THE RAPPAHANNOCK CHRISTIAN LENTEN SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDY -- 24 HOURS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD No single event in human history has impacted the world more than the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. This year during Lent all ages of our Sunday Schools will explore the momentous events of the last 24 hours of the life of Christ and His victory as death was swallowed up in His resurrection on the third day. In this study our Sunday School Family will be guided to experience the deep events of the last hours our Lord spent on this earth as we may never have done before through 40 days of devotions designed to enable us to pause, reflect, dig deeper, and emerge changed forever. Adult Sunday School classes combined for the 7-week period to come together and share the insights and blessings of each week. Each Sunday, lessons will include a companion DVD in which March-April 2012 we travel to the Holy Land with author, Adam Hamilton, to visit the sites where these earth-shaking events took place. We will walk where Jesus walked and see what He may have seen along the road that led to the pain and triumph of the cross. Weekly topics will include: The Last Supper Condemned by the Righteous Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate The Torture and The Humiliation of the King Christ the Victor Age-appropriate study materials will be used in our Children and Youth Classes so that the entire congregation is able to study this exciting subject in unison. Adam Hamilton is pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. Named by PBS s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly as one of the top Ten People RAPPAHANNOCK CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) Old Dunnsville Road, P.O. Box 1111, Dunnsville, Virginia 22454 Dr. Kenneth C. Wilbur, Minister Sunday School 10:00 Worship 11:00 (804)443-5417
to Watch, Hamilton is the author of several other well-known Christian books. The Rappahannock Christian 2
FROM THE PASTOR: I have a cool little electronic device on my desk at home. It's an indoor-outdoor digital thermometer. The device on my desk, of course, can only measure the temperature inside the house. There is a companion thermometer which I placed outside, in just the right place. It sends its temperature rea ding to the device on my desk, and that gives me both the indoor and the outdoor temperatures. Very cool. Conditions outside before I go out. How cold is it? How hot is it? How can I prepare to meet those conditions? Some people have to prick their finger regularly to get a reading on their bloodsugar levels. That information helps them to stay medically stable, because there are things they can do (or avoid doing) that will help. You know, it is also possible for us to prepare ourselves spiritually. We can take some time every day to be in touch with God and God's Spirit within us. We can remind ourselves that every day God calls upon us to be His representatives, persuading others (mostly by what we do, and the way we do it, not by argument) that the Way of Christ is a better way. So, why not take a moment at the beginning of every day to greet God and acknowledge His presence? Say to God, "I'm glad you called me to yourself, and I'm glad you are with me all the time. Help me to be a kind and patient person today!" IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY SERVING IN MARCH: Elder: Deacons: Deaconess: Welcome: 3/4 Tyler Ware 3/11 Helen Ware 3/18 Nancy Wyatt 3/25 Fleet Dillard Nursery: 3/4 Gerry Haile 3/11 Nancy Wyatt 3/18 Etta Davis 3/25 Kathy Wilbur SERVING IN APRIL: Scot Katona Bruce McComb & Nathan Pope Arlene Lankford Helen Ware Sound System: 3/4 Regan Smith 3/11 Deane Lankford 3/18 Doug Landrum 3/25 Passagaluppi Elder: 4/1 Helen Ware 4/8 Tyler Ware 4/15 Fleet Dillard 4/22 Alex Dillard 4/29 Scot Katona Deane Lankford If you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap. If you want to be happy for a day, go fishing. If you want to be happy for a week, take a trip. If you want to be happy for a year, inherit money. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, serve others. (From Canaan Evangelical Lutheran Church) Deacons: Deaconess: Welcome: Nursery: 4/1 Rob Waring & Garnett Hodges Emma Dunn Sandy Tate Emma Dunn The Rappahannock Christian 3
