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Change.Idon’tmeanthesparecoinsinyourpocket;Imeanthe processofadjustingfromonethingtoanother.Ihaveapastor colleaguewholikestosay,“Theonlypeoplewholikechange arebabies.”Hopefully,youcatchhisdriftwithoutcatchingthe smell.Evenwhenchangeisexciting,mostofushavewaysthat wenaturallystrugglewithorresistchange.
Itendtobealittlebitmoreoptimisticthanmycolleague.
Although,inmyhumanness,Iunderstandwhathemeans. Maybeevenseeingyourpastorwritetheword“change”puts youonedge:“WhyisPastorMatttalkingaboutchange? Changewhat?WillIlikeit?WillInot?”
Thatmightnotbeyourreaction;buteitherway,letmeputyou atease.Today,I’mnotwritingaboutanyspecificchangeor announcement.I’mwritingaheart-to-heartreflectionfromone disciple(me)toanother(you)abouttheheart-and-soulprocess ofhowwerespondtochange.
WhenIlookatthebig-pictureofourchurchrightnow,wehave certainlybeenthroughalotofchangethelastthreeyearsinmy shorttimewithyou.Newseniorpastor,newassociatepastor, comingoutofaglobalpandemic,andmore!Mostrecently, sinceearlyDecember2023,we’vehadtheblessingofincreased averageattendanceonSundays.
Itmaynotbetrueforeveryone,butthevastmajorityofusget excitedbyseeingpeopleofavarietyofagesandstagesvisitour church,includinghopefullysomeone(s)youpersonallyinvited yourself.Wepraytheyreceivesomewordofencouragementor convictionfromtheGospeleverySunday.Havingsaidthat, morepeopleandnewpeopleisaformofchange.Maybeyou findyourselfsayingmoreSundaysthanyouusedto,“Thereare somanyfacesIdon’trecognize…!”That’sagoodthing,butyou wonderwhattodoaboutit.
Onapracticalnote,someofusinleadershiparemonitoringour parkinglotcapacity.YourSessionandIjusthadahalf-day retreattoconsiderwhatmightbeaheadifourattendance continuestograduallyincrease.Iwanttoassureyou:anyideas andproposalstoembraceandadjusttothisgrowthwillbe
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sharedattheappropriatestepsintheprocess.Atthis point,Idon’thaveanythingspecifictoannounce–other thantoencourageyoutojoinmeinpraying.Prayforat leasttwothings:1)ThatGod–andGodalone–would informandguideeverysingleconversationandstepinhow werespondtonewvisitors,newministryopportunities, andmore.2)ThatGodwouldguideyourownheart,mind, andsoulinhowyoupersonallyrespondtowhateverthe yearaheadholdsusforatPaxPres.
Inourhumanness,sometimeschanges-bigorsmallexciteus;otherchangesfilluswithfrustrationoranxiety. ButweworshipaGod,whoisunchanging–“thesame yesterday,todayandforever.”(Heb.13:8)(WhatIwantto saynextappliestothings“atchurch,”butyoucanalso applyittonewthingsandchangesthatcomeintoyour personallife,too.)AsGodisinterestedin“makingand growingusasdiscipleofJesus,”Heoffersatleasttwo perspectivesonchange:
1)Whetherachangecomesourwayanditiswelcomeor unwelcome,Godalwayshasthepotentialofusingnew things,newdecisions,newinformation,andnewpeopleas meansofgracetoblessothers.HowcanyouandIrejoicein anewdecisionorachange–whetherwelikeitornot–becauseweknowitmighthelpsomeoneelseloveand followGodmore?
2)Godcanalwaysusechangestogrowmoreofthefruitof theHolySpiritinyouandme,personally.“God,something happenedtomethatIdidordidn’texpect.HowareYou usingittogrowinmeyourlove,joy,peace,patience(!), kindness,gentleness,andself-control?”
Idon’tknowaboutyou,butbothoftheseperspectivesdo notcomenaturallytome.Naturally,myreactionto changes-bigorsmall-istosay,“What’sinitforme?DoI likeit?”Instead,joinmeintheseothertwowaysofhowto approachallnewpossibilitiesthroughamoreChristcenteredlens.
