In This Issue. March Dear WCC Family,

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1 March Pioneer Drive, Woodbury, MN woodburycommunitychurch.com Dear WCC Family, Sunday Service: 9:00 & 10:30 am Nursery care available Communion is the first Sunday of each month WCC Staff: Brian Schulenburg, Senior Pastor Darrin Geier, Youth Pastor Jason Nygren, Worship Director Liz Nelson, Children s Ministry Dir. enelson@woodburycommunitychurch.com Linda O Keefe, Office Manager The month of March at Woodbury Community Church is going to be extra special. This year, Easter Sunday comes a little earlier than normal. On Sunday, March 27, we will join Christians all over the world in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no more important day on the Christian calendar than Easter. Without Easter, our faith would be in vain. This year s Easter celebration will include wonderful music and a look at the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is an incredible picture of the message of the Gospel. Last year, we had our first Easter Sunday egg bake in between the services. It was a hit, and we re bringing it back again this year. Each family is asked to bring an egg bake to share. We ll have pastries, juice, and coffee provided. lokeefe@woodburycommunitychurch.com Be praying about who you might invite to join you for Easter Sunday services. In This Issue March Prayer Guide 2 CCEFS March Campaign 3 Upcoming Events 4,5 Kidz News 6 Student Life Ministry 7 March Calendar 8 woodburycchurch Make sure you put Thursday, March 24th on your calendars as well. This year s Maundy Thursday service is at 7 PM. We ll have a special time of music, communion, and a time for people to share testimonies about what Jesus has done in your life. I m looking forward to all that God is going to do this month. In Him, Pastor Brian

2 Woodbury Community Church Page 2 Woodbury Community Church March Prayer Guide During March, we are going to explore the Prayer of Examen. The goal of this prayer is to help you notice God in all of life. It is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. The steps and some scripture references to guide you through the steps are included below. I encourage you to practice the Prayer of Examen in your personal prayer life daily during the month of March. As you pray through this method daily, share your prayers, answers to prayer and unanswered prayers with those people in your life that continue to support you on your spiritual journey such as small groups, friends and families. Also, this will help unify the prayer life of Woodbury Community Church as well. Silence and Gratitude Become aware of God s presence for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; (Acts 17:28) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, (Jas. 1:17) Search Ask God to reveal things in your heart that you know are harmful to yourself or others, knowing that there is no condemnation in God s love. Search me, O God, and know my heart! (Ps. 139:23) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1) Review & Awareness Ask: Where have the interactions and circumstances of my life been taking me? Away from God, to God? How did I respond to God? What challenged me? When did I say yes to God? Resisted God? Talk with Jesus Honestly converse about what you notice. Attend to these things in prayer: ask for forgiveness, counsel, guidance, give thanks, know that you are loved, accepted and forgiven in Christ. Abiding Acknowledge your need of God s abiding presence to live a God honoring life. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5) Internalize an ever deepening of God s love for you. Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:17-19) Notice God s faithfulness: for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) Praise the gift of God s power within you. according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:16) Close Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matt. 6:9-15)

3 Woodbury Community Church Page 3 A Different Kind of Food Fight! The 2016 Minnesota FoodShare Campaign is all about fighting back. We have the opportunity to make a difference in our community and in our state as we fight back against hunger. Food insecurity in our community is unfortunately a family affair, said Greig Metzger, CCEFS executive director. Nearly 40 percent of the 22,000 individuals we serve each year are children. As we considered what type of event we should have to raise funds and awareness, we thought what better approach then to engage with families to help support other families in need. And the great thing about doing this in March is that every dollar raised will be matched on a pro-rata basis by Minnesota FoodShare. All year, WCC collects for Christian Cupboard as part of Compassion Ministries. During March, we have the chance to fight back as every donation of food and cash given to Christian Cupboard is proportionally matched by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. While food donations are always appreciated, every dollar donated can be used to purchase up to 10 times that amount in food. The Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf (CCEFS) is a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation that has been serving the communities of Woodbury, Oakdale, Landfall and south Maplewood since In 2015, CCEFS served nearly 6,900 households across its various programs where 560,000 pounds of food and personal care items were distributed to families in need. In January 2016, CCEFS supported 462 households with over 45,000 pounds of food, produce and personal care items. Please prayerfully consider donating to the Christian Cupboard in March. All food donations can be placed in the big basket in the lobby. All monetary donations can be placed in the offering plate. Be sure to indicate it s for CCEFS. For more information, contact Alisa Bell, arbell13@gmail.com. As part of its annual March campaign for Minnesota FoodShare month, the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf (CCEFS) will be launching the inaugural Chili Hubbub on March 13, Hosted outside at Guardian Angels Catholic Church from 12 noon until 4 pm, the Chili Hubbub will bring together east metro area restaurants to strut their stuff to determine the favorite chili around. Up to a dozen competitors are anticipated with each vendor choosing a chili execution that best represents their restaurant s strengths. This tasting competition will be a family-friendly event with games and activities for children along with local, musicians performing. Tickets are $10 per person, with children aged 12 and under eating for free. All proceeds will benefit CCEFS with each dollar donated being matched on a pro-rata basis by Minnesota FoodShare. events/ /

