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Thoughts: Jesus joined some men who were walking the 7-1/2 miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Not recognizing Jesus, these men were discussing the news that angels had been seen at Jesus’ empty tomb, and these angels said that Jesus was alive.
Beginning with Moses, Jesus explained the scriptures that prophesied the coming of a Savior. Still, none of the men recognized Jesus. When they sat down to eat supper together, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Then “… their eyes were opened, and they knew him….” Our sacrament of communion is a sacred reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. “Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you.” “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” “… he was known to them in breaking of bread.” Discussion: How often should communion be served? Activity: Memorize the words from the communion liturgy: “For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ____________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Jan Bancroft, Bob Grusnick at 4739 Butler Road, Troy 48085, Vivian Grusnick, Vivian Hansard, Corwin Hanson, Larry Hornbeck, Mildred Parker, and Edith Smith. TONIGHT AT 7:30PM IN OUR SANCTUARY, THE TROY COMMUNITY CHORUS WILL BE PRESENTING A FREE CONCERT AS A THANK YOU TO THE CHURCH FOR ALLOWING THEM TO REHEARSE IN OUR SANCTUARY WHEN THEIR NORMAL SPACE IS CLOSED. COME AND BE PART OF THE “YOU’RE WELCOME” AS THEY THANK US THIS EVENING. Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26th, join us for a Fellowship Luncheon at Camp Ticonderoga at noon. Please reserve your spot with Donna or just show up. Remember free cookies with lunch. This Sunday is Confirmation and Noisy Sunday. Bring your loose change and be ready to celebrate. HealthPros will also be offering free blood pressure checks. Sunday night, April 30th, at 7pm, at the Royal Oak Emagine Theatre will be our own Bret Miller introducing his film, “Chasing the Star”, the story of the Magi seeking the Christ child. We will meet at the theatre at 6:30pm to buy popcorn and sit together. Bret Miller will meet and greet Troy First folks following this showing. This movie runs from April 28th through May 4th at the Royal Oak Emagine Theatre if you are not able to join us Sunday night. Concerns from Sunday, April 23: Sue Olesen – Daughter of dear friend is gravely ill. Mary Jo and Dale Johnston – Prayers for our friend Shelly as she deals with a cancerous growth in her mouth. Kaj Ostergaard – My cousin Jan (Yen) in Denmark has been diagnosed with heart failure. Prayers for him and his family. Debbie Hagelstein – Ron & Sarah on the birth of daughter born 17 weeks early and weighs 1.7 lbs. The Dukes – Prayers for Marilyn Therrian in Troy Beaumont waiting results on her back tests. She has been in significant pain recently. Joys: Debbie Hagelstein – My nephew Ryan and his wife Jaime on birth of their son Holden Powell Rouse. 6.1 lbs on 4.18.17. My great nephew. Randy & Sheila Wilson – Joy for our son Robert’s 32nd birthday today and the opportunity we had to spend Easter with him and our daughter Rachel in sunny California. Larry & Jo Hornbeck – thank you church family for your concern, prayers, calls, visits, flowers, cards and dinners – thank you! Your prayers were heard and Larry is on the mend. We are humbled by the warmth and love of our church family.
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Thoughts: Somehow it is hard to picture the blunt-spoken Peter speaking so extravagantly. Verses 3-6a fairly dance with joy and promise: abundant, lively, incorruptible, undefiled, reserved in heaven, power of God, faith unto salvation, greatly rejoice.
Can you picture the fisherman Peter exulting over a good catch? “Look, Andrew! Let us greatly rejoice in this abundant, lively, incorruptible, undefiled mess of fish, which have been reserved for us from heaven through the power of God.” Or – “Give us a hand here, Andrew!” Again, we see the altered Peter, to whom faith has become precious. He rejoices with joy unspeakable. Discussion: In what different ways does our faith manifest itself? Activity: Select one task that you especially dislike. Try to find one redeeming quality in it. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Jan Bancroft, Bob Grusnick at Heartland, Corwin Hanson, Larry Hornbeck at Crittenton, Mildred Parker, Dennis and Alice Seppanen and Edith Smith. Remember today is Fitness for You, a senior exercise class at 1:00pm. Tomorrow is Pastor Weatherly’s Mid-week Word, a Bible study and discussion filled with laughter and fellowship. This Saturday there will be a Quilter-to-Quilter in our Christian Life Center from 10am to 2pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a small admission fee. This Sunday is Holy Humor Sunday. We will celebrate the joke Jesus Christ played on death by having an especially joyful, laughter-filled service. Invite a friend, bring a neighbor, and feel free to wear bright colors, funny hats or buttons, your bathrobe…come ready for the joy that only Jesus can bring us. This Sunday night at 6:30pm in our sanctuary: SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE! This explosion of talent will showcase our talented youth in a wide variety of acts. There will be singing, there will dancing, and there will be laughing. All of this will help support our youth mission trip to Norristown, PA this summer. A free-will offering will follow as will refreshments. Bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring a shut-in to this unique display of Troy First youth talent. Thoughts: After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, Peter spoke to the assembled disciples, quoting from two separate Psalms, and presiding over the election of a disciple to take Judas’ place.
