St. Paul s United Methodist Church. This Sunday, March 18, th Sunday in Lent

Transcription

1 St. Paul s United Methodist Church March 14, 2018 Questions or corrections? Please call the Office (209) or contact a member of staff: Pastors Jason Thornton pastor@stpaulsmanteca.org Lisa Brown pastorlisabrown@gmail.com Office Manager Kim Borges office@stpaulsmanteca.org Choral Director Anne Talcott a.talcott@yahoo.com Mission Bells Director Lisa Traughber lisabell@tupc.org Organist/Accompanist Angela Sonner angiesonner@gmail.com Custodian Mary Santos Trustees Chairperson Jay Holmes elmogul@aol.com Lay Leader Kit Oase kitoase@yahoo.com Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This Sunday, March 18, th Sunday in Lent Genesis 19:12-17; Saving Lot Join us in the Fellowship Hall following worship for coffee and refreshments hosted by the Choir.

2

3 In the Name of the Lord MARCH 2018 LESSONS 18 th : Jesus Breaks the Bread 25 th : People Welcome Jesus EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 1 ST The Tomb is Empty Sunday, April 1 st Following Worship Plastic Easter Eggs and Individually Wrapped Easter Candies are needed for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Your support in making this tradition a success is greatly appreciated! COLLECTION BASKETS ARE IN THE NARTHEX AND CHURCH OFFICE THROUGH MARCH 25 TH

4 Assisting Churches to do their best work and flourish through Endowment Investment Legacy Planning March 18 th after Worship in the Fireside Room Susan Peters, CFRE Executive Director CA-NV United Methodist Foundation

5 All-Church Cleaning Day Saturday, March 24, :30 AM - Continental Breakfast 9:00 am - Noon (or whenever we are finished) Church committees will be assigned to clean/organize specific areas of the church grounds, but ALL church members are invited and encouraged to participate and help out in the area of their choice. Responsible Group SANCTUARY Worship Committee Chair: Judy Karnes Stephen Ministry Chairs: Kit Oase & Bea Lingenfelter Finance Committee Chair: Rick Wentworth Social Concerns Chair: Luan Bland Family Ministries Chair: Pastor Lisa Brown Scholarship Chair: Pastor Lisa Brown Responsible Group EDUCATION BUILDING Choir Director: Anne Talcott Food Pantry Chair: Patty DeRoos Responsible Group FELLOWSHIP HALL Endowment & Memorial Committees Chair: Marilyn Maloney, Marge Patzer, Hall Nominations & Staff Parish Chairs: Jason Thornton & Kit Oase UMW, Church Council Chairs: Pat Kilpatrick/Frona Winter, Bev Casby Area(s) of Responsibility Altar area and Stage Vestry: Clean shelves, sink and counters Dust and general organizing Side Ramps & Aisles Clean windows, dust rails, general organizing Screen: Clean windows, dust (both sides), Curtains Narthex: Clean windows; wipe down cabinets baptistery, pew, old organ, book display Outside Entrance areas to Sanctuary Clean windows, dust Area(s) of Responsibility Choir Room: General organizing and cleaning Food Pantry: General organizing and cleaning Area(s) of Responsibility Fellowship Hall: General organizing of Hall Entryway by glass doors & Library Dust, wipe down Fireside Room: Dust, general organizing wipe down

6

7 P R A Y E R V I G I L The sanctuary will be open on Friday, March 30th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for those wishing to participate in the Good Friday Prayer Vigil. Please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board across from the Kitchen and sign up for a 30-minute prayer time slot. If you are unable to come to the church to pray, you can pray from home.

8

9 Scholarship Applications Available and St. Paul s UMC Church Office APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 7, 2018 Ukulele Class Reminder There is no Ukulele Class on March 14th or March 21st. We will resume class on Wednesday, March 28th in the Choir Room.

10 WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Respectfully submitted by David Bland The Meaning of Palm Sunday Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The gospels record the arrival of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street and shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to honor him as their long-awaited Messiah and King. The significance of Jesus riding a donkey and having his way paved with palm branches is a fulfillment of a prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). In biblical times, the regional custom called for kings and nobles arriving in procession to ride on the back of a donkey. The donkey was a symbol of peace; those who rode upon them proclaimed peaceful intentions. The laying of palm branches indicated that the king or dignitary was arriving in victory or triumph. The History of Palm Sunday The celebration of Palm Sunday originated in the Jerusalem Church, around the late fourth century. The early Palm Sunday ceremony consisted of prayers, hymns, and sermons recited by the clergy while the people walked to various holy sites throughout the city. By the fifth century, the Palm Sunday celebration had spread as far as Constantinople. Changes made in the sixth and seventh centuries resulted in two new Palm Sunday traditions - the ritual blessing of the palms, and a morning procession instead of an evening one. Adopted by the Western Church in the eighth century, the celebration received the name "Dominica in Palmis," or "Palm Sunday". Palm Sunday in Modern Times Today, Palm Sunday traditions are much the same as they have been since the tenth century. The ceremony begins with the blessing of the palms. The procession follows. In the simplest of terms, Palm Sunday is an occasion for reflecting on the final week of Jesus' life. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection. Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Good Friday and the Easter weekend. The date isn t just called Maundy Thursday it is also known as Holy Thursday and marks the official beginning of Easter. It s the name of the day that Jesus held the Last Supper with his apostles in Jerusalem. The Last Supper is important to Christians because it is the last meal of Passover that Jesus shared with his disciples before he was crucified (Good Friday) and then came back from the dead (Easter Sunday). The meal also provides a scriptural basis for Christians taking Holy Communion or Eucharist. Jesus is said to have offered up bread and wine as memories of his body and blood during The Last Supper, which is why the tradition has endured today. What does Maundy mean? Jesus (Picture: Getty) The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word mandatum. This means commandment. The date is called Maundy Thursday because during the Last Supper Jesus commanded to his disciples that they love and serve one another How do Christians celebrate Maundy Thursday? There are usually church services held on the evening of Maundy Thursday when oils are burned for sacraments and prayers are said. Christians will usually take Holy Communion eating the body and blood of Christ (bread and wine)- as instructed by Jesus during the Last Supper. This day also commemorates the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples