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tagged Monarch butterfly being released by young fellow at 2019 Heritage Festival
Marla Faust dressed as a butterfly for reading stories to children, Carol Biskup, 2019 Heritage Festival
Elise and Monarch butterfly
Monarch Watch tagging register, Darlene,Fawn
Elise, her Mom Bev Whiteford and husband Chris. Elise brought the Monarchs that were tagged at the festival. She grows in their yard several native wildflowers that offer nectar and pink aka swamp milkweed/
Marla the Butterfly reads stories to the children, 2019 Heritage Festival
Lily is releasing a tagged Monarch butterfly, Marla is watching, Fawn is holding Lily's hand still while the butterfly walks on the back of her hand2019 Heritage Festival
the four Master Gardeners brought an interactive electric matching game, free seeds, beautiful smiles and happy conservations with visitors
Lily looks at a tagged Monarch butterfly
female Monarch nectaring on Goldenrod
Patrick Jones of the Soil Conservation Service, Harford County brought gave to visitors free coloring books and Pollinator Garden seeds packets
Monarch caterpillar on a Swamp or Pink Milkweed. Asclepias incarnata. Milkweeds are the only host plants for Monarch.
it is in the chrysalis that the caterpillar metamorphically changes into a butterfly.
The Monarch caterpillar finds a protected place to attach for the chrysalis stage. This amazing metamorphosis takes place in 10-14 days, at which time the butterfly emerges, dries its wings, and take flight in search of flower nectar.
ripe Swamp Milkweed pods split open to reveal the brown seeds and their fluffy pappus.
Carolyn Bell and her grandchildren at the 2019 Heritage Festival
Pentecost
2019 Child Care Sunday Worship Service is well attended. :-)
Chancel Choir rehearses in the Parlor
Children sitting in the new !!! Outdoor Classroom, winter 2021
looking from Rte. 22 east to our church. There are some of the oldest cemetary stones on the other side of the stone wall.
Welcome to our church website.
We are glad you are here!
We hope to see you soon!
Our physical gathering has been returned.
We are meeting indoors while respecting COVID limitations.
Sunday Worship
Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. we offer a service of worship indoors and live, in-person. We respect COVID restrictions. We ask that people social distance and wear their masks.
Above, Rowan Oliver Brown joins the disciples as they run to tell the world, "Christ is Risen!"
Pastor Pondering. Friday, July 1, 2021
I collect quotes from the books I have read. This one comes from a wonderful little book titled: Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli.
Yaconelli talks about a man angry with God because of the loss of a child. On a retreat he is told to go and look for God in nature.
“This is stupid,” he said. God is not anywhere...I have been wasting the last few months trying to find God in my life and I have received no response...”
“I was about halfway up the walkway,” he said, “...lost in my resentment toward God, when the tears began....There were cracks in the cement. The entire walkway was covered with cracks. I realized my tears were not because of the cracks; they were caused by what was in the cracks - in every crack, a flower! Somehow, in the midst of the gray lifeless cement, life made its way through the impenetrable rock and mortar of sidewalk. Suddenly I was conscious of God. He was alive!...He found a way to show me hope in the midst of despair. His love and care had found me....” God kept the conversation going. (132)
Paying attention can make a big difference.
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve
Adult Bible/Christian Education.
Peace is My continual gift to you. It flows abundantly from My throne of grace. Just as the Israelites could not store up manna for the future but had to gather it daily, so it is with My Peace. The day-by-day collecting of manna kept My people aware of their dependence on Me. Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present when you come to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency.
I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve
We hope to see you in September!
"When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pentecost Sunday, May 23.
Acts 2:38 Peter preaches his first sermon.
Sermon: "Light the Fire" Acts 2
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Seventh Sunday in the Easter Season, May 16: Sermon-"Finding a Place to be"
2 Samuel 7. The Lord asks Nathan to let King David know that the Lord wants him to build the Lord a Temple.
Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.c Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
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Sixth Sunday in the Easter Season, May 9, Mother's Day
Exodus 1:5-21 ; Proverbs 31/ Sermon: "A Capable Woman"
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Fifth Sunday in the Easter Season, May 2, 2021.
2 John 1:9-11. "4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what wea have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
Sermon: "Tolerance, not indifference"
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Mark 16:1-8. "1When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021
Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James, and Salome are afraid and astonished at the empty tomb with grave cloths but no body of crucified Jesus. The angel tells them that Jesus of Nazareth has risen and to go and tell his disciples and Peter.
