Announcements 5-5-24

ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
TABLECLOTH DINNER: Join us for our next Tablecloth Dinner at Mr. Ed’s in Kenner, 910 W. Esplanade on Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 PM.

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for shelf-stable breakfast items.

MOTHER’S DAY POT LUCK: Join us next Sunday, May 12th at Chinese Presbyterian Church at 11:00 AM for a Mother’s Day worship service and potluck lunch afterward. Feel free to bring a dish to share if you can. We will not have a worship service at John Calvin on May 12th. 

GARAGE SALE: We are planning a garage and bake sale for the end of May. The sale will take place on Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st. This is a fundraiser to help with church expenses and budget. 

As you do your Spring cleaning, please keep the church in mind as a place to donate your quality furnishings, clothes, appliances, tools, kitchenware, books, games, and knickknacks. Large furniture, computers, and some other electronics can not be accepted. Please do not start bringing your items to the church until after service on May 26th. Donations can then be placed in the Fellowship Hall. 

Fresh homemade baked goods are a wonderful addition to the sale and can be brought to the Fellowship Hall starting on Thursday, May 30th. Please help us spread the word by informing your friends and neighbors.

CHILDREN CHURCH TEACHERS NEEDED: We are looking for a teacher for the PK Children church class, on May 19th. Please see Louise if you can teach. This class takes place during our normal service time after the children’s sermon.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN BIRTHDAY OFFERING: The Presbyterian Women will be celebrating their annual Birthday Offering on May 5 and May 12. These funds provide much-needed assistance to numerous programs both domestic and international. This year’s funding will go to the Bethel Hills project in Marthasville, Missouri to provide appropriate and affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Their mission is to provide a supportive, faith-based, and inclusive community where all are accepted and valued. Funding will also assist Shawnee Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  This congregation is located in an economically disadvantaged area where single mothers and children face the challenges of food insecurity.  The congregation has been serving free dine-in meals each Monday.  These funds will help them renovate their kitchen and expand their capacity.  Improvements in the fellowship hall will allow them to offer enriching activities such as tutoring, a play area, parenting workshops and financial literacy classes. Thank you for your continued support for our long PW tradition of giving!  Please write your checks to the church with Birthday Offering on the memo line.  This also applies to any other form of donation.



The Church Office Assistant position

 
On behalf of the Session and the Church Staff Committee of John Calvin Presbyterian Church (JCPC), we would like to invite all to review and forward the enclosed open position for the Church Office Assistant.  The Church Office Assistant position is a part-time 20-hour flexible work week position that includes paid holidays, vacation, and sick-leave.  The Church Office
 
Assistant’s primary responsibilities include:
Receptionist duties, 
Assistant to pastoral leadership, and 
General office administrative duties
Please forward this email containing the position description for the Church Office Assistant to anyone that may be interested.  All interested candidates in the position can either mail their resume to the Church office or via email to rpisham@gmail.com.  Any questions regarding this position can also be directed to the email address provided.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in our search to fill this opening at John Calvin Presbyterian Church.
In Christ’s Service,
Session of JCPC and Staff Committee (Aaron Ochart, Sharon Fortin, Bill Bottomley, Ragina Isham)

JOHN CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4201 Transcontinental Drive

Metairie, Louisiana 70006

504-888-1375

Position Title: Church Office Assistant

Position Description:

The Church Office Assistant on a part-time basis will perform receptionist duties, serve as an assistant to pastoral leadership, and perform general office administrative duties. This position will also interact with Church members and various volunteer committees of the Church. A flexible 20-hour work week is applicable during the normal business hours of the Church (Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 4:00pm and Friday from 8:30am to noon). The position includes 12 paid holidays, 10-days of vacation, and 5-days of sick leave.

Position Responsibilities:

Receptionist Duties

  • · Act as a receptionist to people coming into the Church office, calling by telephone or receipt by email.
  • · Greet people who come into the Church office, giving them the appropriate help as necessary, or referring them to the person most able to help them.
  • · Maintain confidentiality.

Assistant to Pastoral Leadership (e.g. pulpit supply, temporary/interim pastor, and/or called and installed pastor)

  • · In partnership with the Pastoral leadership, coordinate and prepare the Sunday Church Service bulletin and worship slides.
  • · Track and publish announcements in the Sunday Church Service bulletin.
  • · In conjunction with input from the Deacons and Church volunteers, maintain a list of all known pastoral concerns that need attention from the Pastoral Leadership and/or the Deacons. Include all known new hospital admittances, illnesses, deaths, new births and other information of a pastoral nature in a memo form.