4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 Patsy Taliaferro Sandy Tate Sarah Pope Libby Trible Edward M. (Teddy) Ware, Jr. died on January 2 following a short illness. A memorial service will be held at a later date. His father, E. Macon Ware, died on February 1 several days after suffering a massive stroke. A memorial service was held at Rappahannock Christian Church on February 4, with interment at Bellevue Cemetery. The church expresses its heartfelt sympathy to Mary Ware McMullen and her children in the loss of her father and brother. Sincere sympathy is also expressed to Neill Ware and his family in the loss of his brother and nephew. Please remember all of these in your prayers. Ewan Trible will be dedicated during morning worship on February 26. Come and share this special time with Pete and Libby and their family. VALENTINE S DINNER IS FEBRUARY 15 The Valentine's Day Dinner will be held at Lowery's Restaurant on Wednesday evening, February 15 at 6:00. If you would like to attend, please sign the sheet in the church vestibule or call Sarah Pope by February 12. Each person attending will order from the menu and will receive a separate check. Come join your church family for a time of fellowship. RESURRECTION PARTY AND EASTER BASKETS FOR NEEDY As an Easter Outreach this year, the Membership and Outreach Committee, along with the Youth and Children s Sunday Schools will be partnering with Rappahannock Legal Services to connect with a short list of families in our area who do not have the wherewithal to celebrate Easter this year. These may include babies, children, disabled persons or needy adults. We will be providing a list of useful as well as fun items that can be used to fill Easter Baskets for these people. An age-appropriate memento of the Gospel story will be included in each basket. Please be on the lookout for further information about how you can help with this worthy project. A Resurrection Party will be held for the Children and Youth Sunday Schools on Sunday, March 18, during Sunday School and Church hours. We will assemble Easter Baskets, as well as enjoy traditional Resurrection Party activities. LENTEN PRAISES & PRAYER CHAIN TO CULMINATE IN ANNUAL PRAYER VIGIL For the second year, RCC children and youth will invite the entire Church Family to participate in creating a Lenten Praise & Prayer Chain during the weeks of March 4-25. Members will be met at the door as they arrive The Rappahannock Christian 4
and h anded paper strips on which to write praises or prayer requests. Prayer strips will be collected at the end of each service and fashioned by the children into a paper chain to adorn the sanctuary the following week. Prayers will also be recorded as a bulletin insert for the next week so that the entire Church Family may unite in praise and prayer. A listing of prayers will be available for reference during the Annual Prayer Vigil on March 30-31. The prayer chain will be dedicated as part of the celebration of Easter Sunday. Again this year, Rappahannock Church will participate in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) annual Chain of Prayer. When we hold our Prayer Vigil, it becomes an essential link in a vast Chain of Prayer. Disciples congregations are thus joined together in unbroken prayer from the early hours of January 1 until the beginning of Easter morning each year. Our 24-hour Prayer Vigil will be held beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 30 and conclude on Saturday, March 31, at 6:00 p.m. Please sign the sheet in the vestibule to pray in the sanctuary for one hour or more during those hours. Joining us in prayer at the same time will be Central CC, Heritage, P A; First CC, Albia, IA; and Westhampton CC, Roanoke, VA. Midweek Lenten Services will be held each Wednesday at noon at Tappahannock United Methodist Church, beginning February 22 and concluding on April 4. Lunch is served before the service, at 11:30 and again at 12:30. Our church, in cooperation with the Tappahannock Presbyterian Chapel, will be providing the lunch on March. Please say yes when you are called for a food donation and/or help with serving at the service. EASTER LILIES WILL BE IN SANCTUARY ON EASTER If you would like to place an Easter lily i n the sanctuary, please sign the sheet in the vestibule and place your payment of $12.00 in the provided envelope. If your lily is in memory or in honor of a person, please place the requested information on the sheet. SUNDAY SCHOOL HELPS CHRISTIANS IN NORTH AFRICA On November 11, Rappahannock Adult and Youth Sunday School Classed combined for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The Sunday School hour was spent learning about the needs of Christians who are under pressure because of their choice to worship Jesus. A Voice of the Martyrs DVD showed the story of a young woman in Iran who has become an effective missionary in that closed nation. Brittany Hammond and Fleet Dillard presented stories of Christians who are suffering for their faith elsewhere in Northern Africa. Special prayers were offered for the persecuted church, and each person in attendance received a prayer card bearing the name and some of the specific needs of Christians in a closed or restricted country for which to continue to pray. In a special offering, members donated $125 to provide support materials to pastors and individual Christians. This amount will purchase one Village Outreach Pack, which contains a small library of Christian books, materials and DVDs as well as a DVD player, as well as two Care Packs. The Care Packs are filled with The Rappahannock Christian 5
