A Note from the Editor

A Note from the Editor are used to pay administrative costs for the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. Articles are due March 15. A new The Presbyterian Church USA provides us e-mail address has been set up for with a wealth of services such as listing communication regarding the Beacon. names of supply ministers, providing training Please send articles to sessions for deacons and elders, supporting [email protected] or use the missionaries overseas and at home, and Beacon mailbox in the church office. Thank many others. We ask that EVERY you! ~Erica Goehring MEMBER of the congregation please pay his/her fair share to offset these costs. Communion Dates Apportionment envelopes are found in your 2010 offering boxes. April 1, 2010 Maundy Thursday May 23, 2010 Pentecost Last year the total amount of money July 11, 2010 donated and designated to apportionment August 1, 2010 by Hillcrest members was far less than our September 12, 2010 fair share. This year our Executive October 3, 2010 World Committee has reviewed our membership Wide rolls and diligently contacted people who Communion have moved away or not recently attended. November 21, 2010 Christ the King In this manner, we hope our roster of active December 24, 2010 Christmas Eve members is up-to-date, so our apportionment fair share should be up-to- date as well. If you wish to change your Special Services membership status or if you did not receive envelopes, please contact the church office. During this time of Lent, we are Again, we are asking that ALL MEMBERS remembering what God has done for us and regardless of age or current address please we are preparing our hearts for Easter. send in your apportionment envelope or a Please plan on worshiping with us on these contribution designated to apportionment as special services and rejoicing in our risen soon as possible. Lord on Easter Sunday. Souper Bowl Palm Sunday March 29th 11:00 am The JYF/HYF members would like to express their gratitude to the Maundy Thursday – communion congregation of Hillcrest for their generous April 1st 7:00 pm giving on that snowy cold Sunday, February 14, to the Souper Bowl. A total of $102.65 Easter Sunday was collected at the sanctuary doors by the April 4th 11:00 am JYF/HYF members and will be sent to the local Meals on Wheels program. We have not yet counted the cans of soup collected Apportionment is Our Fair Share as the last day for collection moved to March 14. Hillcrest Church was assessed an apportionment amount of $4015 by Pittsburgh Presbytery for 2010 based on our Vacation Bible School membership. The amount of assessment is $22.43 per active member. This is a great Looking at all the snow outside deal less than the annual dues for many makes it hard to believe that the lazy hazy clubs or other organizations. The days of summer will be here before we know Presbytery collects these funds and is it, and with summer comes Vacation Bible required to pay the Synod and General School. This year's Vacation Bible School Assembly in full regardless of the amount will be June 21 - 25 from 9:30 AM until collected by congregations. These funds Noon. As always, the Christian Education Committee is looking for volunteers to teach, 4 help with crafts, lead recreation, or help in world through Him." (John 3:17) They will the kitchen. Vacation Bible School is an make a special craft to assist them in amazing week at Hillcrest, but it takes a lot learning the verse. During the Lenten of leaders and helpers to make it happen. Season, the children will hear about the So if you are looking for a way to serve the Seven Last Words Jesus spoke from the Lord and serve Hillcrest and also have a cross as well as participate in their Sunday great experience for yourself, join the VBS School class lessons. The Christian crew. Let Alice Robertson know where you Education Committee cannot stress enough would like to serve. And remember, there how much participation in Sunday School are no upper age limits on service at VBS! classes contributes to a child/youth's spiritual growth. Parents have the From Guideposts magazine: "You responsibility to nurture their children's have never really learned to live until you've spiritual growth as promised at their done something for somebody who can baptisms. Sunday School is a formal way to never repay you." Submitted by Ralph King, lead children to grasp the tenets of their faith Mequon, Wisconsin that will serve them well as they face the temptations life will send their way. Missing Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner Sunday School is missing an important facet of Christian Education. PLEASE lead your The Christian Education children to Sunday School. Committee's cancellation of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner due to the Kids for Christ Youth Club inclement weather had a lot of people feeling glum. Hopefully, everyone The Kids for Christ Youth Club is will practice flinging and flipping pancakes moving along through its second semester, until next year's STPD which will be on which began on January 14. During Tuesday, March 8, 2011. February the "Kids" made Valentine lunch bags for our local Meals on Wheels group. Hillcrest Preschool Open House Another highlight was the Quarter Shoot Contest in which