March 21, 2019

God who said, "Out of darkness the light shall shine!" is the same God who made light shine in our hearts to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ. [2 Cor. 4:6]

Dear Friends,
     I would like to wish you all a happy First Day of Spring. Enjoy the sunshine.
    On Sunday morning, I will continue my Lenten sermon series titled Life in Christ. Using scripture passages associated with Lent and Easter, I am exploring the question "What does it mean to live a life in Christ?" This week, we will look at the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with fabulously expensive perfume. Was this really necessary. Couldn't the cost for the perfume be spent in a better way? What does it mean to live in Lavish Devotion to Christ?
     I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.
       In Christ,

[REPORT: DEACONS CHILI DAY]
On February 27, the Deacons held their annual Chili Day. They served over 300 meals and raised $1500 for missions.

[EASTER EGG HUNT]
A churchwide Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Fellowship for all ages will be held on Palm Sunday, April 14, on The Hill at Wedge Oak, 4284 Old Murfreesboro Road West (Home of Carol and Van Turner) from 3-5 p.m. Grab your bonnet, basket, a friend, and a lawn chair and join your church family for egg hunting, fellowship, and light refreshments. In the event of inclement weather, the egg hunt will be held following the April 17 meal. Plastic Easter eggs, candies or small toys that will fit inside the eggs are needed for our Easter Egg Hunt. Please place in the box in the back hallway or leave in the church office by April 12.

[LENTEN CHALLENGE: 40 DAYS-40 ITEMS]
This year, in observance of the season of Lent, the congregation of FPC is invited to participate in the Lenten Challenge. It is very simple. Beginning on March 6th (the first day of Lent), remove one item from your home and place it into a bag. This item could be something you no longer use or wear but still could be used by someone else. It could be an item that you love and would like to share. As you place the item into the bag offer a prayer of thankfulness. Do this everyday during Lent, and then on Easter bring your bag to the church. All bags and contents will be delivered to the Wilson County Help Center. At the church, we have large, heavy-duty plastic bags available along with a note of instructions. Please consider participating in the Lenten Challenge as part of your discipleship during Lent.

[LENTEN SERMON SERIES]
During the season of Lent, Rev. Edington will offer a 6-part sermon series titled, "Life in Christ." Through the scripture readings for Lent and Easter we will explore what it means to live our lives with Christ.
       March 17
              1. Life in Covenant
              Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
       March 24
              2. Life in Lavish Devotion
              John 12:1-8
       March 31
              3. Life in New Creation
              2 Cor. 5:16-21
       April 7
              4. Life in Abundance
              Isaiah 55:1-9
       April 14
              5. Life in Humility
              Philippians 2:5-11
       April 21
              6. Life in Joy
              Isaiah 65:17-25

[COMPASSIONATE HANDS COMMUNITY CELEBRATION]
A Compassionate Hands Celebration Dinner will be held April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lebanon Senior Citizen Center. $10. Everyone is welcome to celebrate another season of Compassionate Hands ministry in Wilson County. At FPC this year, 34 members helped take care of 24 different women over 15 weeks. We averaged 6 beds per week. For more information.

[INQUIRERS CLASS OFFERED]
An Inquirers Class for anyone interested in joining the church will be offered by Rev. Edington during Lent.  Classes will be held on Sundays during the Sunday School hour on March 24, 31, and April 7. We will meet with the Session on April 14 at noon and be received into the church on Easter Sunday. If you would like to be part of the class, please contact the church office.

[ORGAN DEDICATION]
The Dr. H. Bert Coble Memorial Pipe Organ in Baird Chapel at Cumberland University will be dedicated with a concert by organist Andrew Risinger on Thursday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m. Event is free but reservations are encouraged. Email rrichardson@cumberland.edu or call 615-547-1257.

On March 6, with new boilers successfully installed on the roof, the old boiler was finally removed from the church Atrium. The Renovation Committee has been working for several months to develop a plan to renew that space.

