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Forecast
Vol. XX VIII No. 3
First Presbyterian Church
Kannapolis, North Carolina
www.firstpresb.org
March 2006 Kannapolis, North Carolina
Lent Marks Our Journey to the Cross
We begin the Season of Lent (and come is that we realize worship is a lifestyle: an
close to beginning our 50 Day Spiritual everyday, everywhere thing. Out of the
Adventure) with Ash Wednesday. On overflow of that relationship God will
Ma rch 1, we will have an Ash Wednesday change us, our family, and our friends.
Service at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. As “W ith all of this said, we must never
we begin to journey to the cross and Easter, forget who w e worship. It's so easy to get
it is appropriate to examine ourselves and caught up in the latest song and forget why
seek the reassurance of God’s forgiveness. we are singing. Whether it's traditional,
The service will focus on the images of contemporary, or blended, God can be
ashes and the cross, and a nail cross honored. Style doesn't matter to God–-what
necklace will be given to all participants. matters to Him is the heart of the worshiper.
My desire is that we understand the heart of
worship–Jesus C hrist.”
Forec ast is published Plan to come hear Brian m inister in
monthly by Brian Arant in Concert music (he’s coming solo–no band!). And
First Presbyterian Church bring some friends who may need to here
201 Vance Street his message about God’s passionate love for
On Sun day Evening, March 19,
Kannapolis, NC 28081
Contemporary Christian recording artist us.
Brian Arant will be in concert in our
We are located “at the south end Fellowship Hall, beginn ing at 6:00 p.m.
of Can non V illage.”
Based in Charlotte, Brian has recorded
The church office is open
Monday through Friday, two CD s, the most recent being Better than
9 :0 0 a .m . to 5: 00 p. m . Life. His style is acoustic folk rock. One CD
Phone: 704-938-4623
website describes his music as “Songs of
Fax: 704-938-4631
www .firstpresb.org praise with hot guitar licks and catchy
Dr. Joe Craw ford
melodies that will have you singing along.”
Pastor He currently is recording a third album.
Jcrawford @firstpresb .org For the past twelve years he has been
Kris Ed scorn involved in worship m inistry. In this area
Director of Ministries God continues to use him through his songs
for C hu rch G row th
and Forecast Editor
and prayers to communicate the passionate
Keds corn@ firstpresb.org love of our Father God. Brian desires to see
Dr. Don Simmons walls fall down, hearts turned to God and
Director of Music/Organist lives offered up in worship. D uring this Inside this Issue!
Dsim mo ns@ firstpresb.org
winter, Brian and his band have been the
Mike & Cheryl Lange featured band at The Poin tE, an Fro m the Pastor: What Exa ctly is
You th M inistry Directors
mrmike136@gmail.com
interdenominational youth worship service “Ash Wednesday”? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
in Rock H ill. Children’s Celebrate Jesus! Program . . . 3
Mrs. S arah C leary
Chu rch Secretary Brian writes: “M y passion and ministry Church Seeks to Expand Children’s
Scleary@ firstpresb.org is for God’s people to encounter Him in a Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
First Presbyterian is a new and fresh way as they worship. My one First Place Weight Loss Program . . . . . 4
congregation of the Presbyterian desire is that God’s children experience JOY Group News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Church (U.S.A.). Our mission
freedom in Christ: freedom to sing, lift their Camp Grier Registrations Available . . . 4
is to kn ow C hr is t, to se rv e H im ,
and to make Him known. hands, shout to God in victory, be still or
crawl into the lap of our Father. My prayer
What Exactly is “Ash Wednesday”?
You p roba b ly 50 Day Adventure–focusing upon Jesus
received this Forecast Lent is that time when you do some “spring cleaning”
on or close to “Ash W ednesday.” If you didn’t know we in your soul. You look deep within yourself, and
were having an Ash W ednesday Service, you would think acknowledge your sins. And then you look to Christ, who
it was like any other Wednesday. Where does it come won the battle for you, and you receive his forgiveness—
from? And why should we participate in it? It is not in the the forgiveness of sins, won for you on the cross.
