February 2012 LINK Newsletter

8/3/2019 February 2012 LINK Newsletter

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Pastor.........................................Andy Gans

Visitation Pastor (Ret.).............Tom McNeil

Executive Assistant....................Chris Muramatsu

Nursery Attendant ....................Tammy Keeslar

Proofreaders..............................Susan M. Jensen and

John Stewart

Contributors...............................Members of Ft.

Assembling.................................Dorothy Decker,

Judith Simonin, Joyce Gauntt, Kay Dahlen,

Eleanor Hayesmore, Carol Primm, Pat Mer

Roselle Pringle

Bulk Mail Handling ..................John Stewart

Office: (352) 694Office: (352) 694Office: (352) 694Office: (352) 694----4121412141214121

FAX: (352) 694FAX: (352) 694FAX: (352) 694FAX: (352) 694----5226522652265226

13 NE 36TH AVENUE13 NE 36TH AVENUE13 NE 36TH AVENUE13 NE 36TH AVENUE

OCALA, FLORIDA 34470OCALA, FLORIDA 34470OCALA, FLORIDA 34470OCALA, FLORIDA 34470

www.fortwww.fortwww.fortwww.fort

fortking@earthfortking@earthfortking@earthfortking@earth

Grace & Peace brothers and sisters,

ts hard to believe that later this month, Feb-uary 22nd to be exact; we turn our eyes fromhe joys of Christmas and Epiphany, to theolemn realization of the cross of Christ andhe season of Lent.

On Wednesday the 22nd at 7:00 PM we willather as a church family to worship God andegin our journey to the cross of Easter with

traditional Ash Wednesday service. Thisyears Lenten journey will focus on broken-ness. Not necessarily an easy topic to talkbout, many of us dont like to think of our-elves as broken and needing fixed. This wille the first step, understanding and recogniz-

ng our brokenness. Through worship andtudy we will reflect on the ways our broken-

ness affects the world and how the worldsrokenness affects us. We will also talk about

how you and I can recognize our need formending and seek ultimate healing throughesus the Christ.

Part of our healing will be learning how to

end instead of breaking. This is why I amxcited about our Lenten Wednesday dinnersnd program. Each Wednesday during Lent

we will take time to slowdown from the busy-ness of our days and listen for God. Following

inner we will move into a time of innovativeworship that calls us to listen and reflect. Byistening for the Spirit and reflecting on ouraith, and Gods faith in us, we will learn how

o bend and not break with all life throws ats during our journey of faith.

May this Lenten season be a time when well come to understand the magnificent heal-ng and comfort that lies in Christ Jesus.

Blessings


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Fort King Presbyterian Church

Financials Effective 12/31/11

Monthly 2010 Delta

Budget ActualDec2011

DeltaBudget- Actual

Budget ActualJan - Dec

2011

DeltaBudget -Actual

Jan-DecActual

2011 YTD-2010YTD

Income

Estimateof Giving

23,392 22,832 (559) 300,349 295,263 (5,086) 300,349 (5,086)

MortgageReduction

2,330 450 (1,880) 24,550 6,275 (16,275) 24,550 (16,275)

OtherIncome

79 1,566 1,487 183 2,061 1,879 183 1,879

TotalIncome

25,801 24,590 (1,211) 325,082 305,600 (19,483) 325.082 (19,483)

TotalExpense

24,651 23,828 (722) 321,531 303,279 (18,252) 321,521 (18,242)

NetSurplus/Deficit

1,150 662 3,551 2,321 3,561

Year-To-Date

Endowment (129) (129) 28,107 55,554 27,448 28,107 22,448

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Financial Peace University at Ft. King Presbyterian Church

In Financial Peace University, the average family eliminates $5,300 in debt while saving $2,700!

This life-changing program teaches your congregation to achieve their financial goals by eliminating debt, savinor the future, and giving like never before. They will be challenged and motivated to make a plan for their monend change their family tree forever.

inancial Peace University (FPU) consists of a 13-week video curriculumtaught by financial expert Dave Ramseyhat incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship. Financial Peace University ighly entertaining for everyone, with a unique combination of humor, informative financial advice and biblical mesages. More than one million families have already had their lives changed by attending FPU

or more information contact Randy Butler at (352) 288-0503.

