John Calvin Presbyterian Church

“Because church members often have the aspiration to receive strangers but not the skills or techniques, I offer this book as a user-friendly and useful guide to Christian hospitality. It tells stories of inclusion, contains examples of the best practices of truly welcoming congregations from across the country and overseas, and offers suggestions about hospitable practices that can be used by churches across the social and theological spectrum. I offer this guide to laypersons, clergy, and other religious professionals because I am a parish pastor who believes that hospitality is the key to becoming an uncommon Christian community-one that embraces all people with God’s love and grace.” —From the introduction

GLASS RECYCLING: Ever wish you could recycle your glass jars instead of tossing them in the trash. Well you are in luck. Kelly and Sam are collecting glass to be recycled by the Glass Half Full, a company that recycles glass to be used as sand in duster relief and coastal restoration. Please make sure all glass is rinsed out with no lids and place it in the bin in the Choir Room. 

PRAYER GROUPS: Our prayer groups will continue to meet in July, but before church instead of after. Each group will meet for about 15 min. The group leader will give a short lesson on prayer. Then the group will pray together for a specific area, ministry, or group of people. Sign up to be a leader or participant using the insert in the Bulletin. Place the insert in the offering plate or give it to Louise after the service. 

VBS VOLUNTEERS: It’s Summer and that means VBS is right around the corner. We already have 26 kids signed up and hope to get more. As always we can’t do this wonderful program without lots of help. Please use the link, QR code, or insert in the bulletin to sign up to help. We would love to have anyone and everyone that wants to help, even if you can’t volunteer everyday. We are especially looking for group leaders, an adult activity leader (possible only two days), Bible/Story leader, Snacks coordinator and teens to help with the groups. Please use this link https://bit.ly/JCPCVBS23Volunteers  or the insert in the Bulletin to sign up to help. 

YAV CLOSING WORSHIP, VOLUNTEER CLEANING DAY, WISHLIST: It’s Been a wonderful year but it’s time to say goodbye to our amazing YAV’s. There will be a closing worship service at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, July 25th at 6:00 PM. On July 29th from 9am-noon, please join the YAV’s for a deep clean of the beloved “Big Green House” at 4225 Franklin Ave, New Orleans. A clean house will be a wonderful welcome to the 2023-2024 YAVs. All ages of cleaners are welcome!  Inside we will clean the floors, appliances, windows, and furniture.  Outside we’ll weed, mow, and rake gravel. YAV Site Coordinator Dan Wally Lang will coordinate volunteer signup, supplies, and snacks. RSVP via email at dan@pbysouthla.org. For the coming year NOLA YAV is delighted to welcome three Young Adult Volunteers from Scotland!  Because they will be traveling internationally we hope to provide the following household items in gently used or new condition: 3 sets twin Linens/comforter, 3 pillows, 2 bicycles (Medium, large) 3 umbrellas, sunscreen, bug spray, twin memory foam mattress topper, shampoo, and conditioner. Please contact dan@pbysouthla.org if you can provide any of the following items by August 20, 2023.  

OPINIONS NEEDED: Please see the insert in the Bulletin and let us know what kind of classes, activities or events you would like to see us organize. Place your insert in the offering plate. We can’t wait to hear from you! 

• Francine, Bill’s nephew’s wife, was baptized!
• The son of one of Bill’s good friends has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!
• Ron Hayes, Sue Crawford’s extended family, recovering from brain surgery 

May 14th

• Friends of Beverly Kennedy
• Jennifer, daughter of Emily and David Garland, having surgery on May 18th. 
• Vic, a neighbor of Ashley Marler, is out of the hospital and doing better. 

May 7th

• A former co-worker of Bill Bottomley, Jerry, has just been diagnosed with early-on-set Parkinson’s.
• Barbra Rizzo is back in the hospital. 
• Ernie Price, may need to have surgery
• Death in Aaron’s extended family

April 30th

• Friends and family of Ed Magri
• Family and friends of Dudley Oakes, friend of Sam and Kelly, who passed away this week of cancer
• The family and friends of Jerilyn Russo Moore, David Russo’s sister, who passed away a week ago, she was 75. 
• Bria, Beverley Kennedy’s granddaughter.  
• Online request for Viola, Magdalena, and Cordelia
• Unspoken request for someone facing Breast Cancer. 

CONTINUING PRAYERS FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH HEALTH ISSUES: Teddy Brock, Troy Drouant, Ernest and Patricia Ellis, Mel Fourmaux, Neil Freudenthal, Tom Gregersen (Sharon Fortin’s brother), Buddy Haw, Tony Hill, James Kennedy, Pam Perry, Wayne Tracy, Bob Wooderson, and others struggling with health issues. 

