Ash Wednesday and Service of Healing and Wholeness

Ash Wednesday Service

Join your community for an Ash Wednesday service at 12:15 on Feb. 22.  Sandwiches will be served afterwards.  Those  who work elsewhere or go to school, please speak with Rev. Upchurch if you would like to have another service at 7 pm.

Service of Healing and Wholeness

Healing and wholeness are at the very heart of God's intention for all humanity (Isaiah 40:29-31; Ephesians 2:10). Over 1/3 of the gospel stories are devoted to Jesus' healing ministry. In the Bible, the root Hebrew and Greek words for “salvation” (shalom and sozo, respectively) both mean "wholeness/completeness.”  Feb. 28's service will be a quiet time of meditation, prayer, wholeness, and healing.

Presbyterians renewing

Reverend Upchurch is leading us through a series of messages on Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds based on the Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 6:20 which tells us to “glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20).  


February 19th's 5 Cents a Meal offering is sent to the Western North Carolina Presbytery. Twice a year the Presbytery Hunger Committee reviews grant requests from regional ministries working with those who are poor. These agencies must have programs that meet the guidelines adopted by Presbytery, be endorsed by local Presbyterian churches, and representatives must meet with the Hunger Committee. International programs/agencies receiving funds must have been approved by the PCUSA, or else receive approval for Presbytery’s Coordinating Council. The funds are allocated as follows: International projects: 55%; Regional projects: 40%; Education and Administrative costs: up to 5% (with the unused portion allocated to international projects).  Madison County's Neighbors in Need program has received grants from the Presbytery Hunger Committee in past years. 

Christmas

The Christmas Eve Cantata was filled with beautiful music, good fellowship, an offering for Neighbors in Need, and gifts of Pokes filled with fruit and candy -- a mountain tradition.  

Church will be held at 11 am on New Years Day.

Neighbors in Need Benefit Concert

Steve Davidowski's Christmas benefit concert returned  Monday, December  19,  at the Marshall Presbyterian Church.  This mix of jazz, traditional mountain and celtic Christmas music has delighted audiences for the past three years.

The concert benefits Neighbors in Need, a crisis food pantry in Madison County which gives food and financial assistance in crisis situations for Madison County residents.  Neighbors in Need is a 501(c)(3) charity supported by local churches and volunteer workers.  All concert monetary and food donations will go directly to Neighbors in Need.  

 

Marshall's favorite Steve Davidowski is a pianist/saxophonist/flautist/clarinetist. While living in Georgia in the 1970s, Davidowski was the original keyboard player in the southern fusion band The Dixie Dregs, and also performed and recorded with Vassar Clements and many others in Nashville. He is a master of jazz and is also developing a mountain music hybrid he calls Xenobilly.

You can see video clips of last years concert on youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tStujndGhYY
 
Thank you to the musicians who donated their talents and time!  Join the Christmas spirit for an evening of great jazz and the opportunity to help your Madison County neighbors.

Angel Tree

Marshall Presbyterian folks wrapped gifts for 37 children in their "Angel Tree" project.  


The church also put together 14 boxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.   Boxes of gifts will be sent to children overseas.  

Christmas Parade

Marshall Presbyterian Church has placed a float in the Town of Marshall's Christmas Parade for the last 3 years.  This year's float did double duty as it floated through the Christian Parade held by the French Broad Baptist Association on December 3 and the town parade on December 10.  The men of the church walked alongside the float and handed out stuffed animals to children.


The float was a Bible opened to John 1:1 which presents the mystery and wonder of God coming to earth as a man in Jesus Christ.

Greening of the Church

Men of the Church cut down the donated tree and everyone gathered to "Green" the Church on December 3.