April 2, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Lent 
​
 Sermon
"It's Beyond Unbelievable, It's Believable!"

by
Barbara Marks
 
Please join us for worship
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  

 at

The Elk’s Lodge
44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT 

~
Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:1-14
 &
John 11:1-45

Announcements:
 
Holy Week -
 

• Palm/Passion Worship Service - Sunday April 9th -10am Elks Ballroom 44 Maynard St
• Maundy Thursday service on April 13th, at 7 p.m. 221 Ridge Rd
• Easter Sunday- April 16- 10am Elks Ballroom 44 Maynard St

 
 
RESTORED-Lenten DVD Book Study – TODAY - What comes to mind when you hear the word mess?  Your home? Your schedule during a particularly busy week at work? Your family? Messes are a part of being human and a part of living in a messy and broken world.  The good news is that God is in the mess – not making the mess but working to redeem and restore it. 
 
The Sew ‘n’ Sew’s - will meet the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Heritage Commons.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Please see Barbara Hendershot for more information. 
 
Finance Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Warren Western for more information. 
 
Trustee Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 19th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Bill Collins for more information. 
 
SPPR Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 26th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Sharon Riley for more information. 
 
The United Methodist Men - meet at the parsonage for a men’s breakfast Saturday, May 6th, and the first Saturday of each month. Bring a friend! See David Marks or Warren Western for more information.
 
Amazing Grace Donations – can now be brought to church any Sunday.  In addition to tuna and cereal, they are looking for donations of oatmeal, coffee and soup.    Please contact Marsha Judson with any questions at (860) 346-0005.
 
Days for Girls –is an organization that provides quality sustainable feminine hygiene kits and education to girls and women in over 75 countries to help reverse the cycle of poverty.  Activities include sewing, ironing, folding, snapping, prepping, etc. Fabric donations are also appreciated. There are no requirements to participate, besides a desire to do so. All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please contact Megan Camp for more information via email at megmariecamp@gmail.com, or in person at Sunday service!
 

​

United Methodist Committee on Relief - UMCOR - makes sure that every cent contributed to relief efforts goes to those relief missions - and not administrative overhead. How does UMCOR do it? Once a year, UMCOR asks for a special donation from United Methodists around the world to pay for that administration. Then, when we need to swing into action, they're ready! Please consider bringing a special donation this Sunday for UMCOR, or contribute online for the "One great hour of sharing" now, at:
http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry…/one-great-hour-of-sharing.
May you be blessed for sharing and caring!

March 26, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Lent 
​
 Sermon
"People, It's a MIRACLE!"

by
Barbara Marks
 
Please join us for worship
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  

 at

The Elk’s Lodge
44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT 

~
Scripture:

Ephesians 5:8-14
 &
John 9:1-41

Announcements:
 
 
 
UMCOR Sunday – TODAY – Gifts to UMCOR Sunday lay the foundation for all United Methodist Committee on Relief work by covering the costs of doing business.  This means all contributions designated to specific programs can go 100%  to those programs because UMCOR’s basic expenses are covered.
 
RESTORED-Lenten DVD Book Study – TODAY - What comes to mind when you hear the word mess?  Your home? Your schedule during a particularly busy week at work? Your family? Messes are a part of being human and a part of living in a messy and broken world.  The good news is that God is in the mess – not making the mess but working to redeem and restore it. 
 
SPPR Committee - will meet Wednesday, March 29th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Sharon Riley for more information. 
 
The United Methodist Men - meet at the parsonage for a men’s breakfast Saturday, April 1st, and the first Saturday of each month. Bring a friend! See David Marks or Warren Western for more information.
 
The Sew ‘n’ Sew’s - will meet the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Heritage Commons.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Please see Barbara Hendershot for more information. 
 
Finance Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Warren Western for more information. 
 
Trustee Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 19th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Bill Collins for more information. 
 
Amazing Grace Donations – can now be brought to church any Sunday.  In addition to tuna and cereal, they are looking for donations of oatmeal, coffee and soup.    Please contact Marsha Judson with any questions at (860) 346-0005.
 
Days for Girls –is an organization that provides quality sustainable feminine hygiene kits and education to girls and women in over 75 countries to help reverse the cycle of poverty.  Activities include sewing, ironing, folding, snapping, prepping, etc. Fabric donations are also appreciated. There are no requirements to participate, besides a desire to do so. All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please contact Megan Camp for more information via email at megmariecamp@gmail.com, or in person at Sunday service!
​​

We thank Ted Lawrence for his initiative in taking an online United Methodist Church course on welcoming ministries. His insights will help us to become a more invitational church! You may recall that Ted handed out a questionnaire on Sunday during church announcements. If you haven't done so already, please complete the short checklist questionnaire that he provided and return it to him via his email or in person on Sunday. A printable copy of his checklist is here. Alternatively, you can complete the following online version of the questionnaire and Ted will get the information that way. No personal information is collected. Thank you, your insights are helping us to grow God's mission on earth!

This Easter, when the eggs are found and the baskets are unwrapped, will you still be hunting for something more?
We invite you to get something more from our Easter celebration, filled with joy and meaning, and leave your emptiness behind!
Bring yourself, or invite along family, friends, and neighbors, so that we can all come together to celebrate a life of hope that our faith offers us. You'll discover people who will welcome you warmly, and invite you to explore faith in your own way at your own pace.
Our Easter Sunday Services is April 16th at 10AM, st the Crystal Ballroom, 44 Maynard Street, in Middletown. Come as you are, leave with joy, and consider God's invitation at Easter to a life filled with hope!

​Announcements:
 
Church Council – will meet March 19th following Worship.  All committee chairs are to attend; if you are unable to attend please have a substitute in your place.  Please contact John Parent with any questions.
 
Are we “GO”ing to Grow?  Who’s turn is it to invite? EVERYONE’S!
 
RESTORED-Lenten DVD Book Study – TODAY - What comes to mind when you hear the word mess?  Your home? Your schedule during a particularly busy week at work? Your family? Messes are a part of being human and a part of living in a messy and broken world.  The good news is that God is in the mess – not making the mess but working to redeem and restore it. 
 
The Sew ‘n’ Sew’s - will meet the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Heritage Commons.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Please see Barbara Hendershot for more information. 
 
Trustee Committee - will meet Wednesday, March 15th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Bill Collins for more information. 
 
SPPR Committee - will meet Wednesday, March 22th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Sharon Riley for more information. 
 
UMCOR Sunday – March 26, 2017 – Gifts to UMCOR Sunday lay the foundation for all United Methodist Committee on Relief work by covering the costs of doing business.  This means all contributions designated to specific programs can go 100%  to those programs because UMCOR’s basic expenses are covered.
 
The United Methodist Men - meet at the parsonage for a men’s breakfast Saturday, April 1st, and the first Saturday of each month. Bring a friend! See David Marks or Warren Western for more information.
 
Finance Committee - will meet Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm, at the Parsonage.  Please see Warren Western for more information. 
 
Amazing Grace Donations – can now be brought to church any Sunday.  In addition to tuna and cereal, they are looking for donations of oatmeal, coffee and soup.    Please contact Marsha Judson with any questions at (860) 346-0005.

Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.
 
Days for Girls is an organization that provides quality sustainable feminine hygiene kits and education to girls and women in over 75 countries to help reverse the cycle of poverty.  Activities include sewing, ironing, folding, snapping, prepping, etc. Fabric donations are also appreciated. There are no requirements to participate, besides a desire to do so. All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please contact Megan Camp for more information via email at megmariecamp@gmail.com, or in person at Sunday service!