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April 2017

News from Pastor Aline After a thankfully uneventful journey by Delta and Air France, we arrived in Catania to

find our checked bags there as well. I slept much more than expected in the back seat of the plane for the overnight part. Mark rented a car

and we managed to park safely right across the

street from where we are staying. (Our rented

parking space was almost a mile away, however.) There was no name on the large

double wooden doors, and Mark thought they

were locked until a kind lovely woman pushed

them open for him.

When we entered, we found the courtyard of a

crumbling building that is several centuries old. I was a little

nervous, but when we got to our room on the second floor it was clean, in good repair, and with that intoxicating Mediterranean air blowing through

floor to ceiling doors from our own mini balcony.

The young landlord showed up about 30 minutes later to explain the boiler for the shower

and the gas canister for the stovetop. With his excellent English, he also took about 30

minutes telling us about the wonders of his beloved city.

Catania was destroyed twice in the 1600's, once by an earthquake and once by lava from

Mt. Etna. A couple of days ago an explosion from hot lava hitting snow caused minor

injuries to some tourists, their guides, and some volcanologists, but it is the only spewing

smoke at the present time.

Catania is crumbling throughout, which seems sad, but the people are not sad, at least the ones met. I think there is a place on top on a mountain here populated by a lot of famous

and wealthy people which I am told that is very beautiful. (Taormina) The "regular"

residents, however, are hardy, walking long distances without complaint and coping with narrow uneven streets and crumbling buildings, and, as I understand it, a struggling

economy.

Interspersed with the crumbling buildings were

gorgeous Baroque cathedrals and castles, and the

fabulous Bellini Theater. Inside, as in St. Agatha's, paintings and sculptures of amazing artistry abound.

There were also a couple of Roman baths, visible

through glass in the floor, looking like a couple of stone

hot tubs. The cathedral was just built right on top of them.

I attended a Mass in the cathedral my first day, celebrated in the

alcove of St. Agatha, a teenage martyr and the patron saint of the island. Although I understood only a few words, the form of the

Communion was as familiar as the back of my hand and reminded

me of the oneness of the universal church, created and celebrated in

our common practice of the Lord’s Supper.

—-Aline

Our room was in the building

on the left, two flights up

Page 2

Presbyterian Women:

Presbyterian Women will meet April 26 at the home of Margaret Ferrell. Our lesson will be Lesson 6: Who Is Jesus According to Hebrews?

April is Sexual Awareness Month

April 2--Self-development of People Sunday

April 7--World Health Day

April 8--International Roma Day

April 16--Easter

April 21-24--Ecumenical Advocacy Days

April 22--Earth Day

April 24--National Holocaust Remembrance Day

April 24--Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

April 25--Orange Day

Feeding our community

Featured food for April: Applesauce

Food donations go to the Christian

Community Food Depot. Monetary

donations may be designated for the

Food Depot or for The Food Bank of

Northeast Missouri.

Volunteers are welcome to help with the

Mobile Food Pantry held on the third Wednesday of the month. Contact Lisa

Ahrens or Joel Cagle for more

information.

Since fall we have been getting to know some of the people we worship with each week. Let’s see how well you do this

month:

What is your favorite color? Burgundy

What is the earliest church memory that you have? Singing

“Jesus Loves Me”

Where did you spend your childhood? Baltimore

What brought you to Kirksville's First Presbyterian Church? A friend

What is your favorite hobby or pastime? Painting (oils & watercolor)

What is your "go to" Bible verse? For I know the plans I have for you

declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give

you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Where is your favorite place to dine? Viva Italia

What is your favorite hymn or Christian song? Onward Christian

Soldiers

(answer can be found somewhere in this issue)

How well do you know me?

The Operation Joy

Spring Musical will be held May 7

with a youth lock-in at the church on

May 5

(Adults interested in helping with the lock-in should contact Michele

Yoder.)

Would YOU be interested in being featured in a future

issue of the Lantern? Do people know you well enough

to guess? Join the fun and send your name and answers

to the following questions to Brenda Martin at

brendak75@hotmail.com.

Children and youth are welcome to complete the

questions as well.

Our first Movie Night

Twenty people gathered in Fellowship Hall to enjoy some

popcorn, some fellowship and a good movie “Fly Away Home”. This

event was for all ages and we had grandparents to preschoolers in

attendance. Great job getting this together Michele!

If you would like to purchase an

Easter lily in Memoriam for $10.99,

please contact the church office at

660-665-4473 as soon as possible.

