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Must. That's a hard word to hear. Demanding. Unbending. Hard. May. That's a gracious word. A choice. An opportunity. An invitation. The religious leaders of Jesus's time were full of "musts". All of the things you had to do to be right with God. Well-intended, perhaps, but still very burdensome. Jesus came along and turned "must" into "may". A gracious invitation. An open opportunity. And that was and is refreshing. But let's not forget that even an invitation or an opportunity presents a choice. The fact that you may, also means you may not. The choice is ours. We may engage with Jesus, and receive the blessings he intends for us. But we may choose to ignore him, look the other way, say "No thanks." And Jesus never forces his will on any of us. The choice is ours. I encourage you in this month of May to consider the choices that are yours. The opportunities that God offers you. What will you decide? The choice is yours... Hope you have a great month! Gary May Calendar Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service 10:30 am in person and via Zoom. 5/6 - Communion Sunday - and another chance to bring your jars of coins. 5/22 - Worship followed by a potluck lunch. More info is below. Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7:30 PM - Zoom Thursdays - 5/5 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM - Zoom - National Day of Prayer - Please pray for our nation today. Contact Gary bridmin@aol.com for Zoom links Other News - Communion - Communion will be served to those attending in person on Sunday, May 1. If you are attending via Zoom, please have your own ready if you want to participate. Potluck Lunch - We had such a great time at our Maundy Thursday supper, let's eat together again! Plan on staying after church on Sunday, May 22 for a potluck lunch. Bring a dish or two to share with everyone else. If the weather is nice, perhaps we can even eat outside. A beverage will be provided. Offering - Please continue to mail your offering to Nathalie. Or if you attend in person, there is an offering plate at the back of the sanctuary, if you prefer. Coin Collection - If you forgot your coins for benevolence on April 24, you can bring them this Sunday, May 1. Our next collection will be at the end of August. Thanks for saving and sharing your coins! Upper Room Devotionals - The May/June devotionals are available to be picked up at the church. Every month there seems to be a few left at the end of the month. Perhaps you know someone who would benefit from a copy. Feel free to grab one to share with them. Refreshments - Coffee is on every Sunday. Stay after church and enjoy a cup. There are usually some simple treats as well. Donations of treats are always welcomed and enjoyed by everyone who stays. This is a great time to visit and catch up with people. Garden Gang - We have a beautiful little garden area at the church. It is in front of the ramp and behind it. We thought it might be helpful if this year we formed a Garden Gang. Would you be willing to pick a month and be in charge of the garden for that month? That would mostly include weeding and watering and just general watching over the garden for your month. It would include some cutting back flowers later in the fall months. If you are interested, let Jennifer know. We are thinking of May or June through October. Church Cleaning Day Thanks - Thanks to everyone who came and helped to clean the church in April, inside and outside. So thank you Lyfords, Murphys, Cal and Betsy Komerska, Curt Moore, Ellen Steiskal, and the Schwerins. Everything looked so clean and fresh afterward! Thanks to Tim for the donuts! . Maundy Thursday and Easter Thanks - We had a most amazing soup supper before our Maundy Thursday service. It was wonderful to finally gather together for a meal. The food was fantastic and looked like it was right out of a magazine! Thanks to all who provided the food, everything from the soup to the crackers! Thanks to Judy and Tim Murphy and Carl and Ellen Steiskal for the beautiful Easter lilies. The sanctuary looked fantastic! Sympathies - Off and on again for many years, we have prayed for Leslie and Russell Quiggle's good friend Ray Melby. This past month he passed away. We want to extend our sympathies to the Quiggles and to Ray's wife, Linda. Friends-
We should enter the month of April with care. After all, it starts with a day dedicated to fools! And who wants to be a fool? Not me. Not after I read what the Bible says about fools and foolishness. Not after the clear warnings against it. Not after the clear call to be wise. And how do we do that? By acknowledging that God is God, that he is Lord over all, that he is in charge. We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We are further told that the fool says in his heart that there is no God. Raise questions. Wrestle with your doubts. But don't be so foolish as to declare that there is no God. Or if you are that foolish, please keep your distance from me... I'm allergic to lightning! You know what is also foolish? Saying you believe in God, but living like you don't. Living lives that don't honor him. Worrying about every little thing. Grumbling and mumbling instead of giving thanks. This year this month gives us the greatest reason of all to trust and love God- Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. On Good Friday, God demonstrates the depth of his love for us, and on Easter, the power he has over death. So we have a choice- be foolish, or celebrate our almighty, all-loving God! Choose well! Gary April Calendar Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person and via Zoom. 4/3 - Communion Sunday - Special Music from First Presbyterian kids 4/17 - Easter Sunday - He Is Risen! 4/24 - Coin Collection Day for Benevolence Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7:30 PM - Zoom Thursdays - 4/7 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM - 4/14 - Maundy Thursday Soup Supper - Church Basement - 5:45 PM - Communion Worship Service - 7 PM Saturdays - 4/14 - Church Cleaning Day - 9 am - 12 noon. Other News - Communion - For those of you attending in person, communion will be provided on Sunday, April 3, and Thursday, April 14. If you are attending via Zoom, please have your own ready if you want to participate. Special Music Guests - We welcome kids from First Presbyterian in Belvidere on Sunday, April 3. They will be singing a couple of songs from a program they recently performed. Erin who lives in the village will be participating. We hope many of you come this Sunday to enjoy this special music. Church Cleaning Day - Please come and help to do some spring cleaning at the church on Saturday, April 9 from 9 am to 12 noon. We have not done this for several years due to the pandemic. We could use as many hands as possible! We are grateful that Angela cleans for us weekly, but there are many other things that need our attention. Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 14 - We will gather for a soup supper in the basement at 5:45 PM. The Communion Worship service will be at 7 PM. Please sign up in the fellowship room for supper. Easter - One of the highlights of the year is April 17, Easter Sunday. We hope as many as possible can attend in person this year. It is a great time to invite a friend or neighbor! Refreshments - We have coffee every Sunday. Stay after church and enjoy a cup. There are usually some simple treats as well. Consider bringing something some Sunday! Offering - Please continue to mail your offering to Nathalie. If you attend in person, there is an offering plate is at the back of the sanctuary, if you prefer. Ukraine - The church board donated money to help Ukraine through World Vision. Consider donating personally as well. World Vision is one of many good organizations that are helping. Pick one and support Ukraine. |
AuthorGary Schwerin, pastor Archives
May 2022
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