The Pine Log February 2012
Pine Hill Congregational Church Newsletter
Minister’s Notes:
“For some, it’s chocolate. For others, it’s coffee or cigarettes. But as this Easter approaches, some young and devout Christians are anxious to return to what they gave up for Lent: Internet sites Face book, Twitter and MySpace.” Katie Hawkins, CNN
Lent is the season the church uses to parallel, the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. Some Christians sacrifice (give up) something that might allow them to grow closer to God. For years, people gave up certain foods or some bad habit. Recently, as Katie Hawkins points out; some are showing their spiritual colors by walking away from the social and popular network sites, like Twitter and Face book during Lent. I mentioned this today at our clergy meeting and all of the ministers said I was crazy. I keep hearing that lately!
They argued rightly that these networks are all about being in touch. However, I think the point Hawkins is making has more to do with being tied to a screen, and the increasing frequency of receiving and sending email messages tweets, news and advertising. As one person recently shared, she does not take her smart phone into the grocery store to shop anymore. Why? Because she feels that time can be portioned off, to do one thing, not many at one time!
Giving something up during Lent that we normally spend a good portion of our energy and time on, may be similar to what this woman is doing with one part of her electronic/connected life.
Lent is a season of rearranging our time, marking space and purpose in a different form. It is intentionally changing our routines to see clearer. Lent is coming soon. Give up something that has been using up a lot of your time or let go of some bad habit? I’d like to tell you I am giving up my smart phone, but, I don’t have one. Just this week, three people told me I needed to replace my not so smart phone, for one! So, until I get a smart phone, I’ll give up sweets! Either way, the message of Lent is: refocus.
Peace, Chris
Ash Wednesday Feb.22nd, 2012 at Pine Hill
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. We will gather at 6:30pm and share a sit down soup and bread meal provided for us by our Deacons. Following the meal, we will gather in the meetinghouse (sanctuary) for a reflective time in worship. Join us as we begin this journey as individuals and as a church community.
Editor’s Note: Pine Hill met on Sunday, January 22nd for our Annual Meeting. Lots of sharing, reporting, with a few motions made and passed, then a balanced budget, dialogue about growing the church, spiritually and in numbers. After 5 years of steady and gracious leadership, Linda Koop’s passed the ministry of moderating the church to Dave Veighey, who has just begun his term in this leadership role. God speed to Linda and blessings to Dave going forward! How fortunate we are to have willing leaders to share in our mission.
Moderator’s Message: Ready to embark on a new chapter is my life and pleased that it includes all the wonderful members of Pine Hill. I’m looking forward to my first Coordinating Board Meeting as moderator on February 19th after church. We will continue the discussion of actionable ways to grow the church in 2012. Are you full of ideas and energy for a meaningful outlet with little or no responsibility to start, please see me regarding an opening.
I encourage all members to visit:
The Pine hill Congregational Church web site at http//www.pinehillchurch.org
We also have a Face book Group Page at http//www.facebook.com/groups/127625200634071/
Do you wake up and think to yourself, “I’m pretty awesome!” ? Well if you do, good for you! If you don’t, do it anyway! Cause you are!
David Veighey, Moderator
BENEVOLENCE / OUTREACH NEWS for February: This month the Committee is asking individuals to look for any type of sale items, such as: cologne, kids books, hats scarves, or anything new) that we may donate to the Baldwin Center Christmas Store. Actually, we encourage you to look for sale items all year, so if you see a great deal buy something and we’ll get it to the store. Thank you from the Benevolence/Outreach Committee.
Community Lenten Soup and Bread Meals and Worship
As is our tradition, Pine Hill joins with four other faith communities in hosting one of the Wednesday evening Lenten dinners and worship. Each week, we gather at the following churches at 6:30pm to share a meal of soup and bread, followed by a ½ hour worship.
