Merritt Island Presbyterian Church

The MIPC family and Pastor Shepp Lawrence welcomes you!!! 

ALERT: This Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Savings!!!!  SPRING FORWARD-Set your clocks one hour ahead when you go to bed Saturday Night so you don't miss the big event this Sunday!!

There's a class and a worship service just right for YOU!

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Worship News:

March 2 is Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday

This is the occasion in the liturgical calendar to commemorate the "transfiguration" of Jesus as recorded in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-6, Mark 9:1-8, Luke 9:28-36). On this Sunday, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in both worship services.

Lent

The liturgical season of Lent begins this year on March 5. Lent is a season of spiritual discipline and preparation anticipating the remembrance of Christ's death on the cross and the celebration of his resurrection. By tradition, Lent begins 40 days prior to Easter (not counting Sundays) on Ash Wednesday. The 40-day duration serves as a remembrance of the forty days and nights that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is a time for us to work on putting the distractions of the world into proper perspective and refocusing our devotion to Christ.

Taizé Prayer Service on Ash Wednesday (March 5).

To help our church family enter into the focus of the Lenten season, we are planning a special evening prayer service to be held on Ash Wednesday (March 5th) at 7:00 p.m. This will be a Taizé service – a style of worship that incorporates prayerful, meditative songs. This beautiful and deeply meaningful Ash Wednesday service will include the traditional imposition of ashes. We encourage everyone to come and share in the blessings of this unique prayer service.

Rev. Mike Andrews on March 9

As our special 50th Anniversary celebration event for March, we will be privileged to have former MIPC pastor Rev. Mike Andrews as our guest preacher for a joyful recollection of earlier times when our congregation met for worship in what is now Fellowship Hall and remembrance of the exciting occasion of moving into our current sanctuary building!. Rev. Andrews will preach at both morning services. The early (8:45 a.m.) service will be held in the sanctuary per usual. Between services, beginning at 9:45 a.m., our church family will enjoy brunch together in the Fellowship Hall. Our latter (11:00 a.m.) worship service will begin in the Fellowship Hall at the conclusion of brunch; we will then process together from the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary building at about 11:00 and continue worship there. Don't miss this delightful remembrance of this chapter of our congregation's history. Special Reminder: Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. Remember to set your clock ahead one hour before bedtime Saturday to ensure that you arrive at church at the correct time!

Handbells on March 16 and 30!

On March 16, the Second Sunday of Lent, we will be blessed and delighted through the music of our Ringers of Tomorrow and by our Angel Chimes. On March 30, our Generation Ringers will share their wonderful offerings of joyous handbell music.

Special Presentation Between Services on March 30

In preparation for our April 6 Kirkin o' the Tartan, we will be privileged on March 30 to welcome Rich Shader to MIPC for a presentation between the two worship services (starting at 10:00) on Scottish heritage in the Presbyterian church and its influence on form of government in America.

 Upcoming events include  reenacting the move from the Fellowship Hall to the sanctuary with Rev. Mike Andrews on March 9, and Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans on April 6 at 3pm.

Mission Committee News:

March 2: 2 Cents Per Meal. Please think about the many comfortable, easy meals you have eaten in the last few months. Consider donating at least 2 cents for each of those meals in celebration of how blessed we are and to support hunger programs sponsored by the Presbytery and PCUSA. If you enjoyed 3 meals a day, this would be 6 cents a day, 42 cents a week, or about $1.70 a month! Please bring your coins to donate during services on March 2, a day when we celebrate Holy Communion before the beginning of Lent. Even if you missed this opprtunity-it is never too late-bring your donation any time!!

March 9: Begin sign up for CROP Walk; walkers pick up envelopes!

March 13 (tentative): Mission Committee meeting, 5:15 pm, Session Room.

March 16: Sign up for CROP Walk. Please sign up to walk or sponsor those who will walk. (See below.)

March 23: CROP Walk. 2:00 pm, Larry Shultz Park, 2540 Fiske Boulevard, Rockledge. The CROP Walk draws attention to the plight of people around the world who have to walk miles just for a meal. In our own Brevard County, the demands for emergency food has increased 145% over the past 4 years. 75% of the funds raised during the CROP Walk will support Church World Services Missions; 25% will go directly to Central Brevard Sharing Center Community Kitchen Program. Please support this important event!

RED TENT WOMEN'S GROUP

The Red Tent group has met fairly regularly for several years now! This informal women's gathering is a fun time of fellowship over a meal at a different local restaurant each month. If anyone would like to assist in the very easy task of choosing a location and sending out an email once a month, please contact the church office. March's gathering is set for March 20, 6:30 pm at Molly's Seafood Shack (in front of WalMart.)

Event:

Kirkin' O' the Tartan Service Sunday, April 6th 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Celebrating Scottish/Celtic Heritage: What does "Kirkin' O' the Tartan" mean? A loose translation would be "blessing of the tartans" or "blessing of the families." "Kirk" is the Scottish word for church and a "tartan" is the crisscross-patterned fabric, usually wool, that clan families use to distinguish themselves from other clan families. You would probably call it "plaid."

