Happy Birthday to our Octogenarian in March!
Raymond Montgomery, March 2
Happy Anniversary to our couples celebrating more than 50 years of marriage!
Phyllis & Joe Hunsaker, March 2 (53rd)
Joan & Clinton Hollis, March 17 (59th)
Click below to view recent promotional event poster: (notes: File may be large. With Internet Explorer, if image is out of focus you need to hold your mouse over the lower right corner for a moment, then click on the little orange box that appears that says "expand to regular size")
Men’s Lenten Breakfasts
Men’s Breakfasts begin at 7:00 a.m. with a devotional at 7:30 a.m.
March 2 -- St. Peter’s Catholic Church
March 9 -- Central Presbyterian Church
March 16 -- Bethlehem Lutheran Church
March 23 -- United Methodist
Women’s Lenten Bible Study
The book for the 2005 Lenten Study is The Face is Familiar: Remembering Unnamed Women in Scripture. The study begins at 9:30 a.m. with a fellowship coffee.
March 2 -- First Baptist Church
March 9 -- Central Presbyterian Church
March 16 -- St. Peter’s Catholic Church
March 23 -- St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
Easter Choirs
The Handbell Choir will perform on March 13 during worship.
A multi-church choir cantata will be presented the Sunday after Easter, April 3, during worship, entitled “Exalted” by Gregg Sewell. The choir will be traveling to several churches to give their presentation that morning.
Palm Sunday
The Annual Palm Sunday Breakfast, sponsored by Christian Education Committee, will be served on March 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the basement fellowship hall. The traditional menu (see insert) will be offered. Donations will benefit the Youth Group.
A procession of Palms will highlight the Palm and Passion Worship Service. The focus will be on the Book of Matthew, from the glory to the suffering of Jesus Christ. The 2005 Confirmation Class will be helping and leading this service, and Emma Lou Denton will perform the traditional piece, “The Holy City.”
Maundy-Thursday
Join us in the sharing of the Last Supper at the Maundy-Thursday service at 7:00 p.m. on March 24.
Good Friday
A time of meditation will again be offered at Central Presbyterian Church on Good Friday, March 25, from Noon to 1 p.m. Passion week music will be performed on organ and piano at the Brown Bag Concert (bring your own lunch) for those wishing to stop in at any time during the lunch hour for quiet reflection in preparation for Easter. Performing will be Emma Lou Denton on the Wicks Pipe Organ and Rich Ford and Julia Territo on piano.
A Community Good Friday Service, sponsored by the PORTA Ministerial Association, will be held at 7:00 p.m. at New Life Foursquare Gospel Church. Stan Rodda will be the speaker.
Easter Sunday
He is Risen!! Join us for our Easter Worship Celebration at 10:45 a.m. on March 27, the culmination of the six weeks of Lent. It will be a celebratory worship service of powerful messages, special music from the choir, and rejoicing together!
Lenten Study
Rev. Poetchner has begun a Lenten Study on Sunday evenings during Lent. You are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions which run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the lounge.
John Allen II Sunday School Class
Beginning March 6th the adult Bible class will begin studying Max Lucado's book, Six Hours One Friday. Come and join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Lounge. If you have a copy of the book, or access to one, bring it with you.
One Great Hour of Sharing
When you support One Great Hour of Sharing on Palm Sunday, your gift goes further than you may ever know, sparking profound change in lives around the world. Funds are divided between the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Self-Development of People program. Just one of the current focuses is on tsunami and earthquake relief in South and Southeast Asia.
Please give generously on March 20; an offering envelope will be provided in the bulletin. See inserts in upcoming bulletins. For more information about what One Great Hour is all about, visit this website: http://www.pcusa.org/oghs/about.htm.
