April 2015 Issue • First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio, Texas Do You Believe in Miracles?! TABLE of CONTENTS by Rev
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meditation in the garden april 2015 Issue • First Presbyterian Church of san antonio, texas Do You Believe in Miracles?! TABLE OF CONTENTS By Rev. Dr. Ronald Scates • Interim Senior Pastor Easter. Is it the stuff of Hallmark cards or truly the hinge point of human history? Dare we “spiritualize” Christ’s resurrection or relish in getting its organic earthiness under our fingernails? Sometimes plain Truth is PG. 4-5 PG. 6-7 best captured poetically. As we prepare to celebrate the uniqueness of an empty tomb, let me share my favorite Easter poem with you by a noted save the date special stories novelist. 4 GOOD FRIDAY CONCERT 6-7 sweeney meditation garden 4 CHILDREN’S EASTER PROGRAM 4 ANNUAL BABY BRUNCH 5 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 5 LITERATURe REVIEW “Seven Stanzas At Easter” by the late John Updike 5 MO-RANCH CHURCH RETREAT 5 FAMILY SERVE DAY 5 TRAFFICK LIGHT Make no mistake: if He rose at all The stone is rolled back, not papier-mâché. 5 VBS It was as His body, Not a stone in a story. 5 spring care packages If the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, But the vast rock of materiality The molecules reknit, That in the slow grinding of The amino acids rekindle, Time will eclipse for each of us The Church will fall. The wide light of day. 8-23 24-35 It was not as the flowers, And if we have an angel at the tomb, PG. PG. Each soft spring recurrent; Make it a real angel, ministries inspiration It was not as His Spirit in the mouths Weighty with Max Planck’s quanta, And fuddled eyes of the Vivid with hair, opaque in 8-9 project 240 thank you 25 moments to hold close Eleven apostles; The dawn light, robed in real linen 10-11 dropbox follow-up 25 easter lilies It was as His flesh; ours. Spun on a definite loom. 12-13 refugee outreach 26-27 first cup 14 medical mission trip The same hinged thumbs and toes Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, 15 family mission trip The same valved heart For our own convenience, our own sense of 16-17 keys That —pierced—died, withered, Beauty, lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, 18-21 Presbyterian women Paused, and then regathered We are embarrassed by the miracle, 22-23 prayer ministry Out of enduring Might And crushed by remonstrance. New strength to enclose. Let us not mock God with metaphor, Analogy, sidestepping transcendence, First Press is published monthly by the Making of the event a parable, PG. 24 First Presbyterian Church San Antonio A sign painted in the faded Communications Team. Deadline to church updates submit content: the 10th of the previ- Credulity of earlier ages: ous month. Let us walk through the door. 24 letter of thanks 24 financials Brian Fitzgerald: Director of Communication. Sarah Clower: Graphic Designer. Richard Flores: Press Manager & Production. Tay- lor Brandesky: Media & Technology Coordinator. He is risen!! He is risen indeed!! Have a most blessed Easter. Contact Brian Fitzgerald at 210-271-2728 or [email protected] if you have questions. Ron 2 3 Save the Date good friday with music of gabriel faure WEDNESDAY EVENING LADIES BIBLE STUDY family serve day vbs 2015 is coming! 10th annual mary jean rogers memorial concert WHAT LOVE IS, THE LETTERS OF 1, 2, 3 JOHN On Sunday, April 26, families will have the opportu- Save the date for VBS! Join us this summer for Vaca- Join us as we experience music of the famed French The letters of 1, 2, & 3 John were written to encourage nity to serve together at Christian Assistance Ministry tion Bible School as we study God’s Word, learning composer Gabriel Faure. Our musical observance of followers of Jesus to remain faithful to the truth. In this (CAM) and Respite Care San Antonio during the Sun- Biblical truths to guide kids through life’s challenges Good Friday reminds us of the unspeakable gift of study by Kelly Minter, believers are challenged to look at day school and worship hours! Kids of all ages and their and display God’s power! Children ages 2 through Christ’s suffering, death and glorious resurrection. contrasting themes such as walking in the light instead families can serve! incoming 5th grades are welcome! This year, our Sanctuary Choir will be joined by a of darkness, loving God more than loving the world, Contact Becky Prichard at [email protected] for more. Online Registration is NOW OPEN! Visit and the meaning of true fellowship and community professional orchestra and baritone soloist Dr. Chia- april 26 www.fpcsanantonio.org/ministries/children. Wei Lee to present two outstanding compositions