General Office Administrative Duties

  • · Receive and distribute all incoming mail and email (including bills for the financial staff).
  • · Maintain a schedule of events for all church activities.
  • · Receive and keep reports of outreach group payments.
  • · Maintain address information for Church membership, visitors and concerned parties.
  • · Maintain food pantry assistance program in conjunction with the Outreach Committee.
  • · Maintain all office equipment and supplies.
  • General Office Administrative Duties (continued)
  • · Manage Custodian requests (order cleaning supplies & validate receipt of ordered supplies and raise awareness on any concerns with the cleaning service).
  • · Interface with maintenance service call-out representatives for the Church, Church office, and outreach rooms (i.e. greet and escort to site of maintenance, receive invoicing, and communicate with the Facilities Committee).
  • · Order yearly inspections for Facilities (Fire, plumbing, elevators).
  • · Order Church flower arrangements weekly as needed.

Position Requirements:

  • · Microsoft Office Suite/Publisher using the Windows operating system.
  • · Google Workspace (formerly known as Google Suite; Gmail, Google Chrome, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Meet, etc.)
  • · Accounting/bookkeeping experience is desirable.
  • · Excellent time management skills and able to multi-task, prioritize, and effectively execute tasks.
  • · Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • · Communicates respectfully and establishes professional relationships through active listening and demonstration of empathy & positive regard.

If interested in the position, mail your resume to the church office or via email to rpisham@gmail.com. Any questions regarding this position can also be directed to the email address provided.



Announcements 4/21/24

Announcements: 

VBS DIRECTOR: The CE committee is looking for someone to be in charge of VBS this summer. The dates for VBS are July 16th to 19th. Please see Louise for more information or if you are willing to help out.

 Announcements Continued: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for canned fruit, fruit snacks, and applesauce.

TABLECLOTH DINNER: Join us for our next Tablecloth Dinner at Mr. Ed’s in Kenner, 910 W. Esplanade on Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 PM. 

 

Creation Care Reading Recommendations: Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis By Patricia K. Tull.

In this thoughtful study, respected Old Testament scholar Patricia K. Tull explores the Scriptures for guidance on today’s ecological crisis. Tull looks to the Bible for what it can tell us about our relationships, not just to the earth itself, but also to plant and animal life, to each other, to descendants who will inherit the planet from us, and to our Creator. She offers candid discussions on many current ecological problems that humans contribute to. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and a practical exercise, making it ideal for both group and individual study. This important book provides a biblical basis for thinking about our world differently and prompts us to consider changing our own actions.

HYMNS and BEER: Join us at 7:00 PM on April 25th at Blue Ruin Speakeasy, 3224 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70001 for Hymns and Beers. We will be celebrating this amazing Earth God created and which we have been entrusted to care for. Proceeds from this event will be split between the musician and Glass Half Full. 

GARAGE SALE: We are planning a garage and bake sale for the end of May. The sale will take place on Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st. This is a fundraiser to help with church expenses and budget. 

As you do your Spring cleaning, please keep the church in mind as a place to donate your quality furnishings, clothes, appliances, tools, kitchenware, books, games, and knickknacks. Large furniture, computers, and some other electronics can not be accepted. Please do not start bringing your items to the church until after service on May 26th. Donations can then be placed in the Fellowship Hall. 

Fresh homemade baked goods are a wonderful addition to the sale and can be brought to the Fellowship Hall starting on Thursday, May 30th. Please help us spread the word by informing your friends and neighbors.

CHILDREN CHURCH TEACHERS NEEDED: I am looking for a teacher for the PK Children church class, for April 28th and May 5th. Please see Louise if you can teach one or both of these days. This class takes place during our normal service time after the children’s sermon. 

BIRTHDAYS: Mary Antill 4/25, Christina Thomas 4/26, Linda Laporte 4/26, Carol Fourmaux 4/27



Announcements 4-14-24

 Announcements: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for canned fruit, fruit snacks, and applesauce.

Creation Care Reading Recommendations: 50 Ways to Help Save the Earth, Revised Edition: How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference by Rebecca Barnes. Rebecca Barnes outlines fifty ways in which you, your congregation, and your local community can help fight global warming and enjoy participation in a vital part of Christian discipleship. In 50 Ways to Help Save the Earth, Revised Edition, she makes a clear connection, in a practical and unintimidating way, between stewardship of the earth and living one’s faith.

