MARCH, 2014

THE FOURTH GOSPELby

Roger P. Howard

SPECIAL WORSHIP

ANNOUNCEMENT

Mar 5: We will gather at 5:00 p.m. for a light supper of soup, bread, and beverage, followed, at 5:45 p.m. by an Ash Wednesday Worship, complete with the imposition of ashes. This will all be in Fellowship Hall, and will be complete by 6:15 p.m.TRY IT OUT!

THE GOSPEL OF JOHNLast month I wrote about the

differences in the gospels, but I needed to postpone a description of the Gospel of John until this issue of The Good News. Since it is now Lent, (starting on the 5th), it seems so apropos to be thinking about the gospels.

John’s Gospel was written last, probably sometime between AD 100 and 120. We can say that because of the use of words and grammar in the Greek language used, and some of the themes and issues that John uniquely raises.

The Jesus we see in John is a bit different from the Synoptics – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Here, Jesus seems to “float” above the earth by about 2 feet. He

certainly is divine; the unclear aspect is whether or not Jesus was fully human.

On that last statement, let me add something. Today, people who are not Christians or are skeptical about the faith, question whether Jesus was God’s Son – whether he is divine – part of God himself. No one, not even atheists question whether Jesus was a human being or not. We know from secular, Roman, and Jewish historians of the period that there was such a man – Jesus of Nazareth.

In the first century, it was the reverse. No one questioned whether Jesus was God or was divine except the Jewish leaders; what they wondered about was whether Jesus was really a flesh-and-blood person, or just a spirit made visible. This is why The Nicene Creed states so clearly that Jesus “was fully divine and fully human,” and was made of “the same substance as God the Father.” (homousious)

A group of philosophers known as the “Gnostics,” (who believed in the “gnosis,” which is a word related to knowledge and spirit, but NOT physical beings), believed that Jesus was a spirit, and indeed everything that was purely spirit was good, but everything physical was evil. John’s Gospel has elements of Gnosticism in it.

More meaningful to us is how John himself described the purpose of his gospel, and therefore gives us a “lens” through which to understand it. In the twentieth chapter, John writes his purpose: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this

book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (My emphasis.)

In other words, John writes not for the purpose of an analytical and scholarly, orderly historical account of Jesus’ whole life, but so that we, the readers, will come to faith. It is evangelism, rather than a researched history. And, of course, the writer was not living when Jesus was doing his earthly ministry.

I like to call John “the Television Gospel.” Can you picture it?

In the story told in John chapter three, we have the account of Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus. At the start of that story we are told that “It was night.” Can you imagine a camera set on a crane at the end of a dusty street? Along the street comes a dark figure – we only see him from the rear, so we can’t see his face as yet. Then he turns into one building on the side of the street. (I have in my mind a western town in the United States, with false facades on buildings built for a movie set.) When he enters, the camera catches up from behind and above, and enters with him. Then he turns into a room with a single, unadorned light bulb hanging from its wire from the ceiling. (I guess this is more modern that AD 33!) There, sitting in a Shaker wooden chair is Jesus. Across from him is another, similar chair, in which Nicodemus sits facing Jesus. It is then that we know the secret visitor.

During the discussion that follows, the camera takes in both men. Nicodemus asks questions and Jesus answers, but we, the readers, are the only ones who understand. Nic is confused with Jesus’ answers about “water and the Spirit,” “wind and Spirit,” etc. You can see the lack of understanding on Nic’s face. But we understand that Jesus is talking about

spiritual rebirth. Slowly, during the interchange, the camera pans in to Jesus’ face, so that by verse 11, Jesus’ face fills up the entire screen. He talks for a long time – 12 verses – without Nic interrupting.

Suddenly, at the end of verse 21, the scene fades to black, and we go to “a commercial.” When we come back from the 4 minute interruption! - we find ourselves in another scene! Where did Nicodemus go? We’re not told. How did Jesus get from the meeting with Nicodemus to the Judean countryside with his disciples? We are not told.

To John, those details of the historical account are not interesting. He simply wants us to understand Jesus’ message about being born from above/again, rather than an exact history lesson. And we, the readers from a long time later, understand. We want to shake Nicodemus and say, “Don’t you get it? You have to let the Holy Spirit into your heart!

Remember, John is the gospel writer to include the story of Thomas, which ends with Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!” Those believers are we, the readers. We understand the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus, even if he doesn’t understand. And that is the purpose of John’s Gospel from the beginning, right? That’s what he told us in John 20: 30-31.

So, you can see, (I hope), why John, for me, is the Television Gospel. The program was made for us, not for the participants – the actors. We are the ones John wants to have faith – and in having that faith, inherit eternal life – Easter!

In this Lenten season, let us read the Scripture, perhaps John’s Gospel, and understand, and believe! It will bring us to Easter, Resurrection, and Eternal Life!

