Upcoming Events:
You can download the HMPC calendar or view it online here. February Birthdays and Anniversaries are noted on the calendar.
- Winter Gathering of Presbyterian Women, Saturday, January 30th, 8:45am
- Pot Luck Dinner, Sunday, January 31st
- Souper Bowl Offering, Sunday, February 7th
- PW Circle Meeting, Tuesday, February 9th, 9:30am
- Pancake Supper and Beans and Bread Supper for Ash Wednesday, Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16th and 17th
From the Pastor
Greetings….
With Christmas gone and the Super Bowl in sight, it means January is almost spent. I heard someone opine the other day that they were glad January was about done because it had never been one of her favorite months, and it seemed that bad things seemed to happen to her in those long, dark, cold thirty-one days. It is no wonder….
January, at least down here, is the “dead” of winter. Down here in the south we are not “winter people.” We are used to moderate temperatures and cautiously put our ears out the door this time of year to see if the singing reptiles, bugs, and other creatures are beginning their calling song for spring! We sure are!
January is the perfect prelude to the eve of Lent and Easter. By the time Lent arrives on Ash Wednesday, winter will have taken complete hold on us, and we will all be longing for the first signs of new life on any plant, any where. For forty days we will dwell in doubt seasoned with anticipation. Suddenly there is Holy Week, the exclamation point on life seemingly without hope. And then: Resurrection Sunday / Easter! The promise of new life is fulfilled in our hearts, in our yards and on our thermometers.
In other words, January tends to do what January is meant to do: remind us that without God in our life our lives can become cold and dark and chaotic. At the same time, we moderate the “January Doldrums” with our hope in the promises that God has made to us…life eternal where the sun never sets!
Hang in there…life is on its way!
Grace and Peace,
Proctor
Proctor’s Schedule: I am here for the month of February until February 18-20. I will be in Montreat for two days for the first meeting of the Planning Team for the 2011 Montreat Youth Conference. I continue to moderate the Session in Eastman. I have been asked to serve on the Committee on Ministry of Savannah Presbytery and will be at that meeting on Tuesday, February 9.
Wednesday Evening Lectionary Study continues each Wednesday at 6:00p in the Conference Room. If you want to get a “heads-up” on what the preacher will be preaching on Sunday, or perhaps want to change his mind, come on and join us.
Evening Circle Family Bible Study will meet next on Wednesday, February 6, at 7:00p in the Conference Room. We will be studying Lesson Six: “Outsiders Become Insiders, Rahab and the Gibeonites.” Bring a snack to share and join us!
Souper Bowl Offering
Souper Bowl Sunday is February 7th. On that day, a special offering will be collected to support our Community Thanksgiving Meal. Any extra funds will be used to support food charities. To learn more about the Souper Bowl offering, visit the official Souper Bowl website.
PW Circle Meeting
There has been a change of location for the February 9th Circle Meeting. The meeting (originally scheduled to take place at Benton House), will be hosted by Ann Woods in her home. If you need her address, call the church office. All women of the church are welcome to attend.
Potluck Dinner on Sabbath Sunday
This Sunday, January 31st, is Sabbath Sunday and also a fifth Sunday. We will be having a pot luck lunch after morning worship. The CLC will be open to drop off your dishes before Sunday School. At the end of worship and during lunch, you will be given the opportunity to make a donation toward “hygiene bags” our youth will put together to be sent to Haiti. Each bag will cost $10-12. Please plan to be generous.
Welcome Our Newest Member!
Jason Storey united with the HMPC family by Reaffirmation of Faith on Sunday, January 24th. A native Dubliner, Jason is a student at HGTC studying computers. Look for his address in Proctor’s this, that, and the other dated January 25th.
Ushers and Acolytes for February
Ushers: Bob Oliver, Chair; Loutrell Fambrough, Rufus Bateman, Gordon Ruthruff.
Acolytes: Karlene (7th & 28th), Dalton (14th), Max (21st).
Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper and Ash Wednesday Beans and Bread Supper
We will have two dinners in February. Our Pancake Supper will be held on Fat Tuesday, February 16th in the CLC. Eddie Hendricks is coordinating this event. On Wednesday, February 17th, the Presbyterian Women will host their annual Beans and Bread supper. Both suppers will begin at 7:00pm.
An Ash Wednesday service will follow the Beans and Bread supper at 7:45pm in the Sanctuary. If you can’t join us for supper, you are welcome to attend the service.
Easter Excursion!
Join the fun as we Walk to Jerusalem for Easter!
Starting Sunday, February 14th through Easter Sunday, we will walk (or run, cycle, swim!) our way to Jerusalem!
It’s 6,439 miles from Dublin, Georgia to Jerusalem, Israel. Are you ready to walk? During the Lenten season we will have a program that combines Lenten preparation with physical activity, preparing our body and spirit for Easter. Our goal is to have our members log a combined total of 6,439 miles.
