The title of Reverend Gary Stratman’s sermon for the week of March 03, 2013 is “When We Confess Our Sin” based on scriptures from Psalm 32:1-5 and James 5:13-16.  The hymns for Sunday are O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, There is a Balm in Gilead and How Blest Are Those.

Worship begins at 9:45 am, followed by education and fellowship.  Our church provides a Nursery during worship service.  First Presbyterian Church is located at 919 E. Tenth Street in Rolla.  Our website is www.rollapresby.org.

Sunday school is held every Sunday at 11:00 am.  We offer a variety of classes for all age groups.

The speaker for the first Lenten Luncheon Service on Thursday, March 7, will be the Rev. Robert Morrison, retired United Methodist Church minister.  He will be speaking instead of Sandra Stanek, who, unfortunately, cannot speak due to an injury.  The luncheon is at 11:45 am followed by the service at 12:15 pm.  Please call the church (364-3852) for reservations by Wednesday, March 6.  All proceeds will benefit One Great Hour of Sharing.

Wednesday, March 6, please join us for a carry in dinner in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00 pm.  Michael Wilbanks and Melissa McGuire will be sharing information on his mission trip to Bangkok, Thailand.  For information: contact Wendy Wilbanks, Wilbanks.wendy@yahoo.com.  A free will offering will be taken for One Great Hour of Sharing.

Dr. Ilene Morgan, an associate professor mathematics and statistics, makes her “Jeopardy” debut on March 5, 2013.

For full details go to http://news.mst.edu/2013/02/st_professor_lands_spot_on_jeo.html.

The title of Reverend Gary Stratman’s sermon for the week of February 24, 2013 is “What Evidence of God’s Goodness” based on scriptures from Psalm 107:1-9 and Ephesians 5:15-20.  The hymns for Sunday are Now Thank We All Our God, What Wondrous Love Is This, and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Worship begins at 9:45 am, followed by education and fellowship.  Our church provides a Nursery during worship service.  First Presbyterian Church is located at 919 E. Tenth Street in Rolla.  Our website is www.rollapresby.org.

Sunday school is held every Sunday at 11:00 am.  We offer a variety of classes for all age groups.

The game is on! Cardinals vs Royals on 29 May. Cost of bus, tickets, and a sack lunch is an amazingly low $30 a person.  Please see Britt, Nancy Marlow, Betti Jo or Mary Kwantes about reservations. Bus will leave the church at 4:15 for the 7:15 game.  Bring a friend and sign up early.  Tickets will go fast.  And for those of you have gone before there are no tornadoes in the forecast.

The Presbyterian Women invite you to their Lenten Luncheons and Services this year on Thursdays, March 7, 14, and 21^st.  The cost for the soup and salad luncheon is $4.00 and it will be served at 11:45 am, followed by the Lenten Service from 12:15 – 12:45 pm.  Please call the church office for reservations (364-3852) by the Wednesday before the luncheon each week.  The speakers for the services will be: March 7 – Sandra Stanek, Chaplain, Phelps County Regional Medical Center; March 14 – Reverend Gary Stratman, Interim Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Rolla; and March 21 – Dr. Mark Johnson, a former Pastor at Salem Avenue Baptist Church.

All proceeds will benefit One Great Hour of Sharing.

Please join us for a carry in dinner on Wednesday, March 6 in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00 pm.  Michael Wilbanks will be sharing information on his mission trip to Bangkok, Thailand.  For information: contact Wendy Wilbanks, Wilbanks.wendy@yahoo.com.

A free will offering will be taken for One Great Hour of Sharing.

The title of Reverend Gary Stratman’s sermon for the week of February 17, 2013 is “Investigative Prayer – Who is God?” based on scriptures from Isaiah 40:10-14, James l:17-18, and Luke 11:1-2.  The hymns for Sunday are Praise the Lord; O God, in a Mysterious Way; and Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.

Worship begins at 9:45 am, followed by education and fellowship.  Our church provides a Nursery during worship service.  First Presbyterian Church is located at 919 E. Tenth Street in Rolla.  Our website is www.rollapresby.org.

