March 27, 2015

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together! 

Palm Sunday 

"Out of the mouths of babes"... or middle schoolers! This Sunday some of our older Sunday School students will lead us in a dialogue about popularity. What does that have to do with Palm Sunday? (I'll wait while you remember the story...) Got it? Jesus was riding a simple colt into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and a huge crowd spontaneously spilled out into the streets to cheer and greet him. On that day Jesus was a rock-star. A few days later in the same city a crowd decided he was a criminal. How fickle the trends of a crowd can be for Jesus and for us.

 

Our Sunday School teachers have been working on this theme with our youth for the past four weeks. Our middle school class will share some of their thoughts with you during the sermon time. No, it is not a sermon, but I think you will find their perspective interesting and fresh. 

 

Think about inviting a family with children to church this Sunday. What our kids have to say on Sunday may or may not be unique. Creating the space for them to share it and teach us adults, however - that is unique! Allow yourself to see this old story through their eyes.

See you Sunday,

Rebecca

P.S. We will be doing this more often. Our next theme will culminate in a youth-led service on June 7. In the fall we plan to have the young people lead worship every 6 weeks or so!!  

 

G-Crew Pasta Dinner & Dessert Auction
TOMORROW, 6pm

 

EAT! BID! BID HIGHER! AND BUY! 
Support the G-Crew mission trip to West Virginia AND experience the best desserts in town! Come have dinner on us... Free pasta dinner starts at 6 pm. Get a bid card and then bid for your favorite treat!  Checks and Cash accepted!

Donated desserts for the auction (homemade or purchased) should be delivered to the church kitchen before 4 pm Saturday. Questions? Contact Lisa  

G Crew Meets Sunday at 6pm to elect student officers !!
 
And, a HUGE thank you to Mark Karlson... 
for offering his Lake house to the Crew last weekend for our Winter retreat.  We also thank Scott Tracy, Miki Smith, and Rebecca's friend Jesse for being the adult chaperones.  (thanks to parents too for helping make the retreat work with sports schedules!) 
 
For Lunch This Sunday
Roast Pork from Hemlock Knoll Farm
Roasted Potatoes
Green Beans
Ginger Carrot Soup 

HOW DOES OUR GARDEN GROW....?

...With a lot of helping hands, a little KIC (Kids in Community) and some Spring weather, that's how! 

But we don't need Spring to arrive to get started.

 

THIS Sunday, March 29th during Coffee Hour, choose your vegetable(s) plant your seeds, and take your cups home to provide water and sunlight and Mother Nature will do the rest.

 

Watch for more opportunities to get involved and support the Community Garden throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. If you have garden tools or supplies such as potting soil, landscape weed fabric, stretch plastic fencing, or a small trailer available to lend/donate, please contact Pete Betsch at 860-653-0744 or via e-mail at pabetsch@cox.net 


EASTER FLOWERS - Yes!

Rather than placing a single order for Easter lilies, we invite everyone to bring a pot of their favorite spring flowers on Easter Sunday, and during the opening music we will decorate the sanctuary. Think color! Think variety! Think spring!

 

HOLY WEEK HAPPENINGS

The church enters a week that runs from Palm Sunday to Easter that we call "Holy Week," remembering the last week of Jesus' life.

  • Palm Sunday - All the choirs add to a musical celebration as we remember Jesus' "triumphant entry" into Jerusalem. The sermon time will be led by Rebecca and the church school kids who have been reflecting on popularity and the cost of standing apart from the crowd.
    Pancake breakfast before worship and lunch to follow.
  • Maundy Thursday - We gather at 6 pm in Cook Hall for worship that includes supper, communion, and the "service of shadows." We hear the story of Jesus' final hours and with each reading, a candle is extinguished until we sit in silence in the dusk.
  • Easter Sunday - Sunrise service at 6:30 am at High Meadow. Worship in the sanctuary at 10 am. Bring your favorite flowering bulbs to decorate the sanctuary! Breakfast served before 10 am service.
  • Easter Dinner - will be served in Cook Hall from 11:15 am until 1 pm. Volunteers from the Waste Not, Want Not Community Dinner will be working with us and we have invited all who attend the Wednesday night dinner to join us.

    Our menu will start with a traditional ham. As for the rest, we would like to hear from you! If you would like to bring a side dish or dessert that is a tradition for you at Easter, or a recipe you've always wanted to try, we would love to have you do so. Don't feel like cooking but have a great recipe? Please send it on and we will try to accommodate. Never liked cooking, but love setting the table or have a decoration you would like to share? We would love help with that too. Signup sheets will be posted near Cook Hall. All table setting items or decorations should be left in Cook Hall on Saturday. Side dishes and desserts should be brought to church on Sunday. Come join your church family!

EASTER WEEKEND... Lots to do!

Spring cleaning will take place from 9-11 on Saturday. Bring a van or trailer to help transport old stuff to the dump.

Meanwhile, lend a hand in the kitchen as we bake HOT CROSS BUNS for Easter breakfast, 11-2.

 

  

 

  

 

DO YOU HAVE A COPY?

Please bring your copy of The Runaway Bunny on Easter Sunday so we can share the story with our children! 

 

 

 

 

 

TAP needs new drivers 

Are you up for the challenge of being there to help fellow Granby residents? Why not give TAP a try and see what happens. The rides we give are desperately needed by the elderly/disabled who are no longer able to drive and their family members are unable to help drive them to their medical appointments. That's where TAP drivers become involved!

The Transportation Action Program, begun by a member of FCC 48+ years ago, continues to provide rides to medical appointments for residents of Granby at no cost to them. Presently TAP supplements the service provided by the Granby Senior Center, but volunteers are still needed to continue to make this service available and this is where your help is needed. There is no long term commitment and we can work with your schedule. And, if a coordinator calls and the timing for that specific ride is not in your schedule, don't hesitate to just say no.  

What better opportunity will you find to volunteer a little bit of time to a fellow Granby resident? You CAN make a difference in someone's life. Try it and see how you feel afterwards.

Call either Helga Sobek 860-653-8199 or Nancy Fischer at 860-653-2938 to find answers to questions you have or to sign up.

 

Singing with the Stars!! at West Granby Methodist Church

Saturday, Mar 28, 2pm & 6pm shows 

A fun show of live music sung by the The Around Town Singers. All the songs you love to sing in a cabaret setting.  Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres right at your table.

$15 per person, Reservations required.  Call (860) 386-5154

Group discount of $3/ticket for groups of 4 or more

 

Relationship Class offered

Have you ever wished to find a marriage manual with practical recommendations for living in a long term relationship with compassion? Here it is-- a five week lecture based class covering five essential aspects of a successful relationship:

  • Creating a Rewarding Relational Experience
  • Communicating Effectively
  • Conflict Resolution Skills
  • Emotional and Sexual Intimacy
  • Money Matters

Where: South Congregational Youth Building

Time: Tuesdays, 6 pm beginning April 7th

Cost: $50. Per person for the 5 week class

Leader: Heather Lagace, Licensed Professional Counselor and Adjunct Professor, UConn

To Register: HLagace@cox.net 

All are welcome to attend - married, single, young, old... ! Feel free to invite other couples you know.

 

Lunch Containers
Please bring back your to-go lunch containers so they can be recycled.

Countdown to AppleFest: 174 Days

Contacts 

Sue Miltenberger (Office Manager)
Rev. Ginny McDaniel (Senior Minister)

Rebecca Brown (Leader, Children & Youth Ministry 

Jerron Jorgensen (Music Director)

Church Office Phone: 860-653-4537   

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