Peter, John and the other disciples run to see what the women have told them. Peter arrives first and goes inside the empty tomb.
Sermon: "Empty Tomb, empty pews"
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Sixth Sunday in Lent/Palm Sunday: March 28, 2021. "Good Trouble"
John 2:13-22 "13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.' ” ESV
and 12:12-19 "12The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' 14And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15'Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!' 16His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, 'You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.' ” ESV
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Fifth Sunday in Lent: March 21, 2021. "Jesus Saves"
John 3:16 - 21 -- "16“For God so loved the world,i that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” ESV
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Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 14, 2021. "The Adjustment Bureau"
Romans 9:15-18, 20b-23, Jeremiah 18:4. -- free will, predestination, "God has endured with much patience."
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Third Sunday in Lent, Communion Sunday, March 7, 2021.
Sermon:"What would George Washington do?". I Corinthians 11:17-34. photo: George Washington at Princeton, painter Charles Willson Peale.
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Second Sunday in Lent, February 28, 2021.
Gospel of Mark, chapter 8. Sermon: "A Public Faith"
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Third Sunday in Epiphany
January 24, 2021. Book of Jonah 1,2,3 and 4
Sermon: "Which Way to Ninevah?" Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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Second Sunday in Epiphany 
January 17, 2021 John 1:46-47
Sermon: "Come and See" Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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First Sunday in Epiphany
January 10, 2021 1 Samuel 8: 4-18
"Give Us a King" Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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Epiphany is January 6th
Matthew 2:1-12 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. 7Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. 9And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (American Standard Version)
Micah 5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting.
This video, "Learning to Pray, Thank you God for Jesus, our Savior King" was made to show in the Center's preschool classes and for the families to watch at home. Storybooks used in this video: "A Star for Jesus", written by Crystal Bowman, illustrations by Claudine Gevry, 2006, Zonderkidz; and "Snuggle Time Prayers", written by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Cee Biscoe, 2016, Zonderkidz.
http://youtu.be/HoOcNOAfd3k
2020 Confirmation Class
Please join us on Thursday, December 24th. We will celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Friend, Redeemer and Savior.
At NOON, I will ring the church bell 100 times in gratitude for the COVID-19 vaccines. It has been a difficult ten months, but we have reason for joy.
That same evening of Dec. 24th, we will hold a Service of Worship via Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
Visiting - We will open the microphones and cameras in our Zoom "room" at 6:15 p.m. for those who simply want to visit with one another. At 6:40 p.m., we will play Christmas music as a prelude for worship at 7:00 p.m.
The sermon is titled, "Come, Hold This Baby."
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The Prophecy of Christ: Isaiah 9:2-7, Louise Umbarger
The Prophesy of Christ: Micah 5:2-4, Carolyn Bell
The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38, Emily Kropkowski
Angelic Visit to Joseph: Matthew 1:18-25, Matt Floros
The Visitation: Matthew 2:1-12, Stacey Pinder
The Christmas Story: Luke 2:1-20 Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
Homily: "Come, Hold This Baby", Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
Remember this scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? What is a lesson we can learn from Linus at Christmas?
Click Here for 7:00 p.m. Live Worship on Facebook and Zoom
Meeting ID: 790 818 2538
Password: 503509
Or, call using: +1-301-715-8592
Attached Dec. 24, 2020. 7pm Worship Service. is a copy of the bulletin for Christmas Eve.
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve
"Jesus in born. Happy Birthday Jesus!"
This 1min41sec video was made for the preschool classes at the Churchville Presbyterian Church Daycare/Preschool Center.
Based on the storybooks, "Christmas in the Manger", written by Nola Buck, illustrated by Felicia Bond. 1994. A Laura Geringer Book, HarperCollins Children'sBooks, and "Over in a Stable", written by Suzanne Neilson, illustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic. 2020. Zonderkidz.
https://youtu.be/DUykt4TGUVc
4th Sunday in Advent "LOVE" Angel purple candle
December 20, 2020. Luke 1:26-38
Sermon: "Do You Remember Me", Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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​​​3rd Sunday in Advent "Rejoice" JOY Shepherds pink candle
December 13, 2020. Luke 1:26-35
Sermon: "Visitations", Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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Second Sunday in Advent "Peace" Bethlehem purple candle
December 6, 2020. Mark 1:1-8 Sermon: "Prerequisite" Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
Click Here for Sermon "Prerequisite" written out text
First Sunday in Advent "Hope" Prophets purple candle
November 29, 2020. Psalms 147:7-11, Romans 5:1-5 Sermon: "Hope", seminary intern Carroll Fitzgerald
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Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Nov. 22, 2020. Romans 8:28-39, Sermon: "Thanking God for Everything" Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Melton
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Advent Activities for all ages
There are Four Sundays in the season of Advent. This is the time of year we prepare for the birth of Jesus.