In the mid-18th century, there was a time when the Scots were banned from carrying weapons, speaking Gaelic, wearing Highland dress and playing the pipes. This ban lasted 35 years. During this time, clansmen would carry small pieces of their tartan cloth into the local parish kirk to have the clergy bless the clan family represented.

73 years ago on a Sunday evening in April, 1941, a special service was held in Washington, D.C., led by the Rev. Dr. Peter Marshall, originally from Coatbridge, Scotland, Pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and later Chaplain to the United States Senate. His sermon title was "Kirkin' O' the Tartan." In the church bulletin, it stated this service was designed to raise funds to aid Scottish churches during the early days of World War II, as well as the British war effort, by providing a mobile kitchen. This initial service evolved in to what is today a service held in many locations around the world. Since 1954, an annual Kirkin' O' the Tartan service has been held at the National Cathedral in our nation's capital.

In the present day, Kirkin' O' the Tartan worship services are celebrated by numerous Scottish heritage groups and churches. Most services are held in Presbyterian churches though you will find them in Episcopalian, Methodist, Catholic and even Orthodox churches.

In our Kirkin' service, we remember ancient times as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God's help and blessings in the future.

So come!----wear your kilt, kilted skirt, tartan sash, tie, hat, tam, cap, argyle socks or something plaid! It is also National Tartan Day in the USA!

This will be the 5th Kirkin' O' the Tartan service MIPC has had the pleasure of doing in conjunction with the Scots-American Society of Brevard. The service opens with a spectacular processional of a bagpiper, snare drummer, beadle carrying the Holy Bible, pastor and people like YOU carrying over 20 large flags of the Clans of Scotland. If you would like to carry a flag, please contact Laura Simpson Loveland (the Clans MacKay and Fraser) Home: 305-5811, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As we proceed with our 50th Anniversary monthly Sunday celebrations we want to include as many as possible of our past members who live both near and far away. The first weekend in May will culminate a year long journey lifting up our various ministries. The 50th Anniversary committee has decided to have a picnic on Saturday, May 3, at Kiwanis Park from 3 - 7 pm. Games and fellowship will start us off, and the food will be served later. On Sunday, May 4, there will be one worship service at 10 am with our Choir and Brass, WLT Praise Team and Generation Ringers. We have invited former pastors of MIPC to participate in the service as well. Following worship we will enjoy a covered dish luncheon. Please take time to think about as many former members as you can that would relish an invite to our festivities and send the office their address, email and phone. As with any event the best way to get the word out is by "word of mouth."

Ordination of Elders and Deacons on January 26, During our worship services on January 26, we will celebrate the Ordination and Installation of elders and deacons. Between the two morning worship services, the MIPC family will come together for brunch and a Congregational meeting in the Fellowship Hall. Special Thanks

The Worship & Music Committee would like to offer its heartfelt thanks to everybody who shared gifts of their time, talents, and treasure to help make worship services during Advent and Christmas so richly meaningful. Special thanks are extended to those who helped decorate and undecorate our worship spaces, to the crafters who made the Anchor Crosses, to those who helped set up tables, chairs, AV equipment or musical instruments, to our talented Chancel Choir and Handbell Choirs and Worship Leadership Team who blessed us so lavishly through the sharing of their special musical offerings, to those whose gifts in memory of Carmen Graziano helped cover the costs of instrumentalists for our Cantata, to those whose labor of love and patient encouragement of children made possible our Unrehearsed Christmas Pageant, to those who served generously as ushers, greeters, offering counters, Scripture readers, and Advent wreath candle lighters, to those who prepared or served fellowship refreshments, to those who donated the beautiful poinsettias, to those who helped in the Cherub Room, to those who and to those who helped outin the church office or in other special ways during this busy time.

 MIPC Mission Committee

Tutoring Program: Thank you to our tutors for working with children each Thursday in the fall. Tutoring began again January 16th and continues through April.

Carepacks for Homeless – Consider packing several gallon size ziploc bags to keep in your car to give to people who are asking for food or donations. Suggested items: non-perishable snack items, bottles of water, toiletries (travel size items of toothpaste, soap, etc.).

Help MIPC reach its goal to support Central Brevard Sharing Center to feed Brevard's Hungry....bring in cans/jars/packages of food to every event!! Coming to Kids Klub? Help feed the Hungry. Coming to Ruth Circle? Help feed the Hungry.  Are you willing to help?

The MIPC Tutoring program is back in full swing-Thursdays 3-5 pm .

On Tremendous Tuesday, Jan 21st and Jan 28th the Mission Team will be giving a presentation with pictures from the Novenber Mission Trip to Haiti.

We were with the children of the Matthew 28 orphanage (remember our mission speaker in February 2013, Hein Vingerlin?) near Bohoc, Haiti, which is well out of the city. This is not only a fact-finding trip to lay the groundwork for a potential long relationship, but an actual hands-on mission activity, though without the very hard labor needed on the last Yucatan trip.