Merri’s Musings Dear Friends, We are again following daylight saving time. We are officially in spring. The daffodils have bloomed and the tulips are beginning to show their color. We have been in the season of Lent for some weeks now and are looking ahead to Palm Sun-day, Maundy Thursday, and Easter morning in our journey of faith together. The forty days of Lent began on Ash Wednesday and continue through holy week, not counting the Sundays. The focus of Lent is to explore and deepen our bap-tismal walk and our union with Christ. Palm/Passion Sunday is the beginning of holy week, which ends with the Triduum, or “three days” during which we mark Jesus’ tri-al, death, and resurrection. Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus entered the city in tri-umph, but entered it as a part of his journey to the cross. On Maundy Thursday the church remembers the last evening Jesus shared with his disciples in the upper room before his arrest and crucifixion. Maundy Thurs-day marks three key events in Jesus’ last week: his washing of the disciples feet, his institution of the Lord’s Supper, and his new commandment to love one another. The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin mandatum novum, referring to the new commandment Jesus taught his disciples. All our hopes and expectations as Christians are realized in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, making Easter the most celebrative day of the church year. The Easter morning service is a time of joy, celebration, and renewal. The people of God sing Alleluia once again. Since the good news of Easter can hardly be contained in a single day’s celebration, Easter Sunday is only the first of fifty days of Eastertide, the “Great Fifty Days” that lead up to Pentecost. Eastertide is surely a season of joyful Christian living!

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Vol. 49 No. 4 · “Rooted in Christ, Reaching in Love” · April 2017

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Our Maundy Thursday service at Northminster is at 7pm in the fellowship hall. Our services on Easter are at 8:30am in the memorial garden and 10am in the sanctuary. We celebrate the morning as a community of faith with a potluck breakfast on Easter between the two services. Grace and peace, Merri

The Worship/Education Ministry Team invites you To Special Services during Holy Week:

April 13, Maundy Thursday

7:00 pm—Communion Service in the Fellowship Hall

April 16, Easter Sunday: 8:30 am—Early Service in the Memorial Garden

9:00 am—Potluck Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall 10:00 am—Worship in the Sanctuary

An Easter Egg Hunt will be held for the children

following the 10 am worship service.

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Community Garden Is Prepared for April Planting

Soil preparation for our NPC Garden Ministeries contin-ues as we have the two garden areas tilled and divide the plot side into small garden spots for in-dividual gardeners. Our goal for April is to complete these steps and have growers planting their own plots. We will begin planting the communal side with tomato plants and pepper plants, and sewing seed for squash, green beans, corn, sunflow-ers, and zinni-as. We plan to donate most of

our crops to the Hickory Soup Kitchen. Please consider having a plot for yourself this year. If you want to grow some vegetables for yourself or flowers to enjoy, just let us know and we have a spot for you! You do not have to be a member of Northminster to sign up for a plot. We welcome any friends who are in-terested in gardening. Plot growers are asked to give a $25.00 donation to NPC to help cov-er costs for water and plowing the land. They are also asked to volunteer at least 10 hours over the season to help on the row crop side. If you like to garden, want to help but do not want a plot, we need for you to come and be a part of our garden. In-terested? Call the church office (828-324-6634) for information.

John Lundeen tying bean trellises.

Mary St. Clair laying off rows using her vintage push plow.

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Notes from Jackie

In March, we visited our friend Rabbi Dennis and our neighbors at Temple Beth Shalom. Here we are standing in front of the ark, learning about the tem-ple's Torah which was smuggled out of Europe during WWII.

We also travelled to Exit Strategy in Charlotte and tried to complete as es-cape room challenge! We didn't beat the challenge but we had lots of fun!

Beginning in April and extending through June, I will be "interning" at Northminster to satisfy one of my final requirements as a seminary student. This means that you will see me taking on extra responsibilities apart from my role as DCE. During this time, Merri and I will work closely and share responsibilities for worship planning and pastoral care. I can't thank you, and Merri, enough for supporting me throughout my seminary journey!