Page 3

Maundy Thursday Communion Service Thursday, April 13 in Fellowship Hall Soup meal provided at 6:00 pm

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 15 at the Gering’s

Time to be announced. Contact Michele Yoder for details.

Page 4 VOLUME 1, I SSUE 1

The difficult task of reviewing pastor information has begun. Please

continue to lift up the members of the

PNC and the pastors they may be

contacting.

Join us in worship on Palm Sunday, April 9,

as we confirm our

newest members.

Fifth Sunday in Lent - April 2, 2017

- Ezekiel 37:1-14

- Psalm 130

- Romans 8:6-11

- John 11:1-45

Liturgy of the Palms - April 9, 2017

- Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

- Matthew 21:1-11

Liturgy of the Passion - April 9, 2017

- Isaiah 50:4-9a

- Psalm 31:9-16

- Philippians 2:5-11

- Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR LENT Mar. 1, 2017 - Apr. 9, 2017

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Some pictures from February’s

Family Game Night

April 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

A=Anniversary

B=Birthday CF=Coffee/Fellowship

Food HS PYF=6:30

PCF (college) dinner at 5:00

MS(6)PYF at

Westminster 6:30

Clothes Closet

1:30-3:30

Operation JOY

3:00 Adult Choir

practice 6:30

Food Depot

Applesauce

Clothes Closet

10:00-noon MS (8) PYF

6:00

1

2 CF=First Feast

Bell Choir practice 11:00 Adult Choir practice 9:00

PNC 2:00 pm

B=Evan AuBuchon

Fair Trade Orders Due

3

4

5

Read a Road Map Day

6

7

B=Eddie

Hodges

8

9 CF=after worship

Palm Sunday Bell Choir practice 8:45

Operation JOY sings

PNC 2:00 pm

10

Budget &

Finance 5:00

11

Session 6:00

Deacons 7:00

B=Katherine

Marshall

12

13

Maundy

Thursday Service & meal

6:00

14

15

Easter egg

hunt (time to be

announced)

16 CF=after worship

Easter Sunday Adult Choir practice 9:00

PNC 2:00 pm

17

18

B=Allie Yoder

19

Presby Seniors Pancake City

8:30 am Mobile Food

Pantry 10-12 B=Tim

AuBuchon

20

21

22

B=Bonnie

Collier

23 CF=after worship

PNC 2:00 pm

24

25

26

Presby Women

7:00 pm at Margaret

Ferrell’s house

27

28

29

30 CF=after worship

Bugs Bunny Day

PNC 2:00 pm

Don’t see your birthday or anniversary on the calendar?

Email names and dates to Brenda at brendak75@hotmail.com

Where do you see God?

201 High Street Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-4473

Email articles: brendak75@hotmail.com Website: www.presbykv.org www.facebook.com/firstpresbykirksville

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Sunday Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am

Have you ever wondered what God looks like?

We all have an image of God that has developed

in our mind because of our life experiences. Did

you check out the video on the church face book

page “Eating Twinkies with God”? Every time I

watch it, it makes me stop and ponder where I will

see God next.

While God sightings are not rare if you look

for them, the place I see them most is in the

Clothes Closet. I spend hours sorting and stocking

clothes and sometimes I catch myself smiling at

the thought of the excited faces who find that

perfect item on our shelves. You never know what

it might be. It could be a prom dress, a coat, jeans,

a pair of shoes, new socks, new underwear, a new

toothbrush or even band-aids or hair ties.

You hear me talk occasionally about the

numbers and the needs, but what I love the most

Volunteers are still needed for Saturdays and occasional

Tuesdays.

Be sure to sign up!

are the stories I hear and have experienced of God being present.

Stories of people looking and not finding only to have a donation

come through the door with exactly what was needed. Stories of

the countries our little Closet actually reaches. Stories of running

out of sizes or needed items then receiving donations of more

than what we could have dreamed. Stories of handshakes from

people with grateful tears in their eyes and shaky thank you’s.

Stories of donations given because we freely serve those in the

community who need a helping hand. Stories of young people

wanting to pitch in and help. And I’m sure there are more I

haven’t heard yet.

This is where I see God. The Closet is not a huge enterprise

and it definitely is a struggle to keep it open at times, but because

we are here the 300 hundred plus people that wear the clothing

we send out the door each month have an opportunity to see God

at work. (And so do we, if we just watch!)

— Brenda