Get Control of Your Money

Stop Struggling to Make Ends Meet

Tell Your Money What to do

Change Your Familys Future


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CONGREGATIONAL CARE

February Birthdays

From Amanda

Greetings Fort King Friends!

And Happy New Year! As 2012 begins, it does so with so many changes already. The transition from Ocala toDecatur, has gone smoothly so far. I am learning my way around the new neighborhood and church corridorand am becoming acquainted with the new surroundings. God's goodness has been felt in all of this. As I makthis transition, I continue to be full of deep gratitude for the Fort King community and our time together. want to express my thanks for your many cards and gifts. You have been so thoughtful, gracious, and kindThank you.

As we each move forward into new ventures, I pray for God's continued guidance and I hope that you will keepin touch.

Peace be upon you,Amanda


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CONGREGATIONAL CARE (continued)

Perk Up

Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., Congregational Care offers a time for church family enrichment. It is called"Perk Up", as coffee & tea will be served and small programs on varied subjects will be discovered. This is a place

for adults to gather and share their favorite topics and ideas.

Favorite topics could be: the ocean, baseball cards, art projects, folk music, classical music, trees, birds, gardening, car maintenance etc... Please contact Joan Woods if there are questions or ideas to make this opportunitybetter.

Picnic By The Bridge

Picnic By The Bridge usually is enjoyed on the first Sunday of the month. Lets Picnic By The Bridge on February 5th immediately after worship for our informal picnic. This picnic is a way to bridge generations of ourchurch family with food, fun, and fresh air on our new church playground. Please bring your favorite snack lunch

and enjoy relaxing with those who love worshiping withyou!

Lets Go GreenBy Lucy Tobias

Welcome to the newest monthly article to appear in the Link. Each month Lucy Tobiawill inform us, and introduce us to ways we all can better care for this wonderful planeGod has so graciously given. These ideas will also help ensure that future generationsincluding your family, will have a safe and healthy planet on which to live. We hope you

enjoy these articles.

New year, new resolutions, some of them quite dramatic - lose 20 pounds, save the world, clear out clutter in oulives, lose 20 pounds, find a water ethic for Florida that works, commit to green solutions at Fort King and ourhomes to save money and Mother Earth. Did I mention lose 20 pounds? But change doesn't have to be hard. Ican be easy. In 2012 lets go green one step at a time.

Here is step one:Throw out all your commercial window cleaners. It is bad to breathe their fumes (there is a reason why they sapregnant women should not use Windex, etc.) and also bad for the environment. Instead make your own. Thfollowing recipe is by Annie Bond at: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-best-window-cleaner.html

The best window cleanerMake a great all-purpose window cleaner by combining in a spray bottle:

1/4 cup vinegar1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent,2 cups of water

Shake to blend and spray on your windows!Lucy's recommendation: Wipe it off, and make windows shine, with yesterday's newspapers crumpled up. Thimeans you recycle too! Have fun. Next time there is a cleanup day at church, let's use natural window cleaner.


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CONGREGATIONAL CARE (continued)

The Nurse Is In

The Nurse Is In office hours will be 11:15 a.m. - 1:30p.m. on Wednesday, February 8th. Remember to call

the Church Office to make an appointment and callBonnie at 352-624-1364 to share the topic you wish todiscuss with her. Remember that If no one calls for an

appointment, hours will be cancelled. Use this opportunity to have your blood pressure checked, discuss newmedications, or have questions answered about a new health condition.

