A monthly newsletter sharing the blessings, news and vision of Lockport Alliance Church

Transcription

1 March A monthly newsletter sharing the blessings, news and vision of Lockport Alliance Church Journey To The Cross It took Mel Gibson to get the point across. The actor/director s 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, graphically depicted the final twelve hours of Jesus life. It was a very realistic portrayal and earned a well-deserved R rating from the MPAA. I remember watching it in the theater, moved and transfixed. When the film was over, I didn t move from my seat for at least fifteen minutes. It was difficult to process the brutal violence of the beatings and the death that Jesus took for our sake. Crucifixion was a horrible way to die. And none of us can begin to comprehend what the experience of God-forsakenness felt like for Jesus as the punishment for our sins was placed on Him as the Father turned His faced away. And yet we call the day that Jesus died Good Friday. And Hebrews 12:2 tells us that it was for the joy set before Him [that] He endured the cross... And that joy is why we call the day Good Friday. Jesus paid the price for our sins on that cross. There would be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday; no resurrection without a crucifixion. We can be saved from our sins because of the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross. The Innocent One bore the punishment of the guilty. For Jesus, there was no escaping the cross. It was central to His mission to save the world. And, for sincere followers of His, we can t escape the way of the cross either. Luke 9:23-24 says, Then [Jesus] said to them all: Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Journey to the Cross is the name of our current sermon series during this six-week period leading up to Easter that s traditionally know as Lent, which comes from an Old English word referring to the lengthening of days associated with the coming of spring. We ll be dealing with that subject for the next several Sundays. And don t forget our special Good Friday service on March 7:00 PM as well. Let this season be one for you to turn to Jesus Christ with fresh gratitude and courage, and with renewed faith, to live the way that He calls you to live as you follow Him. The journey to the cross doesn t end there. It s a new beginning to a whole new way of life. Come join us and journey with us this season. Sunday morning worship starts at 10:30. Kevin R. Robbins

2 Haiti Trip Imagine with me a place that is among the poorest in the world. A place where many people live on about $1 every day. A place where about half of the children attend school, a quarter complete fifth grade, and less than five percent graduate high school. The average life span is 62 years. The unemployment rate is 40 percent and only half of the people can read. It sounds like a hard place. Why would anyone ever want to go there? The answer: hope. Haiti is a land a great struggle. Its people have faced seemingly insurmountable odds yet have proved resilient. LAC has sent a team of people three times and is planning on sending another team in August 18-25, New Security Procedures For the safety of all children attending LAC on Sunday mornings, we have implemented a new child check-in procedure. All children ages 0-5 will need to be checked into the computer system located at the Children's Ministry Corner, in the foyer to the left of the Guest Connection Center. If you have children of these ages, please start using the check-in system on these dates, and receive the appropriate labels for yourself and child(ren). Instructions for child check-in and help will be provided at the Children's Ministry Desk if needed. Please be patient with us as we work through any unforeseen problems. Also, we will be limiting the number of entry points into the building once programs and services have begun on Sunday morning. The doors at the carport will be locked at 9:30 AM and the doors at the North Entrance will be locked at 10:45 AM. (Exiting the building through those doorways will still be possible). Entrance into the building after those times will be through the South Entrance doors (main parking lot) only. We apologize for the inconvenience but we trust that you understand the importance of being prudent in today's environment We want to invite you along on the journey. The team will go on an adventure to take the hope of the gospel to people by meeting real life physical needs. We will continue our partnership with Servants in Fellowship to go and build small homes for families that have next to nothing. As former team members can attest to, this trip is life changing. The impact will have ripple effects all over your life. You ll see unbelievably big smiles on faces of new homeowners, you ll see your faith grown in big ways. Simply, you will be different because you went. Your going may even impact those in your family or friendship circle in ways that only God understands we ve seen that time and time again! Mark your calendars for up and coming children's events: May 6 May 9 May 27 June 3 Aug. 26 July 9-13 God has a funny way of using things that stretch us to grow us and make us more like himself. Why don t you come along on this journey with us? You won t regret it. For those interested, there will be an informational meeting after the service on March 4 th. Head up to the Fellowship Hall and get all the details. Bring your questions, your excitement, your reservations we re ready for them all! Children s Sunday Season Closing of AWANA Children s LIFE Hour Moving-up Day Children s Summer LIFE Hour (Large Group 1st-5th grades) Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 pm) (Volunteers are needed! Contact Michelle Gendrue for more information ) March 2018 Page 2

