Pictured above: Old Baldy – The 19th Century Lighthouse on Bald Head Island

Special Music Sunday:   Larry and Amber will be sharing their musical gifts on saxophone and piano!

Please remember:
~Sunday:  Youth and Kids Meet at CAPE FEAR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at 4pm to go sing at Cypress Point.  We will return to Cape Fear for dinner and then get to Wendy’s for dessert.
~Tuesday Bible Study on Luke 16 – Tuesday at 9:30am
~ Wednesday Lenten Worship – 11am in the Sanctuary, Lunch at Katy’s afterward
~ Sunday, April 6th:  Youth and Kids Hike at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.  Meet at 3pm.  Contact Emile for more information.

Looking ahead:
~Volunteer with the Diaper Bank to distribute diapers in Hampstead on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8th. Two more volunteers are needed – let Emile know if you wish to go.
~ Palm Sunday Luncheon after worship on Sunday, March 13th.
~ Maundy Thursday worship at 7pm on Thursday, April 17th
~ Good Friday worship at 11am on Friday, April 18th
~ Easter: 10am Worship on Sunday, April 20th, Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30
REMEMBER Flowers for our Easter Cross!

Looking further ahead:
Ukuleles Unite Concert at WPPC!  Saturday, May 10th at 7pm.

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The March Fellowship Bus Trip was Thursday: we visited the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport, visited the base of the Oak Island Light, ate lunch at Koko Cabana, and walked out onto the Oak Island Pier – all on a gorgeous day.

The April Bus Trip is to the Cameron Art Museum on Wednesday, April 23rd.

The May Bus Trip will be an afternoon trip to the new museum at Fort Fisher followed by dinner at the Riverview Restaurant. (Date of the May trip TBA).

Anyone is welcome to sign up to go on one of our trips. We’d love to meet you as we explore our region and fellowship together!

Above: “My Lighthouse” by the North Irish Christian Band Rend Collective

Inspired by yesterday’s trip to see Oak Island Lighthouse – and wanting to share the song “My Lighthouse” which is a Youth Group favorite from Montreat and Massanetta, today’s preschool devotion was on lighthouses.

Okay, so lighthouses aren’t prominent in the scripture, but we remember the Psalmist says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”  (Psalm 119:105).

Lighthouses were used for centuries to help mariners navigate dangerous coastal waters at night and find their way safe to shore.  I asked the preschoolers today, “Boats are supposed to be on the water.  What happens if they try to go on land?”   I got an immediate “They sink!”

I love how the song “My Lighthouse” reminds us that God is our light – to help us navigate stormy waters.

The lyrics are (in part):

I won’t fear what tomorrow brings
With each morning I’ll rise and sing
My God’s love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea,
You are my light
My Lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
– Rend Collective (a really neat Christian Band from Northern Ireland)

Taking the metaphor a little further – lighthouses also help us go out to sea – just as God’s light helps us go out into the world to be Christ’s disciples and share Christ’s love.

I am thankful that God is our light… our lighthouse.

Pictured above: The Fresco depicting the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Chapel of the Prodigal in Montreat, North Carolina.

Friends,

As I prepare for Sunday’s worship service, I am reflecting on our scripture reading:  The Parable of the Prodigal Son (and His Brother and the Father Who Loved them Both) from Luke 15.

Sometimes we’re the younger son.  We’ve messed up.  We need to admit that, and we hope for and yearn for grace:  God’s grace or the grace of people we love and who we know we’ve hurt.

Sometimes we’re the older brother.  He is very Presbyterian.  He’s got all of his ducks in a row.  He knows it, but he has forgotten to show grace.  Sometimes we need to be called out on that.  Sometimes we need to forgive and love.

And sometimes we’re called to be like the father in the parable.  We’re called to love.  We’re called to run and wrap our arms around one who needs to be shown love.  

Friends, read Luke 15: https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=610180053

What do you notice about the parable?

Grace and Peace!

Emile