For Your Health

Wellness Tip: 4 ways going to church could boost your health

Pray your way to happiness. Regular churchgoers are more optimistic and lessdepressed than those who dont attend religious servicesWish you had a more positive outlook? You may be able to find it at yourhouse of worship (Fort King of course). New research in the Journal of Relig-ion and Health confirms that people who attend religious services are less cyni-cal, depressed and pessimistic than their non-spiritual brethren.Whats more, previous research suggests that being active in your religiouscommunity may also increase longevity in senior women. According to re-searchers, being involved in a parish helps people stay social, which is key to along and healthy life.Other research has shown that praying helps alleviate anger, even in peoplewho arent particularly religious. If you are feeling disconnected or down in the

new year, attending a spiritual service may provide you with some comfort orhope.[1]

Will we see you next Sunday at worship at Fort King? How about some of the other activities such as Perk-Upor Adult Study?

[1]This message is brought to you from Cleveland Clinic Wellness in the 360 Your Daily Wellness Tip De-cember 25, 2011. You may also be interested in How your beliefs connect to your health by going to 360-5.com or signing up to receive these helpful health tips dailyChosen by Bonnie Schulze, RN, MS Health Minister

Wear Red on Sunday, February 5th

We focus in February on Heart Health. Friday, February 3 has been designatedas National Wear Red Day. On Sunday, February 5 join me and the congrega-tion at Fort King in wearing red: a dress, a sweater, jacket, shirt or tie to sup-port this national campaign


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DISCIPLESHIPDISCIPLESHIPDISCIPLESHIPDISCIPLESHIP

Through February 5th

Taught by Buddy MacKay - 9:15 a.m. in the Session Room

What happens to the world our children will inherit will depend less and less on political parties, and moreand more on corporate behavior. In order to make our influence felt, we have to first understand what is hap-pening. Without explicit mention in the Bible with how to deal with these climate changes, Christians are leftto determine what it means to care for God's creation. This class explores the implications of how the churchis called to respond and our influence for change.

February 12th Through May 20thTaught by Tom McNeil - 9:15 a.m. in the Session Room

Because of historical-critical research, we can now hear Jesus own words with clarity for the first time in2,000 years, and we can understand what he meant by what he said. Do you find this quotation of interest?You can learn more about it by joining Tom McNeil in the upcoming Sunday school series entitled To Un-derstand Jesus of Nazareth. The series of classes will run every Sunday from February 12 through May 20(except for Easter Sunday) and will be held at 9:15 am in the Session Room. The series will begin with astudy on The History of Israel. Watch for more details on subsequent themes in future issues of the Link.

An Approach To Studying The BibleFebruary 12 through April 1, 2012

Taught by Rhea Forman - 9:15 a.m. in the Christian Education Building

This class will use the Kerygma resource book, Listening to Scripture: Strategies for Interpreting the Bible byRichard Rohrbaugh (2007). The strategies we cover are: (1) Exploring the Historical Setting, (2) Discover-ing the Literary Context and Audience, (3) Identifying Oral and Literary Forms, (4) Analyzing the Structure,and (5) Investigating Words and Phrases. Of course, we will only touch the surface of these challenging top-ics. But, hopefully as we practice these strategies we will be able to come closer to what a text onceMEANT and what it now MEANS. (p.4)

The material may challenge some of the obvious interpretations we make of a text, and applications wemake to the present. Sometimes, interpretations and applications we make are filtered through our personal-ity and non-biblical belief systems resulting in beliefs and actions remote from what God intended. Hopefullythis course will raise our awareness of when we are straying from what a text meant in the past and what itmeans to us in the present.

As this class may introduce new material, it will be to a participants advantage to have access to the book.Please call 624-3160 if youd like me to get you a book. Cost is $18.00expensive, but like a reference bookit can be used over and over.By Rhea (Ray) H. Forman


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DISCIPLESHIP (continued)DISCIPLESHIP (continued)DISCIPLESHIP (continued)DISCIPLESHIP (continued)

High Tide

Come one come all to High Tide in February. All elementary age children areinvited to join us as we celebrate Valentine's Day on February 12th. We willbe participating in a cooking project and our ritual will focus on the gift of Je-sus' love to the world. On February 26th we will celebrate the season of Lent.Our focus will be on the "fruits of the spirit". We will take a look at our spiri-tual gifts and create something using fruit. See you in February at 5:00 pm foran amazing time of food, fellowship, and fun.