This easy-to-follow book consists of seven chapters on topics related to global climate change: “Energy,” “Food and Agriculture,” “Transportation,” “Water,” “People,” “Other Species,” and “Wilderness and Land.” Each chapter begins with a statement on how the content relates to global warming, followed by action items ranging from individual efforts to activities that encourage the involvement of the congregation and wider communities.

HYMNS and BEER: Join us at 7:00 PM on April 25th at Blue Ruin Speakeasy, 3224 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70001 for Hymns and Beers. We will be celebrating this amazing Earth God created and which we have been entrusted to care for. Proceeds from this event will be split between the musician and Glass Half Full. 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: Join us for adult Sunday School, from 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM in the church library, as we continue our faith journey and share the importance of God in our daily lives. In our current six-session study, we are talking about our relationship with God, the importance of prayer, how prayer matters, and how we can use prayer to discern God’s will. 

GARAGE SALE: We are planning a garage and bake sale for the end of May. The sale will take place on Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st. This is a fundraiser to help with church expenses and budget. 

As you do your Spring cleaning, please keep the church in mind as a place to donate your quality furnishings, clothes, appliances, tools, kitchenware, books, games, and knickknacks. Large furniture, computers, and some other electronics can not be accepted. Please do not start bringing your items to the church until after service on May 26th. Donations can then be placed in the Fellowship Hall. 

Fresh homemade baked goods are a wonderful addition to the sale and can be brought to the Fellowship Hall starting on Thursday, May 30th. Please help us spread the word by informing your friends and neighbors.



Announcements 4-7-24

 Announcements: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for canned fruit, fruit snacks, and applesauce.

Creation Care Reading Recommendations: Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation (Resources for Reconciliation) God is reconciling all things in heaven and on earth. We are alienated not only from one another but also from the land that sustains us. Our ecosystems are increasingly damaged, and human bodies are likewise degraded. Most of us have little understanding of how our energy is derived or our food is produced, and many of our current industrialized practices are both unhealthy for our bodies and unsustainable for the planet. Agriculturalist Fred Bahnson and theologian Norman Wirzba declare that in Christ, God reconciles all bodies into a peaceful, life-promoting relationship with one another. Because human beings are incarnated in material, bodily existence, we are necessarily interdependent with plants and animals, land and sea, heaven and earth. The good news is that redemption is cosmic, with implications for agriculture and ecology, from farm to dinner table. Bahnson and Wirzba describe communities that model cooperative practices of relational life, with local food production, eucharistic eating, and delight in God’s provision. Reconciling with the land is a rich framework for a new way of life. Read this book to start down the path to restoring shalom and experiencing Jesus’ kingdom of shared abundance, where neighbors are fed and all receive enough.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: Join us for adult Sunday School, from 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM in the church library, as we continue our faith journey and share the importance of God in our daily lives. In our current six-session study, we are talking about our relationship with God, the importance of prayer, how prayer matters, and how we can use prayer to discern God’s will. 

CALENDAR:

4/8 – 10:00 AM – Staff Meeting 

        12:15 PM – Playschool Committee Meeting 

         6:30 PM – Outreach Committee Meeting 

4/11 – 10:00 AM – Game Day 

4/14 – 9:15 AM – Adult Sunday School 

          10:15  AM – Choir Warm-up 

          10:30 AM – Worship Service – Bible Builds during Children’s Church 

          11:45 AM – Choir Practice 

           6:30 PM – Christian Education Committee Meeting 



Announcements 3-31-24 Easter

Announcements: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. For April we are asking for canned fruit, fruit snacks, and applesauce. 

Easter Devotional: A Savior Is Risen An Easter Devotional By Zondervan. Do less. Connect more. This beautiful 40-day devotional for the Lenten and Easter season offers biblical reflections and full-color springtime photography to take you from burnout to burning a little brighter as you celebrate new life, fresh starts, and everyday redemptions.

 

OFFICE HOURS: The office will be closed from April 1st through April 7th. If you need assistance please call and leave a message or email Louise or Pastor Aaron. We respond as soon as we are able. 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: Beginning Sunday, April 7th., the adult class will focus on Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference? In this six-session study, we will talk about our relationship with God, the importance of prayer, how prayer matters, and how we can use prayer to discern God’s will. Adult class is held from 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM in the church library. Join us as we continue our faith journey and share the importance of God in our daily lives.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING: Today we will be taking up a special offering for one great hour of sharing. Please consider making a donation using the provided envelope or online to this wonderful program. 

