January 2010 Dates & Events

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sunday, January 3rd

• Communion

Saturday, January 9th

• Elder Training in the Fellowship Hall, 8 AM - noon

Sunday, January 10th

• Called Session Meeting between Church School and Morning Worship
• Ordination / Installation of New Elders

Tuesday, January 12th

• PW Circle, 9:45 AM
• Session, 6 PM

Sunday, January 17th

• Annual Meeting following Morning Worship

Upcoming Schedule for Worship and Study

We are approaching the end of the church’s liturgical year. The final Sunday of each year is known as Christ the King Sunday. The last week of the Christian year is meant to focus worshipers on the sole source of divine power and reign. Christ the King Sunday is a day in which the people of faith are invited to the throne room where Christ is exalted and worshiped; it is the New Year's Eve of the Christian year, the day we come full circle and end a journey that began with the first Sunday in Advent.

This year, we are in the midst of a sermon series about worship…why we do what we do each week. This coming Sunday, Nov. 15th, Jim will preach on prayer in worship. The following week is Christ the King Sunday and we will conclude our worship series with a look at why and how we seal the Word of God and bear it into the world. I’m still trying to figure out how to add in dimensions of Christ the King Sunday into the final worship study of the sacraments, which are the ways we seal God’s word.

What we want to draw your attention to is our schedule of events for the Advent season. We will be teaching our traditional advent study at noon on Thursdays beginning on December 3rd and continuing for a total of three weeks. This year’s topic, called Preparing the Way, is a study of Isaiah 40:1-11. We hope you all can attend. Feel free to bring a sack lunch.

Because we have enjoyed preaching several sermon series this fall, we are planning a new series for the Advent season called The Gifts of Christmas. We will continue to send out a weekly email with a focus scripture and questions to ponder for those who enjoy preparing and studying ahead of worship, but thought it might be helpful for some of you to have a brief outline of the series and events early:

November 29th - The Gift of Anticipation Isaiah 25:6 - 26:6 [Dedication Sunday, First Sunday of Advent]
December 6th - The Gift of Patience Romans 8:25
December 13th - The Gift of Hope 1 Peter 1:3 [Children and Youth Christmas Play/Church Breakfast]
December 20th – Our Youth and Children will present a Christmas Play
December 24th - The Gift of Joy Isaiah 12:3ff

November 2009 Dates & Events

Sunday, November 1

• Communion

Tuesday, Nov 3, 10 & 17

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5:00 PM

Wednesday, Nov 4, 11 & 18

• Youth Group, 5:30-7:00 PM

Saturday, Nov 7

• Men of the Church Breakfast, 8 AM

Tuesday, Nov 10

• Presbyterian Women, 9:45 AM
• Session Meeting, 6 PM

Saturday, Nov 14

• Rocksprings PC 100th Birthday, 2 PM

Sunday, Nov 15

• Care Center Worship, 3 PM

Sunday, Nov 22

• Hanging of the Green, 6 PM

Thursday, Nov 26 ~~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sunday, Nov 29

• First Sunday of Advent

October 2009 Dates & Events

Saturday, October 3rd

• Men of the Church Breakfast, 8:30 AM

Sunday, October 4th

• Church on the River, 10:30 AM at the Kneese's
• It is on South 377 about 1 mile past the South Llano State Park on the left. Look for the sign. The meat, tea and beans will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring salads, vegetables or desserts.

Tuesday, October 6th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, October 7th

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM

Saturday, October 10th through Monday, October 12th (Columbus Day Holiday)

• Family Church Camping Trip to Blackrock State Park on Lake Buchanan near Llano (The original plans were to camp at Garner State Park, but this has been changed to Blackrock State Park.)
• We will depart the church Saturday morning at 10:00am and return to the church Monday sometime.

Tuesday, October 13th

• PW Circle, 9:45 AM
• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM
• Session Meeting, 6 PM

Wednesday, October 14th

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM

Friday, October 16th

• Fall Food Drive begins

Tuesday, October 20th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, October 21st

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM

Friday, October 23rd through Saturday, October 24th

• Mission Presbytery Meeting in Austin

Tuesday, October 27th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, October 28th

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM

Sunday School

Just a reminder about our Sunday school opportunities starting at 9:45 AM.

