On the INSIDE

Fellowship/CE .....................2-4

Mission ................................5-6

Youth ...................................... 6

Birthdays/Milestones .............. 7

A Publication of The Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia Lamp Led by the Holy Spirit, we glorify, nurture, witness.

March 2017

A study of the Gospel of Matthew

will begin on Tuesday, March 7, at

7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The

class will meet every Tuesday through

April 25, except April 18. The leaders

for the class are Jen Rowe, Brittany

Harvey, The Rev Shannon Waite,

Pastor Fisher, Pastor Tamminga, and

Bruce Harvey. Books are available on

Sundays outside the sanctuary and

during the week from the church

office. For the first class, participants

are asked to read the first chapter and

bring a picture of a place he/she would

like to visit.

March Comes For Us A friend of mine composed a poem drawing on the amazingly beautiful

photos of earth that had never been available to humans before the end of

the last century. The opening and closing verses of his poem underscore

our responsibility as stewards of the earth in a way that can refresh us in the

last throes of winter’s grey. The middle verses describe the challenges of

pollution and the degradation of the planet, but the closing call to care is

both hopeful, humble and encouraging to me.

Above the moon earth rises, a sunlit mossy stone,

a garden that God prizes where life has richly grown,

an emerald selected for us to guard with care,

an isle in space protected by one thin reef of air…

A death if hearts now harden, a birth if we repent

and tend and keep the garden as God has always meant:

to sow without abusing the soil where life is grown,

to reap without our bruising this sunlit mossy stone.*

May the glory of creation call us to greater faithfulness, stewardship

and righteousness in the name of the one who came to give his life

for all — Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord.

See you in worship!

…And in the garden.

Warmly,

*Above the Moon Earth Rises, Thomas H. Troeger

Gospel Study

Page 2 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

20s/30s Trivia Night The 20s/30s Fellowship will

meet on Sunday, March 26, at

6:30 p.m. at Colonial Tavern for a

Trivia Night! Trivia starts at 7:00

p.m. and runs about an hour, but it

is necessary to arrive early to

reserve seating. If you have

questions, please contact Brittany

Tamminga at 540-373-7057.

Prime Timers’ Lunch The March Prime Timers’ outing

will be to The Fujiya House, 149

Carl D Silver Pkwy in Central

Park, on March 1, at 12:00 p.m.

Please make a reservation with

Harry or Gerry Smart at 540-786-

6170 by February 22, if you plan

to go.

Lenten Church School Class Conversations in the Public Square - Racism in America - How is the church

called to respond will be one of our church school classes during Lent. All youth and

adults are invited to the class and are encouraged to bring friends. The class will meet

in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 a.m. Pastor Fisher will begin the class on March 5, dis-

cussing a history of our church and nation, inviting class members to share some of

their experiences. On March 12, 19, and 26, we will have special guests who will talk

from their own personal and work experiences. March 12 will feature Alda White,

Esq., from our own community; the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Public Policy director for

the PC (USA) in Washington, DC and pastor for over 20 years, will be here on March

19; and on March 26, the Rev. Charles Sydnor, former rector at St. George’s Episcopal

Church and Dr. Michael Ransome from Richmond, Virginia, will have a dialogue on

this issue. On Sunday, April 2, we will have an open discussion and also talk about

where our church may want to go from here. Dave & Diane Peterson, Pastor Tam-

minga, Pastor Fisher, and Bruce Harvey have coordinated this class.

Going to Cape May Cape May trip participants, May

15-17, are reminded all payments for

the trip are due on March 31. The cost

is $359 per person for double

occupancy and $454 for single. We

still have a few slots available if

anyone would like to go. Please

contact Bruce, 373-7057 or

(bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org).

