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April 2004
Holy
Week and Easter Events
April
4 - Palm Sunday
9:30
am - Christian Education
Steve
Johnson’s Lenten study of Second Isaiah
11:00
am - Worship
Leslie
Veen preaching: “Will the Real Messiah Please Stand Up?”
April
7 - Evening Prayers - 7:00 pm
April
8 - Maundy Thursday
6:00
pm service of worship, foot washing, agape feast
April
9 - Good Friday
8:00
pm - Tenebrae worship service of darkness, scripture readings, and music
April
10 - Holy Saturday
7:30
pm - Christ Candle-Making
8:00-9:00
pm, Lessons & meditation
Alternative:
Vigil at Grace Cathedral 9:00 pm-12:00 am
April
11 - Easter Sunday
9:00-10:30
am - Pancake Breakfast, Lilification of the Sanctuary
9:30
am - Christian Education: Jonathan Lee, "Do you feel
resurrected?"
11:00
am - Worship
Rev.
Dr. Jim Emerson preaching, “Why I Believe the Resurrection”.
Special
music by choir and brass quartet; liturgical dance.
1:00-4:00
pm - Easter Egg Hunt party at the Fagler/Yamauchi home
5:00
pm - Jazz Vespers - Dave Rocha Quartet
Pastoral
Promptings, James G. Emerson, Jr.
Friends
—
As
we come to this remarkable month, we begin with Holy Week.
My
hope for all is that you may sense not just Easter — Resurrection Day
— itself, but the meaning of Holy Week and then the meaning of the whole
of Easter tide — the days until Pentecost.
The
Maundy Thursday service combines elements of the Seder of our Jewish
neighbors with our own Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. This includes the
questions asked of older children and their answers.
Good
Friday noon, some may wish to attend services at neighboring churches. For
us, we will have the special Tenebrae Service of Good Friday night with
its dramatic sense of the passion itself.
Some
wish to gather for a Holy Saturday vigil Saturday night. The church will
be open for those who wish to share in that preparation for the excitement
of the coming morning.
Let
us all remember that Easter does not end the experience, but begins it.
That first day of the week, I will talk specifically as to why, after all
these years, I believe the resurrection witness more than ever. I say that
aware that at one point in my late forties, I
went through a period of total disbelief.
All
the Sundays of the following five weeks will explore the mystery and
meaning of Easter for us all, and thus the foundation for having a church
— including Old First Church.
These
weeks will also be a time of interviewing candidates and then calling one
of them to be our Interim Pastor for the coming year. Let us use these
days as times of prayer for guidance as we move to this important decision
and prepare for the year ahead.
Easter
Morning Pancake Breakfast
Come
to church early on Easter Sunday, April 11, and enjoy a Pancake Breakfast
before going to Adult Education class or helping to “lilify” the
Sanctuary.
Pancakes,
bacon and fresh fruit will be served in the Fellowship Hall from
9 am until around 10:30. A donation of $4 per adult is requested.
Egg
Hunt Party Easter Afternoon
All
are welcome to the Easter Egg Hunt party at the home of Jim Fagler, Lori
Yamauchi and Gemma, April 11, 1:00-4:00 pm.
There will be a potluck lunch,
with ham or turkey provided. Guests
are asked to bring side dishes. Talk to Lori or Jim about what is needed.
Feel free to bring decorated eggs and baskets to collect eggs.
Jazz
Vespers
5
pm, Easter Sunday, April 11 -- The Dave Rocha Quartet
Hymn-Sing
Sunday on April 18
As
is our custom, we will celebrate the Good News of Easter with a
mostly-music worship service on April 18. Come back to church on the
Sunday after Easter prepared to sing!
Old-Fashioned
Ice Cream Social April 18
Here’s
the scoop on “Sundae Sunday”. Join the deacons for ice cream in the
Fellowship Hall after the service on April 18. The cost is only $2.50 for
adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under. We will have flavors and
toppings to suit every taste. All proceeds benefit the Deacons Fund. Don't
miss our Ice Cream Sunday!
Polly
Day’s 25th Recital on May 1
You
are invited to a piano recital of “The Greatest Hits from 25 Years”
given by Polly Day on Saturday, May 1, at 3 pm.
This
will be Polly’s 25th recital. As in other years, it will be a benefit
for Old First Concerts. Any donation you may care to make will be
gratefully received.
A
reception will immediately follow the recital, and all are invited to
attend.
Old
First’s 155th Birthday
Celebration Set for May 23
On
Sunday, May 23, we will celebrate the 155th birthday of Old First at a fun
and festive luncheon party. A program
of “Still More Presbyterian Tales of the City” will
highlight some memorable people and moments from our past.
Lunch
will feature ham, ribs and an assortment of salads, and of course there
will be birthday cake.
