after reading that - sit for a few minutes and reflect. Then take a notebook and jot down some thoughts. Here are some questions to help you:

• How can I let go of old thinking in order to embrace new patterns, new models of being in this world?
• What are the three most important things I can do to begin the work of developing new possibilities, new potential?
• Who are the people who could be of most help to me as I seek to live into the newness I feel growing within me?   

Happy journaling to you this Easter,
Denise

A Special Thank You

Special thanks to all who helped with the spring semester care packages; to Ellen who helped pack and send, to all who donated snack food, to the one who made special “brain food,” and to those who took time to share prayers and notes.

Even though the packages have been mailed, it's never too late to send cards and notes to our college and boarding school students. Extra brochures with names and addresses are available in the church office. 

Debbie Rexrode

Rappahannock Council for Children
and Parents
Beginning April 5 and then every Tuesday evening from 6:30p.m. - 8:00p.m.
at St. Thomas Episcopal Church,
119 Caroline Street, Orange

Free pizza dinner and children’s program provided. Everyone welcome!

See Pam Lace with questions (540-672-4250)

Presbyterian Women’s Circle Meetings

The Morning Circle will be meeting on Tuesday, April 1, at 10:00 a.m. at the home of Elizabeth Szunyogh (13226 St. Just Road, Unionville). We will be carpooling from the church and leaving at 9:30 a.m. Any questions call Nancy Crowder at 672-2965.

The Luncheon Circle will be meeting on Thursday, April 3, at 12:30 p.m. in the East Room at the church. (In May the luncheon circle will have a kitchen shower for Sheltering Arms. Pastor Denise will lead the Bible Study. Please  bring a gift and a covered dish. More information will follow later.) Any questions call Elinor Vasquez at 672-3292.

The Evening Circles  will meeting on Thursday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the East Room. Any questions call Lynne Clements at 672-1120.

It’s hard for me to believe that March is almost over. That’s what happens when every day is filled with “busy-ness” and fun.

We began the month with class pictures taken by Teresa Bradford. St. Patrick’s Day and Easter almost bumped in to each other the middle of the month. A leprechaun left chocolate gold coins all over our classroom on March 17! Both classes had an Easter egg hunt. The older children walked to the Chewning's on a beautiful warm day and very quickly  found all of the eggs. The younger children were forced to hunt inside because of the weather but they seemed to find it great fun anyway.

It’s that time of year again we are beginning our preschool registration for 2008-2009. Thank you again to Pastor Denise for reading an Easter story to both classes. The children have really enjoyed her presence this year. And as always, a huge thank you to our fairy godmother, Ellen Kendall. She constantly flits in and out with goodies for the preschool, not to mention sometimes staying all morning as a substitute. Happy Spring!

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

Rebuilding Together Day

The local Rebuilding Together group will have their big work day on, well, on two days - both April 19 and April 26.  Rebuilding Together is a Christian mission that works to do basic health and safety home repairs for families in Orange and Louisa Counties.

This is a great opportunity to go out for a few hours and help a family in need. If you can’t take off work to go to the Gulf Coast, or to build houses in Mexico…maybe this is the perfect chance for you to work on a local mission. Give a few hours on a Saturday and make a difference in the life of this community.

Here are the facts:

• On April 19, we’ll be doing interior painting; also taking up the old floor coverings. If the weather is good, we’ll also prep the outside for painting; replace rotten soffits; fill holes in the siding; and pressure wash. No rain date since most of the work is inside.
• On April 26, we’ll paint outside, both siding and trim. Rain date will be Saturday, May 3.
• For this kind of painting job, the more the merrier! Join us if you can, for the day or for a few hours.  We’ll start at 8 a.m.. We’ll have all the paint and needed materials on the site. Lunch has been arranged for the 26…we’re still working on lunch plans for the 19. If you want to help with lunch, call Cindy Reid.

Here are directions to the job site in Louisa County: 1910 Oakland Rd. Go east on Rt.33 towards Louisa. In Trevilians (after Rt. 22 joins Rt. 33), turn left on County Road 613 (Oakland Rd.). Go approximately 2 miles.  1910 is on the right. Blue house behind a line of large evergreens. If anyone wants to meet at Orange Presbyterian Church and car pool down to Louisa, let me know and I’ll see what we can work out. Parking is very limited at the job site. For more information about ReBuilding Together, check out their web site at www.rebuildingtogether.com
Cindy Reid, Cindy_reid@woodberry.org

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

• Week of March 31: Louisa Presbyterian Church, Louisa; Madison Presbyterian Church, Madison; Mattoax Presbyterian Church, Amelia; Meadows Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville
• Week of April 6: Mechanicsville Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville; Milden Presbyterian Church, Sharps; Milford Presbyterian Church, Milford; Mitchells Presbyterian Church, Mitchells; Montrose Presbyterian Church, Richmond
• Week of April 13: New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond; New Hanover Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville; Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Amelia; Ogden Presbyterian Church, Brodnax; Olivet Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville
• Week of April 20: Orange Presbyterian Church, Orange; Second Petersburg Presbyterian Church, Petersburg; Third Petersburg Presbyterian Church, Petersburg; Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, Amelia
• Week of April 27: Overbrook Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Providence Forge Presbyterian Church, Providence Forge; Providence Gum Spring Presbyterian Church, Gum Spring

Treasurer’s Report as of March 2008

Income for Operating Expenses as of 3/25/08 (4 of 5 Sundays): $ 13,164.00
Estimated Budgeted Expenses for March: $17,600.00
Income needed monthly to cover budgeted expenses: $15,153
Final figures for the month of March will be in the April 6 Sunday bulletin

Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Session Highlights

At its stated meeting on Tuesday, March 25, the session:

• Heard an update of the Presbyterian Men’s basment project from Rod McLeod and Bill Chapman.
• Engaged in a discussion of “The Pastoral Sized Church” article by Kevin Martin.
• Financial Operating Procedures document was presented for discussion and revisions; changes referred back to Finance Committee for re-working of final document to present at April Session meeting
• Heard a recommendation from the Admin Committee regarding the establishment of a Flexible Medical Spending Account for the church’s employees. Referred back to the Personnel Committee.
• Approved a recommendation from the Property to waive the suggested donation amount so that the Orange County Office on Youth can use the building on July 7 to conduct a training session for free. (organization will pay a custodian fee).
• Established a Weekday School Task Force “to initiate plans for further integration of Preschool into the OPC mission.” (Task Force will include two members of session, a representative from Youth and CE, a representative from the Preschool Board, the preschool director, and the pastor. Elders  Berckman Haberland will serve as Session representatives.)
• Reviewed usher guidelines for funeral services.
• Approved a guest minister to preach and preside at the Lord’s Table on Sunday, April 6, for a neutral pulpit.
• Moved Choir Sunday (dedication of the piano and new robes) to Sunday, May 11.
• Approved pastor’s time away: May 24-26 (vacation), July 1-6 (continuing education at Montreat, NC); July 21-29 (vacation).
• Next stated meeting, Thursday, April 17, 2008, at 7:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Sherwin, Clerk

Acolytes

Normie Sanford   

Ralph and Carole Sue Graves

Liam McLeod

Dean and Ted Sherwin

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.