TOWER TIDINGS

March, 2020

Dear Friends,

This year, the month of March encompasses almost the entire season of Lent beginning with this coming Sunday, 1 March. A main feature of this season in the life of our church are the Lenten Soup Suppers, which occur every Wednesday in Lent from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The more recent years have brought increasing numbers of us to the experience of fellowship and meditative worship these evenings offer. Please consider being a part of this ministry.

March also brings the return of “Great Decisions,” the acclaimed lecture series that since 1981 has been bringing experts to the college to discuss various issues pertaining to foreign policy and international affairs in an effort to contribute to the ongoing education of Wooster students and area residents alike. The lectures are generally held in Gault Auditorium in the Scheide Music building on campus.

Once again, we will host the Wooster Chorus concert that launches their annual spring tour on 16 March. This is always an evening of choral artistry of the highest level, and you will not want to miss it. In addition to the special “outside” events, these pages hold a number of opportunities for fellowship and study here at First Presbyterian.

On a personal note, I will be having surgery on 9 March to repair a tendon that has been severed by the metal plate I have had in my right wrist for the past seven years. This situation has come up rather quickly, and you can imagine how debilitating it has been for my work. As a result of this operation and recovery, I will have to adjust my schedule and workload for the six weeks following surgery. I certainly regret the disruption this will cause, yet, as many of you know all too well, sometimes life comes at us in unwelcome ways. Through it all, may God be with us.

Blessings and Peace,

David

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY:

Greetings from the RDM! The Resource and Development Ministry is looking forward to presenting the final 2020 budget to Session next month. As reported, 2019 was another financially successful year for Church family with strong congregational giving and careful planning of expenses by our ministry teams. One area of concern is the fact that we received an 8% decrease in congregational pledges for 2020 from 2019. Of course we will adjust our 2020 budget accordingly, but we also want to make sure to communicate that EVERYONE in the church family is welcome to meet with the RDM to learn more about the church finances and express any thoughts or issues. Sincerely, The Resource Development Ministry, Sarah Baker, Dana Brooks, Laura Neill, Stuart Miller, David Rice, and Tom Rumbaugh

ADULT EDUCATION CLASS IN PARLOR:

TAKING A GOOD LENTEN LOOK AT PETER

No other disciple is so central to the story of Jesus than Peter.

Peter was one of the first disciples chosen.

Peter was the strongest, loudest and most impulsive of the disciples.

Peter’s faith was seen by Jesus as the foundation of the future church.

Peter was one who loudly proclaimed and then firmly denied his Lord.

Peter became the first among the early leaders of the young church.

So who was Peter? What animated this strange, burly, dedicated man? What do the gospel writers tell us? What parts of Peter might become a model for those of us who live the life of faith two-thousand years later?

Members of the adult class that meets in the parlor will lead us in this search, beginning with Jeff Perkins on March 1. We will continue through the six weeks of Lent to uncover the truth about this key figure in the history of the Christian church. Come and join us! Sundays at 9:15 in the parlor.

The Adult Education Class in Room 1 downstairs will continue their study of the “Book of Joy.”

Tuesday, March 3: 7:30 p.m. | Gault Recital Hall, Scheide Music Center,

525 E. University St. , Wooster

Border Lines and Global Flows: The Future of Border Management and Security Is Not

What It Used To Be—Alan Bersin, Former Assistant Secretary for Policy and

International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer in the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security, 2012-17. Currently Senior Fellow in the Homeland Security Project,

Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and global fellow at the

Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

FAITH AND WORSHIP Looking for something more from your church experience? Find a new joy in serving

the congregation on Sunday mornings! There are many different ways to help out.

We are in need of people to serve as ushers, greeters, and liturgists

for both the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services. Any age is welcome in all areas.

Let us know where you can serve!

Lenten Soup Suppers 2020

The Session, our Coordinating Teams and the Choir will host Lenten Soup Suppers

every Wednesday during Lent from 6:00-7:00 pm in Bruch Hall.

These soup suppers have become a looked-forward-to part of our Lenten traditions.

They offer a respite during a busy week for a simple meal cooked by someone else,

convivial fellowship, sometimes a short program, sometimes extended conversations,

and the peace of participating in a short but meaningful worship service before

returning to the hustle and bustle of daily life.