Saturday, April 29

Youth Adventure Day at Camp Grier (canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc.); open to grades 6-12; $20 per person; You MUST register to attend and pay by Sunday, April 9th.

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Additional volunteers are needed to serve at the soup kitchen on April 4 Volunteers arrive at 11am and usually leave by 1pm. Please consider joining the coverage rotation. Donna Roulic serves as the coordinator and can be reached at 324-1737 or droulic@embarqmail.com.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS

Personnel and Finance Susan Pabst & John Lundeen, co-chairs

The finance committee met on March 9th. The following are the highlights of the meeting. February ended with revenues exceeding expenses by $2k. The result is that our year to date position is a $3K deficit. The execution of the financial review scheduled for 3/20 and 3/21 was discussed. The

target date to complete the review is March 31st and is planned to be met. Donations

were validated by asking a sample of those making donations to simply affirm that the

amount shown on their year- end statement matches their records. We are still await-

ing several responses; Patty will follow up with those who have not responded. In ad-

dition to committee members, auditors from the congregation have volunteered to as-

sist in the task. My thanks to them !

Outreach and Welcoming Isaac Stewart & Ruth Sperring, co-chairs

On April 2 after church, a book/movie review of "The Shack" will be held in the Fel-lowship Hall. All are welcome! Tuesday Movies continue. Once a month we'll go to a movie for only $5.00! What a deal! Please contact Ruth Sperring to receive a schedule. Future plans include our annual Talent Show in May, a church-wide picnic at Glenn Hilton Park during the summer, and possibly a Virginia Creeper weekend this fall.

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OUTREACH COMMITTEE (Michele Francois, Chair George Auten, Elder)

Annual “Easter Feaster “at the Stewarts

Finding yourself all alone on Easter? Join us for a potluck Feast featuring

Leg of Lamb and what ever else shows up! Easter Sunday at noon. The more the merrier!

Kris and Scott Stewart 605-340-0523 3476 Spring Branch Court, Conover

The NCDC has had a very busy couple of months. Feb-ruary was filled with ground-hog sightings, lots of love, and learning about community helpers. We concluded the month with a visit from the

Hickory City Fire Department. They taught us a lot about fire safety and what to do in an emergency. We had a won-derful time. In March we celebrated Dr. Seuss with Cat in the Hat snacks,

Green Eggs & Ham crafts, and The Lo-rax teaching us about our environ-ment. We even had time to hunt for gold and leprechauns! We are currently up to 24 students and are now enrolling for our summer camps. Thank you so much for all the donated supplies and the prayers for our preschool ministry.

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MARCH WORSHIP

ATTENDANCE

March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26

NPC Women

The Sarah Keller Circle will meet on Monday, April 10th at 7:00 pm at the church.

The Spainhour-Hassell Circle will meet at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 11th at the church.

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

1—Donna Roulic 3—Fred McKinney 3—Searcy Stewart 4—Emily Ruiz 8—Mary Ann Crozier 8—Patricia Roberts 15—Mary St. Clair 18—Michele Francois 30—Pat Carpenter Hinely 30—Carolyn Huff

The Prayer Shawl Ministry group meets every Thursday at 7 pm in the education building. All are welcome to join in - some are just learning and other are pros.

All Presbyterian Women are invited to a Birthday Offering Salad & Dessert Pot-luck on May 8th at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The theme of this year's Birthday Offering is "God Provides" inspired by Hebrews 4:16. Bring a salad or dessert and help us continue the PW tradition of ministering to those in need!

This year, the PW Birthday Offering is going to: Family Justice Center of Georgetown & Horry counties in South Carolina

First-Hand Aid's Rural Clinic Development Initiative in Cuba

Paper for Water's Navajo Water Project in New Mexico.

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Northminster Presbyterian Church 3730 North Center Street

Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 324-6634 Fax: (828) 324-2007

Email: office@npchickory.org www.npchickory.org