Friends-
We start this month in a season of reflection and repentance, and end it on a day of celebration, jubilation, and joy!
Life is like that. Lots of struggle and need for forgiveness, peppered with the reminders that God loves us, that God is in charge, and that no matter the circumstance, we can celebrate joyfully because of what happened on that cross and at that tomb. Most of us would like to skip right to the joy. But we would miss a lot...
I think this is why James tells us to count it all joy when we meet with various trials. It's why Paul says the struggles of this life can't be compared to the joy we will have in the next. Jesus says I'm going away to prepare a place for you so you can be with me forever! That is all some very positive news! We'll be celebrating for eternity, but we need to struggle a bit to get ready for the party.
Keep looking up. Make the most of every day. God is present to us at all times. Thank him, praise him, love him, no matter what. For Jesus, the cross on that Friday was very hard. But Sunday? As Tim Murphy would put it, "Ooo baby!!" That joy puts everything else in its place.
Have a great month!
Gary
March Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person or via Zoom. See Zoom link below.
3/3 - Holy Moments Book Study in the office - 9:15 am - final discussion.
3/24 - Palm Sunday Worship Service
3/31 - Easter Worship Service
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM - See Zoom link below
3/6 - Mid-Lent time of worship and prayer, from 5 - 6 PM - Sanctuary
Thursdays - 3/7 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM - See Zoom link below.
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Soup Supper 5:30 PM and Communion Service 7 PM
The worship service will be on Zoom as well. See Zoom link below.
Saturdays - 3/9 - Don't forget to spring ahead one hour tonight. Daylight Savings time begins.
Other News -
Zoom - There will now just be one link for all events that are using Zoom. Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Communion - Communion will be served on Sunday, March 3, and also on Maundy Thursday, March 28. If you attend via Zoom, please have your elements ready if you wish to partake.
Mid-Lent Prayer and Worship - Wednesday 3/10 - 5-6 PM - I (Gary) have been enjoying such wonderful times of midweek prayer and worship in the sanctuary! I think God nudged me to open it up to any of you who might want to join me. Come if you can... no worries if you can't. Come for all or just a portion. No message, no announcements. Just singing and praying. And just this once... unless we hear otherwise...
Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Bake-Off - Thank you to everyone who helped make our Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Bake-Off a huge success! A special thanks to Brittni Zick, Karl Steiskal, Mark Gray, Jessica Boezem, and Hannah Foley for making chili. It was a very tight and delicious contest, but Karl was declared the winner for his chili. Thanks to Judy Murphy, Hannah Foley, and Jessica Boezem who competed in the Dessert Bake-Off. Jessica took home top honors for this year. Thanks to everyone else who provided other foods for the meal. No one went home hungry!
Maundy Thursday Soup Supper and Communion Service - We will gather for a soup supper on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 PM and then head upstairs for a Maundy Thursday Communion Service at 7 PM. If you would like to bring something for the meal, there will be a sign-up sheet starting March 10. Everyone is invited to come, regardless if you bring something or not. Don't miss this beautiful time of fellowship over supper, and then a meaningful service with communion in the sanctuary.
Easter Sunday - Easter Sunday is March 31. We will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! Great day to invite somebody new to come with you.
Thank You - Thanks to Luke Walker for playing the keyboard during January and February while Evelyn Brefeld was out of town. Looks like we may see more of Luke as he and Evelyn might be taking turns more frequently. Special thanks to Tim, Mike, Ryland, Terry, and Gary for the wonderful job they do each week of providing music during worship. Thanks to Colleen who occasionally sings too. We are blessed to have so many musicians in our church.
Looking Ahead -
Potential Spring Cleaning Day - We often have a spring cleaning day in April. So watch the next newsletter to see if there will be one.
We start this month in a season of reflection and repentance, and end it on a day of celebration, jubilation, and joy!
Life is like that. Lots of struggle and need for forgiveness, peppered with the reminders that God loves us, that God is in charge, and that no matter the circumstance, we can celebrate joyfully because of what happened on that cross and at that tomb. Most of us would like to skip right to the joy. But we would miss a lot...
I think this is why James tells us to count it all joy when we meet with various trials. It's why Paul says the struggles of this life can't be compared to the joy we will have in the next. Jesus says I'm going away to prepare a place for you so you can be with me forever! That is all some very positive news! We'll be celebrating for eternity, but we need to struggle a bit to get ready for the party.
Keep looking up. Make the most of every day. God is present to us at all times. Thank him, praise him, love him, no matter what. For Jesus, the cross on that Friday was very hard. But Sunday? As Tim Murphy would put it, "Ooo baby!!" That joy puts everything else in its place.
Have a great month!
Gary
March Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person or via Zoom. See Zoom link below.
3/3 - Holy Moments Book Study in the office - 9:15 am - final discussion.
3/24 - Palm Sunday Worship Service
3/31 - Easter Worship Service
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM - See Zoom link below
3/6 - Mid-Lent time of worship and prayer, from 5 - 6 PM - Sanctuary
Thursdays - 3/7 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM - See Zoom link below.
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Soup Supper 5:30 PM and Communion Service 7 PM
The worship service will be on Zoom as well. See Zoom link below.
Saturdays - 3/9 - Don't forget to spring ahead one hour tonight. Daylight Savings time begins.
Other News -
Zoom - There will now just be one link for all events that are using Zoom. Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Communion - Communion will be served on Sunday, March 3, and also on Maundy Thursday, March 28. If you attend via Zoom, please have your elements ready if you wish to partake.
Mid-Lent Prayer and Worship - Wednesday 3/10 - 5-6 PM - I (Gary) have been enjoying such wonderful times of midweek prayer and worship in the sanctuary! I think God nudged me to open it up to any of you who might want to join me. Come if you can... no worries if you can't. Come for all or just a portion. No message, no announcements. Just singing and praying. And just this once... unless we hear otherwise...
Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Bake-Off - Thank you to everyone who helped make our Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Bake-Off a huge success! A special thanks to Brittni Zick, Karl Steiskal, Mark Gray, Jessica Boezem, and Hannah Foley for making chili. It was a very tight and delicious contest, but Karl was declared the winner for his chili. Thanks to Judy Murphy, Hannah Foley, and Jessica Boezem who competed in the Dessert Bake-Off. Jessica took home top honors for this year. Thanks to everyone else who provided other foods for the meal. No one went home hungry!
Maundy Thursday Soup Supper and Communion Service - We will gather for a soup supper on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 PM and then head upstairs for a Maundy Thursday Communion Service at 7 PM. If you would like to bring something for the meal, there will be a sign-up sheet starting March 10. Everyone is invited to come, regardless if you bring something or not. Don't miss this beautiful time of fellowship over supper, and then a meaningful service with communion in the sanctuary.
Easter Sunday - Easter Sunday is March 31. We will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! Great day to invite somebody new to come with you.
Thank You - Thanks to Luke Walker for playing the keyboard during January and February while Evelyn Brefeld was out of town. Looks like we may see more of Luke as he and Evelyn might be taking turns more frequently. Special thanks to Tim, Mike, Ryland, Terry, and Gary for the wonderful job they do each week of providing music during worship. Thanks to Colleen who occasionally sings too. We are blessed to have so many musicians in our church.
Looking Ahead -
Potential Spring Cleaning Day - We often have a spring cleaning day in April. So watch the next newsletter to see if there will be one.
RSS Feed