This Sunday our youth will lead us in Family Worship at 9:30.  At 11:00 we celebrate the baptism of Jacob Robert Gressman, son of Earl and Mary Gressman.

Pastor Cobb will begin a series of sermons on the history of our church and the Absecon area.  He will be speaking from 2 Timothy 4:6-18.

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Our 150th anniversary celebration is drawing near.  Be sure to purchase your tickets for the May 16 Gourmet Dessert Reception/Concert from Joanie.  The deadline for reservations for the dinner and program at Renault Gourmet Restaurant is Sunday, May 3.

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All three of our youth programs will be having their closing meetings this coming week.  KFC will be heading out to lunch for their last meeting this Sunday.  Monday will be the closing for Senior Youth.  Lions and Lambs will have their annual Family Night dinner at 5:30 on Thursday.

We thank Karen Muldoon, Jack Cobb and Jim Wooding for their work with these groups and wish them and our youth a happy and safe summer break!

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On Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 PM there will be a free RE-EMPLOYMENT SESSION for all residents of Atlantic County conducted by the Atlantic County One Stop Career Center at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall, New Jersey Avenue, Absecon, N.J.  Information about job searches, counseling, literacy, etc. will be available to all.  Questions?  Call Frank Blee (856)583-6105 or Gail Zona 641-1986.

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Please remember in prayer ~

Carol Thomas – convalescing at home

Jean Delesantro – hospitalized Thursday

Bill & Ida Juhrs – health

Jack Cobb – recovering at home from surgery

Sister Jean Webster – diagnosed again with pneumonia

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The Secret of Power

The story is told of the explorer who some years ago had just returned to his country from the Amazon. The people at home were eager to learn all about the vast and mighty river and the country surrounding it.  How he wondered, could he ever describe it to them - how could he ever put into words the feelings that flooded into his heart when he saw the exotic flowers and heard the night sounds of the jungle.  How could he communicate to them the smells the filled the air and the sense of danger and excitement that would come whenever he and his fellows explorers encountered strange animals or paddled through treacherous rapids?

So the explorer did what all good explorers do - he said to the people, "go and find out for yourselves what it is like", and to help them he drew a map of the river pointing out the various features of its course and describing some of the dangers and some of the routes that could be used to avoid those dangers.

The people took the map and they framed and hung it on the wall of the local science museum so that everyone could look at it.  Some made copies of it.

After a period of time many of those who made copies for themselves considered themselves experts on the river - and indeed they knew its every turn and bend, they knew how broad it was and how deep, where the rapids where and where the falls.  They knew the river and they instructed others in what it was like whenever those people indicated an interest in it.

I think that many people today are in the same situation. We know the scriptures but we do not understand them. And we do not understand them because we have not been there. We must not simply look at the scriptures and their meaning, we must go there. We must experience what it means to repent of our sins and allow God to forgive us. Would you this morning take the map down from the wall and go to the river with me. See what is there.  Allow Christ to open your mind, to breathe his Holy Spirit upon you, and make you a disciple from the heart. Amen

Adapted from an April 13 1997 sermon by Richard Fairchild, "So They Could Understand."

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This Week in Our Church . . .                                

Sunday                        Baptism Sunday

              8:45 Breakfast

              9:30 Family Worship

            10:45 Refreshments

            11:00 Worship & KFC Closing

            12:15 Sesquicentennial Committee

              4:00 Confirmation Class

              7:00 New Members Class

Monday           Good News Deadline

              1:15 Bible Study

              6:00 Senior Youth Closing

Tuesday        

Wednesday     

            12:00 Evergreens          

Thursday        

              5:30 Lions & Lambs Family Night

              6:30 Handbell Choir Rehearsal

              7:45 Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Friday

              1:00 Ruth Circle at Betsy Cunius’

Saturday         

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Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - I Corinthians 13:7

 

The Presbyterian Church at Absecon
208 New Jersey Avenue
Absecon, New Jersey 08201