CALENDAR:

Office closed 4/1 – 4/7 

4/4 – 10:00 AM – PW Council Meeting

4/7 – 9:15 AM – Adult Sunday School 

        10:30 AM – Worship Service – No Children’s Church



Announcements 3-24-24

 Announcements Continued: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for juice, juice boxes, and shelf-stable milk. 

BOOKS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Clothed with the Sun: Biblical Women, Social Justice and Us by Joyce Hollyday (PCUSA STORE) The Bible holds a great treasure of amazing women. They are judges and prophets, caregivers and teachers, prominent matriarchs of large clans or quiet disciples, women who suffered alone or sang joyous praises to God amid the crowds. Their stories come alive in these pages as they are interwoven with the lives of modern women, bound together by common threads of strength and courage in the face of vulnerability and violation. From Eve to Revelation’s woman clothed with the sun–from the first creative impulse to the close of time–female energy has been and will continue to be a river of life and wisdom, of dignity and hope.

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL: 

Schedule: 

Church and activities open 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM 

Noon – Special Music Sam Garnett

2:00 PM – Special Music Kelly Cuppett

5:00 PM – Special Music Kelly Cuppett

OFFICE HOURS: The office will be closed from April 1st through April 7th. If you need assistance please call and leave a message or email Louise or Pastor Aaron. We respond as soon as we are able. 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: Session 3 of OTDE will finish on Easter Sunday. However stay tuned for more information on our next exciting class taught by Linda Lowry. The new class will start in April and take us through May. The adults will take a break for the Summer and start up again with another installment of Off the Deep End in the fall. 

SPECIAL MUSIC OFFERING: Today we will be taking up a special offering for our wonderful music program. Please consider making a donation using the provided envelope. 

CALENDAR:

3/25- 1:00 PM – Staff Meeting 

3/28 –  5:30 PM – Sailboat Church Zoom Book Study Chapters 10

           7:00 PM – Maundy Thursday Service

3/29 – 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM – Good Friday Prayer Vigil 

3/31 – 9:15 AM – Adult Bible Study 

         10:15 AM – Choir Warm-up 

         10:30 AM – Worship Service! Happy Easter 

BIRTHDAYS: Beverly Ross 3/28, Wayne Tracy 4/1, Lorraine Weindel 4/6



Announcements 3-17-24

Announcements Continued: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for juice, juice boxes, and shelf-stable milk. 

BOOKS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr.  Biblical womanhood–the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers–pervades North American Christianity. From choices about careers to roles in local churches to relationship dynamics, this belief shapes the everyday lives of evangelical women. Yet biblical womanhood isn’t biblical, says Baylor University historian Beth Allison Barr. It arose from a series of clearly definable historical moments.

This book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the realm of church history–ancient, medieval, and modern–to show that this belief is not divinely ordained but a product of human civilization that continues to creep into the church. Barr’s historical insights provide context for contemporary teachings about women’s roles in the church and help move the conversation forward.

POT LUCK: Join us after the Palm Sunday Cantata on March 24th for a potluck lunch. John Calvin will provide drinks, please bring a dish to share. Drop off for food will begin at 9:00 AM. Please bring serving utensils. If you would like to help please reach out to Mary Antill. 

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL: We will be hosting a Prayer Vigil on Good Friday, March 29th.

Schedule: 

Church and activities open 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM 

Noon – Special Music Sam Garnett

2:00 PM – Special Music Kelly Cuppett

5:00 PM – Special Music Kelly Cuppett

CALENDAR:

3/18- 1:00 PM – Staff Meeting 

          6:30 PM – Session Meeting 

3/19 – 10:30 AM – Grace Circle

3/20 -2:30 PM – EJIC Meeting 

         6:30 PM – Cantata Rehearsal

3/21 –  6:00 PM – Sailboat Church Zoom Book Study Chapters 8

3/22 – 10:00 AM – Cantata Rehearsal 

                          – Set-up for Cantata

3/24 -9:15 AM – Adult Sunday School 

        10:15 AM – Choir Warm-up 

        10:30 AM – Worship Service with Palm Sunday Cantata followed by Lunch

BIRTHDAYS: Alex Prince 3/19, Bhanu Patel 3/20



Announcements 3-10-24

 Announcements Continued: 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for juice, juice boxes, and shelf-stable milk. 

