Pulpit Points – March 2025

Spring is just around the corner!  We may still have some cold weather coming our way in the next several weeks, but we can most definitely say that we are now closer to Spring than we are Winter!

March is going to be another great month for our congregation as we worship and fellowship together.

This coming Wednesday, March 5th, will be a busy day.  First, we have the service at The Willows at 10:30 a.m., then Judy and I will have a PV Ministerial Alliance meeting that afternoon.  We will not have our regular Bible Study that evening since it is Ash Wednesday.  The Ash Wednesday Service that we will be participating in will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m.  Our congregation is meeting in connection with the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and I encourage you to begin your Lenten Season by joining me at this service.  Looking toward Holy Week that will be in April, the Presbyterian Church will be hosting the Maundy Thursday service and our congregation will be sponsoring the Good Friday Service.

Beginning on March 12th and continuing to April 16th, the Bible Study group will be doing a special Lenten Bible Study.  All are welcome to join us as we dine at 6:00 and then study the Word together.

On the 6th, it will once again be time for us to volunteer at The Samaritans from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Last month they were so appreciative of those of us who were able to volunteer.

As a reminder, we have been asked to participate in Regional prayer days each month and the 8th is the day that we are asked to be in prayer for those concerns and/or joys that we are aware of as well as prayers for our nation, our world and everything in between.

March 8th will also be the day First Friends will meet instead of on the 1st due to Regional events.  Sue Holder will be our hostess for that gathering at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Those participating this month are reminded to bring (3) one-dollar bills for our “Left, Right & Center” game.  The proceeds of this game will be used to buy food items for our outdoor food pantry. Door prizes will be awarded as well!

Since we are entering the Lenten season this month, we will have different Lenten Candle readings each Sunday of Lent, beginning on March 9th.  I have secured readers for the 9th 16th and the 30rd of March, but still need volunteers to share the reading on the 23rd, April 6th and April 13th.  If you would like to volunteer for one of those Sundays, please let me know.

We will have Chalice Youth on March 9th immediately following worship and Men’s Breakfast will also be held that morning at 9:00 a.m. so mark your calendars for those events.  Regular Board Meeting will be on the 16th immediately following worship.

There will be two other special opportunities for you to worship and fellowship this month.  The first will be on March 23rd at 3:00 pm at the First Christian Church in Sulphur.  This will be our next Praise & Pie! installment.  Hopefully we will have a good group from our church attending this event.  And then on March 30th, there will be The Gathering at 6:00 p.m. which will be held at the First Church of God.  The Gathering is the quarterly prayer and fellowship meeting that is hosted by the Pauls Valley Ministerial Alliance.

Wild Bunch will gather at a meeting place on March 20th.  As of this writing that has not been determined yet.  We always have a good time together as we spend time together around the table, no matter where it is.

And finally, I am so pleased to welcome Tim Wood (and his wife Cheryl) as well as Isaac Faught as our new worship musicians!  Tim is a native of Pauls Valley who had moved away but recently returned to the area.  Tim plays guitar, piano and several other instruments.  Isaac Faught has also joined our worship team with his piano talents.  Isaac is originally from the Lexington area and currently living north of Purcell.  We have been blessed with answered prayers to have live musicians instead of relying on taped or televised music. I am looking forward to how our worship experience is going to be enhanced as they learn our songs and we learn songs that they can bring to us.  I can only believe that God has brought these gentlemen to us to help us each week bring the Word of God through music.  Tim’s wife, Cheryl has been accompanying him to worship and Isaac has brought friends with him as well to church.  We are especially glad to see Sherry, Linda Agee’s sister, join us each Sunday.

God has been good to us!  Yes, we have undergone some changes within our worship experience and we are preparing for other changes as the year progresses….but all in all we can only look at these changes as being “good” changes.  As you will remember, I will be preparing to go on Sabbatical beginning in August through October.  The Pastoral Relations Committee is currently working to establish an Interim Minister to be here during the time I am away.  This time of Sabbatical is not only a time for me to renew and refresh myself, but it is an opportunity for this congregation to experience God’s word being brought to you in a new way….an opportunity to step up and help the church function in all of the ministries that we have as well as an opportunity for you to renew and refresh your soul and mind.  Please be in prayer for our PRC group as they work to find that Interim Minister.

In closing, I would like to share with you some thoughts from an interesting book that I have called “300 Seed Thoughts” by Herb Hiller and Douglas V. Moore.  Here are their reflections on Lent:

“What is Lent?  Your answers will probably vary from “I have no idea,” to “stuff that gets in your navel,” to “the time you give up something you like.”  Lent (spelled with an “e” not an “I”) is a very significant time in the Christian year.  It begins on Ash Wednesday and culminates with Easter Sunday – the Day of Resurrection. You may want to give up something you like. Or, you may decide to do something helpful. Some will use Lent as a time of fasting and penitence. Regardless of what you do, Lent is an excellent time to begin moving in some new directions.

During Lent, Jesus was moving toward the cross, following in the direction he felt God was calling him. In what direction are you moving with your life?  What is God calling you to do and be? Lent is a good time to find out.”

May your experiences through this time of Lent be meaningful and lead you in a new direction…even if it is a very simple one.  My prayer for you all is that God will continue to bless you…comfort you…calm you…and give you peace as you deal with each new thing that comes  your way.

Blessings & Grace!

Pastor Elaine Howsley