EVENTS AND MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

5/21 PM – 11:45 AM – Community Picnic

5/24 – 10:00 AM – Clothes Sorting Party 

5/28 PM – 11:45 AM – Choir Practice

Announcements:

DEVOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT: College Survival Guide for Christian Women or Men: 5-Minute Devotions for Strength, Reflection, and Calm: College can be an exciting and overwhelming time, full of big changes and new experiences. This devotion for women or men makes it easy to carve out moments of calm and stay connected to faith as you discover everything college has to offer.

What sets this college survival guide apart from other college books:

• Short and sweet—Bolster your faith in just a few minutes with quick devotions designed to complement the busy life of any college student.
• Relevant topics—Explore a wide range of Bible passages and discover how God can provide guidance on everything from dating to living with purpose.
• Thoughtful prompts—Reflect on the Lord’s wisdom and consider how to apply His lessons to your life with insightful, open-ended questions at the end of every devotion.

CLOTHING DRIVE: We are collecting clothing for the Program of Hope. We will distribute items to our POH guests in the hot month of June along with lunches. The drive will end with a sorting and boxing party on Wednesday May 24th in the outreach rooms. Needed are Men’s and Women’s: Summer casual slacks, jeans, tops, white shirts, blouses, black pants for work, plain sturdy shoes (no formal shoes or high heels please), tote bags, new socks and underwear in (ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE), rain ponchos and sunglasses.

OPINIONS NEEDED: Please see the insert in the Bulletin and let us know what kind of classes, activities or events you would like to see us organize. Place your insert in the offering plate or give it to Louise at the end of the service. We can’t wait to hear from you! 

PRAYER GROUPS: This summer we will be starting small prayer groups. These groups will meet after church in June and before church in July. Each group will meet for about 15 min. The group leader will give a short lesson on prayer. Then the group will pray together for a specific area, ministry, or group of people. Sign up to be a leader or participant in using the insert in the Bulletin. Sign up for one Sunday or a few, it’s up to you. Place the insert in the offering plate or give it to Louise after the service.

FLOWERS: Flowers today were given by Jeremy and Ardis Moore in nonor of all Graduates. 

Kim’s and Lee’s personal reflections in this book from family, to real life challenges, to faith, are attempts to open the dialogue between family members and communities. They share some of their vulnerabilities and pains in hopes that this kind of sharing will encourage others to engage in similar intimate dialogue.

TABLE CLOTH DINNER: Join us Wednesday 5/17 at 6:30PM at Outback Steakhouse for our next tablecloth dinner. We will be able to order from the menu and get separate checks. They also offer a senior discount.

CLOTHING DRIVE: Are you taking advantage of this season to do some spring closet cleaning but don’t know where to donate your clean gently used clothes? Fear not, we are collecting clothing for the Program of Hope. We will distribute items to our POH guests in the hot  month of June along with lunches. The Drive will end with a sorting and boxing party Date TBD. Needed are Men’s and Women’s: Summer casual slacks, jeans, tops, white shirts, blouses, black pants for work, plain sturdy shoes (no formal shoes or high heels please), tote bags, new socks and underwear in (ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE), rain ponchos and sunglasses.

ALL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC: Please plan to Join us on May 21st for our next youth service followed by an all church and community Picnic to kick off the Summer. This is an all hands on deck activity so please see the insert in your Bulletin to sign up to help. We welcome all volunteers and have lots of options for before, during, and after the event. The Church will provide the main dish, hamburgers and hotdogs. Please bring a dessert or picnic side to share, such as salad, fruit, a variety pack of chips, or whatever you like to eat at a picnic. Most importantly don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors. This event is for everyone, and we can’t wait to fellowship together. 

ITEMS NEEDED FOR PICNIC: We are looking for a few long water hoses, so we can have multiple water toys going at once. We are also looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of purchasing a waterslide. Please let Louise know if you would like more information about this. 

This book’s brief, daily reflections on universal concerns give voice to what many people feel but struggle to articulate, bringing emotions to the surface to help readers apply theology in their everyday lives. The book’s thirty entries make it ideal for a month of daily personal devotions or group study and discussion.

TABLE CLOTH DINNER: Join us Wednesday 5/17 at 6:30PM at outback steakhouse for our next tablecloth dinner. We will be able to order from the menu and get separate checks. They also offer a senior discount.