Women's Retreat Group Annual Retreat
The 2005 Women's Retreat will be Saturday, April 2 at the home of Rebecca Rowe. This year's retreat will be an all-day event during which we will eat, study, eat, share, eat, pray, eat, laugh—you get the idea! We will review the book Radical Forgiveness by Julie Ann Bamhill, a western Illinois resident. Copies of the book are available from the R-Team to preview or purchase your own copy at Christian book stores.
The schedule (using the term loosely!) is as follows:
8 a.m.—Breakfast provided by the R-Team: egg casseroles, fruit, rolls, coffee, juice
8:30 a.m—Book review, discussions, snacking, etc.
Noon-ish—Lunch: You can continue “grazing” on the delicious snacks or bring your own sandwich or salad
Mid-afternoon—Grab-bag
6 p.m.—Dinner
Evening—Activities and discussion allowing us to share, bond, laugh, empathize
Prayer Pals and Grab Bags: Feel free at any time during the day to identify yourself to your prayer pal. Instead of honoring our prayer pals as we have in the past, we would like everyone to bring a grab bag gift, and here's
the weird part—bring one pound of something. Yep. Wrap it beautifully and we'll draw numbers for who goes first, second, ...last. Trust us, it will work!
Dinner has been planned by the R-Team. We will be “dining in” and ask especially that you RSVP for this part of the day. Part of your $10 will cover dinner costs.
All women of the church are invited to this retreat. As you prepare for the day, be thinking of your past year with its highs and lows and know that you are encouraged to share any of the resulting emotions with your
Central family members. Dress comfortably, take a deep breath, and perhaps you'll leave that evening a little
more relaxed, a little more at peace, and a whole lot loved!
RSVP to the R-Team: Rhonda, Julia, Peggy, or Cindy.
Pastor's New Office Hours
Rev. Poetschner, as interim pastor, will keep weekly office hours on Tuesdays, 9:00 to 5:00 p.m., and for half a day on Thursdays, usually from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
New E-mail Address and Fax Number
Please take note, Central has a new e-mail address: centralpreschurc@wmconnect.com (there is no “h” at the end). You may continue to always use central@central-pres.org; it forwards to the new address.
The church office now has a FAX number. It is 632-5261.
Have a Walking Aid to Lend?
Do you have a pair of crutches, a wheelchair, walker or cane stored away in a closet or basement or attic in your house? Would you be willing to loan it out if there was a need? These items are expensive to rent or purchase for short-term use. A list is being compiled in the church office so that someone in need of borrowing one may do so. Please contact Sandy if you have a walking aid available for lending. Thank you!
Sermon Seeds
Sermon Seeds offers a new opportunity for you to request a sermon by Rev. Poetschner on a particular topic or book of the Bible. You may put your sermon suggestions in the “Sermon Seeds container” which is located in the back of sanctuary on the greeter's table.
IGA Tapes
Please save your IGA tapes and turn them in periodically. They really do add up quickly. It's a no-fuss fundraiser for our church.
A simple system is to just keep an envelope in a kitchen drawer and put your tapes there after shopping. Then, periodically, just put the envelope in your purse and drop the tapes in the basket by the coat rack in the narthex. Everyone's participation makes a big difference.
The most recent total of IGA tapes was $267.44. Thank you to all who contributed! There is a designated basket in the coat rack area of the narthex.
Wanted: Quilts!
Our dedicated quilters are in need of more work! If you have an unfinished quilt, please call Catherine Hollis at 632-2049 to get on their list.
Library News
Emma Lou Denton, our church librarian, asks that if you have any church library books at home, please return them at your earliest convenience.
If you haven't been to the church library lately, stop in and see what's new! There are great resources for personal inspiration, for parents, and for Sunday School teachers. Check it out!
Youth Group
Sunday, February 6 at 6:00 p.m.—Dave and Camilla Long will host a Superbowl party at their house. Everyone please bring snacks!
Sunday, February 13 at 5:00 p.m.—Pasta dinner at Rock Creek with a talent show to follow. The entire church is invited to attend.
