CHURCH NEWS February 17, 2008

Manfisher Meal being served today at 1:30. 

The Office will be CLOSED tomorrow, the 18th, due to President’s Day.

Okanogan Presbyterian Women are having a No-host luncheon on Tuesday, February 26th, at the Caribou Inn at noon. All women are welcome.

    
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: Elope for a Weekend!
Marriage Encounter weekend is a chance for you as a husband and wife to come away from the pressures, hurriedness, and routine of everyday living, and concentrate on each other.  The next two Marriage Encounters are March 7-9 and May 16-18 in Leavenworth, Washington. Brochures and registration information are on the table by the office.  Questions? Talk to Pastor Ken or any of the 3 couples (Randi & Ron DeHaan, Vicky & Jess O’Dell, and Scott & Kristi Sinnett) who attended in November. Scholarships are available. Sign-up soon - the weekends fill up quickly.

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
For the 4 Sundays of Lent leading to Palm Sunday, I will be preaching about the centrality of the Cross for our faith. The other sermons will be:
Feb. 24    “The Son of Man Must be Lifted Up”         Jn. 3:14
Mar.  2    “Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus”    Mtt. 16:24-25
Mar.  9    “The Answer to Suffering”                           Jn. 12:20-33
Mar. 16    Palm Sunday– “Lag Time”                         Mtt. 21:28-32

Wednesday Lenten Services each Wed. 1:15 to 2:15 and again at 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. These services begin with 15 min. of solitude in the sanctuary followed by a time of prayer together, ending with sharing in a small group on a reflective question from the sermon.
 Reflective questions:

  1. “The ground at the foot of the cross is level.”  Discuss.
  2. Have you had personal experience with what Paul says in 1 Cor. 1:26-31?  Explain.

In cultivating the Christian discipline of solitude and prayer, remember the sanctuary is available for prayer anytime during the week the church is open: 9-12 and 1-3 M-F. (Fri. mornings, the sanctuary is cleaned prior to 11:00). Make use of this place of prayer. As Jesus says, “My house will be called a house of prayer” (Mtt. 21:13).

Presbytery meets this Saturday at Richland, West Side.  Pastor Ken and Elder Lyle Caudill will be representing our congregation.