WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY, MORNING WORSHIP DURING LENT, WELCOME REVEREND SARA HAYDEN, WASHINGTON DC MISSION TRIP, PLAYGROUND PICNIC, VENTURE CREW, ATLANTA GIRLS' SCHOOL: CELEBRATION OF LEARNING, WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE, KIDS CLOTHES FOR OUR HOUSE, CLIFTON SANCTUARY MINISTRIES, HOLY WEEK, MAUNDY THURSDAY DINNER, WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY, ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT, ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING ON EASTER, SPRING & HABITAT-A GREAT COMBINATION, MORNINGSIDE OUTING, ARE YOU CRAFTY? ARTSY?, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT MORNINGSIDE, WEEKLY CALENDAR

Life@Morningside

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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Reverend Sara Hayden preaching

Stories to Live by: The Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke

Sermon V: "Following the Leader(s)"

Texts: Psalm 22:19-31; Luke 19:11-28

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MORNING WORSHIP DURING LENT

Lent, a season of forty days, is traditionally a time of preparation for Easter. During these five Sundays we will sing the Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy). It is one of the oldest prayers of the Christian church. Psalms will be used for the Call to Worship. Note how the psalmist uses repetition and metaphor to gather the people to worship.

WELCOME REVEREND SARA HAYDEN

This week we welcome as our guest preacher the Reverend Sara Hayden, who was called in September 2009 as the Director of the Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission. In this capacity, Sara ministers to more than fifty-five new church developments and multi-cultural churches within the Presbyteries of Cherokee, Greater Atlanta, and Northeast Georgia in order to ensure that our denomination's newest churches are welcoming and vibrant communities that embody the love of Christ and the diversity of God's peoples. Sara, who is married to Chris Henry, has been a frequent worship leader at Morningside and we are so fortunate to welcome her to our pulpit!

WASHINGTON DC MISSION TRIP

This morning we commission our mission trip volunteers as they head off to Washington, D.C. this week to work through hands-on service projects centered on urban poverty and homelessness in our nation’s  capital. Please keep Shirley Adair, Lisa and Shannon Harris, Sarah and Richard Brownlee, Amy DeBaets, Jack Klotz, Lloyd Prince, Melinda Sandkam, Phyllis Grimes, Don Long, Tony Fishpaw and Bradley Odom in your prayers.

PLAYGROUND PICNIC

All are welcome at the picnic tables after worship today. Kids play, parents visit and an easy lunch is enjoyed by all. Contact Jennifer James with any questions.

VENTURE CREW

The Venture Crew is participating in the 100th anniversary of Scouting and the "Scouting for Food Drive."  With the help of the MPC congregation, we would like to collect 100 lbs of food for the Atlanta Food Bank.  We will have collection bags available at fellowship hour this Sunday and will collect the filled bags next Sunday, March 28.

ATLANTA GIRLS' SCHOOL: CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

This afternoon, the Atlanta Girls' School will host a 10th Anniversary Celebration of Learning Continuing Education Day. As part of that event, Rev. Chris Henry will join Lovett School Headmaster William Peebles in leading a session on  "Religion and Faith in the New Millennium."  The day-long seminar, which includes short classes and keynote addresses by a variety of scholars and leaders from Atlanta and across the globe, is open to the broader Atlanta community. If you are interested in attending the event, please see Chris after worship.

WOMEN’S ROUNDTABLE

The next Women’s Roundtable is scheduled for tomorrow, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Amy Jarratt (1697 N. Pelham Rd.). Dinner will be provided by volunteers and a program will follow. All are welcome. RSVP for the event at Betsy.Holland@Turner.com.

KIDS CLOTHES FOR OUR HOUSE

Our annual collection of diapers, wipes and gently used children’s clothing for spring and summer is underway.  Our House is a Decatur preschool for children (infant to five years old) facing homelessness. Bring items to collection baskets in the Welcome Center through this Friday, March 26.

CLIFTON SANCTUARY MINISTRIES

Next Saturday, March 27, MPC will serve a BBQ dinner for the 30 men at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries at 5:30 p.m. If you can help serve or prepare one of the dinner items, sign up on the bulletin board outside the Session Room. Contact Tony Fishpaw at tonyfishpaw@me.com with questions.

HOLY WEEK

On Palm Sunday, March 28, the children will start our morning with the waving of palm branches. On Maundy Thursday, April 1, a Mediterranean style dinner will be served at 6:15 (RSVP today) with worship following at 7 p.m. Communion will be served and the Handbell Choir will perform. On Good Friday, April 2, MPC is participating in a Community Tenebrae Service at Central Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m.  Easter Sunday, we begin the day with a 7 a.m. Sunrise Service on the lawn followed by a light breakfast.  Our Easter celebration continues with 11 a.m. worship featuring special music.  Childcare provided for all services.