If you have been a regular attendee,

Welcome Back!

If you are new to this church, or just haven’t given the soup suppers a try,

we hope to welcome you this year!

Soup Supper Dates

MARCH

4—Session

11—Faith and Practice

18—Faith and Nurture

25—Faith and Worship

APRIL

1—Deacons

9— Maundy Thursday—Faith and Structure

Youth Group

Our next Youth Group will be March 15! We will be taking on the Escape Room!! Please let Amy Baxstrom know if you can make it.

Sunday School Classes The senior high Sunday School class began a new unit in February on the timely topic of

Faith & Politics. We also worked on planning the Italian Dinner. In March we'll continue exploring Faith & Politics, discussing questions such as "Is it OK or not OK to talk about politics at church?" and

"Is it a sin not to vote?". We'll also bake cookies for the St. James Saturday Lunch program.

There will be a mentor breakfast on March 15

th at 8:30! Please let

Amy know if you can attend.

Join us on Sunday March 29th for our next 5

th Sunday Potluck after the 10:45 Worship. There will be a

sign-up sheet in the gathering area. We hope to see you all there!

Submitted by Carol Gates, Faith and Nurture

Thank you to everyone who supported our youth and families during our Italian Dinner Fundraiser. We are so blessed and humbled by the continued support you show us. We were able to sell over 160 tickets and raise over $1800 for our youth ministries! We have a group heading to New Mexico’s Ghost Ranch in early June. The cost for each participant is roughly $900. If you would like to help sponsor a

family, please consider donating to the Youth Fund. Thank you again!

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP

Please save these dates for upcoming children’s music times in 10:45 worship:

March 15-Bible Town

April 5-Palm Sunday Processional with Godly Play & Bible Town

On the evening of February 10th seven members of the Good Book Club met at Gordon and Betty Shull’s Danbury apartment to discuss “The Delight of Being Ordinary” by Roland Merullo. The subtitle, “A Road Trip with the Pope and the Dalai Lama” succinctly tells what the book is about. The premise is that those two well-known men could take a road trip incognito is a bit unrealistic. However, we found the story well worth reading for a variety of reasons. We learned much about the Italian culture, religious tolerance, Buddhism, and the Catholic Church.

The Pope (who seems to modeled after Pope Francis), the Dahlia Lama, accompanied by Paolo, the Pope’s assistant and his cousin, escape from the Vatican and meet with Rosa, Paolo’s estranged wife, who takes them to one of her beauty shops where the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and Paolo are disguised. Over four days they tour parts of Italy, not in an inconspicuous vehicle, but in a Maserati. Many adventures occur.

As we’ve asked about other books, we wondered why Murello chose to write this one. We decided that the author wanted to show how two spiritual leaders in a most unusual setting (a road trip) would discuss the similarities and the differences between Catholicism and Buddhism. Murello writes in his “Author’s Note”, “It was in a spirit of respect and gratitude that I made them the central characters in the odd parable”. Note the use of the word, “parable”, for which one of its definitions is “a story from which a moral or religious lesson may be drawn”. Submitted by: LeRoy Haynes

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is poised to appear on the stage at Central Central Christian High School on March 20 at 7:00 p.m. and March 21 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The cast and crew include Cameron Edmiston, piano conductor, and Henry Perkins as the Beast. Tickets are on sale at ccscomets.org or by contacting Central Christian High School, 330-857-7311. CCHS musicals have been sold out in recent years, so don't delay if you want tickets.

What could be cozier than a pretty felt cup cozie on a winter's day! Thank you to Shannon Foster for making these reusable cozies for our Sunday morning coffee. You won't need to use two paper cups to hold your coffee in comfort, and you'll save a few trees by not using cardboard cozies. Even better, bring your own travel mug and prevent spills (Tim Hall and our carpet will appreciate it). All the little things we do count. Together we can protect God's earth little by little. Submitted by: Carla Hall

CAN YOU HELP?

I am looking for someone to host a COW Education student this fall.

We have a student who is graduating and will student teach in the fall of 2020.

She will need to be in Wooster from the 2nd week of August until the middle of November.

She will be teaching all day, everyday.

Can you help with this need?

