Inside this Issue. What Christians Get Wrong about Lent Are You Throwing God a Bone? Ash Wednesday Service Come-and-Go Over Lunch

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1 1624 Ave of the Cities, Moline February 2016 Vol. 79, No. 2 Inside this Issue What Christians Get Wrong about Lent Are You Throwing God a Bone? Ash Wednesday Service Come-and-Go Over Lunch New Message Series Walking with Jesus Servant of the Month It s All about that Bass Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm m cc qc@m ediacom bb.net www. Mem orial Ch ristian Ch u rc h.com Pastoral Office Hours Tuesday - Thursday and by appointment 9:00 am to 12:00 pm pastorchuck@ymail.com

2 What Christians Get Wrong About Lent When we talk about "giving something up for Lent," let's be honest: we usually mean "I'm going to throw God a bone. But the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is meant to be a time where we take ourselves out of time and out of the business of our world to spend time dying to ourselves. It's not just our way of giving Jesus Christ a pat on the back, but it's first about re-centering our will to His and secondly living that out in the world. Are you throwing God a bone? The word "lent" comes from the old English word for spring and was meant to mirror the Jewish Passover. Lent consists of 40 days. The 40 day period mirrors the 40 days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai and the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. The Church recognized the need for shadowing these times as they showed in Scripture in order to remember the divine narrative leading up to the Cross. By the time Palm Sunday comes around, we are celebrants of the coming King. And then on Easter, the love story of God is completed with an empty grave. It's a living memory, and in celebrating Lent, we're living through it ourselves in a way. Every fast and feast in the Church for the past 2,000 odd years has been given to the whole body to remind us that Christ's actions affect us, even now. They are spiritual seasons, reminding us that our sins are forgiven, death is abolished and Christ is risen, even now. They're for our encouragement, so that when we stand in worship on Easter Sunday, we can confidently repeat the words of Gregory the Theologian, who said "Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him." Lent is the spring of hope for all who believe that the tomb is empty and the oppression of sin and death is released. It is the spring of hope for those mourning and grieving. This time of fasting is both a releasing to God but also a proclamation of freedom through Christ. More than that, it's also sharing that hope to others through giving our own lives away, just as Christ did for us on the Cross. [Adapted:

February 28 Relief through Repentance March 6 Finding

3 New Message Series Walking with Jesus February 14 Overcoming Temptation February 21 Surviving Rejection February 28 Relief through Repentance March 6 Finding Forgiveness March 13 Wonder in Worship March 20 Being Glorified (Palm Sunday)

1 Noah Lue 3 Bob Engelman 3 Ken Lue 4 Merritt Goddard 7 Don Simmons 11 Kim Dorsey 12 Dontrell Jones 12 Donna Long 15 Earl Dreon 18 Joanne White 21 Melba Andereck 7 Bob & Bonnie Engelman 14 Daryl &

In Our Thoughts & Prayers Margaret Simmons, Pat Baker, Amy Thomas, Vickie Korns, The Hall Family, Jerry & Barb Stinocher, Ava Hall, Carolyn Haskins, Noah Lue, Amelia Whitworth, Sylvia Larssen, Ella

6 1 Noah Lue 3 Bob Engelman 3 Ken Lue 4 Merritt Goddard 7 Don Simmons 11 Kim Dorsey 12 Dontrell Jones 12 Donna Long 15 Earl Dreon 18 Joanne White 21 Melba Andereck 7 Bob & Bonnie Engelman 14 Daryl & Linda Swartz Super Sunday Wear your favorite football team s jersey and come to worship with fun on your mind! Bring a canned good for the food pantry as your gift for Super Sunday. In Our Thoughts & Prayers Margaret Simmons, Pat Baker, Amy Thomas, Vickie Korns, The Hall Family, Jerry & Barb Stinocher, Ava Hall, Carolyn Haskins, Noah Lue, Amelia Whitworth, Sylvia Larssen, Ella Williams, Nellie Porter, Janice Conover, Ginny Blake, Linda Roller, Bob Engelman, Darry Kannenberg, Dan and Christine Koester, Joanne Kline, Lynette Cameron, Peggy Walker, Cyndee Browner, Wade Rogers, Cecil Dorsey, Matt, Ava, Andy Simmons, Jacque Brandom, Crystal Raun, Shirley Rudd, Earl & Charlene Dreon, Evelyn Day, Collin LeVan, Julie Rind, Charles York, Hazel Anderson, and to all of those that are not on our Prayer List that are in need of your prayers. If you or anyone you know would like to be added to our Prayer List or those who would like a Home Visit, please contact the Church office.

February Serving Schedule ELDERS Meditation:

PREPARER Pat Marksbury Linda Miller HOME-BOUND

Crystal Cutcomp CONNECTIONS CAFÉ Jerry Stinocher

of the Month Chris Tappendorf is our Servant of

Chris has been a vital part of MCC s Praise Band

Not only is he a gifted musician with his bass

7 February Serving Schedule ELDERS Meditation: Mick Kuehl Back Table: Richard Mayne COMMUNION PREPARER Pat Marksbury Linda Miller HOME-BOUND COMMUNION Doree Shewell FIRST IMPRESSIONS Crystal Cutcomp CONNECTIONS CAFÉ Jerry Stinocher Van Driver Richard Mayne Worship Service Servant of the Month Chris Tappendorf is our Servant of the Month. Chris has been a vital part of MCC s Praise Band for several years. Not only is he a gifted musician with his bass guitar, but he often gives his leadership to the band just when needed most. Thank you, Chris, for your service to the Lord and to MCC!

8 Tel: For more information about MCC scan the QR code with your smart phone

Inside this Issue. 3 In 1 Issue All for the Summer. Summer Preachers The Talent Pool. Serving Schedules Lots of Birthdays & Anniversaries

Inside this Issue. 3 In 1 Issue All for the Summer. Summer Preachers The Talent Pool. Serving Schedules Lots of Birthdays & Anniversaries 1624 Ave of the Cities, Moline June - August 2016 Vol. 79, Nos. 6-8 Inside this Issue 3 In 1 Issue All for the Summer Summer Preachers The Talent Pool Serving Schedules Lots of Birthdays & Anniversaries