MAUNDY THURSDAY DINNER

We are only 10 days away from our second annual Maundy Thursday dinner. Contact Melinda Sandkam, if you can help April 1 with the meal (10:45 to 12 noon or 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.), or if you can help clean up.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Mark your calendars for Women’s Bible Study led by Chris Henry on Thursday, April 1 at 9:15 a.m. in Room 201. Childcare provided.

ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

Join us for the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3 at 10:45 a.m. There will be face-painting, VBS registration, treats and lots of eggs! In order to support the egg hunt we are looking for egg makers and hiders - sign up on the preschool entrance poster. Eggs can also be dropped off at that entrance. For more information contact Melisa Prevost at moprevost1051@yahoo.com.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING ON EASTER

On Easter Sunday, consider joining with Presbyterian churches from around the world to share in One Great Hour of Sharing-a special offering that benefits many missions around the world. OGHS benefits the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance initiatives in Haiti and the Gulf Coast US, among other places.  A little closer to home, Clifton recently received assistance from your contributions to OGHS. Read about it on the Mission bulletin board. 

SPRING & HABITAT-A GREAT COMBINATION

This week we kickoff our signups for our Habitat for Humanity build which will begin April 10 and continue every Saturday through May 22. MPC has been partnering with four other area churches for many years to provide affordable homeownership to Atlantans--one home at a time. Many of the Habitat 'crew' will be in Fellowship hour after church to let you know how you can assist. Visit the Habitat bulletin board for more information and to sign up. Contact Lynsley Tyler (lynsley@bellsouth.net) with questions. 

MORNINGSIDE OUTING

Join Morningside members and friends for a performance of Brad Sherrill's new play, Prophets. The performance begins at 7:30 pm, Saturday evening, March 27 at Georgia Shakespeare at Oglethorpe University (tickets, $22). For more information, contact Bryan and Jill Davis at bdavis@mindspring.com. (Those attending the play will recognize some of the guys from Clifton. Brad and his producer went to Clifton and shot some video that will be used in the production.) 

ARE YOU CRAFTY? ARTSY?

We’re seeking participants to sell their wares at the Morningside Presbyterian Preschool Spring Fling, April 17, in the “Morningside Made” booth. Contact Daisy Ottmann, 404.812.9725 for more information.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT MORNINGSIDE

The Bible Class—A Journey Through the Word 

Next Sunday, March 28, Morningside's Bible Class will continue its series entitled, "A Journey Through the Word." Chris Henry will lead a discussion of Paul's Letter to the Galatians, the next in our book-by-book study of the New Testament. This class meets each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Room 201.

Faith Development Class

You are invited to join conveners Katie Davis and Amy DeBaets in a new class on Faith Development. The focus of this class is personal and communal spiritual growth. The class meets in the Church Parlor at 9:45 a.m.

Children’s Classes

Today the Three and Pre-K classes will learn what it means to be a "good shepherd." Elementary classes explore that what we learn from Jesus’ actions teach us how important it is to help our neighbors. (Matthew 25: 34-40).

SUNDAY, MARCH 21

9:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversation

9:45 a.m. Church School

11 a.m. Worship/Cherub Choir sings

12 noon Fellowship; Playground Picnic

1 p.m. RHO Readers

2 p.m. Harmony Rehearsal

4 p.m. Pastor Nominating Committee

6:30 p.m. Atlanta Opera Chorus

MONDAY, MARCH 22

6:30 p.m. Women’s Roundtable

6:45 p.m. Parliamentarians

7 p.m. Mandolin Society

TUESDAY, MARCH 23

D.C. Mission Trip

6:30 p.m. Weight Watchers

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24

D.C. Mission Trip

6 p.m. Cherub Choir

6:30 p.m. Treble Choir

7 p.m. Small Group Bible Study

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir; Venture Crew

THURSDAY, MARCH 25

D.C. Mission Trip

6:30 p.m. Prayer Group

7 p.m. Handbell Choir

FRIDAY, MARCH 26

D.C. Mission Trip

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

D.C. Mission Trip

8:15 a.m. Weight Watchers

6 p.m. Clifton Sanctuary Ministries

7:30 p.m. Morningside Outing to Play

SUNDAY, MARCH 28

D.C. Mission Trip

9:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversation

9:45 a.m. Church School

11 a.m. Worship

12 noon Fellowship

2 p.m. Harmony Rehearsal

4 p.m. Pastor Nominating Committee