February 1, 2018

T he H e ral d
Volume XXXXXIV,
No 1

ASH WEDNESDAY—February 14
at 7:00 p.m.
Service at Central Presbyterian
Church
Joint service with Unity Presbyterian

Begin the season of Lent with this service led by

Rev. Kevin Buchanan.

Worship will include the imposition of ashes.

Inside this issue:

Officer Training/ 2 LECTIONARY READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2018

Chilifest
5th Sunday after Epiphany; 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christian Education 3
*Isaiah 40:21-31
Lenten Series 4 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Souper Bowl/Thank 5 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
yous
Mark 1:29-39
Youth Happenings 6 Transfiguration of the Lord
2 Kings 2:1-12
Infinite Grace 7 *Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Session news 8 *Mark 9:2-9
Mission News 10
Ash Wednesday
Birthdays 11 Joel 2:1-2, 12-18 or Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 51:1-17
Calendar 12 *2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
*Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
14 & Chestnut Fund- 13
raiser 1st Sunday in Lent 2nd Sunday in Lent
Church Happenings 14 Genesis 9:8-17 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
*Psalm 25:1-10 Psalm 22:23-31
1 Peter 3:8-22 *Romans 4:13-25
*Mark 1:9-15 *Mark 8:31-38

*--denotes probable texts for the day.

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Schedule for Officer Training. Looking ahead to the election of new church officers in January
and to their training, installation, and ordination, the following schedule would match what we have
done in recent years:
New class of officers elected at annual meeting of the congregation, January 28, 2018.
“Retiring class” of officers continue serving through training period for new officers.
All new officer training: Sunday afternoon, February 11 noon to 2:00 p.m.,
Any new officers that will need to be ordained will also meet on February 18, 2018

Retreat, Saturday, February 24, 2018: session members (outgoing, continuing, and in-
coming), deacons (outgoing, continuing, and incoming), staff, and (in the afternoon) committee/
commission members (outgoing, continuing, and incoming):
Required joint meeting of board of deacons and session.
Examination of officers to be ordained.
Assignment to committees and commissions
Choosing committee and commission moderators,
secretaries
Committees and commissions make plans, assignments for
the year.
Formal “thank you” to outgoing officers.
Ordination and Installation of new officers, Sunday, February 25, 2018. Outgoing officers official-
ly replaced by incoming officers at the conclusion of installations on February 25. The March 14
session meeting will be attended by the new elders in active service and not by those whose terms
are ending (thank you!). The March 14 deacons meeting will be attended by the new deacons in
active service and not by those whose terms are ending (thank you!).

Chili Fest Silent Auction & Bake Shop

at St. Mark United Church of Christ

Plus veggie options, hot dogs & potatoes

March 4, 2018~ 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Admission — $10 Children 10 and under — $5 Desserts extra
To benefit United Campus Ministries
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT - Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator

Sunday School 2017-2018

Classes meet each week from 9:30 – 10:20 am.
Preschool (3-5 year olds) Room 108
Kindergarten – 1st grade Room 202
2nd – 5th grades Room 103
Middle School Room 201
High School Room FH classroom B
Adults – Reading the Prophets Room 200
Marriage & Family Room FH classroom C

There will be a special presentation by William Seo on Sunday, February 11

at 9:30 am in fellowship hall. He will share exciting updates about the HEMEfund.

Parents’ Night Out is on February 9. Childcare w ith supper is at the church

from 5:30 – 9:00 pm. Please notify the church office if your children are attending.

There will not be T3EM supper in February. Please check with your committee/
commission chair to see if you are meeting on Tuesday. The Officer Retreat will be
Saturday, February 24. Session and Deacons will meet at 9:00 am; Commissions
and Committees will meet at 1:00 pm. Lunch will be served for all.