4 Woodbury Community Church Page 4 MEN S GATHERING 7 pm at WCC ~ Food Provided! All men, young or seasoned, high school age & up are invited. Our final meeting for this series is Friday, March 4 th For more information or questions, contact: Brian Tapperson at btapperson@gmail.com Road Map to Beginning English: Basic strategies to help refugees learn and practice their English Please join us on Tuesday, March 15th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Bethany Baptist Church 2025 Skillman Avenue West Roseville, MN Dinner will be provided Questions? Scott Pearcy at scottpearcy18@gmail.com

5 Woodbury Community Church Page 5 Save the Date: Kozefo 5k! 5th Annual Kozefo 5K: August 13, 2016 GRAB A FRIEND. CHANGE A LIFE. Join us for the 5th annual Kozefò 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, August 13th this year to raise funds to support A New Arrival Primary school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. With each step you take, you will be making a donation that will directly impact the education of 90+ students at A New Arrival in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Check out our website, for details, registration and to learn more about Kozefò! We can't wait to see you there!

6 Woodbury Community Church Page 6 Day Throughout the month of March, worship director, Jason, is going to lead music with the kids. On Easter Sunday, kids will be leading the congregation in worship. Singing at both 9am and 10:30am services. with Gloria Saturday, April 23 1pm at WCC Cost: $10 Sign up on the church website woodburycommunitychurch.com Family devotion time is a great way to show your kids the importance of studying God s Word and what it means to seek Him daily. Don t think you have enough time in your day while working, cleaning the house and chauffeuring kids to their activities? Why not do it during dinnertime! Check out Family Mealtime Devotionals on focusonthefamily.com. These 52 devos are great for once a week, every night, or anything in between! Have fun!

7 Woodbury Community Church Page 7 Monthly Newsletter March 2016 Trip Dates: Aug 1-4 Trip Info Available & Registration Opens: March 1 NEW March Events: High School Girls Dating Q&A - Wed, March 9; Melissa Tapperson s 11th & 12th grade Pizza and Movie Night - Fri, March 11th; Brandon and Meghan Lerch s Spring Break Breakfast (All Students) - Fri, March 25th; Darrin and Ali Geier s CONNECT...GO DEEPER Don t forget, our student small groups continue through May, meeting every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Small groups present a perfect opportunity to grow closer to your peers, ask questions about life and discover how God fits in it all. There s a group for middle school girls, middle school guys, high school girls, and high school guys. Contact Darrin for more details. For more info, visit: Contact Darrin at: dgeier@woodburycommunitychurch.com

8 Woodbury Community Church Page 8 Sun Mon Tue W ed Thu Fri Sat :30 School of Disc :00 Men s Bible Study at WCC 9:00 Soccer Shots 3:30 Girl Scouts 6:30 Women s Small WCC-B 6:30 Student Life Small Groups 6:30 NAMI Support Grp 7:00 Men s Gathering 6 9:00 Service*, ABF, Student Life Classes 10:30 Service*, ABF, Faith Zone 7 8:30 Moms in Prayer 10:00 NorthstarPastors :00 Men s Bible Study at WCC 7:00 Student Life ROCK 6:15 Girl Scouts 7:00 Romans Study 6:30 Missions Meeting 8:30 SEMS Mtg. 7:30 HighSchool Girls at Tapperson s 6:00 Board of Elders 6:00 11 & 12 graders at Lerch s home SPRING AHEAD 13 9:00 Service, ABF, Student Life Classes 10:30 Service, ABF, Faith Zone :30 School of Disc. 9:30 Moms Club :00 Men s Bible Study at WCC 7:00 Student Life ROCK 7:00 Romans Study 6:30 Women s Small WCC-B 6:30 Student Life Small Groups 6:30 NAMI Support Grp 20 9:00 Service, ABF, Student Life Classes 10:30 Service, ABF, Faith Zone :00 Student Life Spring Break Breakfast at Geier s home :00 Men s Bible Study at WCC 7:00 Student Life ROCK 6:15 Girl Scouts 7:00 Romans Study 7:00 Service* 9:00 Service 10:30 Service :00 Romans Study * Communion woodburycommunitychurch.com