PYC FebruaryThis month we will be focusing on four topics dealing with

the nature of Personal Integrity - Purity, Unity, Honesty, Health (Love and Joy)

Week 1: Feb. 5 Heart of Joy and GivingChurch Sub Sale Fundraiser Be at Church at 9:30AMSuper Bowl Party 5:00PM 8:30PM at the Gans home

Bring canned goods for our monthly mission

Week 2: Feb. 12 Heart of Love and Giving 5:00PM 7:00PMMusic/Energizers Personal Integrity worksheets Making Parent Valentines

Week 3: Feb. 19 Heart of Health and Healing 5:00PM 7:00PMMusic/EnergizerWhat Makes Me Tick? Focusing on whats inside our hearts and souls,both internally and externally.Holistic Activity

Week 4: Feb. 26 4:00PM 7:00PM (Times may be altered depending on showing)Field Trip Movie Night Bring $10.00

PYC Fundraiser Car Wash

The youth will hold a car wash on Saturday, February 25th from 8:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Come to the White Elephant Sale and have your car washed whileyou shop. Bring your friends and neighbors.


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Lenten Series

This year Ash Wednesday falls on February 22, marking the beginning of the Lenten period. This year theWednesday evening Lenten services will explore alternate forms of contemplative and meditative worship. Thefocus will be on creating experiences that will connect us with each other and the worlds needs through theHoly Spirit. The evening will begin with a light supper at 5:30 p.m. and the service will begin at 6:00 p.m. in theSession Room. Under the theme of Brokenness, each weekly service will be led by a different person/group toprovide a variety of worship experiences. Mark your calendar now for each Wednesday evening starting Febru-ary 29th through March 28th.

Kings Kids

Calling all children ages Pre-K to 5th

Grade. Please join us for music and activi-ties on Sunday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the C.E. Building. Wehave music for 20-25 minutes and then participate in Christian based activitiesand crafts for the rest of the hour. We want to begin practicing so that we cansing in Worship on Sunday, February 26, 2012. We needyou! Parents are wel-come to join us to share in our program.


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New Small Group Study

Beginning this month, the Monday morning and evening small groups will begin reading and discussing RobinMeyers book Saving Jesus from the Church. From one of America's leading Pastors, this book is a bold call to re-store Christianity's true mission: Following Jesus

The marriage of bad theology and hypocritical behavior by the church has eroded our spiritual lives. Taking thebest of biblical scholarship, Meyers recasts core Christian concepts in an effort to save Christianity from its ob-session with personal salvation. Not a plea to try something brand new, but rather the recovery of somethingvery old, Saving Jesus from the Church shows us what it means to follow Jesus's teachings today.

If you are interested in joining one of these discussions please contact the Church Office. The morning groupmeets the second and fourth Monday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Session Room. This group will beginFebruary 13th. The evening group will meet at the home of Pastor Andy on the first and third Monday of themonth at 7:00 p.m. beginning February 6th. Books can be ordered through Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com.

Special Event For Kings Kids Parents!!

Please join us for breakfast (furnished by the Childrens Discipleship Ministry) on February 5, 2012, in the C. E.Building at 9:15 a.m. This breakfast is for all parents of children ages 3 yrs through 5 th grade. Please RSVP toBernice Henry at 694-6798 by February 3, 2012.


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EVANGELISMEVANGELISMEVANGELISMEVANGELISM

Evangelism - Discipleship

The following is taken from a presentation by E. Stanley Ott, of the Vital Churches Institute, at the Engage Confer-

ence in St. Pete, August 2011.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son andof the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember I amwith you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 18: 19-20)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sentme to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to pro-claim the year of the Lords favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem,in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

We, as a member of the Body of Christ, literally are the eyes and hands of Jesus. Do we have the heart to re-produce in others the love for the Lord we know and have experienced? Many of us older folks learned tothink of religion as a private matter while todays under 30 year-olds talk about anything and everything, espe-cially online. However, given the religious illiteracy of the day these same outspoken people often dont havethe knowledge or heart to draw their friends into specific acts of faith and fellowship. Stephen Prothero, in hisbook Religious Literary What Every American Needs to Know and Doesnt, states the following:

1. Fewer than half of us can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible.2. Only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.3. A majority of Americans believe that the Bible says that Jesus was born in Jerusalem.

