Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we are doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. This Sunday we will look to a prayer that Jesus prayed on our behalf what our response should be to Jesus' request. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.

We will resume this week on Thursday, May 16th at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. As a reminder it is never too late to join. For more details, please visit our website by clicking here. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!






3. Boy Scout Chicken Dinner - Next Saturday, May 18th, our Boy Scout Troop will host a carry out chicken dinner here at the church from 12 - 6 P.M. Dinners will be $7 each. Please come on out and support our boys as they raise money for summer camp this year.






4. Summer Newsletter - This year, as a means of trying to be better stewards of our time and resources,we are combining our June, July, and August newsletters into one summer edition. If you have any information that you would like to include in this edition, please submit it to the office by next Sunday, May 19th. Thank you!





5. Upcoming Worship - We have two very important services coming up where we are asking for your involvement. On Sunday, May 19th, we are asking that you come to church wearing red and/or white to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday, May 26th, we will observe Memorial Day and would ask that you wear red, white, and blue. Your participation will help to make these worship services more meaningful as we celebrate and honor these events.





Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!