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Holy Week greetings…
Worship on Palm Sunday captured both the essence of the Parade of Palms and the story of Jesus’ Passion. We celebrated with palm leaves and a song by our children along with baptism and confirmation. Then, through scripture and meditation we entered into the solemnity of Holy Week. And we left worship having been inspired once again by the DVD “Watch the Lamb”. After worship three families gathered together for a potluck in honor of our new members. The food was abundant and delicious! You still have these Holy Week opportunities
This week please pray for
For this Sunday (24th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor
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Would you believe—Holy Week is just around the corner!
Two coming church events you don’t want to miss out on—Confirmation on Palm Sunday April 17 and Saturday May 14 for activities to show our appreciation for the community of Oakland. This week please pray for
For this Sunday (10th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Greetings friends,
Our service of baptismal renewal Sunday was very meaningful. Sorry if weather or other concerns kept you away. By now you’ve received word that I will be retiring as of June 30. That will mean changes for you and for me. Right now my intention is to move to Southeast Iowa. When I know more I’ll let you know. Also, your Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee is working with the District Superintendent, Brian Milford, to make way for a new pastor. When they know more, they’ll let you know! This week our specific prayer concerns include Ilene Parkhill (out of hospital, will have port put in place, hopes to resume chemo soon), Gordon Frizzell (broken bone in leg), Jim Johnson (hospitalized in Jenny Ed for gall bladder removal), Mark Martens (slow progress with migraine headaches and back problems), Wanda Seydel (Shirley’s preacher friend confined to bed until further notice), Roma Smith family (her funeral is this week), and victims of recent shootings (Millard, Nebraska and Tucson, Arizona). Check the newsletter--if you are on the church officer list be sure to save Sunday, January 23 from noon to 3:00 p.m. for our annual program planning event. This is a chance to touch base with your work committee and determine how your group can support our 2011 church goals. Also, be thinking—how can we extend our ministries into the community? The lunch will be catered. Members of the Administrative council, you will begin your regular monthly meetings Thursday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m. For this Sunday (16th) • Scripture: John 1:29-42 • Sermon Title: Take This Name and Live It For Reflection 1. What do you think John meant when he called Jesus the Lamb of God? 2. What other titles are given Jesus in this scripture passage? 3. How did Peter come to know Jesus? 4. Have you ever had an “Andrew” introduce you to Jesus? 5. Have you ever been an “Andrew” for someone else? 6. In what ways can you live out the name Christian? LOVE & JOY TEXtor Season’s greetings everyone! On the 19th I turned a year older. So far I don’t feel it! Thanks for your greetings, gifts, cards, prayers and best wishes; also for singing Happy Birthday to me during our Sharing of Joys. If you didn’t make it to our Sunday School Christmas program, you missed out on some good singing and a meaningful message. You also missed out on kids being kids-- several struggles for control of microphones a tearfully reluctant Mary; a wandering wise man and another with his crown stuck over his ears, an angel crawling under the Communion rail, etc. I’m really sorry you had to miss out. Our Christmas Eve Candle Light worship service begins at 10:00 p.m. Friday. Hopefully the snowy weather will be over before that. Thanks to everyone who will be helping make this an inspirational and meaningful occasion. Sunday we’ll be singing a number of Christmas carols (pp. 217-254 in our hymnbook). Be ready to choose your favorites. This week be sure to offer up prayers for our members or friends serving in the military; especially those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas or the New Year with family. For this Sunday (26th) • Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 • Sermon Title: Holy Refugees For Reflection 1. What events surrounding your celebration of Christmas will likely be less than perfect? 2. What events surrounding the birth of Jesus were less than picture-perfect? 3. How did Herod react to the news that a new king was to be born? Does that kind of behavior happen in our time? 4. What part did “divine intervention” play in this scripture passage? God is with us—let’s celebrate! LOVE & JOY TEXtor Hi Friends!
Not much to report this week
This week be sure to offer up prayers for our members or friends who are homebound or in nursing homes or living in assisted living. For this Sunday (19th)
For Reflection 1. Before they were married Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant—but not by him! What led him to go ahead and marry her? 2. Why was the child to be called Jesus? 3. What does Emmanuel/Immanuel mean? Blessings on you! LOVE & JOY TEXtor It’s me again… Don’t forget our movie night this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. We’re showing a movie for the young at heart—“The Santa Claus” with Tim Allen. This is an occasion for all age groups so come and bring guests with you. The movie is free, and there will be cookies and drinks available at intermission for a free will offering. Our Sunday School Christmas program will be during worship the 19th. The Christmas Eve Service is Friday the 24th at 10:00 p.m. Please pray for Ilene Parkhill who has gone to stay with her daughter in Virginia for the duration of her chemo treatments. Her address will be in this Sunday’s bulletin. Also keep in mind Shirley Frizzell. Her knee replacement is doing well, but she has had a prolonged stay in the hospital to get her potassium level back on an even keel. In addition, several families who have lost loved ones recently can use your prayers and words of support. For this Sunday (12th) • Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 • Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6 • Sermon Title: Signs of the Kingdom For Reflection 1. This is the third Sunday of Advent; the theme is joy. Where do you see joy reflected in our scripture passages? 2. What words and phrases in these two scriptures are similar? 3. Why do you think John the Baptist might have been wondering if Jesus was really the Messiah? 4. How did Jesus respond to John’s question? 5. The sermon has to do with signs of the kingdom. Where do you find signs of the presence of God’s kingdom in our time and in our midst? May you be blessed as you wait and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and at the same time live in anticipation of his glorious appearance and final triumph. LOVE & JOY TEXtor |
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