We begin November 29, 2020.
We have two special Advent programs this year.
Each week we are watching a Christmas movie. The Pastor will mention them in worship, and you will find a devotion from church members. They will tell us what they find special about the film.
Attached is an Advent flyer with questions for each film:
November 29 – “It’s A Wonderful Life”
December 6 – “Home Alone”
December 13 – “Elf”
December 20 – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Click Here for the Weekly Movie Devotionals
Second, is called, S Is For Star, this is based on the book by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds and Pam Carroll.
On each page there is a poem and a project for each letter of the alphabet:
For example, “C is for Carol,” and on that day we will learn about Christmas carols and something special to do.
See the attached Adject Program flyer.
Every day starting at MIDNIGHT (and not before) on November 29, you can open each video to watch with your family.
There will be a video link where we will hear area pastors talking about the letter and the Advent Project.
You can get ALL this information in the Advent Boxes in the Child Care Center office. There are a limited number of boxes so act soon! The boxes are arranged for the number of people in your family.
Finally, we have a "Reverse Advent Calendar" attached. For each day, we collect items for people in need.
When we are all done, we will have the necessisties delivered.
Attachments:
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/mychurchwebsite/c3517/advent_devotionals_2020_larger_print.pdf
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/mychurchwebsite/c3517/reverse_advent_2020.docx
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/mychurchwebsite/c3517/s_is_for_star_flyer.docx
Advent is a time of preparing for the birth of Jesus. Once again, we are reminded of what started this Christian faith of ours. It had a starting point. Two refugees wandering from home. They were afraid. Mary was pregnant. Joseph was her protector. There were politicians who did not want them in their country. There were people eager to send them packing and others who would give no thought to killing them.
She gave birth. From the first moment the Child cried, the world began to turn in a new direction. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it is bent towards justice.” God giving the Law to the Jews started to bend the curve, but it was at that moment in a Bethlehem stable the arc made its eventual turn back towards God.
One day that bend will be complete. As John says in his Revelation, “the earth will pass away… there will be no more sadness and there will be no more tears.” In the meantime, as Christians, we prepare to celebrate this day. If the hatred of Herod, the loneliness of being homeless, and the doubt of the world could not stop the first birth, then no virus or political stubbornness can stop it this time.
There is no question that Christ was born and there is no question he will be born again, the only question is are we willing to allow this Christ to be born in us?
Mary calmed her fears. Joseph paid attention to his dream. The shepherds allowed themselves to be distracted. The Magi made a long journey. Simeon was patient in his righteousness. Anna was persistent in her faith.
Are we willing to stop long enough to listen?
Are we able to consider watching for angels?
Are we determined to consider God?
As a person prone to melancholy, I am glad to say, I am even joyful at the thought, Christ is here and will be here and especially at this time, we can receive Him.
The Christmas spirit is the hope which tenaciously clings
to the hearts of the faithful and announces in the face
of any Herod the world can produce
and all the inn doors slammed in our faces
and all the dark nights of our souls
that with God all things are possible,
that even now
unto us
a Child is born!
- Ann Weems
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve
Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
October 25, 2020. "Fairness" Matthew 20:1-16
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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
October 18, 2020. "No one knows the hour" Matthew 24:36,37
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Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
October 11, 2020. "Privileged" James 2:1-9
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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
October 4, 2020. "Hubris and Israeli intertribal conflict and bloodshed", Judges 12:1-6
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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sept. 27, 2020. "Forgiveness--coming to terms with the past, part III", Matt 6:7-15
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Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sept. 20, 2020. "Forgiveness--coming to terms with the past, part II", Matt 5:21-24
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Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sept. 13, 2020. Rally Day, Compassion Sunday. Sermon: "'Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung'--coming to terms with the past", Matt 18:21-35
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Pastor Steve and Kathy are on vacation this week. For Sunday, Sept. 6th, we encourage you to attend Fallston's Outdoor Worship at 9:00 a.m. or the Worship at the National Cathedral at 11:15 a.m., Live on-line Click Here for Worship at National Cathedral
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sermon: August 30. "Two Wisdoms". James 3:13-18
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sermon: August 23. "Setting Things Right", Galations 2:15-21. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - Ordinary Days
Sermon: August 16. "Thou shalt not covet", Exodus 20:17. Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
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My father served in Navy during WWII. He entered right after graduating high school. The war in Europe had ended. Hostilities with Japan were far from over, in fact, the worse battle in the Pacific theatre took place between April and June of 1945. Okinawa was an island just south of the Japanese mainland. The U.S. forces considered it preparation for the invasion of Japan itself.
