February 2012 KEYHOLE PRESS NEWSLETTER
MONTREAT COLLEGE CONFERENCE: SEEKING STARS
Worship, energizers, morning devotions, keynote speakers, small group discussions, concerts, s’mores under the stars, a talent show, the mountains of North Carolina, new friends, shared meals, new reflections, oh my – it was so good to be back at Montreat – the same but different. I am grateful to Mike for reaching out to our college age students, letting us know about the new VCU/JSRCC college ministry and the Montreat college age student retreat. I am now part of that ministry, and traveled with them and other new friends from Second Presbyterian Church to Montreat, where a thousand college age students gathered from many different places. We left on January 2, returning on January 5 (just in time to start the new semester renewed) with Mike, our bus driver extraordinaire, driving. It was great fun, albeit very cold. Thanks to Southminster for subsidizing my retreat!
-reflection by Morgan Ellenberg
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MONTREAT COLLEGE CONFERENCE: SEEKING STARS
One thousand college students from all across the nation together in one building is a rare sight, especially for a church event! However, there we were, packed inside Anderson Auditorium for the Montreat College Conference. Sara Miles, our first keynote speaker (author of Take This Bread), encouraged us to have an active faith defined more by how we share God's love with people who are different from us rather than by how we argue the validity of our own beliefs. Gabe Lyons (author of UnChristian), provided a statistical landscape of how Christians are perceived in today's world and challenged us to be engaged with culture so that God can transform it through us. Our preacher, J. Herbert Nelson, reminded all the college students to remember why they were in college, and encouraged them that God was with them through this transitional and difficult time in their lives. I was very moved by how the messages of these speakers came together in such an energetic and meaningful manner. Those concerned with a “dying” denomination need to spend some time at this conference to be reminded of the vibrant faith of college students, still seeking where they can find a home and be welcomed within the church. They've got so many gifts and oftentimes rarely get invited to share their narrative with the church at large. Southminster's support of this trip can hopefully encourage more students to get involved and attend in the future. Thanks be to God for that opportunity!
-reflection by Mike Watson
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONNECTION
5:30 - 6:30 Dinner served continuously 6:30 Programs
FEBRUARY MEALS
Cost: 7 years - Adults - $4.00 Children 3 - 6 years - $2.00 2 years & under – Free
February 1 Pot Luck – eat at 6 P.M. – bring a covered dish to share
February 8 NO WNC - CARITAS
February 15 BBQ, coleslaw, beans, chips, ice cream
February 22 Italian chicken, rice, green beans, salad, cake
February 29 Chili, biscuits, salad, brownies
Serving Teams
February 1 Rachel Clay, Jane Conrad, Bob & Danise Warren
February 15 Howard Boughton, Rich Kowalski, Donna Medicus, Kerry Silwick
February 22 Pete & Nancy Fundinger, Jim & Jane Lewis
February 29 Woody Hall, Jean Hepp, Charles Reed, Billy Smith
Clean-Up Teams
February 1 Gary, Amy, & Zach Pond, Barbara Wheeler, Terry Liendecker, Rich & Bonnie Kowalski
February 15 Dawn France, David Lamberton, Tammy McDonald, Jean Snyder
February 22 Terry & Shelley Hamlin, Brown & Laura Pearson
February 29 Christy Jones, Gary & Anne Smith
ADULT PROGRAMS BEGIN AT 6:30
February 1 No program, - fellowship time
February 8 No WNC - CARITAS
February 15 Exploring Community Needs led by Mary Johns
February 22 Ash Wednesday Service
February 29 Lenten Bible Study led by Mike Watson
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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Greetings from your PW Moderator, Liz Snead. It is past time for the Coordinating Team’s semi-annual meeting so we’ll meet February 12th at 12:15 in the parlor. The CT oversees missions that are done by the entire group of Presbyterian Women such as the Scottish Tea and the annual Birthday Offering luncheon. This is in addition to missions done by each circle and ovals. Ovals (Other Valuable Assets in the Lord’s Service) are female members of the church who do not want to attend monthly circle meetings, but who are Presbyterian Women and participate in many of our mission projects. The Elizabeth Ovals will be assembling the personal care kits for the women who will be our guests during CARITAS week.
There is a vacancy on our CT. If anyone wants to be elected as Vice-moderator, please let me know. I can be contacted by email, lizsnead@gmail.com, or by telephone 804-674-5389.
