Ash Wednesday Begins Lent.  Easter Sunday on April 4th
   At the communion service on February 17th in Polson, some of the faithful gathered to celebrate Communion and Christ’s life on earth and individually rededicated ourselves to be his disciples.  God has called each of us to do separate tasks in His kingdom.  He gave each person one or more gifts, and they then became a teacher, a minister of the word and sacrament, farmer, accountant, welder, or merchant.  The list of single and multiple gifts is large and long.  We’re each to glorify God, do good work and love our neighbor as ourselves.  Being a good Christian can be a daunting task, but each of us can take comfort in the fact that God never gives us a task that we can’t handle.  He’s with us everyday, even if we don’t now have a job because we got laid off.  He gives us faith when we’re discouraged, joy in discovering miracles that can and do happen.

   In my youth, the idea of “giving up something during Lent”, or making a sacrifice was widely touted as spiritual and appropriate, and there’s nothing wrong with that idea.  Pulse suggests that instead of taking something away from your life during Lent, you can ADD something. Make this the opportunity to go out and do those unselfish acts of kindness for others.  Give food to the hungry and less fortunate.  Write or call someone who is lonely to cheer them along life’s fractured pathway.  Challenge yourself to be a better disciple than you have been.  God would be pleased if we all tried harder saying  and singing, “Lord, I wana be like Jesus, inna my heart.”                 

Your Joyful Music for Lent
   There are two especially rich musical seasons in the Christian church - Christmas and Easter.  Composers, through the generations, have given superb musical expression to the birth of Jesus, the lament of his crucifixion, and joy of his resurrection.  There will be music in our worship service each Sunday by the voice or bell choir - sometimes both.  Arlene Kintz, and the voice choir are rehearsing a cantata which will be sung on Palm Sunday, March 28th.  Marilyn Coffee and the bell choir also rehearse each week.  Would you like to be a bell ringer?  There are two open places in that choir for new ringers.  One is for the littlest bells and the other vacancy is a ringer for the biggest bass bells.  Call Marilyn if you’d like her to instruct you how to ring a set of bells.

   Marilyn also reports that the bell choir is rehearsing for their Annual Spring Festival on April 23rd which this year will be held in Livingston.  This teaching-training session with other bell choirs in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming is being led by clinician, Catherine Wissinger.  Twelve ringers from our church will be attending.  Each pays $18 for training and $5 for food in addition to their lodging and transportation expenses.  This year’s music compositions are “challenging”, says Marilyn, for their technical difficulty.  However, Marilyn says, the choir grows their skills from exposure to these experiences.

   Besides providing music for our worship, once each year on Palm Sunday, in the afternoon at the Catholic church, our two choirs and voice choirs from other Polson churches present for the community, a free musical concert.  A free will offering is taken there to gather funds to support the work of  Helping Hands, a joint community ministerial fund which helps the needy.

Sunday School Is for Everyone!
   A fine number of children participate in classes each Sunday.   Parents teach their children about God’s love for them.  And always, the next generation of leadership in the church will be from today’s youth.  Children’s February – March  studies are about the Beatitudes.   Those are the timeless, sermon-on-the-mount teachings from Jesus.  A core of dedicated parents and adults from the congregation are the teachers for the Children’s Sunday School program.  They are always looking for added volunteers to help them.  Sign up for a 2 week assignment - call Becky Dupuis.   Kids Sunday school starts at 10:30 a.m., ends in time for them to rush to the Fellowship hall when worship ends and partake of the cookies and punch provided for everyone by the deacons.

   Adult studies in the Fries room meets from  9 a.m. – 10:30 Sunday. For fifteen minutes, there’s warm up conversation exchanges with muffins and coffee refreshments.  Serious lesson study begins at 9:15 a.m.  Susan Stuber has been leading a five week discussion titled: Seeing Gray in a world of Black and ‘White.  It’s based on a study guide by Adam Hamilton.  The topics are on delicate and sensitive contemporary issues, including homosexuality and abortion which have been stumbling blocks for almost the entire faith community of Christians.  The class has searched biblical texts to add to their understanding and knowledge.  The issues the class has been discussing have been flash points in just about every denomination in Christendom and these divisions have been frequently headlined in secular news periodicals.  These issues which have become so divisive, for many, can also be “distractions” which keep the faithful from fulfilling a broader calling in service of Jesus’ teachings.

