March 17, 2022
A Note From Pastor Dave
Jesus tells the parable of the two sons (often called the parable of the prodigal) in Luke 15 as a response to the Scribes and Pharisees grumbling about Jesus’ relationship with “sinners.” These sinners included women of questionable reputation, those who collected taxes for the Romans, gentiles, the lame and maimed, and other such persons. The presumption of the Pharisees is that they are utterly different then these “sinners.”
In the first half of the parable, Jesus depicts how he feels about and why he welcomes these sinners through the character of the younger/lost son. But in the second half he depicts an older son that has dramatic resemblances to the Scribes and Pharisees. And in doing so, seems to suggest that the Scribes and Pharisees are dramatically similar to the younger son and the “sinners” he represents; that both sons are estranged and have dishonored their place in the family. I hope you’ll join us on Sunday as we consider those similarities and what Jesus might be saying to the Pharisee in all of us.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dave
Holy Week & Easter:
We will hold one Holy Week service on Good Friday at 7pm in the sanctuary and over Zoom. The choir will play a main role, along with readings, participation by Step 7, and a meditation by Pastor Dave as we celebrate and meditate on Christ’s sacrifice.
We plan to hold two services on Easter Sunday (9am and 11am) with a rolling brunch (pot luck style) in between services. Come celebrate the hope and resurgence of life the resurrection proclaims!
Missions/Church Life: Ways to volunteer at church and in our community:
Collection for the Parker Task Force: Our next collection for the Task Force is this Sunday March 20th, 2022. If you plan to make a gift card or cash donation, please keep it separate from the food donations. Questions? Please contact the church office. Thank you for your continued support of the Parker Task Force!
We are looking for greeters and ushers! We are thankful for those who regularly serve as greeters and ushers, however we are in need of more help in these capacities.
- As Greeters, we would like you to stand near the door to greet and welcome people as they come to worship. Greeters also help visitors by directing them to our Hospitality Table where they can get information about our church and provide us with their contact information. Greeters no longer need to take attendance so they can focus on greeting and welcoming.
- As Ushers, you assist with lighting the candles, making sure everyone has a bulletin or communion elements, keep an eye towards the door for any late arrivals, and help collect and count the offering. Because Ushers are involved in the handling of money, we ask for Ushers to have a background check.
If you are willing to help in either of these capacities, see the sign-up sheet in the narthex, or contact the church office.
One Great Hour of Sharing: During Lent, we celebrate that God connects with us through Jesus’ resurrection and connects us with “those who have least” – that’s how Matthew 25 puts it – and that’s what One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is all about. Your gifts to OGHS are shared with the ministries of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Your support and offering responds directly to the needs God has called us to fulfill in Isaiah 58. Our ongoing support for help to Ukraine’s crisis during Lent will be directed through Presbyterian Mission and Disaster Assistance by way of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. If you have questions or would like to offer your help there is information on OGHS, Fish Coin Banks and offering envelopes available in the narthex.
Zimbabwe Mission Partnership Update: Last summer, the HCOC School Program was able to take advantage of a successful local well project. The well has provided plentiful water to the school through the dry season. The produce from the resultant garden was so abundant that the school was able to donate maize and vegetables to the HCOC orphan feeding program. Imagine needing the bare essentials like water. Every little bit helps these children.
Upcoming Events & Announcements:
Pastor Dave will be off the week of March 28th for study leave. John Kullman will preach on April 3rd, and Rev. George Gaffga will lead communion.
Framed Fingerprint: You may have noticed “God’s Fingerprint” in the narthex. This print was donated by Tara Strohm and framed by Dennis Volz. Look closely, the lines of the fingerprint are the words of scripture. Our thanks to Tara and Dennis for this gift!
Rockies Game: Baseball is back and so are the Colorado Rockies & Faith Day 2022. Providence has reserved 20 tickets for the August 14th (Sunday) game at 1:10 pm which will be followed by a Faith Day concert featuring “We the Kingdom”. Tickets are in Section 144 Outfield Box and are $26.00 each which includes the concert. Those that are interested can see or call Neal Witherell to reserve your seats. Payment should be made no later than July 24th.
Women’s Support Group: The women’s support group will meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Providence Fellowship Hall at 3:30pm. The next meeting is March 24th, 2022. Questions? Contact the church office.
PPC Book Club: Our book club will meet Thursday March 17th, 2022 at 2:00 at church and on ZOOM. The book we are reading is Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. Everyone is welcome.
Adult Education: Providence’s Adult Sunday School class is every Sunday following the church service. The class will start approximately 15 minutes after the church service in the sanctuary. Bring your Bibles and questions with you Please join us as we always have a great discussion and a lot of fun. Everyone is welcome.
Flowers for the Sanctuary: The flowers this Sunday are provided by Cassie Bennett in honor of Jim Bennett’s birthday. We like to have fresh flower arrangements to adorn our communion table for seasonal and special occasions. If you would like to donate flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one, there is a sign-up sheet on the wall above the table in the narthex (to the left of Pastor David’s office door). After the service for which you provide flowers, you are encouraged to take them home for your further enjoyment.
Coffee and Conversation: Coffee and Conversation meets weekly on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 10am. We connect, reflect on Sunday’s sermon and scriptures with observations and questions, and close in prayer. It is a chance to get to know each other more, to grow together, and to linger longer with the scriptures. Come join us!
King Soopers Fundraiser: It’s now easier than ever to support Providence Presbyterian Church! Simply register your King Soopers/City Market loyalty rewards cards. Here’s how to sign up:
- Login to your King Soopers or City Market account (or create an account) at www.kingsoopers.com or www.citymarket.com.
- Click on Savings & Rewards, then King Soopers Community Rewards, then Enroll Now.
- Search for Providence Presbyterian Church or enter our organization number YJ207 and click Enroll.
Your King Soopers/City Market loyalty card will be linked to Providence and you’ll be helping us every time you shop! Please feel free to contact the church office if you have any questions.
Prayers
This week at Providence please keep the following people in your prayers:
Remembering the Homebound: Jim and Judy Nash, Phyllis Christensen, Betty Holum, Pat Schwartz, Renee Mastriona, Betty Lutz, Ken Stabler, Bob Hampel. Health Concerns: Sharyn Horvath, Laurie Schmidt, Donna Hoyt, Paul White, Lea Marot, Harold Higgins, Kay Norden, Judy Nash. Prayer & Support: Jacqueline Murphy, Evan & Janell Totten, Sharon Strange, Kasia Holmes. Prayers for Friends & Family: Patsy Slack, Vanessa Pierce, Cindy Roth, Deanna, Robert McCown, Vicki, Terry.
Thank you for your prayers.
Phone: 720-851-6881
MidWeek Update Deadline:
NOON on Tuesday
ppcmwu@providencepcusa.org
Hearing Loop is available in our Sanctuary
MidWeek Scripture Reflection
Isaiah 29:13-19
13 The Lord said:
Because these people draw near with their mouths
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote;
14 so I will again do
amazing things with this people,
shocking and amazing.
The wisdom of their wise shall perish,
and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden.
15 Ha! You who hide a plan too deep for the Lord,
whose deeds are in the dark,
and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay?
Shall the thing made say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of the one who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
17 Shall not Lebanon in a very little while
become a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?
18 On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a scroll,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
