May 2019 Newsletter

Click on the link below to view the May 2019 Newsletter.

May 2019 Newsletter

Have a great day!
~ Carmen

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (4/28/19)

Scripture for Sunday
John 20:19-31 (ESV) 

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions for Reflection
1.    When have you doubted a story from a reliable source?
2.    What did Thomas say he needed in order to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead? (20:25)
3.    How did Jesus restore Thomas’s faith? (20:26)
4.    What did Jesus say to Thomas? (20:27)
5.    What did Thomas say in response to Jesus’ words? (20:28)
6.    What did Jesus say about seeing and believing? (20:29)
7.    When have you had doubts about your faith in Christ?
8.    How should we deal with our doubts about Christianity?
9.    Why is it difficult to believe in Christ?
10. In what ways do we need to trust Christ?
11. On what evidence do you rely for your belief that Jesus rose from the dead?
12. What sort of evidence for the truth of Christianity has John given us?

HOLY WEEK

Maundy Thursday Communion Service, 6 PM, Thursday, April 18, 2019

Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper. The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love one another.

Good Friday Tenebrae Service, 6 PM, Friday April 19, 2019

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. 

Easter Egg Hunt, 10 AM, Sunday April 21, 2019

We will have our annual Easter egg hunt for the children of the church Sunday. Please bring some cookies to share for fellowship time. We need youth and adults to come early about 9:45 to hide eggs.

Service Celebrating Our Risen Lord, 11 AM, Sunday April 21, 2019
We serve a risen savior who is in the world today!

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (4/14/19)

More volunteers are needed for the Easter Pageant.

Practice is tonight at 6:30 PM. 

Holy Week Schedule: 
  Thursday April 18– Maundy Thursday Communion Service at 6 PM
  Friday April 19– Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 6 PM
  Sunday April 21– Easter Egg Hunt at 10 AM, Service Celebrating the Resurrection at 11 AM

Psalm 31:1-24 (ESV) 

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

Questions for Reflection
1.    To you, what’s the best example of strength?
2.    Why did David appeal to the Lord for help? (31:1-5)
3.    How did David describe the Lord in this passage? (31:2-5, 16, 19-24)
4.    What was at stake in David’s safety? (31:3)
5.    *What did David commit to the Lord? (31:5, 15)
6.    How are the wicked described in this passage? (31:6, 17-18)
7.    How did David feel about his predicament? (31:9-13)
8.    What defense did David have against the schemes of his enemies? (31:14-18)
9.    Why did David expect God to treat him favorably? (31:17-18)
10. What did David anticipate in the future? (31:19-20)
11. How is the Christian view of strength different from the world’s?
12. When have you felt the same emotions that David describes in this psalm?
13. When is it most difficult for you to trust in the Lord?
14. What do people often do when they feel overstressed or overwhelmed?
15. What does David teach us about dealing with stress through his example in this psalm?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (4/7/19)

Men's Breakfast this Saturday morning at 8 AM. 

Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit. Bring a friend!

Scripture for Sunday
Luke 7:36 – 50

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." 

41"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What limits do most people place on hospitality?
2.    What did the Pharisee say about what the woman did? (7:39)
3.    How did Jesus respond to Simon the Pharisee’s harsh thoughts? (7:40-43)
4.    What did Jesus know about the woman’s motivation? (7:41-42)
5.    What did Jesus think of Simon’s hospitality? (7:44-46)
6.    What contrasting treatment did Jesus mention? (7:44-46)
7.    What was the result of the woman’s kindness? (7:47-48)
8.    How did the other guests react to Jesus’ forgiveness of the woman? (7:49)
9.    What did Jesus say to the disapproving guests? (7:50)
10. With what character in the story do you most identify?
11. Which of the woman’s actions do you find most compelling?
12. What did Jesus receive from people who had sinned?
13. What were the limits of Jesus’ compassion in this story?
14. What are the limits of Jesus’ compassion toward us?