Selections from The Lantern, March 2000. The Lantern is the monthly newsletter of the First Presbyterian Church.

By Lantern Light: A Time for Spiritual Renewal

Lent is a time for us to follow Jesus to the cross. Just as the Advent Season prepares us for Christmas - or the coming of Christ - so the Lenten Season prepares us for Easter - the resurrection of Christ. It is a time for us to focus on Jesus: his life, his death and his resurrection. Through his death and resurrection we are delivered from sin and death and by the Holy Spirit are born into eternal life with God the Father. Lent is a time to renew our relationship with God through acceptance of and commitment to Jesus. As we study and reflect on Jesus, he will bring us to a deeper understanding of God's infinite and amazing love for us.

The pattern of practicing various spiritual disciplines during Lent has a long, if spotty, history. Long: centuries long, since the early gatherings of Christians to remember, in the six weeks preceding Easter, the sacrificial life and death of Christ. Spotty: splashed by excess and tarnished by neglect, as a way for Christians to act out in their own thought and deed the devotion of Christ to God.

Some give up (fasting) and others take on (extra prayers and services) as a way to focus attention in a world of shining distractions. The dangers of focus on self through self-denial and pride in extraordinary effort have sometimes cast suspicion upon the exercise of piety . . . to the loss of a robust and formative activity. This Lent resolve to renew your commitment to Jesus. Some suggestions for renewal:

Reaffirm your commitment to Jesus Christ.

Repent and confess your sins.

Ask God to forgive you and claim Jesus as your personal Savior.

Praise God for the intimate love he has for you.

Set up a quiet time each day to study God's Word.

Use a daily devotional book or read from the Bible and pray.

Find your own Scripture Verse for each day during Lent. Keep a journal of these verses

and write your reactions, thoughts, and/or prayers.

Come to the Sanctuary throughout Lent to pray, sing praises, read Scriptures and reflect

on Jesus.

Set up a family devotional time each day or each week throughout Lent.

You are invited to consider how you will mark these days and activities of Lent and how they will mark you. May the grace and peace of God, the love of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit fill your day.

Your in Christ,

John Clark Poling

Talent Show & Irish Dinner

Watkins Hall

scholarships for the Churchwide Gathering

Limited seating! Only 72 reservations are available! You can pickup tickets at the Sanctuary doors after worship on March 5 and 12 (or in the church office). Donations will be collected at the dinner.

4:30-6:00 P.M.

"Aging Comes of Age for you and me!" says parish associate, Marcus Burr, taking the title from a book by Frank Hutchison.

This is a new class offered by Marcus who invites all of us to explore issues of aging in our culture. These may include Alzheimer's disease; the care of the caregiver; living wills and power of attorney provisions; ageism; and spirituality and aging. There are some excellent resources published to prompt thought-provoking reflections and discussion.

The Study Catechism is an excellent medium for encouraging our children and youth to ask faith questions and search the Bible for answers! At Salt and Light Co. on Wednesdays, elementary kids and senior high youth are diligently pursuing this course of study. The mid-schoolers have just begun a 12-week study on Sunday mornings.

Special Invitation to 6th Graders!

For Confirmation Class this spring, Pastor Poling is teaching the basics of our Christian beliefs at Sunday School (9:00-10:15). If you are interested in joining the church, he will teach a class on church membership for two Sundays, March 12 & 19 at 3:00-6:00 P.M.

You need to attend Sunday School and the afternoon events to be confirmed. Questions? Call him at 526-5559.

Many, many thanks to Juanita Treat for the beautiful new banners that will add inspiration to our worship services this season! Using her painting and sewing skills, Juanita artfully combined symbols of resurrection and hope.

 

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Vine and Branches

This fellowship group of parents and young couples meets monthly for a variety of activities - sometimes with children, sometimes without. Contact Jerry or Susan Grandle (524-3309) about March's mystery event.

In-Betweeners

This fellowship group of "empty nesters" (singles and couples) meets each month for different activities. They also meet for lunch after worship on the third Sunday of each month. Watch the Sunday bulletins for this months event.

Desert Cruisers

This group of retired people (singles and couples) will meet on March 27 at noon for a potluck lunch. Anne Degler, a pilot and member of the Las Cruces Story League, will present her story, "Solo Flight".

March 2-5 & March 9-12

Las Cruces Community Theatre

"The Diaries of Adam and Eve" will be performed by Mel Parish and Beverly Briggs and directed by Ray Carter. These performances will be on March 2, 4, 10

and 12. Come and support our "elders" in this comedy production! Call Ray Carter or the theatre office for more information.

At the Community of Hope

Empty prescription bottles and un-used medications are needed in the clinic. Just drop them by the Community of Hope if you have some to donate.

"THE BIG PICTURE"

Class for Young Adults

Sundays at 9:00 AM

Teacher: David Sallee

522-6404

David Sallee, Campus Minister

Wednesdays

Fellowship at the BRIDGE

8:00 PM

Bible study at the BRIDGE

9:00 PM

"What Is Reformed Theology?"

by R.C. Sproul

Teacher: Marsha Topley

(Jones #115)

Teacher: Dick Dale

(Reeves Parlor)

Teacher: David Sallee

(Reeves #317)

Teacher: Al Kissling

(Jones #110)

Kennett Melgaard, who is retiring, has been Church Treasurer and teller each week for the past 12-15 years. Earl Jacobi, a teller since 1968, is also retiring. Harriet Johnson leaves her post as teller to move to Colorado Springs. Our gratitude and best wishes go to these three people in the years ahead!

At its last meeting, the Session elected Alan Savage to serve as church treasurer. An active member of this congregation for many years, Alan brings experience and dedication to this task he has accepted. New tellers are being trained now.

Congregational News

Death:

* Ozzie Lutz died on February 2.

Thank you:

* Eleanor and Newton Cox want to thank their dear friends in the congregation for the many cards, notes, calls and flowers following the unexpected death of their granddaughter, Clara Emily Ikard. They are especially grateful to John Poling for his compassionate and competent pastoral care.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

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Staff News

* John Poling in the Holy Land through March 9.

* John and Jackie Poling in Phoenix March 25-30.

* Kathy Tucker on vacation March 30 - April 2.

* Betsy Holt on vacation March 27-31.

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Lent, the forty days (not counting Sundays) preceding Easter, has not always been a "season" of the church year. The present period of study/prayer/special emphasis in preparation for Easter was at one time a few days of fasting, prayer and study of the catechism by new converts to Christianity. By the late fourth century AD, those who were already Christian came alongside the new believers to encourage them in such disciplines. For many this was a time of penitence for particular sins.

The season of Lent is to encourage us in our preparation for the good news that Christ is risen and that his life is ours. It is a time to focus on Jesus' ministry - the teachings and actions which led to his death on a cross and on to the triumph of Easter. We enter this season a forgiven people who are capable of ever greater joy in God's love for us. As we gather regularly in worship, the central themes of the season can begin to take on their proper proportions in our lives.

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Last update 2002-06-24 12:44:16