E-News from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

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Weekly E-News

January 31, 2012

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, February 5, 2012, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Gospel Mark 1:29-39

Repentance

To repent is to come to your senses. It is not so much something you do as something that happens. True repentance spends less time looking at the past and saying, "I'm sorry," than to the future and saying, "Wow!" - Fredrick Buechner from his book Wishful Thinking: A Seekers ABC

I came across this and it got me thinking about the ways in which we approach Lent. What if, instead of seeing Lent as a time of self-denial, we looked at it as a time of God-affirming? How might our lives be transformed and renewed?

Pray on it!

George

MISSION

BOUNTIFUL BAGS

Most weeks we will gather to pack bags at 6:30 pm. However, to accomodate those with different schedules, we will gather at 4:30 pm every third week: February 9, March 1, March 22, April 12, and May 3.

We need MDPC volunteers to come in this Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 pm in the Jim Guess Building to help pack the bags with food for the Indian Creek Elementary Children.

Please click on the link below to sign up or call Dil at 404-292-8212.

Bountiful Bags - Sign Up

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

RADICAL HOSPITALITY LUNCHEON

The Mission and Membership Committee will be hosting our first Radical Hospitality Luncheon on February 19th immediately after worship from 12-2pm. Lunch and materials will be provided.

Radical hospitality is our active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for strangers until they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. How we invite, welcome, and care for visitors and guests is a practice that must be nurtured and developed by the whole congregation! Come and grow in faith and faithfulness!

NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT DINNER

March 3, 2012 from 5:30 - 8:30pm at Trinity Presbyterian

In support of Shalom - the new church development we are hosting at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church - I have purchased a table for 8 for this wonderful event and invite you to join me in supporting Gad and his ministry.

Join with over two-hundred members and supporters of new church development, as we share table fellowship, multicultural worship led by our diverse and vital new churches, and give thanks for God's power and presence in our ministries.

MEETINGS

Called Congregational Meeting

February 5th immediately following worship to approve Term of Call for Rev. George Tatro. All members are encouraged to plan to attend this meeting.

Presbytery Meeting

Saturday, February 11 -- New Life; at 9:00 am

Free lunch with Pastor George! I will treat the 2 delegates to February's Presbytery Meeting to an awesome lunch and robust conversation! Join me by calling Dil at 404.292.8212 and letting her know that you will be there!

CONFIRMATION CLASS

The youth will be beginning a confirmation class on Sunday, March 4 during the Sunday school hour. This eight-week class will help youth understand and process their faith, and what it means to be a member of the church. We will be using the denominational "We Believe" curriculum for this class.

As an optional addition to the confirmation class, MDPC youth have the opportunity to attend a Presbytery-wide Confirmation Retreat at Calvin Center on March 16-18. This retreat is open to all youth, even if they're not participating in the confirmation class. The theme for the weekend is the Sacraments, and youth will learn all about those, and what they mean to us as Christians. This retreat will also include recreational time with all of the favorite Calvin Center activities - archery, horseback riding, high ropes course, etc. Any youth or parents who would like more information on the confirmation class or retreat should contact Steven Bohn at steven@calvincenter.org."

ATLANTA FOOD BANK HUNGER WALK

hunger walk

The youth will be participating in the Atlanta Community Food Bank 5K Hunger Walk on 3/11/12. This is a fun opportunity for our youth to go downtown and walk with thousands of others to raise money to fight hunger in our city. All funds raised go towards the efforts of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Participation in the walk is free; however any youth who raises at least $25 gets a 2012 Hunger Walk T-shirt. The event starts at noon, and the youth will be leaving for Turner Field when church ends. I will need parents to help drive youth. After the walk, the youth will be having an after-event party back at MDPC with pizza, games, and more fun! If your youth is going to attend this event please email Steven Bohn at steven@calvincenter.org."