Sunday, April 26, 2024 – 5th Sunday of Easter – Pastor Joel & Katie’s last Sunday with us.
Please join us Sunday morning!
9:30 Sunday School led by Jeff Rumbaugh.
10:30 Worship here in person. Also view live on Facebook.
Becky Dulany will lead us into Liturgy with Selections from Psalm 51.
Pastor Joel & Katie will provide Special Music during lighting of the worship candles.
Amaris Bice will sing “How Firm a Foundation” for Anthem.
Mary Lou Kimmons will present Children’s Time.
Pastor Joel will read Scriptures: Acts 20:17-32, 36-38; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13. For his sermon titled “Paul’s Tearful Goodbye”.
Diane Fischer will present Pastor Joel & Katie with the signed picture of the church.
There will be a Congregational Meeting directly after Worship April 28 to officially resolve Pastor Joel as pastor of Coates Street Presbyterian Church.
There will be a meal in Fellowship Hall following worship and the short Congregational Meeting.
CSPC NEWS:
Please help us celebrate Pastor Joel & Katie’s 5+ years at CSPC! You’re invited to attend a special service on Sunday, April 28. There will be a meal in Fellowship Hall following worship and the short Congregational Meeting. CSPC will provide fried chicken, ham, potato casserole, green beans, and drinks. Please bring a salad, side dish, and/or dessert.
There is a picture of the church on the piano in the Parlor if you would like to sign, it will be presented to Joel & Katie 4/28.
There will be a Congregational Meeting directly after Worship April 28 to officially dissolve Pastor Joel as pastor of Coates Street Presbyterian Church.
Reminder you may still turn in your Stewardship and Time & Talent forms, you can drop them in the offering plate, or bring them to the office.
Dear Coates Street Presbyterian Church,
When I started on this journey of ordained ministry with you all fresh out of seminary, I
knew how much I would love preaching and teaching, but I had no idea how much I would come
to love you all, the church community. You welcomed me with open arms and treated me with
more kindness than I could ever retell. Serving and growing together has been a pleasure and joy.
After much prayerful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to resign as your
pastor to accept a call to First Presbyterian Church of Albemarle, North Carolina, east of
Charlotte. My last day will be April 29. This is a bittersweet moment. I am excited at new
possibilities in my ministry ahead, but I mourn having to say goodbye to this special place.
Having spent over five years here, I’ve spent longer here than I have in high school,
college, or seminary. This means that the relationships I’ve built here are some of the most
impactful and long-standing of my life. I know I will always look back fondly at this time that I
had with my first ever church. You all will always hold a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t
have asked for a better place to begin my ministry. You all have been faithful, walking with me
through the ups and the downs, from the trials of covid and the lightning strike on our belltower
to the joys of celebrating my marriage and the 130th anniversary of the church. I can only offer
the highest of recommendations of this congregation. The pastor I have grown into today is in
large part thanks to the support you all have given me.
Though a time of transition brings with it grief, anxiety, and uncertainty, let us continue
to trust in the providential hand of God. God will continue to guide and direct us. Just as Moses
was followed by Joshua, and Elijah by Elisha, God can raise up new leaders to shepherd His
people. Just as this congregation has thrived for more than one hundred years before I ever
showed up on the scene, I trust that this congregation will be able to continue God’s work long
after I have left. Our Presbytery will support you in finding leaders to fill in. I know we have
many outstanding and capable elders to rely on as well.
I think now of the apostle Paul, and how he was called not to minister in one place his
entire life, but over the years he was led by the Spirit to venture out to minister in new places.
Nevertheless, Paul continued to hold every church he had ever been with close to his heart.
When he wrote back to these churches, he would often echo these sentiments over and over: I
thank God for you, and I pray for you as I remember you (Ephesians 1:16, Philippians 1:3-4,
Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2). As often as I think on you all I will offer up thanksgiving to
God for our time together and prayer for blessings in your future.
May God be with you, now and evermore,
Rev. Joel Lynn
Extra offering envelopes for 2024 are available in the office.
Katie Lynn has been featured in Jubilee News, a Christian newspaper. The article tells the story of her miraculous survival in a car crash in 2013. Here’s a link to a digital version: https://indd.adobe.com/view/e399b609-299f-458b-92d7-96b2e32d50f8
The Christos Center supports our community by supplementing food to those in need. We are seeing more families who need our help. Personal hygiene items cannot be purchased with food stamps. The board members would like to provide bar soap too each of our clients. I would like to make this an ongoing project for our congregation. Diane Fischer, Christos Board Member
Be sure to visit the Lending Library in the hallway! The Care and Fellowship Committee invites you to TAKE A BOOK, BRING A BOOK and pass them on or return them. Religious or not! There are several new additions to the library. The shelves are full, waiting for you to find your perfect reflection book, bible, nice daily devotional books.
