The Pastor's Ponderings

The Meaning of Celtic Crosses

Last week I traveled through what seemed to be much of the countryside of Ireland. What beautiful pastoral scenes - little flocks of sheep, the ruins of a castle, grazing cattle, a stone wall, forty shades of green, and a proliferation of Celtic crosses.

I had always associated Celtic crosses with our Presbyterian roots in Scotland. You may have noticed we have one of those ringed crosses as an architectural feature embedded in the outside wall of the sanctuary. (Sometimes it’s hard to see because of the trees.)

After visiting the monastery ruins of Clonmacnoise along the River Shannon, I decided to do some research about their meaning. The ringed cross has been a distinctively Celtic symbol since early Medieval times in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and those parts of Britain that were influenced by the early Celtic Church.   

Stephen Walker, the author of Celtic Cross History and Symbolism, says: “The Presbyterian and Catholic are often startled to learn that the other considers this symbol their own. In our modern multicultural world the ringed cross is as much a symbol of ethnic heritage as it is of faith and it is often used as an emblem of ones Irish, Scottish or Welsh identity.”

So – what about the circle of the Celtic cross? Some say it is a symbol of eternity of God’s endless love, others have speculated it is a halo, and another theory is that it is a symbol of the Sun that was worshipped by the Druids and that this symbol was appropriated by the Christians.

For Christians the cross in all its various styles and forms stands as a symbol to remind us of our Savior. The apostle Paul said: “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me” (Galatians 6:14).

Faithfully,
Denise

Summer Preschool News

It seems like just yesterday that we said goodbye to our four year old class and our three teachers. I’m happy to report that our enrollment for this fall is ahead of where we were last summer this time. We have also just hired two wonderful new teachers who will both teach five days a week. Joining our program are Eileen Hargett and Dori Boggs.

• Eileen is a registered nurse and active member of the Orange community. She has experience working with children of all ages.
• Dori brings over 15 years experience working with preschoolers and infants in northern Virginia.

A huge thank you to all of those involved in getting the basement area refurbished. The children are going to love it and the parents always like to see improvements from the previous year.

The preschool has joined Sam’s Club because we will be purchasing the snacks for preschool this year. A snack fee was incorporated in the tuition. There is an extra card that I have given to Karen for anyone in the church to use as long as they use a church check for the purchase.  

Our open house for both classes will be August 26. We’re excited about the new group. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Kim Szydlowski, (Mrs. “Ski”)
 Preschool Director

“Thank You Notes ”

To my Orange Presbyterian Church family,
A big “Thank You” to everyone who helped me attend Camp Hanover in June. My experience will never be forgotten and the great time I had with my counselors, new friends and God will always be remembered.
Thanks again, Garnett Baker

Dear members of Orange Presbyterian Church,
Thank you so much for supporting our special Riding Camp again this year. The snacks are very popular with both campers as well as volunteers and you always do such a great job feeding us.
With love and thanks, Vibeke

To the session and congregation,
Thanks so much for a wonderful celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of my ordination. It was a great day! Thanks so much for the cash gift. I purchased two beautiful Celtic crosses for my study at the church and some other nice remembrances of a great trip to Ireland!
Love, Denise

The New Look for our Website!

Orange Presbyterian Church has been in the process of revamping our website. We hope you liked how Gene Whitaker, Jeffrey Norberg, and Ralph Graves have been changing our digital image. (http://orangepc.org)

Also we are looking for information for the website. We want some information on church history, music ministry, mission projects, mission trips, preschool pictures, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Men, history of the Willis property, and current activities.

If you have information that would be great to be included, contact Gene, Jeff or Ralph to give them pictures and articles. Also each committee chair is reminded that monthly updates for the website are due with your committee minutes for the session packet. Material should be emailed to Gene at GeneWhit@gmail.com.

We get many visits to our website weekly and we would like it to reflect a place that folks would like to come and worship and join our church family.
Carole Sue Graves,  Congregational Care & Commitment

Adam McGinnis Fund Raiser

Recently our church received a letter telling us of a community effort to help the family of Adam McGinnis. This young man has faced serious health problems for many years. Recently his condition has worsened and he will require extensive surgery and treatments.

