PASTOR’S PEN . . .
by Pastor Dave Templin

We’re looking for some committed servants.

Leadership roles in the church sometimes suffer a kind of confusion.  Now and then an opportunity comes along that may sound like one thing while actually being rather different than one might assume.  The advertising industry makes intentional use of this as a kind of misdirection – examples: The beautiful woman “displayed” with the new car (now, which are you buying?), or the Army’s campaign “An Army of One” which appeals to the self-sufficiency of the individual when the new recruit quickly discovers that the Army is about teamwork, not individual expression.  You may think you are getting one thing when something else is the real result.
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by Kurt Imbach

In the Bible God’s people have often made visible memorials to commemorate significant events, especially those in which it was perceived that God’s presence had been met with or His activity recognized.  Such memorializing should be a way of life for the believer.  It amplifies (glorifies) God for what He has done, it keeps those things from being forgotten, and it encourages and energizes us as we remember those things.  In that vein I want to memorialize some recent evidences of God’s activity among us. 
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Youth News From Justin . . .
by Justin Ross

The Way of the Cross

I’ve been reflecting on the passages in Mark 6 and 8 that talk about Jesus feeding the 5000+ and the 4000+. There’s rich symbolism in each of these accounts beyond this post topic. I’ve been struck, however, by the idea that the closest twelve to Jesus are caught up in a cosmic connection: The closer one is to Jesus… the closer one is to the needs of the world.
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From the Stephen Ministry Corner ...

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

Pastors will always be the primary caregivers, but there is no way pastors can meet all the needs for care.  God has called ALL of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another.
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We will receive the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering in worship service on Palm Sunday, April 9. 

This offering began more than fifty-five years ago in response to the devastation of World War II.  In March 1949, a national broadcast on a Saturday evening asked Americans to give generously the next morning in their churches.  A remarkable assembly of national leaders and celebrities gave their efforts to the broadcast, and more than 75,000 churches responded the next day.

These gifts are roughly divided into thirds and support programs for hunger, disaster relief, and self-development of people.  For at least the past ten years, the offering has received about $20 million among the denominations. 

Envelopes will be available in the pews.  Please indicate on your check or envelope that your offering is designated for One Great Hour of Sharing.
 

Palm Sunday - April 9, worship services at 9:30 A.M. and 11:00 A.M.

Maundy Thursday - April 13, 6:30 P.M.– Dinner, followed by worship and communion service – Heritage Hall

Good Friday - April 14, 7:00 P.M. – Worship service, sanctuary

Easter Services, Sunday, April 16

7:00 A.M. - Community Sunrise Service, City Beach Park

9:30  and 11:00 A.M.,  Worship services at WPC, blended worship at both services.
 

Once again, you may honor a loved one by making a donation which will be used to buy plants and flowers to decorate the sanctuary on Easter Sunday.  You may take the plants/flowers home after church or we will add them to our gardens as living memorials.  Put your donation in the offering plate or give it to Judy in the office. 

                ——The Worship Team
 

Attention Cookie Bakers

Many have responded to the request to provide cookies or bars for refreshment during fellowship after Sunday services. We all appreciate your generosity and willingness to serve in this manner. Some have suggested they would like to provide the refreshments for the Sunday when their Deacon and Parish will be acting as hosts for this fellowship. Below are listed the Parish numbers and the weeks of responsibility. You can learn the number of your Parish by checking the Church Directory and looking for the number just preceding your name. Remember, your cookies and/or bars will be welcome any time. Just label your package of treats with the kind, date baked and the word Deacons and leave them at the Blue House or put them into the freezer in Heritage Hall.

