First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke Rapids, NC
16 East Fifth Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC   27870
252-537-4018,  252-537-9041(Fax),  office@fpcrr.com

In Touch -- April 2007

"Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." These are very powerful words from the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving in our Book of Common Worship. They also spell out for us in shorthand the past, present, and future of our lives as those who belong to Jesus Christ.

All of history changed on Good Friday, when all the forces opposed to God from before time lined up with every intention of defeating God once and for all. From the disciples' point of view, Good Friday was anything but good. It appeared as if everything they knew about God turned out to be wrong, as if the world was coming to a very different end than what the Bible had told them, as if God was not present or powerful or loving. Despite all appearances, in the seeming victory of the dominion of darkness the wisdom and glory of God shone in the sacrifice once-for-all of the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. In His death, God granted us forgiveness of sins. And just when darkness seemed to reign, God showed the everlasting, steadfast love the psalmists declare in Christ's taking on Himself the sins of the world. "Christ has died."

Of course the Christian story does not end with Good Friday, but we joyfully, humbly, gloriously move on to Easter. "Christ is risen!" declares to the world and to each other that the forces of darkness fall before the might and love of our God shown so wonderfully in the resurrection of Jesus. All that is opposed to God, all that seems so dangerous and powerful to us—sin, death, disease, disappointment—all are conquered in the Resurrection. We also participate now, today, in that resurrection, as Paul reminds us: "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation! The old has gone, the new has come!" As Christ's crucifixion sums up the past—all our sins are washed away in the blood of the cross—so the present is summed up in that simple statement, "Christ is risen." We are called to live a full, abundant, rich, joyous life here to show that Christ is alive and at work in us and in the church.

And finally, the future: "Christ will come again." If in the past the powers of darkness are defeated in the Cross, and the present is full and rich and witnesses to the power of God in our lives today, so we have a sure and certain hope for the future, that all of God's promises find their "Yes" in Jesus Christ. "Christ will come again" means that though there are still troubles in this world, though loved ones grow sick and sometimes die, though our relationships are still in need of redemption, yet there is a great assurance that Christ will come again and declare to all of creation, "Behold, I make all things new." The future is gloriously bright, and points to a time in which Christ comes so that we may be with Him, so that the victory won on Good Friday and confirmed on Easter is brought to full completion in the very presence of God.

Past, Present, Future of the Christian life: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." Amen and amen. A very blessed Easter season to you!      David

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday)

This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds, who were in Jerusalem for Passover, waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. The Gospels tell us that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the Kingdom he proclaimed. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only five days later cry for his execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on our own terms.

Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday

Traditionally in the Christian Church, this day is known as Maundy Thursday. The term Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (from which we get our English word mandate), from a verb that means "to give," "to entrust," or "to order." The term is usually translated "commandment," from John's account of this Thursday night.  According to the Fourth Gospel, as Jesus and the Disciples were eating their final meal together before Jesus’ arrest, he washed the disciples' feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. After they had finished the meal, as they walked into the night toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught his disciples a "new" commandment that was not really new (John 13:34-35):

Good Friday

Friday of Holy Week has been traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday. On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.

Holy Saturday

This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. While some church traditions continue daily services on Saturday, there is no communion served on this day.

EASTER SUNDAY SUNRISE SERVICE

Join us at 6:30 a.m. at Stanley White Presbyterian Church for the Sunrise Service which will be held on the lawn, weather permitting. If it rains the service will be held in the sanctuary. Come and rejoice as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will also be celebrated. Communion will be served by intinction. The Men of the Church will provide breakfast for all following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Dress is casual. Hope to see you there!

THE PIONEERS YOUTH GROUP will be holding a yard sale. This fundraiser will be scheduled for late April or early May. Watch for information for the date. We are asking that any members of the congregation that have items they wish to donate for the yard sale to contact Karen Silva at 410-0007.

THE NORTH CAROLINA PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Will hold its Spring Tour in Orange and Alamance counties on the weekend after Easter, April 13-14.  On Friday there will be a special tour of Burwell School in Hillsborough, a walking tour of the town, dinner at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, and a talk about the Second Great Awakening in the Piedmont (Dr. George Troxler, Elon Univ. will be the speaker).  On Saturday the group will visit the churches of New Hope, Hawfields, and Cross Roads, as well as Alamance Battleground.  For more information, please contact John Wray, Program Chm. of NCPHS, at 919-782-3384 or 787-9754 or Brenda Spence, NCPHS Secretary, at 919-498-2159.  Also, Grace Fishel of our local church has detailed information, 537-2847.  Deadline for Signup in Apr. 4th.


