First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM May 2002

As you will read below, we will celebrate Pentecost May 19^th. Why is it that festivals like Christmas and Easter get the whole show? Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Spirit to the Church. It is a time for in-gathering, for harvest; it is a time for excitement and festivity!

Christmas and Easter were great times of celebration and our sanctuary was filled. If we quit at Easter, we’ve really had it; we’re through. Pentecost comes after Easter to prove Easter really happened. We must all become “Pentecostalists”, people in whom the Spirit is working with power.

See you in worship and celebration May 19^th.

On Sunday, May 19th, we will celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian Church. Mark your calendars now. A special Order of Worship has been planned and special music will be brought by the Chancel Choir. Gus’ sermon will be entitled, “Let The Holy Spirit ‘Zap’ You!”

Fifty days after Easter the Holy Spirit visited the Church in great power, and the Gospel broke out into the world. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will not be ignored. God cannot be spoofed. Let us all be here to celebrate and bring someone to celebrate with you!

The Worship Committee is encouraging all of us to wear red that Sunday.

Our Pentecost Sunday traditional Hamburger Fry will be held immediately following the Pentecost Celebration on Sunday, May 19^th.

Our church’s youth will be preparing this annual event as a fund-raiser for their mission trip to Juarez where they will build a house this year.

Our Interim Pastor’s series of sermons for Eastertide continues in the month of May until Pentecost. This series has been based upon the appearances of Jesus following the Resurrection with the theme being “The Re-Entry of Jesus”. The remaining sermons will be as follows:

May 5

There is a legend that Peter, when he was preaching, would sometimes hear the crow of a nearby rooster. At first, he would hesitate and falter for a moment. And then, he would resume his preaching with greater power and zeal than before. For by the grace of God even the marred and broken past can become our strength. Read John 21:1-17.

May 12

Have you ever found yourself measuring another person’s Christianity by your own standards, looking for the same kind of commitment in the lives of others you feel you have in your own? Jesus says to us “Follow me” and each of us is called upon to follow Him in our own, unique, special way! Read John 21:15-23.

(This concludes the Eastertide series of sermons)

May 19

Pentecost is a “happening”! It is its own show! You’re either with it or you aren’t. It is “celebration!” and it should be lively and great! Can this celebration be the “re-birth” of our Christian fellowship right here, right now? Read Acts 2:1-21.

May 26

The Rev. Dr. Marcus Burr, Parish Associate, preaching.

The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has received 182 of your “New Pastor Surveys”. All of you are to be commended. This is an excellent response. The PNC members plan to share the survey statistics in the upcoming Congregational meeting. It is the intent of the PNC to hold this meeting after the church service on May 5, 2002. There is still a great deal of work to be done before the meeting can occur, but the Committee is working hard to be ready because they are anxious to begin getting the information out. This notice is consistent with our commitment to provide a monthly status report in our Church newsletter. The meeting will have been publicized in the Church Bulletin.

For the most part the statistical data produced by the survey shows important areas of clear consensus, but also shows some areas where there is no clear trend. The comments at the end of the survey generally support the statistical results but produce more detail. Some of the comments represent some innovative thinking. These results will be interesting for our Church leadership but generally are not directly related to the new pastor selection process.

Using the results produced so far, we have started final preparation of the Church Information Form (CIF). This CIF will have to be approved by the Session and the Presbytery and contains the information about our church, our community, and our new pastor requirements that prospective pastors will need to decide if they are interested in our Call. With the approvals in hand, we will begin advertising. Our CIF will appear on the Presbyterian Church USA web site. It will appear in other publications, and you may spread the call by word of mouth. We hope that we can advertise by the end of May.

There are many signs that the Holy Spirit is working with us and guiding us. Not the least among these is the outstanding quality of the committee put in place to support the Chairman.

Please come to the congregational meeting and see how we see ourselves as a church and what we want to see in a new pastor.

Following ten years of faithful service as Sunday School Superintendent, Joyce Gemoets has resigned that position. During Joyce’s years of service to God and this congregation those many years, there have been a number of transitions in Christian Education staff leadership and she served faithfully and well through it all. We will miss her leadership.

Marianne Day Watson has offered her resignation to the Session as a member of the Session and Chair of its Worship Committee; a resignation accepted with deep regrets. She has faithfully led the Worship Committee thru the change in choir directors and all the special Advent, Christmas, Lenten and Easter Services.

Their kind of commitment will be difficult to replace. With the thanks of all of us, we pray God’s blessings upon them now and in the days to come.

Church Women United of the Mesilla Valley is sponsoring May Friendship Day 2002 at 11:45 am, Friday, May 3. The host church will be Mesilla Valley Christian Church, 1809 El Paseo. The theme will be "Sharing Our Stories, Healing Our Hearts, Celebrating God's Love," Young women will be honored. All women are invited to attend. If child care is needed, call 524-0537.

New and gently used books for young children are collected at the celebration. They are given to the family literacy project, which is under the direction of Sue Carter.

Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team will host a Spring Coffee Tuesday, May 7th at 9:30 A.M. in Watkins Hall. Please note this is an earlier time than usual. Some circles and guilds have planned their spring luncheon following the coffee. The Birthday and Least Coin Offerings will both be dedicated. Newly elected circle and guild officers will also be installed. Additionally, this year’s Lifetime Honorary Member will be recognized. Jean O'Neil will present a short program on Africa and we will collect your donation of used eyeglasses for the McPhersons to take to Kenya on their fall medical mission. And, just so you know, this month's mission is Jardin de los Ninos.

Presbyterian Women, through the Memorial Student Aid Fund, has awarded a total of $300.00 to three students who submitted the MSAF application by December 31, 2001. Congratulations to these students. New applications will be mailed out this summer to all students who are church members and are attending a college or vocational school. We encourage you or anyone you know of who would qualify to apply for the scholarship. Please call or e-mail Betsy Holt (523-9243 or Betsholt@aol.com) and we will update our list.

On May 5th during Worship and at the After-Church fellowship (hosted by the Women's Association and the CE Committee), we will honor those who are actively involved in providing Christian Education to the adults and young people of our church. Those graduating from high school or college will also be honored on that day.

Since we do not currently have a Christian Education/Youth Director on the staff, CE has initiated a Youth Council for Middle School and one for High School. The purpose is to plan and decide how to carry out summer activities for these age groups. Art Garcia and the Gemoetses have agreed to be the conveners for the Middle School and High School Youth Councils, respectively. A Mid-School pool party at the Danielses is planned for May 15^th. Watch for announcements about what else is coming up.

At the Stated Session Meeting in April, a Committee to seek a Director of Christian Education was elected. They are: Judith Ames, Lon Anderson, Susan Grandle, Stephen Hardin, Megan Magirl, Joel Tomlin and Nora Yaryan.

The Committee will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, May 1st at 7:00 PM. This will be an organizational meeting at which time officers will be elected, DCE qualifications, salary ranges, and search processes will be discussed.

Please remember this Committee in your prayers as they begin this important task.

This church is blessed with many volunteer workers at all levels. Some serve in very visible positions such as Larry Cooper, who is on our national governing council and is the permanent clerk of session. Some serve anonymously in very visible programs of our church such as the Salt and Light workers who are thanked as a group in an article on the back page of this issue. Some serve at routine tasks which are not glamorous, where nobody asks for their opinion, where they are not noticed, but where their contributions of labor collectively go a long way to keeping the church operating.

Such a person is Alice Cooper who, along with her husband, sees that the Lantern is mailed in a timely fashion. Each month for more than ten years she and a group of workers she recruits meet at the church office, fold the newsletter, apply addresses, fill out a mailing form, and deliver a sorted stack to the post office. In this photo she is shown sitting on the office floor putting together a recent issue. No fuss, no muss, just reliablely doing one of those small jobs which keep the church running smoothly. Alex Burr

We are all familiar with trends. They are everywhere, even in the church where the desire for “relevance” and sometimes economics have their effects. Pianos have often replaced organs. Electronic keyboards have replaced both. I recently read an article from a local congregation which strongly implied that all the great organ music of Christian history could be played on the versatile electronic keyboard that the church was considering purchasing. Music of simple range, and the electronically-amplified solo voice or small “worship team”, have replaced the full sonority and rich blend of a dedicated choir. While most of us appreciate a variety of media and experiences, many of us feel most comfortable worshiping as we have in the past.

It has been a real source of pleasure to me that our Church has continued to use the wonderful organ that we have available. You would expect that perspective of an organist, wouldn’t you? In reflecting on this topic, I decided to try to list a few reasons why we, in public worship as a local, twenty-first-century congregation of the Church universal, ought to continue to use the organ confidently and without apology:

1. The organ has a deep and pronounced historical association with worship and the music of the Church. Of course this has been culture- and country-dependent. While Lutheran and Roman Catholic congregations were enthusiastically using the organ creatively in worship several centuries ago, some Reformed congregations in this country used only other instrumental media or purely vocal music as an aid to worship. And we are aware of the long struggle of the instrument to outgrow its pagan origins and, to be well accepted within the Church. Nevertheless, most large, established American churches probably boasted some form of organ (pipe or reed) by the end of the nineteenth century, and this tradition has continued. For better or for worse, in the minds of even unbelievers, “serious” organ music still continues in many cases to evoke ideas of Christian worship. Organ music has a distinguished and honorable association with the Church.

2. The organ is an ideal medium for accompanying and supplementing voices because, unlike many instruments, it uses wind to produce sound as does the human voice (even the better electronic instruments strive to imitate these nuances of air movement, which should tell us something). Pipe-organ sounds, just as in the case of the human voice, have never been duplicated artificially with complete satisfaction.

3. The long association of the organ with the Church has produced an immense volume of musical literature for the instrument. Furthermore, hundreds of new pieces of organ music are issued each year. Many of these are of a quality and relevance that suggests their use in worship. Thousands of excellent hymn-based organ compositions exist, in a variety of styles, which are useful in conveying hymn literature to worshipers. In addition, transcriptions of both major and lesser-known works for other instrumental media or voice can be performed on the organ. In fact, before the widespread use of the music box, audio recording, radio, and television broadcasts, the organ and piano were the major vehicles for sharing orchestral and other musical compositions with hearers remote from the principal performance centers. “Touring organs” in the United States and Britain, for example, brought quality music to many small cities eighty or more years ago.

4. The organ is versatile. Even a pipe organ of moderate size often has the capability of providing gentle accompaniment or a powerful, stirring crescendo. Few instruments approach its dynamic range. Furthermore, the separate keyboards (“manuals”) and the pedal keyboard enable the simultaneous playing of separate, distinct parts, or of emphasizing a melody with accompaniment. This is one reason why the aforementioned single electronic “keyboard,” even with today’s marvelous electronic frills, cannot replace the organ.

5. Unlike a flute or trumpet, for instance (which have prominent roles in church music in their own right), a keyboard instrument has the capability of harmony. It can sound more than one tone at once. Hymn accompaniment, often with separate parts, would be much less strong and definite without the capability of sounding several tones at once. Of course, the piano can do this also, and with its percussive emphasis is quite suitable to accompanying many kinds of Christian song. But the piano cannot support long tones as the organ can. Furthermore, the organ has the greatest tonal and dynamic ranges of nearly any musical instrument.

We at First Presbyterian Church are blessed with a fine organ in which the sound is produced by true pipes and reeds, an instrument capable of providing a meditative background for the Lord’s Supper or a powerful postlude to encourage us to “go forth in service.” Such a possession, like any fine musical instrument, requires continued maintenance and care, and will, in return, serve its hearers for many years. It is a real delight to continue to use our fine organ and piano in worship with our congregation. As we always continue to seek to make our music ministry more relevant and effective, I continue to give thanks for the wisdom of the leadership of this church in making the costly commitment to secure quality and lasting keyboard instruments for generations of worshipers. Howard A. Smolleck

Do you like to see the chancel decorated with flowers? A volunteer is needed to take care of doing this each week. The church owns a selection of lovely artificial arrangements and there are funds for ordering flowers, too. Please call Kathy at 526-5559 to volunteer.

Presbyterian and Disciples

Campus Ministry at NMSU

2511 Chaparral St. 522-6404

David Sallee, Campus Minister

Sunday, 9:00am Bible Study at Milagro Coffee Shop

Wednesday, 7:30pm College Student Fellowship and Study at the Bridge

Friday, 7:00pm Movies and Fun Night at the Bridge

Monday, 8pm Habitat for Humanity Student Chapter at Corbett Center

Tuesday, 4:00pm Christians in social work Student Chapter at social work building

Deaths:

Baptisms:

New Members:

Change of address and phone numbers:

Paul D. Vaughan

1501 Missouri Ave. #10

LC, NM 88001-5394

Joyce Roach

1905 Salinas Dr.

LC, NM 88011-4983

Mrs. Kristine Paz

7308 Pebble Stone Pl. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113-2117

Bo Rogers

5265 N. Grenada #1

LC, NM 88012

373-1534

Wanda and Bill McNeil

3045 Buena Vida Circle #215E

LC, NM 88011

Communion will be served on May 5 and June 2.

The Lantern deadline for the month of May will be Monday, May 20. Please get your articles into the office by this date.

The Salt & Light Company ended its twenty-first semester of providing opportunities for both fun and faith-building on April 24. It takes the time and dedication of so many adults to keep our Wednesday afternoon and evening program running! THANK YOU to those who have so faithfully served the children and teens of the Salt & Light Co. through the 2001-2002 school year. Our church could not provide this wonderful Christian Education program if it were not for those

The Lord knows what you have done, from typing to shopping for and preparing hundreds of meals; from making popcorn to teaching table manners; from decorating to playing the guitar; from washing dishes or tablecloths to leading young people to God. THANK YOU!

Our One Great Hour of Sharing Offering received as of this writing now totals $11,600!

This is an increase over last year’s giving of $822. Once again, the generosity of this congregation exhibits itself. You are to be commended.

“Blooming in June” is the theme of the Arts and Crafts Fair to be held by our friends of the First Presbyterian Church of Ruidoso on Saturday, June 29th from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Exhibitors are needed for handmade items. Tables 4X4 will be $20. Tables 8X4 will be $25. For electricity, add $5. For more information call 505-257-2220.

Attendance at our five Holy Week Services this year was very good. Beginning with Palm Sunday attendance was

Palm Sunday 293

Maundy Thursday 130

Good Friday 35

Easter Sunrise 125

Easter Sunday 363

April 7 278

April 14 211

April 21 247

The deacons received the following letter.

My father Carl Jacobs and I want to thank you so very much for the thoughtful gift of flowers at Easter.

Thrilling to me was the fact that Carl recalled Easter sunrise services in which he participated. For at least a brief moment I had his brain back with me. Such a gift!

Respectfully, Kent Jacobs

Operating Income $38,912.36

Operating Expenses 25,043.95

Total $13,868.41

Year to Date Summary

Operating Income $101,267.27

Operating Expenses 92,582.32

Balance $8,684.95