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AWORDONLENT
PaxPresFamily,
AsweentertheseasonofLentandjourneytowardEaster,it’s importanttoreflectonandremindourselvesofwhatthetrue meaningbehindLentis.InChurchhistory,Lentisobserved duringthe40daysleadinguptoEaster(notincludingSundays) wherefollowersofJesusfastfromcertainfoodsorcomforts andreflectontheirownmortality.Wegetthe40daysofLent fromMatthew4:1-11,wherewereadaboutJesus’40dayfast inthewilderness.
DuringLent,weareinvitedbyGodtoexamineourownspirits, toseewhatisgrowing,toseewhatneedspruning,andtosee whatneedsencouragementwithinus.AshWednesdaybegan theLentenseason,wheretheimpositionofashessymbolized ourhumanity,thelimitationsofourmortalbodies,suffering, mortality,andtheinevitabilityofdeath.Inthisandthroughout theseason,wedeeplyfeelourownlackandourneedfora Savior.
OurhopeisfoundintheculminationoftheLentenseasonof fastingandself-denial,onHolySaturday,givingwaytothe EasterseasonoffeastingandcelebrationonResurrection Sunday.OnEaster,wecelebrateJesus’triumphantdefeatover sinanddeath.ThehopeoftheResurrectionisthis,thatweare beingmadenew,andthatallisbeingmadenewbythe resurrectionpowerofJesus.
Allinall,Lentisaseasoninwhichwerememberourmortality andlimitations,notsothatwecanindulgeourself-oriented cravings,butsowecanlivelivesofselfgiving-love.
Mychallengetoyouandtomyselfduringthisseason,istotruly reflectonwhatwithinyouoroutsideofyoudoyoudesireto growandcultivate,andwhatwithinyouoroutsideofyoudo youdesiretopruneorfastfrom.Maybeyoudesiretocultivate morequalitytimewithfamily,orinprayer,orinGod’sWord.
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Maybeyoudesiretocultivatestrongerfriendships,andto bemorepresentandengagedtotheneedsofthehungry andoppressed.Andmaybeyourecognizetheneedtofast fromT.V.,socialmedia,orscreensingeneral.Ormaybe youdesiretofastfromalcoholoracertainfoodinwhich youoftenover-indulge.
Onceyoudiscernwhatitisyouwanttocultivateandfast from,begineachdayeitheronyourcommutetowork,in theshower,orinthemere60secondsofuninterrupted timeyoumayhavebyprayingthisshortandsimpleprayer tostartyourdaybyplacingGodattheforefrontofyour mind;“God,Ihungermorefor__________,adeephunger, thanIamtosatisfythissurfacehunger.”Then,brieflypray inthediscomfortleftbydenyinganappetiteyou’vegrown usedtogratifying.Fasttoawakenandliveintouchwith deepdesire…andpraythatverydesireintobeing.
Finally,ifyourdesireistocultivatemoretimeinGod’s Word,joinourchurchinour2024LentenBibleReading Planwhichcanbefound:www.paxpres.com/lenteaster. AndletourdeclarationforthisseasonofLentbethis…Iam human….Iamdust….andIamloved.
Grace&Peacetoallofyou.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY
“Becausewe’vebeenlovedbyJesus, wegettogoandloveotherswithHislove.”
-AsheritahCiuciu
MynameisKimHagan,andIamthrilledtosharethatIwill besteppingintotheroleofCoordinatorSundaySchoolfor Kids(SS4K),takingoverfromJaniceDixon.Whilethisisanew positionforme,myjourneyinservingChristianEducationat PaxPresspans18years.Duringthistime,Ihavehadthe privilegeofteachingSundaySchoolforAdultsandKids, directingVBS,managingthenursery,andteachingChildren's Church.From2018to2021,IalsoservedastheChristian EducationElder.MypassionliesinsharingtheloveofChrist withpeopleofallagesandcreatingawelcomingspacefor familiestolearnaboutJesus.
Asaparentofa5thgrader,Iunderstandthemorningrushtogetyourfamilyto church.Despitethechallenges,I'vewitnessedthetremendousvalueofmakingchurch andSundaySchoolattendanceapriorityforourfamilyandseeinghowmuchour childrenlearn.Iamexcitedtocontinuethisjourneywithallofyou.
