Hidden Treasures
Our local librarian recently shared with me an interesting story. His family had been passing down through generations a framed letter that had been written by an ancestor of Abraham Lincoln. He had worked on Lincoln’s Presidential Staff, and had many occasions to write the President. The family decided not long ago to reframe the letter. While doing so, they found a big surprise. On the reverse side of the letter from their ancestor to Lincoln was the President’s response! All this time they had valued a letter written to Lincoln and had not seen the hidden treasure of the letter from Lincoln!
Life is full of hidden treasures. Some are physical treasures hidden a way in an attic, as a bookmark in a book, or as the reverse of a framed letter. Others are more spiritual in nature. One hidden treasure that often goes unnoticed is the hidden gifts and talents people have. Often we look at people and stereotype them in terms of their occupations, or place in life. Or, we put them into certain roles in our minds. They “look” like an accountant, or an artist, or a laborer.
What we don’t often see are the hidden gifts and talents within that transcend our ideas of who others are. Yet if we are willing to open our minds and hearts, we can begin to understand and appreciate the diverse and creative people that surround us.
This is so important in the church. The Bible tells us, “To each one has been given a gift of the Spirit for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12: 7
Yet how often we do not allow people’s true gifts to be used in the church because of our limited ideas about both the church and other people. There are many “hidden treasures” in our church and our community. Let us pray that we might become a place where these treasures are enabled, affirmed and manifested.
Pastor Larry Emery
TV Turn-Off Week,
A Program of the Walnut Grove Library
April 25 - May 1
There will be several activities through the last week of April and our church is sponsoring the following event:
“Peanut-Butter & Jelly Night”
Tuesday, April 26th at 6:30 p.m.
Koinonia Hall
Speaker: Ed Smith, who will speak about the Loaves and Fishes outreach to Sacramento’s homeless.
We will make 500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to distribute to the homeless in Friendship Park in Sacramento. Everyone is asked to bring either a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, or a jar of jelly and join us for a fun and informative night.
For more information about Loaves and Fishes, please see: www.sacramentoloavesandfishes.org
Thanks to our Great Helpers!
Have you noticed the improvements happening around the church lately? Our wonderful helpers who continually give their talents, and lend their equipment have been busy! Our lawn is greener, the ivy’s been trimmed, flowers have been planted and lights come on automatically at night just to name a few. A big hand to:
Larry Horn, Sandy Waterhouse and Gail Morris, lawn fertilization and aeration; Tim Wilson, ivy maintenance; Adrienne Young, Lynn Ortega, and Gail Morris, flower planting; Jim Van Andel and Larry Emery, automatic safety lights outside the church and hall.
And special thanks to David and Virginia LaBahn, Malcolm McCormack and Wimpy’s Marina for our palms for Palm Sunday; Shirley Hobart and the Fellowship Committee for the great Easter Brunch; Lucy Van Andel, Melanie Schauer,
Virginia LaBahn, Edna Williams and helpers for the Easter Egg Hunt and great Sunday School activities; Sandy Waterhouse for donating a good vacuum when our little red one got lost; and Frank Robinson for monitoring our sound system on Sundays.
These are only a few talented people who give their time behind the scenes to keep us afloat. There are many others quietly working to keep the community church a welcoming place to worship God and spread the Good News of the Gospel. We extend our thanks and blessings to all of you good and faithful (and talented) people who make this church a special place.
Welcome to New Members
On Palm Sunday, March 20, seven new members joined our church family. They are:
Helen Crutchfield,
Joan Hansen,
Ashley Johnson,
Nancy McCormack,
Sutton Morris,
Bill Rutherford and
Nancy Rutherford.
It is our hope and prayer that they feel welcomed and at home at Walnut Grove Community Presbyterian Church!
A Fond Farewell to
The Sunday Supper Club
Even though it is April already, we want to wish you a Happy New Year and send our best wishes for a healthy and exciting 2005.
It is with great regret that we have decided after all these years to discontinue the Sunday Supper Club dinners. With dwindling attendance and rising costs, we felt that it was time to let it go gracefully. Nothing has given us more pleasure through the years than to serve you, our wonderful seniors. When we held the first dinner in 1990, the idea was to honor and thank you for all your dedication to your family and your community. I hope that we have accomplished that, and you realize how much you are appreciated. We always looked forward to seeing you and exchanging those wonderful “hugs.” We will miss our times together.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
Fondly,
Sandy Ferriera and Darlene Weiss
You Scream, I Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!
Remember that? Well, there’s no need to scream if you live in Walnut Grove - there will be plenty of the sweet frozen stuff for all to enjoy on April 23rd at our Ice Cream Social. Choose your favorite flavor, chocolate or vanilla, and top it off with your favorite sauce for a mere $3 per adult, $1 for kids 10 and under. And while you’re enjoying that treat, listen to the sweet sounds of the New Holland Combine, who will be playing for your pleasure. The hours are from 1 to 4 p.m., so come early and stay late.
Tickets will be on sale Sundays at the fellowship coffee hour in Koinonia, and on Tuesday and Wednesday evening for the youth groups. You can also pick them up at the church office on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or call Gail Morris (776-1967) or Shirley Hobart (776-2828). Special thanks to the New Holland Combine and Mel’s Mocha for their help in this event.
Easter Sunday Doings
The traditional Easter brunch was served to an overflow crowd following worship on March 27th. Our thanks to the many helping hands that baked, boiled, stuffed, decorated, washed, wiped, mixed and served. We appreciate YOU!