The Ground of All Being The Annual Congregational Retreat for all ages at Camp Hanover is coming

up, March 11th and March 12th. This year the theme of the retreat is “Ground of

All Being: Exploring Our Celtic Heritage.” As we go through the weekend, we

will explore our church’s deep Celtic roots, through fun activities, group time,

discussions and spending time in the outdoors! We will also have a campfire,

worship, and the wonderful Camp Hanover food. Be sure to sign up at the

registration table outside the sanctuary. It’s gonna be a great time. If you have

any questions about the retreat, be sure to ask members of the planning

committee: Drew Porter, Jamie Loder, Katie Fidler, Diane Peterson, Debe

Garrison, Macon Fino, Ed Foresman, Jim Christie, Brittany Tamminga, and

Bruce Harvey.

2nd Wednesday Fellowship Plan now to join us at on Wednes-

day, March 8, at the 2nd Wednesday

Fellowship dinner and activity,

beginning at 6:00 p.m. Kaci LeFe-

bre will prepare jambalaya and

cornbread. Our Meditation Group

will lead the program. Make plans

now to attend.

Empty Nesters Fellowship Join us for a light-hearted evening on

April Fool’s Day! We’re planning

another evening of conversation,

games, appetizers, desserts, and this

year, adding a campfire and s’mores.

It’s a great chance to catch up with

friends in a fun and comfortable

atmosphere.

Please bring your own beverage

along with an appetizer or dessert to

share, and join us between 5:30 and

9:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, at the

Simms’ residence, 12092 Mount Rose

Drive, King George, VA. Let Lynn

know by phone 540-775-2763, or

email, ljsimms1209@gmail.com, if

you plan on coming.

Page 3 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

Monthly PW Circles

Never Ending Circle, - Mar 5, Mary

Szymanski’s, 12:30pm, , leader Trudy

McNatt, 373-2852

Circle of Joy - Mar 6, 10am, Church Par-

lor, leaders Kathryn Hower, 361-7435

and Gale Kehoe, 371-4570

Faith Circle - Mar 13, 1pm, Church

Parlor, leader Kathy Stephen, 891-0313

Friendship Circle - Mar 14, 10:30am,

Chancellor’s Village, leader Carol

Johnson, 639-4700

Circle of Grace - Mar 19, 2pm, leader

Heather Eland, 737-4449

Circle of Prayer - Mar 20, 12:15pm,

Conference Room, leader Jeanne

Ramsburg, 710-5891

New Books for the Library

In loving memory of women of

the church, the Presbyterian Women

Coordinating Team has donated the

following books:

God’s Vision, Our Calling, Hope

and Responsibility in the Christian

Life by Janice E. Catron, in memory

of Martha Spratt Helmen;

Making Space for the Spirit, 100

Simple ways to Nurture your Soul

by Kathleen Long Bostrom in

memory of Jennie Evans;

Back to the Well, Women’s

Encounters with Jesus in the

Gospels by Frances Taylor Gench,

in memory of Elizabeth Cox;

Glimpses of Glory, Daily

Reflections on the Bible by Carol

M. Bechtel, in memory of Lily

Read; and

Inhabiting Eden, Christian, The Bible and the Ecological Crisis by Patricia K. Tull, in memory of Marjorie Glassco.

Presbyterian Women Spring Tea and Basket Raffle.

The Spring Tea is planned for

Sunday, April 30, at the home of

Trudy McNatt (1315 Sunken Road,

Fredericksburg, VA) at 2:00 p.m.

PW are supporting SECA - the

Spotsylvania Emergency Concerns

Association as our local mission

project. SECA, founded in 1986, is

an all-volunteer group which

provides emergency relief for

residents of Spotsylvania County,

including victims of fires and

natural disasters.

Circles are donating gift baskets

for a basket raffle in support of our

mission project. Church members

will be able to view the baskets,

purchase raffle tickets, or make a

donation during April. The raffle

drawing will be held during the

spring tea.

