March 15, 2015 - 4th Sunday in Lent
    "Why?"
    "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
    Matthew 27:45-49

March 22, 2015 - 5th Sunday
    "Thirst"
    "I thirst."
    John 19:28-29

  Lenten Dinner Theater ~ March 22nd at 5 pm.

The Worship, Sacraments & Music Commission invites you to attend a unique Lenten Dinner Theatre in Fellowship Hall.  Dinner will be followed by a Lenten experience focused on the "Last Words of Jesus". There will be no cost for this event.  Please sign up at the Crossroads.

March 29, 2015 - Palm Sunday
    "Finished"
    "It is finished."
    John 19:30

   Through the intervention of God's gracious resurrection, lifelong changes in our values and behavior become possible. By turning from the end of the "old self" in us, Lenten repentance makes it possible for us to affirm joyfully, "Death is no more!" and to aim toward the landscape of the new age. Faithfully adhering to the Lenten journey of "prayer, fasting and almsgiving" leads to the destination of Easter.
             - Presbyterian Mission Agency/Companion to the    Common Book of Worship

 The Downriver Vicariate Dementia Ministry has 2 more programs in their series. The presenter is Carol Waarala, MSW, LMSW, who is a medical social worker specializing in Aging and Dementia Education. She has spoken at hundreds of workshops, conferences, churches and elder-care facilities throughout Michigan. Carol brings a wealth of professional, as well as personal experience to her presentations.

What if you Could Outsmart Alzheimer's?

Saturday, April 18th from 10 am to noon
Hosted by St. Joseph Parish
2465 Third St., Trenton
Contact: Scott Anastasia at 734-676-9082 or sanatasia@stjosephtrenton.net

Almost Home: The End of the Alzheimer's Journey
Saturday, May 16th from 10 am to noon
Hosted by St. Andre Bessette Parish
4250 W. Jefferson, Ecorse
Contact: Pat Szymecko at 313-383-8514 or frontofficesab@yahoo.com 

ChristNet Warming Center
   The Inter-Faith Council of Churches has been asked to host ChristNet for a week beginning on Sunday, April 12th through Sunday, April 19th, GIPC will be the host site for the week long program. Our evening to prepare and serve dinner is Wednesday, April 15th, and we hope youwill able to join us to make the evening a special one for our guests. 
   Volunteers will be needed on Wednesday, April 15th to: prepare and serve dinner  and staff three 4 ½ hour shifts: 7:00 pm. to midnight, 11:30 pm. to 4 am. and 3:30 am. to 8 am.
   Crews will be needed to: set up on Sunday, April 12th, wash towels on Thursday morning - return by evening, tear down on Sunday, April 19th (approximately 6:30 am.), and  wash bedding & towels on Sunday, April 19th at a Laundromat at approximately 7 am.
   Look for sign-up sheets at the crossroads or call Jo-Anne Gronlund at 676-0046 to volunteer to staff one of the shifts on Wednesday or SandyBettinger at 671-6457 to volunteer food for the evening meal.
   We will have a box near the Crossroads to collect travel sizes of shampoo, soap, deodorant, razors and shaving cream. Clothing, boots andduffle bags are greatly appreciated. We will set up an area for collection of clothing after March 22nd - please be sure to note that it is for

ChristNet.
   Christ calls us to love one-another and keep the Commandments and in Matthew 19:21, He advises a young man seeking the kingdom to "Go, sell all your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven." 

Yours in Christ,
Jo-Anne Gronlund

  
   The One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering taken during Lent, supports the Presbyterian Mission Agency ministries. Your gift provides hope, resilience and faith through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. 
   GIPC Elder, Kathleen Rankin, is a National Response Team Volunteer of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  Kathleen writes this first-hand account of her insight into their work:
   "When wildfires burned through Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, you were there to comfort displaced families. When tornadoes touched down in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi, you were there to help affected communities organize for recovery and rebuilding. When church buildings were damaged by winds and rain and fire, you were there to help the congregations work through the insurance process. And when the unthinkable happened, when communities and schools and campuses became crime scenes, you were there to counsel, console and offer emotional and spiritual

care to victims and responders.
   Did you know that your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing made all these things possible? OGHS gifts help to fund Presbyterian Disaster Assistance programs that take God's grace and Christ's love to hurting people in the midst of natural and human-caused disaster situations. 

National Response Team volunteers offer sympathetic ears and hearts, as well as practical assistance with recovery and rebuilding. Yes, you were there and you made a difference. People you will never meet have been lifted up and cared for. On their behalf, we thank you for your generous

support of One Great Hour of sharing."
   You will read of more aspects of this special offering in bulletin inserts. Special offering envelopes are located in sanctuary pew racks and in the Crossroads area.

   Please give generously.