March 26 - Parish 4, Lorie Smith, Deacon
April 2 - Parish 5, Susan Briddell , Deacon
April 9 - Parish 6, Heather Mc Crea, Deacon
April 16 - Parish 7, Laura LeDesky, Deacon
April 23 - Parish 8, Ruth Lindenstein, Deacon
April 30 - Parish 9, Peggy Petersen, Deacon
May 7 - Parish 1, Rex DuPuis, Deacon
May 14 - Parish 2, Peggy Carl, Deacon
May 21 - Parish 3, Kathryn Powell, Deacon
 

“Around the World!”  That is exactly where our Mission Team takes us . . .Rwanda. . .Chad. . .Sitka. . .Tall Timber Camp. . .HELP House, and many, many more.  The Missions Team is primarily responsible for coordinating the church programs that reach outside the church.  Among other things, the Missions Team seeks new mission opportunities, enlists support from the congregation, schedules missionaries to meet with the congregation, promotes correspondence with missionaries, and directs and manages Mission funds.

Future plans call for an increase in the percentage of WPC’s budget devoted to Mission funding. 

The Missions Team is seeking prayer partners for our missionaries and mission programs.  They also need more advocates to help interface with a specific missionary or mission project.

The members of this exciting team continue to keep our congregation aware and informed.  Congratulations for a work “well done!”

Committee Members:  Elder Joan Bell, Elder Ben Lindenstein, Mollie Brunner, Andre Cailliet, Claude Dilly, Norm McCrea, Bob Mitchell, Mary Vandervelde
 

The Christian Education team is looking for a Sunday School Superintendent, Beginning Fall of 2006.  The Superintendent is responsible for the education of children preschool through 8th grade for the school year.  We have wonderful helpers for our rotation program for grades 1 to 6 and dedicated volunteers for the other ages.  Please join our Team!

Vacation Bible School Fiesta!

June 26-30, mornings.  The curriculum has been selected.

Eager volunteers are welcome to contact Anita Juan, 675-0697, for more details.
 

The triennial gathering of Presbyterian Women is coming in mid-July.  It takes place in Louisville, and women come from around the world, but mostly from the U. S.  Now is the time to register if you are considering the event; prices increase after 4/15.  Our group can help with monetary support.  It’s a fun, uplifting and educational three days.  Please call Marilyn Arnsberger if you are interested.

Speaking of gatherings, the N.P.S.P. spring gathering of P. W. will be in Bellingham at Birchwood Presbyterian Church.  It will be held on Monday, April 24, but we need to make our reservations a week ahead, so please let Marilyn know if you’d like to attend.

The birthday offering will be collected at our next meeting on April 20.  This giving began in 1922 with the idea being for each woman to give a penny for each year of life, with the proceeds going to those in need globally.  Recipients are chosen from “grants” they have written asking for help from Louisville.  Since 1922, P. W. have collected $29,000,000 to aid specific projects.  Feel free to give a penny, a nickel, a dime, or even more per year of your life this April.

The Evening Bible Study will meet Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. and I believe they are enjoying Horizon’s study of liturgical time as much as we are at our monthly meetings.  The study of the last half of the Book of Romans will meet April 6 at 10:30 A.M.  At noon after our Bible study, there will be a Boutique idea workshop.  We may even do a little work while we talk.  Bring a sack lunch and ideas, please.

This hasn’t been a healthy March for many, so please keep the Prayer Chain at hand; and “when you pray, pretend you’re the squeaky wheel,” and keep those prayers coming.  (The quote is from Earl Palmer.)

                        --Suzanne McCrea
 

Barnabas Group, a prayer and missionary support group, meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at noon in Heritage Hall.

On April 11, Ben Lindenstein will enlighten us through word and video about the Gambel Church and the “Bering Witness Ministry.” 

On April 25, Sandra VanderPol will be here to tell us how to become a relief worker.  Sandra now works for the  World Relief organization.  She will also update us on prayer needs for Haiti.

Everyone is welcome and we hope you will attend these outstanding presentations.
 

For more information or to pick up a brochure, see Mollie B. or Norm M.
 

