January 19, 2014
INFOCentral
A Worshiping Community Finding Purpose for Life Between Sundays
Central Presbyterian Church
Upcoming @ Central Find out about these and other upcoming events at www.centralpres.com/ resources/calendar/ Turkey & Greece Missions Trip Info Meeting - Today at 10:45 a.m. Freedom Fridays Hosted by KidCentral Beginning Jan. 24 EquipCentral Wednesday Evenings
Keep In Touch Between Sundays @CPCStL www.centralpres. com/gettheapp www.facebook. com/CPCStL
EquipCentral Menu for Jan. 22 • Taco Hot Dish • Green Goddess Salad • Roasted Corn • Chips & Salsa • Salted Caramel Butter Bars
Share the Light and Celebrate Life "Share the Light," Central's "invite, pray, and give" initiative launched this past Advent season, was a call for each of us to share the joy, blessings, and love which are found through Christ Jesus. Share the Light was designed to be much more than a one-month generosity campaign however.
At the heart of the effort was a call for Central to be a gospel-centered community, living, acting, and loving in response to how we are loved by God. Indeed, Jesus called himself "the Light of the world" (John 8:12). If we are to be imitators of Christ, then we, too, are called to be light in our jobs, neighborhoods, cities, and the world. As God's sole creation to bear his image, human life carries with it precious value. In Luke 12:6-7, Jesus says: "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."
As we near the January 22 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, churches across the country are celebrating "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday," celebrating God's creation, and the intrinsic value of all human life. It is also a wonderful reminder for us to "let our light shine" by taking action to affirm life. There are many ways we can do this as individuals, from the small (promote and celebrate life on your Facebook and Twitter accounts) to larger (volunteering at Thrive or other life-affirming organizations), to lifealtering (adopting a child in need). One of the easiest but most important acts you can take is to pray.
This week Central members Jess Andersen, Bryon Boyle, Gloria Guerra, Paul Reising, Naima Wartts, Brenda Whitten, Julie Whitten, and Sarah Whitten are traveling to Washington, D.C. to take part in the annual March for Life. For this group, please pray: • For their safety and health. • That the commitment of these participants would inspire others. • That those witnessing the March will see participants who are living out the gospel and will feel an increased regard for human life. As you reflect on the value and beauty of human life, please also pray: • Praise God for the courage, love, and sacrifice of those parents who have chose life and placed their child for adoption. • That abortions will be discouraged, and that eventually abortion will end. • The 110,000,000+ people who have been party to abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision will be emotionally healed and experience God's forgiveness and Christ's salvation. • The we would all recognize all people are made in God's image, and that we would love each other with humility and forgiveness. • That each of us realizes that all human beings—including the elderly, the infirm, and the unborn—are made in the image of God, and that we treat others accordingly. • Above all, that God will be glorified.
On behalf of Central's Life Team, thank you for your prayers and support. If you would like more information on the Life Team or these important issues, please contact Joe Stephens (jlbs123@ hotmail.com or (314) 727-2607).
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Mike Farley's Ordination Service Please circle Saturday January 18 on your calendars and make plans now to help us celebrate the ordination of Dr. Mike Farley as an Assistant Pastor! The service will take place at 5:30 p.m., with a reception in the Fellowship Hall immediately following.
Want to Learn More About Central? A new session of the Discovery class is beginning in February, starting with a Friday evening dinner on January 31 (6:30 p.m., Parlor). Discovery is a four-week, Sunday morning (9:45) class designed to introduce visitors to a "big picture" of Central. Taking Discovery does not commit you to pursuing membership at Central; however, if you're interested in membership, Discovery IS a prerequisite for the Membership class which begins in March. Contact Carol Mulick (
[email protected] or 314-727-2777) to register for the Friday evening dinner, we'd love to see you there!
"Eat More Chicken," Support Our Students! This March, Central will be sending 15 high school students and leaders to Honduras to work with the Micah Project for a week. They would greatly appreciate your prayers for their trip and wanted to let you know about a fun and easy way to support them financially while also enjoying good food.
The Des Peres Chick-fil-A (11997 Manchester Road) will be hosting a “Spirit Night” for StudentCentral on Tuesday, January 21 from 12-8 p.m. Order a delicious lunch or dinner (or both?), and let them know that you support the “Student Central Honduras Mission Trip." Chick-fil-A will then donate 15% of your total receipt towards the cost of the trip. It’s that easy! See you at Chick-fil-A!
PEEPS Registration PEEPs, Central's weekday early education program for children 8 weeks to 5-year-olds is currently accepting reenrollment forms from current PEEPs families. Forms are due by January 31. Registration for Central members begins February 3, and open enrollment starts February 17.
PEEPs is a parents’ day out program with a difference! For more information, contact Christine Vandervoort, PEEPs director (314-854-0145 or
[email protected]).
Central Concert Series: Music & Faith
Music plays a major role in the life of the church. But how does a Christian worldview and way of life manifest itself in the lives of musicians? Come and find out, as Central Presbyterian Church presents “Music and Faith” on January 26 at 7 p.m. This unique concert features members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Join violinists Jessica Cheng and Eva Kozma, cellist Catherine Lehr Ramos, bassoonist Andrew Gott, and pianist Vera Parkin as they play music by Bach, Elgar, Dvorak, Faure, and more. Then participate in a question and answer conversation about the daily faith-walk of the professional musician. Ron Klemm from CLASSIC99. com will host the event. This free concert will be held in Central's Sanctuary. We look forward to seeing you there!
Women in Ministry Book Club
What is a man and what makes a man great? Eric Metaxas, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Bonhoeffer, the best-seller Amazing Grace, and more than 30 other books, offers seven exquisitely crafted portraits of widely known but not well understood great men from history. You’ll be inspired by the lives of George Washington, William Wilberforce, Pope John Paul II, and others who often faced overwhelming adversity. The book club meets this Tuesday, January 21, at 12:15 p.m. in the Gathering Place. We hope you will join us!
Fellowship, Encouragement, Growth Did you know there are opportunities here every week for you to meet new friends or get reacquainted with old ones?
Women in Ministry: Come with us as we take a journey to Old Testament times to discover what God had in mind when he gave instructions for the tabernacle and what it means for us in the 21st century. Our study begins January 21 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All women are welcome! For more information, contact Jaime Stowell (jstowell@ centralpres.com or 314-854-0197). Men's Fellowship Luncheon: Guys, don't miss this great lunch, fellowship, and inspiration! Each week a different guest speaker will visit to share his testimony of how God is working in his life. We meet Wednesdays at noon in the Parlor. Cost is only $5.
