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59°
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Partly Cloudy
Feels Like: 59°Humidity: 60%
Wind: 10 MPH
Child Care Sunday Worship Service is well attended. :-)
Chancel Choir rehearses in the Parlor
Jesus sitting on his throne in heaven with God the Father
Children sitting in the new Outdoor Classroom, winter 2021
Welcome to our church website.
We are glad you are here!
We hope to see you soon!
Our physical gathering has been postponed until further notice!
But, our spiritual worship continues with links here.
Sunday Worship, April 25, 2021
"I had a hard time weighing what to do this morning. It is a beautiful, bright morning. However, the grass is very wet and the wind has a sharp bite to it. So, we will have Zoom only worship this morning and no Outdoor Worship."
"This Sunday, April 25, the passage comes from I John 4: 7-21. This is one of the more beautiful passages of the Bible. I John reminds us of what the Beatles sang about: "All we need is love."
The sermon title is, "God Is Love."
In our attempt to provide a healthy environment for Monarch butterflies, we will be handing out milkweed plugs this Sunday. These milkweeds are not the kind which spread but they will provide an ideal habitat for Monarchs to feed, lay eggs and transform into butterflies.
Click Here for Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 790 818 2538
Password: 503509
Or, call using: +1-301-715-8592
Attached is a copy of the bulletin for Sunday.
Together in Christ,
Pastor Steve"
Attachments:
"Next Sunday, May 2nd, we will, hopefully be outdoors, and be able to hand out the pink milkweed and native nectar-producing wildflower plants for your home garden. To God be the Glory. Selah."
Welcome to our church on this misty-moisty Sunday morning, April 18th
We are inviting our members and visitors to worship this particular Sunday with the following congregations. Our minister, Reverend Stephen Melton is on sick leave. He will return to the pulpit next Sunday, April 25.
--Selah. The Churchville Presbyterian Elders
Here are various sites you might visit for worship on Sunday.
First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis has a pre-recorded service for the day available beginning at 8:00 a.m. each Sunday:
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County
Christ Our King Presbyterian Church
Christ Our King Worship at 10:00 a.m.
National Cathedral - Washington D.C.
National Cathedral Worship at 11:15 a.m.
"Jesus Calling"
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 soon!
Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed!
We have two services of worship on Easter Sunday: 6:30am and 10:30am.
The 6:30am Service will take place at the front of the church by the cross at the intersection of Rtes. 22 and 136.
The 10:30am Service will take place under the trees by the cemetary. We will have this Service broadcast via ZOOM.
For both services, we suggest you bring your own chair, blanket or coat. We will be celebrating Communion, so bring your own Communion elements with your - your Bread and Juice (we also have sterile Communion kits if that is easier for you).
We will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines so bring your mask and adhere please to social distancing guidelines.
It is our tradition to decorate our outdoor cross with flower. Please bring yours and following worship we will place them on the cross.
"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.
Easter Week Services
Palm Sunday Service. indoors in the sanctuary. Sun. March 28 at 10:30am. Will also be on ZOOM and Facebook.
Maundy Thursday Service. indoors in the sanctuary. Thurs., April 1 at 7 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Service. outdoors. Sunday April 4 at 6:30 a.m.
Easter Service. outdoors. Sunday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Adult Bible/Christian Education.
Saturday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. and Sat., March 20 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.
Pastor Steve will be teaching on the New Testament book of Romans.
Click Here for Live Discussion on Saturdays at .9:30 a.m.
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 14, 2021.
Romans 9:15. Sermon: "The Adjustment Bureau"
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Third Sunday in Lent, Communion Sunday, March 7, 2021.
I Corinthians 11:17-34. Sermon: "What would George Washington do?"
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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
Milkweeds4Monarchs plants given out at our next worship service
Milkweeds4Monarchs plants for Sunday, May 2 worship at Churchville Presbyterian Church
🐛♡♡~~🌻~~♡♡🦋
"Your Monarch Butterfly Garden"
Creation Care. Milkweed is the only host for Monarch butterflies. There are over 100 known species of milkweeds in North America. Maryland has 14 native milkweed species. December of 2020 the Fish and Wildlife Service wait listed the Monarch for the Endangered Species list. Planting milkweed provides caterpillar food for Monarchs and nectar for adults.
The Churchville Presbyterian Church Peace, Justice and Mission Committee voted to support planting pink milkweeds for Monarch butterfly habitat. They were grown by Kollar Nursery in Pylesville, Harford County.
Instructions: Please plant pink milkweed in moist, garden soil and in a place that receives 6 hrs. or more of full sun each day. Please mulch, 2" thick, natural (no dyed mulch), shredded cedar is best, around the milkweed. Do not push mulch snug up against the milkweed stem. Pink Milkweed is a plant that is sometimes called Marsh Milkweed or Swamp Milkweed, and being a denizen of the edges of wetlands, appreciates regular watering and moist soil. It will grow 3 - 4 ft tall with a spread of 1.5 ft. Pink Milkweed has fibrous roots, and does not spread hither and yon. The vanilla scented flowers bloom midsummer to midfall. Large-winged Monarchs, Swallowtails, Fritillaries, Longwings, Red-spotted Purples, White and Red Admirals, and Buckeyes can sip nectar from the intricately formed milkweed flowers. Pink Milkweed is deer and rabbit resistant. Be sure to stick the plastic name label next to your milkweed. That way everyone can tell that this plant is valuable, iow, not a weed (despite its name). Please, do not spray pesticides or herbicides on the pink milkweed, nor on adjacent and nearby nectar-producing flowers. You will poison the Monarch caterpillars and adults.
