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Thoughts: I couldn’t sleep that night. In the early morning darkness, I got up, dressed, and then hurried to Jesus’ tomb
I knew a huge stone had been rolled against the opening of the tomb, and I had heard soldiers were posted outside the tomb. Probably, I couldn’t even get near the tomb, but I felt compelled to go there. I needed to be close to Jesus’ poor lacerated body. But when I came near enough to see, the stone had been rolled away. And there were no soldiers. The stillness was absolute. No early birds chirped; no rabbits slipped through the dewy grass. I was alone in the darkness, and I was afraid. Discussion: Why did Mary Magdalene go to Jesus’ tomb alone? Activity: Send an Easter card with a hand-written note to someone who lives alone. Remember in prayer this week Martha Blair, Eunice and Bill Kraase, and Vivian Hansard. This Wednesday is Mid-Week Word at 10:00am and the Lenten Bible Study continues at 6:15pm with George Berquist. This Thursday at 7:30pm is our Maundy Thursday service with communion here in the sanctuary. Good Friday service is at noon at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Adams Road in Troy. Sunday we start the day with Sunrise service at 8:00am followed by a buffet breakfast at 8:30am. Then at 9:30am we’ll have a Festival of Music in the sanctuary before our 10:00amEaster celebration. On Sunday, the children through 5th grade will remain in worship and then immediately following worship are invited to go downstairs to the lower level for an Easter egg hunt. Job Posting: Seeking a Ministries Facilitator Assistant to help meet the needs of Church activities including setup/ greeting the guests/ monitoring the activity/ teardown and/or cleanup. 5 to 17 hrs/wk @ $10/hr. For more information, please contact the Church Office.
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Thoughts: Jesus sent two of his disciples on an errand. We don’t know which ones. It would be nice to know that they were Thaddeus and James the Less, and not the always favored Peter and James the More and John.
Jesus’ instructions were not precise. “Go into this nearby village and, just after you enter, you’ll find a tied, unbroken colt.” Jesus did not say, “It’s the first farm on the left. There’s a red barn, and there’s a well between the barn and the house. The colt is small and dappled gray.” Miraculously, these two disciples found the colt, untied it, explained to the owners that the Lord needed the colt, and brought it to Jesus. This familiar story has references to two obscure Old Testament books. Minor prophets Zechariah and Habakkuk are seldom read or quoted, but Jesus knew them well. Zechariah 9:9 foretold that the King would come to his people riding on an unbroken colt. Habukkuk 2:11 predicted that the stones in the walls would cry out against sin. Discussion: Why was it important to Jesus to fulfill Old Testament prophecies? Activity: Read a commentary about Habakkuk and then read the book itself. Remember in prayer this week the family of Connie Gill, Shirley Gulian, Vivian Hansard, Bill and Eunice Kraase and Martha Meyer. Our Lenten program continues on Wednesday evening at 6:15pm with George Berquist. Hope Warming Center is in full swing tonight through Thursday night. Pray for our servers. This Sunday come and hear the choir’s Cantata entitled “One Sacrifice” by Joel Raney, welcome new members into our congregation, and congratulate the Boy Scouts on their God and Country awards. Thoughts:
Lazarus: Welcome, Jesus! We’re so glad to see you, and all your men, too. Mary: Oh yes, we’re so happy you’ve come to visit us! Martha: Of course, you’re welcome – but do take your sandals off. I’ve just waxed the hall floor. Jesus: We looked forward to seeing all three of you. Thank you for your kind invitation to supper. Peter: Something sure smells good! James: I bet John we’d have mutton tetrazzini! John: I think it smells like lamb Wellington. Martha: The servants will show you where to wash your hands. Mary, we need to season the lentils and dish up the food. Mary: But Martha, I need to do something first. (hurries, out) Lazarus: Just give her a few minutes, Martha. She has a special gift for Jesus. Martha: That girl is never around when I need her. You get up a meal for thirteen hungry men! Mary (returning, carrying a vial of spikenard): Jesus, please sit here. (She anoints his feet with the perfume and wipes them with her hair. Martha goes into the kitchen sputtering.) Nathaniel: What an exquisite aroma! Judas: What a sinful waste! That perfume could have been sold for over $130., and the money could have been given to the poor. Jesus: You don’t really care about the poor, Judas. Poor people will always be here with you, if you really want to help them. But Mary has given me a beautiful gift. She has anointed my body for burial. Discussion: Whom do you really want to help? Activity: Bring perfume into someone’s life. Remember in prayer this week Jackie Braidwood, Vivian Hansard, Eunice Kraase and June Lamm. Also remember the family of Connie Gill who passed away. Visitation will be this Saturday at 3:00pmhere at the church with the service at 4:00pm followed by dinner at 5:00pm. Don’t forget to spring your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday. |
Sue OlesenWriter of the Word @ Home. Sign up to receive these via email HERE UNITED METHODIST SPECIAL SUNDAYS:
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July 2018
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