Harbor Light

Creating Connections Through Christ

Pcph.org Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor March 2018

A Safe Harbor where

the Light of Christ Jesus directs all who are adrift to anchor themselves in Him.

Creating Connections

Through Christ

Reflections from Pastor Bruce

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and

bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and

feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to

eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Luke 24.36-43

Sisters and Brothers,

Our journey through the Lenten Season will conclude

shortly. We’ll witness and worship as Christ enters Jerusalem

on that first Palm Sunday long ago; we will travel with Jesus

throughout Holy Week and listen and learn as he washes the

disciples’ feet and reiterates the command to love on Maun-

dy Thursday. We’ll call the following day Good Friday, as Je-

sus dies on the Cross with the Sin of the world nailed to him as

well. On Saturday, it will be silent—dead silent—and we might

wonder, what will happen next? Of course we know that Je-

sus was raised from the dead on Easter. Hallelujah! Christ is

risen; he is risen indeed!

When I read Luke 24, this little nugget in verse 41 leapt

out at me: “And while they still did not believe it because of

joy and amazement...”. “It” was Jesus’ resurrection and his

living, breathing, being presence right in front of them. In that

moment when Jesus appeared to the disciples and blessed

them with God’s peace, they stood there unable to move

because of their elation. They were actually seeing Christ

alive and in the flesh and it was too good to be true. And so

they froze, unable to say anything.

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 2

Luke’s “it” is the proclamation of all God’s promises coming to fruition in the res-

urrection of Jesus Christ. “It” goes back to the covenant God made with Abraham

and Sarah to use them to bless the world. “It” is Jacob wrestling

with God and having the audacity to ask God’s name and for a

blessing; it’s also Ruth—an outsider—becoming great grandmoth-

er to King David, as well as the words and promises of the proph-

ets, and the songs and prayers of the Psalms. “It” is God complet-

ing all things in Jesus Christ, and God saying “yes” to you and us

for all time.

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Bruce

Harbor Light

Deadlines

March 21

April 18

May 16

Bulletin Deadline

Please submit your bulletin announce-

ment by 1:00pm on Tuesday afternoon. If

not received by then, your announce-

ment may not appear in the Sunday bul-

letin.

Create and Share has always been an outreach ministry of Presbyteri-

an Women. Over the years, there has been a dedicated group of

women to make book bags and fill them with school supplies, make

ditty bags and fill them with hygiene items, knit blankets, hats and

booties, and sew layette sets. Additional items made and provided to

various members and organizations have included knit hats, walker

totes, adult bibs, lap robes, caps for cancer patients, quilts, blankets,

and clothing sewn at home. There has also been a very supportive and giving congregation.

Create and Share will meet March 27th at 10:00am in Room 104. If there is someone who feels led to continue

this group at PCPH please contact the church office for more information.

Anyone needing sewing supplies is welcome to use what has been donated in Room 104. There is thread, zippers,

seam binding, Velcro, ribbon, elastic, seam binding and sewing tools. There is also an assortment of material,

sergers and sewing machines available for us.

Create and Share

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 3

January 15th

As a reminder of the PCPH Women's Mis-

sions, the Coordinating Team is once

again asking your support for greatly

needed non-food items for F.E.A.S.T. Many

of the requested items are those that can-

not be purchased with food stamps.

As previously suggested, you can

purchase many of these items at Dollar

General or Dollar Tree at a nominal cost.

For the month of March we are asking for dish soap and laundry detergent. The food

is canned fruit, 16 oz.

PCPH Women’s Missions

Esther/Martha Circle

Tuesday, March 13th

12:30pm

Library

ALL WOMEN INVITED!!

It's time---our Annual Lenten Communion Breakfast! Save the

date--Saturday, March 24th with Registration at 9:30, breakfast at

10:00 and program to follow. Remember, this has been a tradi-

tion for the ladies of this church to host other women from our ar-

ea Presbyterian churches and it's been done for over 30 years!

This has always been well attended and most feel it to be an up-

lifting service and great fellowship with others. Our speaker this

year will be Rev. Kathi Trautwein from Trinity Presbyterian

Church, Clearwater. We do ask that you sign up so we not only

have a number count but also we will have a nametag ready for

you!! Look for the sheets on the table in the Narthex or outside the Office. Deadline will be Monday, March

19th. Hope to see you there!

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 4

Beth-El Farmworkers Ministry, Inc. was founded by Cumberland Presbyterian Church in October 1976.

The Presbyterian Church USA later joined as partners in the ministry. The mission still provides “food for

the hungry, clothing for those in need, medical and legal assistance through community partners.” Wor-

ship is still held every Sunday in a Chapel at Beth-El.

Beth-El still has the charter school on its property operated by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

In recent years there have been close to 300 children in kindergarten through 8th grade. Beth-El has also

provided GED and English classes to adults.

Below is a summary of some of Beth-El’s accomplishments and activities in 2017 and beginning of 2018:

In early 2017 the food pantry at Beth-El was supporting 700 families

In July 2017, Beth-El was changing a few of the portable classrooms into a health and wellness center.