Presbyterian Women News and Circles

The 2017 Confirmation Journey continues. The Seekers along with their

Covenant Partners will spend part of

Saturday, March 4, at Ferry Farm

seeing the construction on the

Washington house, visiting the

archaeology lab, and being part of a

special presentation. They will go to

lunch at Primavera. They will meet at

9:30 a.m. in church parking lot to

begin this adenture. On March 5, the

seekers and covenant partners will

explore the sacrament of baptism. The

following weekend many of the youth

with their parents and/or Covenant

Partners will attend the Congregational

Retreat, where they will also

participate in a service project. To

finish the month, the group will look at

the Lord’s Supper on March 19, with

their Covenant Partners before looking

at what is mission and putting the

Micah lunches together on March 26.

Also on March 26, they will have

lunch with their Covenant Partners and

enjoy some games. Please be in prayer

for our Seekers and Covenant Partners:

Aidan Conway - Steve Davis,

Claire Fritz - Chris Repp,

Nicholas Kallay - David Wright,

Patrick Korn - Ralph Lewis,

Morgan Leimbach - Terri Kunkler,

Jamie Loder - Susie Kuliasha,

Lexie Loder - Susie Davis,

Morgan Mallory - Doreen Vaughn,

Delia Rabatin - Karen Johnson,

Caeden Ribel - Milton McNatt,

Abe Rowe - Jim Toler,

Jack Spinnanger - David Johnson, and

Ryan Sweet - Bill Nix.

Page 4 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

There was never a “Celtic

Church.” In the formative years

(~200-600AD) of the church in

what are now Ireland, Scotland,

Wales and other areas of common

Celtic languages, the church was

always a part of the larger Catholic

Church.

However, due both to their

geography, on or beyond the

margins of Roman rule, and the

character of the peoples, there were

characteristics which came to differ

between the Christian beliefs in

Celtic areas and the Roman church.

Some, while significant at the time

(such as the date of Easter and how

monks cut their hair) have little to

speak to us today. But there were

other features common to their

religious practices and beliefs

which resonate for many today,

including the following.

1. Belief that what is deepest in all

creation, and thus in all human

beings, is good, and of God. This

does not ignore the corrosiveness

and power of sin and evil, for which

we must look to the Grace of Jesus.

It does not wash away original sins,

but it restores us.

2. God is present in all creation, and

we can access and learn of God’s

goodness through it and scripture.

3. At a time when the church in

Rome and the East continued to

reduce women’s roles in religious

life, Celtic women were educated in

the scriptures. Some of the great

religious communities in Ireland

and Britain were led by women or

married couples.

4. In evangelism of Celtic societies

built around Druid (“Magi” in

Latin) and Bards, Christian

missionaries (peregrini) taught that

Christ was the realization of their

quest for God (much as Paul did to

the Athenians in Acts 17:16-34).

Rather than cutting down oak

groves sacred to the Druids,

Christian churches were built there

and the trees blessed.

5. Heaven and earth were seen as

closely intertwined, with God

present in all creation, yet contained

by nothing. Everyday life was all a

subject of prayer and relationship to

God, creating habits of “praying

without ceasing.” Celtic art, poetry,

illumination and crosses contain

this theme.

At the time of the Reformation in

the British Isles, Protestants seized

upon some of these earlier 4th-9th

century traditions. In the 20th

and 21st centuries, there have been

renewed scholarship and interest,

led to a large extent by ministers in

the Church of Scotland and other

Reformed churches worldwide, in

how these practices may enrich our

understanding (head) and approach

(heart) to God in all our Trinitarian

encounters. Churches in the

Presbyterian, Episcopal and Baptist

denominations hold regular Celtic

worship services.

Sorry, no unicorns or

leprechauns.

Ground of all being,

Mother of Life,

Father of the Universe,

Your name is sacred, beyond

speaking,

May we know your presence, may

your longings be our longings in

heart and in action.

May there be food for the human

family today and for the whole

earth community.

Forgive us the falseness of what

we have done as we forgive those

who are untrue to us.

Do not forsake us in our time

of conflict but lead us into new

beginnings.

