ePulse Second Presbyterian Church

Dr. Charles B. Hardwick

Pastor / Head of Staff

Mark Your Calendars Now

With spring finally here, I wanted to let you know of some exciting events which are coming over the next few weeks. Even as your own calendar fills up, I hope you’ll make time for these important happenings in the life of the church!

On May 3, the Group Sale (which supports the annual senior high choir tour) will take place. I keep hearing about how much excitement is in the air that day, as people rush the doors and wait in line to check out in the midst of the frenzy of activity. I can hardly wait to go shopping myself! You can add to the frenzy by dropping off your donations to be sold from 4/28 through 5/1 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. The sale itself is from 8:00 to 2:00 pm at the Sale Barn (2027 S. Main St., Bloomington).

On May 4, this year’s confirmation class will be received into membership at the 11:00 am service. The 8th graders have been deepening their faith in Christ and study hard for months, and they met with the session to be examined this past week. Many thanks to John Dirks, Ken Gerstein, and the rest of the confirmation team for discipling the students in this way.

On May 11, Second Pres will celebrate its 70th Annual Choir Sunday. Each of the musical groups which regularly leads worship (all of the choirs of various ages, the contemporary praise band, the chorale, etc.) will take part in this service. There will only be one worship service that  day (at 10:00 am), so you’ll want to get to church early in order to make sure you get a seat!

On May 18, 2PC welcomes Rev. Harold Kurtz as guest preacher at all three services. He is the founder and past executive director of the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, the denomination’s leading light for mission to unreached people groups. I had the chance to hear Harold preach while serving in Atlanta, and he is spellbinding—you won’t want to miss the chance to hear him proclaim the Gospel in powerful ways. Harold is in town helping 2PC’s mission partner, Western Avenue Community Center, work on its bylaws and strategic direction. I look forward to seeing you at all of these events!
Grace and peace to you today,
Chip

Kids’ Worship

This Sunday, April 27 and next Sunday, May 4 we will be piloting a new Kids’ Worship service during the 9:00 am service. Children in kindergarten through 5th grade will join together in Marquis Chapel following the Time for Young Disciples for a special worship time designed just for them and led by  a team of volunteers and Rev. Andrea Kladder.
Questions? Contact andrea@secondpres.info or 828-6297.

Habitat for Humanity Love thy Neighbor Choir Concert

A benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity of McLean County featuring a Community Choir. Sunday, April 27 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Holy Trinity Church 711 N. Main St., Bloomington. Tickets $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and children 12 and under. Tickets available at: Habitat for
Humanity office, Carl’s Ice Cream, Garlic Press & Growing Grounds.
For more information call 827-3931 or www.habitatmclean.org

Group Sale

The Group Sale is Saturday, May 3rd from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Sale Barn. Drop off dates are Monday, April 28 - Thursday, May 1. Donations of vehicles or boats are tax deductible. Please look for the information table in Fellowship Hall to volunteer to help or sign up to have items picked up.
Questions? Contact DeAnn Worth at 452-4055.

50th Anniversary Brunch

The 50th Anniversary Brunch will be held on Sunday, May 4th following the 9:00 am service. Couples will be honored at the 9:00 am worship service with pictures and brunch to follow in the Fellowship Hall. If you were married anytime during the year of 1958 or any preceding years, you are eligible to attend. Invitations were sent out April the 9th. If you did not receive an invitation and are eligible, please call either Martha Miller at 663-0188 or Ellen Wylie at 829-6246.

JOY (Just Older Youth) Spring Banquet

Come for an enjoyable luncheon and hear stories of growing up in rural central Illinois by guest speaker Dennie Bridges. The luncheon is Friday, May 16th at 11:30 am and open to everyone 55+. Cost is $7 per person.
Reservations can be made by calling Kim Pare at the church 828-6297 by Friday, May 9th.
Dennie Bridges is the Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director and former basketball coach. If the Titans are involved in a post-season  baseball tournament Bill Kemp, McLean County Historical Museum Librarian/Archivist, will speak.
Questions? Contact Dave Haake at 828-3591.