4. When asked whether the New Testament Book of Acts is in theOld Testament, one quarter of Americans say yes.More than a third say they dont know.

5. Most Americans dont know that Jonah is a book in the Bible.6. 20% of Americans believe that Joan of Arc was Noahs wife.7. 60% of Americans cant name five of the Ten Commandments.8. Only 50% can name one of the four gospels.9. 50% of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.10. 75% believe the Bible teaches, God helps those who help themselves.

What can we do?

Think of evangelism in these four movements:1. It is first sharing by our words and lifestyle, bringing Jesus into conversations in a way that communi-

cates his reality, his love, and presence and doing so in ways that are appropriate to the conversation.2. Evangelism and discipleship is more than informing others about Jesus. It calls and invites all to trust,

know, experience, and follow Jesus and to join with Christs people for mutual encouragement.3. Speak up, but never in a pushy way. When we rely on the power and timing of the Holy Spirit we do

not need to be forceful.4. Trust God to be working in the lives of those we encourage. Leave the results to God.

Evangelism and Discipleship are all about spiritual growth


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FELLOWSHIPFELLOWSHIPFELLOWSHIPFELLOWSHIP

Dancing Through The Decades!

Join with your Church family to dance the night away!

When February 11th (just in time for Valentines!) 5:30 PM

Where Fellowship Hall

Who All Fort King members and friends

Please make plans on joining us for this great event.

We will have a great dinner of chicken cordon bleu with rice pilaf and mixed veggies(chicken fingers and fries for the kids!) and dance to some of your favorite tunes on the dance floor.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids, available from the Church Office or Joe Strawder after church!

The Dinner Crew

The Dinner Crew will not meet in February. Come join us on March 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned fordetails.


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GROUP ACTIVITIESGROUP ACTIVITIESGROUP ACTIVITIESGROUP ACTIVITIES

Presbyterian WomenCircle Meetings

All women of Fort King are Presbyterian Women and are invited to participate in all the activities of PresbyteriWomen. If you have not attended a Circle meeting before, come join us in February and participate in the sptual experience and fellowship that Circles provide. Our Bible Study this year is Confessing the Beatitudes.

Esther Circle will meet on Monday, February 13, 2012 at the home of Heidi Lawson at 7:00 p. m. Nell Blumwill have the Lesson.

Deborah Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 in the Session Room at 10:00 a.m. Prudence Pritz whave the lesson.

Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Center

Thank you to the congregation for all the donations you have provided for the Domestic Violence Rape CrCenter. Please continue to place your contributions in the box in the Narthex. Presbyterian Women have mindividual tote bags filled with toiletries for the women that come into the Rape Crisis Center.

White Elephant Sale

Our annual White Elephant Sale will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8:00 am1:00 pm. Bring in your donations on Wednesday, February 22 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pThursday, February 23 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and FridFebruary 24 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in helping with the salebake sale please contact Judy Harriss at 694-3437 or Anne Hill at 368-2491.

Church Picnic

Save the date April, 29,2012 Church Picnic at Coehadjoe Park


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MISSIONMISSIONMISSIONMISSION

Mens Night Out

Mens Night Out will meet on Monday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. Rhea Forman will be ourhost this month. Please RSVP to Rhea at 624-3160.

Crafts Group

Please join the Crafts Group on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We work onindividual projects and joint projects.

The Widows Luncheon

The Widows Luncheon Group would like to invite all single ladies to their monthly luncheons.Luncheons are the third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. February 15ths luncheon will be at the Horse

and Hound Restaurant.

Card Making Ministry

Come join us on the 2nd Friday of every month at 10:00 a.m. until about Noon. Februarys card makingmeeting will be on Friday, February 10th. For information on this ministrys work, please contact PrudencePritz.