The family prayer group meets on Mondays at 11:00 am at the church. If you can-
not attend yet have needs for prayer, please email kaysf122@aol.com.
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“Is it a difference that makes a difference?”
God’s Diverse World
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ
has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

2018 LENTEN SERIES

at Central Presbyterian Church
125 N 7th Street Terre Haute, IN
Sunday evenings – February 18, February 25,
March 4, March 11, March 18
5:00 – 5:45 pm Supper Served
(vegetarian and gluten free items available)
5:45 pm Worship
6:00 – 7:30 pm Classes
ADULTS
“Come and See… ” (Facilitated by Luanne Tilstra)
YOUTH
Relationships with Others
CHILDREN
ages 4 years – 5th grade
“We’re Different; We’re the Same”
Childcare for children age 3 and younger

Come and see…

A series of workshops to enhance one’s ability to see through difference.
Week 1: Differences in how we communicate February 18
Week 2: Differences in how we interact with each other February 25
Week 3: Differences in culture March 4
Week 4: Differences in attitudes, beliefs and values March 11

Each workshop includes activities that are both fun and informative. They are interactive and informal. They are designed to enhance
awareness of several specific types of difference. The underlying premise is that when good folks become aware of a difference, they
are more likely to see beyond the difference and to respond in an inclusive and welcoming way. Because the workshops build on
each other, you will get the most benefit by attending them all. Nevertheless, you are welcome to come to as many as you can.
Week 5: Encountering a different culture March 18 Presentation by Soulaf Abas
Soulaf Abas, (Souly) is an Assistant Professor of Art at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, She was born and raised in Damas-
cus, Syria. Her family is still in Damascus. Soully has shown her work nationally and internationally, and traveled to many countries in
the Middle East and Europe to participate in artist residencies and exhibitions. Soully is the author of "Me and You" a book of pic-
tures and letters created by children in art therapy classes at Ryves Hall and at a Syrian refugee camp. All proceeds from sales of the
book fund blankets, food, school supplies and tuition for Syrian children to return to school. She will speak to us about her project
"Seen for Syria" which took place in some of the refugee camps in Jordan.
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This Sunday — February 4th — following morning worship service

FILL YOUR TUMMY!

-Stay and enjoy the smorgasbord of soups for lunch and root for
your favorite team in the Super Bowl -Annual soup lunch following worship

FEED OTHERS!
-Cans of soup will be collected for the United Campus Ministries food pantry
-Monetary donations received will go to a local food pantry/soup kitchen

GIVE GENEROUSLY!
Sponsored by the 7th Cents Youth Group
To the church family:
We would like to thank everyone
Thank you so much for the
for the wonderful baby shower you
cards, other expressions of good
gave us for baby James. Everyone
who helped make the day special,
will and the generous Christmas
the loving words, cards, gifts and gift each of us received. We are
donations warmed our hearts. We so grateful for your love and sup-
can feel good knowing that we helped a lot of new port. Blessings to each of you for
mothers at the Valley Professional Community the new year.
Health Center feel extra loved this holiday season.
Kevin, Scott, Cheryl, Mark, Alvin,
Thank you all! Andrew, Ginny, Zoë and James
Connor, Steve, Donna and Sarah

Members of Central Presbyterian —

Last weekend our family had the pleasure of joining all of you while we were in town visiting with
Alan Harder. We wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed sharing worship with you! All four of
us loved the message, and your congregation was SO welcoming to all of us. Thank you for making
us feel like a part of your church family! We hope to visit Alan—and you!— again very soon.

The Henning Family

PS—Izzy and Kayleigh loved the kids’ “busy bags” as well as having cookies and chocolate milk after
church. They are ready to move to Terre Haute to join your congregation!
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Youth News — Connor Scanlon

Past Events

Christmas party lock in at Centenary

Christmas themed who done it murder mystery. Played Just dance most of the night

Finishing up this Sunday January 21st our Identity part of the relationship theme for this year and will
then finish up the relationship theme with talking about.

Coming up

We will finish up the year talking about our relationships with other people. This is a description be-
low about what we will be talking about.

Better then one

Growing up, we started friendships with a game of tag or hide-and-go-seek. But in high school, things
get complicated. Cliques can feel like the real-life version of getting picked last for dodgeball—the
cool kids pick each other, and the rest slump in the corner, forgotten. Even worse, social media rules
the hallways. Our popularity depends on the amount of “likes” our latest picture earned, the number
of retweets we get, and how many people viewed our Snapchat story. People crowd around us online
and at school, but many of us still feel lonely. Depressed, even. Some of us feel so excluded that we
don't see the need for friends at all.