Tickets
go on sale April 18, with a special early bird rate of $6 adults, $3 ages
6-12. After that, an adult ticket will be $7. On the day of the event,
tickets will be $8 for adults, $4 for young folks.
Games
Night Planned for June 26
Mark
your calendars for a fun evening at Old First. On June 26, we will have a
Games Night and Potluck Supper, starting at 6:30 pm. Chris and Cindy Burt,
Old First’s Official Fun Persons, are planning a memorable evening of
games.
Old
First to Search for an Interim Pastor
At
its March 16 meeting, our Session of Elders accepted the Personnel
Committee’s recommendation that we look for an Interim Pastor, as
opposed to a Designated Pastor. In response to some interest in having a
Designated Pastor —one with
a longer term and the possibility of being called to the permanent
position — Personnel had studied both options and decided the church
would be better served by retaining an Interim.
The
search committee expects to hire an Interim Pastor sometime in May.
New
Officers Elected
At
a special election on February 29, the following were elected to the Class
of 2006: Don Pender, Deacons;
Dana Nojima, Jean Olson and Earl Wilson, Elders.
New
Director for Senior Center
The
Seniors Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that Lisa Bruno has been
hired as Director of the Doris Krauss Senior Center, effective March 1.
Lisa
has worked as director of recreation and activities in two frail elder
care facilities. Trained as a recreational dance therapist, she has worked
with volunteers and helped with fundraising.
Kristine
Olden, the long-term volunteer who served as interim director, has
accepted a full-time position at California-Pacific Medical Center.
Why
Do We Worship the Way We Do?
Our Seminary Intern Leslie Veen will lead an Adult Education
series called “Why Do We Worship the Way We Do?”, from April 18
through May 9. Classes are held at 9:30 am on Sundays in the Munro Room.
Old
First’s Small Groups
The
recent Officers Retreat identified our Small Groups program as a priority
for this year.. The Congregational Care Committee has named Alfred Martin
as Small Groups Czar, and he is now working to assess the current
involvement in Small Groups and the potential for revitalizing groups that
have become inactive and forming some new ones.
Alfred
will have a Small Groups table at the April 18 Coffee Hour.
Please talk to him if you have questions and/or suggestions about
this program.
Presbyterians
and “The Passion”
The
new “Passion” movie has ignited passions and posed so many questions
that the PC(USA) publication “Presbyterians Today” has posted an
on-line Guide at http://www.
pcusa.org/today/passion/ index. htm.
It addresses such topics as “Is the film anti-Semitic?” and
“Is there too much graphic violence?” There are questions for
reflection/discussion, suggestions for discussion leaders, and links to
other helpful resources
Easy
Money
The
church has received its first payment from the eScrip plan — only $20,
but enough to make the Stewardship and Finance Committees aware of how
easy it was. The next payment could be a lot more if more Old Firsters
would sign up. Go to eScrip.com.
Lectionary
Apr.
4 - Palm/Passion Sunday
Luke 19:28-40; Ps. 118:1-2, 19-29; Isa. 50:4-9a;
Ps. 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
Apr.
5 - Monday of Holy Week
Isa. 42:1-9; Ps. 36:5-11; Heb. 9:11-15; John 12:1-11
Apr.
6 - Tuesday of Holy Week
Isa. 49:1-7; Ps. 71:1-14; 1 Cor. 1:18-31; John 12:20-36
Apr.
7 - Wednesday of Holy Week
Isa. 50:4-9a; Ps. 70; Heb. 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
Apr.
8 - Maundy Thursday
Exod. 12:1-4 (5-10), 11-14; Ps. 116:1-2, 12-19;
1 Cor. 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Apr.
9 - Good Friday
Isa. 52:13-53; Ps. 22; Heb. 10:16-25 or
Heb. 4:14-16, 5:7-9;
John 18:1-19:42
Apr.
10 - Great Vigil of Easter
Gen. 1:1-2:4a; Ps.
136:1-9, 23-26; Gen. 7:1-5, 11-18,
8:6-18, 9:8-13; Ps. 46; Gen. 22:1-18; Ps. 16;
Exod. 14:10-31, 12:20-21; Exod. 15:1b-13, 17-18;
Isa. 55:1-11; Isa. 12:2-6; Prov. 8:1-8, 12-21; 9:4b-6;
Ps. 19; Ezek. 36:24-28; Ps. 42 and 43;
Ezek. 37:1-14;
Ps. 143; Zeph. 3:14-20; Ps. 98; Rom. 6:3-11; Ps. 114;
Luke 24:1-12
Apr.
11 - Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34-43; or Isa. 65:17-25;
Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24;
1 Cor. 15:19-36 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or
Luke 24:1-12
Apr.
18 - Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-32; Ps.
118:14-29 or Ps. 150; Rev. 1:4-8;
John 20:19-31
Apr.
25 - Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20); Ps. 30; Rev. 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
May
2 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36-43; Ps. 23; Rev. 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
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