   The last class on this topic is on March 7^th.       Tricia Campbell, on March 14^th, restarts a series titled Wrestling With Angels. It’s an intimate look at the tough questions of life. This first session will be on Forgiving with Lewis Smedes.  March 21^st, we will talk about Doubt with Madeleine L'Engle. March 28^th, we will talk about Love with J. Keith Miller.  New faces and voices around the table are welcome as we all try to increase our understanding of what God calls us to be and do.

Pastor Appreciation Month Had Some Surprises for Everyone
   Minister Dave and Marsha alerted the congregation that on Sunday, after worship, on Valentine’s Day, they would host our church family to a lasagna, salads and dessert luncheon.  Round tables were set up and decorated with lovely centerpieces.  Dave introduced to everyone an honored guest, the new General Presbyter for Glacier Presbytery, Ed Albright.  Everyone clapped for the guest and the splendid meal provided by the Anson’s.  Then, Joanna Shelton Erb and Carolyn Heinz stepped forward, called the Anson’s to the center and told minister Dave, “we found the box” (the one the children bring to him each Sunday morning).  The Anson’s  opened the box.  Inside was gift money from the congregation for the Anson’s to use on a vacation.  And Matt and Tana Seeley added their gift as well, accommodations at their Wallace, ID vacation home.  A win-win situation, like no other, and so wonderful.

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast – March 6th
   After the group bow their heads and gives thanks for the meal, the men line up waiting their turn to fill their plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, seasonal fruit, muffins and glasses of juice and coffee.  Our featured speaker in March will be minister Dave who will share the next exciting chapter in his series about “About God’s Men.”

   In February, our speaker was Matt Seeley, a 23 yr. triathlon and Iron Man endurance competitor.  Matt was our first program speaker when our Men’s group started seven years ago.  Matt came back to share his experiences as a 2.4 mile swimmer,112 mile bicycler and 26.6 mile marathon runner with 200 career competitions and 54 place wins.   Fitness challenges, rigorous training and months of preparation were his mantra.  Athletes peak out in this sport in their mid 30’s.  Matt, now 40, is coach and mentor of other younger athletes.  Matt is also a math teacher at SKC College.  The men heard a great program.  Thanks, Matt.

Thank You to Church Officers
   Presbyterians are committed to service in their denomination.  Volunteers are nominated, then elected, to serve as elders and deacons.  Each year new faces appear on these key committees.  On behalf of the congregation, Pulse recognizes, with thanks, those persons whose terms of office expired in early 2010. They were; deacon, Zina Swanson, and elder, clerk of session, John Cummings.  Thank you both!  And to officers who were eligible to be re-elected and agreed to continue their service, we also say thank you.  They are:  Bessie Argo, elder; Adell Hansen and Francis Davidson, both deacons.

Parenting Class a Success
  Elder, Jill Southerland began and completed a six week class on developing parenting skills.  These classes were open to the community and our own members.  These were well attended and helpful for all who took advantage of this learning opportunity.  Thanks, Jill.

Confirmation Class
   Minister Dave has been teaching a confirmation class for middle school youth about the basics of our common Christian understanding of the Bible, theology and the practice of the life of faith.  At the conclusion of studies, these children will be ready for church membership.

Disaster Assistance Kits
   PDA, or Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, is an arm of our denomination’s mission and outreach ministry.  When disasters happen, as in Haiti, our denomination has supplies and funds available which they quickly distribute in these troubled areas.  We are part of the Church World Service organization that helps and gives aid to victims of disaster.  Recently, in Polson, our congregation filled many bags with specific items to help these victims.  If you didn’t get a chance to help or want to give more, these plastic gallon size bags can be obtained in the Fellowship Hall.  There are two kinds of kits.  One is for local use by Helping Hands. The other will be sent to PDA for world wide disaster assistance.

Roses to Remember Keenie
   On Sunday, Jan 24th the four children of Keenie and Dick Christopher provided large floral bouquets in honor of their mother.  These not only made the church sanctuary beautiful, but after the worship service, each lady in the congregation was invited to take home a rose in memory of Keenie, who gave so much to this church throughout her life with us.