It’s Time to Register for Summer Camps & Vacation Bible School

Registration forms have been mailed to your homes and are available online at www.secondpres.info/ministries/summer_camps.html
Children’s Day Camp: June 16-18
Children’s Overnight Camp: June 23-27
Sr. High Camp: July 6-12
Jr. High Camp: July 21-26
Vacation Bible School: July 28-August 1
Questions? Contact miranda@secondpres.info or tammy@secondpres.info or 828-6297.

Adult Mexico Mission Trip set for June 15-22

If you would like to be part of an adventure that will deepen your faith and bring new energy to your life, join the mission trip to Ocosingo, Chiapas Mexico during the week of June 15-22.
Don Crittenden has additional details. Call him at 828-6297.

The New Organ

Great News! The organ will be delivered June 9th which is two months ahead of schedule. Complete installation will take four to six weeks, but the façade pipes and cabinet, the visible part, are expected to be in place in the center of the Chancel by June 20th. Once the installation is finished, the arduous task of tuning each individual pipe, rank and the full organ in the space is undertaken to provide the best sound for many years to come. This tuning process will take about another six to eight weeks.

The organ’s arrival triggers our last round of construction in the sanctuary. Deconstruction of the current wall will begin the week of May 12-19 to make room for the organ materials and construction. The beautiful Celtic cross that has been mounted there is being moved to another location where it can become a permanent element of the new construction design. Quite a few truckloads of organ materials  will be brought in and staged in the south entry area beginning June 9th.

The early arrival of our long awaited instrument has caused a few challenges related to weddings that are scheduled while the construction is underway. By way of background, our contract with the organ builder stated that delivery would take place upon completion, which was estimated for July or August 2008.

The uncertainty of the organ completion date has made it impossible to precisely plan events around installation. As a result, two weddings were scheduled for early June. Church leaders have been working with the families to find a solution to the issue of the large “hole” at the front of the sanctuary. In order to create a more visually appropriate chancel area for these events, the building committee has been asked, and agreed, to create a curtain which will hang in front of the open space for a few weeks. Ken Johnson has graciously agreed to create and facilitate installation of this curtain in order to have it mounted prior to the weddings.

It’s an exciting time for our congregation! Please continue in prayer for our members, our ministries, and our leaders as the finishing pieces of our sanctuary building project come together. Our prayer is that this space brings many people to Christ and to the Kingdom in the years to come.
Yours in Christ,
The Building Committee

CHANCEL CHOIR MISSION TOUR GROUP SALE

Saturday, May 3rd
8:00am - 2:00 pm
The Sale Barn
2027 S. Main St., Bloomington
Collecting Drop Offs at the Sale Barn
April 28, 29, 30 & May 1
9:00 am - 8:00 pm

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

May 4th
Students will be confirmed during the 11:00 am worship service.
Lunch for students and their families following the service.

70TH ANNUAL CHOIR SUNDAY

May 11th
One Service at 10:00 am
2PC will be celebrating 70 years of Music Ministry on Pentecost Sunday.
All choirs will be singing as we thank Godfor sending His precious Holy Spirit to be with us.
Sunday School Classes will not meet on this Sunday.

The Capen: Pastor Picks and Staff Selections

The Capen will be regularly announcing book selections from 2PC Pastors and Staff. The first book selection is from Dr. Chip Hardwick. His selection is “Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness” by Eugene Peterson. In this book, Peterson explores what the book of Jonah can tell us about how we are called to serve God—what we do, what God does, and how we work together to bring Christ glory. Although the book is written with pastors in mind, it has a lot to say to all of us about how God puts us to work—and strengthens us to do so. Dr. Hardwick is relying on this book for the sermon series, “Not Just a Big Fish Story” (4/13- 5/4).This book is available for check out from The Capen.