March 2019

Pastor’s Pen for March 2019 I am humbled to be called by you as your permanent minister. I look forward to working with you in bringing the love of Christ and His Good News to others.We will hit the pavement running as the season of Lent is upon us. It will be very busy at our church, and I mean it to be so. These forty days of Lent is a reminder to get your Christian life in order. Repentance of sins is a key message

of the Lenten observances. So that you can keep up, I am including in this newsletter a page of our Lenten schedule so you can put it on your home bulletin board, refrigerator doors with a magnet, or just take a picture of it to place on your iPhone. Any way you do it will work fine with the Lord who cherishes a closer relationship with you on your daily Christian walk.Our Sunday School curriculum and Sunday Worship Service will focus on a special Lenten Message. It is called: “Busy—Reconnecting with An Unhurried God”. Instead of fasting from chocolate, Pepsi, and pizza, why not try fasting from worry, hurriedness, and chaos! We’ll be using a special “Prayer Chair” during times of prayer in the worship service. I am also encouraging you during the season of Lent to have a prayer chair in your home. This year’s Disciples Lenten devotion is called: “Leaning In, Letting Go” by Nicole Massie Martin. For 48 days, you will take a journey to lean in to see Jesus’ sufferings and experience God’s grace. This devotional teaches when we lean in, we let go. And who knows? We just might see a better version of ourselves emerge on the other side. These Disciples Lenten devotional will be available on the table in front of the stage on the table.Peruse through this month’s church newsletter and invest your faith in all the activities happening throughout the Lenten season. If you are looking for a way to deepen your spirituality, have a new understanding of the Bible, or wanting a place to start anew with Jesus, there is no better season than the season of Lent.

I am your servant in Christ,

Pastor Lydia

If you like to meet folks coming in the door at church, then have we got a great opportunity for you! We are needing greeters for our worship services. Please see Pastor Lydia if you are interested!

Philippi Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) P.O. Box 555Deltaville, Virginia 23043 (804) 776-6230 The Reverend Lydia R. Land, Minister Email:Chaplainlrland@yahoo.comCell: 850-209-8416

Moderator’s MomentDear fellow members and friends,

We are not standing still! Welcome to our new members and visitors who worship with us on Sunday mornings and participate in our church activities. I hope you are enjoying the refurbished fellowship hall and sharing in the excitement of Pastor Lydia becoming our permanent minister. Joy, joy, joy!

I'm looking forward to the season of Lent and the many programs Pastor Lydia has planned. I hope each of you will find time to participate.

Blessings to you,Linda

Among Our FlockBlessed be the name, Mary Ann Shifflett who died on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. There will not be a memorial service. Please keep the family in your prayers. It was good to see Rebecca Walden back at church after an extended illness. Charlotte Slaughter continues to do better and is at Heron Cove Facility in Gloucester. Bill Parker slipped and fell, but is doing better. John Hudgins still has some back pain/sciatica. Please keep Matt Green in your prayers. Joyce Mills ask for continued special prayers for her brother, David. Nursing Homes: Helen Haley, Stanley Walden Special Prayers: Denise James, John Hudgins, Jean Ward, Charlotte Slaughter, Matt Green, David (Joyce Mill’s brother)

Musical MomentsLent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.” The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation

for the coming of Easter. It is as time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.The Episcopalian Church has the custom of not speaking or singing the word “Alleluia” during Lent. Alleluias are joyful proclamations, which we put away during the more contemplative times of the Church Year to appreciate it better later. Churches often take

banners down; eliminate flowers in the sanctuary. Our Sunday readings and prayers take on a more penitential tone.This Lenten Season at Philippi Christian Church, the Choir of Praise will be giving up the “Alleluias.” Starting Wednesday, March 6th through Saturday, April 20th, you will not hear Alleluia in our congregational music or choir anthems. We will be excited to shout “Alleluia” on Easter Sunday as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the grave!

Choir Practice ScheduleMarch 6: 6:00-7:30pm Choir PracticeMarch 9: 9:30-11:00am Choir Breakfast and Cantata RehearsalMarch 13: 6:00-7:30pm Choir PracticeMarch 20: 6:00-7:30 pm Choir PracticeMarch 27: 6:00-7:30pm Choir Practice

Disciples WomenThe Disciples Women have a new schedule for their meeting and study. Beginning on March 25 and every fourth Monday of the month we will meet at 12:00pm. This month we will be in the Fellowship Hall.

Disciples MenThe Disciples Men will begin meeting again on the first Saturday of the month. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 8:00am. Breakfast will be served followed by the meeting.

Junior Youth Fellowship (Grades 1-6)The cold and snowy weather on several Sundays had us wondering when the next JYF meeting was going to happen. God heard our prayers and we have had a great time. We have a new structure in our meetings now. There are several stations in our brand-new renovated Fellowship Hall. The first station is our music station where we meet to sing. Our second station is our Scripture station. We read our Bibles and talk about the lesson. Our third station is our craft station. We make crafts related to our lesson. Our fourth station is our game station. We conclude our meeting with a light supper provided by the church. We have been having a really good time and we continue to grow!