Pink Milkweed is a perennial that can live for 25-30 years. It is a late sprouter (mid April--May) so mark where it is. Do not till or dig up that spot in your garden. Milkweed pods ripen in fall. The brown seeds can be collected, cleaned of fluff, cold stratified for six weeks in your refrigerator, and saved in a dry container in a cool, dark place for planting next spring. You can also let the seeds fall to the ground, become covered with stems and broken leaf bits, overwinter naturally, with germination occuring in late April-early May. You can transplant Pink Milkweed easily. Pink Milkweed's fibrous roots take readily to container growing and will do nicely in a pot on your deck or patio.
Planting Milkweed Seeds. Wait to plant until the soil is warm. Milkweed seeds prefer a thin soil covering and will not germinate if planted too deep. Germination will be in six weeks. Be patient. Remember milkweed seeds require faint, filtered light to germinate. In natural conditions, ripe milkweed seeds have a fluffy sori and are carried by the wind. They float away from the open pods and eventually fall to the ground. As time wears on, into winter, the seeds are covered by a thin layer of loose soil bits, leaf fragments and plant debris. This is their happy habitat where germination occurs with the greatest percentage of success.
Natural History. Monarch butterflies are migrating north in springtime and will show up in Harford County about the first of June. Look for one dillseed-size, yellow egg laid on the underside of a milkweed leaf. A Momma Monarch lays over a hundred eggs, flying from milkweed to milkweed, depositing one egg on each plant. She is very picky and will choose certain milkweed species over others. Pink Milkweed is one of Momma Monarchs' favorite milkweeds.
It is proven through research that Monarch Mommas laying their fertilized eggs can smell milkweed, even just one plant, up to a half of a mile away. Have hope! Your milkweed is going to be found by a Monarch Momma.🙂
It will take 4 days for a Monarch caterpillar to emerge from the egg. First the newborn caterpillar eats the egg shell. The caterpillar is an eating machine, taking short breaks to crawl to find fresh leaves, rest and poop.
The Monarch larva (caterpillar) molts, or sheds its skin (exoskeleton) five times before entering the pupae stage. The entire larval stage lasts 9 -14 days under normal summer temperatures.
The pupa stage is often called a chrysalis and usually lasts from 8 - 13 days (the lower time corresponds to warm conditions). It is not a cocoon, since it has no silken covering.
Adult Monarchs in summer generations live from 2 -5 weeks. Those that emerge in late summer and early fall are the migrating super generation. They have wings that are 25% bigger, can live up to 8 - 9 months and are in a physiological stage of arrested sexual development called "reproductive diapause". Super generation Monarchs will not mate nor lay eggs until their diapause ends in late winter or early spring.
Super generation Monarchs head south, flying up to two thousand miles to overwinter in oyamel fir forests in the Transverse Neovolcanic Mountain Belt of central Mexico.
Buying More Pink Milkweed. Pink Milkweeds, other Asclepias species especially A. tuberosa, and named varieties of milkweed species are available to buy, should you want more plants. Your Monarch caterpillar chowhound may eat most of the leaves of your young pink milkweed. Never fear! Pink milkweed and its named varieties are sold at native plant nurseries, nature center plant sales, as well as garden centers and big box stores such as Lowes, Home Depot and WalMart.
Look for Asclepias incarnata which is the botanical, scientific name. There are three, very pretty, named varieties offered in the trade: 'Ice Ballet' (white flowers); 'Soulmate' (dark pink flowers); and 'Cinderella' (light pink flowers). All of these, Pink Milkweed and the three named varieties are excellent Monarch butterfly caterpillar food. In addition, they are offer plentiful nectar in their flowers that accessible to long-proboscid Monarch butterflies.
Be aware that studies show that a Monarch caterpillar raised on a particular species of milkweed, such as Asclepias incarnata, does not transfer easily to another milkweed species. Once an A. incarnata caterpillar chowhound, it appears (almost) always an Asclepias incarnata chowhound. On the other hand, adult Monarch butterflies are able to digest the nectar of many, many species and varieties of wild and horticultural flowers. Flavored sugar water is sugar water it appears. A note if offering sugar water (use only white, refined sugar btw) in feeders, butterflies can sip up to a 33% sugar to water concentration but no more. The viscousness of a higher concentration gums up the proboscis.
Best of fortune and Blessings.
--Fawn Palmer, the Green Team--Pastor Stephen, John Paul, Jr., Kathy Bailey Melton and Fawn Palmer, the Peace, Justice and Mission Committee--Darlene Seippel, Pat Turner, Cindy Givans, Fawn Palmer and Pastor Stephen,
Churchville Presbyterian Church, Churchville, MD