Thank You From The Centers

Ms Neely and the church family,

I wanted to say a great big thank you for all your help with our Christmas gift drive for the children under theCenters dependency supervision. The toys, bikes, personal items and gift cards were greatly appreciated and Iknow that these donations gave joy to all the children that received them. I have been receiving emails from

staff that delivered the items to the children or caregivers and their responses have been of pure excitement.With your help, we were able to grant the Christmas wishes for over 500 children in our community. Thankyou again to you and the church parishioners for all that each of you did to help us with this project and foryour overwhelming generosity.

Sincerely,Lynn OgletreeFamily Care Manager Supervisor

GROUP ACTIVITIES (continued)GROUP ACTIVITIES (continued)GROUP ACTIVITIES (continued)GROUP ACTIVITIES (continued)


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SESSIONSESSIONSESSIONSESSION

WORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIP

Ash Wednesday

Please join us on Wednesday, February 22nd at 7:00pm as we begin the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesdayworship and communion service. This years theme of Ash Wednesday, and Lent, will be brokenness. All arewelcome.

Session NotesJanuary 24, 2012

Celebrations:

1. Successful Discovery Class with 4 new members joining tonight.2. Youth had a great camping trip.3. Christmas services were all well attended.4. Brandon Powell has been helping with the youth program.5. The 2011 Budget ended in the black.

Motions:1. Motion to add Niki Tripodi to the Fellowship Ministry.2. Motion with regret to remove Elizabeth Kirby from membership per her request. She has requested

transfer of her membership to First Presbyterian, Salisbury, NC.3. Motion to approve the 2011 Statistical Report for Presbytery.4. Motion to approve Brandon Powell to work with the Youth program.5. Motion to appoint Bernice Henry to the position of Church Wedding Coordinator.6. Motion to create a new memorial garden and dedicate it as the Kenny Orme Memorial Garden.


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WORSHIP (continued)WORSHIP (continued)WORSHIP (continued)WORSHIP (continued)

Flower Calendar

Please note: I am trying to work ahead on the flowers, so if you would like to provide flowers to commemorate a special event/occasion/memory etc. for a specifi

date, please call Nancy Hall at 694-3221 as soon as possible. Please also note: It never too early to call to select your chosen date.

As of this mailing, the following people will be providing flowers in February, Marchand April 2012. If you can provide flowers for a date in 2012, please call NancHall. Thank you.

Thank you to these people as they share in donating the flowers for the following worship services.

February 05, 2012In honor of Lena Lewins 95th birthday from her loving familyFebruary 12, 2012In celebration of our 56th wedding anniversary on February the 11th

from Steve and Janet MitchellFebruary 19, 2012In loving memory of her father, George Penso, on his birthday from his daughter,

Bonnie Penso SchulzeFebruary 26, 2012In celebration of Nan Andrews 90th birthday from Bruce, Gouley, Cody, Tom and Lind

March 04, 2012In loving memory of Phyllis Durgin, from her familyMarch 11, 2012In celebration of our 32nd wedding anniversary from Brian and Donna LaveryMarch 18, 2012In celebration of our 29th wedding anniversary from Carol and Randy ButlerMarch 25, 2012From Jean Brown, Hal, Douglas, Bruce, and Lynn in loving memory of husband and father

Halowell E. Brown

April 1, 2012In celebration of our 17th wedding anniversary from Kimber and Lauren MerriamApril 8, 2012Easter (Easter lilies in the Sanctuary)April 15, 2012OPEN

April 22, 2012OPEN

April 29, 2012OPEN

May 6, 2012OPEN

May 13, 2012From Nancy Stephenson in loving memory of her parents, Ted and Violet WikaryMay 20, 2012From John and Jean Stewart in celebration of their 57th wedding anniversaryMay 27, 2012OPEN (Memorial Day)


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Something to Think AboutThe Day of the Lord

Joel 2:1-17

(Compare Amos 5:18-20! And Nahum 3:1-19)No one knows who Joel was; even son of Penuel rings no bells. What is clear is that he isdrawing on both nature and history to make an important point. The prophecy is in twodistinct parts.

