The Pastor's Ponderings

A The Ups and Downs of March

Church Cleanup - Saturday, March15

The Property Committee will have a Church cleanup on Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 a.m.   We would appreciate your help. For more information call Lloyd Parcell at 672-4088.

Thank You Note

We appreciated your phone calls, concerns and prayers during our recuperations.

Thank you,          
Dot and Ed Marks

Although this year is a leap year, February in the preschool was a very short month, due to several “snow days” and Orange County “no school” days.

Much of our time was spent on Valentine activities. The younger class has worked on shapes and the older class has been focused on kindergarten skills. Both groups have been introduced to our new Zoophonics program. The first week of March we will have our class pictures taken. We will also celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday!

Enrollment for next year will begin in March as well. Please send anyone our way who might be interested!

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

Hebrance Scholarship

The Joseph A. Hebrance Scholarship was established by the family of Mr. Hebrance upon his death in 1985 to provide financial assistance for two deserving students in the church family who are continuing their education after high school, either in college or in trade school. These awards are made directly to the scholarship winner’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 than April 1, 2007.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Sherwin at 672-5574.

Mission Opportunities…Spring and Summer

Why go on a mission trip? Talk to anyone in our church who has been on a mission trip and see what they tell you. A mission trip will stretch you and possibly change your life. When you go with an open heart, you will learn and see other ways of loving and serving our God…and you will bring those new found insights home to Orange Presbyterian Church and to our community.

There are three up-coming mission trips this spring and summer. All are sponsored by District 1 churches, Charlottesville, of the Presbytery of the James. We have been invited to participate. Following is some very brief information on each of the three trips. You can get additional information from either our church office or from Cindy Reid (cindy_reid@woodberry.org

1) Katrina Rebuilding: New Orleans, May 4-10
                        Registration forms returned to Olivet Presbyterian by March 24.
                        Ages 16 and up

2) Mexico Mission: Reynosa, June 29-July 5
                        Registration forms returned to Olivet Presbyterian by March 30
                        Inter-generational: Rising 10th graders and up
                        Rising 6th-9th graders with participating family member

3) Appalachian Mission: Clinch Co., VA, July 20-26
                       Registration forms returned to Olivet Presbyterian by June 1st
                       Inter-generational:  Rising 10th graders and up
                       Rising 6th-9th graders with participating adult family member

A mission trip is an opportunity to serve God’s people where they are…whether that’s in New Orleans, Mexico, or Southwest Virginia. If you feel called to work and serve outside our immediate community, check out these opportunities. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Cindy Reid

Presbyterian Men Seek Funding for Project

On February 7, 2008 the Presbyterian Men presented a proposal to the Property Committee to provide lighting and a ceiling in the basement of the sanctuary building.  The proposal, which calls for the Presbyterian Men to provide the bulk of the labor, was approved by the Property Committee and, on February 21, received the blessing of the Session.

One donor, a member of the Presbyterian Men, has agreed to match $1500 given to this project. 

Please lend your financial support to this effort which will benefit the music program, the preschool program, and countless other endeavors. Checks can be made payable to the Presbyterian Men and the memo line should indicate the funds are to be used for the Ceiling/Lighting Project. Checks may be given to Bill Chapman, Rod McLeod, or Fred Lourenzo.

We will plan on reporting back to the Session concerning the monies from the congregation that have been contributed to this effort, our attempts to find local vendors, and the our progress on the permit and electrical fronts.

By His Grace,
Roderick McLeod

Easter Lilies

If you would like to place a lily in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday, March 23, please make arrangements to have your Easter lily delivered or placed in the sanctuary  by 10:00 am on Saturday, March 22, and turn in your completed lily information sheet to the church office. Lily sheets will be in the church bulletin and in the narthex.                                     Anne Somervill

Presbyterian Women Circle Meetings

• The Morning Circle will meeting on Tuesday, March 4, at 10:00 a.m. in the East Room. Nancy Crowder will be leading our Bible Study. Any questions call Joyce Palmer at 854-8911.
• The Luncheon Circle will be meeting on Thursday, March 13, at 12:30 p.m. in the East Room at the church. Any questions call Elinor Vasquez at 672-3292.
• The Evening Circles will meeting on Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the East Room. Any questions call Lynne Clements at 672-1120.

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

• Week of February 2: Fredericksburg Korean Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg; Gayton Kirk Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Genito Presbyterian Church, Powhatan; Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Richmond
• Week of March 9: Gordonsville Presbyterian Church, Gordonsville; Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Greenwood Presbyterian Church, Chesterfield; Gregory Memorial Presbyterian Church, Prince George; Hartwood Presbyterian Church, Hartwood
• Week of March 16: Hawkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ford; Hebron Presbyterian Church, Manakin-Sabot; Hopewell First Presbyterian Church, Hopewell
• Week of March 23: King’s Chapel Presbyterian Church, Doswell; Kirk O’Cliff Presbyterian Church, Mineral; Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Laurel Presbyterian Church, Glen Allen; Lawenceville Presbyterian Church, Lawenceville
• Week of March 30: Lord Jesus Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Louisa Presbyterian Church, Louisa; Madison Presbyterian Church, Madison; Mattoax Presbyterian Church, Amelia; Meadows Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville

Treasurer’s Report as of February 2008

Income: $11,800.25
Expenses: $13,550.71
Income needed monthly to cover budgeted expenses: $15,237.00

Budgeted Mission and Outreach income and expenses are included in the above figures. We will continue to do the Lord’s work but need your financial gifts to carry them out. Please speak to me if you have any questions.  

Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Session Highlights

At its stated meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2008, the session:

• Received pictorial record of the Willis House from Rod McLeod.
• Voted to observe the Lord’s Supper by intinction at the Maundy Thursday service.
• Transferred the membership of Kris Stewart and children to the Powhatan United Methodist Church.
• Approved plan of the Presbyterian Men to install lighting and ceiling in the basement. Approved $2,500 from Bailey Fund.
• Approved payment of $2350 to Craig Jacobs for lost sales from the Willis House and $500 to the Orange Baptist Church for mission work in Craig’s name.

Approved the following dates:

• March 2: Chili Cook-ff
• March 9: Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday
• April 6: Choir robe dedication
• May 18: Sunday School and Graduate Recognition Sunday
• June 1: Empty Bowls finale with a luncheon
• June 8: Congregational Worship and Church Picnic at the home of Steve and Normie Sanford
•  August 24: Lobster Dinner
•  November 22: Harvest Dinner
• Approved summer worship hours: 10:00 am from June 15 through August 31.
• Approved using Hazard funds to replace furnace for SS rooms.
• Approved making changes to the Admin manual setting the Finance Committee as a separate committee.
• Approved the recommendation that giving statements be sent three times a year - June, October, and December 31.
• Heard a report from the commissioners to the February 16 meeting of Presbytery.
• Approved Gail Chapman, Susan Clore, Margaret Thompson, and Anne Somerville to sign checks.
• Approved Property Committee to be responsible for property and liability insurance.
• Approved 2007 Statistical Report.
• Scheduled next meeting for March 25, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Sherwin, Clerk

Acolytes

Alice Parcell

Leroy and Nancy Crowder

David Woolfrey

Connie Norberg

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.