We see Peter next on the day of Pentecost, explaining to learned Jews why the unlettered followers of Jesus could now converse in many different languages. Peter quoted the minor prophet Joel: “ ‘And it shall come to pass in those days, ‘ saith God, ‘ I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.’ ” The centurion Cornelius, a devout man who feared God and prayed daily was told by an angel to send for Peter, who would tell him what to do. Peter came and talked to Cornelius and his household. In ten verses Peter brilliantly summarized Jesus’ teachings, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. He concluded, “…through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Whosover! All of us! Discussion: Why was Peter transformed from a rough, uneducated fisherman into a scholar of the scriptures who could speak with conviction and power? Activity: Read the book of Joel. You may be surprised how much of it you have heard quoted. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week the family of Bill Kraase whose funeral service is today at 11am at Sullivan Funeral Home in Royal Oak, Betty Dietz, Joan Doptis, Bob Grusnick at Heartland, Vivian and Stu Hansard and June Lamm. This Thursday at 7:30pm will be our Maundy Thursday service in our sanctuary. Join us Good Friday at noon at Central Woodward Christian Church with other Troy churches and choirs. Easter Sunday morning begins at 8:00am with our Sunrise Service followed by breakfast at 8:30am. Celebration Easter worship will be at 10am followed coffee fellowship and our amazing Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your family, bring your friends, and celebrate Easter at Troy First. Concerns: JoAnn Horning – Please keep Donna in your thoughts as she is in her hometown for her father’s funeral. Terri Watson – Prayers for my kids on the loss of their dad this past week. Carole Welbaum – Coworker Mary with breast cancer. Started treatment on Friday. Joys: Trustees are thankful for all the people who helped yesterday on workday, including Boy Scout Troop 1707. If you still want to help the Trustees, see Gale Blair for a task or two. Mark & Carole Bauer – We welcome Julia Marie, our new granddaughter. All are doing well. Thoughts: You probably don’t know any little boys with my name. You probably do know lots of Johns and Jameses and Matthews and maybe even a Thaddeus or two. But nobody names his boy Judas anymore
But the rest of the disciples – those fellows weren’t all perfect you know. One of them used to be a tax collector, and one of them was always doubting Jesus, and one of them denied even knowing Jesus. After all, I stayed with Jesus for three years, didn’t I? I followed along real faithful – and let me tell you, it wasn’t always comfortable. Lots of traveling and sketchy meals and crowds of noisy people – all of them wanting something - and nasty looks from the Jewish priests. I really believed Jesus was going to rescue us from these rotten, snobbish Romans. He had all sorts of power, I tell you. He could heal leprosy and bring people back to life and make lots of food – enough food for thousands of people – when there hadn’t been anything before but some kid’s lunch. So I didn’t see why it should be any trouble for him to clean up the whole Roman mess and restore Israel to the Jews. But time went on, and Jesus just talked about sheep and lilies of the field and some old woman sweeping her house to find a lost coin. So I figured I’d help things along – sort of force his hand. Surely if I offered to betray him to the high priests and they had him arrested and brought him to trial, he’d call down fire, or a legion of angels, or whatever it took to save himself and set up his own kingdom. But it all went so wrong! He just went along with everything – didn’t even try to save himself. I couldn’t believe it – I couldn’t bear it. He let them crucify him. And now everyone blames me. It’s not fair. I never wanted it to end that way. Discussion: When Judas asked Jesus, “Master, is it I?”, what did he expect Jesus to answer? Activity: On Easter Sunday, give $52.80 to our church. (Read Zechariah 11:12 and Matthew 26:15.) