Sacrament of Baptism

Any one interested in the Sacrament of Infant Baptism for their baby, or baptism for children and adults is invited to call the church office for an appointment with Rev. Emery. A baptism service will be held at a special time during the Palm Sunday worship celebration on April 4. Get me to the church on time! Don’t forget to set your clock ahead late Sat. night April 3, in order to be on time for Palm Sunday services.

Celebrating Easter

Easter has to be the most joy-filled day of the year for Christians. On that day, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from death to life, and his gift to us of new life. Praise God! Come join us for our Easter Morning Celebration at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 11 for Sunrise Service at Paul Barnes Park, and/or at 9:30 a.m at the church. The Chancel Choir will sing at the 9:30 service.

Whad’ya mean, NO HUGS????

After a triple bypass surgery and a few weeks’ recovery, Jerry James mentioned to Maria Robinson that she’d like to go to church, but her first time back would initiate big (and painful) hugs from well wishers welcoming her back. That afternoon, Frank Robinson was knocking on Jerry’s door with a specially designed sign for Jerry to wear so she could come to church and stave off those wonderful, yet still a little painful, church hugs!

Get With The Program- Here's To Your Health !
By Debbie Phulps, Choir Director

The New Year signals a renewed interest in health and better living for many.To that end, were you aware that your church offers a program which promotes lung development, strengthening of the back, bowel, bladder and stomach, posture correction, neurological improvement, increasedoxygen to the blood system and brain, and increased concentration?Furthermore, the practical application of this program can help sufferers of sleep apnea, asthma, panic attacks, depression, and shyness.

"What," you may ask, "is this wondrous program?". ........CHOIR !!!It's true.The health and attitude benefits of vocal training and singing can be amazing; and now is the time to put practical application to those resolutions for a healthier life.

Your choir’s returned from the Christmas holiday break ready to begin their Lenten journey to the Resurrection.Chancel Choir anticipates singing for Palm Sunday (4/4), Maundy Thursday (4/8) and Easter (4/11).Ensemble will be on point for the Easter Sunrise Service. Consider this your invitation to join one or both of these groups.Practices are held each Wednesday in the sanctuary.The Ensemble gathers from 6:45 to 7:20 p.m. and the Chancel Choir commences at 7:30 p.m.

To "Get with the Program" contact Director Debbie at 916-776-1351 or by e-mail at debel@aol.com.

Budget Report

All the figures are in, and the church has a proposed $87,000 budget for 2004 keeping income and expense in balance. This includes salaries, taxes, maintenance, and supplies for Worship, Sunday School, and the office. We are off to a good start so far, but we’ll need your continued help if we are to keep ahead. Thank you!

Chris Hudson Resigns as Elder

The Session received a letter of resignation from Chris Hudson at its February meeting, and voted to accept it with regret. The letter read in its entirety:

"I am writing this letter to officially resign as Mission Committee session member. I would deliver this letter to you all in person for the Feb. 9th meeting, but I received late notice from my job to attend a meeting in Palo Alto. I regret having to leave my position early, but my career, wedding plans, and home searching keeps me in the bay area most of the time. I believe someone planted in the community would perform a much better job than myself. I am very proud of what the Mission Committee has accomplished and know so much more can be done. We have captured a generation at its youth in Walnut Grove and my hope is that their faith grows and spreads to others. The work we perform now will spill into Delta igh School and beyond. The possibilities are limitless when God is in control.

My life is changing and this experience is sad, yet exciting. As you know, WGCPC and the Walnut Grove area have been my whole upbringing. Everyone has been so kind to me. The love and encouragement of this community has opened up my eyes to see that I can accomplish anything. I want nothing more than to settle down long term in Walnut Grove. I just have to tend to my short term goals for now. I thank you so much for adding to my life experiences."

Sincerely,
Christopher Hudson

Election Results, January 18, 2004
By Shirley Hobart

At a congregational meeting convened during morning worship on Jan. 18, elections were held to fill vacancies on Session (governing board), Board of Deacons (fellowship/outreach and missions), and the Memorial and Nominations committees. Here are the names of the people who will conduct the business of the church during 2004 (* indicates new or re-elected):

Session Chris Hudson, Malcolm McCormack, Audrey Mondeel, Bill Schauer, David LaBahn, Michael Morris, Shirley Hobart*, and Edna Williams*.

Deacons Mary Campbell, Fern Cummings, Melanie Schauer, Joanne Wiseman, Mary Lou Hudson, Jerry James, Linda van Loben Sels, Jennifer Thatcher, Mary Fulster*, Lois Gregg*, Pat Horn*, and Adrienne Young*.

Memorial Committee Michael Morris, Malcolm McCormack, Margaret Shelton, Brad Martin, Joanne Wiseman*, and Pan van Loben Sels*.Nominating Committee Audrey Mondeel, Malcolm McCormack, Mary Lou Hudson, Edna Williams, Virginia LaBahn*, and Gene Wiseman.

The other standing committees, each chaired by an Elder, are Financial Operations (McCormack), Fund Raising and Stewardship (LaBahn), Facilities (Schauer), Worship and Music (Mondeel), Christian Nurture (Williams), Fellowship (Hobart), Missions (Hudson), and Personnel (Hobart). When the annual Session/Elder workshop is held on February 29, committee leadership may be reassigned; in that case, changes will be reported in the next issue of this newsletter.

Good Neighbor, Good Deed

Jerry Crutchfield, a man of many talents whose family participates in our Tuesday Morning Children’s Breakfast has constructed a handsome cabinet for the church office! Installed on the wall over the copy machine, it stores materials formerly found (or not!) in various nooks and crannies of our crowded workspace. Thanks, Jerry!

