News

Mark your Calendars! Vacation Bible School is coming August 13-17th!

2012-03-30T21:03:32Z

Our church is planning to have its VBS during the week of August 13-17 from 9:00-11:30 am. Our session theme this year is, “What can I do for you today, God?” It fits perfectly as the theme for our VBS. The daily format includes worship with prayer, singing, and Bible lessons, followed by service projects, learning activities, and lots of snacks and fun! Please invite your children and grandchildren, and spread the word in Salado

Watch this spot for registration details!

Adult Sunday School Seekers Class - “Church and State”

2012-03-30T20:59:33Z

Starting on April 15, Bob Volle and guest instructor Lyle Radebaugh will lead a four week session entitled “Seminar on Church and State”. All are encouraged to join this special class concerning this pertinent topic at 9:00 A.M. Sundays.

In western democracies, it seems that each generation ex-periences the strains and stresses of church-state relationships. The present, is such a time of stress. For the past century the on-rush of scientific and technological achievement has in-creased the stress and strain. Humanity is learning how to adapt to remarkable advances in biology, physics, population growth and exploration of space from the cosmos to micro-space.

Consider how we live now that birth control hormones are freely available and safe to use. A simple change in the under-standing how these drugs alter the fertility cycle in female biology, cause complex changes in how society views female-male relations, definitions of marriage contracts, population control, distribution of wealth, etc. It is rare today for a day to pass without a media story about government activity and its impact on religious freedom. Conversely, American religious institutions often try to occupy the public square.

This four session series begins with our good friend King James (17th century) to view the early disputes that contribute to the American constitution and the Bill of Rights. Edward Coke was one of the main spirits to lead the English Parlia-ment to extract additional rights from the King. As you read the Petition of Right (no “s”) look for ideas found in the Bill of Rights.

One of the assistants to Edward Coke was Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island--he wrote several pleas for freedom of religion. The charter for Rhode Island, very different from other colonies, contains many of his concepts, concepts that offended the Plymouth Colony.

After Coke and Williams, the course will consider polyg-amy among the Mormons and involuntary sterilization by the state of so-called substandard citizens. Finally, the seminar will close with two sessions on the Moslem Sharia Law.

A quick survey of the internet will pro-vide additional material that will enhance the class.

Carl’s Comments - Reverend Carl Thompson, April

2012-03-30T20:54:30Z

If Easter says anything at all to us it is that Jesus will always be with us. The pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contained the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian kings. Westminster Abbey in London is renowned, because in it rests the bodies of English nobles and notables. Mohammed's tomb is noted for the stone coffin and the bones it contains. Arlington cemetery is revered, for it is the honored resting place of many outstanding Americans. The Garden Tomb of Jesus is famous because it is empty!

An ancient legend says that in the early church a believer was to be martyred for his faith . As they tied his hands and led him to the stake, he was asked if he had any last words. He shouted out, "He is risen." Unknown to the authorities, in the surrounding hills, the Christians had gathered to watch the execution. When they heard the words, "He is risen" ... They cried out with one voice ... "He is risen indeed." That's how they greeted one another in the early church. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Somewhere or other I heard of a Sunday School teacher who had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing off the only way in or out. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, and the surprise of Easter morning, she asked:

"And what do you think were Jesus' first words when he came bursting out of that tomb alive." A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. It belonged to a most excited little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly, "I know, I know, I know."

"Good," said the teacher, "Tell us. Extending her arms high in the air she sang out: "TA - DA!

Pastor Rick Calhoun writes, "The Resurrection of Je-sus Christ from the dead was never meant to be proved but experienced. As a matter of fact it cannot be proved, as no one of us was there. We have to take the word of others who were. Those early witnesses were very pas-sionate about their testimonies. Many were to be martyred in defense of their convictions. But ultimately the resurrection is to be experienced not proved. The most convincing evidence of the Resurrection of Christ is the transformation of the people who know Jesus and believe in Him. I decided long ago, the only proof of Easter I will ever need is memory. I remember what my life was like before I met the living Christ and I know what my life is now, as I share it with Him. I would not stand here and tell you I am always the man I should be. But thanks to the living Christ, I am not the man I used to be either. The risen Jesus Christ has made all the difference."

My prayers for you this Easter sea-son is that each of you would have a TA-DA experience as you once again ex-perience the transfor-mation power of Je-sus resurrection and allow it to change your life.

Evelyn and I wish you a very Happy Easter

Tuesday Game Day....Updated

2012-02-19T22:11:10Z

Come join us for our Weekly Game Day! Everyone is welcome. Games are played in the Adult Education room at the Presbyterian Church each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. A variety of games have been played like bridge, checkers, and Chicken Dominos. We have ping pong and pool in the recreation room. We gather for fellowship with refreshments always available. It is a time to relax and become better acquainted with other congregation members but is open to any members of the Salado Community. We are active all year round so plan to join in the fun and fellowship.

Ash Wednesday Service, Feb 22nd at Noon

2012-02-18T22:39:12Z

Our Church will join the Christian community worldwide in recognizing February 22, 2012, as Ash Wednesday, the beginning of this year's Lenten Season. Our service will be a reflection of our mortality and the need to repent and turn our lives over to God. Everyone is invited for a brief worship service at 12 noon in our church sanctuary. There will be a light snack to follow.

