Pastor Joel's Mid-Week Reminders for 4/26/2011
This entry was posted on 4/27/2011 6:40 AM and is filed under Mid-Week Reminders.
'Although
you have not seen him [Christ], you love him; and even
though you do
not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an
indescribable
and glorious joy...' 1 Peter 1.8
Most of us know
that Lent is a seven week long
season, preparing us for Easter. Are we also aware that
Easter is a
season in its own right? Yes, Easter is also a season of
seven weeks,
leading all the way to Pentecost Sunday.
In other words, Easter isn't just a one day event, but
rather an
extended period of time during which we can gradually
understand the
enormity of what God has done for us and for the world in
raising Jesus
from death. We're used to 'giving something up for
Lent'--making some
kind of lifestyle sacrifice so that we can focus less on
our bodily
desires and more on Christ's great sacrifice for the world
in his
suffering and death. How about we use the Easter season
to ADD
something to our lives? Suggestions: take a Sunday
bulletin home with
you each Sunday and use that Sunday's Bible readings to
re-read and
ponder during the week. Or plant a tree, garden, flowers,
etc. and
tend that new growth regularly, to remind yourself of the
new creation
that you are by Christ's resurrection. Or re-commit
yourself to
regular, weekly worship in honor and praise of the risen
Christ who
comes to us in his Word and Sacrament each Sunday. Or,
you could
attend my Sunday morning Bible study and join in
discussing the great
texts of Scripture during this Easter season. See more on
this just
below...
NEW
ADULT
SUNDAY CLASS: During Easter season, I'll
be
leading a Bible study that focuses on the assigned texts for
each
Sunday of Easter. Together we'll discuss the riches of our
new life in
Christ as we grow in our understanding of what the
Resurrection
means...what lies ahead after we die...how we can live in such
a way
that we witness the joy and hope of being Easter Christians.
Join us
in the Commons Room each Sunday from 9:50 - 10:45am. Coffee
and
refreshments are available.
SUNDAY, MAY 1: The
family
who will be occupying the new Thrivent / Habitat for Humanity
Build
will be with us for worship. Please come and meet Tabitha
Gritton and
her two children this coming Sunday!
GIFTS
FOR FATHER TAAFFE HOMES NEEDED BY MAY 6:
Our annual Mothers Day gifts for unwed single mothers cared
for at the
3 area Father Taaffe homes are due by this coming Friday, May
6.
Please bring gifts for these single young moms--basics for
baby care,
diapers, new clothes for the babies, etc. Place your gifts in
the crib
near the main doors as you enter the lobby. Questions:
contact David
and Judy Gerecke.
NOTICE FROM OUR NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE:
"The nominating committee has been hard at work over the past
6 weeks
identifying potential candidates for the 5 officer positions
(President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and
Financial
Secretary) in preparation for our June congregational election
meeting. If you are interested in the possibility of serving
in one of
these capacities, and we have not yet spoken with you, PLEASE
contact a
member of the nominating committee as soon as possible: Paul
Schutz, Al
Binder, Pam King, Diane Brauer, Jim Baker, Pastor Joel. We do
not want
to leave anyone out, and since both men and women are eligible
to serve
in any of these positions, all are welcome! We look forward
to hearing
from you."
FRIDAY MORNING BIBLE
STUDY CLASS has decided to
wait until September to re-convene.
Questions: contact Bob Kosta or Glenn Edwards.
SOUP SERVING AT ST MARK'S THIS
COMING
SUNDAY: We need your help, from
12noon - 2pm at St
Mark's Lutheran, Salem (near the capitol) as we serve soup
and bread to
the homeless on May 1. Contact Etta Mae Hitchcock if you
can help.
VOLUNTEER
LABOR
NEEDED UPSTAIRS: Our permits
expire
in early May, and there is still much work to be done upstairs
before
that deadline. If you can help, please talk with Al Binder,
Randy
Giesbers, Eric Westerfield, or others on our Properties
Board. You
don't have to be skilled--much of the work can be learned and
mastered
quickly. Our thanks to all who have put in many hours of
volunteer
labor helping
to complete these projects!!
DATES
AND
EVENTS TO NOTE ~
Sunday,
May 1...............12noon, Serving soup at
St Mark's
Sunday, May 8...............Habitat for
Humanity recognition and
blessing
May 10 -
12.................Oregon Pastors
Conference, Portland
June 10 -
12................RLC Women's Retreat,
Turner
June 27 - July
1...........Vacation Bible
School
**Please see the weekly
bulletin, Spirit Call, and
master
calendar for a complete listing of dates and
events.