If so please contact Sarah Dunlap at sadunlap@wooster.edu.

Open Arms Hispanic Ministry is hosting its annual fundraising dinner,

“GRACIAS BANQUET” on Thursday, March 19th, at the Kidron Park Community Center.

The meal will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will feature an enchilada dinner followed by a program of Open

Arms ministry highlights. A free-will offering to benefit Open Arms will be taken.

Please RSVP by March 16 to kara@openarmshispanicministry.org, to reserve your place for our

GRACIAS BANQUET! If you have questions, you may call Kara Shilling at the Open Arms office:

330-765-9955. (You may also reserve online at the Open Arms website and on Facebook at:

http://tinyurl.com/OpenArms2020 ).

EASTER FLOWERS FOR THE SANCTUARY

This Easter, remember or honor those special people in your life by ordering a pot or

two of joyful spring tulips for our chancel.

The flowers are $12.00 per pot and the names of those you are remembering

will appear in the Easter bulletin.

Just fill in the form below and put in the collection plate or call the church office to

order: 330-264-9420. Please order by March 23, 2020.

You may take flowers home after the 10:45 service on Easter Sunday.

Name of Donor: _____________________________________

In Memory of: ______________________________________

In Honor of: ___________________________________________

FRIDAY

Friday Fellowship will meet on Friday, March 20th at 12:00 p.m. The program is

to be announced at a later date. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Mixed Company will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with its third annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage on Saturday, March 14 at 6:00 pm. Kris Evans and Judy Mallonn will co-host the event at Kris’s home. Please RSVP (kevans943@sbcglobal.net) if you would like to attend and indicate if you will be bringing an appetizer, salad or dessert. We look forward to seeing you then!

A NOTE FROM ERIC The highly acclaimed Wooster Chorus, an ensemble of 60 student musicians from The College of Wooster (including five of our choral scholars), will perform in our sanctuary on Monday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m., the opening concert of the group’s 56th annual spring tour. Directed by Lisa Wong, the Wooster Chorus will present “I Hope”, accompanied by Toni Arnold-Shreve (piano). Wong is in her 11th year at The College of Wooster where she is an associate professor teaching courses in conducting and music education. Founded in 1964, the Wooster Chorus consists of students representing all academic areas within The College of Wooster’s liberal arts program. Three-time finalists and recipient of a 2017 Honorable Mention for the American Prize in Choral Performance, the Chorus has been praised for its beautiful sound, high level of artistry, and engaging performances. The Chorus collaborates annually with the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, and has recently premiered works by Eric Whitacre and Jake Runestad. The Chorus has performed at the Central Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association, and at the state conference of the Ohio Music Education Association. There is no admission fee for the concert, but a freewill offering will be taken. Please invite your friends for a wonderful evening of choral music. Post-Seminarians will meet at the Watts’ home on Sunday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m.

We extend the sympathy of the church to the following families:

The Oswald family on the passing of Edna., The Giffin Family on the passing of Gordon,

Keith Brown on the passing of his sister, Ruby Tanner. Hal and Val Fulton on the passing of her sister, June Leeman

and Hal’s brother-in-law, Richard Kuehn.

The Spring Rummage Sale is Friday, April 24th. Please save the date. Sign up sheets will be posted in the Fellowship Area the end of March. Remember your treasures can be brought to the church now and stored in the closet on the east end (by Bowman Street) on the second floor. As Russ McQuate's picture below shows, we count on a large selection of goods for a successful sale.

FLOWERS FOR THE SANCTUARY

Would you like to provide flowers for the sanctuary on Sunday morning? There is a sign

up sheet on the bulletin board or call the office and reserve a spot.

March 1—Hal and Val Fulton

March 8—Open

March 15—Open

March 22—Open

March 29—Open

B O O K O F T H E M O N T H Older members of our congregation will remember the time when there was only one version of the Bible that really mattered. It was the King James Version. Written in 1611, it eventually became the primary version in English that was used in Protestant churches and homes.

By the mid-Twentieth Century, the King James Version began to be replaced in most Protestant churches and in many homes by more up-to-date versions. Today we Wooster Presbyterians use the New Revised Standard Version, the most commonly accepted version in “main-line” denominations. Others use the New English Version or another modern translation. There are many versions from which to choose, and we have several of them in our library. But the King James Version – KJV – remains firmly fixed in our collective memory!