Just a reminder…

Daylight saving time begins March 9. Remember to turn your clocks forward one hour Saturday evening.

FEBRUARY

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

On February 11th, eleven elders and Pastor Howard met for the regular monthly Session meeting. Also present was Cindy Zwergel, representing the Board of Deacons.

It was with regret that the Session accepted the resignation of Doug Braendle as an elder.

Congregational membership at the end of January was 299. We were saddened by the death of Virginia Walpusk. During January the weekly worship attendance averaged 125 as compared to 123 in 2013. Church school attendance averaged 32 people weekly as compared to 44 in 2013.

Our envelope giving for the month of January totaled $25,845.00. This was below the budgeted amount of $36,371.00.

January

ACTUAL BUDGET

Income $ 33,114.87 $ 41,034.00Expenses $ 39,295.39 $ 45,037.00Excess/ $ (6,180.52) $ (4,003.00)(Shortfall)

Much business was accomplished at the February Session meeting. Karen Keller was elected Clerk of Session and Rob Hamsher became Treasurer. Bob Hribal was

elected President and Debbie Prostko became Vice President of the Corporation. The following chairpersons of committees were elected:

Christian Education –Martha Smith Communications – Barb PloyFinance – Rob HamsherMembership – Ann MizerMemorial Gifts – Karen KellerMission and Stewardship –

Pete McGuirePersonnel – Doug BuschProperty Maintenance –

Rob HamsherWorship, Music, and the Arts –

Susanne Udvari

Rob Hamsher will chair the Nominating Committee and Martha Smith will be the other Elder on the committee.

Session approved an Ash Wednesday Soup supper and Service on March 5th beginning at 5 p.m. and a Family Night dinner and Seder on Palm Sunday starting at 4 p. m.

The Women’s Retreat dates were changed from spring to October 11th due to a conflict with the speaker. Vacation Bible School will be held June 22 – 26th from 6-8:30 p. m.

Session approved the purchase of CO detectors for the boiler rooms and the small kitchen. Rob Hamsher is inspecting the church and grounds using guidelines from a Safe Church course found on-line. The inspection will be used to update our facilities and hopefully save us money on insurance in the future.

The Parents Night Out run by the YMCA has been a success, so nights will be scheduled for March, April and May. An exercise class that combines yoga and Pilates is also being conducted in the YCC building.

There was a report made on a meeting of representatives of the Session, the Board of Deacons, the Personnel Committee, the Implementation Planning Team, the pastor, the Associate Minister to Presbytery and consultant Dan Paul. This meeting was to clarify misinformation given to the congregation in the Rose of Sharon report at the Annual Meeting, look for ways forward in our 10-year Strategic Plan, to assign tasks to those present in moving us past the current plateau, and to plan future meetings: in particular, a meeting with the IPT, the Rose of Sharon team co-leaders, and the Associate Minister to Presbytery. That meeting is scheduled for February 20th. A letter will be composed by the Clerk of Session and the pastor to the congregation to clarify and report on the proceedings.

Respectfully submitted,Karen KellerClerk of Session

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The Easter Memorial Flowers insert is currently in your church bulletin until March 30. The cost per flower is $8.00 for potted lilies, tulips or hyacinths. Please make

sure that your orders are received in the church office by Monday, March 31, 2014.

The Mission of the Month for March is the Pocket Change Ministry for Deep Springs International, a water purification project in Haiti. This project was initiated and is still operated by Michael Ritter who grew up in Sharon Church. Clean water has always been in short supply in Haiti and the situation became even more critical after the 2010 earthquake. Almost 10% of Haitian children die before their 5th birthday and preventable diseases like diarrhea and cholera are the main causes.Since 2006, Deep Springs International has provided a solution to the water crisis in Haiti with the goal of sustainability. Using a simple and affordable chlorination system called, THE BUCKET OF LIFE, they empower poor families to treat their own water at home. They also hire local people to deliver the

product and educate the consumers on how to use this system.

On, Sunday, March 2, 2014, our Sharon children will be on a BIG MISSION to help the children

in Haiti. Please help them by saving up your pocket change and bringing it to church on Sunday, March 2, 2014. If you are absent that day, there will be buckets in the narthex and in the Sunday School classes through the month of March. Our GOAL IS TO COLLECT $340.00 through our Pocket Change Ministry! This amount of money will provide clean water for 10 families for 3 years!Sharon’s small children want to make a BIG CHANGE for the lives of the Haitian children. Please help them to fill our BUCKETS Of LIFE to provide clean water for the families in Haiti!

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Jalilia Britt Shai, The Church Mouse

This month, someone was kind enough to share an interesting article about a long-time church member who passed away last year, Tom Horstein. I slightly re-arranged certain parts and shortened a couple of areas.  