Youth Groups Time Change and ScheduleBeginning on Sunday, March 17, the CYF and JYF will be meeting at the church from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. The groups will be meeting separately, but will share in the light supper. Our Youth groups are involved in many faith related activities, fun and

games, as well as a lesson. Help your children to grow in their faith by encouraging them to be a part of the Philippi Youth groups!

Young at Heart (55+)The Young at Heart Fellowship meets on the first Monday of the month for their noon luncheon. Get out of your house and join us on Monday, March 4 at 12:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

20s, 30s, & 40s Fellowship Group BeginningWe will have a social with a pot luck supper on Saturday, March 9 at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. It is to be a starting point of a fellowship group for singles and families in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Child care will be provided.

Elder’s MeetingThe Elders will have their monthly meeting on Sunday, March 3, 2019, following the Sunday Worship Service. We will be setting up the Elder of the Week Schedule.

Before we get to the pancakes and syrup, let’s answer the simple question about the meaning of Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the day before the beginning of the season of Lent. It comes from the alternative past participle for ‘shriven’. Now that you are totally confused, ‘shrove’ comes from the verb, ‘shrive’, which simply means ‘to write’. In the early church, the priest would hear a confession, write it down, or prescribe, an appropriate penance. After the person was forgiven of their sin they were said to have been ‘shriven’. So, get yourself in gear to get ‘shriven’ and come to the church for pancakes, hot apples, sausage, bacon, and coffee (tea and water will also be provided). Donations are welcomed. Pass the syrup, please!

Ash Wednesday begins the forty days of the season of Lent. The ashes are from the palms of last year’s Palm Sunday. For the practicing Christian, it is a time to repent of one’s sins, reflection on one’s Christian walk, and a time to draw closer to God.We will have two Ash Wednesday Services on Wednesday, March 6, at 9:00am and 12:00pm. Pastor Lydia will have a short homily about the season of Lent. Ashes will be given, as well as paper of suggestions on how to observe the Lenten season.

For those who cannot make the services and can only spare a couple of minutes, Pastor Lydia will be available until 7:00pm for a short prayer and giving of ashes.

Each Wednesday during Lent we will be sharing a light supper of soups and finger foods, beginning on March 13 at 5:00pm. Following our light supper, around 6:00pm, we will be viewing thirty-minute segments of the movie, “Jesus of Nazareth” followed by a short discussion. We will be done by 7:00pm or earlier. Come join us for food, fellowship, and film as we follow Jesus to Jerusalem.

Lenten Sunday Worship ServicesAs we begin Lent, we are going to have special worship services that will involve our congregation in new ways. There are four things that will help us reboot our worship basics:

1. Create intentional spiritual journeys that offer our congregation to grow2. Engage our congregation by inviting people to be active in worship by

investing and engaging ourselves to worship3. Have our worship services be sensory rich. We all communicate in various

ways. Some of us are visual, some are word oriented in listening, and some like music.

4. It is important for all who participate in leading worship to practice a deeply spiritual leadership.

That being said, when people come to our worship services at Philippi Christian Church, we want a time that makes a difference in their spiritual lives, and to think about how we all are called by God.So, to begin the season of Lent, our Sunday Worship Services will be about getting away from being too busy. It is called: “Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God”.

Busy

Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, I will give you rest.— Matthew 11:28

The season of Lent has often been a time when we think about"giving something up”—a holdover from its penitential flavor in themedieval church. But what if we thought less about "giving up" andmore about "making room?" In this Lent series, we will find out what

it really costs to be so busy. Let us reconnect to an unhurried God.

or The Month of Marchat

Philippi Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)

March 5, Tuesday Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5-7pm

March 6, Wednesday Ash Wednesday Services 9am & 12:00pm Pastor Lydia will be at the church until 7:00pm for those who cannot make the services and want to receive ashesMarch 10, Sunday Sunday School 9:00am Weekly Worship 10:00am

March 13, Wednesday Lenten Light Supper & Study 5:00pm

March 17, Sunday Sunday School 9:00am Weekly Worship 10:00am

March 20, Wednesday Lenten Light Supper & Study 5:00pm

March 24, Sunday Sunday School 9:00am Weekly Worship 10:00am March 27, Wednesday Lenten Light Supper & Study 5:00pm March 31, Sunday Sunday School 9:00am Weekly Worship 10:00am

Stewardship Report January 2019

Date Total Income 01/06/19 $2246.00 building fund 1000.00 Christmas 40.0001/13/19 $1496.00 power bill 90.0001/20/19 $1874.00 Christian Education 50.00 Christmas 20.0001/27/19 $2330.0001/15/19 Wilson $7345.36 Quarterly Interest from Wilson Fund Total $ 15291.36

Income needed each month: $12479.08 (4 Sundays)

Total income (monthly) $15291.36Total expenses $(16223.89)Overage/shortage $ (932.53)