the children sent quarters The Hillcrest Preschool will host an flying across the floor of Fellowship Hall. Open House for prospective students in the Kyrie Bernardi took home the trophy 2010 - 2011 year classes on Tuesday, with Samantha Holmes and Analise March 2, from 7 - 8 PM. Children must be 3 Balaschak the two runner-ups. Sue Polnar or 4 years old by September 1 to enroll. The also had the boys and girls "guesstimate" Preschool provides a nurturing environment the winning team in the Super Bowl and the for children to be introduced to school score. Eleven children picked the Saints, activities. For more information visit the and Mikey Palermo won the BIG candy bar website, www.hillcrestupc.org. for coming closest to the actual score. The children and teachers are working on the Sunday School News program for the Family Night Dinner which will be held on Thursday, March 18 at 6:00 The Sunday School students had a PM. Parents are asked to sign the sheet in fun time at their God Is Love Party on Fellowship Hall to indicate how many will be Sunday, February 14. The children heard a attending and the dish they will contribute. special Valentine story and practiced their The KFC Youth Club is a wonderful February verse at the Worship Table: "God opportunity for children to join with their demonstrates his own love for us in this: peers for fun and fellowship and learning While we were still sinners, Christ died for about Jesus. The Christian Education us." (Romans 5:8) The hearts in the Committee appreciates the help of everyone windows of the Christian Education wing who makes the weekly KFC possible. feature this verse. Thanks to everyone who sent treats. They were enjoyed by all! Lenten Small Groups During March, the children will learn a new verse:"For God did not send His Son into the There are two small groups meeting world to condemn the world, but to save the during the Lenten Season, studying "The

4 Sign of Jonah." This is a six-session Bible still left torn by Hurricane Katrina. As these study following Jonah on his journey of faith men and women step out of their comfort that will hopefully guide participants on their zones to serve others, please pray for their journeys with Jesus on the way to the safety and strength. May their work and cross. De Triponey and Barbara Bayle are very presence be a witness of God’s grace leading a small group at De's home on and love. Monday, February 22 and Wednesdays thereafter. Doris Patchel is leading a small group on Tuesdays at noon in the church All Church Clean-Up Day parlor. The Christian Education Committee is very grateful to the small group leaders April 24, 2010 and hopes that the small group participants 9:00 am reach a greater level of understanding of the journey to the cross. Bring your mops, buckets, Junior and Senior Youth Fellowship dusters, and elbow grease as we freshen the church Youth in Grades six through twelve and celebrate a new start for are encouraged to become active members Hillcrest. of the JYF/HYF. During March, the group will go ice skating at PPG Place, participate in the BLEND, an interchurch group, have a Coffee and doughnuts Spring Mall Crawl, and enjoy Dinner and a available to keep our energy Movie Night. Youth are to follow their up! schedules for times. The semi-annual Strudel Sale is in progress. The group thanks all who purchased strudels and Family Game Night on Friday, April 23rd Easter breads. Delivery date will be March 28. The Christian Education Committee will host a Family Game night on Friday, Scrapbook Fellowship: Follow-Up April 23rd, in Fellowship Hall. Bring your family, friends, fun games and a favorite Despite the snow on Saturday, snack and spend a couple hours in heart- February 27, six hearty album-makers warming (and occasionally hilarious) gathered in the education wing to spend a fellowship with your Hillcrest Church day celebrating wonderful memories community. There should be plenty of fun captured in photographs. Lots of snipping, for all ages, as the young ones race through cutting, and sticking ensued, while great Candyland, direct Hippos in their marble- conversation and a lunch break kept the eating frenzy, or try to Guess Who? while energy high. the adults play a friendly (but highly With one successful Scrapbook competitive!) hand of cards. Fellowship behind us, another day of photo Learn a new game, or bring an old fun is in the works. Whether you are a favorite along—and don’t forget to bring your scrapbook expert or prefer to slip your most loved munchies to share, as we pass photographs into traditional photo albums, along the treats in a snack-food version of join the group for a day of productive potluck. Game night will start at 7:00 PM fellowship. and end at 9:30 PM or when the last one Speak with Erica Goehring or Judy drops (whichever comes first!). Weimer for more information. And keep your eye on the Beacon for future dates. “And He said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is Please Keep in Prayer made perfect in weakness, most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my A team of seven faithful servants will infirmities that the power of Christ may represent Hillcrest Church on the third rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) church-sponsored mission trip to the region