The closer the Allies got to Japanese homeland, the bloodier the battles became. In those three months in Okinawa, Japan had 100,000 casualties and the Americans had 50,000 – more lost than in any other WWII engagement.
My father was on the aircraft carrier, the Essex. They were retrieving the dead, evacuating the injured and bringing soldiers back home. My father said there were thousands on board. The deck of the carrier was littered with casualties.
The only people who truly understand warfare are those who experience it. The rest of us may get a vague sense from movies and books, but unless we have been there ourselves, we really don’t know what it’s like. Seeing bodies torn apart. Watching your friends die. The sounds of bullets whistling past your ears. The thunder of bombs which envelope you. The one thing my father said he remembers most distinctly was the smell. The main reason so many of the soldiers were on deck was to keep the smell of burnt flesh from permeating the inside of the ship.
On Memorial Day, we remember those who lost their lives protecting our nation. In hindsight, we realize not every conflict our nation participated in was just. But, on Memorial Day we are not measuring the motives, we are honoring the sacrifice. The men and women who serve our country put devotion to the country first and protecting the person right next to them as their motive.
In John 15:13, Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.” This is what these women and men did. They gave their last measure of love to defend their brothers and sisters in arms. We have freedoms to live where we want to live, to love who we want to love and to worship God in a manner of our choosing.
We stop this Memorial Day for just a moment to honor their memory. It is right and good that we should do so.
Let us pray:
“All Powerful God,
we honor those men and women -
Our sons and daughters, Husbands and wives,
Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers—
Who have laid down their life for their country.
Whether weary or emboldened, quiet or defiant,
Vulnerable or ready when You called them home,
Their sacrifice is too humbling for words
except these uttered in prayer.
Loving Lord, bless them forever in Your eternal peace…
Cherish their spirit, honor their commitment,
send them our love,
and will never forget the service that they gave.”
Let us never grow weary of working for that day when “…we shall beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks. And, nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more…”
In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.
"Give it the green light!"
"See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:19
The prophet Isaiah tells us to keep our eyes open for the new thing God is about to do. During this pandemic, we are preparing for a vaccine to be found. Our church is doing it's part to prepare the way.
Bells - Each morning at 11:00 a.m. we will ring the church bell eleven times. The number eleven is an incomplete number, just one short of the twelve we learned about in the Bible. We ring the bell to announce our solidarity with all those laboring on the front lines, but also to express our desire for the complete resolution to this pandemic.
Green Light - We ask that all of you turn on a GREEN light at your house every evening. Place the light somewhere it can be seen at night – ideally outside.
Why?
Green is the color of renewal and promise. When things start to turn green in the spring, we know new life is on its way. We believe a new vaccine is on its way.
Let us join together in hope.
Turn on your green lights at night.
Imagine the lights as prayers reaching to the heavens.
Share the idea!
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve
Watch our Virtual Easter Parade!
Featuring Flowers and Families.
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A Pastoral Message from Pastor Steve
"This Time Is Hard On People"
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Click Link Below to Hear
Autumn, Clementine, Finnegan and Kalliope Ferguson
Sing "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna" for Palm Sunday:
Welcome Jesus On Palm Sunday:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1moyenJfLRnDQMTr8
Welcome to Our Virtual Palm Sunday Parade:
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Elder Darlene Seippel Shares a Minute for Mission
for The Presbyterian One Great Hour of Sharing Offering:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Vlf6Ns9U0z9ERan8yrhSRwTA
You may give to the OGHS by choosing the "Give On-line" Tab
(Icon of Hand Offering $) in the Top Right Above.
Preventive Medicine - Get Outdoors!