For the light of life, the vitality of

life, and the glory of life are

yours now and forever.

Amen

John Philip Newell

Celtic Christian Spirituality By David Peterson

Page 5 Page 5 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

Pitch, Hit & Run Members of our congregation

have volunteered to run the

Pitch, Hit & Run events each

spring at Sunshine Ballpark off

Fall Hill Avenue and SOKS

Camp at Heritage Park

apartments and Sunshine Ball-

park for a week in the summer.

We’re grateful for your support.

Thank you!

This year, we’re again seeking

volunteers to help with P,H&R,

the free Major League Baseball

skills competition, on Saturday,

April 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00

p.m. for local boys and girls age

7 to 14, and for the regional

event on Sunday, May 7, from

noon to 4:00 p.m.

School Dressing Days School Dressing Days takes place the

first part of August each year, helping

to provide new and gently used

clothing, shoes, and school supplies for

children and youth in our community

who cannot afford them. Our church

has been a huge supporter of this

program for many years and Becky

Paul has provided leadership in this

effort for our church. She serves on

the Interfaith Council that sponsors the

program as well as collects and buys

items through the year.

Our church was asked this year to

collect the following items leading up

to the event in August: SHOES - new/

gently used tennis shoes - all sizes and

flats for teenage girls; BACKPACKS

for children & youth; and HOODIES -

new/gently used. We have bins

located outside the sanctuary on Sun-

day morning and a bin in the lobby of

the fellowship hall on Sundays and

during the week. Monetary donations

are welcomed. Please write School

Dressing Days in the memo.

Adult Mission Trip The 2017 West Virginia Mission trip, June 25-July 1, will return to Gilbert,

West Virginia. This is a coal-mining community in Appalachia near the

Kentucky and Virginia boarders that has experienced a drastic economic

downturn over the last several years. We have worked on homes in very poor

condition as well as some new construction replacing a home that was no longer

livable. We stay in the Freedom Full Gospel Assembly Church in Gilbert,

which has two rooms with bunk beds - one for women and one for men; four

restrooms, two with showers; and a full kitchen and dining area where we

prepare and eat our meals. We work each day and have a devotion in the

evening that includes sharing about the day. Depending on the number of

participants, we divide into two or three groups. If you are interested in going,

you may sign up at the table outside the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings or by

contacting Bruce, 373-7057 (bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org). The cost will be

$100 per person.

SOKS Camp On July 17-20, our church will lead a

week of SOKS Camp (Sema, Ota, Kua,

Soma—Speak, Dream, Grow, Read)

for the children of Heritage Park

apartments. We need volunteers to

help with baseball activities and field

games from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. at

Sunshine Ballpark. You may help on

all four days or just one.

Volunteers from teens to adults are

welcome. You don’t need baseball

skills, just a willingness to enjoy some

time with kids! This is also an

opportunity for teens to gain public

service for school.

Please contact Jim Toler

(jimtoler4@yahoo.com) or Bruce Har-

vey (bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org)

for more information or to sign up.

Community Dinners Upcoming dates March 18,

April 15, May 20. Contact

Karen Johnson if you would

like to help.

ksjohnson422@msn.com,

(540) 372-2719.

Page 6 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

YOUTH @ TPCYOUTH @ TPC Middle School Youth Fellowship March 5: We will be hosting a Game Night! The more

the merrier, so grab a friend and come enjoy an

evening of old-school board games!

March 11-12: All youth are encouraged to attend the

Congregational Retreat! NO Youth Fellowship on

March 12.

March 19: Join us at the Cavalier Family Skating Rink!

We will depart the Church Parking lot at 1:45 p.m.

for an afternoon of Skating. Cost: Admission $5,

skate rental $2, roller blade rental $3. We will arrive

back in time for choir at 5:00 p.m.

March 26: Mark your calendars! The Youth Fellowship

will be hosting a dinner for their families on Sunday,

April 9. Students will begin planning the menu on

March 26, as well as crafting a budget and creating a

list of ingredients.