rather than shallowness. This study reveals not only the Contact Becky Prichard at [email protected]. of Gabriel Faure: ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ (a hymn heart of John but also the heart of Jesus. translates to a petition for God’s grace and favor) and Contact: Sheila Figueroa ([email protected] / 210- june 22-26 ‘Requiem’ of Faure (a masterpiece in choral orchestral 822-4082) to reserve a book. Cost of book is $13.00. composition comprised of multiple movements that There is weekly homework and videos spring care packages reassure us of the eternal rest found in God). April 8 - June 3 • 6:30 - 8:15 PM • Room 302 Twice every year, your University Ministry sends out This concert offering is made possible through the boxes filled with baked goods, candy, and encouraging global impact on human trafficking Mary Jean Rogers Choral Endowment of First Presby- notes to college students across the globe. We will put terian Church. Each year the Endowment honors the care packages together in the Student Center at Noon On May 1, 2015, in conjunction with our Worship memory of Mary Jean Rogers, the mother of our own on April 20, so please join us! We need as many volun- Nights, FPC will be hosting a night of justice aware- Jean Rogers Winchell, and their shared love of the literature review teers as possible! A light lunch will be provided. ness at the Pearl. Developed in partnership with the church and great choral music. FPC-sponsored group International Justice Mission, If you are a dog lover and one who yearns to travel the If you want to bring goodies for the boxes, drop them an organization that strives to bring about power- We hope you will join us for this one hour concert as open road meeting new people and viewing new scen- off at the front desk by the morning of April 20th. ful changes that protect the poor from violence, the we direct our hearts and minds to the suffering and ery, then “Travels with Charley” will fulfill all your long- Email Lindsay Blackmon ([email protected]) to purpose of this outreach event is to raise awareness death of Christ on the cross. ing. The classic novel is authored by John Steinbeck and let her know where to send packages to your student. regarding human trafficking. This will be an outreach depicts a 1960 road trip around the U.S. accompanied Even if they’re studying abroad, we still want to send event to young adults living in the Pearl area of San april 3 • 7:00 pM • fpc sanctuary by his standard poodle. them a box! Antonio, and will include opportunities to raise funds The Rev. Leslie Ellison will review this book on Tuesday, Questions? Contact Ann Smith ([email protected]) or for International Justice Mission — to further their April 14. Bring a friend and join us for refreshments Meghan Dougherty ([email protected]). Thank global impact on human trafficking. children’s easter program prior to the meeting. you in advance for all of your help in letting our Uni- To make this event happen, we need your help! versity students know how much FPC cares for them Join us for the Children’s Easter Program with singing, april 14 • 1:30 pM • mccullough room and wants to encourage them in their faith! Along with our mission to raise awareness, we will food, a retelling of the Easter story, and Egg Hunt! place a heavy focus on expression through creativity. Kids of all ages and their families are welcome to at- april 20 We will be looking for talented poets, spoken word tend. Bring a friend and an Easter basket! artists, musical performers and other talented individ- mo ranch all-church retreat uals. We will also be looking for artists to donate art Contact Lindsay Blackmon at [email protected]. pieces, to be put on display and to help raise funds for Join us on the All-Church Retreat to Mo Ranch Con- International Justice Mission. april 4 • 10:00 AM • Westminster Hall ference Center in Hunt, Texas! Ron Scates will be our men’s retreat at t bar m speaker this year and he will be discussing “The Three Join the men of First Presbyterian Church of San If you are an artist, have connections to artists, have a Ordinary Means of Grace,” while we discover some Antonio for a retreat on “Being Christ’s Men: Grace, passion for young adults, or putting an end to human practical ways of deepening our walks with Christ. Forgiveness and Our Walk,” facilitated by Rev. Dr. trafficking, we would love to have you partner with us. annual fpc baby brunch Housing is decided on a first come, first served basis Ronald Scates. Sign up and see more online at You can contact Meghan Dougherty at meghand@fpc- If you have had a baby in the past twelve months, the so sign up soon to reserve a spot for your family! www.fpcsanantonio.org/ministries/adults/men.