A Note from the Pastor 2

KidREACH… 3

Sermons & Scripture March Birthdays March Anniversaries Daylight Savings Reminder

4

St. Patrick’s Day

Food Bank

Bible Quiz

5

March Calendar 6

Financial Report

Christian Education

7

The Story of Joseph 8

Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church

MARCH,2017

WHITMANEWS

Inside this issue:

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Members and friends of Marcus Whitman Church gathered on Sunday, February 26th

following the morning Worship Service for brunch, fellowship, conversation and the

handling of some business in the life of our church. The brunch was delicious – thank

you to Diana Camp for planning and cooking), Lily and Sammy (setting tables), Tim

(desserts) and all the helping hands for clean-up. Following the brunch, we heard

reports regarding 2016 programs, ministries and mission – activities, service and

tasks the MWPC family were involved in doing and supporting. We spent some time

discussing and sharing thoughts, concerns and questions regarding the proposed

2017 Budget. One of the significant parts of that conversation was about what the

budget said about ministry and mission plans in 2017. It was shared by some of our

church leaders that this meeting and the questions asked regarding 2017 plans

BEGINS the important conversation and work of our congregation. The elders and

pastor have been praying, discussing and formulating tasks, plans, dreams and

envisioning “what ifs” in order to address church growth concerns, the needs of

others and to understand, to attract and to plan for younger generations finding

their place at MWPC. Some of those conversations have resulted in the

implementation of tasks and plans. The planning, dreaming and envisioning are

focused on assisting all of us to see the following purpose being done at MWPC:

“Bringing people into a relationship with God and with ourselves”

In 2017, we will:

Gather for Worship on Sunday and other special days because we love to praise

and exalt our Lord God;

Plan and provide a variety of opportunities to learn, to grow and to be discipled

by and through God Word to us (Bible studies, Christian faith discussions/

forums, Sunday morning messages, blogs…);

Host fellowship activities to enhance our Christian relationship with one another

and others in our communities;

Serve in Kingdom work and mission – KidREACH, Food Bank, Emergency Fund,

special seasonal ministries to address needs out in the communities;

Seek to be actively and intentionally involved in caring for one another and

those in need in the communities; reaching others with the love of Christ; using

our resources to prepare and be ready for new seekers/guests (next

generations).

Seek, see and do in different ways the opportunities God has given our church to

serve in 2017 and beyond.

This continues the conversation, servant-work, dreaming and “what ifs” at MWPC.

Pastor Rob

A Note from Pastor Rob

The young man from Chicago did not have immediate success as he began his career. As he began

apply his skills in Kansas, he could not sell his art work. Some in the business hinted that he had no talent.

The only person to hire him was a minister. He drew advertising pictures for the church. Having no place to

live, the church allowed him to stay in the mouse-infested garage. This young man from Chicago named

one of those mice which would make both famous. This young man that the world would come to know

was Walt Disney. The name he would give to that mouse in the church’s garage was Mickey.

Though the early days for Walt Disney were hard, this remarkable, creative, and visionary man

refused to give up. He would occasionally present some unbelievable, extensive dream he was entertaining

to his board members. Almost without exception, the board members would gulp, blink and stare back at

him in disbelief, resisting even the thought of such a thing. Here’s the interesting thing about Walt and his

envisioning, unless every board member resisted the idea, Mr. Disney usually didn’t pursue it. That’s right

– unless everyone RESISTED his idea, he didn’t take it on. The challenge of the idea or vision wasn’t big

enough to merit his time and creative energy unless there was unanimous disagreement. Is it any wonder

that places – magical and unique places like Disneyland and Disney World—became realities?

When Disney World in Orlando, Florida opened in 1974, Mrs. Disney was sitting next to Mr.

Walter Cronkite. Mr. Disney had passed away a few years earlier. During the opening ceremony and

festivities, Mr. Cronkite leaned over to Mrs. Disney and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if Walt were here to see

this today”. Mrs. Disney replied, “If Walt had not seen and envision this first in his mind and heart, you and

I would not be seeing it today.”

This type of faith demonstrated by Walt Disney in his business is a faith and envisioning needed for

us as Christians. Like Mr. Disney, we need to dream big and trust in God for the impossible – “… with God

all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26b) I would suggest that the Lord God has dreams for us and visions

for “my people”. The Lord our God said, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not

harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). The Kingdom work, God’s redemptive

activities, the mission for God’s faithful, require you and I to dream and envision to ask “what if” as we live

as followers of Christ at Marcus Whitman Church, in our homes, neighborhoods, work places and out into

the world.

