March Pastor K.C. Lazzara

Transcription

1 St. Paul United Church of Christ Mound Road Warren MI / Worship Service & Sunday School Sunday, 10 am Office Hours: M-Th, 9am-1pm Rev Dr. K.C. Lazzara, Pastor The Good News March 2018 Pastor K.C. Lazzara The season of Lent is here, and we have only four weeks until Easter! How are you doing with the question, Who do you say I am? (Mark 8:29; Matthew 16:15; Luke 9:20). This query from Jesus is so important that three Gospel writers included this critical dialogue with his disciples. What better season than Lent is there to intentionally examine our faith, in attempt to answer Jesus. In the Gospel of John when Jesus asked the twelve disciples, Are you also going to leave? Simon Peter replied, Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. (John 6:67-68). Have you discovered that Jesus alone has the words that give eternal life? Have you ever considered abandoning Jesus and realized there s no one else who can deliver you? Maybe you have another perspective of Jesus, based on your own journey of faith and life of worship. I would love to hear it! I m sure many others would too. During Lent, pushing against the boundaries of our faith and finding our way through the wilderness is on the agenda each Sunday. Giving each other a compass and a beacon ensures that we never walk alone. I pray that you are diligent in your spiritual practice. I pray that you have decided to engage in some new means to nurture your faith. Remember, what you feed grows; keep a slow and steady course and you ll surely reap what you sow. Let s be still together (Psalm 46:10), entrusting one another in prayer. God bless your journey to the cross this Easter. We would like to begin a Bible Study. In order to determine a time and day, your input is needed. A short survey can be found on the countertop. If you are interested in attending, please fill it out and return it to the office by Sunday, March 11.

2 Page 2 On February 13, we held our monthly consistory meeting. In addition to myself, the current consistory members are Steve and Gail Popyk, Barbara McAdam, Barbara Stephens, Erich Regier, Gary Miller, Shirene Cece- Clements and Rev. K.C. Lazzara. Our new cleaning service began on Thursday, February 15 th and will be cleaning twice a month. Our regular cleaning crew will continue to do some cleaning in between, as well as special projects. The new flat roof is in place. There was a slight leak over the stairwell to the lower level but the company came out right away and repaired the seam through which the water was leaking. The electrical repairs have been completed. Marge Murrell Consistory President s Report Rev. Lazzara will begin Bible study classes after and will be visiting our shut-ins more often. He will also begin meeting with the newly formed Pastoral Care Committee. He and Maria are also working on new welcoming packets and wedding and funeral brochures. Our rummage sale is coming up (see article) and we need volunteers to sort the rummage and help on the day of the sale. We will hold a congregational meeting on Sunday, March 4 th, right after church, to vote on the acceptance of the new Constitution. Copies are still on the blacktop. If you have any issues that you would like consistory to work on, please contact me or any member, and we will do our best to resolve the matter. Sunday, March 11

3 Spring Rummage, Soup & Bake Sale and Prime Room Saturday, March 17, 2018 Mother Nature surely has let out all her fury at the beginning of the new year and has continued to give us a beautiful white snowy winter. But, the good news is Spring is right around the corner and I m sure Mother Nature will take care of that beauty too. Of course, Spring always brings us the Rummage, Soup & Bake Sale! And, we know, you all are looking forward to it! The preparation schedule is: Sunday, March 4 After church service Set up tables/racks in large dining room Monday, March 5 9:00 am Sorting thru Fri, March 9 Saturday, March 10 9:00 am Chain Gang Monday, March 12 9:00 am Sorting Tuesday, March 13 9:00 am Sorting Wednesday, March 14 9:00 am Sorting and soup making Thursday, March 15 6:00 pm Prepare the bread for baking Friday, March 16 8:30 am Bread baking Saturday, March 17 Arrive early to prepare for early bird sale BIG SALE 8:00 am-9:00 am $1 admission 9:00 am-2:00 pm Free admission 2:00 pm-3:00 pm Fill a grocery paper bag for $3 Sunday, March 18 After church service Take down tables/racks Please keep this schedule in a handy spot where it will remind you of the much needed help we need for the Sale! At the end of the sale, we will need your help, once again, to pack up all the leftovers pack time is 3:00 pm. Come Early! Trinity St. Mark s will appreciate them. Don t forget to make your most delicious desserts for the Bake Sale! P.S. We no longer take large furniture. It does not sell. Sorry. Page 3 Betty Wolgast & Sue Regier

4 Page 4 As reported at the annual meeting, the City of Warren has agreed, in principle, to assume title to the Warren Union Cemetery. Currently, the legal groundwork for this transfer is being worked on by our attorney, Lucy Benham, and an attorney for the City in preparation for submission to the appropriate court for the next step in this process. We will keep you advised of progress in this process. Gail Popyk March 11, 2018 If you give a farmer a seed. Your gift helps provide and offer nourishment and income to those less fortunate. Wed, March 7 4:30-6:30pm Erv & Sue Regier March 8