Coates Street Presbyterian Church
Household Prayer Morning: Thank you for this new day to sing your praise and watch for signs of your kingdom. By your Spirit, let me abound in love for you and your children, that in living and loving I may point to your coming reign. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Household Prayer: Evening: Thank you for the signs of your coming reign, and for the power of your saving love. Bless all those whom I met today, and strengthen their hope in your power and grace. Now as I close my eyes, I relinquish all anxieties and fears, trusting in your providence and mercy. Amen.
Question for Reflection: Even in the midst of trouble and turmoil, God allows us glimpses of the kingdom to come. What signs of promise do you see that bolster your hope in a new heaven and a new earth?
Scriptures Sunday, April 28, 2024
Acts 20:17-32, 36-38; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
Acts 20:17-32, 36-38
From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. When they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus. And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
‘And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
This is the Word of the Lord…..Thanks be to God.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
This is the Word of the Lord…..Thanks be to God.
Committee Volunteer Sign up sheets are in the office. If you would like to sign up, call or email the church office for more details. The committees are:
Care & Fellowship – To care for the congregation, provide for fellowship and to improve communication.
Christian Education – Recruits teachers, helpers, chooses curriculum for children and youth, makes suggestions for Adult education, and encourages attendance.
Outreach – This committee is focused on evangelism and outreach: brainstorming and creating events or opportunities that might reach those outside our church or spread the gospel.
Personnel – Establishing policies and procedures for church employment that comply with federal, state, and local laws, where applicable. Participate in staff relations to support staff members.
Property – Help with the administration, maintenance, and areas of responsibility associated with the church building and grounds.
Stewardship & Finance – Oversee activities related to financial support of church, including annual stewardship campaign, special campaigns for designated projects and communicating with church members regarding the use of the funds collected.
Worship – Helps acquiring people for Children’s Time, Liturgists and Special Music. Help in making decisions for Worship and Special Services.
Deacon’s Meeting is the second Monday every month at 6:00 pm
Choir Rehearsals are Wednesdays, at 5:30 PM.
Session meets the third Wednesday each month at 6:30 pm
Fellowship Group meets the second & fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM. Call the office or Pastor Joel for more details.
Coffee is ready at Sundays at 9:20; coffee and light snack is available on the first Sunday of each month. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:30. Worship with us in person or on Facebook Live at 10:30 AM.
All are invited and welcome here at Coates Street Presbyterian Church.
Preparing Thanksgiving noodles:
If you or someone you know would like to share their musical talents for Special Music, please let us know!
If you would like to purchase the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Too Funny!” in which Wallis Landrum wrote a story “This Time in Latin” and is included the book. The book can be purchased for $15, of which all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the church. Contact Wally at 660-676-6760 for your copy today!
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who dwell in it. For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Psalm 24:1-2
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CHURCH NEWS & NOTES
Extra copies of the 2021 CSPC directory are available on the table in the hall or in the office. If you would like one mailed to you, please call, or email the office.
If your contact information has changed, please contact the church office to make sure that we have their most recent info: address, phone numbers, and email. You can call or email the office, or sign the red folders in the Sanctuary with your information.
Please remember to keep in contact with your loved ones, the elderly and anyone that you know that may need some help in this time of uncertainty. It may just be as simple as calling to see if they need some groceries or other necessities. Call the Church office if you need help, or know of someone that does to see if one of our volunteers can help!
Be sure to get a copy of “These Days, Daily Devotions for Living by Faith” and/or “The Upper Room, Where the world meets to pray”. Free copies are available on the table in hall.
The Lending Library in the hallway is waiting for you to see what is available! The Care and Fellowship Committee invites you to TAKE A BOOK, BRING A BOOK and pass them on or return them. Religious or not! There are several new additions to the library. The shelves are full, waiting for you to find your perfect reflection book, bible, nice daily devotional books.
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To watch past Worship Services, log into our Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/Coates-Street-Presbyterian-Church-2470642886504869
We Seek to Know Christ’s Love and Minister in His Name
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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and glory, forever.
Amen.
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CSPC DEACON NEWS:
The Deacons BLESSING BOX is located outside of the church by the parking lot entrance. This blessing box is for people to leave what they can and take what they need. Some of the items that can be left in the blessing box is canned goods, soups, fruits and vegetables; nonperishable food items. Hygiene products, feminine items, soap, shampoo, coats, gloves for winter, small household items and much more.
The Deacons are requesting yarn and plastic knitting needles and crochet hooks for the inmates at the Prison, who are making stocking hats, etc. for the Veterans living on the streets and homeless children. This is a very worthy cause. Their supplies are getting low, so any donations will be greatly appreciated! Phyllis delivered the supplies to the prison.
Consider Time, Talent and Stewardship in Your Church. Time: if you have free time to help with different projects in and around the church, contact the office. Talent: Always looking for talented people to be involved. Do you know someone that would like to play the organ, piano, or other instrument during worship, want to be liturgist, or present Children’s time, let us know! Stewardship: Donations and contributions can be made in several different ways. If you come to Worship in Person, you may drop your offering in the offering trays. If you join us on Facebook live, press the donate button, No Fees applied. Contact your bank and have automatic payments set up to be mailed. Continue to mail your offerings per U.S. Post Office.