There are many benefits to being outside during the pandemic, not the least of which is our mental health. Sunny skies, and a little exercise makes us feel better, mentally and physically. Fresh air is also good for our lungs and allows us to expel recycled air and any germs that might be in it. Some research suggests UV light helps kill the virus. Hospital grade sterilization is dangerous, but we know it works. No definitive data has been collected on UV, but the thought is - yes, sunlight will help. We don't know how much time is needed, but any sunlight is a good thing. So enjoy the fresh air, get some Vitamin D and boost your mental health.
Enjoy the spring!
- Dana Cross
We share a reflection on a creation psalm: Psalm 104.
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Almighty God, today we celebrate Your magnificent splendor. For by Your hand You placed time in motion. From the first day of creation until this very day, Your creative wonders have filled the universe. On this Sabbath day, we celebrate how by Your mighty power You raised Christ from the grave. From that first resurrection Sunday until this day, Your love has given life to all mankind. Now, O God, as we enter this sacred time of worship, we call upon You to bathe us in Your presence and bless us by Your Spirit. To Your Name be glory and honor, now and forever. Amen.
We open with a discusson of the Old Testament book of Habakkuk:
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COVID-19 Communications
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Building Closed
In response to the coronavirus, our Session voted to suspend all group activities on church grounds. There is a compelling reason for this action. While most of us are not at serious risk, we have many in our community – namely the elderly and those with medical conditions – who are at risk. We want to protect them. By all reports, social distancing and careful attention to hand cleanliness, are two of the best ways to discourage the spread of the virus. Thus, because we love you and we love our neighbors, we are initiating these decisions.
On-Line Services
We are offering an on-line service of worship on Sunday using the Zoom platform. Worship will be at 11:00 a.m. Visit this site and the manner of the broadcast will be explained on the right side under announcements.
Child Care Center
The CPC Preschool and Child Care Center has cancelled Preschool and Child Care. However, You may contact our director, Libby Turney, for answers to your questions: 410-836-2148.
Office Hours
The office is without an Administrative Assistant at this time, Kathy Melton is volunteering her help, but there may be periods when no one will be there to answer phones. If you want to ask questions, please contact the pastor, Dr. Stephen Melton, by cell: 717-571-6787.
Church Support
For those who wish to provide financial support for the ministry of our church, there is a giving link on the top right-hand corner of this church website. There you will see three icons. The middle one showing a hand giving money, is the one to click. You will be asked to provide a number for a credit card or for a bank account. You can save the information and give again in the future without much trouble.
Open to Christ
The theologian and writer, C.S. Lewis said as people of God we want “the good infection.” We want to get close enough to Christ, so His Spirit infects our spirit. We will become less ourselves and more of Him, and by becoming more of Him, we rediscover our natural state as children of God.
The doors of the church are temporarily closed for now, but we are reminded - the door Christ is knocking on, has been and always will be, the door of our soul – and we can open it anywhere and at any moment.
Dear God, we look to You in this time of trouble. May Your Son, our great physician, be present to us all. Especially be with those who will have a difficult time during this period of isolation. May our concern not only be for ourselves but for them. Help us find ways to reach out in faith. Enter our room. Fill us with grace. Send us back out as agents of hope. In Your name we pray. Amen.
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We give thanks for the virtual visit from Missionary the Rev. Sarah Henken.
The Rev. Sarah Henken is a Presbyterian missionary serving in Colombia, South America, where our "Well" project is being pursued. If you would like to send her cards, feel free to use this address:
Carrera 37 #54-44
Apartamento 102
Barranquilla, Colombia
08001
You may send her an e-mail:
http://mailto:sarah.henken@pcusa.org
You may also follow her work through the PCUSA website:
Sarah Henken, PCUSA Missionary
In Christ,
Pastor Steve
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Church: A model community of the imperfect
Eugene Peterson, from his Introduction to the book of James:
When Christian believers gather in churches, everything that can go wrong sooner or later does. Outsiders, on observing this, conclude that there is nothing to the religion business, except, perhaps, business – and dishonest business at that. Insiders see it differently. Just as a hospital collects the sick under one roof and labels them as such, the church collects sinners. Many of the people outside the hospital are every bit as sick as the ones inside, but their illnesses are either undiagnosed or disguised. It’s similar with sinners outside the church.
So Christian churches as not, as a rule, model communities of good behavior. They are, rather, places where human behavior is brought out in the open, faced and dealt with.
Together in Christ,
Stephen
“A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH”
The Presbyterian Church was an unexpected offspring of a religious movement called “The Reformation.” Two of the leading Reformers of the time, Martin Luther (1483-1546) and John Calvin (1509-1564), had no intention of forming a new church, at least not initially. Their desire was to reform the present day Catholic Church, to purge the Church of corruptions and set it more in line with the traditions and theology of Scripture and of the early church. The Reformers became known as “Protestants” because their requests for change sounded more and more like protests.