The original article was found on Feb 3 in the Beaver County Times, written by Gino Piroli:

“One thing’s for certain: I’ll miss hearing my old friend refer to me as ‘the kid’”.

Tom Hornstein’s family originally came to this area in 1905;  both his grandfather Thomas and father Frank served as funeral directors.

He told me of those early days when the funeral directors' hearses were used as ambulances. He was with his dad providing service with their hearse during two tragedies in the county: 

March 17, 1941, Baden train wreck — a suspected sabotage — that killed four and injured 113; Dec. 22,1942, landslide on Aliquippa-Ambridge boulevard that killed 22 people and injured three.

After World War II, Tom operated the Woodlawn Cemetery arm of the family business. He left to become the general manager of the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, where many of Pittsburgh's great personalities are buried. 

Upon Hornstein's death, Arthur Zeigler, president of the Pittsburgh History & Landmark Foundation, said "he was a superb head of Pittsburgh's most historic cemetery." 

The Post Gazette described him as the retired general manager whose idea "launched a first of its kind association for the purpose of saving and restoring the historic cemetery's structures and serene and scenic grounds."

In an election in 1955, voters made the choice of going from a second-class to a first-class township. Five commissioners, were now to be chosen, and to fill those openings two township residents were selected by the Beaver County courts.

The Republican chosen was Hornstein, age 28, a successful businessman, and I was the Democrat, a 29-year-old "mill hunky pipe fitter" — a term I'm very proud of.

I was inexperienced in that type of activity and credit Hornstein for helping me mature and giving me confidence in dealing with the public. I was rather youthful looking and often needed an ID card to prove my age, and at the township meetings one veteran commissioner, in answer to citizens' complaints, would point to me and say "don't worry, me and this kid will take care of it."

The name stuck with Hornstein and to the day he died always called me "the kid;"  in a recent card from his wife, Kate, she even used the term.

Tom lived in Moon Township and was a strong supporter of the B.F. Jones Library.

A few years ago there was an obituary published for Gino Piroli — a relative of mine — that caused some confusion among my friends and acquaintances. I got a phone call at home and when I answered there was a long pause. It was Hornstein calling to extend sympathies ... but instead expressed relief that I was still alive! 

I'll miss him, especially hearing him ask,   "Hey kid, what's happening in Aliquippa?"

CONCERNS

THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED SERVICES

Donnie and Brett (brothers of Holly Henry)

CONTINUING PRAYER CONCERNS

Concerns: Caleb James Painter (Lori’s grandson), Evan Harrenstein (Thanet Kisow), Esther Schermerhorn (Ron’s mother), Lois Neely (Melissa Bigelow’s grandmother), Lois Ehrin (Dave Gordon’s sister), Jack Vochinski (Linda Kepka), John Doutt (Kathy Hamsher’s cousin), Finn Roessler (2 yr. old with cancer) Carol Musgrave, Margaret Shell (Karen Fedin’s mother), Henry Moore (Janet McGuire’s brother-in-law), Lillian Lins (Laverne Petrie’s step-mother), Carl, Nancy (Kathryn Roth), Kenneth (Miriam Wolf), David (The Ruths nephew), Eric and Steven (Barbara Ploy), Michele (Pam Charles), Mary Godfrey and Sue (friend and sister of Joe Sharkey), Debbie Sherwood (friend of Pam Wieland), Ralph Hogsett and June Hamsher (Kathy Hamsher’s father and sister-in-law)), Eliza Mazeka and Jordan (child with brain tumor – and friend of the Shaffers), Gabby Chew (friend of Michele DeBrucky), Sean Roche (friend of Stacy Betts’ family), Kitty and Dorothy (friend and sister of Gladys Sanderbeck) John Hudak (friend of Lee Ann’s), Jessica Baer (friend of Joe Tuttle), Jill Dunlap, Calvin Dixon, and Johnnie Hubler (Mike’s nephew), Norman Alvord and Gretchen, (friends of Horst Endress), Allegra Frank (friend of Carol Musgrave), Chris, Ed and Nita Collaratti (relative, friend and neighbor of Al Zalucky), Leonard Bozinski (friend of Nicole Zalucky), Carl Lemmons (uncle of Gail Zalucky), Mimi Cain and her father Bud (daughter-in-law to Tom and Barbara Cain), Janet and Michele, (Joanne Hagar’s friends), Debbie McCutchen, Glenn Jackel, Valerie Bell (The Waltschott’s daughter, Jan’s brother, and their pastor in Florida), J. P. LaDue (co-worker of Thanet Kisow), Shirley Lintner (Bob’s mother), Peg Thompson (former

