Montgomery United Methodist Church The Weekly Reminder 3 April 2011

Transcription

1 Montgomery United Methodist Church The Weekly Reminder 3 April 2011 The scripture readings today are 1 Samuel 16:1 13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8 14; John 9. The flowers on the altar this morning are in honor of Stryker Schultz s 13 th birthday from Laura Bell, Bob Schultz, and Kolbe Schultz. Happy birthday Stryker! Evensong Services the First Saturday of Every Month at Five PM A gentle reminder that Evensong Services are held the first Saturday of every month. For those of you reading The Weekly Reminder before Sunday, there will be an Evensong service on Saturday, 2 April at five o clock. This is intended to be an hour long spiritual retreat, a time to meditate, relax, and be refreshed by your connection with God. Everyone is warmly welcome. A Message from Rev. Marion This Sunday will be our first class for First Holy Communion with Understanding during the Sunday school time. Rev. Marion will be standing by the door of the sanctuary after Pastor Tony s message to collect any children who will be involved in this program. The classes will also continue the next two Sundays, with the celebration of First Holy Communion with Understanding on Mother s Day, Sunday, May 8 th. Has the Easter Bunny visited you? That is, do you have plastic eggs at home that can be used for our MUMC traditional Easter egg hunt after church? If you have them and bring them, you will be recycling as well as helping the MUMC ministry for children. Please bring them in anytime up to Palm Sunday. Thanks! Vacation Bible School This yearʹs Vacation Bible School, Son Harvest County Fair, will be July 18th 22nd from 9 AM 12 Noon. Registration forms for campers and volunteers are now available on our VBS website Volunteers Weʹll be having our first organizational meeting on Wednesday, April 6 th, at 7:30 PM. If youʹd like to help out with Vacation Bible School but are unable to attend, please Sue Mayer at suemayer@alumni.rutgers.edu or call her at

2 Palm Sunday, ʺSermon In Songʺ Please plan to join us for our annual ʺSermon In Songʺ on Palm Sunday, April 17th. The Chancel Choir will present the story of Holy Week in music. Holy Thursday Good Friday Prayer Vigil (21 April 22 April) The week between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday is known in the Christian calendar as ʺHoly Weekʺ the most sacred time in the Christian year. Weʹd like to add to the spiritual depth of our celebration of that time by adding a silent ʺPrayer Vigilʺ between Holy Thursday and Good Friday. You may sign up for a half hour or an hour slot (or more or less, as your schedule permits). We will need Prayer Volunteers (who sign up to come in and pray), and Security Greeters (those who watch over the church door while the Prayer Volunteers are in the sanctuary). Our Sanctuary will be candlelit, quiet, prayerful music will play, and an atmosphere of reverent devotion will enhance your prayer time. The Prayer Vigil schedule is as follows: Holy Thursday, starting after the 7:30 PM service; half hour slots until midnight. (Any number of people can sign up; we hope to have a continuous chain of prayer volunteers). Good Friday, starting at 6 in the morning until 12:00 noon. The Good Friday service begins at 12:15 PM. Bell Choir The Bell Choir is looking for new members to ring the bells for the Easter Celebration. We practice on Tuesday nights from 7 to 8 PM. We would encourage anyone to come and join us. It is enjoyable and no music knowledge is necessary. If there are some young people in the church, we invite them to come also. Please call Carol at Easter Flowers It is a tradition at MUMC to decorate the sanctuary with beautiful spring flowers for Easter. Please see the order form offered at the end of today s Weekly Reminder, and thank you for adding to the celebration of the day. United Methodist Women s Rummage Sale to be Held May 6 and 7 It s that time of year! What a wonderful opportunity to clean out the clutter! There will be more information as the time draws closer. You are asked to drop off your donations not before Sunday afternoon, 1 May, through Wedneday, 4 May. Please see Joan Musante or Arlene Bougher with questions.