practical items for the children of persecuted Christians, such as toiletries, pencils, paper and school clothing as well as books and Bible stories to encourage their faith. All items are distributed by The Voice of the Martyrs, a leading voice in support of the persecuted church. Members of Rappahannock Christian Church Sunday Schools were blessed to have this opportunity to come into communion and offer support to our brethren who continue under severe pressure in the countries of Northern Africa. MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE IS APRIL 5 The Maundy Thursday Candlelight Communion Service will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 8:00 p.m. Please note the time change it is new this year! Mark your calendars for Palm Sunday, April 1. Once again this year the Sunday School will lead out during the worship hour in a celebration of the Triumphal Entry of our Lord at the beginning of Passion Week. The program will include readings from the story as told by the gospel writers, congregational praise, and special music as we enter into the joy of Jesus as our Lord and King. Wednesdays, Feb. 22 April 4 o Midday Lenten Services at Tappahannock United Methodist Church sponsored by the Essex County Ministerial Association Please attend. Sundays, Feb. 26 April 8 o Lenten Sunday School classes 24 Hours That Changed The World Please plan to attend and participate. Sundays, March 4 25 o Creation of Congregational Prayer Chain Plan to contribute praises and prayer requests weekly. Lift up the requests of the congregation in prayer. Wednesday, March 28 o RCC and Tappahannock Presbyterian Church provide luncheon for Midweek Lenten Service. Saturday, March 31 o Prayer Vigil Please plan to sign up to pray for one or two hours in our sanctuary during this 24-hour period. Sunday, April 1 o Palm Sunday Celebration by RCC Children, Youth and Bell Choir Please plan to participate and attend. Thursday, April 5 8:00 p.m. o Maundy Thursday Candlelight Communion Service Be sure to participate for a huge blessing. Sunday, April 8 o Community Sunrise Service at St. Margaret s School Greet Resurrection Day as Jesus disciples did at sunrise. o Easter The Celebration Rappahannock Service Christian Plan 6 to attend and worship with your family.
With February and March promising to pass swiftly, we will be celebrating Christendom s most high and holy day before we know it. Numerous events are being planned for the weeks leading up to Resurrection Day this year. You ll want to plan your calendar so. that you can fully participate. Please the list of items and place your donations in the proper box. Rappahannock Christian Church P. O. Box 1111 Dunnsville, VA 22454 BELL CHOIR IS LOOKING TO EXPAND The Sunday School Bell Choir would like to invite interested adults to join in preparation for the Easter season. Having a larger choir will enhance the tone and quality of our musical presentations. Practices are held during the latter part of the Sunday School hour. No special skills are required except to be able to tell colors and count to four. Anyone who is interested should please contact Peggy Pursley. OPERATION INASMUCH IS APRIL 28 Operation Inasmuch is April 28. Libby Trible is our Church Contact. If you will work, please obtain an application from Libby; then complete and return it to her right away. There will be boxes in the church vestibule for items you can donate. Please check The Easter Special Offering supports the General Ministries of the church. General Ministries serve across the U.S. and Canada and around the world. General Ministries are partners in ministry serving through far-reaching and unique organizations, such as Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Church Extension, Disciples Home Missions, and Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries. The offering will be received April 1 and 8. DATES SET FOR PRAYER & PRAISE AT THE ORCHARD Prayer & Praise at The Orchard will be on Friday, March 9 and April 13 at 7:00 p.m. Why The Rappahannock Christian 7
don t you join the group? You will be greatly blessed by your participation. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 23 Tappahannock, VA 22560 The Rappahannock Christian 8