 

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THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON

MONDAY, APRIL 2nd

At 7:00 P.M.

IN THE WALKER BUILDING.



 

USHERS

Ben White (captain)
James White
Bill Mueller
George Hayes
Faye Graham
Bill Graham
Linda Rice
Faye Brown
 

Circle #1 meets on Tuesday, April 3, at 9:45 a.m. in the Parlor

Circle #2 meets on Tuesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Cheryl White.

Circle #3 meets on Thursday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. Hostess is Sally Ray Warren.
 

Will you please join me in welcoming Nancy Tharrington to First Presbyterian Church to fill the position of Secretary/Pastor’s Assistant effective April 2^nd 2007.

Nancy comes to us with experience and a sincere willingness to serve with us. She has been employed with the Halifax County school systems in a diversity of administrative jobs.

Please stop by the church office and say hello to Nancy. We are very fortunate to have someone with her experience and expertise.

Jim Frazier
Finance and Personnel Committee
 

Teacher Appreciation

On Sunday April 22, 2007, at 9:45 a.m., we will honor our teachers with a teacher appreciation breakfast buffet. Please join us in the Loy building on that date to express our thanks to them for all of their hard work and dedication.

Pet Spears
Christian Education Committee
 

“On December 11, 1961, an electrical fire in the furnace room of the church building gutted the entire sanctuary. The Loy Memorial Building was used for worship services during the reconstruction which included rebuilding and refurbishing the new sanctuary. The furnishings included a new Cassavant organ, an oak baptismal font that survived the fire with a few burns to the handle and a carving by Reverend Walker fashioned after Rembrandt’s Supper at Emmaus. The carving was made from a large piece of crotch walnut and was donated by Reverend Walker to the church. Most of the original stone walls were reused in the reconstruction. The cost of the reconstructed sanctuary was $110,000.

Dedication of the completed sanctuary was held August 25, 1963. The Reverend Walker’s sermon for the occasion was, “In This Place I Give Peace.”

In 1964 a line drawing by Ruling Elder Ralph G. Knight was adopted for use on the front of the church bulletin. That same year the debt on the sanctuary was paid off.”

April 1, 2007 - Dr. John Speight. The Reverend Speight is a retired minister and resides in Greenville, NC.

April 8, 2007 - Wallace Spragins. Wallace is an elder at Stanley White Presbyterian and will complete the CLP II program in June. He and his wife, Tammy, have two sons, Kristofer (23) and Kevin (18).

April 15, 2007 - Dr. John Speight

April 22, 2007 - Service of Music highlighting the gifts of Charles Harris. A Love Offering for Charles will be taken.

April 29, 2007 - Mr. Richard Harrell. Mr. Harrell is a lay pastor and resides in Tarboro, NC. He is an elder at Cobb Memorial Presbyterian Church. He also serves on numerous committees in the New Hope Presbytery. Mr. Harrell has two sons, three grandsons and 2 granddaughters.
 

Youth Suppers

April 15, 2007 Billie Fansler, Faye Graham, Carolyn Crawford
Substitutes: Ben and Cheryl White, Jimmy and Ellen Bryant


NURSERY WORKERS FOR APRIL

  April 1—Sharon Clifton & Margo Allen
  April 8—Muzette Kiger & Julia Ann Fitts
April 15—Dee Landen & Sandi Bridgers
April 22—Linda Brewer & Laura Pate
April 29—Noreen Knudson & Susan Gaylor






 

Post meetings and activities on the calendar in the church office. We can put the information in the newsletter and it will be available if someone calls the church office.



PLEASE NOTE

March NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ARE DUE ON

April 20, 2007

Please submit to the church office or to Lelia Frazier

office@fpcrr.com    leliafrazier@charter.net
 

Preview Event Pass

2007

Vacation Bible School

Sonforce Kids

June 10-14

Everyone is invited to join

Sonforce Kids-

God’s courageous team of disciples standing side by side to serve Him.

The sonforce headquarters is located on a satellite orbiting high above the earth.

Get ready for this out-of this-world adventure.

Sonforce kids

Courageous kids on a mission of god
 

It is an honor to carry the light of God into the church. Webster’s dictionary describes an acolyte as “one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service”.

Your worship committee is desperately in need of children and young adults to serve as Acolytes. As of this printing, only three young people are willing to participate. We ask that you please encourage your child in this endeavor and to let him or her know what an honor it is to serve. There will be individual training for all newcomers.

Betty Keyes
Worship Committee