Saturday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.—Youth Praise & Worship Service at Central Presbyterian
For any questions about youth activities, contact "Lil'" Bill Parr, youth minister, or the church office. Lil' Bill has regular office hours at the church on Fridays.
Youth group activities are done in a cooperative effort with Rock Creek Presbyterian Church youth.
Mary-Martha Bible Study Group
The Mary-Martha Circle will meet Wednesday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m. in the lounge. Lesson 7,
“Confessions of Faith,” will be led by Nalda McCollough. Meditation will be given by Rosella
Rogers.
This year’s Bible study will be from Horizons, entitled “What She Said” by author Dale Lindsay Morgan. ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!
God's Go-fors (formerly Awesome Angels) 2004-2005
Special Destinations
We are excited to announce that God’s Gophers are ready to start the spring session. We will meet the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 3:30 to 5:30 at Central Presbyterian Church. Some Sundays we will travel to different destinations. Our schedule is as follows:
March 6—Swim Party, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at PORTA Pool
March 20—going to a farm to see a grain facility
April 13—Garden Path
April 17—Scavenger Hunt for the Food Pantry
Each week we will have snacks. We are asking members of the Central Presbyterian Church to supply the snacks and United Methodist Church to supply drinks. Also we are asking parents to volunteer to be with their child for one Sunday and we will need drivers on certain Sundays.
We are looking forward to a fun session. If you have questions feel free to call us: Suzanne Conklin and Krystal Christofanelli.
This program is open to any child in Kindergarten through 6th grade, and is a co-operative effort with United Methodist Church.
Please take a moment to pray for the following members and friends of Central during their time of need:
... Cody Tallent (has returned to Iraq)
... Hermina Ackerman
... Nalda McCollough
... Janet Scheina’s father
... Cindy Godbey’s father
... Sympathy to the family of Zelma M. Vandagrift (Harriet Carter’s mother) who passed away February 9.
2004 COATS Campaign
(Clothes of Any Type and Size)
Junior High and High School children were taken shopping to get warm clothes and shoes on December 8. Christian Education Committee worked with PORTA High School faculty to take children on a shopping trip to Shoe Carnival and Target. Thanks to all who donated to this program in November, making it all possible!
The following are letters from those who participated in this year’s COATS Campaign. As you will read, it was very meaningful to all:
Dear Church Members,
On behalf of the ten students who were able to go on the shopping trip, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous donation. All of the students bought shoes, clothes, or coats that were so desperately needed. They were all proud of their purchases and enjoyed showing them off at school the next day.
Again, thank you for your generosity. You definitely brightened their holiday.
Sincerely,
Heidi Jacobus
PORTA Student Assistance Coordinator
Thanks for letting me go shopping this year, and the food was good. Thanks for letting us have the money for buying new clothes and shoes.
Thanks for all the money you gave us that could have gone to a better charity, but you giave it to us and then you paid for our food. So for that I say thanks.
Thank you for letting me and my brother have the money to buy new clothes, shoes and a coat.
Thank you so much for donating the money for us to go shopping. You are all amazing! You’ve made my Christmas much better already. When I got home, my mom said it was so wonderful that you did this for us because she could never have done anything like this for us. Thank you again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank You! You really brightened my day! Thank you for the shopping trip!!
Thank you for the money that helped buy the clothes. I know that you didn’t have to do this for me and the rest of us. I know that there were other people that you could have chosen from. Thank you for the food; that was something you didn’t have to do. Thank you!
Thanks for the money. I ate my money’s worth. I had 4 plates. So thanks. I got plenty of clothes. A $30 coat and new shoes. Thanks to everyone. They helped my family out a lot.
Thanks so much for making my Christmas so much better! I never imagined that so many people cared! I really took it to heart, and well did my mom, who said that this was the best thing anyone could do for us. Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
A word of thanks can hardly say how much what you’ve done means to me.