Sunday school is held every Sunday at 11:00 am.  We offer a variety of classes for all age groups.

Monday, February 18 is President’s Day.  The office and preschool will be closed in observance of this holiday.

Thursday, February 21, the Rolla Wind Ensemble will present a concert at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary.

Open to area artists age 65 and older.  Artwork by artists from throughout the area will be on exhibit.  Artist may chose to participate in the juried division or exhibit only.

Entry deadline:  February 12, 2013

Exhibition:  February 18 – 21, 2013 8:30 am – 7:30 pm

Reception:  February 21, 2013  6:30 – 7:30 pm

For more information contact Joelle Freeland at 573-364-7336 or jfreeland@pmma.org, Presbyterian Manor, 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401

To follow my journey through breast cancer and updates, please go to my website:  www.takingitfromthetop.com.

Thank you for all the love and prayers.

Contact information:   Call or text 314-220-0205; Facebook – Jennifer Rigano Denbo; Address:  821 Oxford Drive, Rolla, MO 65401.

This congregation uses in it’s worship a system of Bible reading called the lectionary.  Some folks who know little of this practice have claimed that, whatever a lectionary is, it just proves that Presbyterians don’t take the Bible seriously.  I disagree.  The lectionary is simply a way of selecting different scripture readings (or lections) for each Sunday of the year.  Over a three year period following this plan, you would read most of the Bible.  It is simply a tool or discipline opening us up to the Word.  When Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read the scripture, it was probably a part of an orderly series of readings similiar to our lectionary.  Now it is true that the Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans and other groups have been using it much longer that we Presbyterians.  In my early ministry folks in the reformed tradition were somewhat cautious about using it.  About 80-90% of my sermons have followed the lectionary.  There are exceptions.  During Lent this year I would like to select scripture from Old and New Testaments that may stretch our understanding and practice of prayer.  This would be our theme in the Sundays leading up to Easter.  The word, “Lent” means lengthening.  It was derived from the lengthening of daylight as we move out of winter.  For the Christian disciple it came to mean lengthening or stretching our faith in a season of heightened spiritual discipline.

The theme and content of this Lenten preaching series will be new to me as well.  It comes out of my need to grow in the life of prayer. That’s right, the pastor admits to needing help in the rhythm and scope of prayer.  Also it is so important for this church to approach the interim time between called pastors with a commitment to pray constantly.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  (Philippians 4:6)  A first step in this interim period was the listening groups to know what concerns and hopes were expressed by members of the church.  Along with that, we are to make our needs known to God with thanksgiving, and listen to what the author of all prayer is saying to us.  Prayer is the life blood of knowing God and obeying God.  In the school prayer we are all beginning or beginning again.  So come and join us on the journey in Lent.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)

The title of Reverend Gary Stratman’s sermon for the week of February 10, 2013 is “While He was Praying” based on scriptures from Psalm 99 and Luke 9:28-36.  The hymns for Sunday are Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim; Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory; and Lord Make Us More Holy.

Worship begins at 9:45 am, followed by education and fellowship.  Our church provides a Nursery during worship service.  First Presbyterian Church is located at 919 E. Tenth Street in Rolla.  Our website is www.rollapresby.org.

Sunday school is held every Sunday at 11:00 am.  We offer a variety of classes for all age groups.

Newsletters are ready to be picked up in the office hallway.  Please get your copy to help us save on postage.

Retired PW luncheon is Monday, February 11, at 11:45 am at Bandanas.

Family Night Luau is this Sunday evening at 5 pm.  A Hawaiian themed dinner will be served.

Reverend Stratman will be holding an Ash Wednesday service on February 13 at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday is Scout Sunday.  Please join us in worship to recognize our Scouts.

February 2013 Newsletter (PDF)

Muriel Hatfield passed away January 29, 2013.  Arrangements are under the direction of Null and Son Funeral Home. Graveside services will be on Friday, February 01, 2013.