We all know the story of salvation. Christ was born; Christ taught; Christ was crucified; Christ was raised up; and the Holy Spirit poured out upon God's people. Which moment is the most important to you? Most people will talk about Christmas and the manger. We can identify with the homeliness of it all, singing carols about snow, and shepherds and babies. But snow, and shepherds and babies occur all the time.

The central event of salvation is Easter. "He is not dead." And if Christ is not dead, then those whom he calls as brothers and sisters will not be eternally dead either. Easter is a miracle, a life-changing promise, a life-affirming moment, a restoration of the healthy relationship between God and all people. "Amazing Grace" says it best: "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see..."

Lent is the "forty days" of preparation for Easter. At times, it is an educational time to explain the faith and how we live it out. People learn the creeds, the teachings of Jesus, and the disciplines of faith. Lent is also the time when we Christians renew our faith, recognize and repent of our deepest sins, and return to the community of faith.

The Lenten journey from the ashes of death to resurrected life begins on the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, which signifies the time to turn around, to change direction, to repent. We are rreminded that we must die to our old ways, so that we can be raised by God's love to new life in Christ. 

Ash Wednesday is Feb.17 starting at 7:00 p.m. A time of prayer and repentence.  "You are dust and to dust you shall return" reminds us that this life is temporary, always on the edge of death. But life in Christ is God's free gift to those who believe.

"Souper Bowl" Offering  

Some twenty years ago, the youth of a Presbyterian Church thought that "Super Bowl Sunday" was entirely too commercial. Wanting to help others in their community, they decided to take up a special offering for hunger relief in their city and call it "SOUPER BOWL". They then challenged other youth groups to match them. The results are posted on the internet, not for bragging rights but to thank God for gifts which make a difference in each community.  The "Souper Bowl" offering will be taken up at Amherst Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Feb. 7.  Youth from the church will be standing at the doors following worship, shaking a soup can to invite you to give to help the hungry of Amherst County and surrounding areas.

If you would like to share your email address with the Church, please email Janie Stinnett at janie.stinnett@amherstpresbyterian.org   If your email address has changed in the last 6 months, your current one may not be on file. Thank you.

Coffee Hour Fellowship 

Thank you to Carol O'Brien and Cheryl Steele for hosting the January Coffee Hour -- it really warmed up a cold day!

The sign-up sheet for 2010 is in the kitchen on the bulletin board near the door. Coffee Hour is held the second Sunday of the month after church service.

Any questions, call co-chairs Sharon Shrader or Anne Wilkins.

From the Preschool

February means "Chili Cook-Off" at Amherst Presbyterian Preschool and this year is no exception. The Cook-off will be Friday, February 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Tickets are only $5.00. Come to the Cook-off to eat at the church or for take-out orders.

Our sincere thanks goes to those in the congregation who have signed up to bring chili or baked goods and/or to help on the day of the Cook-off.

Also, thanks to those who are helping escort the children in the mornings from the carpool line to their classrooms. You are keeping them safe and enriching their lives with the words of encouragement and love you speak on your short "journey".

Many thanks.... Every month, when the 2 Cents-a-Meal Hunger Offering is collected, Beverly and Ed Kryspin take the money home, count the money, and roll the money in money wrappers. This is a huge help to me and I would like to thank them for their dedication. -- Janie Stinnett

Have you prayed for your church today? Our Session went on retreat last fall to begin the process of looking at God's will for our church. This effort needs the congregation to pray daily that God reveal the direction He desires for Amherst Presbyterian Church. A morning devotion by Oswald Chambers reads:

Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. Give God "elbow room" to work.

May we seek God's will for our church by praying daily for our pastor, our Session, our congregation, our church.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...PRAY!

February Birthdays

Feb. 10 - Ed Kryspin 

Feb. 12 - Ken Althouse 

Feb. 14 - Katie Seay

Feb. 17 - Ned Kable

Feb. 18 - Joe LeBlanc; Genevieve Plail 

Feb. 22 - Margot Pleasants

Feb. 25 - Jan Osinga; John Swift

Circle Meetings

Mabel G. Edwards Circle will meet Feb. 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Carol O'Brien

Sarah P. Wailes Circle will meet Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the home of June Driskill

Patteson-Wimer Circle will meet Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Catherine Bost.

Church Meetings this month

Committee meetings, Feb. 2, 7:00 p.m.

Presbytery meeting at 1st Lynchburg, Feb. 6

Finance, Building & Grounds, Feb. 7 following morning worship

Preschool Board, Feb. 8, 7:00 p.m.

Session, Feb. 9, 7:00 p.m.

Dates and Events to Remember  

Worship Service is at 11:00 a.m Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Communion and 2 Cents-a-Meal Hunger Offering, Feb. 7

Souper-Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7

Coffee Hour, Feb. 14

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7:00 p.m.

Chili Cook-off, Feb. 19, 11am-4pm

Food Pantry donations, Feb. 21

March newsletter deadline, Feb. 21

February Volunteers

Ushers - Ken Althouse & Pam Althouse

Greeter - Mary Linn

Building & Grounds - Ned Kable & Rodney Taylor

Reflections from the Pastor

Thomas Jefferson was a make-over artist for Jesus. He called Jesus the "first of human sages" and lifted Jesus' "true sayings" from the New Testament with the help of a pair of scissors. Jefferson accomplished his job in the course of a couple of evenings after spending business hours running America. "I am a Christian," Jefferson wrote to Benjamin Rush, "in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence, and believing he never claimed any other."

Jefferson spent much time angry at God for taking his beloved wife, Martha, and never saw a contradiction between "life and liberty" and "slavery". He had made Jesus into his own image, a man of ideas, but not much feeling or action.

But Jesus is greater than Jefferson, or any of us. We run into much danger not looking more closely at all the witness of the New Testament to who Jesus was and is. The doubters of Nazareth tried to stone him, the doubters of Jerusalem crucified him, the doubter of Monticello dismissed him. Yet Jesus lives, and makes a difference in many lives today. What positive difference can Jesus make in my life, or more importantly in your life, as we put to death the "old self", and in dying, discover that we live?

Lent is a marvelous time to wrestle with who we are, and to whom we belong, as we look to Easter's miracle of life eternal. Amen. 

Amherst Presbyterian Preschool

Chili Cook-off

CHILI, FIXINGS, DESSERT AND A DRINK

eat in or take out

$5 minimum donation - proceeds to APP

Friday, February 19, 2010

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Amherst Presbyterian Church

163 Second Street

For more information contact Kimberly Maddox, APP - 946-5244