Starting February 14th, sign up posters for the walk will be in the hallway by the office. Sign up to log the miles that you walk, run, cycle, or swim each week and let’s see if we can get our church family to Jerusalem by Easter! Are you up for the challenge? We’re going to have teams based on the activities you participate in at church. For example: Are you a member of the Choir and Presbyterian Women? Sign up on both teams and you get credit for double the miles! Think of it as Frequent Flyer miles for your feet!
Lots of fun things are in store! Let’s get walking!
Wonder of Wonder, Miracles of Miracles!!!
The faucet in the conference room kitchen has been replaced! We now have a shiny new faucet. So long, aluminum foil covering! So long, drippy dip and oozey ooze. Come on by and give it a try. Thank you, Plumber Man!
Interested in Community Service? Helping Those in Need
The Laurens Baptist Association is opening up a ministry in the Red Cross building, which is located next door to our church. They initially will be trying to assist folk with food, clothing, and some medical help. Rev. Chambless said that he “is encouraging them to move beyond that into servicing the homeless. I hope to have someone from this ministry come visit us and talk with us about what they are doing. In the meantime, this is a great opportunity for you as an individual to help, and also an opportunity for our church to step up.”
Here is the announcement the LBA has issued calling for volunteers in service.
We are happy to announce we are ready to begin operating our Dublin Ministry Center on Bellevue. (the Red Cross House across from Piggly Wiggly) Now the work begins! Volunteers are needed beginning tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday to begin sorting and stocking of shelves. We will then need volunteers to work Mondays and Wednesdays each week. The hours of operation will be 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each day, but any amount of help is needed and appreciated. We need help distributing food, counseling, filling out paperwork, sorting clothes and food, organization and general clean up.
If you have a heart for service, even if it is a couple of hours a week, please contact the LBA office at 272-0361 or Harry Hansen at 1-478-714-7009 asap so we can schedule work times. Workers are needed this week anytime, just come by anytime Wednesday through Friday!
Please join us as we begin this exciting ministry for our Lord!
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Haiti
By now most of the world knows of the terrible earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In the wake of this great human tragedy, we are grateful for the outpouring of so many expressions of care and generosity from Presbyterians everywhere. Because of your quick response, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) was able to double its commitment of funds to provide immediate aid those first few days following the quake. Your gifts were put to effective and strategic work in coordinated efforts with our international and ecumenical partners, Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance and Church World Service (CSW). The first phase of response included search and rescue teams, food and water distribution sites, and medical care for the injured. There is still much work to be done.
One week later, following a major aftershock, the death toll keeps rising. There may well be more than 100,000 fatalities. Among the dead is a long-time partner in relief efforts, Sam Dixon, executive director of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Our hearts are heavy, yet inspired by the daring and faithful service of so many people. Despite the overwhelming circumstances and even threat of personal danger, God’s love is made incarnate by the courageous and compassionate work of God’s people.
PDA staff member Carlos Cardenas reports from Port-au-Prince that shortages of fuel and transportation create extra challenges to the already overwhelming challenge of receiving and delivering food, water, and medical supplies.
Jean Zaché Duracin, who leads the PC(USA)’s partner church in Haiti, is living in a tent city in Port-au-Prince. Duracin, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, rejected offers to be evacuated after his home crumbled in the earthquake. He vowed to “stay with my people,” the Episcopal News Service reported. Given the extremely limed resources at the moment, the bishop urges American congregations to have patience with regard to sending large volumes of volunteers at this time. Every outside volunteer places a demand on resources, fuel, food and water that is desperately needed by the earthquake survivors right now. Those who do have a passion to serve are encouraged to register their interest so that we can contact you when the situation is stable and appropriate.
The Episcopal cathedral is gone. Schools and hospitals are destroyed. Government buildings are in ruins. With so many symbols of safety and security destroyed the people search for signs of hope. Mark Hare, PC(USA) mission co-worker to Haiti, writes:
Port au Prince has been deeply wounded. The whole country will be deeply affected. I have no answers for any of these problems. Just the reminder that I felt, again, this morning while reading the [Mission] Yearbook [for Prayer & Study], that our God is a God of hope, that despair has already been defeated, and [that] now is the time to face what has happened and to act, act out of that hope and not out of despair. I don’t have any idea what that will mean. But our God is up to the task. Pray for us, that we will also be up to the task.
Yes. Our God is up to the task. Pray that we will all be up to the task.
Join Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in the relief efforts. As God’s people we are called to stand in the “GAP” — GIVE. ACT. PRAY.
Give — Financial support for relief efforts can be made online and designated to DR000064. Gifts can also be made by phone at (800) 872-3283, and checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Act — Prepare for a special worship service in your congregation using the hymn, bulletin inserts and other worship resources available from PDA. Congregations and individuals can also put together hygiene kits and baby kits to be distributed through Church World Service.
Pray — Join with others in lifting up the people of Haiti and those seeking to provide aid in this critical time. As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer.
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God of compassion