The family resources will not be able to meet these costs and the Orange community is reaching out to help meet this need. The session recently approved a contribution of $100.00 for this fund. Adam is a graduate of our preschool and many of you know this family. If you wish to contribute individually, you can send your check to: Trinity Methodist Church, Attn: Rev. Tom Barnard, 143 W. Main Street, Orange, VA 22960.

Jean Berckman, Mission and Outreach Committee

Health Kits

In September we will again begin to collect health kits which will be sent to third  world countries. Last year we had an excellent response to this simple and meaningful act of generosity. We hope you will want to participate again. Directions and list of items to be included are listed below and will be available in the narthex in august.

Seal all items in a one gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure. Return kits to Orange Presbyterian Church and place in the box in the narthex. If you don’t have the time to make a health kit you can give $12.00 (per kit) to purchase a health kit.

Jean Berckman, Mission and Outreach Committee

Looking for a way to cut your food costs? Know someone who is trying to stretch a dollar? The Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to food relief and contributing to benevolent outreaches in communities throughout the U. S. For information, check out their website: www.angelfoodministries.com. (For every food order made here in Orange, $1.00 is contributed to the Love Outreach Food Pantry.)

   Orange Baptist Church (672-2996) is the local contact point. Ask for Melinda Clark.

   Deadline for August orders: Friday, August 8 (Cash or food stamps only!)

   Pick-up food: Saturday, August 23, 12 - 1 p.m. (Orange Baptist Church)

   Volunteers are needed to help with food distribution.

Prayer List of Churches: (churches in the Presbytery of the James)

• Week of  August 3: Concord Presbyterian Church, Rawlings; Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville; Covenant Presbyterian Church, Petersburg; Crestwood - East Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Crestwood - West Presbyterian Church, Midlothian
• Week of August 10: Culpeper Presbyterian Church, Culpeper; Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Kenbridge; Emporia First Presbyterian Church, Emporia; Fairfield Presbyterian Church, Mechanicville
• Week of August 17: Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg; Fredericksburg Korean Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg; Gayton Kirk Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Genito Presbyterian Church, Powhatan
• Week of August 24: Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Gordonsville Presbyterian Church, Gordonsville; Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond; Greenwood Presbyterian Church, Chesterfield; Gregory Memorial Presbyterian Church, Prince George
• Week of August 31: Hartwood Presbyterian Church, Hartwood; Hawkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ford; Hebron Presbyterian Church, Manakin-Sabot; Hopewell First Presbyterian Church, Hopewell

Treasurer’s Report for July, 2008

Income for Operating Expenses -- $11,221.76 
Budgeted Expenses -- $12,782.76
2-Cents-A-Meal          $87.81
Income needed monthly to cover budgeted expenses: $15,153

Figures for the month of July will be in the August 3 Sunday bulletin.                 

Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Session Highlights

At its July 17 meeting the session:

• Approved to invite Dr. Popkin to perform piano concert at 7:30 PM following the Harvest Dinner
• Approved to move $5000 of Goodwin funds in Merle Lynch account to operating budget, if needed.
• Approved to contact Mary Beth Madison to perform financial review of 2007 records.
• Moved to return unused $25 to Presbyterian Men  designated as a Camp Hanover Scholarship.
• Moved that $100 be transferred from the Mission & Outreach Endowment Fund for contribution to Adam McGinnis medical expenses and place an article in newsletter describing the need for those who might wish to contribute individually.
• Passed recommendation to continue current relationship between OPC and Weekday School for upcoming 2008-2009 school year and make recommendation after evaluating the program. Functions of Session, Youth and CE committee, and Pre-school Board shall be written and coordinated to provide smooth operation. Preschool shall report directly to Youth & CE committee and report annually to Session and to OPC congregation.
• Approved a congregational meeting for August 10th for the purpose of electing and Officer Nominating Committee.
• Moved for the Clerk of Session to contact Henry Carter to send a petition to the courts to update current Trustees of OPC.

Faithfully submitted,
Suzanne Sherwin, Clerk

Acolytes

Lavinia Phillips 

Jeff Norberg   

David Woolfrey   

Clarice Poole

If you are unable to help on the day assigned, you are expected to obtain your own substitute and call the church office so that the correct information will appear in the Bulletin each Sunday.
If you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please secure your own substitute.
Thank you for sharing in our common ministry.