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Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this forty day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

This service is common in much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and some Baptist denominations

Presbyterian Church of Salado Music Program

2012-02-09T17:20:49Z

It is so easy to take our Music Program for granted, so please tell our Music Director, the Organist/Pianist, and the Choir members a special ‘Thank You’ if you enjoy their work.

Jean Teal has been the music director at our church since before it was organized and she has never “missed a beat.” Jean’s philosophy has been to develop the hymns and the choir to be a contribution to the worship experience.

The church’s members and friends are in-vited to join the choir, first and foremost, because they love to sing. The goal is not to be a performance, but to add to the worship service. Our pastor is very involved in helping to select hymns that will add to the message.

Jeanette West has been a faithful pianist/organist for our congregation, and she chose to become a member of this church when she became our full time player in 2011. She plans the music during the prelude, offertory, and postlude.

It is an inspiration to watch our music program partici-pate in our services with joy, love, and fun. God has truly blessed us with this program!

Carl’s Comments - Reverend Carl Thompson

2012-02-02T00:35:53Z

When I retired from the military I decided to transfer my Presbytery membership to Grace Presbytery, which includes Salado. In order to transfer to this Presbytery, I was required, as are all transferring ministers, to write a short statement of faith that would be presented to them. They would then vote on my membership if I showed a good understanding of reformed theology.

This statement covers: God,
Jesus, Sin, Redemption, the Bible, the Sacraments, and the Church. Jean Teal had a copy of this statement. It was presented to the committee that first interviewed me for the Stated Supply position here in Salado. She thought it would be a good idea to publish it in this newsletter. I agree with her. With this statement you will have my thoughts on these key theological issues. It was and still represents, where I stand theologically. So here it is …..
Carl

“I trust in one triune God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Lord of all and Head of theChurch. I believe God created the heavens and earth and all that is in them. I believe in the sovereignty of God, that God reigns in my life and in the world, and that God reigns with justice and mercy. I believe salvation by grace through faith: and that such a faith commitment enables us to do good works, not to earn salvation, but as an expression of gratitude. I believe God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit has given us the power and dominion to be responsible stewards of all creation and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I believe God sent Jesus into the world to dwell among us. He was begotten not made and grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God. I believe Jesus engaged in a ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and praying for and with all those who would listen and learn. God calls us to the same kind of ministry.

Since we are all sinners that rebel against God we try to put ourselves above all else. I believe God, out love for his fallen creation, sent his only Son, Jesus. to save us from our sin and corrup-tion. Jesus, both fully human and fully God, suffered for the sins of the world to save sinners in all times and places. He lay down his sinless life for a sinful hu-manity. Through Jesus' death and resur-rection, God triumphed over sin. It is God's action and God's forgiveness which sets us free. Jesus came to save all those who confess Him as their Lord and Savior.

By God's Spirit we've been given God's Written Word to proclaim. The Bible is God's divinely authoritive and inspired Word. The Bible is our "rule of faith and life" for all we believe and do as a Church. Through the Bible, we learn of the nature of the God we wor-ship. It tells us of God's acts of love and justice for all people. When scripture speaks in one voice, I yield to the author-ity of the Bible over and against any other sources. When Scripture is silent on an issue or when there is more than one voice, I must allow' for diversity. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the confessions of the Church, we must interpret the Scripture wisely.

I believe The Sacraments unite us with Jesus Christ and make us members of God's Church. Baptism affirms that we are not our own, but the Lord's. Through the grace of God we are called into the family of God. Baptism is our response to that call to faith. It is an outward visi-ble sign that acknowledges our intention to live as God's people. Communion is the Lord's feast. In communion we en-counter Jesus spiritually in the breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine. Communion is more than just a memo-rial ceremony. Jesus is present, as He promised, sustaining and strengthening us by the power of the Holy Spirit

I believe in God's sovereignty and that God's reign will be brought about through the activity of God in God's own time. This final act of God's love will be through God's grace as God's gift and not on human achievement. I do not need to know the specifics of heaven or the end time, since they are beyond human com-prehension. I know that our future rests in God's loving hands and I am confident in God's finial victory.

The Church's calling is to make visible God's love and declare the Good News that in Jesus Christ the future is secure. The reformed church must be a reform-ing church, constantly reforming itself and the world. The Church universal consists of all people in every nation, who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”

Education and Outreach Committee

2012-01-29T23:40:19Z

Nancy Healy, Chair of the Education and Outreach Committee for 2012 would like to extend an open invitation to the first committee meeting of the year, Tuesday at 9am (an hour before the weekly games session). You dont need to be a member of the Presbyterian Church of Salado either. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come share their ideas, and talents. So come on out!

Many Thanks: First Baptist Church of Salado Handbell Choir

2012-01-29T23:30:37Z

Many Many thanks go out to the First Baptist Church of Salado Handbell Choir for the wonderful performance and history lesson that they gave today during our 5th Sunday Service.

To find out more about the history of Handbells, feel free to visit:

Wikipedia

Handbell Musicians of America

Handbell Musicians of Great Britain

This video is a great example of how classic bell peals are performed.

Unhanging of the Greens

2012-01-03T20:58:21Z

Following Sunday Service, on the 8th of January, we will be taking down the holiday greens and decorations. Helpers needed for about 1/2 an hour, if you are able.