LOCAL WHIDBEY ISLAND NEEDS

Spring Cleaning.  Spring has arrived and our attention is caught by the natural beauty of our surroundings, the familiar screech of the bald eagles, the bursting forth of buds on trees and eruption of the soil with those first spring blossoms!  Sing praises to our Creator for all these blessings.

It is also a serious time for us Christians as we are asked to focus on the death and resurrection of our Savior and on our own purpose here on earth.

What is your priority for this season, yard work, cleaning out that closet or garage?  How about a little spring cleaning of commitment to our God?  He asks us to pray always and to spend time with him in His Word.  Open up that Bible every day and dust off your personal relationship with Him.

And if you have the time, remember our neighbors in need, continue your donations of non-perishable food items for Help House, and personal care items for Margie’s House.  Donated items can be placed in the boxes in Heritage Hall which Norm McCrea faithfully delivers to them for you.

             ——Joan M. Bell
 

Wellspring Ranch - A Place of Hope.  Wellspring’s mission statement describes the belief that there is a need for a facility to house single people in Island County who are in need; a place where they could go for a hand up, not a handout.  The goal of the ministry is to become self-supporting by having service-based work performed by those who are being helped.  A part of the earnings would go to the individual, and part toward the costs incurred in maintaining the facilities.  If you find yourself in need of repairs or help with a project, Wellspring “Solutions” would like to help.  Visit their website Well Spring Ranch for more information.

Help House.  Remember to bring food for the Help House!  Non perishable food donations can be given at any time.  This is a never ending ministry, for we will always have the poor with us.

Margie’s Place:   The temporary homeless shelter is delighted with the personal care items you have been providing.  This, too, is a never ending ministry.  Items can be placed in the boxes we have in Heritage Hall.  Any questions, feel free to contact your Missions Team.

Food for Thought

As Christians we are called by our faith to look forward to life after death through Jesus Christ. Still, we find it hard to face the fact that someday we will leave our family and friends behind.

Because admitting our mortality is difficult, some of us put off that admission as long as we can. We don’t call it denial; we just say we’re too busy, and so leave estate planning for another year, despite knowing as we do that putting off estate planning does not prolong our life one day.

The truth is, though, that married or single, young or old, of modest means or well to do, we all need to decide what will happen with our estate after we’re gone.  Many of us have loved ones to provide for, family and friends to whom we want to make gifts, and organizations we want to support, including Whidbey Presbyterian Church.  Your Wills Endowment Committee asks you to remember our church and its programs in your will.  If you have questions about how the committee can assist, just ask any member.   

(Jim Petersen, Will Williams, Joan Bell, Tom Asmus, Von Summers, Mike Sullivan, Kathryn Powell, Bob Swetnam, Robert Taylor, and Jim Kotschwar)

                                                  — The Wills and Endowments Committee
 

The WPC church library is open between services.  Check out of books and videos from the library is self-service; help yourself to materials of interest by signing the card in the item and leaving it in the check out box.  Library materials may be checked out for one month and can be renewed if needed.   Return materials the library or the library box in the church office.

Are you looking for something in particular?  A catalog of library holdings has recently been completed and materials can be located by author, title or subject in the catalog notebook located on the table in the library.

If you have questions or suggestions related to the church library, please feel free to pass them along to Nancy Hodges Hughes or Becky Bolte, church librarians.
 

Get your reservations in now for the Annual Inter-church Spring 2006 Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 13, at 1:00 P.M., Shotgun, at Gallery Golf Course.  Green fees are $30, and cart rentals are available.  Your fee includes a round of golf, a bag of tees, divot fixer, a Gallery logo golf ball and a ticket for one hot dog, soda and chips.  Please send an e-mail to one of the following so that we will know how many foursomes to reserve time for.  We must have early reservations to get the Shotgun start.

Gerald Fikse, gt.atoh@verizon.net, John Juan, johnanita@pioneernet.net, John Solin, solin@jsolin.com, Tom Litka, litkat@naswi.navy.mil.