Peace,

Pastor Rob

A Note from the Pastor

Emily Chant

Children and Family Coordinator

(from a blog post on 3/13/2013 )

Your Lice is My Lice I’m trying to figure out what it means to follow Jesus. It’s what most of my blog posts are about – but it’s the reality of this crazy challeng-ing journey. I don’t have it all together. It has taken my traveling to 7 different countries in 7 months to realize that I don’t know what it re-ally means to be a Christian. I’m selfish. I want what is best for me above all others far too often. I desire comfort. As the four-year old Cambodian slum girl clings tighter to me than to her own mother, I realize… I fall short. I’m not Jesus.

See, this sweet slum girl, with her rotting teeth, has hair infested with lice. I found myself more concerned that she would contaminate my hair with lice than I was concerned with loving her, as Jesus would. My humanity. My sinful nature. My care for myself above this little girl, brings me to my knees in brokenness. Jesus pursued the “least of these” with fervor and grace. He touched those that were never touched – the dis-eased, the destitute, the dirty. As this little girl is fighting for enough food and water to get her through the day – as she takes care of her younger siblings because her parents are drunks and have peaced out on her life – I, I’m, worried about lice. Fast forward. The Kampong Cham prison. Over 1000 inmates. My team is teaching English and sharing stories with a handful of the inmates this week. Over 40 inmates came to hear from us and learn from us yesterday af-ternoon. As they listened to the story of Jesus from Noah, I purposefully glanced into each of their eyes. Each set of eyes tells a story. Stories of nightmares and incredible pain. When we think of serving others in the name of Jesus – we mostly think of the orphan, the widow, the home-less. But what about : The murderer? The thief? The rapist? The sex-trafficker? Whew. Noah asked the inmates “are you guys sorry for the crime you committed to bring you here?” A man in his blue jump suit raised his hand and said, “I am very sorry but I am thankful because now I hear about Jesus.” Jesus loves the murderers. He loves the thieves. And He loves the lice infested children in the slums. Do I love the people that Jesus loves? As I glanced into the eyes of the inmates, I felt compassion. And as they sang “Lord I lift Your Name on High” to us, I realized… this, yes, this is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is full of murderers and thieves praising a God who forgives. This is what it means when Jesus prays, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Jesus’ ways surprise me. His ways challenge me. And, as I continually fall short – He's teaching me. He’s mak-ing me more like Himself as He continually asks me to step out of my comfort zone. I read this about faith earli-er today, “we don’t really need faith and can’t understand it until we literally have no idea what’s supposed to happen next” (Ken Wytsma). I don’t necessarily know how to love the prisoner. Or the lice infested child. But, I know that Jesus loves them. And if Jesus loves them, He is going to give me the strength to love them too. It takes faith, which doesn’t al-ways come naturally. We claim to be followers of Jesus, let’s live as if that is our reality. Let’s love because He first loved us. Let’s get dirty with the dirty because that’s what Jesus did for you and me. He didn’t have to leave Heaven to come to this broken earth. But He did. So let’s go, and do the same.

Page 4 Whitmanews March, 2017

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

Glen & Gerri Burnett 18

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Adair Hendrickson 4

David Martin 7

Gary Kennedy 10

Nancy Blaisdell 19

Jessica Lonsdale 22

Lynell Caudillo 29

Glen Burnett 31

MARCH

SERMONS AND SCRIPTURE

This year’s Lenten Series will be on the last 24

hours of Jesus’ life. Each Sunday we will explore

some of the significant events of those last 24

hours.

As we do so, may each help us to better under-

stand and know the message of Easter morning

and God’s act of redemption.

March 5th Lord’s Supper

Message: “The Gospel According

to Judas”

Text:

Ms. Emily Chant

March 12th

Message: “Let’s Get Real”

Text: Matthew 26:36-46

March 19th

Message: “Arresting Circumstances”

Text: Matthew 26:47-56

March 26th

Message: “Whose Trial?”

Text: Matthew 26:57-68

Page 5 Whitmanews March, 2017

Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romeo-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland. The dates of Patrick's life cannot be fixed with certainty but there is broad agreement that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. Early medieval tradition credits him with being the founder of Christianity in Ireland.

According to legend, when he was about 16, he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland, looking after animals, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as a bishop, but little is known about the places where he worked. By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day is observed on 17 March, the supposed date of his death. It is celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland, it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation; it is also a celebration of Ireland itself.

The Des Moines Food Bank needs

your donations! Some needed items

for March for our school/weekend

backpack program are: EasyMac,

individual apple sauce or fruit cups,

oatmeal packets and small 100% fruit

juices. They are also low on canned

vegetables. Please place your

donations directly into the blue Food

Bank receptacle in the Hallway.

