Pine Cone Press
April 2026
Pine Tree Cumberland Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 5340
1805 Pine Tree Road
Longview, Texas 75608
(903) 759-2685
Rev. Cindy Barton, Pastor
(442) 235-1393
Email:
From the Pastor’s Desk:
“Are You Prepared for Holy Week?”
Holy Week -- the most important week of the Christian year -- begins with Palm Sunday on March 29. Although the week opens with celebration and waving of palm branches, we quickly move past celebration to focus on the suffering, humiliation, and death that are the largest part of Holy Week remembrance. This is why Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday. This year, we prepare ourselves for Easter’s joy by reading the passion story from the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 26 focuses on the betrayal of Christ; Matthew 27, on the trial, crucifixion, and death of Christ; Matthew 28, on the Resurrection of Christ. It is important to place the joyous hope of Resurrection against the dark background of sin, suffering, and death. Matthew’s account brings to the forefront the human suffering of Jesus. We are humbled and amazed by the great love and faithfulness of the Savior as he faced conflict, humiliation, and suffering for our benefit. The chief priests plotted against him; Judas betrayed him; the crowds called for his death; even those who pledged loyalty disowned him on the night of his arrest and trial. In the Garden, Jesus was overwhelmed with human sorrow. He knew that in his hours on the cross, he would experience his greatest agony in separation from God, as he paid the price for the sins of all people for all time. Reading the accounts of Christ’s agony on the cross, we are convicted; we realize our own part in supplying the weight of sin borne by the blameless Lamb of God. In walking through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week, we realize the horror and magnitude of sin and its consequences, and we prepare ourselves to celebrate the joy of being forgiven and redeemed, made new with the Resurrected Christ on Easter Sunday. Prepare yourself to celebrate Easter by reading God’s word and giving thanks for His wondrous love. The Lectionary Readings for the days of Holy Week are:
Palm/Passion Sunday: Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Matthew 21:1-11. Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66. Monday: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11. Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36. Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32. Maundy Thursday: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2,12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17;31b-35. Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42. Holy Saturday: Job 14:1-14; Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31:1-4,15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66; John 19:38-42. Easter Day: Acts 10:34-43; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2; 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10.
Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, April 1 “The Passion of the Christ”
6:00 P.M
Thursday, April 2 Maundy Thursday
Service 6:00 P.M.
Friday, April 3 Good Friday
Service 7:00 P.M.
Elmira Chapel
Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunday
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Communion
Thursday, April 9 Session Meeting
1:00 P.M.
Outreach Meal – 5:30 P.M.
Saturday, April 11 CPWM Meeting
10:30 A.M.
Sunday, April 12 Bible Study – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Noon Meal
Sunday, April 19 Bible Study – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
April 21 – 24 Pastor’s Retreat
Wednesday, April 22 Earth Day
Friday, April 24 Arbor Day
Sunday, April 26 Bible Study – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Pine Tree CPWM April Meeting
The next meeting of the Pine Tree CPWM will be Saturday, April 11. There will be a short business meeting at 10:30 A.M. followed by “Dutch treat” lunch at New Pier Restaurant. Transportation needs will be met by carpooling in personal vehicles.
Faye Lavender
Frances Faye Darby Lavender, 90, of Longview, Texas, died on Feb. 25. She was preceded in death by husband Bill Lavender, sons Kent Kimbrough and Ryann Rogers, and daughter Tracie Rogers. She is survived by son Jace Kimbrough and daughter Cindy Rogers, along with many grandchildren. Faye was born on Oct. 28, 1935, in Longview, Texas, and she graduated from Pine Tree High School before attending Kilgore College, where she became part of the Kilgore Rangerettes. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. at Pine Tree Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations to Regard4Life Animal Rescue would be appreciated.
Special Services During Holy Week
Pine Tree CP Church will host a viewing of Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Christ’s last twelve hours in the movie “The Passion of the Christ” on Wednesday at 6:00 P.M. We will also host a Seder/Communion worship service on Maundy Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This service highlights God’s unfolding plan to deliver his people as shown in the connected stories of the Jewish Passover and Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples. All are invited; please let us know if you plan to attend so that we can be prepared! We are invited to join Elmira Chapel CPC in worship on Good Friday at 7:00 p.m. in their sanctuary. This service will focus on the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. Pine Tree CPC will hold our traditional worship service in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection.
Summer Youth Camp at Gilmont
Trinity Presbytery will sponsor a youth summer camp at Camp Gilmont near Gilmer, Texas. The camp will be held from Sunday, June 7, through Friday, June 12, for campers entering Kindergarten through those graduating high school. Camp fees are $365 per camper for registrations received by April 30. After that date fees go up to $375. Fees cover meals, lodging, T-shirts, a canteen, and activities. Scholarships are available. This year’s theme is “Christian Courage”.
New Bible Study Begins
The multi-age (teens and adult) class at Pine Tree CP Church is beginning a new Bible Study on the gospel of Matthew. The class meets on Sunday morning at 9:30 AM, prior to our regular worship service at 10:30. We plan to follow this class with comparative studies of the other gospels. Please consider joining us for this new Bible Study.
Prayer List
Barbara Allen Our Nation and its Leaders
Rodney Archambeau Our Church
Christine Blackwell Our Missionaries
Linda Bush Maria Parker
Mary Burns Pat Parker
Cade Campises Betty Scott
Erica Carey & Family Barbara Smitty
Families in Crisis Mary Stumblingbear
Billy, brother of Angie Gabler Vernon Stumblingbear and Family
Craig Gillentine Neva Gaile Tanner
Stephen Grainger Preston and Anne Timmerman
Ross Jackson Andrea Turner
Family & Friends of Faye Lavender Unspoken prayer requests
Ron Mehlhoff All U.S. Military Personnel
Jackie Merritt John Vanderslice
Genell Montoya's Friend Billy Wanda Windsor's Husband
Ann Morehead Jennifer Wood
Freeda Nelson Trey & Megan Wyatt and Children
Debbie Noble