CIRCLES
Wed., Feb. 1 MARTHA at 10 A.M. in the Conference Room for Bible study with Jan Belote leading lesson
#6 & Carole Ellis providing refreshments. Please bring an item for the Food Closet.
Mon., Feb. 6 ANNA in the Conference Room at 7 P.M.
Tues., Feb. 14 ESTHER CIRCLE at 9:30 A.M. for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall hosted by Margaret
Hall & Ann Clarke. Our study of lesson #6 (bring your Bible) will be led by Mary Ligon at 10.
Remember items for the Food Closet, stamps for missions, & magazines for the VA Hospital
(please bag & mark for VA hospital). Sue Carlton is also collecting pull tabs from cans & coupons
from food products for school funds. ALL women are invited.
RUTH at 7 P.M. with Kathy Krausse, 7103 Winding Creek Lane, for the study of Lesson #5
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IT’S C A R I T A S TIME!
CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter)
CARITAS week is Feb. 4 – 10. Southminster will provide shelter and meals for 40 homeless WOMEN. We need food donations and lots of volunteer help to cook, serve, clean, and provide care for our guests! (Each year, over 100 church members & friends participate in this event.) Be a CARITAS volunteer – sign up in the narthex. Donations of women’s winter coats and women’s walking shoes are needed (new shoes are welcome – pick a size - bring them in). Note: Women are welcome as overnight chaperones. Contact the office if you have questions.
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MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUPS
6 to 7:45 p.m. Sundays unless otherwise noted Presbytery Youth Council Representative: Chris Endries
February 5 Breakfast Club during Sunday School – we’ll cook our own breakfast & enjoy!
Souper Bowl – We’ll collect donations (to go to Freedom House) following worship - no meetings
February 12 & 19 Dinner & Youth Sunday planning
February 26 Youth Sunday – no meetings
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CONTEMPORARY ISSUES SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
The Contemporary Issues Sunday School class, which meets in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday, invites anyone interested in medical news to Dr. Reggie Stennett’s discussion on the following topics:
Feb. 5 The Mouth and the Body: What’s the Connection led by Susan Pharr
Feb. 12 Care of the Elderly
Feb. 19 End of Life Care
Feb. 26 open
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VALENTINE CARE PACKAGES for our 18 – 23 Year Olds
On Feb. 5th, the Congregational Care Committee will pack Valentine care packages for our college students/military (ages 18 – 25). Non-perishable, individually wrapped, food items (chips, gum, granola bars, nuts, candy, etc) would be appreciated. Place items in the box on the table by the kitchen. Volunteers are needed to pack the boxes. If you have extra pocket calendars, they might also be useful as would other “helpful” or novel items.
PARENTS, if you haven’t called-in your 18 – 23 year old’s address, please do so ASAP (276-1749) – even if it’s the same as last year’s.
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SOUPER BOWL OF CARING
The Souper Bowl of Caring encourages people to give $1 (or more) as they leave worship on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th. It is an effort to glorify God and care for hungry brothers and sisters. Our Middle & High School Youth will use large soup pots to collect donations. The effort began with the Sr. High Youth of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC in 1990 and has grown to international portions. Our Middle & High School Youth will donate the proceeds from Southminster to Freedom House Conrad Center, Richmond’s only regular meals program where hot, nutritious evening meals are provided to the homeless and working poor. Why not bring along a can of soup for our own Food Closet?
FRIENDSHIP CLUB
The Friendship Club will have its annual Soup & Chili Luncheon on Thursday, February. 16th, at 11:30 A.M. We’ll have a variety of soups to warm us on a cold winter day so come for soup and warm fellowship. We look forward to seeing you! All are welcome.
We’re also sponsoring a United States Capitol Tour on Wed., March 7th. Members & friends are invited! We’ll visit the gallery while Congress is in session & have lunch “on your own” at the Visitor Center (menu will be provided). We’ll leave at 7 AM & return at 5 PM. The nonrefundable cost is $48.50. Make checks payable to Friendship Club (“Capitol Tour” in the memo line). Sign-up in the narthex.
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LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER
(men, women, and children ages 8 and above!)
If interested in making, baking bread, you’re invited to join Jennifer Weddle in a cooking class on February 21st at 7 P.M. in Southminster’s kitchen to learn or assist in making homemade breads to stock our freezer for various needs (Carefull Chefs, WNC, Food Closet, receptions, etc.) No experience or plenty of experience!! Come, join us for tasting, baking, and fun as we experience a new and exciting activity for fellowship at church!!