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4 GriefShare Each day, someone is dealing with loss - in our community, in our church family, someone very close to you or even YOU. It could be a recent loss or a loss from some time ago that is affecting daily life. Maybe you aren t sure how to deal with or move past those feelings. Or maybe you want to know how to help someone who is experiencing grief. Grief Share can help! GriefShare is a DVD video series that features top experts on grief recovery subjects and case studies of people who have been through the grief experience. It is also a place where people understand your hurts, emotions, and painful experiences! You ll learn practical information that will help you recover from the pain of grief and loss. The support group sessions include a time to talk about what you ve seen on the GriefShare videos and what is going on in your life. And while you have the opportunity to tell your story, there s never pressure for you to do so if you don t feel like it. The GriefShare program consists of 13 weekly sessions. We hope you will join us for the full program. However, as each session is self-contained you are welcome to begin attending the program at any point, or pick and choose those sessions that you find of particular interest or need. You will find encouragement and help whenever you attend. As Lockport Alliance will be running a new 13-week program each Fall and Spring, you are also welcome to continue attendance at the next scheduled event or join us for any sessions you may have missed or would like to revisit. For more information on the GriefShare program, or how this program can help you minister to someone dealing with loss, please contact Sharon Richardson at To better acquaint you with the program, here is a quick overview of the weekly session topics: Week One: Is This Normal? - Discover why your grief journey may be harder than you imagined Week Two: Challenges of Grief - Learn some of the common effects grief has on your mind, body, and spirit Week Three: The Journey of Grief (Part One) - Learn helpful goals to set on your grief journey Week Four: The Journey of Grief (Part Two) - Why it s important to put effort into your healing Week Five: Grief and Your Relationships - How the death of a loved one affects your friendships Week Six: Why? - What God has to say to you about your why questions Week Seven: Guilt and Anger - How to handle grief-related anger Week Eight: Complicating Factors - How your thinking affects your emotions The Passion of the Christ YAH invites everyone of all ages to view the powerful movie The Passion of The Christ, Wednesday, March 21st at 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall This graphic film focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus' life. Beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper. Betrayed by Judas, He is then arrested and taken within the walls of Jerusalem where the leaders confront Jesus and his trial results in condemnation to death by Week Nine: Stuck - Discover how to prevent getting stuck in grief Week Ten: Lessons of Grief (Part One) - Often-overlooked reasons why grief is so painful Week Eleven: Lessons of Grief (Part Two) - Who are you now that your loved one is gone Week Twelve: Heaven - Answers questions about heaven and the afterlife, such as what heaven is like Week Thirteen: What Do I Live for Now? - Learn why moving forward is a necessity The next session of GriefShare will begin Tuesday, March 6 and run weekly through May 29. Our group meets in the Conference Room in the Admin Building from 6:30 to 8:00pm. crucifixion. (Please note that this movie was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America for graphic depiction of Christ s suffering and death) Don t miss the opportunity to see this movie that shows the greatest gift of love that has ever been given. Sign up at the Young at Heart Ministry Station Light refreshments and beverages will be served. THE EASTER STORY March 2018