How did the King James Version get written, and why? Who did the work, and how did this version remain so popular for so long? The story is told by a fine and very readable book titled:

GOD’S SECRETARIES:

THE MAKING OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE

Published in 2003, this is now the standard text for those who want a readable and accurate history of that extraordinary time between the death of Queen Elizabeth I and the end of the first decade of the reign of King James. The new monarch, a cousin of Elizabeth, who came from Scotland where he was already King James VI, wanted to unify the newly united country where there were many brands of Christians, including members of the new Church of England, “Reformed” Protestants and Puritans. James was fortunate to have some extraordinary scholars who worked together in teams to translate the entire Bible in record time. The story is fascinating, and the reader will encounter some amazing people along the way.

Today, few people regularly use the King James Version. But many words, phrases and passages have become so firmly imbedded in our lives that they are almost universally remembered. Go to a funeral where the Twenty-third Psalm is read or recited by the congregation and it will almost always be the King James Version that is remembered and used. The KJV, now over 400 years old, is still a part of our lives today!

If you’ve ever wondered how this popular English version of the Bible was created or how it has lasted so long . . . if key words and phrases are imbedded in your memory and you’d like to know why . . . take this book home with you and spend some time in its rich pages. Have fun!

- - - - -

This month’s book can be found on a small special shelf on the north (window) side of the Library marked “MENTIONED IN TOWER TIDINGS.” Check-out is at the desk.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

March 1 Kelly Marcum and Sandra Randles

March 3 Deb Plant

March 4 Bill Schultz

March 6 Karolyn Rice, Sue Schultz, L. Gordon Tait, and Jim Watt

March 7 Jon Swank

March 9 Angela Earley

March 13 Ted Short

March 15 Karen James

March 16 Amy Breneman, LeRoy Foster, Pat Miles, and Carmella Scott

March 17 Olivia Hiner

March 18 Marge Treece

March 19 Stirling Musselman

March 21 Carol Millhoan and Kathy Turning

March 22 Donald Randles

March 23 Sarah Dunlap and Neil Edmiston

March 24 Roy Hancock, III and Bob Hooker

March 25 Barbara Adams

March 27 Peter Swank

March 28 Shirley Badger

March 30 Carl Zimmerman

DATE GREETERS SUNDAY SEXTON

LITURGIST DRIVER USHERS

March 1

8:30 Barbara

Bostancic

10:45 Jack and Julie

Miller

Sophia Baxstrom

8:30 Mary

Stockton or Henry

Perkins

10:45 TBA

Tom Rumbaugh

330- 621-3592

MaryAnn Wellington,

Jonathan Neill, Tim Walker,

Seth Kelly

March 8

8:30 David and

Erin DeVolld

10:45 Garnett and

Ken Alexander

Ashton Dunlap

8:30 Yosmer Ceballos

10:45 TBA

Jack Miller 330-

465-6158

Kent Murphy, Susie Slack, Steve Slack,

Charles Baker

March 15

8:30 Chris Hyser

10:45 MaryAnn and

Bob Wellington

Zach Miller

8:30 Lisa

Rumbaugh

10:45

TBA

Jon Neill 330-

465-4787

Scott Murphy, Darla

Campbell, Dena Morgan, Karolyn Rice

March 22

8:30 Leroy and Shannon Foster,

Tom and John Collier

10:45 Steve and

Susie Slack

Olivia Hiner

8:30 Paula

Abrecht

10:45

TBA

Mark Gooch 330-

65-9857

Roy Hancock, III,

Zach Miller, Henry Perkins, Neil Edmiston, Ashton Dunlap

March 29

8:30 Mimi Lewellen

10:45 Mark

Boardner

Emily James

8:30 Dunlap Family

10:45 TBA

Tom Rumbaugh

330- 621-3592

Pam Giffin, Shanna

Springer, Jim Black,

Roy Hancock II

MARCH CALENDAR 2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 8:30 Worship/ Chapel 9:15 Sunday School 10:45 Worship/ Sanctuary 6:00 NA

