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1 * * L e t t e r f r o m t h e P a s t o r * * Dear Friends, Happy May! The flowers are blooming. The birds have returned. And Jesus Christ has risen from his grave. We had a wonderful time of Lenten and Easter activites here at church and together with our friends from the United Methodist Church. We were blessed with a number of visitors who were in town for special celebrations or family time and who came to join in our services and festivities. I am pleased to report that our secretary, Minnie Martinez, is back at home after her time in the rehab hospital and is making progress toward recovery. I m certain she would appreciate a note or card from you if you are so inclined. Her address is 209 E. Smith St. Brazoria, In the seven weeks that follow Easter the church remembers and celebrates the post resurrection encounters with Jesus and his followers. Prior to his crucifiction Jesus had tried to explain to them that he must suffer and die and that he would be restored to life again after three days. But they did not understand. However, after they had encountered the risen Lord they came to believe, and they never again lived in fear of the consequences of telling others about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In addition to the post resurrection encounters, we will turn to the Gospel of John to review some of the sayings attributed to Jesus by the Gospel writer that point to who Jesus is and how his mission was ordained by God. We also will learn of his promise of the arrival of the Holy Spirit that would come after he was gone from their midst. On the seventh Sunday after Easter, we will hear Jesus prayer for his disciples just before he was led away to be executed. Thirty-nine days after Easter (not counting weekends) we celebrate the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. After that, the Holy Spirit soon comes like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. This celebration is called Pentecost and will be June 4 this year. What we celebrate and read about before Easter, at Easter and following Easter is repeated each year in our church lectionary. We can sometimes think, Oh, I ve heard all that before. And indeed we may have. But the Gospel is meant to read into the

2 context of our lives, not just as an historical record of events from long ago. It will serve us well to ask, Where have I encountered Jesus? and What part of my faith needs strengthened so that I may be empowered to be a faithful witness to Jesus in what I do and what I say? We will be amazed at the answers. Blessings for your journey, Pastor Wilma Harris **Thanks** Praise the Lord. O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2 - Thank you God for every blessing. WORK DAY- April 1, A special THANK YOU to Bill Clarke and the Boy Scouts for power washing and window washing. Thank you to each of you who who pitched in to help make our church beautiful for our church family and visitors and our community. EASTER PICNIC [PALM SUNDAY] - WOW!!! Attendance in worship 50+. Each day is a gift from God - each of YOU are a blessing. Thank you to DeAnna Reistino for providing the palm branches. A special thank You to Lynn Slater and Nancy McLaren for calling each member, preparing a wonderful menu. Thank you to Biff and Andy Slater for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers and to Dale and Katherine Davis and Bill Clarke frying catfish, hushpuppies and fries. Thank you to everyone who brought sides, helped serve or cleaned up. Thanks everyone for coming to this event and making it a success. The children enjoyed an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt for prizes. EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE - BREAKFAST: Special thanks to Nadine Womack and John Indian for their music. Thank you to Biff and Lynn Slater, Pat Harris, and Richard McLaren for a wonderful breakfast. Thank you to all who helped with clean up. It is so appreciated when we have help with tables, chairs and décor to create beautiful memories. To all the church leaders ushers, acolytes, Sunday School teachers, Session and committee members, youth leaders, choir members and musicians, food pantry workers, cooks and bottle washers, our janitor, our lay reader, treasurer and everyone who works hard to make this a wonderful fellowship of Christians. God is Good!! **Worship** We meet in the Sanctuary each Sunday at 10:30am for our service of worship. The Lord s Supper will be celebrated on May 7. It is typically celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. **Christian Education** Sunday School Children, Adult I and Adult II classes meet at 9:15 on Sunday mornings following breakfast served by the Slater family chefs. Adults are studying The Present Word Spring 2017 God Loves Us. God as protector, preserver, healer, comforter,