Locusts were and are the incarnation of hunger (G.A. Smith 1928 Book of the Twelve Prophets II Re-vised Ed. 393). A few locusts may be caught and destroyed, but their sheer number leaves collective dev-astation, i.e., a scorched earth. Compare Exodus 10:4-19, the Egyptian plague of Locusts. Joel is begin-ning his prophecy with the actual experience of this force of nature, the impact it had on the land, onhuman achievement, and on man himself. This is the Day of the Lord.

II The Locusts of History: Assyria as a model (Babylonia, Greece, the Romans as well).

At the very beginning of the Assyrian Empire, Ashur-nasir-pal II (883-859 BCE) was called the masterof merciless cruelty, of course, at the command of his god! A century later, Sargon II (721-705 B CE)had been afflicted by a plague of locusts; a painting of Sargon shows him standing before his god with alocust above his head.Esarhaddon (680-669 BCE) declared on a stone inscription:

I slew multitudes of men I besieged, I captured, I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire Iam all powerful, I am a hero, I am gigantic, I am colossal I am the king of kings (Jack Finegan1954 Light from the Ancient Past 180). Clearly he did not suffer from low self-esteem. CompareNahum 3:1-19, when the Assyrians were receivers; and also General Shermans march acrossGeorgia in 1864. See Mary Mallards Journal 16 December 1864.

Clearly, a Scorched Earth policy on all sides. And this is civilized?

Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens (1905, 1923) recited a prayer for Gods support of war by religious leadersand the people:O Lord our Father help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover theirsmiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing inpain to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire to turn out roofless their little chil-dren Blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage we ask in the spirit of Love,of Him who is the Source of love. Scorched earth! Locusts? No, us!

I The Locusts of Nature: Joel 1:4 and 2:25, Joel uses four terms for locust in thefollowing order:- a cutter, shearer (see Amos 4:9); it can be translated caterpillar;- a fully developed locust at the winged stage

(see Exodus 10:4-19 and Nahum 3:15, 17);

- a creeping wingless locust (Nahum 3:15f and Psalm 105:34); and,- a destroying, consuming insect, a devourer, that leaves behind only a

rust or mildew. Nothing is left except what is excreted.


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III Joel calls on the entire people, the community, to gather for the fast (2:16), not the religious orpolitical leadership,but the people! Joel speaks:

Return to the Lord, your God,for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, andabounding in steadfast love,

and he repents of evil.The function of the religious leaders is to weep, to pray that God would Spare thy people (2:17), inorder to avoid ridicule by the other nations.

IV Why Joels prophecy: What did he want to accomplish?* After the rebuilding of the Temple and restoration of daily sacrifices, the regular performanceof these was regarded with a superstitious sense. The people had been immunized, misled, bylayers of deception (G.A. Smith op cit. 399).* Israels leadership, political and religious, and then the people, put the Law and the Templebetween God and themselvestheir religion, devoid of the sense of His presence, had become a set offormal observances, the rending of garments, not of hearts (see Joel 2:13; Smith op cit. 397).* It is only the great natural processes that can break up the systems of dogma and ritual inwhich we make ourselves comfortable (to) drive us into Gods open air of reality (Smith op cit. 398).

Conclusion: To put Joels prophecy into our modern context, regardless of our religious orienta-tions, we must enter Gods Exodus, out of and away from our cultures social mythology and out ofthe Zion of religious security and comfort into the desert in which God is waiting. In this desert, allhorizons are open (Peter Berger 1961 The Noise of Solemn Assemblies, 22).

Joel continues to speak to us today. Are we listening? Do we choose to listen?

Shalom,

Tom


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Choir Notes

Thank you! Thank you to all the choir members who have hung in there with us the last few months. Thankyou to all of you who have been able to fill in as organists/pianists and directors. You are all greatly needed andappreciated!