2 11:30 Men’s Lunch 12:00 Rotary 1:00 Pastoral Care 1:30 Admin 6:00 Cub Scout 7:00 Nominating

3 8:30 Bible Study 11:00 Ukirk 12:00 Kiwanis 5:30 Wee Care Board 6:00 Cash Investment 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Great Decisions

4 9:00 Yoga 9:30 Liturgical Arts 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Faith & Nurture

5 7:00 Choir Practice

6 9:00 Gentle Yoga

7 9:00 Al-Anon 4:00 English Class 6:00 AA

8

8:30 Worship/ Chapel 9:15 Sunday School 10:45 Worship/ Sanctuary 6:00 NA

9 12:00 Rotary 1:00 Pastoral Care 1:30 Admin 6:00 Cub Scout 7:00 Good Book Club (Shulls, host)

10 8:30 Bible Study 10:00 Library 11:00 Ukirk 12:00 Kiwanis 1:00 Prayer Shawl 4:00 Social Justice 5:30 Wee Care Board 7:00 Boy Scouts

11 9:00 Yoga 9:30 Liturgical Arts 10:30 Wee Care Bible Story 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Faith & Practice

12 7:00 Choir Practice

13 9:00 Gentle Yoga

14 9:00 Al-Anon 12:00 Private Birthday—Bruch 4:00 English Class 6:00 AA

15 8:30 Mentor Breakfast 8:30 Worship/ Chapel 9:15 Sunday School 10:45 Worship/ Sanctuary 5:00 Youth Escape Room 6:00 NA

16 12:00 Rotary 1:00 Pastoral Care 1:30 Admin 6:00 Cub Scouts 7:00 Wooster Chorus

17 8:30 Bible Study 11:00 Ukirk 12:00 Kiwanis 6:00 Wee Care Staff 6:00 Inkies 7:00 Boy Scouts

18 7:30 Personnel Committee 9:00 Yoga

9:30 Liturgical Arts

10:30 Wee Care Bible

6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Faith & Structure

19 7:00 Choir Practice

20 9:00 Gentle Yoga 12:00 Friday Fellowship

21

9:00 Al-Anon 2:00 Gordon Giffin Memorial 4 :00 English

Class 6:00 AA

22 8:30 Worship/ Chapel 9:15 Sunday School 10:45 Worship/ Sanctuary 6:00 NA

23 12:00 Rotary 1:00 Pastoral 1:30 Admin 6:00 Cub Scouts

24 8:30 Bible Study 10:00 Library 11:00 Ukirk 12:00 Kiwanis 1 :00 Prayer Shawl 4:15 RDM 7:00 Boy Scouts

25 9:00 Yoga 9:30 Liturgical Arts 12:00 Chamber Safety Mtg 6:00 Soup Supper

7:00 Session

26

7:00 Choir Practice

27 9:00 Gentle Yoga

28

9:00 Al-Anon 12:00 Cub Scouts 4 :00 English

Class 6:00 AA

29 8:30 Worship/ Chapel 9:15 Sunday School 10:45 Worship/ Sanctuary 12:00 5th Sunday Potluck 6:00 NA

30 10:00 Deacons 12:00 Rotary 1:00 Pastoral Care 1:30 Admin 6:00 Cub Scouts 6:00 Cub Scout Pack

31 8:30 Bible Study 11:00 Ukirk 12:00 Kiwanis 7:00 Boy Scouts

First Presbyterian Church

621 College Avenue

Wooster, OH 44691

Phone: 330-264-9420

Fax: 330-262-7305

Address Service Requested

Firstpresbyterianchurch-wooster.ohio

www.firstpreswooster.org

Office Contact Info Email Phone Ext. David Rice drice@firstpreswooster.org ext. 202 Donna Bye dbye@firstpreswooster.org ext. 201 Donna Ru Lon drulon@firstpreswooster.org ext. 200 Amy Baxstrom amybaxstrom@gmail.com ext. 204

Deadlines

Submission Deadline Approximate Delivery

FPC News Flash Wednesday by noon End of Week

Tower Tidings 15th of each month End of Month

Bulletin Wednesday Weekly

Session 2nd Monday of the month 4th Wed. of each month

Session Packets 2nd Monday of the month 3rd Sunday of the month