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Table of Contents
LECTIONARY
FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH7
WOMEN’S
BIBLE STUDY - BEGINS THURSDAY, MARCH 57
2008
CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS10
Lent
comes from an Anglo-Saxon word “lencten”, which means “spring”. That is a great irony to me since spring is a
season of color and life while Lent is the Christian season that promotes the
somber quality of self-denial. We use
ashes, rough-textured cloth, and a Spartan appearance to convey the feeling of
Lent. It involves death. During spring, I get my seersucker suit ready
to wear. Seersucker suits should never
be worn during Lent.
I
have always welcomed Lent, benefiting from the call to penance, self-denial,
and the somber attitude observed as a preparation for Easter. However, I was always glad when it was
over. I needed light. I needed color. I needed Easter. Lent reminds me that I am a child of the
light, an Easter person. I depend upon the
life-saving good news to restore my hope and rekindle my spirit. On the occasions that I have observed fasting
as a part of my Lenten ritual, I grew to dread the practice. I became keenly aware how weak I was. I gained an instant appreciation for Peter,
James, and John who fell asleep on Jesus in the garden.
We
are reminded during Lent that meaningful life is largely about sacrifice. We are constantly being called to some form
of sacrifice, otherwise known as servanthood.
A life that matters is a life that serves. Albert Schweitzer states it like this:
There is no higher religion than
human service. To work for the
common good is the greatest creed.
So don’t expect me to wish you a happy
and merry Lent. It’s hard to be jubilant
during a season of self-denial. Hold on,
though, because as the famous sermon repeats, “It’s Friday……….but Sunday’s
comin!”
Grace and Peace
Pastor Jay
March
1 Genesis 9:8-17
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
March
8 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
March
15 Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
March
22 Numbers 21:4-9
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
March
29 Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
Pastor Holly Wood will be leading a women’s Bible study at her home on Thursday evenings, beginning March 5 at 7:00p.m. The Bible study is Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman by Beth Moore. Please call the church office
(234-2358)
if you plan to attend so workbooks can be ordered.
Hope
Church will receive new members into its fellowship on March 22nd. Interested persons should contact Pastor Jay
for further information.
Our Lenten season begins on Wednesday, February 25th with dinner and the service of ashes. Dinner will be served each Wednesday at 6:00p.m. followed by worship at 7:00p.m. The schedule for representatives from our local missions is listed below.
February 25
Ash Wednesday - Service of Ashes
March 4
Guest Speaker - Jennifer Barbour
Christian HomeCare Services
March 11
Guest Speaker - Sabrina Hartman
Mosaic Pregnancy and Health Centers
March 18
Guest Speaker - Debbie Mize
Violence Prevention Center
March 25
Guest Speaker - Bernadette Harris
Call For Help
April 1
Guest Speaker - Maggie Daugherty
BEACON
Please
bring non-perishable food items on the 1st Sunday of the month and
place them in the wooden box in the library.
Suggested items are cereal, soup, canned vegetables and fruits, pasta,
canned chicken and fish.
We
extend a big thank you to Francis and Shirley Thien and Jerry and Minnie
Blackburn for helping us get the items to the food pantry at the Belleville
Christian Center.
Your Consistory met on January 25th, after the Annual Congregational
Meeting; we elected officers and selected committee representatives for the
2009 year. Below is a list of your Consistory representatives for
2009. They have been elected to provide leadership and to serve the
Church. Please contact them with your thoughts and concerns; and, please
consider serving on one of your Church's committees.
Michael Munie,
President
Karl Pannier, Vice
President, Pastoral Relations, Grounds and Property
Carol
Helle, Secretary, Christian Education
Jack Buente, Personnel
JoAnn
Buchanan, Missions
Charlye
French, Evangelism
Larry
Mueller, Church Life & Membership
Bruce
Patton, Stewardship & Finance
Jerry
Russell, Memorials
WERE MAILED JANUARY 26, 2009 If you have not received yours,
please contact the Church Office.
Sunday, March 22 (Following the
worship service)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 - 8AM JOBS INDOORS
AND OUTDOORS
Thursday, March 5
3:00 - 7:00PM
Donors, Volunteers, Pies
and Sandwiches are needed!