Bible, obviously. But some of its ideas are. Ash The last part of Lent, is leaving that sin
Wednesday has its origins in the early Christian Church–- behind—quitting the sin you have acknowledged in your
somewhere between the sixth and eight centuries. life. The best way to leave our old sins behind is to replace
Originally, the idea was that a Christian, as a sign of them with an attraction to Jesus and healthy spiritual
repentance, would sprinkle ashes on his or her head. habits. That is what this 50 Day Spiritual A dventure will
In the Bible, ashes were always associated with do for us all if we allow it to develop in us what we all
humility and mortality, fasting and remorse. need! I hope you will invest in the m ost imp ortant aspect
Instead of sprinkling the ashes on your head , the ashes of your life–your connection and communion with your
would be rub bed onto the forehead in the shape of a cross. Creator and your Savior.
The ashes would actually be taken from the palm branches These next 40 days, I suggest you do this . . . If you
from Palm Sund ay, burned the year before. want to give up something for Lent, give up a half hour a
For every Christian, ashes or not, Ash W ednesday day–spent in focused reading, thought, prayer, and actions
marks the beginn ing of the reflective season of Lent. Lent which will touch the lives of others (and your own!). I
is a forty-day span of time from now until Easter. The 40 hope you already have obtained a Spiritual Adventure
days of Lent do not include Sundays, because each Sunday Journal and the excellent Adventure Guideb ook, Jesus:
is considered a “miniature Easter,” a time of joy and The People’s Choice.
celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Let God strength en you through his Word this
incredible season. And may this be something you do, not
Self-Evaluation by God’s Word just these 40 days before Easter, but throughout your life.
Lent is a time to evaluate yourself in light of God’s Dare to believe w hat God might do. Dare to become
Word. It’s a time to abandon the sins you have grown the best you can be. Dare to examine Jesus up close and
accustomed to committing in your life. It is a time to personal. His connection and direction in our lives will
receive God’s forgiveness and strength to lead a life that truly make the journey ahead full of the life we have
truly follows in Jesus’ steps. It is a time to renew your always longed for.
desire to serve God, and to be the Christian that God has
made you to be. That is the first part of repentance, the first With you in the Adventure,
part of Lent. To look at yourself and to recognize your
sins. Joe
And then comes the second–to look away from
yourself, and to C hrist.
50 Day Spiritual Adventure Celebrates Jesus!
As we travel through March, we are on a Spiritual Not sure what this is all
Adventure of learning about what makes Jesus so attractive about? Pull out the F ebruary
to so many people (and how we can sh are with others Forecast. Or download it from
about those attractive qualities). Through weekly worship www.firstpresb.org/
themes, daily devotionals, and sm all group studies, we are forecast.htm. Or stop by the new
growing together and learning together. Information Booth in the foyer
of the Sanctuary.
2 Forecast - March 2006
Children Also Celebrate Jesus!
All children in Parents will be interested to know too that we have a
kindergarten through 50-Day Spiritual Adventure sm all group just for them
sixth grade are invited that will meet at the same time as this program. Bill J.
to come each and George W. will be the co-lead ers. They will meet in
Wednesday evening, from the Session Room. A nursery will be available for
6:30 to 7:30 p.m ., to meet the mem bers of the small group with younger children who
most awesome person ever! will not be in the program.
Through engaging application projects, dramatic Bible Also, for everyone’s convenience, we will have a
stories, and small grou p activities, the ch ildren will learn fello w ship supper available each Wednesday at 6:00.
to celebrate Jesus and show others why he is attractive to These are catered, and there are adult meals (for $5) and
so many people. children’s meals (for $3). It is important, however, to make
This will all take place on the third floor of the reservations for these meals, since we order just the
Education Building (PromiseLand). It beg ins th is numb er reserved. A form is at the bottom of the insert in
Wednesday, March 1, at 6:30 p .m. The program will the bulletin, or call the church office by Monday morning.
continue throu gh A pril 12. M embers are welcom e to invite We are excited about this program and hope families
and bring friends, neighb ors, and relatives too. A flyer is will take advantage of this opportunity to help their
available at the Information Booth. children learn about Jesus!