June 27-30: Massanetta Middle School Conference for

current 6th & 7th graders.

High School Youth Fellowship March 3-5: The High School Winter Retreat at

Massanetta. Please note: NO High School Youth

Fellowship on March 5.

March 11-12: All youth are encouraged to attend the

Congregational Retreat! NO Youth Fellowship on

March 12.

March 19: Join us at the Cavalier Family Skating Rink!

We will depart the Church Parking lot at 1:45 p.m.

for an afternoon of Skating. Cost: Admission $5,

skate rental $2, roller blade rental $3. We will arrive

back in time for choir at 5:00 p.m.

March 26: We will welcome a guest speaker, who will

help us begin to explore the issue of immigration.

Join the High School Youth Fellowship for this

important conversation.

July 9-15: Mission trip to Greenbrier County, W.V.

(current 8th graders are encouraged to participate)

July 23-29: Montreat Youth Conference (current 8th

graders are encouraged to participate)

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering,

the 2nd of the PC (USA) special offerings,

will be received during Lent and Easter.

This offering started in 1949, and is a long-

standing ecumenical effort aimed at raising

funds necessary to provide relief and recon-

structions for communities in the aftermath

of disaster. What started as an hour-long

radio appeal has evolved over the years,

varying from eight to twenty-nine

participating denominations, and has

become the most participated-in Offering in

the PC (USA). Today, projects supported

by OGHS are underway in more than 100

countries. The offering is divided in three

ways: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

(32%) works alongside communities as they

recover and find hope after the devastation

of natural or human-caused disasters;

Presbyterian Hunger Program (36%) takes

action to alleviate hunger and the systemic

causes of poverty so all may be fed; and

Self-Development of People (32%) invests

in communities responding to their

experiences of racism, oppression, poverty,

and injustice and educates Presbyterians

about the impact of these societal ills.

Please be in prayer for this offering. You

will find envelopes in the pews or in your

offering boxes.

OGHS Offering

1. Rachel Hancock, Megan Sullivan, Sarah Wright

2. Wayne Hibbeler

4. Bailey Nance, Barbara Katrina Nance,

Diane Peterson, Margaret Roberson

5. Becca Fisher, Helena Sidebotham

6. Joan Gaston, Mason Theado

7. Donna Brehm, Mary Raye Cox, Johanna Dowling,

Cindy Watson

8. Sean Garrison

9. Emma Manuel, Anne Zimmerman

10. Bill Baer, Cindy King, Steven Kuiper,

Jacquie Raymond, Lincoln Stevens

11. Daniel Kunkler, McAlister Leimbach,

Lillian Zimmerman

12. Roxanne Nance, Nancy Seale, Lou Silvey,

Kate Yealy

13. Caroline Raska, Maya Schattgen

14. Beth Huber, Jacqui Nix

15. Lindsay Dingman, Sophie Sweet, Xander Umble

17. Jo Anne Kinnamon, Jim Pates,

19. Suzi Ashby, Janet Dowling, McCray Fidler,

Ed Foresman, Will Harrison

20. Chip Ellis, Ashley Raska, Aaron Shirk

21. Jen Rowe, Pam Werner

22. Georgia Lee Strentz, Jean Walker

23. Debbie Eckel, Andrew Horne

24. Larry Casey, Richard Harrison, Christopher Werner

25. Evan Foresman, Mike Fritz, Michelle Gibson,

Robert Gloyd

26. Joshua Hole, Carole Schwartz, Patty Toler,

Nicole Wilder

27. Julie Hamlett, Ann Monroe Jacobs, Delia Rabatin,

April Rogers

28. Walton Mahon,

29. Jeb Brough, Doc Godshall, Garrett Green,

Amanda Hild, Chris Mallory, Sarah Moser,

Gary Vaughn

30. Jacob Wright

31. Stephenie Fellinger, Emma Kinnamon,

Darlene Ochsenknecht

Matt Bohmke John Conway Steve Davis McCray Fidler Piper Foresman Brittany Harvey Vanessa Huffman