5 Dear St. Paul UCC, Page 5 Brandon Ebel "Dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8 I remember hearing this scripture some time ago and I did not think it was worded exactly like this. Keep in mind that I do not have any sort of search engine to find scriptures with a click, so after a weak attempt to find it, I just gave up and assumed when I heard it that it was being paraphrased. Then a brother here brought it up and we searched in a concordance and quickly found it. Not exactly a click, but just a few turns of some pages. Anyway, I bring this up for a couple of reasons. First off, Simon Peter's words seem to just put time in God's perspective. Our concept of time is probably much different than God's. Even the scale of one day equating to a thousand years is just a way for us to try and rationalize what time realm God operates in. The word from this scripture that tells us that is 'like.' A day is like a thousand years. And I never want to seem as if I'm making a factual statement when discussing scripture, because one day could literally mean a thousand years in a spiritual sense. Regardless, there is a distinction of how we perceive time and how God does as well. He has created it! For a prisoner with an out date, time is all that stands in the way for freedom. There's one more thing that really blew me back when I was conversing about this scripture. So in our time, Jesus was crucified a little over 2,000 years ago. Now using the scale of God's perspective of time, that was only two days ago! My go to passage when something seems hard for me to comprehend is in Isaiah where it talks about God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. That's enough of an explanation for me. What I'm getting at is to God, Jesus is so very relevant. His teaching, His purpose, and the way He came to seek and save that which was lost. But to our society, it was literally 2,000 years ago. And there are many that live as if the only hope was that long ago. Living His message today and spreading love is such a beautiful lifestyle and being only in the second day of His death, we know His resurrection is to follow. Let's continue to share this good news of hope. God bless you all. If you would like to write to Brandon or send him a card, his address is: Brandon Ebel #752523, Thumb Correctional Facility, 3225 John Conley Drive, Lapeer, MI Herman Wolgast 15 Erv Regier 26 Kelly Stephens

6 Page 6 Barbara Stephens Have you ever seen a whole field of Easter lilies? It is a really beautiful sight! Have you ever smelled the sweet fragrance of an Easter lily? Their white blossoms can fill the room with a heavy, intoxicating perfume. Churches at Easter are full of them. But sadly, the lilies alight in homes in a pot. As we enjoy our Easter lilies this year, let us remember that the lily represents Easter to us for a good reason: in itself, the lily tells the story of Easter. The pot filled with earth stands for this earthly life, into which Jesus came and took on human form. The bulb is buried in the earth as Jesus was after His death buried in that tomb. The bulb finally splits to allow the new growth, just as the tomb was split open that Easter morning. This also speaks to us of the splitting of our pride, allowing Jesus in. Now, look at the growth: so straight, so tall. Jesus' resurrected body causes us to look upward, "See my hands and my feet," he said (Luke 24:39). Hosea reminded the Israelites, lost in a strange land, that they will blossom again like a lily. So we, as followers of Jesus today, also send down our roots with faith that in Him we also will blossom in due time. The flower is beautiful. But are we also beautiful, pure, and lovely? Do our lives reflect Jesus' purity? How do we attract others, introducing them to Jesus? Do human "bees" gain from us the pollen of a righteous life? Do our daily lives reflect the kind of life that the spirit of the risen Christ would develop in us? As our friends and neighbors pick their lily and set it in a special corner in the living room, will they see the risen Christ through our friendship? How do we reflect His splendor? The lily is a majestic flower, pointing to an amazing event Jesus' resurrection. Fed by that marvelous resurrection power, may we too stand tall and proclaim that Jesus is alive and living in us. O, what a beautiful morning! The PresbyCan Daily Devotional Mable Adamson Evangelical Homes Shoreline Dr Sterling Hts MI Phyllis Grant Tawas Ct Madison Heights MI Esther Hornyak St. Anne s Mead W 12 Mile Rd Southfield MI Virginia Park Sunrise of Troy 6870 Crooks Rd, #125A Troy MI Anne Pyciak Cherrywood Nursing Ctr Ketsin Dr, S306-2 Sterling Hts MI Mae St Clair Hayes, #108 Clinton Twp MI Wally Paczkowski Garfield, Apt 115 Clinton Twp MI 48035

7 Page 7 SPRING FUNDRAISING DINNER Friday, April 20, :30-7:00 PM Menu Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, St. Paul s Famous Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter, Cake, and Beverages Carry Out Available Tickets Adults - $10 Children under 10 - $5 To make reservations, please call the church office at 586/ by Monday, April 16. You may either send money in advance or purchase your reserved tickets when you arrive. Tickets will also be sold at the door. HOLY WEEK SERVICES PALM SUNDAY 10 am MAUNDY THURSDAY 7 pm EASTER SUNDAY 10 am

8 Page 8 Gail Popyk St. Paul is renewing its advertisement in the Pride Source Magazine and Directory, an on-line and hard copy resource for the LGBTQ community. This directory includes listings for a number of local ONA churches and reaches individuals throughout Southeast Michigan and the rest of the state, raising St. Paul s profile as a welcoming ONA church. If you wish to see our listing, go to and check out St. Paul. UCC Women of Michigan invite you to join them at THE GATHERING Worth of a Woman June 8, 9, Kettunen Center, Tustin, MI The Gathering is a weekend of retreat, renewal, relaxation and recharging. It is a time to greet old friends and make new ones. Friday evening entertainment & vespers. Saturday stay busy or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Sunday Sunday school class and a worship service. For more information, please see Pearl Carr. Gail Popyk On Tuesday, January 23, Women s Fellowship held an overall business meeting and approved its budget for Expenditures of note include: $250 for the Detroit Metropolitan Association Challenge $1,525 in line items for such costs as Sunday School supplies, kitchen supplies, bequests, Christmas decorations and miscellaneous expenses $1,000 to St. Paul to offset the cost of the new cleaning service $4,500 toward the general operating costs of St. Paul $2,100 for eight mission-based activities, such as the Toy Box and the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi (see a future newsletter article for a complete list of Women s Fellowship mission activities) This comes to a total budget for Women s Fellowship of $9,375, which must be raised through its two rummage sales and its December raffle. Our first rummage sale is coming fast March 17, so please bring in those gently used items. We can use all we can get. If you can help out, and we need the help, please contact Betty Wolgast or Diane Schuster. As you can see, we have an ambitious goal for fund raising and we need to get going on it!