A record number of children participated in the Easter egg hunt that followed, and judging from the cheering and laughter filling the church grounds, it must have been wildly successful. Again, thanks to those who provided, filled, and hid the eggs, and to all the parents who brought their children to the party.
Summer Camp at
Westminster Woods
If you haven’t signed up for camp yet, there is still time! A 3-day camp for grades 2 - 3, and a whole week for grades 4 - 12. Summer camp is a wonderful time of fellowship with other young people, plus learning more about God’s love. Brochures are in the church office and the narthex for your convenience and fundraisers are being planned to help off-set the cost.
Westminster Woods is a Presbyterian Church camp in the beautiful Redwood Forest near the Pacific Coast. Churches from throughout Northern California send hundreds of young people to camp at “The Woods” ever summer. We have had young people attend camp there in the past and several have served as counselors as well. Don’t wait another minute! Contact the church for details and take this opportunity to make a lasting impression on the youth of our community. For more information, visit www.westminsterwoods.org.
A big thanks to community members who supported the spaghetti dinner on Sunday evening, April 3 in spite of the wild weather! Seventeen kids were on hand to help serve and work the event to help off-set their summer camp fees, and judging from the supplies running low at the end, turnout was great!
Mark your calendars for another great spaghetti dinner coming up on May 22 when the crew will be back in action for more great food and fun. YUM!
Youth News
T.N.T. News -
Our Tuesday Nights Together (T.N.T.) program has enjoyed a successful first year! With 39 children on the role, and approximately 28 children coming every Tuesday night, we’re excited to share the Gospel of Jesus and see these youngsters grow in their faith. Thanks to all the parents who have supported us. The last T.N.T. will be May 3rd. On this night, families are invited to a potluck dinner. Look for T.N.T. to start up again in October. Remember to tell all your friends!
WOW Skating Party - On Wednesday, March 23, ten W.O.W. youth and their families went to King’s Skate in Franklin for pizza and a skating party. Thanks to Sam Towne, Melanie Schauer and Lori Hackett for driving! (Lori Hackett was the only adult who dared to put on skates. Yeah Lori!!)
Global Dinner - The W.O.W. Youth Group will have a special “global dinner” on Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. There will be several menus, and youth members will be divided into different groups to learn about how other people live in our world. Mark your calendars and bring a friend!
Junior High All-Night XTREMZ
April 22-239 p.m., Friday Night -
Saturday Morning 6 a.m.
Sponsored by “Youth for Christ”
1500 Junior High kids! 80 Churches! 4,000 slices of pizza! Rock climbing! Indoor soccer and swimming! Live Music! Don’t MISS IT! Cost is $25 at the door, and forms and information available in the church office, or at www.yfcministries.org.
You
Are
Invited
The Walnut Grove Community Presbyterian Church invites you to the lush Delta of the Sacramento River for a self-guided tour of six unique and elegant homes, and to enjoy a gourmet box lunch, which will be served in the lovely garden of the church.
Featuring three Victorian homes built in the late 1800’s, to an elegant ranch style home with hidden charm, and two new beautiful homes built in the small community of Walnut Grove, the homes on the tour are as varied as the Delta itself.
Saturday - June 4, 2005
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Home Tour Tickets - $25.00*
Gourmet Box Lunch Ticket - $10.00
* ADD $3.00 PER TICKET IF PURCHASED DAY OF TOUR (at the church)
BUS PARKING AVAILABLE FOR TOURS.
LIMITED HANDICAPPED ACCESS
Home Tour Tickets will not be sold at the individual homes on the day of the tour
(The tour will take approximately three hours not including lunch time)
Joyful Release
By Debbie Phulps
Whether by choice or happenstance, he took a wrong turn. The narrow entrance had dumped him into a dark, sooty tomb. She could hear him thrashing in the restrictive space; and helplessly she pondered the poor creature who was once among the glories of the heavens. The thrashing had lessened by the second day (Good Friday). She had to do something. Hoping he would be in a more subdued disposition, she opened the fireplace door for a peek. He was hunched in the corner of the dark cave - a bird a bit smaller than a soda can. Perhaps a rescue could now be attempted. So, armed with gloves and bag, she again opened the door. However, at this opportunity the bird charged the small opening, startling the rescuer who instinctively shut the door, briefly pinning the bird. He pulled away and in doing so hit the back of the fireplace insert. He didn’t recognize the help coming from beyond the black tomb. Seizing this brief moment, she reached in and grabbed him. With a slight struggle the pair crossed the room and exited the house. Upon release the bird took no time before launching heavenward. His exuberant calls of joy at being released echoed in her heart; and she watched his tiny form circled higher into the clear blue sky.
We are not unlike that bird - destined to a cold tomb. Sadly, many fail to recognize the Rescuer. Easter is not only Christ’s overcoming death. Every Easter morning is a reminder of our own release from death’s dark hold. Therefore, should we not also sing out with at least the same exuberance for our release? Proclaiming the Christian message should be our joy.
I am reminded of one of the most heart-warming episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, "Opie the Birdman.” In this episode, Opie accidentally kills a mother bird while playing with his slingshot. As a result, Opie hand-raises three baby birds. When the time arrives for the birds to be released, Opie finds it very difficult. After successfully releasing all three birds, Opie looks down at the cage and says: "The cage sure does look empty, don’t it, Pa?" Upon which Andy replies: "Yes, son, it does. But don’t the trees seem nice and full." The scene widens to include Opie and Andy looking up at the trees with the glorious sound of the birds singing.
As Easter people, having heard the good news of rescue, "We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun". Let’s get out there and fill the world with His song!