0-2's in the nusery with Ms Lisa
3-K's in the concrete room with Ms Zee or Ms Donnette
1st-6th in the blue room with Ms Marsha or Ms Irene
7th-12th in the red room with Carmen and Justin

For adults we have three choices:
The Parlor Class continues their Present Word study
The Fellowship Hall Class continues the lectionary study of the scriptures used in morning worship
The BSN (Bible Study Novices) green room class will be starting a study of the book of Genesis that will run about 12 weeks.

September Dates & Events

Saturday, September 5th

• Men of the Church Breakfast, 8:30 AM

Sunday, September 6th

• Church School Kick-off Breakfast, 9:45 AM
• Communion

Tuesday, September 8th

• PW Circle, 9:45 AM
• Session Meeting, 6 PM

Sunday, September 13th

• Church School begins, 9:45 AM

Tuesday, September 15th

• Elementary After School Program begins, 3:30 - 5 PM

Wednesday, September 16th

• Youth Group begins, 5:30 - 7 PM

Sunday, September 20th

• A Restocking Shower for the Moss Family will begin.
• A congregational meeting will be held to elect four from the congregation to join outgoing elders to form a nominating committee for Elders - Class 2012.

Tuesday, September 22nd

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30 - 5 PM

Wednesday, September 23rd

• Youth Group, 5:30 - 7 PM

Saturday, September 26th

• CPR Class, 10 AM -- Sign up sheet in the vestibule.

Tuesday, September 29th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30 - 5 PM

Wednesday, September 30th

• Youth Group, 5:30 - 7 PM

Hamburger Cookout ~ Friday, July 24th, 6:00 PM

Good Morning,

This past Sunday I neglected to invite you all to our end of Vacation Bible School hamburger cookout. Dinner will be at 6:00 PM in the fellowship hall. We will have hamburgers, baked beans, and chips. If you would like to you could bring a dessert to share. We hope that you will join us.

Jim

Vacation Bible School ~ July 21-24 6-8 PM

Hi All,

Don't forget that Vacation Bible School starts today, Tuesday, July 21st. The theme this year is a safari through the Lord's Prayer. All of you helpers dress like you are going on safari and for today please try to be here as close to 5:00 PM as you can to help with registration.

VBS is from 6-8 PM and don't forget that I will be teaching an adult class on the Lord's Prayer.

Jim

July 2009 Dates & Events

Sunday, July 5th

• Communion

Tuesday, July 7th

• Yoga w/ Brittany ~ 11:00-12:00 and 5:30-6:30

Wednesday, July 15th

• Six Flags Fiesta Texas trip for JMS and JHS students. Please RSVP beforehand.

Tuesday, July 21 thru Friday, July 24

• VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, 6:00-8:00 PM

Church Trip to Six Flags

CHURCH TRIP TO SIX FLAGS ~ FIESTA TEXAS

For: JMS & JHS Kids
When: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Cost: $25/per person is the group rate, with a minimum of 15 in the group.

The kids will also need to bring extra money for food, snacks, and souvenirs.
Time: 9:00 AM—8:00 PM
We will meet at the church and leave at 9:00 AM. The park is open from 10:30 AM—9:00 PM. We will probably leave the park around 6:00 PM, and arrive home at 8:00 PM.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, July 8th.
Call the church at 446-2165.

Men's Breakfast on Saturday, June 6th

Hi All,

Don't forget that we have the Men's breakfast Saturday at 8AM. Those of you with kids are welcome to bring them. Mignon will probably be there. Golf after for anyone interested.

Menu: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and grits

Cooks: Jim, Charles, Phil and Joe

Hope to see you there!
Jim

June 2009 Dates & Events

Saturday, June 6th

• Men of the Church Breakfast, 8 AM

Sunday, June 7th

• Communion

Tuesday, June 9th

• Session Meeting, 6 PM

Wednesday, June 10th

• Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting, 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Friday, June 12th - Saturday, June 13th

• Mission Presbytery

Sunday, June 21st

• FATHER'S DAY
• Care Center Service, 3 PM

Church on the Pedernales pictures

The Harper and Junction Presbyterian churches met on Sunday, May 17th for a combined worship service on the Pedernales River. Here are a few pictures from the day...

Family Game Night Pictures

We held our first Family Game Night on the evening of Sunday, May 3rd. We had a good turn out. Lots of fun, food, and fellowship! Here are a few pictures.

Pictionary...

Lots of games for everyone...

What exactly is Jennifer trying to draw?

More pictionary...