February
25........................... Ash
Wednesday Dinner, 6:00P - Worship Service, 7:00P
March
5.................................. Book
Club, 10:30A
March
5.................................. Red
Cross Blood Drive, 3:00-7:00P
March
5.................................. Women’s
Bible Study on Esther at Pastor Holly’s Home, 7:00P
March
12................................ Senior
Singles’ Luncheon, 11:30A
March
19................................ Senior
Day Trip to St. Louis
March
22................................ Membership
Sunday
March
22................................ Undershepherd
Meeting following worship service
March 28................................ All Church Work Day
We will be taking a day trip on
Thursday, March 19 to tour St. Louis.
Those who went on our previous trip to Kimmswick got a taste of what
March 19th will be like. Our
driver, Albert Hunter, amazed us on our return with his knowledge of the
city. Cost will be $20. We will stop for lunch at either the History
Museum or City Museum restaurant. Each
person will purchase their own lunch.
Those interested should contact the church office to secure a spot. More details will follow.
The gospel bluegrass band Dudley’s
Rush will perform at Union UMC in their fine arts series on Sunday, March 29 at
2:00p.m. All are invited to attend. The address for the church is
721 E. Main Street.
March 12,
2009 11:30a.m.
Program at
Noon: Jamie Lemons
“Answers on
Aging”
Christian
HomeCare Services
February 24th
“Life is a Balancing Act”
Cheryl Moody SWIC Speaker’s Bureau
March 24th
Self Defense Demonstration
April 28th
Mother’s Day Message
Pastor Carol Wilkinson
May 26th
Year-end wrap up with potluck
We were informed this month that the company
picking up our paper will no longer be in business. On March 4th
our paper bin will be removed. Please share this information with anyone you
know who has been recycling paper at Hope.
Thank you for your participation in this program.
You should be receiving your new
2009 directory in the next couple of weeks.
If you don’t receive one, please contact the church office to get your
copy. We extend a big thank you to Don
and MaryAnn Steinkamp for their help in putting the directories together.
Dear Hope Church Family:
Thank you so much for all of the
get-well cards that you sent me. It has
really lifted my spirits. I would also
like to thank the “Manna Ministry” for the delicious meal that they sent right
to my door right after my surgery. It
was greatly appreciated! I love and miss
you all and hope to be back soon!
In Christian love,
Gail and Ginger
Dear Hope Family:
I would like to thank Pastor Jay
and Pastor Carol for their visits and prayers while I was in the hospital
February 12 through 15. I would also
like to thank everyone who said a prayer for me at that time, and for those who
took over my duties on Sunday morning.
With everyone pulling for me and asking for God’s help I was able to
come out of this better than new.
Believe it or not, I do have a heart, and I have pictures to prove
it. Thanks again everyone for your
concerns. By keeping me in your prayers
and God’s assistance, I knew I was in the best hands possible.
Yours in Christ,
Larry Mueller
Thursday, March 5, 10:30AM
“Shelter Me”
by Juliette Fay
We extend our
sympathy to:
§ The family and
friends of Roy Kattenbraker who passed away February 6, 2009. Roy was a member of our Hope Church family.
§ Ron and Sandy
Rujawitz and their family in the loss of Ron’s cousin Don Toenjes.
§ Marilyn and Joe
Harrison and their family in the loss of Marilyn’s sister-in-law Evelyn
Schuster.
During the past
month the following memorials were received.
In memory of Bill
Harris
By Dolores
Harris
In memory of Roy
Kattenbraker
By Bill
& Carol Wilkinson Wilmer
& Janet Krausz Sandra
Bumann
Pearl Luther Gerry
Schneider Art &
Bobbie Rhein
Norma Coon Lucille Smith Helen Jones
Vernon Vogt Jim &
Bonnie Jones Carl &
Ginny Muskopf
Frank & Joan Ponsler Bob & Carol Ripley Clarence Munie
Fran & Shirley Thien Dolores Harris Jay Krumeich
Don, MaryAnn & Dave Steinkamp Lois
Reno
Hope Church Senior Fellowship
MARK
YOUR CALENDARS!
SATURDAY,
MAY 16, NOON
More information about
tickets will be available soon.
EVERY SUNDAY
8:15AM
Scripture…….Preaching…….Prayer
TO BE HELD AT HOPE CHURCH
Classes will begin Wednesday, April 8th
6-7:00PM
This is a 10-week women’s health program offered by the St. Clair County
Health Department. There will be
sessions on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, aging well,
healthy families, violence against women, cardiovascular/diabetes, sexual
health, role of substance use in our lives, and dimensions of health. To register for the program or for more information,
contact the St. Clair County Health Department at 233-7708 ext. 4408