3 and savior of people. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ reveals God s heart of love that embraces us. Children are studying the Gospel lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary. Have you heard the song, Can I Pray for You by Mark Bishop - some of the words: Can I pray for you? Can I mention your name to the Lord? When I seek his face that s what praying is for You ll mention me to the Lord Can I pray for you? Always keep our homebound members in your prayers as well as those whom we name in prayer each week. Youth Group will meet on May 7 at Gulf Praire Presbyterian at 1:00 pm. Gulf Praire Presbyterian and the Brazoria United Methodist Church are included. There will be fun and games, prayer and activity. Presbyterian Women will meet April 30 and May 7 following worship. (Note date changes.) A light lunch will be provided. They will review and discuss Lessons Eight: According to the Other Abrahamic Faiths and Nine: According to Contemporary Cultural Interpretations. The key scripture is Galatians 4:23-29 for lesson 8 and Matthew 15:21-28 for lesson 9. We will look at the three major monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam - that share Abraham as patriarch in lesson 8 and examine how our cultural lens influences our Biblical interpretation in lesson 9. **Prayer Group** Prayer Group meets each Tuesday morning at 10 am. We invite men and women to share in prayer, devotions and our church card signing ministry that reaches our church family and beyond. **Lent** Our Lenten journey ended at the empty tomb on Easter morning. We hope you enjoyed the Lenten devotional that presented Jesus from the viewpoints of numerous individuals with whom he interacted. **Mission** As Presbyterians we are a people rooted in the grace of Jesus Christ. It is our gratitude for God s grace that moves us to join in God s mission in the world with ministries of love and justice, reconciliation and peace. In Acts 20:35 we read, It is more blessed to give than to receive. The needs are many: Food, animals, gardens, wells, bags of seeds, emergency life packs, racial ethnic scholarships, Peace camp, fishing boats and accessories, school uniforms. There seems to be no end.

4 Our church serves the community through several important programs. We maintain a food pantry and a Blessing Box to assist those who do not have adequate nourishment. In the summer we cosponsor Feed My Lambs, a program that delivers freshly prepared lunches to the homes of families who receive food assistance through the schools during the school year. Both of these programs will benefit from your donations of money or food items. Currently, the food pantry is in need of paper towels, toilet paper, Spam, Vienna sausage, chili, spaghetti, mayonnaise, and mustard. Feed My Lambs needs volunteer drivers, cooks, packagers, shoppers and financial supporters. Let us know how you will help. **Save These Dates** Each Tuesday evening: Game nights May 4: National Day of Prayer April 30: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 May 7: Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:19-35, John 10:1-10 May 14: Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5,15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 May 21: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 May 28: Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5;6-11, John 17:1-11 **Treasurer s Report** March Offering: $8615 March Spending: $8463 **May Birthdays and Anniversaries** May 5-7: Men s Conference at Mo Ranch July 10-14: Vacation Bible School August 25: Churchwide gathering of Presbyterian Women in Louisville, KY **Lectionary Readings** 6- Jessica Navarro 13- Emmalyn Mercer 14- Sandy Tinnon 17- Sandra Clarke, Betty Schaefer, Bonnie DuBose 20- Bill Hopwood

5 7- Linda and John Matheson, Pat and Wilma Harris 18- John and Sandy Tinnon-Indian 24- Ronald and Jennifer Mercer El Chico Mexicana Food Brazos Mall. Bring in your church bulletin on Sunday or Wednesday to receive 10% off and the church will get another 10% back. Stewart s Bring in you receipts from Stewart s. Our church gets a percentage of those we submit. National Day of Prayer - May 4, 2017: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. (Public Law ) As citizens and residents of the United States and as believers in Christ Jesus, we not only have a spiritual responsibility according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray, but a civic duty as well to heed our President s call to stand in the gap for our nation. For Your Great Name s Sake! Hear Us... Forgive Us...Heal Us! Taken from Daniel 9:19, which says, O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act! For Your Sake, O My God.... Scripture tells us that our prayer is effective. That our loving God responds to His children s earnest pleas in mighty ways that avail much, and ultimately determine the course of history. May the Lord s peace fill your heart. (message from Linda Matheson) *Reminders**