Usher and Greeter Ministry

We are thankful for our resident greeters, Sherry Pritchett & Charles Vowinkel, but they would like some help.Rebecca Bishop has agreed to coordinate ushers/greeters this year and she is needing you to volunteer to help inthis very important ministry of the church. We need volunteers to greet and welcome people with a smile, kind

word and a bulletin from 10:00am until 10:40am. These greeters/ ushers will also assist in the collection of themorning offering. Being a greeter/ usher is an extremely important ministry of the church asyou are the first lineof welcome and witness to the love of God that people experience on Sunday morning.

If you are interested in this wonderful ministry please contact Rebecca Bishop by email at [email protected] Shewould love to hear from you about volunteering, and ideas to make this ministry stronger. There is also a signupsheet in the Narthex for those interested in volunteering and for those available to assist at the last minute.


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Italicized items are non-FKPC activities using FKPC facilities

February 2012

19:00 PW Meeting

10:00 PW Council

10;00 Perk-up

4:15 FellowshipMinistry

6:00 SAFE (CE)

7:00 Choir Practice

21:00 Crafts

6:00 WorshipMinistry

6:00 - 8:00Marions United

(FH)

7:00 AA (CE)

3 4

9:00 - 11:45 Library9:15 Sunday School

0:00 Choir Practice0:30 Worship

1:30 Picnic Lunch

1:00 FaithSojourners

5:00 PYC

67:30 Mens Bible

Study

5:00 Property

Ministry

5:30 TOPS (FH)6:00 Mission Ministry7:00 Adult Bible

Study (off-site)

710:00 Prayer

Shawl

6:00 Finance

Ministry

6:00 EvangelismMinistry

7:00 DiscipleshipMinistry

Children

8

10:00 Perk-up

10:00 Discipleship

Adult Ministry

11:15 The Nurse IsIn

6:00 SAFE (CE)

7:00 Choir Practice

9

1:00 Crafts

7:00 AA (CE)

10

10:00 CardMaking

Ministry

11

5:30

ValentineDance

2

9:00 - 11:45 Library

9:15 Sunday School0:00 Choir Practice0:30 Worship1:00 Faith

Sojourners5:00 PYC5:00 High Tide

137:30 Mens Bible

Study

9:30 Adult BibleStudy

5:30 TOPS (FH)6:30 Mens Night

Out (Off-Site)7:00 Ester Circle

(Off-Site)

14 1510:00 Perk-up

1:00 The Merry

Widows(Off-Site)

3:00 Pastoral CareTeam

6:00 SAFE (CE)

7:00 Choir Practice

16

1:00 Crafts

7:00 AA (CE)

17 18

99:00 - 11:45 Library

9:15 Sunday School

0:00 Choir Practice0:30 Worship

1:00 FaithSojourners

5:00 PYC

20

OFFICE CLOSED

7:00 Adult BibleStudy (off-site)

Set-up White Elephan

21

t Sale

228:00 - 1:00 Drop off

White Elephant

goods

6:00 SAFE (CE)

7:00 Ash

WednesdayService

8:00 Choir Practice

238:00 - 1:00 &

4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Drop offWhiteElephantgoods

6:00 Session

7:00 AA (CE)

248:00 - 1:00

Drop off

WhiteElephantgoods

25

8:00 - 1:00WhiteElephanSale

8:00 - 1:00

CarWash

62 Cents A Meal and

Food4Kids

9:00 - 11:45 Library

9:15 Sunday School0:00 Choir Practice

0:30 Worship

1:00 Faith Sojourn.5:00 PYC

5:00 High Tide

277:30 Mens Bible

Study

9:30 Adult Bible

Study

5:30 TOPS (FH)

28 29

5:30 Lenten

Wednesday

6:00 SAFE (CE)7:00 Choir Practice


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FORT KING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

13 N.E. 36th Avenue

Ocala, Florida 34470

Non-Profit

Organization

US Postage Pai

Ocala, FL 3447

Permit #376

RETURNED SERVICE REQUESTED

Label

February 2012 LINK Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of February 2012 LINK Newsletter