Janicehasdoneanoutstandingjobovertheyears,andIacknowledgethatstepping intohershoesisnosmalltask.However,Iamconfidentthat,withthefantasticteam ofvolunteerteachersandourchurchfamilies,thiswillbeaterrificyearforeveryone. Ifyoufeelcalledtojoinourteachingteam,whetherthisspringornextyear,weare alwayslookingforpassionatepeoplewhowanttoinvestinthechildrenofPaxPres. Ournewcurriculummakesitveryeasytoteach!Wanttolearnmoreabouthowyou canhelpbuildbridgesfortheGospelandmakeadifferenceinthelivesofour students?Let’schat!
KimHagan sundayschool@paxpres.org
IntheFallof2023,wekickedoffa BRANDNEWcurriculumforour PreK-8thGradersfromLifeway. It’scalledTheGospelProjectand we’veheardamazingreviewssofar. Staytunedtohearmoreaboutwhat ourstudentsandtheirteachershave tosay!
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Betweenour9:00a.m.and11:00a.m.EasterSundayworshipservices, ourSS4K(SundaySchoolforKids)andYouthwillhavetheirannualEaster EggHuntfrom10:10-10:45a.m.Kidsareinvitedtojoininthefunof findingEasterEggs,whichwillbefilledwithScripture,candy,andtoys. TherewillalsobeaVERYSPECIALGOLDENEGG-atake-homegiftfor eachparticipant!Todoublethefun,therewillbetwogroups;PreK-5th graderswillmeetintheFellowshipHallat10:10a.m.;6th-12thgraders willmeetattheJoshuaHouseat10:10a.m.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY
SCUBAVBSwillrunfromJune24th–28thfrom9:00a.m.tonoonandisopento childrenages4(asofSeptember1,2024)through5thgrade.Kidswilldivedeepinto anamazingunderseaadventurewherethey’llexperiencetheever-flowing,neverendingloveofGod.TheywillbeimmersedintheWordanddiscoverwhat‘living water’isreallyallabout!
VolunteerRegistration!ThisisouropportunityasthebodyofChristtoshareGod’s Wordbyservingchildrenandfamiliesinthecommunity.Pleaseconsidersharingyour giftsandtalentswiththechildrenwhoenterourdoors.Therearemanywaystobe involved,sopleasesignupintheNarthexoronline:www.paxpres.com/vbs.
ParticipantRegistration!OpensApril7th!
Questions?
ContactDavidPorter,VBSDirector at:443-562-2870 orPaxPresVBS@gmail.com.
DONATIONSaccepted&appreciated! Clickheretovisitour"OnlineGiving“ pageandselect"VBS2024"inthe drop-downmenu(ordropyourcheck inthecollectionplateonSundaywith "VBS2024"onthememoline).
Thankyouforyourgenerosity!
TriviaDay!Saturday,March2ndat 2:00p.m.intheFellowshipHall.Joinusfor afunintergenerationaltimeoffellowship. Joinus!!!
VolunteerneededforTWOevents: MulchDay&ChurchWorkDay!Come andjointheGardenClubforMulchDay, todistributemulcharoundthegrounds, plants,andtreesonSaturday,March2nd from8:00a.m.-noon.ThespringChurch WorkDaywilltakeplaceonSaturday, March16thfrom8:00a.m.–noon.We willcleanandmakerepairsthroughout thechurch.Cleaningsuppliesandtools provided.
MARCHWorkingAdultsGroup(WAG) GameNightonFriday,March15that 7:00p.m.attheJoshuaHouse.Please bringanEastertreattoshare.
APRILWorkingAdultsGroup(WAG)Mario KartnightonFriday,April19that7:00p.m. attheJoshuaHouse.Pleasebringasnack toshare.
TheBonnieClarkMemorialScholarship forOutstandingServicetoOthersis offeredtoa2024highschoolgraduate whoisamemberofPaxPres.This$2,000 Scholarshipisforthepursuitofadvanced educationatacollege,university,ortrade school,andwillbepaidtothesuccessful candidateuponverificationofenrollment. Deadline:April5th.