It's time for a reality check: we need friends. Not just hang-out friends, but good friends who love,
encourage, and challenge us.

January 27th packing bags for the backpack program at Meadows school from 2 to 4

February 4th souperbowl of caring soup lunch after church at CPC. We will be collecting cans and
monetary donations Sunday February 4th at both churches. The cans and money will be going to
meadows elementary school back pack program.

Lazer Tag February 11th

meeting at central at noon. coming back at 5:00 p.m. need money for lunch.
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A Haphazard Supplication: Infinite Grace

by Allen Holder

God's omnipotence is a quizzical conundrum for us frail mortals, so much so that we often retreat from
its intellectual provocation. We might lapse into poetry and refer to the divine spirit of the great I Am or
comment on how Jesus is the alpha and omega. Everyone can nod and add their favorite biblical colloqui-
alism, as if to join the unspoken conversation that hangs in the realm of inexplicable reality. The disquiet
of the ensuing hushed pause can be palpable, an experience I know well after years of being introduced as
a mathematician. However, mathematicians are particularly well suited to this discussion, and our disci-
pline proffers finite man an ingress into infinite consideration.

Let us consider God's grace, and let us presume that it is infinite. Biblical support for this premise is
staunch but indirect. For instance, we read that God is almighty, see Genesis 17:1; that God is magnifi-
cently capacious, see 1 Kings 8:27; that his understanding is limitless, see Psalm 147:5; and that his grace
extends to everyone, see Titus 2:11. So, while grace is not directly listed as an infinite characteristic of
our Lord, it seems presumptuous to impugn God's divine nature by surmising otherwise. Indeed, is it not
more likely that any perceived theistic limitation comes from the dastardly influence of that little rouge
dybbuk perched on our shoulder?

Infinity has many peculiarities, one of which is that there is an infinite number of different sized infinities,
and just as the number three is greater than the number two, the third infinity is greater than the second.
Maybe even more jarring is the fact that there is a smallest infinity but not a largest - although we don't
yet know how many there really are. Is it not then natural to inquire just how infinite God's grace is?
Moreover, if we were temerarious in questing grace's infinitude at the start, then are we any less so in
questing the size of its infinity now? Don't we exigently conclude that God's grace is, at the very least, an
infinite sized infinity - whoa, this is a conclusion that can stagger even a mathematician (and probably a
theologian).

The disciples asked, indeed probably nagged, Jesus about who would receive God's favor, and He replied
in parable. We can't help but to contemplate these lessons bound by our egos, and reading Mathew 18
and 25 forces us to wonder about our share of God's mercy and to fret over the grace that will be re-
quired to cleans our iniquities. Maybe the reason for parable is that it is difficult to capture the reality
that even the smallest fraction of the smallest infinity is still infinite, and even the smallest infinity has with-
in itself enough infinities that we may each have our own. So if one servant receives a small fraction of
another's, then they both receive the same infinite amount of grace. The ratio, along with whatever im-
portance we impose upon it, is a facade created by our inability to discern God's perspective, which con-
trarily and reasonably is that we each receive an infinite amount of grace as needed. See the arithmetic of
infinity reframes a concept like justice, and we need not sinfully squabble over grace as if it were a scarce
resource. Grace simply abounds, and irrespective of our need of it, we should be assured that God has
enough for everyone - thanks be to God.
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Notes from Session, February 2018 Herald

During its January meeting, session reviewed reports from commissions and committees and transacted routine busi-
ness.

Featured Report: Worship

Kevin Christ distributed the commission’s annual report for 2017 and reviewed the normal activities. This year was
unusual with worship in the fellowship hall, at Landini center, and upstairs with chairs, all of which resulted in exten-
sive set up time. The commission plans to repeat the offering of many kinds of bread on World Communion Sunday
and the Blue Christmas worship service. Two new banners are up and the commission is exploring adding two more
year round ones, perhaps in blue. Kevin thanked the wonderful members of the commission.

