I, as well as you, have learned that
saying, “I guarantee” is risky. In a
world of “guarantees,” we find that many things that are guaranteed are
attached to a legal loophole. Yes,
saying “I guarantee” can get one into legal trouble. It can also disappoint or stir up feeling of
anger, deceit, and mistrust. This is why
my “60-minute fix” does not contain the word guarantee.
So, what is the 60-minute fix. Well, it’s something I have been thinking
about for a long time. Let’s begin the
explanation by looking at some human problems.
There are those that feel lost, disconnected, marginalized, outcast,
enslaved, up against insurmountable odds, etc.
How about those facing the reality of sickness, disease, or familial
problems. Or experiencing death of a
loved one through natural or disaster like causes. My list, (or yours), could
go on and on.
Now, there are many options available to
help overcome the many feelings, emotions, or situations mentioned here. As a counselor, I do believe in therapy. Working with someone who is objective can
offer empowerment to anyone seeking refuge and abundant life.
But, what if someone told those who are
facing challenges, hurdles, or stepping stoned in life that seem impossible to overcome
there is an answer, and it could start with one-hour a week.
I know what you, or anyone reading this
might be saying. “He’s the minister, and he’s going to talk about church.” Well, you are correct.
I am an average person who has
experienced many of the strife’s, emotions and perceived insurmountable
situations listed above. I became a minister of God in order to minister to
those like me. I am not a great
theologian, full of wisdom, or a person whose sermons will be collected into a
book to be read and studied in seminary.
But, here is what I have found.
We are designed to be in community with
God and with one another. Perhaps that is why things like loneliness or feeling
disconnected affects us the way it does. That means church to me.
The Bible has a lot to say about feeling
lonely and its opposite, feeling connected. Answers are available through the regular attending of
church and introducing or re-introducing the Holy Word of God into your life. And while I can’t guarantee the healing you
are seeking, God can guarantee answers to all of life’s dilemma’s. There is not one promise God has made that
was not true or did not see fruition.
Has someone said you are not worth
healing? Do you tell yourself that? Believe that God is saying this is not
true. All it takes for an escape from
hardship and dilemma is one-hour per week, 60 minutes! Shake off the stigma, the lies, and the
misconceptions of today’s modern day church.
All God asking is to give Him and His son Jesus a chance to help.
So give us a chance. It’s free and what I can guarantee is that
you will be welcomed and made to feel comfortable. All for 60 minutes a week!
Not ready to make a decision, have
question? Give me a call and I will be
glad to speak with you about how you could experience the greatest life
possible.
Shalom,
We would like to welcome Makenna Ellen Myers! Makenna was born
on March 19th and she is the daughter of Barry and Breanne Myers. Makenna
is the first grandchild for Brian and Connie Myers and the Great-Granddaughter
of Dave and Rosemary Myers.
We will need baked goods to sell for our fundraiser during the Turkey Dinner. Please try to drop them off before 3:00 pm so we can get them packed and priced. We truly appreciate your support so that we can have a great Sunday School for our kids.
In addition to the Youth Group’s Weis and Carones Card Fundraisers, we have a Gift Card Fundraiser which is a great way to help our church. The Fundraiser Sheets are on the table in the narthex. Just look over the list (and there’s a lot to choose from) and mark how many cards you want. As with the Youth Group’s fundraiser, this is essentially a “no cost” fundraiser. You are just purchasing gift cards in the amount that you would normally spend at that store or restaurant. The fundraising part is that Emmanuel purchases them at a discount which helps our bottom line. Orders are placed after the 1st Sunday of each month. Please see Lisa Ceaser with any questions.
This is a great way to support
the Youth Group without spending anything extra. You’re just going to spend that money at the
grocery store anyway so why not give the Youth Group some help with their
finances? For every $1,000 worth of
cards they sell, they make $50. There
are forms on the table in the narthex if you wish to purchase any cards.
On Sunday, April 28, members from Emmanuel will again confirm our commitment to being good stewards by giving our time to clean up the junk and debris on Alberdeen Road. We will gather at the church after worship. For more information, see Allen Dennis.
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED !!
Everyone is welcome to join the
newly established Kitchen Committee. Our next meeting will be April 12 at 9:00
am in the kitchen. Everyone is welcome
and volunteers are needed.
At
6:00 p.m., tables
are set up, and the vegetables are cleaned and cut up for the pickled cabbage.
FRIDAY, MAY 3
Beginning
at 8:00 a.m. we
start making the pickled cabbage and stuffing.
(Some foods are just better when their flavors can mingle – just watch
the cooking shows, you’ll see.)
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Beginning
at 8:00 a.m. we
clean the meat off the turkeys. Final food preparations are made at 2:30
p.m.Serving thesupperbegins at 3:00 and goes to about 7:00 p.m. We can always use lots of hands for serving food,
working in the kitchen, busing tables, and waiting on tables. By
7:00 pm it’s nice to have a clean-up crew come in. Everything needs to be washed up, cleared
out, wiped down, dried and put away so the Sunday School rooms can be put back
into order and the walls put back up.
Come out and lend a hand. This is a great way to support our church and
its missions and have fun while doing it!!