In the summer of 2017, 40 children got scholarships to CedarKirk Christian Camp. Fifty children got

new shoes for school and over 600 students got new backpacks and school supplies.

Before Tropical Storm Irma, Beth-El distributed emergency food supplies to the farmworkers. As most

farmworkers usually stay in mobile homes and they had to evacuate in the storm when all of the shel-

ters filled up, many people in the community took the families into their homes for the storm.

In the winter, farmworkers families often go without heat in order to afford food and clothing for their

children. So every week Beth-El delivers food and other needed supplies directly to the farmworkers

in the field. During the cold snap in the beginning of January 2018, Beth-El delivered blankets, socks

and hats to almost 100 new farmworkers in the Beth-El area.

A dental clinic is opening soon to serve the dental needs of adults.

A new pastor started serving the Beth-El Community in October 2017. Pastor Tamara Leonard-Lara leads

the worship services. The Reverend Kathleen Dain remains the executive director at Beth-El.

Beth-El is funded solely by donations and grants and 90% of the funds goes to funding various mission

programs.

Marty Platt

For more information please visit—http://beth-el.org/

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 5

3 Michael Gottlieb 23 Bruce Mulder

5 Brandy Wileman 24 Scotty Ponsch

6 Shannon Cliff 24 Lilly Belle Chae

7 Helen Haslam 24 Mary Card

8 Lyman Krewson 24 Bob West

10 Joan Warrington 25 Cathy Driscoll

11 Ron Clayton 25 Tiffany Rock

14 Madelyn Tuck 27 Mary Schutjer

17 Lila Schafer 28 Brenda Collias

17 Carmen Mader 29 Kris Banas

20 Dede Estfon 31 Carl Wingard

20 Logan Robinson 31 Jill McCandless

21 Helen Chase

6 Terry & Phil Hargis

19 Julie & Rex Haslam

19 Jody & Lou Almendarez

21 Betsy & John Ledner

23 Kelli & Bob Cliff

27 Barbara & Rich Borham

Birthdays

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 6

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Ryan and Calla Alford

(Dahlia)

Debbie Braun Hannah Braun

Dave and Sylvia Camburn

These members joined the Presbyterian Church of

Palm Harbor on Sunday, February 25th.

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 7

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Bob Gabbard Kimberly Kaminsky

Lew and Joy Heywood

Jerry and Pamela Moes

(Jared, Miranda, Logan, Lukas)

Lisa Schwartz

(Delaney, Logan, Brennan)

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 8

Church Library News

March already! It seems like 2018 just started. We can always use more help in the library so if you have some free time, we are happy to have more volunteers. If you have any ques-tions or would like to help, please call Ginny Branchfield, 727-786-6480. The library committee meets in the library on the first & third Tuesdays of each month from 10 – 12. These are books that we recently added to our shelves:

The Prayer of Jabez for Teens by Bruce Wilkinson Sabbath, Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest by

Wayne Muller A Year with C.S. Lewis, Daily Readings from His

Classic Works by C.S. Lewis We hope you will visit the library to check out our shelves. No library card needed! It is very easy to check out our books & DVDs (for children).

January Year to Date

Income and Expenses

Income: $21,876.47

Expenses: $29,151.11

Net Loss: $7,274.64

Thursday,

March 15th

6:00pm

ww.peggyos.com

1026 Florida Ave •

Palm Harbor

Childcare

Available!

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Happening in MARCH @ KidZone!

Monthly Kids Worship Wednesday March 14: 5:30-6:30 PM

Worship: Sanctuary @ 5:30pm

Dinner: Fellowship Hall @ 6:00pm

The fellowship team is putting together a “pitch-in” dinner, so

every family is encouraged to bring one item to share!

Rehearsals begin Sunday 2/25!

They will continue Sundays after

worship through March.

Children will sing on Easter

Sunday during worship.

All Children are welcome!

Saturday, March 10th

@ 10:00AM

Kona Ice, Bounce Houses, & Prizes!

1st- 5th

March 2018 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 12

YOUTH MINISTRY

Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor

March Harbor Light

March 2nd- Open Youth Room 1pm-4pm

March 4th- Sunday Car Wash at PCPH 9am-1pm

March 7th- Youth Group 6pm-8pm

March 9th- Open Youth Room

March 10th- Easter Egg Hunt & Resurrection Rally

(We need help with selling snacks and rally)

March 14th- Youth Group & Bingo Fundraiser Night

5pm-8pm

March 21st- Youth Group 6pm-8pm

March 23rd-24th- Summer Team Building

Middle/High School

Ministry

6th- 12th Grades

Our youth group will be spend the weekend participating in a low ropes, and high ropes course at Cedarkirk as we pre-pare for our summer youth backpacking and mission trips.

Sunday Car Wash at PCPH

Fundraiser

March 4th

9am - 1pm

Help send our youth group to Puerto Rico with our Car

Wash Fundraiser.