SALISBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

MAIN PAGE | WELCOME | THIS MONTH | FLASH NEWS | RECENT HAPPENINGS | CONTACT US

OUR MINISTRIES:  WORSHIP | CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | MUSIC | FELLOWSHIP | OUTREACH

OUR PROGRAMS:  CHILDREN | YOUTH | ADULT | FAMILY | PRESCHOOL

        THE COMMUNICATOR

             OF SALISBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH                                       APRIL 2008  (Issue IX)

Table of Contents

Learn About Christ

Christian Education............................... 2 & 3

Preschool News........................................... 3

Youth Ministry.............................................. 3

Live As Christ

Music Ministry.............................................. 4

Get Involved................................................. 5

Calendar........................................................ i

Youth Calendar............................................. ii

Serve Like Christ

Congregational Care.................................... 6

Committees.................................................. 6

Outreach...................................................... 7

Financial...................................................... 7

Sunday Volunteers....................................... 8

A Congregation with a vision  to learn about Christ,

live as Christ and serve like Christ.

                              As a kid growing up in

                           Western Pennsylvania,

                           the springtime was

                           always defined by the winds of March, the April showers and the May flowers.  No matter, we looked forward to the coming of these months because finally the winter was over and the snow was melted (or in some cases melting!)

 

I have come to learn that here in Virginia, the spring comes early.  I look out my window today and see the trees bursting to life, the daffodils standing proudly, all of nature beginning the wonderful chorus that has been repeated again and again.  I think about the church when I see it all happening.  I think about how sometimes we can feel like we are in the midst of wintertime, but how God always promises newness. Winter, I have also discovered, is a season of the heart as much as it is a season in the weather. 

 

Martin Marty wrote these words:  “Winterless climates there may be, but winterless souls are hard to picture.”  How true.  All of us have to sometimes walk through those places where absence marks the winterscapes of our lives.  Easter’s good news, though, reminds the winterless soul in us of God’s great gift of hope and of life.  We have to take our winter journeys but they lead to the spirit of the solstice….of the springtime….of the impossible notion that there is a resurrection and that we are invited to be participants.

 

It is still the Easter season and may each one of us, even those still deep into a winter journey, give thanks for God’s abiding word!

 

Larry

 

 

 

The article below is from The Vine, a publication of The Presbytery of the James, March, 2008 issue by John  Stott.

 

Salisbury receives

accolades for

‘Faith in Action’ program

 

In a letter from John T. Carroll, Dean, Union-PSCE at Richmond to Tammy Tipton-Nay of Salisbury Presbyterian Church, it read in part, “Your congregation has been selected to receive an honorable mention for the Elinor Curry Award for Outreach and Social Concern in recognition for your ‘Faith in Action Initiative’ . . . Your church’s program will be noted in Union-PSCE’s public announcements of the congregation awards.”

 

SPC’s mission statement is to learn about Christ, live as Christ, and serve like Christ.

 

The vision of SPC is that Sunday school can reach beyond our physical walls and that its members can experience what it means to serve those in our community, just as Jesus served those in need in his community.

 

SPC’s hope is that Sunday school leaders and teachers and all members of a Sunday school class, including  youth and their parents, can meet together side by side and put their faith in action. This would be an opportunity to serve others in an intergenerational way.

 

SPC began this initiative in fall 2007 by offering opportunities for all church members to participate in the following educational projects.  These activities were communicated by the teachers in each Sunday school class and through posters, flyers, mailers, the newsletter and the church bulletin.

 

HAITI

In late September, each Sunday school class collected clothing, toys and school supplies for the Haiti Mission Team’s trip in early October.  These items were given by the team to the Haitian children and a local school.  The team also painted this school.

 

EMBRACE RICHMOND

In November, church members cleaned out their attics to provide needed household items for families transitioning from homelessness to their new home.   Since our involvement with Embrace Richmond began in the spring 2007, we have delivered items and furnished homes for six families in the Richmond area.

C.A.R.I.T.A.S.

From December 8-15, 2007, we hosted a group of approximately 40 homeless women. SPC members donated personal hygiene items and food to be used in the preparation of breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.  In addition, church members planned and participated in activities each evening to provide entertainment and fellowship with these ladies.  We also hosted a group during November 2006 and plan to host a group during Thanksgiving 2008.

 

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS

YOURSELF

On January 12, 2007, church families came together to understand from other members what it is like to have a family member serving in the military for a long period of time.  Each family had the opportunity to discuss what this might be like for their family and then created cards to be mailed to the church members in the military. Ninety cards with messages for the service men and women were created.  

 

These programs help Salisbury Presbyterian Church reach the community and share God’s love.