CLOTHING DRIVE: Are you taking advantage of this season to do some spring closet cleaning but don’t know where to donate your clean gently used clothes? Fear not, we are collecting clothing for the Program of Hope. We will distribute items to our POH guests in the hot  month of June along with lunches. The Drive will end on May 24 with our sorting and boxing party. Needed are Men’s and Women’s: Summer casual slacks, jeans, tops, white shirts, blouses, black pants for work, plain sturdy shoes (no formal shoes or high heels please), tote bags, new socks and underwear in (ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE), rain ponchos and sunglasses.

YOUTH SUNDAY: Sunday May 21st will be our next youth service. If your youth wants to be part of the service please let Louise know. 

ALL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC: Please plan to Join us on May 21st for our next youth service followed by an all church and community Picnic to kick off the Summer. This is an all hands on deck activity so please see the insert in your Bulletin to sign up to help. We welcome all volunteers and have lots of options for before, during, and after the event. The Church will provide the main dish, hamburgers and hotdogs. Please bring a dessert or picnic side to share, such as salad, fruit, a variety pack of chips, or whatever you like to eat at a picnic. Most importantly don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors. This event is for everyone, and we can’t wait to fellowship together. 

PW BIRTHDAY OFFERING: This week we will be taking up the PW Birthday offering. Each year, the Birthday Offering awards grants to up to five programs. Primarily making possible capital improvement projects, the Birthday Offering supports domestic and international ministries, focusing on areas such as agricultural development, child care, community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training, homelessness, literacy, violence or women’s concerns.

EVENTS AND MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

5/7 – 11:45 AM – Choir Rehearsal 

5/8 – 12:15 PM – Playschool Meeting 

5/10 – 6:00 PM – Worship Committee Meeting 

5/11 – 10:00 AM – Game Day 

5/14 – Mother’s Day 

• 9:30 AM – Sunday School 
• 10:15 AM – Choir Practice 
• 10:30 AM – Worship Service 
• 11:45 AM – Choir Rehearsal 

DEVOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT: God Is Still Speaking: 365 Daily Devotionals “God is Still Speaking: 365 Daily Devotionals” is a collection of light-hearted, God-filled, and provocative devotionals for the person who thinks devotionals are “too religious.” Do you wonder if God has anything to say about what you face each day when you get up in the morning? Not sure that the Bible has much to tell you, but you are curious and willing to find out? The book includes relevant, brief, insightful devotionals designed to give you a powerful jolt each day. Each easy-to-read devotional provides a scripture verse, reflection, and prayer for every day of the year. Whether as a thoughtful gift or a personal resource, this book will encourage, inspire, and strengthen anyone’s Christian journey.

OUR NEXT CLOTHING DRIVE: Are you taking advantage of this season to do some spring closet cleaning but don’t know where to donate your clean gently used clothes? Fear not we are collecting clothing for the Program of Hope. We will distribute items to our POH guests in the hot  month of June along with lunches.

The Drive will end on May 24 with our sorting  and boxing party.

Needed are Men’s  and Women’s: Summer Casual Slacks, Jeans, Tops, White Shirts, Blouses, Black Pants for Work, Plain Sturdy shoes. (No formal shoes or high heels, please), Tote Bags, new socks and underwear In ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE, Rain Ponchos and Sunglasses.

ALL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC: Please plan to Join us on May 21st for our next youth service followed by an all church and community Picnic to kick off the Summer. This is an all hands on deck activity so please see the insert in your Bulletin to sign up to help. We welcome all volunteers and have lots of options for before, during, and after the event. The Church will provide the main dish, hamburgers and hotdogs. Please bring a dessert or picnic side to share, such as salad, fruit, a variety pack of chips, or whatever you like to eat at a picnic. Most importantly don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors. This event is for everyone, and we can’t wait to fellowship together. 

WORK DAY!!!: Thank you to all those that helped at Work Day on Saturday. Rev. Ochart, Amy Cardinale, Emily Garland, Andrew Nolan, Gwen Nolan, Ian Nolan, Mathew Fredenthal, Sharon Fortin, and Beverly Kenedy all worked hard to beautify our campus. They trimmed trees, cleaned gutters, trimmed hedges, weeded the garden beds and repainted our wooden sign. We don’t have another Work Day scheduled as of yet but remember if you have a project you want to do, we are always happy to help you plan and support your efforts. Many hands make light work! 

PW Birthday Offering: Next week we will be taking up the PW Birthday offering. Each year, the Birthday Offering awards grants to up to five programs. Primarily making possible capital improvement projects, the Birthday Offering supports domestic and international ministries, focusing on areas such as agricultural development, child care, community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training, homelessness, literacy, violence or women’s concerns.