Church on the Pedernales

The Harper Presbyterian Church will host a combined worship service with the First Presbyterian Church of Junction Sunday May 17th on the Pedernales River just outside of Harper. We will gather at 9:30am at the church in Junction for those who would like to ride the van or follow. We will meet on the river at 10:30am and begin worship at 10:45am. There will be a potluck meal following worship. The Harper church will be providing meat and drinks. Please bring a side-dish or dessert to share.

From Junction or West of Harper:

To get there from Junction take I10 East to 290. Take 290E through Harper to the blinking light. Turn Right at the blinking light onto 2093 also called Tivydale Rd. go about 2.9 miles turn right at electric gate look for sign, saying Church Here!, the 911 address is 19549.

From Fredericksburg or East of Harper:

Take 290W to Harper and Turn Left at the blinking light onto 2093 also called Tivydale Rd. go about 2.9 miles turn right at electric gate look for sign, saying Church Here!, the 911 address is 19549.

May 2009 Dates & Events

Saturday, May 2nd

• Men of the Church Breakfast, 8 AM

Sunday, May 3rd

• Communion
• Family Game Night, 5 - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, May 5th

• The last Elementary After-School Program will meet, 3:30 - 5 PM

Wednesday, May 6th

• The last Youth Group meeting, 5:30 - 7 PM

Sunday, May 10th is MOTHER'S DAY!

Tuesday, May 12th

• PW Circle, 9:45 AM
• Session Meeting, 6 PM

Sunday, May 17th

• Church on the Pedernales

Sunday, May 24th

• Presbyterian Women Birthday
• High School Graduate Luncheon

Holy Week Thought

There’s a term in the art world known as chiaroscuro. It’s an Italian word: the Italians invented the technique. Before chiaroscuro, paintings were uniformly bright, often enclosed in gilt frames and matting. But with the advent of this technique, things changed in the world of painting. Artists discovered the dramatic power of shadow — of painting a person whose face was illuminated by a single candle, surrounded on every side by darkness. This technique somehow captured the ambiguity and uncertainty of life. Against the background of darkness, light seems all the more brilliant.

Easter is a glorious celebration, whether or not we have paid Lent, or Maundy Thursday, or Good Friday any mind. Yet the sunlight of Easter morn never seems so bright, unless we come to the empty tomb by way of the upper room, and unless we have stood for a time at the foot of the cross.

Monday Thursday Communion Service tonight 7:00 PM, Childcare Provided

Good Friday Service tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, Childcare Provided

Holy Week Services

Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior,

This week we will have special services Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th at 7:00pm. The Maundy Thursday service is a communion service. On Good Friday we will have a Tenebrae service, also called a service of shadows with the nailing of the cross.

Easter Sunday morning at 10:00am we will have an Easter Egg Hunt for our children and fellowship time in the fellowship hall with cookies, coffee and juice. Also, don't forget that we will be flowering the cross Easter morning.

Jim
First Presbyterian Church
Jim and Laurie Barker

APRIL 2009 Dates & Events

Wednesday, April 1st

• Lenten Luncheons @ the Methodist Fellowship Hall, noon
• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
• Communicant's Class, 7 PM
• Choir Practice, 7 PM
• Community Choir Practice, 7:30 PM

Thursday, April 2nd

• Lenten Bible Study, 6 PM

Saturday, April 4th

• Men's Breakfast, 8 AM

Sunday, April 5th

• Communion
• Easter Cantata & Reception, 7 PM

Tuesday, April 7th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, April 8th

• Lenten Luncheons @ the Methodist Fellowship Hall, noon
• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
• Choir Practice, 7 PM

Thursday, April 9th

• Maundy Thursday Communion, 7 PM

Friday, April 10th

• Tenebrae & Nailing of the Cross, 7 PM

Saturday, April 11th

• Easter Pageant, Dark

Sunday, April 12th

• Easter Egg Hunt for the children during Sunday School Hour, 9:45-10:45 AM
• Flowering of the Cross
• One Great Hour Offering

Tuesday, April 14th

• Presbyterian Women Circle, 9:45 AM
• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM
• Session, 6 PM

Wednesday, April 15th

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
• Choir Practice, 7 PM

Tuesday, April 21st

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, April 22nd

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
• Choir Practice, 7 PM

Sunday, April 26th

• Afternoon Service at the Care Center, 3 PM

Tuesday, April 28th

• Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM

Wednesday, April 29th

• Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
• Choir Practice, 7 PM