| Painting of Worship Center By Barbara Jensen
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HOLY WEEK SERVICES: There are many opportunities for you & your family to remember Jesus’ journey to the cross & to celebrate his resurrection. Plan to join us:
Wednesday April 4 – 6pm Worship & Dinner Hart Congregational (HCUCC) Thursday April 5 – 7:30am Prayer and Communion HUMC 7pm Maundy Thursday Service HUMC Friday April 6 – 1pm Good Friday Service HCUCC 6-9pm Prayer Walk & Meditation (self-directed) HUMC Easter Sunday April 8 - 8 am SONrise Worship Celebration HUMC 9am – Easter Family Breakfast 10:30am – Easter Worship
The great paradox [of my life] is that every time I walk into a prison and see the faces of men or women who have been transformed by the power of the living God, I realize that the thing God has chosen to use in my life … is none of the successes, achievements, degrees, awards, honors, or cases I won before the Supreme Court. That's not what God's using in my life. What God is using in my life to touch the lives of literally thousands of other people is the fact that I was a convict and went to prison. That was my great defeat, the only thing in my life I didn't succeed in.
Chuck Colson, Sermon "The Gravy Train Gospel," PreachingToday.com
"For a lot of people, there was a storm before the storm."
I read that from a Facebook post by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Force and it struck me how true that is. We've all read about the homeowners who just recovered from the spring tornadoes destroying their houses - only to have this new storm level their rebuilt house, again.
But, beyond that, it is like my patients. They may have diabetes, poor circulation, nerve damage, sores, etc. but also have heart disease, cancer. etc. And have a child die. Or be going through a divorce. Or lose their job...and have no insurance now.
No one goes through life unscathed or unscarred. That is why Jesus is the Great Physician...to heal all those things.
Many of us help with disaster relief and get focused on the tasks at hand - tarping the roof, clearing the trees and debris, etc. But, sometimes, the greatest help we can give is to actually listen to the homeowner for it is only then that we may find out about the other storms that have been buffeting their souls.
The blessing - and terror - is to realize that sometimes, Jesus chooses to let us be part of the process of calming those storms and healing the wounds. And it isn't even up to us to do the healing, we just have to be obedient - and go when called.
Richard Kuhn - PASTOR BECCA’S CONTACT INFO: Parsonage: 873-4766. Cell Phone: 301-4581. E-mail: pastorbecca7 @ gmail.com.
You're not so bad that you can't come to Jesus and not so good that you don't need to!
When I was a boy, my Arkansas cousins moved to California for two years. When they moved back, they talked funny. Just living in California for two years influenced how they said "You guys" and how often they said it. I prefer "Y'all" to "You guys" any day. My cousins promised me they didn't try to talk funny, but living with those Californians rubbed off on them.
My wife can just talk to her sister on the phone and I notice a change in her accent. When she hears a New Mexican accent, I ask, "What accent is that?" She says, "That is no, accent at all, unlike your Texan."
The same is true with the world's system and values. We, by sinful nature, pick up the values, principles and goals of our society much the same way. James spelled it out clearly in black and white, revealing again the sinfulness of just a minor adjustment in our lives created by the world system. Jas 4:4 "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Both writers point out the polar differences in God's way and the World's way. If you are influenced by the world, James says you stand against God; John says you are devoid of His love.
Richard Kuhn
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DEVOTIONAL STORY OF THE MONTH
A patient was talking about life and said the best part of his life had been after he turned blind because it was only then that he could see just how bad his life before that had been - prison, getting stabbed and shot, dialysis, drugs, etc. He said all the "fun" that was promised somehow turned into something far different from what it was advertised to be and the friends he thought he had turned out to be anything but friends. Funny how our vision changes. And then again, not so "ha ha" funny unless you just have a mean streak. Proverbs warns about ways that seem right, only to lead to death and how easily people are deceived. And Adam and Eve's eyes were opened to just how wrong their vision was before the Fall.
Maybe, our constant prayer is to have God keep our eyes open to the potential snares and traps the evil one has laid out for us - many of which are warned about in His Word - if'n we read it, meditate on it, and love it like the psalmist.
Or we can do it the old fashioned way - and find out by bad experience. But, do we really need to get shot, stabbed, imprisoned, and addicted first?
A young man wrote this to his girlfriend. “Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would fight the most fiercest dragon to be by your side. I will see you on Thursday - as long as it doesn't rain.” ****** Sounds like a lot of our commitment to Christ. Oh so great on paper or profession, but a little weak when storms roll in.
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MIRACLE SATURDAY: A healthy world--mind, body & spirit. June 9th is going to rock your mind, body and spirit! Join thousands of other United Methodists at Annual Conference for a day that will open your hearts and change your life. Come experience world renowned preacher, author and humanitarian Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo and our own Bishop Jonathan Keaton with a powerful worship experience, then stay for the ministry fair and enlightening speakers. Then, Learn how you can MAKE A DIFFERENCE in eradicating Malaria. To register, see Pastor Becca. It's one day you won't want to miss! SUNDAY SCHOOL AWARE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY!: This is the first year attendance is tied to camp scholarships. We’re very happy for the good attendance this year. FOOD, FAITH & FILM: Next week join us for our monthly Potluck and movie. Bring a dish to pass and your own table service. Then plan to stay for a film with Pastor Becca. We’ll be watching “Faith Like Potatoes”.
Sunday May 20 Children’s Sunday! 10:30a Worship & Sunday School Noon Kid’s Club & Youth Group (ANNA BAGLEY’S LAST DAY!) Noon Mission & Ministry Committee Meeting (library) 7p Adult Bible Study (Pastor Becca’s house) Monday May 21 9a-12p Church office open 11a-2p Retired School Personnel Luncheon, Fellowship Hall Tuesday May 22 9a-1p Church office open/ 10a-12pm Pastor Becca office hours Wednesday May 23 9a-1p Church office open 9:00a Bulletin Deadline (e-mail or call church office) 12pm Rotary (Fellowship Hall) 3:30p After School Youth Group (Grades 3-8 youth center) Thursday May 24 8a Women’s Fourth Day Group (Library) 9a-1p Church Office open/ 10-2 Pastor Becca’s office hours 3:30p Girl Scouts (Youth Center) 5p Men’s Fourth Day Group (Library) Friday May 25/Saturday May 26 Church office closed. Sunday May 27 10:30a Worship & Sunday School 7p Adult Bible Study (Pastor Becca’s house)
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