GIVENOLA: Givenola day is May 2nd!  Our New Orleans Area New Worshiping Communities: Okra Abbey, Be Well, Come Together, and Labyrinth Café are all on the list of recipients.  Check it out on May 2nd at https://www.givenola.org/. 

Tongues of Fire challenges us to seek answers on what today’s church can learn from Jesus’s first followers and how they moved under the Holy Spirit’s power. This easy-to-read Bible study will give you forty days of devotional insights that can help you grow in your faith and discover how to celebrate the role of the Holy Spirit then and now. It will encourage you toward deeper community and an effective personal ministry. Perfect for women, men, or small groups.

HYMNS AND BEER We’ve also scheduled our next Hymns and Beer for Monday, April 24th at 7pm at Zony Mash! The brewery is child and pet-friendly, and there will be a food truck (Boils by Brad) serving up crawfish. In celebration of Earth Day, all the hymns will be nature-themed and half of the musicians’ tips will be donated to Glassroots, a New Orleans non-profit which turns glass bottles into sand for use in coastal restoration projects. See you there!

SMALL CHURCH OPTIONS: Are you concerned about church attendance, finances and community engagement? Do you want to get involved with the solutions? Do you want to know what options are available and have productive conversations with other churches experiencing the same thing? Then join us on April 26th for the Small Church Options presentation. We will enjoy delicious pastalaya and an informative presentation about what the church can do in this day and age. Presented by the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. Please use the RSVP insert so we know you are coming and we can have enough food.

GIVENOLA: Givenola day is May 2nd!  Our New Orleans Area New Worshiping Communities: Okra Abbey, Be Well, Come Together, and Labyrinth Café are all on the list of recipients.  Check it out on May 2nd at 

https://www.givenola.org/. 

OUR NEXT CLOTHING DRIVE: Are you taking advantage of this season to do some spring closet cleaning but don’t know where to donate your clean gently used clothes? Fear not!! Our next clothing drive is starting right now. We are collecting clothing now through May 14th to be given out at the Program of Hope in June. We will have a sorting party on May 24th from 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM. See Sue or Sharon if you are interested in joining the party. 

ALL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC: Please plan to Join us on May 21st for our next youth service followed by an all church and community Picnic to kick off the Summer. This is an all hands on deck activity so please see the insert in your Bulletin to sign up to help. We welcome all volunteers and have lots of options for before, during, and after the event. The Church will provide the main dish, hamburgers and hotdogs, please bring a dessert or picnic side to share, such as salad, fruit, a variety pack of chips, or whatever you like to eat at a picnic. Most importantly don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors. This event is for everyone and we can’t want to fellowship together. 

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING: A Big thank you to everyone who felt called to donate to One Great Hour of Sharing this year $1630.21 has been collected as of 4/10!

DEVOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT: One Year of Dinner Table Devotions & Discussion Starters: 365 Opportunities to Grow Closer to God as a Family A daily serving of spiritual nourishment for your whole family. Between sports practice, music lessons, and homework, we can feel like our days pass by without ever really talking with each other about the most important matters of life and faith. This family devotional serves up a year’s worth of daily truths from God’s Word to chew on and apply to real life. Going beyond Bible stories, your whole family will enjoy discussing biblical words and themes at a level kids from 5 to 95 will understand and relate to.

SPECIAL MUSIC OFFERING: This morning we are taking up a Special Music Offering. This offering is used to supplement the music program at John Calvin Presbyterian, and has been used for things like:  guest musicians, music rights, music staff development, and special arrangements. If you would like to give to this offering, please use the pink envelope, or use ‘Music Offering’ in the memo line on Venmo. 

POTLUCK LUNCHEON AFTER THE CANTATA!: Join us after the service for food, Fellowship and a community in the Fellowship hall. 

HYMNS AND BEER We’ve also scheduled our next Hymns and Beer for Monday, April 24th at 7pm at Zony Mash! The brewery is child and pet-friendly, and there will be a food truck (Boils by Brad) serving up crawfish. In celebration of Earth Day, all the hymns will be nature-themed and half of the musicians’ tips will be donated to Glassroots, a New Orleans non-profit which turns glass bottles into sand for use in coastal restoration projects. See you there!

OUR NEXT CLOTHING DRIVE: We are looking for prom dresses and party dresses to take to the folks we have been working with in Lake Charles. Short, long, and all sizes. We will be collecting in April. Look for a clothing rack in the Narthex for this collection.