Pastor’s Report
The annual session/deacons retreat is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, at 9:00 unless that present a conflict for
too many members. Treasurer Beth Christ is making a slight revision to the budget and will present the updated
budget for session approval next month. Kevin Buchanan will moderate the session at Unity Presbyterian Church
while Andrew Black is ill, and he will be out of the office February 5 – 8.

Treasurer’s Report
The year to date ending figures for 2017 were right on target. Thanks to the year’s two treasurers.

Operating Fund Sum-

Month of December Balance Sheet Summary 121/31/17
mary
Beginning of Month $62,818.60 Current Assets $693,563
Income $32,295.49 Fixed Assets $2,980,000
Expenses $31,079.27 Short Term Liabilities $2652
End of Month $64,034.82 Long Term Liabilities $405,000
Net Worth (Fund Balance) $3,265,911

Clerk’s Report
Communion was served during worship on Sunday, January 7. New members Zach and Brooke Bergstedt were re-
ceived into membership on Sunday, December 17. Infant Griffin Lee VanDyke, son of member Derek and Lauren Van-
Dyke was baptized during worship on Sunday, January 7.

Christian Educator’s Report

Cheryl will be at APSC from January 29 – February 3. She shared information about this year’s Lenten series. Luanne
Tilstra will lead discussions with diversity materials she has used at Rose-Hulman.
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Deacons: the deacons spent $295 for Meet the Need in December. Thanks were expressed to the
deacons for the wonderful hospitality shown during the receptions for Marsha Harder and Abby Sim-
mons.

Reports and Action Items from Committees and Commissions

Christian Nurture: the commission thanked all who helped remove the Christmas decorations.

Church Life-Church Action: the commission will be reorganizing, and it was confirmed that com-
missions and committees should find their own members.

Facilities: a crack in the plaster under the south window was noted. We will look for funding sources
for several parts of the emergency plan, but t is important to obtain the AED device and the budget can
handle it. Facilities will work with Cheryl Moles to devise a plan so parents will know who has children
should an emergency arise. These and other responsibilities will be a good topic for the retreat.

Mission: Saturday’s trip to the Immigrant Welcome Center went very well, with five from Central par-
ticipating.

Nominating: Kevin Christ reported the slates for session and deacons. Some adjustments will be
made for presentation at the annual meeting of the congregation.

Pastor Nominating Committee: Bob Guell reported that the committee had met the previous
evening with POV executive Rev. Susan McGhee and two members of the Committee on Ministry.
Kevin Buchanan reminded us that the intent is to take care of us and to help us get the candidates who
are the best fit for us.
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CPC Members Help 175 refugees in Indianapo-

lis

By
Ernie Danek, Member, Mission Committee
Six members of the Terre Haute Coalition of
Neighbors, five from CPC, journeyed to Indian-
apolis on Saturday, January 6. We piled into two
vehicles mid-morning for the 1.5 hour drive to
an Indianapolis west side Islamic center. First,
we stopped for lunch at Panera and then at an
ethnic food store on the NE side if Indy that
specializes in food common in African countries.
We came with $647 from the generous mem-
bers of CPC and our Mission Committee with the intent of purchasing culturally appropriate food for
new refugees who struggle to adapt to an American diet.

With the guidance of the Immigrant Welcome Center Volunteer Coordinator, we made the purchases
and grouped them into 29 large bags, each intended to benefit a family for about a month. From there
we traveled to the Islamic center on the west side.

The center was located in a strip mall, and when we arrived, there were already more than 50 people
lined up seeking help not only from what we brought, but clothing items that had been donated to the
Immigrant Welcome Center. We set up in a multipurpose room on one end while the clothes, shoes,
and some other household goods were spread out on tables along the other three walls. The African
and Middle Eastern refugees and immigrants who were there signed in and then invited to come peruse
the items in the room. The African families there were deeply appreciative of the food we brought with
us, in part because it was not something commonly provided at such events.