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6 March & April Birthdays Birthdays for the month of March. Mark Deleel 1 Hannah Shortridge 1 Helen Bil 3 Michael Sarhal 3 Steven Saraf 5 Isabella Zastrow 5 Jewel Myers 6 Scott Deluca 7 Dave Lewis 7 Taylor Ottaviano 7 Chris Brown 8 Ken Kirkman 8 Bryan Copperthite 9 Noah Colburn 10 Naomi Moore 10 Harry (Bud) Weist 12 Dale Means 13 Mandie Stahl 14 Carolyn Berner 15 Carol Forth 15 Eli Bancroft 17 Eva Hulse 17 Nina LaGreca 17 Alexa Bulmer 18 Chic Bigelow 26 Matthew Rheam 27 Christian Richards 27 Ethan Saraf 28 Christine Blowers 29 Walt Keller 30 Melissa Mayers 30 March & April Anniversaries Happy Anniversary for the month of : March... Charles & Eleanor Kephart 23 Ron & Debbi Handley 30 April. Vince & Marian Wik 4 Dick & Sally Conley 11 Don & Gale Blendowski 12 Dennis & Jewel Myers 18 April. Debra Bulmer 1 Julianne Bulmer 1 Billie Parker 1 Clarissa Blowers 2 Sally Conley 2 Audrey Roszman 4 Julie Costello 8 Ed Gawell 9 Mike Gendrue 9 Samantha Hughes 9 David McLaughlin 9 Charlotte Venesky 10 Brendan Gawell 12 Brooke LaGreca 12 Todd Richards 13 Robert Hensal 14 Cindy Walker 16 David Westcott 18 Carrisa Hallock 19 Angelo LaGreca 21 Jason Donner 22 Michael Donner 22 Phil Graczyk 22 Amelia Konstanty 22 Savannah Raetz 22 Katie Richards 22 Randall Shortridge, Jr. 23 Oliver Walling 23 Allie Morrow 27 Pat Petrie 27 Rebecca Zastrow 29 Bill & Sharon Richardson 25 Mark & Linda Deleel 29 Roger & Rhodesa Peace 29 February Events 1 Narcan Training 1 Zumba 4 Haiti Team Meeting (August Trip) 4 Comedy Sportz Night 5 Worship Committee Meeting 6 Tea Cup Matching 8 Victorian Tea 10 Pastries at Panera 11 Daylight Savings Time 13 YAH Bible Study 17 Lighthouse Café 20 Egg Stuffing 21 YAH The Passion Movie 25 YAH Lewiston Choraleers 25 Eggstravaganza 27 YAH Bible Study 28 Deadline for Haiti Trip 30 Good Friday Service Women s Ministry CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thursday, March 8, 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for an evening of treats, fun and surprises. Be sure to sign up at the Women s Ministry Station Saturday, March 10, 9:00am at Panera Bread - Pastries at Panera join us for a time of fellowship. Friday & Saturday, April in Auburn, NY. Spring Refresh District Women s Retreat. More information at the Women s Ministry Station. Save the date for the Spring Luncheon. Saturday, May5th. Stop by the Women s Ministry Station for more information and other events in which you can participate. If you have any questions about women s ministries, please call Marcia Keller March 2018 Page 6

7 Prayer Teams Prayer teams meet every Sunday during the worship service to pray for the worship service, the ministries of LAC and other needs. If you would like to be a part of this very important and rewarding ministry, call the church office, ( ). March Prayer teams: 4 Team 8 11 Team 9 18 Team 1 25 Team 2 Financial Update February 11, 2018 GREAT COMMISSION FUND 2018 Goal $ 60,000 Goal to Date $ 7,500 Received to Date $ 9,408 GENERAL FUND 2018 Goal $383,040 Goal to Date $ 44,197 Received to Date $ 41,677 Expenses to Date $ 34,996 Top Ten Prayer Requests Pray about LAC s Word of the Year for 2018: Faithful Strong start financially to regain solid financial footing after an encouraging financial upturn in the final quarter of Short-term missions team trip to Haiti January Good preparation and planning for sale of church-owned parsonage at 411 High Street. Wisdom and prudence needed for church safety task force establishing plans and procedures for LAC. Missions conference February 4-11 with Alan Eggleton (Russia CAC) and Ben Carey (Germany) and a stronger year of giving to the Great Commission Fund than in Wisdom for the elders in shaping vision, strategy and decisions for Children s ministries outreach: the winter months are often a peak time for AWANA on Wednesday nights; 10 th annual Egg- Stravaganza outreach TBA. Continued traction and impact through men s and women s ministry events. Outreach to our community and conversion growth (salvations) leading up to Easter weekend March 30 April 1. Attention Ministry Leaders Please be sure to check your box. New items are added each week. Ministry Leaders have mailboxes located in the foyer. If you have any correspondence for ministry leaders you are encouraged to leave it in their mailboxes. Ministry Positions 2018 Elders Mike Gendrue Dave McLaughlin Ken Moore, Sr. *Todd Richards (Chairman) NYS Trustees Todd Richards Alex Banks Kevin Robbins Deacons * Ken Moore, Jr. (Chairman) Ray Kline, Sr. Bob Davidson Steve Saraf *Ministry Board Secretary Paula Bigelow *Treasurer/Missions Treasurer Denise Walker *Assistant Treasurer Cyndi Barker * Deaconess/Women s Representative Vickie Kutnyak * Youth Ministry Representative Alex Banks Facilities Team *Walt Keller (Chairman) Chic Bigelow Craig Blowers Paul Buri Peter Mayers Joe Mullen Mike Revekant Josh Smith Jason Walling *Min. Board Members at Large Kim Davidson Chris Brown *Children s Coordinator Michelle Gendrue Great Commission Women President Marcia Keller Deaconesses Nora Bruning (Chairperson) Julie Costello Beth Hensal Darcee Hughes Debbie Kirkman 2018 Nominating Committee Becky Banks Cindi McLaughlin Sally Moore Arlene Sluyter * Serves on the Ministry Board March 2018 Page 7