member), Christina Schuliger (Wayne and Jane’s granddaughter), Ed Balchon and Bob Moore, (friends of Bruce Thompson), Doug Arndt (friend of Myra Tokar), Ann (Nancy Handerhan’s aunt), Gwen Soergel (bagpiper’s sister), Sharon Sorgel, Rev. Ed Bowen, Norman Stout (Jan Gorr’s father), Peg Behling (former member), Enos Abel (friend of the Campbells), Fred, Andy, Bob Simon, Glenn, Matt Gress (cousin, friends and brother of the Camersons), Paul Wasko (friends of George Hollis), Jennifer Smith (Lorraine Keith’s granddaughter), Duane Sprott (friend of Lorraine Keith), Rhonda (Jane Skelton’s sister), Frank Behm (brother of Roger Behm), Martha Van Beers (Dick Shirra’s aunt), Pauline Christian (Sally Shirra’s cousin), Bob Stump (Lori Meredith’s brother-in-law), Kenneth Bowden (Grace’s son), Tim (Janet Loadman’s nephew), Darla Johnson (Betty Stewart’s daughter), Michael Ritter (working in Haiti). (2/18/14).

by Lee Ann Heinlein

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ADULT EDUCATION FOR MARCH

March 2 to April 13100 Essential Scriptures

Pastor HowardRoom 202

Bernie, Can you insert the GROUPS logo here in this spot?

Thanks, Lee Ann

SMALL GROUPSWhy Not Join!

The primary emphasis of Small Groups is relationship building, but the relationship building is done within the context of faith and Biblical direction. Small Groups are not so much about right and wrong answers as about thinking through what the Bible says to us about how Christ would have us live out our lives individually and in community. Spiritual transformation occurs when Biblical truths interact with our lives and cause us to grow and change into people attempting to live as God would guide, no easy challenge, but made more comfortable within the community of others who are also struggling and growing. Come share your life in Christ with others who are looking to live out their Christian walk in the community of the faithful.

Sunday3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Leader: Sara Kobak

Faith Lessons: Fire on the Mountain(Meeting dates for this group are April 6, 13,

and 27, 2014Sara’s Home

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Leader: Gladys Sanderbeck and

Ann MizerEssential Christianity: Practical Steps for

Spiritual GrowthMarch 2 through April 6

Room 100

Monday6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Leaders: Pam Charles and Donna Kovatch

Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed—A Study of David

Library

Thursday9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Leader: Carol Lowden and Lee Ann Heinlein

Praying the Psalms of LentMarch 13 through April 17

Gifts of the Heart Mission Project for the Sunday

School

The Sunday School will be creating Gifts of the Heart School Kits as their mission over the next several months. Gifts of the Heart is sponsored by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the One Great Hour of Sharing. These groups have need of these and other kits when a disaster hits. In addition to school kits there are hygiene kits, baby kits, and cleaning kits. Our children will help other children to go to school with the supplies they need. The kits may be used right here in the United States or abroad.

Each kit is to contain 1 pair of rounded tip scissors, three 70 count spiral notebooks, one 12” ruler, 1 hand held pencil sharpener, 6 new pencils with erasers, 1 large eraser, 1 box of 24 crayons, and 1 cloth bag that is 12”x 14” to 14” x 17” in size, with cloth handles.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORYThe doors leading into the church in

Fellowship Hall that are located near the Moon School’s tennis courts and the doors at the bottom of the stairs in front of the Pastor’s Office will not be open on the days there is snow. All other entrances will be open. It takes quite a lot of time and work to clear the many walks around the church and these entrances get little use. When the walks are clear they will be open.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLJune 22 to June 26, 20146:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WEIRD ANIMALS: WHERE JESUS’ LOVE IS ONE OF A

KINDMARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A

GRAND TIME WITH OUR ANNUAL

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL.

VBS Director: Chira Cratsley

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“Well Done, Good and ‘Faithful Servant”

Matthew 25:21

I'd like to thank the 6 Deacons who are part of the class of 2014.  Over the last three years, these people have given countless hours of their time to serve both our church, and the local community.  Five of the members, Joan Hubler, Mike Hubler, Lorna Phillips, Carra Wheat, and I will be leaving, so I would particularly like to thank them for their service. Tim Barrett was also a member of the class of 2014, but has agreed to return, so I would like to thank him for his service for the last three years, and wish him well as he continues as a Deacon. Greg Wheat

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Sharon Ambassadors – 2014

Your help is needed! Won’t you consider signing up to be a Sharon Ambassador for a week (or several or a month). All that is involved is a short visit during your time to any one of our members in the Sewickley Hospital. You should call the church office to see if anyone is in the hospital; next, choose a day to pay them a short visit to let them know the congregation is thinking of them.

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Harry Kammerer sends a special thank you to Pastor Howard and Sharon Members:

Dear Sharon Church Members,

Thank you to Roger for his guidance and care upon the passing of my mother, Jeanne K. Stefl. Also, thank you to all members who visited and sent cards.

Your kindness and thoughtfulness has made a difficult time easier for our family.

Sincerely, Harry S. Kammerer