Prayer Chain

If you would like to be on our prayer chain, please contact the church at 776-1106, or wgcpc@hotmail.com and we’ll add you to our growing group of prayer buddies. Please pray for:
-Our deployed military personnel.
-Dorcys and Jack Burchell and family
-The church to follow God’s lead

May we pray for you? Call us!

"Angel" Spoken Here

From time to time, if you listen carefully you can hear the rush of wings around the church. Angels are there, tending to needs in the building and grounds, making time in their busy days to see that God’s house always runs smoothly and looks its best. Too often we take these deeds for granted, especially when they become a weekly routine (beautiful music, flowers on the altar, graceful arrangements on the narthex table, neatly cut lawns, heat turned on to drive away the sanctuary’s chill on winter Sunday mornings, and good food and fellowship). These are only a fraction of the work that our "angels" continue to do.

Who are these angels? To name a few ¬¬"Adrienne Young and Dixie Wilson are the gifted flower arrangers, and Dixie shares items from her collections to grace the narthex; Kirby Campbell keeps the church warm and the lawn cut week after week. Add to these Gene Wiseman, who spent quiet hours alone after the Hanging of the Greens, straightening a treetop that was determined to bend. (When confronted, Gene explained that this was a labor of love and not sacrifice, but we think of it as both.)

Most recently, Malcolm McCormack saw to the cleaning and weatherproofing of the barbecue, removing rust from the metal parts and applying a sealer coat of paint¬—a job that took more than a day to complete. The problem was discussed at a Monday Session meeting, and by week’s end had been solved. Now that’s an angel for you! This is just an example of the body of Christ continually and quietly at work in our church. Other examples are those who serve as deacons, elders, readers, greeters and musicians who all make time to give something of themselves and continue God’s mission among us.

ANGELHOOD IS OPEN TO ALL! A workday will be scheduled soon to prepare the church and grounds for Easter. Many helpers would lighten the chores "and our hearts. Watch for the date in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office to see how you can help.

One Great Hour of Sharing

People often ask, "How much does our church give to missions?" We give to local and world mission causes both through the general church budget and by special offerings. So the question is now this, "How much do you give to missions?" You have the opportunity to give to the missions work of both our church and our denomination through the annual One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering.

Since 1949, Christians from many denominations have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to assist persons and communities in need. Gifts to OGHS supply energy relief, refugee assistance and development aid in more than 70 countries around the world, including the U. S. and Canada. OGHS offerings will be taken Palm Sunday and Easter. If you can’t be with us on these days, you may send a gift to the church office. Thanks!

Pizza Party!

Join us one and all for a fun-filled evening of skating and pizza March 10!
* We’ll meet at the church at 5:30 p.m. and return by 9 p.m.
** All children 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent.
*** Children attending without parents must have a signed permission slip.
**** Please bring this signed form (if not accompanied by parent) and $6 for costs.

Yes!!! I give permission for my child to attend the Walnut Grove Community Church Youth Skating and Pizza Party at King’s Skate in Franklin on Wed. evening, March 10.

Hey, Kids! Don’t miss the Easter Egg Hunt at the church on Easter Sunday!

Get your baskets ready and brush up on your hunting skills for the annual Easter Egg Hunt at noon on Easter Sunday in the field behind the church. Look for golden eggs and big prizes. See you there!

Summer Camp at Westminster Woods

We have several places already reserved for summer camp at Westminster Woods for the week of August 1- 7. To ensure a place for your child"and to get the "early bird" discount"please send your forms with deposit to the Westminster Woods Registrar by March 15. Brochures and registration forms are available now in the church office.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity! Westminster Woods is a Presbyterian conference center located in the redwood forest near Occidental, Calif. It offers camps for grades 4-12. Young people from our church have gone to the woods for many years and returned with stories of new and exciting experiences, new friends, and new growth in their relationship with God.

Fall Women’s Retreat

Imagine a place where you experience abundant life in Christ, soak in Tahoe’s beauty, explore individual spiritual geographies and worship with reflections drawn from the deeply-rooted Christian communities of Taize, France, and Iona, Scotland. Sound inviting? If so, THIS is your opportunity to join Walnut Grove women for an exciting fall retreat at the beautiful Zephyr Cove Presbyterian Conference Center on Lake Tahoe.

Fall Women’s Retreat

All women of the congregation, members and friends, are invited to join in this retreat on the weekend of Oct. 15-17 with women from many other congregations for a time of reflection, spiritual growth, and getting to know one another.

Registration fees for Friday dinner through Sunday lunch are $140. Send non-refundable deposit of $50 by Sept. 6 (non-refundable balance due by Sept. 15), to P.O. box 289, Zephyr Cove, NV. 89448. When registering, specify "Walnut Grove Church Women" so you can be among pals. For more information, please call Shirley Hobart (776-2828) or Pan van Loben Sels (775-1941). Hurry! Although the date is six months off, space will fill quickly. Let’s Go!

Mark your calendars:

Youth Roller Skating Party: Wed., March 10 (Meet at church at 5:30 p.m.)
Westminster Woods "Early Bird" Registrations Due: By March 15
New Member Class: March 28 Meet with Pastor Emery after the service
Last Day to order Lilies for the Easter Service: April 2
Maundy Thursday Prayer and Healing Service: April 8 at 7 p.m.
Palm Sunday Service: April 4 at 9:30 a.m. Did you set your clock?
Easter Sunrise Service: April 4 at 7 a.m. at Paul Barnes Park
Easter Sunday Service: April 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt: April 11 At 12 noon in the field behind the church

Walnut Grove Community Presbyterian Church

Sharing together the love of God