3 Love and Prayers The love and prayers of his friends are with Pastor Tony and his family following the passing of his dear Uncle Jules last Sunday. Please keep former pastor of MUMC Rev. Galen Goodwin and his family in your prayers following the passing of their father, Robert B. Goodwin, on Wednesday. Messages of condolence may be sent to the Goodwin family, in care of Rev. Galen Goodwin, 520 Westmoreland Avenue, Lansing, MI A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 30, at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield. Happy Birthday! Joyful birthday wishes to the following people celebrating birthdays in April. If you would like to be on our birthday list, please send an to mumcinfo at aol.com. April 1 Scott Cummings 2 Elizabeth Callan 5 Pat Stern 8 Hannah Strong 9 Martha Cummings 12 Alexandra Ruddock 13 Amy Laing 14 John DeHeus 14 Linda Librizzi 17 Bill Potter 22 Joy Benito 26 Alexander Duncan 27 Max Borghard 30 Eric Vogt Calendar of Meetings and Events in the Sanctuary or Sunday School Classrooms *Women s Bible Study takes place first and third Wed. of the month at the home of Alba Lucia.* Friday, April 1 First Friday Bible Study with Rev. Dave at Noon Friday, April 1 Pack 185 First Friday Scout Leaders Meeting Saturday, April 2 Evensong at 5 PM Tuesday, April 5 Troop 625 Wednesday, April 6 Vacation Bible School Volunteers Meeting at 7:30 PM Sunday, April 10 Deadline for ordering Easter flowers Tuesday, April 12 Troop 625 Tuesday, April 12 Administrative Council Meeting at 7:15 PM

4 Sunday, April 17 Palm Sunday Sermon in Song by the Chancel Choir Baptism Tuesday, April 19 Den #7 Thursday, April 21 Holy Thursday Service 7:30 PM followed by Prayer Vigil thru Midnight Friday, April 22 Silent Prayer Vigil from 6 AM until Noon Good Friday Service at 12:15 PM Sunday, April 24 Easter Sunday! Tuesday, April 26 Den #7 Sunday, May 1 Rummage Sale Set up Noon until Thursday, May 5 Tuesday, May 3 Troop 625 Friday, May 6 First Friday Bible Study with Rev. Dave Friday, May 6 Rummage Sale Saturday, May 7 Rummage Sale Saturday, May 7 Evensong Sunday, May 8 Mother s Day and First Holy Communion with Understanding Tuesday, May 10 Den #7 Friday, May 13 Pack 185 First Friday Leaders Meeting Tuesday, May 17 Troop 625 Tuesday, May 24 Den #7 Friday, June 3 First Friday Bible Study with Rev. Dave Friday, June 3 Pack 185 First Friday Scout Leaders Meeting Saturday, June 4 Evensong Tuesday, June 7 Den #7 Tuesday, June 7 Elections held in Sunday school classrooms Wednesday, June 8 Blood Drive Tuesday, June 14 Den #7 Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22 Vacation Bible School March 15, 2011 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am forwarding a letter sent by the President of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. Let us continue to pray for the victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and

5 the consequences of damage to the nuclear plants in that same area. Also, while there was not extensive flood damage in the State of New Jersey please remember the communities where flooding did occur. In Christ's love, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar Dear sisters and brothers, As you know, a series of tragic events has unfolded over the past few days in Japan. The massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on March 11 and the accompanying tsunami resulted in the death of at least 2,800 people and possibly more than 10,000. Damage to the country's nuclear power plants jeopardizes the safety of hundreds of thousands more. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the disaster the worst crisis Japan has faced in 65 years. In times of immense loss and grief, we are reminded once again that God's grace is sufficient. While it does not offer us immunity from tragedy, it sustains us with healing and hope. At such times, the church is called to be a healing presence among those facing heartbreaking circumstances. I am confident that the people of The United Methodist Church will respond to the call with prayers and generous support for the victims of this catastrophe. I ask that you join with me in prayer for the deceased and their families; the injured; the search and rescue workers; the survivors who are without water, food or heat; those who have been evacuated from their homes as the nuclear threat worsens; and all who have been affected. When disaster strikes, we are especially grateful for the valuable ministry that the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides with the help and support of United Methodists and others. I hope that all United Methodist churches will consider taking a special offering designated for Pacific Emergency, UMCOR Advance # , to provide financial resources to respond to the needs resulting from the disaster. Working with its partners, the United Church of Christ in Japan, the Korean Christian Church, Church World Service, Global Medic, the National Christian Council, and the Asian Rural Institute, UMCOR is currently focused on working to assess the damage to determine how best to provide assistance and will then respond accordingly. May we join together in opening our hearts to those suffering in the midst of devastation. Yours in Christ, Larry M. Goodpaster, President

6 Easter Flowers In keeping with tradition, we will be ordering spring flowers to adorn the sanctuary at Easter. This is a beautiful way to honor a loved one. The flowers are yours to take home following the 10:30 service of worship on Easter morning. Please complete the form and place it with your check in the offering plate or send it to the church office. Ordering deadline is next Sunday, April 10 th. Please circle either honor or memory of the person whom you are remembering. 8 In honor of/memory of 8 Easter In honor of/memory of 8 In honor of/memory of My name is I can be contacted at (phone) (E mail) Thank you, and God bless you and your loved ones always.