Camp Hill Presbyterian Church
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PASTORAL GREETINGS
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere. . .
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness
(Psalm 84:1-4, 10)
Dear Siblings in Christ,
This psalm offers a sense of deep longing for God, coupled with pure joy at being in God’s presence. This dual expression captures one of the great mysteries of our life in God: that we can truly delight at being God’s presence, even as we long for a deeper union with God. Our hearts have an infinite longing for God, but in this life, perfect union with God is fleeting at best, and this leaves us always yearning for more.
And even if we are unaware of this deep yearning within our hearts, it is always there. Often, we are tempted to fill this space with other things, but whatever other longing or desire we seek, whether holy or unholy, it is nothing more than a poor shadow of our need and desire for God. When we point this desire toward God, it brings us life and joy, but when we seek to satisfy this desire in other ways, we may indeed cause great harm to ourselves and to others.
This psalm invites us to notice the deep yearning within each of us, and to honor the sacred fire which kindles our faith and our desire and burns in the deepest corners of our hearts. As we continue our Lenten journey, we are invited to discover that our journey of faith involves every aspect of our lives. It is a journey which places us on a pilgrim’s path that is lived both externally and within our hearts until that day, when our hearts finally rest in God, forever.
May God continue to bless you in this Lenten Season. I am grateful that we can share this journey together.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Richard E. T. Jorgensen, Jr.
IT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Your continuing financial support of the ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING during Lent is greatly appreciated! With your generous gifts, we have received $2112 so far! Envelopes are in the pew racks for your donations, or mark your gift OGHS. AND, parents are asked to encourage their children to keep adding coins to their OGHS Fish Banks! Every penny, nickel, dime and quarter counts! The need is great in our land and across the globe. With your support we’ve raised over our $2,000 goal with 2 weeks still to go! Thanks!
Help Needed: The flowers in the sanctuary are enjoyed by all but we need help in their ministry following the service. If the donor doesn’t take them, we deliver them to those unable to attend church or are in need of extra prayer. If you can help, please contact me at 717-691-1385 or kinsrock@aol.com. We also welcome suggestions for recipients and you can always check on a Sunday morning to see if a plan is already in place. Thank you.- Cindy Thompson
Mother’s Day Flowers from Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties—Please place an order for a 6" pot of mixed blooming flowers. Cost is $16 each with $6 supporting DVSCP's free emergency shelter and associated services. Flowers are provided by Whimsical Poppy. Orders are due by April 2 to Bobbie Kitzmiller. You can make checks payable to DVSCP and place them in the Mission Team’s mailbox. Thank you!