Thank you.

Friday, March 17th

BIBLE QUIZ An Old Testament prophet wrote the following

words about Jesus: “He was oppressed and he

was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth:

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like

a sheep that before it’s shearers is silent, so he

did not open his mouth.”

Who wrote these

words?

A. Amos

B. Jonah

C. Jeremiah

D. Isaiah

Answer: D (See chapter 53, verse 7)

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 Work Crew

10:00 A.M.

KidREACH

4:00 P.M. ASH WEDNES-

DAY SERVICE

6:30 P.M.

2

Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

3 World Day

of Prayer

4

5

Worship &

Lord’s

Supper

10:00 A.M.

6

OFFICE

CLOSED

7

8 Work Crew

10:00 A.M.

KidREACH

4:00 P.M.

Session

6:30 P.M.

9

Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

10 11

12

Worship

10:00 A.M.

Daylight Savings

Time Begins

13

OFFICE

CLOSED

14

15

Work Crew

10:00 A.M.

KidREACH

4:00 P.M.

Session

6:30 P.M.

16

Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

Salt Air Hills

HOA Meeting

6:30 P.M.

17

18

19

Worship

10:00 A.M.

The Story of

Joseph 3 P.M.

20 OFFICE

CLOSED

21

22

Work Crew

10:00 A.M.

KidREACH

4:00 P.M.

Session

6:30 P.M.

23

Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

24

25

26

Worship

10:00 A.M.

27

OFFICE

CLOSED

28 29 Work Crew

10:00 A.M.

KidREACH &

Family Dinner

4:00 P.M.

Session

6:30 P.M.

30

Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

31

March 2017

Page 6 Whitmanews March, 2017

Page 7 Whitmanews March, 2017

INCOME ACTUAL BUDGETED EXPENSE ACTUAL BUDGETED

Offerings $22,434.00 $10,583.33 Pastors Pkg $6,689.55 $6,869.98

Salaries/Taxes 2,791.73 3,029.70

Int. Income 1.43 0.92 Bldg/Utilities 1,771.24 921.67

Office Mgmt 665.68 508.33

Bldg/Grounds 0.00 41.67

Christian Ed 0.00 29.17

Total Income $22,435.43 $10,584.25 0.00 166.67

Deacon 0.00 0.00

Fellowship 0.00 83.33

Worship 227.89 227.89

Mission 0.00 0.00

Total Expenses $12,146.09 $11,878.41

To Date: $10,289.34

MWPC FINANCIAL REPORT - ENDING JANUARY 31, 2016

Children & Fam

Income Minus Expenses

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Learning, Growing and Living as Jesus’ Disciples

Sunday Morning Adult Class: (9:00am-9:50am, Small Conference Room) continue their

study & discussion on the Book of Acts.

Children’s Sunday School ~ (10:30—11:15am in Fellowship Hall)

The theme and focus this month is “Jesus helps me love my family”

Thursday Morning Bible Study: (10-11:30am in the Small Conference Room)

The Thursday Morning Study Group will be starting a new study on March 16th. Stay tuned

for details to be announced in Sunday Worship program and posted on the website.

2130 S. 248th Street

Des Moines, WA 98198

Marcus Whitman

Presbyterian Church

Phone: 206-878-2013

Fax: 206-878-2013

E-mail: office@mwpc.org

Know, Grow and Serve!

We’re on the web!

mwpres.org

Coming very soon! Get your tickets now! God touched my heart more than 30 years ago about composing a cantata on the story of Joseph. It resurfaced in my heart and mind 5 years ago. I started choosing Bible verses 4 years ago, and starting writing the music 3 years ago. What a journey this has been. GOD is faithful. Even with all my health problems of the past year we are on the home stretch. A very talented group of singers have come together from different places. Our soloists are outstanding.

Thank you for your financial help, prayers, support and encouragement. Please continue to pray that the singers will stay in good health. Pray for my energy and stamina. I've been fine during the rehearsals but I can barely get out of bed the next day.

Volunteers are needed on the day of the performance as ushers to: Take tickets, hand out programs. [Please speak to me ( 253-569-3827) Note: All volunteers must be at St. Luke’s church at 2:00 P.M.]

The Story of Joseph will be performed on March 19, 2017 at 3:00 PM at: St. Luke's Lutheran Church 515 S. 312th St Federal Way, WA 98003

I hope you are planning to attend and bring your friends with you. It's going to be a great experience!! Don't miss it!!

Get your tickets from Brown Paper Tickets at (http://thestoryofjoseph.brownpapertickets.com/ ) or save $2 and get them from Dan

Camp or Diana Cochran.

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:14)

Nancy Blaisdell