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OUTREACH
WARMisanecumenicalpartnershipamongmany ofthechurchesorplacesofworshipinSt.Mary’s County,withthecooperationandparticipationof theSt.Mary’sCountyDepartmentofSocial ServicesandDepartmentofPublicWorksand TransportationandtheThreeOaksCenterin LexingtonPark,arecommittedtoprovidingsafe andwarmsheltertothehomelessduringthe coldestweeksoftheyear.Tofulfillthis commitment,WARMwillprovideshelterfor theseindividualseachnightfor20weeksfrom NovemberthroughMarch.PatuxentPresbyterian ChurchwillhosttheweekofMarch3–10,2024. ChrisandKristinLawrencearethesitecoordinators;StephanieThomsonistheWARMMentor; RachelPortilloistheRecruitingCoordinator;CherieCresciniistheKitchenCoordinator(Dinner, BreakfastandCleanup).Shiftswillbeestablishedforchurchmemberswhoarewillingtooffer awelcomingandsupportivepresenceforourguests.DONATIONSappreciatedforfood!To donateonline,pleasevisit:www.paxpres.com/online-giving.OnlineGiving>dropdown menu>WARMProgram2024.Forchecks,write"WARM"inthememolineanddropinthe collectionplateonSunday.
ManythanksforparticipatingintheSOUPERBowl
SoupDrive-wecollectedalmost300cansofsoup forHOPEandSMILE!Wewillcontinuetocollect souporanynon-perishablefooddonationsinthe bluecontainersintheNarthex.February:SOUP; March:TUNAandCHICKEN.
SavetheDateforChristmasinApril2024on Saturday,April27th.Volunteersareneededtohelp lowincome,elderly,ordisabledpersonsinour community.ChristmasinAprilrepairs,replaces, builds,paints,worksonlandscaping(including flowersandshrubs),constructswheelchairramps, andmore.Nospecialskillsrequired.Sign-upinthe Narthexoronline:www.paxpres.com/xmasinapril. ContactChrisLawrenceat:bigbroncofn@yahoo.com orRitaReevesat:rtmreeves@yahoo.com.
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WORSHIP
Thisstainglasswindowistitled“Gethsemane”and depictsJesusprayingintheGardenofGethsemaneatthe footoftheMountofOlivesinJerusalemasthedisciples sleepinthebackground.Thewindowfallsinthefirstrow ofstainglasswindowsinthesanctuaryofPatuxent PresbyterianChurch,whicharetitled“HisDeathand Resurrection”.
ThewindowwasoriginallydonatedtoTheFirst PresbyterianChurchofSt.Mary’sCountyinTownCreek, inmemoryofTimandMargaret(Margie)Wilbarandlater ThomasandEthelJ.Merrell.MargieWilbarservedasan ElderatPaxPres.ShealsoservedasModeratorof PresbyterianWomen.
IntheGardenofGethsemane,Jesus,whiledeeply troubles,isobedienttoGodandHepraysforstrengthto followGodswillandcommand,deathonacrosstoatone forallofoursins.
Luke22:37-46:JesuswentoutasusualtotheMountofOlives,andhisdisciples followedhim.Onreachingtheplace,hesaidtothem,“Praythatyouwillnotfall intotemptation.”Hewithdrewaboutastone’sthrowbeyondthem,kneltdown andprayed,“Father,ifyouarewilling,takethiscupfromme;yetnotmywill,but yoursbedone.”Anangelfromheavenappearedtohimandstrengthenedhim.And beinginanguish,heprayedmoreearnestly,andhissweatwaslikedropsofblood fallingtotheground.Whenherosefromprayerandwentbacktothedisciples,he foundthemasleep,exhaustedfromsorrow.“Whyareyousleeping?”heasked them.“Getupandpraysothatyouwillnotfallintotemptation.”
MatthewalsorecountsJesusgoingtotheGardenofGethsemaneonthenightofhisbetrayalin Chapter26asdoesMarkinChapter14andJohninChapter18oftheirrespectivegospels.
AsweapproachtheseasonofLent,letusprayforstrengthandguidancetostayattentive,not followourownwillsanddesires,butratherlistenforandfollowGodspathforus.
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WORSHIP
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RecentPaxPresHappenings!
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RecentPaxPresHappenings!
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YOUTHMINISTRY
VisionforYouthGroup: YouthGroupisaplaceforteenstogrow thefoundationoftheirrelationshipwith Christandtodevelopacommunity ofChristianFellowship.