Thank you sooooo very much for taking us on that shopping spree. I had a lot of fun as did everybody else I’m sure, and I just thought I would tell you how much I appreciated you guys for going through all that trouble for us to take us shopping.
The one thing I enjoyed the most probably would’ve had to be getting together with all my friends and teachers and hanging out and shopping, and then you taking us out to eat at Olde Country Buffet. That was a blast because I actually think I grew closer to everyone, to the students and teachers. I just thought I would give all thanks to you and hope I get to go next year. Well thanks again.
Meet Our New Youth Minister, William M. “Lil’ Bill” Parr
I was born in Lebanon, Indiana to Randy and Diana Parr on a blizzard-encrusted morning, February 20, 1978. I have two younger brothers Steve, age 25, and Nick, age 23 (married no kids). I have an older half-brother, Charlie; age 31 (married two kids). I have six older foster brothers. I was raised on a 99 acre farm in Boone County, Indiana. We raised pigs (purebred Landrace), and crops (corn, beans, wheat, and hay).
My mother has been a Nurse (RN) at Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, Indiana for several years. She has been active and kept us all active in the church since I was five years old. My dad was a Deacon at the same church and is now an elder. He instilled hard work and heavy ethics in our lives starting very young. He encouraged sports, but not before homework.
I am a 10 plus year professional party clown. I have taught VBS in Australia as well as my home church. I work at least one week every summer at Hanging Rock Church camp as a faculty member for Junior High students. I also taught Math Remediation at the Junior High in Lebanon for a year and, substitute taught in the same school district the year before. I coached peewee football for 6 years and two years as an advisor. I was the volunteer youth ministry intern for Roachdale Christian Church for the last year or so. I left that position to come to Lincoln Christian College. I am currently taking classes toward a degree in ministry with a focus in youth. I am now looking forward to serving with you in the community of Petersburg, Illinois.
Did You Know??
The year 2004 was Central Presbyterian Church’s 165th year of service in the name of Jesus Christ to the Petersburg community!!
Did You See It?
Congratulations to Rosella Rogers for being featured on the front of the City/State section of The State-Journal Register on November 15 regarding her nearly 70 years of scrapbooking! We thank you, Rosella, for sharing your story, and for your many years of contributions to keeping Central Presbyterian’s church history as part of your scrapbooking hobby!
Our Tiffany Stained Glass Window
An article in Traditional Home magazine states that a Tiffany window made in 1913 for a Baptist church in Ohio, sold for $1.9 million at Christie’s in 2000. Rosella Rogers’ son, Dale, discovered the article in the October edition of the magazine on page 152. The article states that the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany is keenly sought today. A copy of the magazine is in the church library.
Tiffany first exhibited work at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. He received an unprecedented 54 awards at the Exhibition. Glass was Tiffany’s forte and as church building boomed the ecclesiastical masterpieces in glass became the hallmarks in the industry and inspired churchgoers.
In 1917 the window “Suffer the Little Children” was give by the Frackleton family to Central Presbyterian Church in memory of Louise Frackleton, who served as superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.
The book Tiffany Windows by Alastair Duncan has two chapters devoted to Tiffany windows. This book was given to the church library by the late Lee and June Gamage in memory of their son, David.
Take a moment the next time you are in Tiffany Hall to admire the beauty and the quality of workmanship tof the window and hopefully you will realize how fortunate our church is to have this work of art.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Ashley Satorious who was crowned Menard County Fair Queen on July 20. She will represent Menard County in the Miss Illinois State Fair pageant in January. Ashley is the daughter of Jim Satorius and Marsha Satorius.
Congratulations also to Ashley for receiving a Virginia Bell Charitable Trust academic grant.
Sunday School Rooms Being Painted
As part of the Sunday School’s new rotation curriculum, the classrooms and hallway on the 3rd floor are going through a major transformation, thanks to master artist Jennifer Gum of Tallula. Be sure to visit the classrooms each week to see all the new changes!