The schedule is as follows:
Feb. 29th Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Mar. 7th West Bloomfield United Methodist
Mar. 14th Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Mar. 21st Pine Hill Congregational Church
Mar. 28th Sylvan Lake Lutheran Church
Holy Week at Pine Hill
Palm Sunday, April 1st, 10:00 am Worship
Choral Cantata “Forsaken, Remembering the Last Days of Christ” Please invite your extended family and friends to join us on Palm Sunday (or any Sunday) as we walk together through Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday, April 5th at PineHill beginning at 6:30pm with dinner and the Service of Tenabrae
Social Action and Men’s Group proudly welcomes Bev Meyer, back to Pine Hill, who will share her second “Bistro with Bev” on Saturday, March 17th ! The fellowship hall will be transformed by stage alights and sound. Bev’s enthusiastic presence and voice will entertain us and our friends! We filled the “hall” last year and plan to do so again! Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the renovation work projects shared by Men’s Group.
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Cooking w/Clinton gathered in the lower level kitchen in January to make some delicious sauces! Please look for more information regarding the next session! We welcome friends to join us!
Sunday School News Check out the colorful Joseph robes in the lower level!!!!!
Youth News: PF State Retreat was held last weekend in Greenville. Our own Rob Carson was elected as a PF youth Leader for the Michigan Conference. Way to go Rob! Thanks to Michelle Carson for being our youth leader!!!!!
Wednesday Evening Bible Study group will be joining in the Community Lenten Series, following Ash Wednesday.
Monday Study Group meets on Feb. 6th at 7pm at Pine Hill
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The 2012 Pine Hill Directory is available. Please take a copy for your family. We thank everyone for updating your information. Special thanks to Dave and Sara Woolfenden for the printing and collating! Also, thanks to Jerry Amster for the lovely cover photo!
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Pine Hill Cookbook is on sale! These make great gifts! See Joyce or Linda Ketterer to buy a copy or two! Donation: $15.00 goes to Women’s Fellowship work and mission! This cookbook is a keeper!
Get the Spring Tea on your calendar, Saturday, May 5th! More details to follow!!!!
February Calendar 2012
Feb. 1st., Wed. bible Study 7:30pm
2nd Choir Reh. 7:30pm
3rd Suzuki Lessons 4pm
4th WF Trip to the DIA, The Face of Jesus 11am
Sunday, 5th
Worship/Communion Sunday 10am
Sunday School/Fellowship
Deacon Meeting
SEMACC NOLA Meeting at North Church 2pm
6th Monday Study Group 7pm
Scout Troop 1039 7:30pm
7th Suzuki Lessons 4pm
8th Wed. Bible Study 7:30pm
9th Choir Reh. 7:30 pm
10th Suzuki Lessons 4pm
Sunday, 12th
Worship/SS/Fellowship 10 am
13th Trustee Meeting 7pm
Scout Troop 1039 7:30pm
14th NO Men’s Fellowship 6:30pm
Happy Valentines Day!
15th Wed. Bible Study 7:30pm
16th Choir Reh. 7:30pm
17th Lunches for IMBK mission 10am
Suzuki Lessons 4pm
18th IMBK mission to Detroit 11am
Tulk Recital 1pm
Rev. Chris/Martha on vacation thru 24th
Sunday, 19th
Worship/SS/Fellowship 10 am
Rev. Bob Higle, preaching
Coordinating Board Meeting
2ist Suzuki Lessons 4pm
22nd ASH Wednesday Dinner/Worship 6:30pm
23rd Choir Reh. 7:30pm
24th Suzuki Lessons 4pm
Sunday, 24th 1st Sunday in Lent
Worship/SS/ Fellowship 10am
Rev. Bob Higle, preaching
Rev. Chris & Gerd Hartung in NOLA
28th West Blmfd. Twp, Precinct # 3 all day!
29th Community Lenten Series 6:30pm
At Prince of Peace Catholic Church
February Birthdays
1st Curt Carson
1st Caren Peltier
2nd Betsy Patterson
4th Mary Shaw
12th Debbie Hartung
24th Ruth Ribrant
27th George Kuhn
28th Aulora Rodriguez
The 2011 Annual Report is available in fellowship hall. Big thanks to Dave and Sara for creating such a neat booklet! Thanks to Jan Henzie for typing and collating the pages and everyone for getting your reports in on time and in many cases, ahead of time!