[NEEDED FOR LOCAL MISSIONS]
FPC has two ongoing collections benefiting the following organizations:
1. Wilson County Schools Family Resource Center. We collect food and personal hygiene items for students whose families are struggling. Donations can be left in the plastic tub in the back hallway.
2. Wilson County Community Help Center.
Monetary donations are used to purchase food items for the Help Center. Write Help Center on your check.

Sunday, March 24
Inquirers Class Begins

April 14
Palm Sunday
Easter Egg Hunt at the Turner's. 3-5pm

Friday, April 19
Stations Through the Square

April 21
Easter Sunday

April 28
Organ Concert. 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 5
All-Church Breakfast. 9:45 am.
Theme: Cinco de Mayo

[LAY READERS NEEDED]
There are a few openings for Lay Readers for the Sanctuary Service. If you are interested please contact Kristy in the church office.

March 27
Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Salad, Coconut Crème Cake

[UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP MEALS]
March 27 - Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Salad, Coconut Crème Cake
Apr 3 - Potluck Covered Dish
Apr 10 - TBD
Apr 17 - Shepherd's Pie, Strawberry Pretzel Salad, Banana Pudding
May 1 - Potluck Covered Dish
May 8 - Annual Church Fish Fry

An archive of sermons and bulletins
(audio and text) can be viewed here.

  Mar 17 - Life in Christ: Life in Covenant text | audio
  Feb 24 - Seeds of Dust, Seeds of Heaven text | audio
  Feb 17 - Sermon on the Plane text | audio
  Feb 10 - Resurrection of the Living text | audio
  Feb 3 - Postcard from a Prophet text | audio
  Jan 27 - The Greater Gift text | audio
  Jan 20 - FINE! text | audio
  Jan 13 - Precious text | audio
  Jan 6 - Past Performance, Future Rewards text | audio

          ...more sermons

[WORSHIP LITURGY]
Scripture - John 12:1-8

1    Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
2    There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
3    Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4    But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,
5    "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"
6    (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
7    Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
8    You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

Prayer of Confession
Lord of life, We gather before you to confess that our lives are full of our foolish ways. We admit that we think more of ourselves than of the one who gives us life. We are stingy when we should be generous. We are miserly when we should be giving. We are cruel when we should be charitable. Forgive us, Lord. May our lives always be an unending celebration of you. Amen.

J.D.'S MUSIC CORNER
About the music you will hear on Sunday in Sanctuary Worship.

PRELUDE: Canzona in D minor (first part) - J.S. Bach
OFFERTORY: Ricercar - Girolamo Frescobaldi POSTLUDE: Canzona in D minor (second part) - J.S. Bach

Friday March 22 - Tennessee Tree Giveaway. 9am - 5pm at Don Fox Park. Free trees. Northern Red Oak - Redbud or Roughleaf Dogwood - Red Mulberry or Persimmon or Plum - Loblolly Pine or Virginia Pine.

Tuesday, March 26 - Wilson County Library Board Annual Roast. 6:30 pm at Castle Heights Elementary School. Tickets available at the library.

April 1-12 - Lebanon Public Works Spring Curbside Clean Up

Tuesday, April 2 - Compassionate Hands Celebration Dinner. 6:30pm. Lebanon Senior Center. $10 More information.

Thursday, April 4 - Dedication of the Dr. H. Bert Coble Memorial Pipe Organ at Baird Chapel at Cumberland University. 7:00 pm.

Saturday, April 6 - 10th Annual Chocolate Affair for 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center. Capitol Theater in Lebanon. More information..

Thursday, April 11, 6:30 pm - Wilson Books From Birth Imagination Dinner at Wilson Co. Exposition Center.

Saturday, April 13 - City of Lebanon Gas Department's Easter Egg Hunt. 10:30 - noon. Fiddlers Grove.

Saturday, April 20 - Empower Me Center's 6th Annual Jere's Ride. More information..

Tuesday, April 23, 2-4:30 pm. - Music and Memories at Tucker's Gap. An event to benefit SCAN (Senior Citizens Action Network). $10. Tucker's Gap Event Center.