Scriptures for this week:
Joel 2:1-2 & 12-1, Psalm 51:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, and Matthew 6:1-6 & 16-21
Ash Wednesday services are this Wednesday, March 2nd
12 noon in the Upper Room Chapel & 6:30 p.m. in ths Sanctuary
Wise words:
“If you are uncertain (in your journey) of which path to take…
choose the one on which the shadow of the cross falls.”
–Hugh Walpole
To mark the beginning of Lent, the journey towards Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, we receive ashes on our heads in the sign of the cross. These ashes are the burned branches from last year’s Palm Sunday.
The holy season of Lent invites us to give up something or take up something. In recent days I’ve heard these ideas: give up carbonated beverages, procrastination, social media…
Just yesterday a couple friends were talking about giving up sugar, because they’re just too sweet :).
Things to take up: regular exercise, saying hello to someone you don’t know every day, doing chores or completing a task without being asked…
Perhaps you will start each day by reading something that warms your spirit, or fall asleep each night with the Lord’s Prayer on your lips, or use a breath prayer throughout the day:
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
The Sundays between today and Easter are considered “little Easters,” so set those aside in the calendar math. Our 40-day walk from Ash Wednesday to Easter is a symbolic memoriam of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, after his baptism before he began his ministry, when the Spirit attended to him and at the end of which the Temptor came close.
Whatever you choose, if you choose to honor the journey toward the resurrection by giving up or taking up, the invitation is not to self-improvement or development, it is to attend to the great love of God in the grace of Christ’s sacrifice. Every time you embrace your small surrender–remember Jesus. Go to prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of Christ our Lord.
This is an invitation to discipleship.
This is an invitation to Christian life.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, let us keep a Holy Lent.
-hkgd
From last week:
“Community means trusting that someone else will be available to the person in need.” -Parker J. Palmer
LOVE in action. What’s in your refrigerator?
On Sunday, February 13th our young people packed 120 sack lunches for OPEN DOOR. They were distributed on Monday, February 14th with a hot cup of coffee to folks in need who visited OPEN DOOR downtown (402 E. 2nd St. N.). The DONUT DOLLARS that are collected on Sundays fund this project. Thank you, Chapel Hill.
There are many reasons we put our hands and hearts together in work and fellowship on a regular basis. Here are a few:
- We learn and practice HOW–to work together in community to complete a task with accuracy and efficiency.
- We consider and practice HOW–to reach people with an attitude of respect.
- We ponder HOW–the restorative power of the Gospel, energized by the Spirit, renews all involved–givers and receivers, those that are full and those that are hungry–through the reciprocity of mission (love in action).
1 paper bag, 1 napkin, 1 spoon, 2 ziploc baggies, 2 slices of bread, 1 slice of chees, 4 slices of sandwich meat, 1 cup of applesauce, 1 bag of chips and 3 cookies
Packed with love.
DONUTS have returned! Thanks for adding some sweetness to your life and supporting our youth and young adults!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8th “Dig Deeper” gathered to celebrate Advent and Christmas.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12th we packed 120 lunches for OPEN DOOR. Thank you, Chapel Hill for continuing to support our volunteer work in the community. At UMYF on Sunday afternoon we celebrated with a Christmas Party!
Sunday, Dec. 5th: Zaina Salman, Dallas Dismuke, Lucas Smith & Addi Gutzmer
ILLUMINATIONS on Sunday, Dec. 5th:
Illuminations set-up at BOTANICA, Sunday Nov. 14th:
Thanks for volunteering in our community!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31st featured our Youth & Young Adults in worship. Thank you youth & young adults for your leadership and service!
Enjoy the service with this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obTKeh4HTnk
Sunday School at 9:30 & Worship at 11:00! Sunday School is a time to catch up with friends & youth sponsors, see what’s on the horizon, learn, grow in faith & be in Christian community.
PRAYER:
Almighty God,
may the transforming power
of your Gospel
be at work in my life today and always.
Amen.
_______________________________________________________________________
*CALENDAR NOTES:
Sunday School: Sundays @ 9:30 a.m. Middle School (6th-8th grades) & High School (9th-12th + grades)
Worship: Sundays @ 11:00 a.m.
UMYF:
- Sunday, Mar. 6th UMYF from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. meet at the church
- *Sunday, Mar. 13th NO UMYF *Spring Break! Live it UP!
WEDNESDAYS: “Dig Deeper”
- “Dig Deeper” Wednesday, March 2nd we will attend Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 9th meet at 7 p.m. in LL6
Mid-week re-fresh via newsletter
May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Shalom. -Numbers 6: 24-26
God is Good. All the Time.
Heidi K. Greenwood Doell Director of Youth & Young Adult Discipleship