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Invitations
Door Hangers
Invitation cards to our Open House on April 19 are availalbe at the information table in the narthex of the church. These brightly colored invitations can be handed out to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers as a means of inviting.
Door Hangers are currently being made and will be available for you to take home on Plam Sunday. Hang a few in your neighboorhood and other parts of Blue Springs and let's see what happens. This Open House will only be a success if you take part. |
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Lenten Offering "For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat." Isaiah 25:4 NRSV
Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.
During Lent we are receiving a special offering to benefit Hillcrest Transitional Housing. This offering will support the ministry of Hillcrest and go to support the apartment we sponsor. Offering envelopes are available in the narthex. Bring your offering anytime during Holy Week. |
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OFFERING ENVELOPES
If you have been receiving offering envelopes in the mail, your next set of envelopes is available to pick up in the narthex. You may use the envelopes either weekly or monthly, as best meets your needs. When you get to your last, or second to last, envelope, you MUST call the office and request more. Your help picking up your envelopes will help the church save money. |
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SPONSOR THE HOSPITALITY TABLE
Celebrate your anniversary, the birth of a child, any significant happening in your life, or just say thanks by sponsoring the Sunday morning hospitality table refreshments. For a small donation of $70 you will cover the cost of our donuts. Donations given by others that morning will go to support various church ministries. Your sponsorship will be recognized by a sign on the hospitality table. Call the office, 229-8108, for more information or to get the remaining spots.
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BELL CHOIR OPENINGS
There are openings in the Glory Ringers and Spirit Ringers bell choirs that practice at 5:30 and 6:30pm on Wednesdays under the direction of Kathy Ford, and the Rhapsody Ringers bell choir that practices at 7:30pm on Wednesdays under the direction of Janie Wilson. Bell choirs play in worship once a month. Bell ringing is good mental and physical exercise. Older people are learning to ring to keep their minds active and because it is a sociable hobby that allows them to make new friends. Knowledge of bell ringing is preferable but not necessary - we will be happy to teach you. Just come along to a practice on Wednesday nights and you are welcome to watch us ringing. |
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Greetings!
The events of Palm Sunday touch our hearts, perhaps in the deepest of places. Jesus, in the midst of victorious shouts from his followers, understands that things are not as they appear to the disciples. We are tempted to judge some of these followers. They are so jubilant, but they will soon desert him when danger comes. But we can't really judge them. Something reminds us there is a similar note in our own words of praise. We know what comes later in the story, but some part of us would like to freeze it right here in the bright sunlight of the triumphal entry. Yet, we know our redemption lies in the completion of this journey. Jesus does not stop here; he has to go on with this journey. We cannot stop either. We must continue with him to the end of this journey. You and I are called to worship this week by the invitation to follow Christ in all these events. Following leads through the valley of the shadow of death. It also leads to the empty tomb. The path starts this weekend as we worship together, remembering Jesus on the road into the holy city.
Remember the worship services at 7:00pm on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Our journey is not complete without making these stops. On the Saturday evening before Easter, we will join together again for the Easter Vigil. This is one of the most traditional of worship services. We shared it last year for the first time at FUMC. So many of you expressed what a profound experience of worship it proved to be for you. You may want to be here for the Easter Vigil even if you are going to be present for one of the Easter Sunday services.
Determine to be here for a Palm Sunday celebration. Let that be the beginning of a Holy Week of worship and prayer. Take each step of the journey which leads to Easter!
Grace and Peace be with you,
Steve Campbell |
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APRIL COMMUNION OFFERING
Whether first-time or returning, church camp can make a huge impact in the life of a child/youth. A camp experience helps plant new seeds toward a relationship with God or deepens their current faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. Promoting camps like Wilderness or Galilee, two Missouri United Methodist camp facilities, helps ensure that every child/youth is given that opportunity. This year, the average cost of camp ranges from $230-$350. Your Communion offering for April helps support Camping Ministry and gives every member registering for camp a $25 voucher off the cost of camp.
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HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
April 9, Maundy Thursday, Service and Holy Communion-7:00pm
April 10, Stations of the Cross-Noon to 6:00pm, sanctuary
April 10, Good Friday, Tenebrae Service-7:00pm
April 11, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil Service-5:30pm
April 12, Easter Sunday, Easter Celebration Service-
8:00, 9:30 and 11:00am
(Please note the change in service times for Easter Sunday) |
Easter Breakfast
If you are pressed for time on Easter morning, let breakfast be one less thing you have to worry about. The Youth Mission Trips teams will be serving Easter Breakfast again this year. This year's buffet includes two breakfast casseroles, the ever-popular breakfast burrito, French toast, bacon, and lots of fresh fruit. The coffeecake and cinnamon rolls are homemade. Everything is made from scratch, using fresh ingredients, so we know you will enjoy the buffet.
We will serve from 8:00 until 11:00am in the lobby area of the Education Wing. Dining rooms will be set up in Rooms 111 and 112. The buffet is $6 for adults and $3 for children 8 and under. All proceeds benefit the 2009 Youth Mission Trips. Please join us for a great meal and support the Youth Mission Trips Ministry at the same time.
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Open House - April 19
Open House
Sunday, April 19, Noon to 3:00pm
Celebrate our expanding ministries
with the opening of our new
Family Life Center
Volunteers are needed to make finger food for our Open House on April 19. This would include small sandwiches, canapés, small desserts (cookies, bars, petit fours). Also, help is needed at the food table on the day of the Open House. Please call Sheila Solon at 229-0218 to let her know if you can help and/or what you can bring.
Save the date!
Join the fun!
Invite a friend!
Invite another friend!
See you there!
Check out the blue card in worship for ways you can help. Hospitality training sessions are scheduled for April 16 at 6:30pm and April 18 at 4:30pm. There's plenty of opportunities for everyone. |
Another opportunity to make a friend, have some fun, enjoy some fellowship, and at the same time, raise money to support the ministries of First UMC
What is Fan the Flame?
Out of our skills, talents, abilities, and abundance, we offer a service to a fellow member. Someone who is interested in buying your service pays the church for the value of the service and you make arrangements to deliver.
There will be a special display on the weekends of April 18/19, April 25/26, and May 2/3 for you to see the things that have been offered.
If you want to volunteer to bake a pie, host a swim party, mow a yard, detail a car, rent your condo.... The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
For information on how to get involved by donating your skill, talent, ability, or anything else contact:
Joan Petty (Chair), 229-0258
Darlene Barnes, 224-0224
Janice Bauch, 796-3852
Bonnie Lass-Schmuhl, 350-2222
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YOUTH MISSION TRIPS GARAGE SALE
Once again it's time to start cleaning out your closets, libraries, toy bins, and kitchen storage pantrries for the annual Mission Trips Garage Sale. The sale will be all day Saturday, April 25, in the new Family Life Center. Fitness equipment, Christmas decorations, guns, computers, and large furniture cannot be accepted. If you have questions about items, please call Jack Marker, 229-9510. The next newsletter will have more information. |
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AN INVITATION
Because of all your prayers, we will be able to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on April 11. Please join us for cake (Costco!) and punch on April 11, from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the church narthex.
Robert and Carol Orndorff |
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Join "Connections"
 If you would like to explore a deeper connection with God within a small group community, Connections invites you to join us on Sundays at 10:40am in Room 100. Connections is a group for adults who are interested in developing meaningful relationships with God and each other. If you would like more information, please contact Stephanie Marker at 220-9094 or
stephaniecmarker@yahoo.com.
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