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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
February 22nd at 6:30 p.m.
the beginning of Lent.
The 40 week-day period before Easter is called Lent, a time of preparing our minds and hearts
to receive God’s message of hope and salvation. It is a time of self-examination and self-discipline
which begins on Ash Wednesday.
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CONFIRMATION CLASS BEGINS MARCH 4th
Confirmation is happening soon!! Mike Watson and Mary Johns are putting together the curriculum and are very excited about spending a few months with the youth of this church. Please be aware that the class grades that will make up the class are still being determined and will be announced soon. For now, all you, please keep your schedule free for breakfast on Sunday, March 4th, during the Sunday School hour, which will be our introductory meeting. The classes will then take place weekly during the Sunday School hour from March 25th through May 20th, Confirmation Sunday, when participants will be received into membership This is an important time of year and we hope you will encourage your son or daughter to join us!
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LIBRARY CORNER
Izzy’s Fire, written by Nancy Beasley, is filled with the passion of one woman determined to do justice to the story of another woman who lived in hiding throughout the World War II years. This is a powerful story told using first-hand accounts and research to give voice to an underreported side of the Holocaust – life in hiding. Locate this volume in the Fiction section of your church library.
Marje Quimby, Christian Education Committee
SNOW (closing) POLICY
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Snow Policy
In case of snow or ice on a Sunday morning, please call the church office AFTER 9 A.M. (276-1749).
We will have a message on Voice Mail with appropriate information.
Please do NOT call the ministers at home unless there is an emergency.
We would like to have services if possible but SAFETY COMES FIRST!
If it's not safe for you to come - don't!
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CAMP HANOVER
Camp sessions will be held from mid June through mid August
for those currently in Grades 1 - 12.
Brochures outlining the summer sessions at Camp Hanover are on the Camp Hanover bulletin board in the office wing, on the narthex table, and in the church office. Camp Hanover, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) facility owned and operated by the Presbytery of the James, is located in Hanover County, just thirty minutes away. There will be an OPEN HOUSE on April 22nd from 2 to 6 P.M.
DISCOUNTS:
1. MEMBERS receive a $30 discount per camper
2. FAMILY DISCOUNT of $60 to each additional camper from the same family
3. Southminster pays half of the registration fee for ONE WEEK of camp for a Southminster youth
4. CAMPERSHIP funds may be available to those in need - call Camp Hanover (779-2811).
(It may be possible to claim multiple discounts, but you are responsible for making all deductions
at the time of payment. No refunds of any missed discounts will be made.)
SOUTHMINSTER’S CAMP & CONFERENCE POLICY
- Camp/conference applications may be obtained in the narthex or the church office.
- Complete the camp or conference application and mail it to the respective camp or conference with full payment and a letter requesting a receipt. Special needs will be dealt with on an individual basis.
- Southminster children and youth are eligible for 50% reimbursement of the camp or conference registration fee for one week at a Presbyterian camp or conference – not including transportation or other expenses.
- To receive reimbursement, present a copy of the application and a receipt or copy of the cancelled check to
the treasurer. “Request for Payment” forms are in the mail boxes by the church office.
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COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
The Carl Howie Center for Science, Art and Theology presentsThe Environment and Human Agency: Artistic, Theological, and Ecological Perspectives at the Early Center on the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary on Feb. 20 – 21, at 7 p.m. Speakers include Dornith Doherty, photographic artist; Norman Wirzba, professor and ecologist; Tom James, professor and theologian; and Ted Hiebert, professor and theologian. An Art Exhibit will be displayed in Lake Chapel. These lectures are free and open to all, but registration is requested at www.upsem.edu. Click on Howie Lecture.
Second Presbyterian Church is one of the convening sponsors of Acts of Faith from January through March. Go to www.theactsoffaith.org for play dates & locations, descriptions, and more information
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I Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
Love is patient; love is kind, love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…
And now faith, hope, and love abide, theses three; and the greatest of these is love.
Easter is the oldest and most important Christian "Holy Day."
It celebrates the most important event of Christianity –
the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The date of Easter is determined in the following manner:
Easter is the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon
after the Spring Equinox (always March 21st).
If the 1st full moon falls on a Sunday,
Easter is the following Sunday.
Count back 40 weekdays to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
