| Pastor Dave's AfterThoughts |
First
Presbyterian Church Petaluma |
March
30 , 2004 |
How can we pray for you and those you love? Just send an email to [email protected]. We'll get your request to the Prayer Vigil.
Work Day - Sat. Apr. 3
The Prayer Vigil begins Apr. 3, Noon. Sign up with John or Joanne Richards. Or come when you can.
Digital
Movie Camera Needed
Do you have a digital movie camera you can donate
or loan to the church? Please contact me if you can help: [email protected]
| About Us |
AFTERTHOUGHTS is an email newsletter from
Pastor Dave Weidlich
First Presbyterian Church
Petaluma
939 B St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-762-8269
AFTERTHOUGHTS is sent out about twice a month. I hope you find it encouraging.
If this was passed along to you, you can subscribe by emailing [email protected]. Type "Subscribe Afterthoughts" in the subject line.
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UNSUBSCRIBE:
Reply to this email [email protected]
and type "Unsubscribe Afterthoughts" in the Subject box.
Would you like to publish an article or announcement in AfterThoughts? Just send it to [email protected]
"God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
Winston
Churchill, the Prime Minister of England during WW II, gave a speech
where thousands of people showed up. Somebody asked him, “Aren’t
you impressed that so many people have showed up to hear you speak?”
See Results of the Passion Survey: here Take
the |
Churchill replied in characteristic fashion, “Yes, but even more would show up for my hanging.”
Jesus saw both kinds of crowds within days of each other. Palm Sunday must have been a confusing day for the disciples. Jesus had tried to prepare them for his suffering and death when he spoke to them at the Last Supper. But, on this special Sunday, when Jesus and the twelve entered the Holy City, Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover, Jesus was greeted like a King. He rode in on a colt while crowds of men, women and children called out, “Hosanna. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Children ran through the streets ahead of Jesus laying down Palm branches as they would for a prince who is soon to be crowned King.
It must have felt bittersweet. Jesus knew the crowd was so right in their praise for Jesus. But they misunderstood the nature and the timing of the Kingdom of God. Only a few days later, even more voices would cry out, “Crucify him, crucify him.”
I guess our life and worship is that way sometimes. We go all the way from “Hosanna - Welcome Lord” to “Jesus, go away so I can do what I want” in a matter of minutes. Still, God invites us to worship.
Never mind our sometimes
mixed motives,
never mind our wavering faith,
never mind our misinformed assumptions,
we are invited still to worship the Lord.
Will you make these days before Easter a Holy time of worship? We’ve scheduled an abundance of gatherings. I hope you will join us for as many as you can. And bring a friend.
| Come Be an Explorer! |
EXPLORATION CLASS provides an opportunity for adults and youth (senior high school and up) to explore your faith, identify your spiritual gifts and, if you choose, consider a commitment to continue your faith journey as a member of First Presbyterian Church.
The Exploration Class will
meet
Four Sunday evenings, April 25, May 2, May 16, 23, 7:00 PM – 8:30
PM at First Presbyterian Church.
Benefits:
• Get to know new people in a deeper way.
• Explore what you believe about God in a safe environment.
• Explore what it means to be a Christian.
• Explore how God has uniquely created you to serve God in a way
that will produce results and bring you joy.
• Explore who Presbyterians are.
• Explore the Past, Present and Future of First Presbyterian Church.
• Explore how you can make your best contribution to make a difference
in your church and community.
Join us. For more info, or to register for the class, please call the office: 707-762-8269 or email [email protected]. Please let us know if you will need childcare.
You can send email to me
at [email protected]
or or use my preferred
email address: 
. Just type the address into your email software.
First Presbyterian Church Online Information, Pictures, This month's newsletter. It's all there. Click here. |
| Join us for Worship, Sunday, 10:30 AM (except Easter). Remember to Spring Forward to Daylight Savings Time, April 4. Sermon series: "Questions About Christ's Passion" April
4: Palm Sunday – Sermon: “The Crucifixion of
Jesus Christ: What Difference Does it Make?” Invite a Friend!
Preparing
for Easter Thursday, April 1, 6:00 PM, Koinonia Hall We begin with a light dinner. Call the church for updates regarding childcare and children's programs. April 1: "Faith of our Fathers." Freelance photographer David Bartruff (National Geographic) will show and narrate slides of some of the sites of great Christian leaders in church history. Come at 6 for a light dinner, 6:30 for the presentation. Children's programs are provided. Thank you Adult Ministries Commission for bring us these Lenten events!
Maundy Thursday - April 8, 7:00 PM, the FPCP Choir will perform "Requiem," by Brad Ellingboe, directed by Ethan Smith. Communion will be served. For more information on any of these events, please call the church office, 762-8269 or email, [email protected]
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