Artist Jennifer Gum working on “Jesus Scenes” mural, August 11, 2004
Meet Central's New Custodian
Hello, my name is Mark Goeringer. I have lived in Petersburg for 6 years. I grew up in Sherman and graduated from Williamsville High School. I met my wife, Joyce, in 1997, and we got married in September 1999.
I am employed by the Springfield School District as a custodian. I am also a member of the Air National Guard. I like living in Petersburg because the people and the community make you feel welcome.
High School Graduates
Best wishes and congratulations to our 2004 High School Graduates!!! We will be honoring the high school graduates on May 23rd during worship.
Abby Plaeger, Ashley Satorius, and Katie Brown—PORTA High School
Abby Plaeger, daughter of Steve and Rhonda Plaeger, has been attending Central regularly since she was four years old. Next year she will be at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, studying nursing.
Ashley Satorius, daughter of Jim Satorius and Marcia Satorius, will be attending St. Louis University next year. Ashley will be a pre-med major and be a cheerleader there, too.
Katie Brown, daughter of Greg and Pam Brown, plans to attend Lincoln Land Community College next year. She will be studying occupational therapy.
Anthony Long—Chatham-Glenwood
Anthony Long, son of David and Camilla Long, will be graduating from Chatham-Glenwood. He will be attending an auto-tech school next year.
College Graduate
Congratulations to Heidi Roberts who graduated in May from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing. She has taken a position as a surgical transplant nurse at Northwestern Memorial hospital in downtown Chicago. Best wishes to you, Heidi, in your new career!
Married
Congratulations to Neil Tice and Renee Dinsmore who were married March 21, 2004 in the Portland, Oregon ballroom where they met swing dancing. The Rev. Ken Churchill performed the ceremony. Neil is the son of Janene and Jerry Tice.
Presbyterian Women’s Missions
In Spring 2004, the Mary-Martha Circle sent the following items to Violence Prevention Center in Belleville, Illinois. Thanks to all who made these gifts possible.
one women’s shirt
one homemade afghan (child size) made by Emma Lou Denton
two each of the following items: comb sets for women, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving needs, sanitary pads, after shave lotion
two each of the following school items: pencils, ballpoint pens, tape, crayons, books, paper tablets, glue, and rulers
Special Psalms Worship Service
As a culmination to the current study of the Psalms, the adult Sunday School class planned a worship service for February 15, 2004, using a variety of Psalms for the liturgy. In their original use, the Psalms were included
as part of the worship of God's people—Israel as well as the Christian church.
In the Psalms we have the words of a Psalmist who speaks directly to God expressing faith, fear, praise, lament, trust, and doubt, all the feelings we experience in our own lives. Because of this variety, the Psalms provide all the elements necessary in a worship service—call to worship, prayers of confession, prayers of thanksgiving, hymns of praise, etc. The class members put together an interesting approach following the traditional format but with a blend of the contemporary and involving the worshipers in a more active role of reading the Psalms.
The service was a meaningful experience, with the value and richness of the Psalms giving a sense of who God is, who the human person is, and what our relationship is to each other.
The following portion of Psalm 78 set the stage for this service.
Listen my people, to my teaching,
and pay attention to what I say.
I am going to use wise sayings
and explain mysteries from the past,
things we have heard and known,
things that our [parents] told us.
We will not keep them from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the Lord 's power and his great deeds
and the wonderful things he has done.
He gave laws to the people of Israel
and commandments to the descendants of Jacob.
He instructed our ancestors
to teach his laws to their children,
so that the next generation might learn them
and in turn should tell their children.
In this way they also would put their trust in God
and not forget what he has done,
but always obey his commandments.
Psalm 78:1-7
Central Presbyterian Church Honors Students for their Academic Achievements
The following students were named to the First Quarter Honor Roll, 2003. Please let Sandy know if she missed anyone. Congratulations to all!