BOOKS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: “You Have Stept out of Your Place”: A History of Women and Religion in America By Susan Hill Lindley. Women throughout American history have repeatedly been accused of “stepping out of their places” as many have fought for more rewarding roles in the church and society. In this book, Susan Hill Lindley demonstrates that just as religion in the traditional sense has influenced the lives of American women through its institutions, values, and sanctions, so women themselves have had a significant effect on the shape of American religion through the years.

TABLE CLOTH DINNER: Join us for the next tablecloth dinner on March 12th at 6:30 PM at Outback Steakhouse. Sign up and let us know if you would like a ride

EASTER EGG HUNT: We will have our community Easter Egg hunt on March 16th. We need donations of Candy and candy-filled eggs. Please bring your donations to Louise in the office by Thursday the 14th.

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL: We will be hosting a Prayer Vigil on Good Friday, March 29th. We hope to have an all-day vigil with at least two people in the sanctuary throughout the day. Please take a moment to consider what time you would like to come in and pray. Use the signup sheet in the Bulletin, or sheet in the Narthex, to let us know when you would like to come in and pray. If you are not ready to sign up don’t worry there will be several more chances and even if you are not able to sign up please plan to drop in on Good Friday. 

BELL CHOIR: Bell ringers are needed for Easter Sunday. There will be one rehearsal on March 17th after the service. Let Kelly know by March 12th if you are interested in participating. 

CALENDAR:

3/11- 10:00 AM – Staff Meeting 

         12:15 AM – Playschool Committee Meeting 

          6:30 PM – Outreach Committee Meeting

3/12 – Table Cloth Dinner at Outback Steakhouse

3/13 – 6:30 PM – Cantata Rehearsal

3/14 – 10:00 AM – PW Game Day

          6:00 PM – Sailboat Church Zoom Book Study Chapters 8

3/17 -9:15 AM – Adult Sunday School 

        10:15 AM – Choir Warm-up 

        10:30 AM – Worship Service with Children’s Church 

        11:45 AM – Handbell rehearsal



Announcements 3-3-24

 Announcements:

ANNUAL MEETING: Join us for our annual meeting on March 10th during the Worship service. 

TABLE CLOTH DINNER: Join us for the next tablecloth dinner on March 12th at 6:30 PM at Outback Steakhouse. Sign up and let us know if you would like a ride

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for juice, juice boxes, and shelf stable milk. 

BOOKS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: In Our Own Voices: Four Centuries of American Women’s Religious Writing By Rosemary Skinner Keller and Rosemary Radford Ruether (PCUSA STORE) Drawing from primary source documents such as diaries, letters, speeches, sermons, essays, and books from seventeenth-century colonial settlements in North America to today, this volume recovers the contributions of women to American religion. With its breadth and richness of sources it will be of interest and use to feminists, church historians, and students.

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL: We cannot experience the glory of Easter if we do not first experience the pain of Maundy Thursday, the loss of Good Friday, and the sadness of Holy Saturday. Setting aside a specific time in church to wait and pray with Jesus, to reflect on the events that led up to his death and resurrection, to speak to God and seek his guidance and listen to his heart, is essential to preparing our hearts for the Joy of Easter. To that end, we will be hosting a Prayer Vigil on Good Friday, March 29th. We hope to have an all-day vigil with at least two people in the sanctuary throughout the day. Please take a moment to consider what time you would like to come in and pray. Use the signup sheet in the Bulletin, or sheet in the Narthex, to let us know when you would like to come in and pray. If you are not ready to sign up don’t worry there will be several more chances and even if you are not able to sign up please plan to drop in on Good Friday. 

EASTER EGG HUNT: We are hoping to provide the community Easter Egg hunt again this year. However, before we start to advertise this event we would like to get our volunteers in place. We are looking for people to staff the craft tables (easy crafts no art skills needed), snack table, help with bunny pictures, and hide Easter Eggs. Please let Louise know ASAP if you are available to help on March 16th from 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM. 

CALENDAR:

3/4- 10:30 AM – Worship Committee Meeting 

       1:00 PM – Staff Meeting

        6:30 PM – Christian Education Meeting

3/6 – 6:30 PM – Cantata Rehearsal

3/7 – 10:00 AM – PW Council Meeting 

         6:00 PM – Sailboat Church Zoom Book Study Chapters 5 and 6

3/10 -9:15 AM – Adult Sunday School 

        10:15 AM – Choir Warm-up 

        10:30 AM – Worship Service with Children’s Church 

        11:45 AM – Choir Rehearsal