I worked with several other people, arranging clothing

items into some semblance of order, largely governed by
gender and clothing type. As I did so, I had mixed emo-
tions. While the spirit of giving and support is laudable,
some of the donated clothes were clearly worn, even un-
washed. The thought occurred to me “What will the re-
cipients of this think of us? Will they assume that we
think of them as beggars?”

Standing behind a table I momentarily had nothing to do;

a teenage boy approached me and asked (in decent Eng-
lish) if we had some sort of container in which to put the
items that his family had collected from the piles. I
searched through a stack of cardboard boxes, found one that seemed large enough, and smilingly hand-
ed it to him. The lad wordlessly jammed an armload of clothing into the container and walked away.
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We helped 175 people that afternoon, 29 families who will be eating the food we provided during
the remainder of January. As our group prepared to leave, we helped the hosting group to repack
leftover items into boxes and bags. This was also something of a sorting process; donors had been
told not to include underwear, worn socks, and too-worn or torn clothing. Between us, another
volunteer and I made a pile of items to be discarded; I ditched a worn sports bra and several pairs
of trousers with holes in them. My coworker made a much larger pile.

This experience reminds me of a time in my past when I was on a magazine photo assignment in
Houston, Texas during an economic crisis. I was photographing a bunch of people jamming a meal
give-away and a black woman with several children gave me the look of the powerless. “What are
you doin’, sham’n us?” she asked. I wanted to crawl in a hole and pull it in after me. Eyes averted,
all I could say was “I hope not.”

February birthdays
1—Susanne Hawk, Bruce McLaren

3—Peter Ekstrom, Shirley Underwood

4—P. J. Ekstrom, Zoe Payne

6—Kevin Christ, Laura Redicks (will be 100!)

7—Rowyn Holder

8—Ryan Giltner

10—Abbey Rader, Grace Ann Spencer

13—Charles Hoffman, Curt Pennington

15—Lilly Guell, Pam Quiroz

17— Cora Glenn, Robert Symon, Charlie Weber

19—Hannah Marlow

21 — John Moulton

22—Anna Tilstra-Smith

24—Koby Powers

25—Susan Bough, Margaret Clem, Marcella Guthrie

27—Liv Judge, Fred Simmons, Benjamin Spencer

28—Ayden Thacker
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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 Choir 8:45 5 Family Prayer 6 7 8 Women’s 9 Parents’ Night 10

Sunday school Group 11:00 Book Club 7:00 Out 5:30
9:30
Worship 10:30
Souper Bowl
11:30

11 Choir 8:45 12 Family Prayer 13 14 Staff meeting 15 16 17

Sunday school Group 11:00 11:15
9:30
Worship 10:30 Deacons 5:00
Officer training Ash Wednesday
11:30 service 7:00

18 Choir 8:45 19 Church office 20 T3EM meal & 21 22 23 24 Combined

Sunday school closed. childcare 5:15 Session/Deacons
9:30 training 9:00
Commission/
Worship 10:30 Committee meet- Committee/
Officer training ings Commissions
11:30
1:00

25 Choir 8:45 26 Family Prayer 27 Seekers & 28 Staff meeting

Sunday school Group 11:00 Searchers Bible 11:15
9:30 study 10:00
Worship 10:30 Personnel Comm.
Lenten series 12:30
5:00
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 Central Presbyterian Church
Central Presbyterian Church
125 North Seventh Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807 Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.

Phone: 812-232-5049 Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.

Fax: 812-232-5040
Email: CPCOffice@thcpc.org
Rev. Kevin B. Buchanan, Interim Pastor
Scott Paul-Bonham, Parish Associate
Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator
Sarah Kelsheimer, Church Secretary

Church Happenings

Women’s Book Club Women’s Bible Study

The Women’s Book Club
will be meeting on Febru-
Next Herald ary 8 at 7:00 in the church
Deadline — lounge. The book to be
discussed is Enemy Wom-
Feb. 25, 2018 en by Paulett Jiles. Connie
McLaren will lead the dis-
cussion.
The Women’s Bible
Study will meet on Feb-
ruary 27at 10:00 a.m. in
the fellowship hall. The
Last Week by Borg and
Crossen will be discussed
with Rev. Buchanan lead-
ing. Susan Hoffman will
be the hostess.