Ifyouaren’treceivingtheYouthGroup emailsorhavequestions/concerns, pleasefeelfreetocontactme,oranyof theotherYouthLeaders.Welook forwardtoseeingyouatYouthevents andgettingtoknowyouryouth!
TomSchumacher,SeniorYouthLeader youthdirector@paxpres.org
Whathappenedtowinter?!
InJanuary,webravedthecoldestwinter weekendoftheyear(sofar)togotothewinter retreatatRiverValleyRanch.Wespentalotof timeoutdoorsin20degreeweatherwith stiffwinds,butitwasFUN–inner-tubing,ziplining,paint-balling,andmore.Wedidn’tnotice howcolditwasuntilwewentinside–goodthing therewerefireplacestogatheraroundand plentyofhotfood.
Somepointswhichstoodout:Discussingwhatit meanstofindpowerinJesus.Whenweare ashamedandwanttohide,Hesays“Iseeyou,I loveyou,comewithme.”AndHeremindsusthat Hedoesn’tcalltheprepared;Hepreparesthe called.Wereallydidhaveagoodtimeanditwas agreatwaytokickoffthenewyear.
We’relookingforwardtothesummerretreats. Bothmiddleschoolstudents(earlyJuly)andhigh schoolstudents(endofJuly)willbeattending campattheNorthBayAdventureCamp.Signups areoutanddepositsareduebyMarch18th.
Meanwhile,weheldatrivianightattheJ-house andfoundoutjusthowobscureaquestion Amandacouldcomeupwithandjusthowmuch, orlittle,theYouthknew.Lol!
Weareplanningatablegamenightinearly MarchandaHighSchoolLock-inthenightof March22nd.Lock-insareafunwaytogetsome moretogethertimeandtodiscussimportantand randomtopicsatallhoursofthenight.Inthe spring,therewillbeaYouthTalent/Skit fundraisereventtosupportupcomingretreats andYouthevents–possiblyonSaturdaynight, May4th.Moreinfowillbeavailableinupcoming issuesoftheWeeklyeNews.
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FINANCE
PerCapitaisanamountofmoneythateachchurchpaystothePresbytery,SynodandGeneral Assemblyforeachactivememberofitschurch.The2023PerCapitadonationforPresbyterian(USA) is$47.13permemberapportionedasfollows:GeneralAssembly$9.85+Synod$1.15+National CapitalPresbytery$36.13.GivingEnvelopesincludeaspecialenvelopeforPerCapitadonation.For thosegivingbyACHorCreditCard,youcansendacheckmarked“PerCapita”totheChurchOfficeor placeitintheofferingplate.YoucanalsomakeyourPerCapitadonationonlinethroughourwebsite at:www.paxpres.com/online-givingoryoucanemailMarieHankinsonat:Treasurer@paxpres.org toincreaseyourACHallotmenttoincludePerCapita.
Reminder:Ifyouincreasedyourpledgefor2023andaresignedupforACH,pleasefilloutandturn inanewACHformreflectingyournewpledgeamount.Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportto PaxPresaswecontinuetomeettheneedsfortheChurchandcommunity.
IfyouwouldliketousemonthlyautomatedgivingthroughACHorCreditCardwithdrawal,youmay fillouttheautomatedgivingformtoinitiatethesetypesofcontributions.Theformsareavailablein theNarthexorat:www.paxpres.com/online-giving.Ifyouhaveanyquestionspleasecontactthe ChurchTreasurer,MarieHankinsonat:301-863-2033orTreasurer@paxpres.org.
LetuswalkandworktogetherasweseektospreadtheGospelofJesusChrist athome,abroad,andtotheendsoftheearth!
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BUILDINGBRIDGESfortheGOSPEL
PaxPresiscalledbyGodtomakeandgrowdisciples ofJesusChrist
bybuildingbridgesfortheGospel inSouthernMarylandandtheworld.
WeseektobuildbridgesfortheGospelofJesus betweenGodandpeople, betweenoneanotherincommunity, andbetweenourchurchandtheworld.
23421KingstonCreekRoad|California,MD20619 paxpres.com|301-863-2033|churchoffice@paxpres.org
Rev.MattPooley,Pastor AssociatePastor,RobbieD’Orazio