PORTA HIGH SCHOOL High Honors
Freshmen—Bailey Davis, Allison Howarth, Hannah Plaeger; Sophomores—Allison Epping, Nathan Howarth; Juniors—Kori Collebrusco, Stephanie Davis; Seniors—Ashley Satorius Honors
Freshmen—Seth Carter; Sophomores—Jacob Godbey; Juniors—Kyle Stark Honorable Mention
Freshmen—Austin Godbey; Sophomores—Aundrea Collebrusco; Seniors—Abigail Plaeger
PORTA JR. HIGH
Seventh Grade—Becca Stark, Ethan Stephenson, Brian Young
Eighth Grade—Andrew Christofanelli, Kayla Gerdes, Jared Long, Adam Studzinski, Nick Territo
PORTA CENTRAL
Fifth Grade—Elyse Christofanelli, Holly Davis, Danielle DeCroix, Chantele Knous, Ethan Sisk, Cory Willhite
Sixth Grade—Britney DeCroix, Brittany Stout, Bethany Young
Meet Sandy Bayless—Our New Administrative Assistant
I am originally from Dearborn, Michigan. I came to Springfield to finish college, fell in love with Illinois and stayed. Until my early retirement, I was an Administrative Secretary for the Legislative Research Unit in Springfield. After retiring, I was an Infant and Toddler teacher at New Salem Children's Center.
My husband, Bob, works at the Legislative Research Unit. Our son, Jake, is 12 years old and attends PORTA Jr. High. We are members of Rock Creek Presbyterian Church.
In my spare time I enjoy gardening, remodeling, furniture refinishing, antiquing, going to garage sales, and working on crafts.
Introducing Winna—She's A Winner!
Rev. Charlotte has a new professional partner named Winna. Winna, who was given the name "Winola" by the Guide Dog School, is a purebred Labrador Retriever, born October 10, 2001. She was raised by Julie Phillips, currently a sophmore in high school, and her mother Carol (with some hellp from her dad and sister!) of Davis, California.
Winna and Rev. Charlotte graduated from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. on August 30. Their training together at the school was brief due to a "career change" for Powell, the dog that was first assigned.
How can we help Rev. Charlotte & Winna be a safe and effective team? The best way to interact with a team is to direct your focus to the person, not the dog. If you are concerned about the dog's behavior, do not touch or try to give the dog instructions. Speak to the blind person and let them deal with the situation in the way they've been trained to do it. Petting and attention from the public is a distraction to the dog and may make it difficult for the dog to perform its duties.
As many in church have already seen, Winna has a winning personality—part ham, part clown, part rug-eating monster! Like the rest of us, Winna is still learning.
Meals on Wheels
Wow! Three hundred eight meals were delivered in May by members of Central Presbyterian Church to shut-ins in Petersburg. A big thank you to Bob McLin who was chairman of the Meals on Wheels for our church and to the following members who delivered the meals: John Hollis, Ben Rapp, Harold Hinrichs, Bob McLin, Will Carter, Raymond Montgomery, Lewis Dirks, Bob Sampson, Catherine Hollis, and Karen Gebhards. It was a huge job; you represented us well and we are very grateful.
The Outreach Committee
An Extended Welcome to Rev. Poetschner
Rev. Charlotte Diggs Poetschner will continue to be with us for a term of 12 months starting January 1, 2003 and continuing through December 31, 2003 as our Temporary Supply. Her new extended office hours are: Tuesday from 1 p.m. and to cover evening hours for committee work; and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will lead lessons for Awesome Angels, conduct Sunday Worship Service, meet with the Confirmation Class one Sunday a month, make emergency and hospital visits, conduct funerals, and follow up with bereavement counseling. Rev. Poetschner is a Minister of the Word & Sacrament Presbyterian Church (USA) and a member of Great Rivers Presbytery. Rev. Poetschner and her family reside in Springfield, Illinois. Please welcome her to our church family and community.
