This Month at PPC

It is a joy to spend time getting to know so many of you and soon share my first Easter at PPC with you! I hope that you will feel closer to God through worship, visits and the warmth of Christ’s ministry at PPC.

As we near Holy Week, I want to acknowledge that the death of Jesus is unsettling for Christians. We are confronted with horrific violence done to someone innocent, and it’s hard to know how to feel. If we get “angry” at the people who did it, we miss the point because we would have made the same mistake or fled like the disciples. If we look at Jesus and lose our self in shame, we misunderstand the cross as God’s cosmic guilt-trip, which isn’t completely right either. New scholarship from first century history scholar, NT Wright, offers correction.

In 1 Corinthians 15:3 Paul tells us “what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Hebrew Scriptures speak against child-sacrifice throughout 2 Kings and elsewhere. Even when Abraham climbed Mt. Moriah, trusting that God loved Isaac as much as he did, the story had the appropriate happy ending it was always meant to have.

When we look at details throughout the breadth of scripture, the cross takes new shape as the ultimate battlefield between God and Satan in the battle for humanity’s freedom and allegiance. Let’s take another look at the cross knowing that the one thing getting God through the human pain and psychological torture was a determination to free us from the fear of evil and death. The victory was won on the cross and vindicated three days later so that evil, sin and death were no longer feared as more powerful than God’s love. Such as view of the cross can make our hearts burn within us as we imagine Jesus telling his two disciples on the road to Emmaus “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures (Lk 24:26-27).” The sermons throughout April will try to uncover some of these muted details about the victory of the cross.

Worship April 7^th will explore how the problem of sin is larger than morality. Palm Sunday on April 14^th will look at who the true adversaries of Christ were (it may not be who we sometimes think). We will join St. Bart’s for a special Maundy Thursday service April 18^th. PPC will host a dramatic Good Friday service at noon on April 19^th–let’s pack the sanctuary! Come experience God’s presence Easter Sunday at a special Sunrise Service at 7am in Nooe Park and at our traditional worship at 11 o’clock. Living into Easter continues on April 28^th as we explore doing what the bible says about the land God entrusted to our care for a special Earth Care Sunday. Join us in person by worshipping with us or join us “in spirit” by sharing our newsletters with your friends and continuing to pray for Christ’s ministry to the community through Pittsboro Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Evan

April 18, 7pm

Maundy Thursday service at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church

April 19, 12pm

Good Friday service

April 21, 7am and 11am

Sunrise Easter service in Nooe Park
Regular Easter service

Ordering Supplies

A sheet is posted on the refrigerator door for bathroom, kitchen, and other supply needs for the church. If you see something out or running low, please fill out the sheet or email Heather at o ffice@pittsboropres.org.

Pittsboro Presbyterian is proud to welcome Rick & Judy Gage as our newest affiliate members!

They have worshipped with us many times throughout the past three years including recently in February and early March. They have written a note to share more about themselves which you can read here.

On Saturday March 2nd, Becky Peer, Connie McAdams and Gary Simpson represented Pittsboro Presbyterian Church at the Salem Presbytery Social Justice Advocacy Training Day held at Sedgefield Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

The full day included morning worship centering around the admonition from Micah 6:8 (do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God). This was followed by a panel discussion among peace and justice leaders: Denominational Staff Rev. Jimmie Hawkins (Office of Public Witness), Rev. Liz TheoHaris (Poor People's Campaign) and Jessica Maudlin (Environmental Ministries); local Community Advocates Sophia Mosquera (Faith Action International) and Rev. Julie Peeples (Congregational UCC).

A hands-on advocacy letter writing session and closing worship rounded out an informative, inspiring and action-oriented day. The event was hosted by the EQUIP Team of Salem Presbytery.

On Saturday, March 16, four members of PPC’s Eco-Justice group (Blanche, Charlie, Connie and Gary) led a contingent of 15 volunteers on a hunt for trash and recyclables in Pittsboro near Robeson Creek and its tributaries. By the end of this leg of the greater Haw River Watershed Cleanup, this is what they reclaimed from the littered land and water:

As saddening and maddening as it was to behold humanity’s disrespect for the environment, it was also rewarding to receive a benediction on the cleanup efforts on various occasions by passers-by who shouted out “God bless you for what you are doing.”

A Note from the Pastor

Upcoming Events at PPC

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Announcements

Social Justice Advocacy Training Day Event

Haw River Watershed Cleanup

PPC Info