Donna Hughes Susie Kuliasha Ralph Lewis James Luckett Sammy Merrill Diane Peterson Ashley Raska

Jen Rowe Jeremy Vaughn Tom Wimberly Sarah Wright Joel Young

2016-2017 Session

Moderator – Rev. Allen H. Fisher, Jr., Pastor Associate Pastor – Rev. Brittany Tamminga Clerk of Session – Patty Toler

Milestones Capsule of Concern: Mary Babinsky, Ellie

Bell, Joyce Gilbert, Will Harrison, Adrian

Stocker, Charlotte Mims, Gay Sullivan

Continued Prayers: Jacquie Raymond, Bob Snow

Baptisms: Scarlett Elizabeth Joel, born on July 31, 2016, was

baptized on February 12, 2017. Scarlett’s parents are Mike

and Robin Joel, her siblings are Lena Grace and Finian, her

grandmother is Connie Barnes, and her uncle is Kyle Barnes;

Aubrey Marie Raska, born on August 21, 2016, was bap-

tized on February 12, 2017. Aubrey’s parents are Brian and

Ashley Raska, her sister is Caroline, she is the granddaughter

of Tom and Janna Theado, niece of Scott and Erinn Theado,

and cousin of Carter and Mason Theado..

Heartfelt Christian love and sympathies are extended to:

Jacquie Raymond and Molly Creasy and family on the death

of John Raymond, their son and brother, who died on January

9, 2017.

Carole Fariss on the death of her mother, Rita Price, who

died on January 27, 2017.

Leif Johnston and family on the death of his mother,

Marjorie, who died on February 2, 2017.

Page 7 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

Elders

Lent and Holy Week Schedule Ash Wednesday Service, March 1, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Community Lenten Services are held each Wednesday dur-

ing Lent, hosted by the downtown area churches. Locations

will be in the bulletins.

Palm/Passion Sunday, April 16, regular worship and church

school schedule.

Maundy Thursday service, April 13, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday service, April 14, 7:00 p.m.

Easter, April 16, Dawn Service and regular worship and

church school schedule.

The Labyrinth will be available for walking and meditation

during Holy Week. Hours will be in the bulletins.

The Sacrament of

Communion

will be celebrated in

worship on

April 13

April 23

June 4

Volunteer Opportunities at The Presbyterian Church:

1) 2nd Wednesday Fellowship - March 8, April 5, May 10, and June 14. Help is needed with setup, serving, cleanup,

and making desserts.

2) Preparing and serving a Micah breakfast at our church on Saturday, April 29, September 2, and December 30. We

host a breakfast each Saturday of the year with outside groups preparing the breakfasts onsite or bringing it in. We

are responsible to make the breakfast on the 3 dates above. (bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org)

3) Help host a Micah breakfast - We have two people each Saturday who open the Education Bldg at 6:30am, stay for

the breakfast, and lock the building at 9:00 a.m. Contact Bruce, 373-7057 (bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org)

4) Food Pantry - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You work in pairs welcoming clients,

checking IDs, handing out food, and packing bags.

5) Run Pitch, & Catch at Sunshine Park on April 1, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 7, 12 noon - 4:00 p.m.

Contact Jim Toler at jimtoler4@yahoo.com for more information;

6) Rebuilding Together, Saturday, April 29 - making repairs on a house in our community, -- contact Gary Vaughn

(vaughng12@gmail.com) or Steve Spratt (sljspratt@aol.com) for more information;

7) SOKS Camp, July 17-20 at Sunshine Park and Heritage Park - afternoon day camp for children of Heritage Park

from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Jim Toler (jimtoler4@yahoo.com) or Bruce Harvey

(bharvey@fredericksburgpc.org) for more information.