We will need baked goods for desserts for the upcoming Turkey Supper. Please try to drop them off before 3:00 so we can get them cut, ready and packed for takeout. We truly appreciate your support. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex if you would to share one of your favorite desserts. Please see Cindy Heller with any questions.
The
envelopes for the annual OGHS offering are on the tables where you retrieve the
bulletins. We will collect this offering through March 31.
Our Sunday School is also participating in
the OGHS offering and the kids will bring their donations and we will put them
in the “refugee tent” collection box.
During the year, there will also be
envelopes for Neighbors in Need, Strengthen the Church and the Christmas Fund
(for retired pastors and their families on very limited pensions). We also give to Our Churches Wider Mission through
our fundraisers. That’s 5 UCC missions
each year. In addition to those, we can
give to VBS Mission, McKinney Clinic, CROP Walk and, in past years, Disaster
Relief (which we hope won’t be needed this year). All these opportunities to give to these
missions are provided because members have a “soft spot” for one or another, or
perhaps all of them. We are encouraged
to give to the ones that move our hearts and that we feel strongly about. These
offerings are given “above and beyond” our regular envelope and plate offerings
that are needed to support our church at Emmanuel and continue our local
presence in our own back yards. Your
generosity is appreciated here at home and around the wider world. May God bless you as much as you bless
others.
Since the
earliest days of Christianity God’s people have celebrated the season of Lent.
One way in which this season is
celebrated is through the Rite of Ashes. While traditionally done on Ash
Wednesday, the ashes, made from the burning of palm fronds, are applied to the
forehead in the sign of the cross as a reminder of our mortality, as a sign of
repentance, and a public expression of our trust in the work of Jesus on the
cross.
The season of Lent consists of the forty
days that lead up to Easter, during which God’s people prepare for celebrating
the death and resurrection of Jesus by focusing on our need for the
forgiveness, grace, and eternal life that the work of Jesus brings. These 40
days of repentance are meant to be a mirror of Jesus’ own forty days in the
desert where He fasted and prepared for the beginning of His earthly ministry,
which would ultimately end on Good Friday and begin again on Easter morning.
Along with the Rite of Ashes, here are
some other ways to worship God as we celebrate Lent:
FASTING
It is a common practice to abstain from
a favorite food, beverage, or activity during the Lenten season. It should be
something that you would normally enjoy daily, so that when you deny yourself
the item, you are reminded to think of Christ and what He gave up for us. It is
also encouraged that we enjoy the items we are fasting from on each Sunday
during Lent as part of your worship and celebration of the Lord’s Day.
PERSONAL
DEVOTION
Lent is a perfect time to devote
ourselves to serious prayer and study of God’s Word. The Bible Study I held on
Wednesdays helped prepare those involved for Lent. So, share your personal
devotions with God! I pray that you find this Lenten season to be a beautiful
means of preparing for the upcoming celebration of Good Friday and Easter.
Over the next 40 days, may our hearts
and our minds be turned toward Him. And please join us for our Wednesday Lenten
services beginning with the fellowship of a meal together! Amen.
Gladys Readler would like to say
Thank You to everyone for their prayers, calls and cards due to the loss of her
sister.
There are not enough words to express our thanks for the
outpouring of love and sympathy at the passing of Mary Eroh – wife, mother,
grandmother and great-grandmother of our families. We are deeply grateful for
the cards, calls, gifts and donations in her memory. Our heartfelt thanks goes
to all those who helped us in any way during the funeral service, dinner and
through other acts of kindness and understanding. You have made our time of
sorrow so much easier to bear. It warms our hearts to know how much she meant
to so many of you. ~Don, Denise, Donna, Doreen, Darla and our families. ~
Bob Reader would like to Thank Emmanuel for the prayers and donation
during his fight against liver cancer.
The
season of Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 6. We are again preparing
Lenten suppers prior to our services on the Wednesday evenings during Lent.
These light meals will be shared in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 pm. We will
then gather at 7:00 pm in the church for service. A sheet is on the table in
the narthex for those who will volunteer to prepare meals. Our Lenten meals and
services are open to everyone and we welcome you to come and join us. Whether
you can come for supper or not, you are welcome to gather with us for worship.
Troop Leader Steve Koons, Kieran Koons, Rowan Dietrich, Brayden Belanchik and Pastor Lou Aita are shown on Feb 3, as Emmanuel UCC hosted Scout Sunday to celebrate with Cub Scout troop 433 and Boy Scout Troop 434. A reception was held in the fellowship hall following the worship service. The scouts participated in roles such as greeters, ushers and acolytes.
In addition to the Youth Group’s Weis and Carone’s Card
Fundraisers, we have a Gift Card Fundraiser which is a great way to help our
church. The Fundraiser Sheets are on the
table in the narthex. Just look over the
list (and there’s a lot to choose from) and mark how many cards you want. As with the Youth Group’s fundraiser, this is
essentially a “no cost” fundraiser. You
are just purchasing gift cards in the amount that you would normally spend at
that store or restaurant. The
fundraising part is that Emmanuel purchases them at a discount which helps our
bottom line. Please pay Lisa Ceaser for
your choices. An order will be places March 3rd.
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)