Elders Lead the Congregation
   Bessie Argo assumed her duties as Steward of God’s house – our church.  She’s in charge of clean up , inside and out, and asked Pulse to notify all that the Annual Spring Clean Up Day will be Sat., March 27^th  from 9 a.m. to noon.  Remember, when you come to bring some window cleaning rags, liquid.  There are also some carpet spots that need to be lifted .  Outside work needs a touch up, bring rakes etc.  Set a personal work goal and then take a mid morning break with coffee, muffins.  When nourished and recharged, all can return and finish their jobs.  There’s a Work Day sign up sheet for this in Fellowship Hall.

Bring Flowers to Decorate the Sanctuary
   Bessie will post a designated week sign- up sheet in Fellowship for those who’d like to bring a floral arrangement to add color to the sanctuary for Sunday worship.

Clean up Individuals/Teams Needed for Monthly Service
   Bessie sees the need to keep our church presentable during each month.  She has a sign-up sheet for this in Fellowship Hall for minimal monthly work inside/outside the church.  Be a volunteer for selective work.

Soup’s On
   Soup’s on at the Wander Inn located at 101 7^th Avenue, West.  The mission is operated by Interfaith and Community Outreach Partners primarily for the benefit of those who are in need.  But on those days when a hot bowl of soup, bread and a piece of pie are what you crave, simply stop by.  Donations to the efforts are gladly accepted and volunteers to prepare, cook, serve and clean-up are always needed.  Several members of FPC are current volunteers.  There is a specific need for volunteers on Tuesdays.  Call Sandy Farrell at 871-1109 for details. Hours are 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., Monday thru Thursday.  Hot soup and friendship are always on the menu.

2010 Food Drive
   First Presbyterian Church has collected 278 pounds of food since the beginning of our annual food drive. The need is greater than ever for non-perishable food items for the FPC Vital Vittles closet and Loaves and Fish community food pantry.  We have a goal of collecting 2,500 pounds of food during 2010.  Please place items in the baskets at the entrance to the fellowship hall.  They will be sorted and distributed to Vital Vittles or Loaves and Fishes.  Thank you for caring.

Community Table Friendship Dinner
   It’s the middle of winter and nothing tastes better than a good bowl of chili.  That’s exactly what was served up by Adell Hansen and Zina Swanson at the February offering of the Community Table Friendship Dinner.  Add a delicious potato soup plus hot rolls, salad (both fruit and green) with desserts and beverages and you have an outstanding menu for FPC congregants and guests.  Helping saints included Zana and Mason Niblack, Jan Campbell, Marsha and Dave Anson, Dean Swanson, Jane Bronson and Al and Mary Lu Suneson.

   Eighty plus meals were served to many of our usual guests.  But, the February crowd included at least 12 people who were first time visitors.  Many heard about the Friday night meals at “Soup’s On” hosted at the Wander Inn; the Monday-Thursday hot soup, bread and dessert offering attracts many who enjoy a once-a-day hot meal served with love and hospitality by many community volunteers.  Others heard about our Friendship Table dinners through the recently completed parenting classes offered at FPC.  Still others heard about the dinner through the local newspapers and good ol’ word-of-mouth.  Regardless of how they came to know about the dinner everyone enjoyed a good meal with fellowship and hospitality.

   Have you been to one of the dinners lately?  They are hosted by FPC on the second Friday of each month from 5-7 p.m.  Would you like to be a part of this outreach to the community?  Talk to an elder or deacon and they will guide you.  If you cannot be directly involved you can still provide financial support to this important local ministry.  Simply designate your contribution by marking it for the “Friendship Dinners” and put it in the collection plate on any Sunday.  And don’t forget that your presence at future dinners is very important as FPC rolls out the hospitality carpet to our community.

   Y’all Come!!

Wanted: Volunteer hosts for Friendship Table community dinners in 2010. See any active deacon or elder.

Wanted: Non-perishable food items for Vital Vittles and Loaves and Fishes.  Put them in the designated baskets at church.

Wanted: Volunteers for the Soup’s On community soup kitchen.  Short hours; great blessings.  Contact the church office for details.

Positions Available: Volunteer needed to manage the continuing food drive at FPC, Polson.  Easy hours, no pay, great  sense of fulfillment.  No experience necessary. See Francis or call the church office for details.

Wanted: Baby yarn for caps for new born babies born at St. Joseph Medical Center.  Any questions, contact June Hommas, or any PW woman.