Pastoral Ponderings: News and Views First Mennonite Church, McPherson April 2017 In This Issue Announcements...pg 2-3 Prayer Requests pg 3 Looking Back.pg 3-4 Calendar...pg 5 Maybe you noticed. We have been spending time with the gospel of John. That s because in the threeyear cycle of lectionary Bible readings this is the year for John. So, the Mennonite worship resources also feature the gospel of John. Now John has never been my favorite gospel. Give me Mathew, Mark, and Luke any day. They are more practical, more real life, more action oriented, more historical. John is abstract, philosophical, and verbose. Still I have grown to appreciate the gospel of John. What other gospel can match the majesty, poetry, and profundity of John chapter 1? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God In the beginning. Form, rhythm, structure, theology. This gives us a clue for understanding the design and purpose of the gospel that follows. John was never intended to provide a historical account of the life of Jesus. Many Bible scholars believe John was designed to be a catechism for early believers. Between the prologue of John chapter 1 and the epilogue of John chapter 21 the gospel shaped by two major units. Chapters 2-12 is the Book of Signs. This unit is arranged around seven miraculous signs from Jesus. Each sign is paired with a teaching discourse. The dramatic flow of the unit moves from reception, to resistance, to rejection. The Book of the Passion opens with Jesus preparing for the cross. It begins with the startling account of Jesus, the Lord and Master, kneeling at the feet of his disciples to become a common house servant. This is teaching, example, and calling. Only the gospel of John tells this story. From servanthood, Jesus suffers on the cross, dies, and yet then, he lives! This is the way to eternal life. Scattered throughout the gospel of John are seven declarations from Jesus, I am. Is there a message in these? Check out Exodus 3:14 for the answer. And if there is still any doubt, check out another declaration in John 8:58. One other way that John differs from Mathew, Mark, and Luke. On what day was Jesus crucified? Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, and Luke 22:7 indicate that Jesus disciples made preparations to eat the Passover meal on the day the Passover lambs were slaughtered. Then that evening, along with all Israel, they would have begun Passover with the Passover meal. This leaves Jesus to be tried and crucified on the very day of Passover. This seems unlikely. John however tells it differently. John 18:28 and 19:31 indicate that Jesus and his disciples never got to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus was crucified on the day before Passover and taken down from the cross before Passover began. This sounds more likely. Now think about this. According to John s differing chronology, Jesus was actually crucified on the same day that the Passover lambs were being sacrificed! Could it be that John, the least historical of the gospels, is actually the gospel that got both the crucifixion history and its theology aligned and correct? I hope you enjoy and study the gospel of John, as it provides our pathway this year following Jesus to the cross. Randy
News & Views Schedule: Items for the May newsletter must be given to Laura by April 7 Announcements Prayer Time: Each Sunday at 9:10am, a group meets in the overflow room to pray for the congregation as we go through this transition. Please join us! Fellowship Meal: Join us each month for food & fellowship on the first Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. Donations received for General Fund. This month s meal is April 5. The next one will be May 3. FMC Women s meeting: Conversation Peace meets the 2 nd Mon each month. Next meeting is April 10, 6:30pm. Plan to join us! Holy Week Schedule: April 9, 10:40am, Palm Sunday worship, April 13, 6:00pm, light meal, communion, Tenebrae service April 16, 9:30am Easter brunch (no Sunday School) 10:40am Easter worship Bethany College Messiah Festival: April 9-16. o Take 6 in concert, April 9, 3:00pm o Bach s Passion, April 14, 7:30pm o Handel s Messiah, April 16, 3:00pm More information on bulletin board, at www.messiahfestival.org, or call 785-658-5955 ext 8235. Jewish and Palestinian Voices for Peace KS Tour - In preparation for this summer s Israel-Palestine resolution in Orlando, join in conversation exploring diverse views on Israel-Palestine and prospects for peace in the current political climate. Laura Tillem, a local representative of Jewish Voice for Peace, will dialogue with Jonathan Kuttab, a Mennonite Palestinian human rights lawyer. This tour is sponsored by Mennonite Church USA and Western District, along with local funding. Freewill offerings will be received at each public event: April 17-7 pm, Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, 655 S Lorraine Ave, Wichita, KS April 18-7 pm, Bethel College Chapel, Administration Bldg, North Newton, KS April 19-11 am, Bethel College Chapel - 7 pm, Ecumenical Campus Ministry, 904 Sunset, Manhattan, KS
Western District Conference 125 th anniversary this year! Help tell the story of WDC, its congregations & God s faithfulness, by entering information about your congregations history at http://mennowdc.org/wdcs-125-year-anniversary-is-in-2017/. MCC Relief Fund: According to the United Nations, the world is facing the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. More than 20 million people across Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and northeast Nigeria are facing or are at risk of, famine. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is working in the area to provide emergency food assistance & increase its response to the crisis. Because of serious conflicts & concerns for safe, unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance, this process is slow and challenging. To donate to MCC s relief fund, which supports MCC s response to this disaster & others, visit mcc.org/learn/what/relief, call 1-888-563-4676 or send a check to: MCC, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500. Prayer Requests Pray for the vision of the church; that we will look to God for how to be mission oriented in our ministries. Pray for friends & neighbors to know the love of Jesus. Pray for our shut-ins and those struggling with chronic illness, grief or loneliness to experience God s love. Thank God for continued blessing of the ReUse it Center, so this ministry is able to bless others. Pray for our congregation in our time of transition. Looking Back Pastor Randy and Bill Goering meet for coffee at 10am every Wed at The Well for a time of outreach and fellowship with whoever will join them. If you would like to participate, come on down!
Feb 23 the quilters had a potluck meal after a morning of quilting. After the quilter s luncheon, we surprised Sammy with a birthday cake and cards, since her 94th birthday was just a couple of days later. Feb 26, Mark Stucky did a Puppet Show for Childrens Gathering. He will do another for Palm Sunday, so bring the kids!