The Presbyterian Church is one of several churches that can trace their origins to the Reformation. Presbyterians get their name from the Greek word “presbuteros” which means “elder.” The term refers to the system, in apostolic times, of choosing leaders from among the wisest members of the church. A prominent doctrine of the Reformation was “the priesthood of all believers.” Reformed churches designed themselves in ways that gave more power to the congregation. The Presbyterians established a representative system where elders, presbyters and commissioners were elected.
The French organized the first congregation in 1555 and the French Huguenots were one of the first Presbyterians to reach America, followed closely by the English, Dutch, German, Irish and Scottish. In 1706 the first American presbytery was formed in Philadelphia and soon after the Synod of Philadelphia in 1716. 1789 marked the First General Assembly in Philadelphia.
The Church grew and diversified as it headed westward. By 1800 there were 20,000 members. In another thirty-seven years, there were 220,000. With the growth in numbers came an increase of conflict, separation and sometimes reunion. “Old School” and “New School” divisions plagued Presbyterians for years. The most infamous of issues was slavery. The Civil War severely divided the Church.
The next 120 years saw movements toward reunification. In 1958 the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) and the United Presbyterian Church of North America merged to form the Presbyterian Church in the United States of American (UPCUSA). In 1983 the two largest Presbyterian Churches united at the Atlanta General Assembly (G.A.): the southern-based Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) and the northern-based (UPCUSA). In 1985 the G.A. approved a seal for the new Church. There are some powerful images in the symbol which reveal what is important to us as Presbyterians. Today there are about 2,000,000 members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), the largest of the mainline Presbyterian denominations.
“Unexpected” may seem like a good way to describe the beginnings of the Presbyterian Church. But for Presbyterians it has always been the “providence of God.”
Together in Christ,
Stephen
Churchville, Maryland 21028
Life Line Screening Opportunity
Life Line Screening
September 27, 2021
A package of five screenings to identify risk for stroke, heart disease and other chronic conditions will be offered for only $149 and take 60-90 minutes to complete.
Register by calling toll free 1-888-653-6441 or text the word "circle" to 797979.
Thankful for our new Monarch Butterfly Garden and our old Pollinators Garden
Plans for a teaching butterfly garden were made last summer. Included in our application for a design grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust was our intent to use the native plants for nature teaching of the children in the Preschool/Child Care Center.
In January of 2021 we received An Official Citation from the Harford Delegation to the Md. General Assembly for addressing stormwater management issues and improving the quality of the Chesapeake Bay and an Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake grant award “to strengthen and support the creation care work of Churchville Presbyterian Church so that you can serve as a model for others in the One Water Partnership.” In April, for Earth Week, the Susquehanna Parish distributed pink milkweeds and wildflowers to churches. Our Peace, Justice and Mission Committee voted to purchase more pink milkweed.
Pastor Stephen, Kathy Melton and John Paul, Jr. designed, built, added soil, planted, and mulched the new Monarch Butterfly Garden.
Sunday, June 6 was the debut of our gardens at the One Water Partnership EcoFest. John Paul, Jr. gave a presentation about the bioretention raingardens and the C.B.T. design grant. Fawn Palmer provided an information handout on pollinators and a Monarch butterfly gardening custom seeds mix. Taylor John Swanson of the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake was the Outreach Coordinator, Publicist, and ECOFest Chair. He has sent our church a beautiful poster to thank us for hosting and presenting.
The butterflies are drinking nectar from flowers and enjoying the long days of summer. These gardens are wonderful places to stop by.
You: “Let’s look at the butterflies. Can you name some colors on their wings that you see?” Child: “Orange. Black. White.”
You: “Good! Is there another, different butterfly that you can look at? That butterfly is perched on a flower drinking nectar. What colors on its wings do you see?” Child: “Pink. Blue. Brown.”
You: “Yes. When we get home you and I are going to make colorful butterfly wings. That was fun!”
Once back home you can follow up with an easy craft. https://buggyandbuddy.com/chromatography-butterflies-separating-colors-in-markers/
You can also watch this 1min03sec video https://buggyandbuddy.com/chromatography-butterflies-separating-colors-in-markers/?jwsource=cl
Your Green Team, Churchville Presbyterian Church