2003 Confirmation Class
Congratulations to our nine confirmation class participants were received into membership at Central Presbyterian on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2003. Pictured are as follows:
Back Row: Austin Godbey, Jared Long, Hannah Plaeger, Alyssa Canady and Kayla Gerdes
Front Row: Drew Christofanelli, Chris Willhite, Adam Studzinski and Nick Territo
Easter Season at Central
The 2003 Lenten and Easter season was a time of reflection, anticipation, and celebration at Central Presbyterian Church. A co-op Ash Wednesday Service was held at the Methodist Church on March 5. Weekly Ladies' Bible Studies and Men's Lenten Breakfasts were held in conjuction with the PORTA Ministerial Association at a different local host church each week during Lent. The women's book for study was Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. Rev. Poetschner led a Sunday evening Lenten study throughout Lent. The series was called "Discerning God" and showed ways to bring God's presence and will into various aspects of our lives.
Holy Week offered many events. The annual Palm Sunday Breakfast, sponsored by the Christian Education Committee, was served on April 13. Free-will donations benefitted the youth group's summer mission trip, and a quilt drawing benefitted the building fund. A "Palm and Passion" worship service was held April 13; as has been the tradition, everyone received palm branches as they entered. As seen in the first picture above, a procession of palms brought the congregation out of their seats to come forward and lay their palms down in honor of Jesus' arrival. The second picture shows the Awesome Angels presenting "Jesus Loves Me". It was a very moving service filled with musical presentations by all choirs, dramatic readings to bring the last days of Jesus to life, as well as a skit presented by the confirmation class. One Great Hour of Sharing offering was collected.
A Maundy Thursday service was held on April 17. Entitled "The Next Voice You Hear", it featured key figures in the life of Jesus, portrayed by elders. We heard, in their own words, how Jesus touched their hearts and led them to believe they were accepted by Christ, even in all their weaknesses. Communion was served.
A Brown Bag Concert was presented on Good Friday. Passion week music was performed on organ and piano at the "bring your own lunch" concert for those wishing to stop in at any time during the lunch hour for quiet reflection in preparation for Easter. Performing were Emma Lou Denton on organ and Rich Ford and Julia Territo on piano. The Community Good Friday Service, sponsored by the PORTA Ministerial Association, was held that evening at the United Methodist Church, with Rev. Ed Maddox speaking.
Easter Sunday was a time of grand celebration! A community sunrise service was held at Old City Cemetery. Sunday School children had their annual Easter egg hunt on the courthouse lawn. The Easter Worship Celebration was held at 10:45 a.m. with triumphant music and memorial Easter lilies on display in the shape of a cross, all of which set the tone for the most glorious day in the life of the Church. Our confirmation class officially joined the Central family as members.
COATS (Clothes of Any Type and Size)
The annual shopping trip sponsored by the Christian Education Committee was December 4, 2002. Twelve-very excited-junior high and/or high school students, along with two PORTA chaperones and four Central Church chaperones, traveled to Springfield for shopping at Shoe Carnival and Target, and supper at Old Country Buffet. They made some very sensible choices and many were wearing their new clothes the next day at school. Three boys participated this year and all got new shoes, among other things. One boy bought a new coat to replace an oversized, tattered one. Several girls wore ill-fitting clothes-all came home with items suitable in size and style. The boys wanted the male chaperones with them all the time-the girls tended to go off on their own. Janet Scheina mentioned that Harriet Carter let her passengers listen to "their" radio station in the car, even though Janet and Harriet would have preferred listening to Christmas tapes! "Camaraderie", "enthusiasm", and "appreciative" were words that each chaperone used when describing this trip. It seems, too, that the volunteers enjoy it as much as the students!
Central's members donated $1429 to this worthwhile project. Thank you so much! Special thanks, also, to Harriet and Will Carter, Janet Scheina, and Patrick Scheina for representing our church on December 4.
Christmastime at Central
It was a very busy Advent and Christmas season at Central Presbyterian Church, in preparation for the joyous birth of Our Lord.