Church Seeks to Expand Children’s Ministries
One of the staff and session priorities for 2006 is to that would take m ore volun teers. If you are interested in
expand our ministries to children and their families. To helping with Children’s Church, please contact the church
help determine the most effective ways to carry out this office.
goal, Joe, Kris, and representatives from the Discipleship For families, one of the most popular suggestions was
Team met with seven fam ilies du ring a Pizza lunch in a “Friday N ights Out” program, where young children are
February. babysat at the church while their parents get to spend a rare
During the meeting, Kris introduced to the parents and evening going out to eat/shop/etc. Another suggestion was
guardians the wonderful children’s program for the 50 Day an occasional family movie night at the church, perhaps
Spiritual Adventure (see above). There was discussion outside in the summertime. The Discipleship Team will
about how this could well evolve into an ongoing consider how to implement one or both ideas in the near
Wednesday evening program, called “D iscovery Club.” future.
This concept was well received by several families, and the There were several other ideas in which one or two
Discipleship Team will continue working on this program. families expressed an interest. However, we also recognize
There was also considerable interest in a communion that we do not have the resources to do everything at once.
preparation class for young children . Kris and Joe w ill We are excited about expanding our ministries for
organize and schedule this, p ossible in late Ap ril. families. However, we will need help m aking these
The parents noted they really would like to see the programs happen. If any of
resumption of the annual Easter party for children. The th em catch your
FUSION Youth Group may take this on as a project this attention and you would
Spring. like to be a part, let Kris
Several families also were interested in seeing an know. We’ll find a way
expanded Children’s Church program during the Worship to get you involved as
Service. Currently, we offer Children’s Church on the 2 nd we serve our precious
Sunday of each month, although coordinator Jane Jacobs c h i ld re n and their
has had some trouble getting enough volunteers. There is parents.
interest in expanding to two Sun days a month, but again,
3 Forecast - March 2006
First Place Offers a Biblical Way to Weight Loss
Start something new in your life—join our new First 13-week program will
Place group! You can do it! You can let Christ change begin the next T hursday,
your life forever by putting him first. If you’ve struggled M a r c h 1 6 . W e e k ly
with weight loss, your roller-coaster ride up and down the meetings offer
scales is about to stop. i n s t r u c t i o n ,
Started over 20 years ago, the First Place program has encouragement and
been used in more than 12,000 churches and has over a support. Men and women are invited to come to the
half million successful members! First Place is about orientation meeting to find out what this program is all
gaining a life-changing relationship with God and it will about.
help you become the person God intended you to be. This can be a wonderful outreach too! Do you know a
An Orientation Meeting will be held on Thursday, friend, relative, or neighbor who struggles with their
March 9, at 7:00 p .m. in the Fellowship Hall. The weight? Invite them to come with you to First Place!
Seniors Journey from Italy to the Dead Sea!
Joyful Older Youth, our The bus will leave the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m.
senior citizen group, will After viewing the exhibit and seeing a related IMAX film,
meet for lunch on Friday, the group will go out to lunch. T his trip is open to anyone
Ma rch 17, at 11:30 a.m. at in the church w ho desires to come. W e have 30 available
The Venice Restaurant on S outh Cannon Boulevard. All places. Advanced reservations are required. Please sign up
seniors and retirees are welcome to come! on the bulletin board outside the Church Parlor, and pay
On April 28, the JOY G roup is sponsoring a trip to ($21) at the church office.
see the Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery Place in Charlotte.
Camp Grier Registrations Forms Available
New color Camp Grier brochures are available in the r e g i s t e r,
church office or at the Inform ation Booth in the Sanctuary complete the
Foyer. Camp Grier is owned and operated by the form attached
Presbyteries of Charlotte, Salem and Western North to the brochure, and turn it in to the church office with half
Carolina. It located just outside of Old Fort, North the registration fee. We’ll add the church’s half and
Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge. forward to Camp Grier. A Camp Grier Parent Handbook
Camp Grier provides summer camping for children and medical form will be sent to you when your
and youth, rising second grade through high school. Camp registration is received.
activities include small group Bible study, crafts, hiking, A “Discover Camp G rier” open house is set for
swimming, and other nature activities. Housing varies from Sunday, May 21, beginn ing at 1:00 p.m . Parents and
main camp lodges to rustic a-frame log houses, depending potential campers are encouraged to attend and meet the
on the age group. camp director.
First Presbyterian will pay half the registration fees For more information, please contact Kris Edscorn.
for each child from the church who wishes to attend. To
4 Forecast - March 2006
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