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week: Bob Grusnick at Heartland, Vivian Hansard, Bill Kraase at Cherrywood, Eunice Kraase and June Lamm. This Saturday at 8:00am Men’s Breakfast will convene with food, fun, fellowship and frivolity including our Confirmands and chaperones. Come and meet our 2017 Confirmands. Immediately following the Men’s Breakfast this Saturday at 9am will be the first 2017 ALL CHURCH TRUSTEE WORK DAY. Can you imagine 50 members and friends attacking the tasks that have been identified??? Come and be part of this amazing group of individuals who will accomplish these mighty tasks! This Sunday our chancel choir will be performing their Cantata “Our Savior’s Love.” Bring a friend, bring a neighbor. Come and enjoy Palm Sunday with music. The children will also be passing out palms during their children’s time. Concerns from Sunday, April 2: Pam Olesen – Prayers for a good friend dealing with her husband’s cancer Kaj & Robin Ostergaard – Prayers for safe travels for Elizabeth as she drives a U-Haul truck to Chicago as we speak. Most of her stuff is now out of our basement. Joys and Concern: Mark & Carole Bauer – Prayers for the arrival of our granddaughter on Wednesday with a planned C-section. Prayers for Shannon and family. Joys: Mary Jo Johnston – I just want to praise God for the beauty of spring and the singing of the birds. Our Lord is amazing! Kathy Sobanski – 28 pints of blood were donated on Thursday from Troy First. Daisy Troop 76309 – Enjoyed a movie night Friday in our theatre, cleaned some tables and brought cleaning supplies for Brightmoor. Thoughts: Those of us who are older watch with envy when younger people sink down gracefully onto a rug. Legs coil under them effortlessly. Backs remain straight. When these youngsters need to arise, they unwind and rise in one swift, liquid motion.
We remain slumped in our easy chair and murmur gratefully, “Yes, dear, I do need some more ice.” In verse 11, Paul promises us that “… he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.” Perhaps this doesn’t mean coiling and uncoiling physically. Perhaps if our mortal bodies are quickened by his Spirit, our minds become more receptive to learning, and our hearts become more open to loving “even the least of these.” Discussion: How can we welcome the Spirit who lives within us? Activity: Examine your feelings toward someone who irritates you. Find one quality in this person to admire. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Betty Dietz, Joan Doptis, Bob Grusnick, Vivian Hansard, Bill Kraase at Cherrywood, and Eunice Kraase. From Pastor Weatherly: We extend our Christian Sympathy and Love to Donna Klungle, on the death of her father, in NY. They will be traveling next week for the funeral. Don’t forget this Thursday is our Red Cross Blood Drive from 1:00 – 6:45pm. Walk-ins are always welcome or register online. Also Thursday at 7:00pm, Connections will be meeting downstairs in Sue Wesp's classroom (Room 104). We will prepare the baskets for Brightmoor and be discussing our topics/missions for the next several weeks; come with ideas. All are welcome. Concerns from Sunday, March 26th: Pete & Jill Woods - friend’s baby was born this week with breathing problems and is still in NICU. Leverenz Family – prayers for Kyle Wells as he is recovering from surgery. Sheila Wilson – our daughter’s friend Holly and her mom who went missing and were found in a Minneapolis hospital. Julie Olsavsky – prayers for co-worker struggling w/stage 4 lung cancer. Linda & Rick Wright – step-brother Michael Zeller in RO Beaumont waiting for test results. Tomorrow he is having biopsy surgery for possible neck cancer. Becky Head Frank – a student at school has terminal lymphoma. Please pray for the family and the staff at Great Lakes Cyber Academy. Joys: Robert Drager – recovering well from recent surgery. Thank you for prayers and cards while recovering. Bob Whitford – My father’s cornea transplant from a 30-year old woman was successful. His vision at 89 is greatly improved. Thanks be to God. George Berquist – Thank you for all the cards, phone calls, prayers and concerns. And yes, there will be class today. Carole Bauer – My friend Ann’s son Adam had successful brain surgery and is home. Next chemo and radiation. Carole & Mark Bauer – Ryan and Justynn are engaged! No wedding date yet. Bill and Sue Wesp – A wonderful celebration yesterday in honor of our niece Anne and new husband, Matt. Ann & Tom Stevens – Daughter-in-law Elizabeth had her surgery Friday and came home Saturday. Thanks for all the prayers. |
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