As one of our families lit the first candle of Advent on December 1, 2002, we enjoyed a Christmas Cantata entitled "A Night to Remember", under the direction of Bill Bauser, Jr. This year was unique in that the choirs from St. Paul's Church of Christ and United Methodist Church joined our Chancel Choir in bringing their musical presentation to all three churches.
On Saturday, December 7 during Christmas in Petersburg, the community was treated to a music program by Emma Lou Denton, Rich Ford, and Julia Territo to start the Christmas Season with the music of Advent, the Birth of Christ and songs of Rejoicing, not the songs that have been playing in the stores, from O Come, O Come, Emanuel, The Divine Mystery, to a piano/organ duet of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from "The Messiah".
During worship on December 8, the Handbell Choir presented Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, an arrangement adapted by Rich Ford from a choral piece. That afternoon, everyone was invited to bring their voices to shut-ins and residents of the nursing homes with Christmas caroling, sponsored by Christian Education Committee, followed by pizza and fellowship at the church.
Our children gave a wonderful performance of their annual Christmas program on Sunday, December 15. They presented a beautiful program of biblical readings and Christmas songs. The participants were: Grace Canady, Jamie Canady, Lindsey Carter, Michael Carter, Elyse Christofanelli, Brittney DeCroix, Danielle DeCroix, Ellie Montgomery, Adam Power, Becca Stark, Ethan Stephenson, Zachary Stephenson, Brittany Stout, Cory Willhite, Bethany Young, and Brian Young. It was directed by Lisa Willhite with Ruth Stark, Adam Power, and Elyse Christofanelli as accompanists. The program was followed by a holiday fellowship feast of hors d'oeuvre, sponsored by the Christian Education Committee.
Christmas Eve was the highlight of the season. Luminaries lit the entrance to the building before the 10:00 p.m. worship service, in honor of loved ones and friends. The worship service served as special time to come together as a church family. A moving program jointly written by Reverends Charlotte and Johannes Poetschner was presented by former youth members who have returned home for Christmas. Special music included presentations by Rich, Chris, and Caity Ford, and Steve Territo, with accompyment by Emma Lou Denton and Julia Territo. The evening ended with a "sharing of the light of Christ" where the congregation formed a large circle of light with candles. Complete with our first snowfall of the season, the night was truly beautiful.
THE TOTALS ARE IN!!!!!!!!!!
Third Annual Scavenger Hunt for the Food Pantry
Rock Creek and Central Presbyterian Churches Participant's 2002 Total - 1008 items!!!
Thank You to Everyone That Contributed, It Required A Group Effort To Make This Activity A Success For The 3rd Straight Year!!!
Rock Creek and Central Presbyterian Churches Youth Mission Trip to Louisville, KY
The Rock Creek and Central Presbyterian Churches participated in PASSPORT 2002 this past June 30-July 5. PASSPORT 2002, Youth Camping with a Mission, offers mission camps in North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Oklahoma throughout the summer. This summer our local youth traveled to Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Camp activities included Bible study, worship, fellowship and mission projects. Painting and cleaning homes of elderly and disadvantaged people, community "beautification" projects and community work with children are examples of the mission projects completed by PASSPORT 2002 with the assistance of youth groups from all over the United States. The theme for PASSPORT 2002 was "Gravity: the force that pulls you toward the center." During Bible study and worship, the youth focused on their relationship with God, particularly how close they are with God.
The Rock Creek and Central Presbyterian Churches Youth Group enjoyed a wonderful experience at PASSPORT 2002 and are looking forward to the opportunity to participate in PASSPORT 2003. Thank you to everyone in the community that made our trip possible through your generous donations of money and time! Pictured from left to right are Jake Godbey, Jake Gerdes, Austin Godbey, Kyle Stark, Rhonda Poeschel, Patrick Scheina, Hannah Plaeger, Jake Poeschel, Allison Christy and Dave Poeschel.
