Christ Is Risen!

Pastor’s Walk understanding and even a bigger difference something they use to ‘sell’ church to the between knowing and feeling “Christ is membership.” Basically, you look at this Christ is Risen! Risen” in ones heart…feeling the power of whole “Christ is Risen” thing as something the risen Christ deep in ones being. that is at arm’s length and not all that real Those are three very powerful words! As I because that is the only way it often makes shared this past Easter Sunday, “Christ is Christ is Risen! Those three words mean so any sense. “Christ is Risen” only makes Risen” has the power to change a person much more than Jesus Christ is no longer in sense to those “church” people. dramatically. “Christ is Risen” has the power the tomb…so much more than just knowing to create in someone a whole new way of the facts. It is easy to know the facts…to That is…it is the only way “Christ is Risen” life. Many of us in the church know and know the story of the risen Christ and be makes sense when you do not feel it. This understand the power of Jesus Christ to able to tell it when called upon. Knowing is kind of “Christ is Risen” is cold, unproven… transform but I sometimes think we allow one thing but feeling is another. To fully and impossible. ourselves to be lulled into an acceptance understand the risen Christ, one must feel that everyone out there already knows that the empty tomb…one must feel the wonder To feel “Christ is Risen” is to know deep in “Christ is Risen!” and the power behind and fear of Mary and the disciples…one must your heart that Christ died for your sins…not those three words. We think that everyone feel the forgiveness…one must feel the sins in general but your specific sins. To feel out there knows what we mean when we say unending love. that Christ went to the cross for everyone we are Easter People…people of the risen and for you…Christ went to the cross just for Christ. Christ went to the cross…Christ died on the you with your name on His lips. Well…that is cross…Christ was buried in the tomb…and a whole new way of experiencing the risen If you have been raised in the church, you Christ arose from the tomb so that all sin Christ. know, spent your entire life going to church would be forgiven…so that death would be every Sunday as a child and defeated…so that we could have a new life… I can remember the first time I stopped adult….participating thousands of Sunday so that we would all know true love. trying to understand “Christ is Risen” and school lessons…heard literally just as many started feeling Christ’s sacrifice for me. I was sermons…can sing almost by heart all 6 Now let me tell you, when you are standing overwhelmed with guilt and shame and verses of “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today,” and looking into the church from the freedom and happiness all at the same time. it is easy to think “everyone knows about outside. That is when you are a non- I was confused and elated…and it was Jesus Christ…everyone knows the story of believer, those statements I just wrote can amazingly simple and complex. It was the risen Lord.” You may be right, they may all seem very strange. In order to even begin amazing to think that Christ rose from the know of Jesus Christ…they may have heard to understand all this “Christ is Risen” stuff grave…defeated death…came back to His His name and know you learn about Him at as a non-believer you sort of generalize disciples and let them touch His wounds… most churches. They may also know that things. You do this by saying, “Sure, Christ imparted the Holy Spirit as a Christ died on the cross at the hands of the died for sin in general…in theory…but not all guide….ascended into heaven…all for the Romans. It is possible that they even know sin…certainly not mine” or “Christ defeated likes of me. And now Christ waits for me He died for our sins. But there is a big death for himself…we still all just die and rot with my name on His lips so that I too can difference between knowing and in the ground.” or “New life is only know new life after my life here on earth. Christ is Risen! For me…for you…for the Worship Schedule Administrative Council Meeting whole world…and my hope…my prayer is Sunday, April 23rd April 23rd 2nd Sunday of Easter that very soon everyone will not only hear Immediately following worship Scripture: John 20: 19-31 and know that Christ is Risen but they will Fellowship Hall Sermon: “Seeing is Believing?” feel in their hearts the risen Lord…and know He went to the cross…died….arose from the April 30th 3rd Sunday of Easter grave…ascended and waits with His Father Music Service with their names on His lips also. May 7th 4th Sunday of Easter Christ is Risen! Scripture: Acts 2: 42-47 Sermon: “Simplicity” Amen May 14th 5th Sunday of Easter Mother’s Day Rev. Steve Kurt T’ai Chi Chih Classes Scripture: Psalm 31: 1-5, 1-16 Monday’s at 10:30am John 14: 1-14 Fellowship Hall Sermon: “Refuge is not Hiding!”

New Members UMW Metro District Prayer Breakfast On Sunday, April 16th, Gene and Work Day at Commonwealth Saturday, April 29 Connie Hartsell joined Commonwealth Butterfly Garden Rocky Mt. UMC in Mooresville, NC United Methodist Church. We welcome Saturday, April 22nd them into our church family. Gene and Connie Hartsell’s address: 3200 Barnhill Drive Charlotte, NC 28205 2017 Charlotte Muscle Walk for the MDA 2017 International Sandwich Festival Prayer Group Hannah Beaver's Team - Hannah's Heroes Saturday, April 29 11am to 6pm The Prayer group meets every Hannah and her team will be walking in the Aldersgate Wednesday at 6pm at Mary Pearre’s home. 2017 Muscle Walk for the MDA. Sat. April 29 3800 Shamrock Road If you are unable to attend, you can drop beginning 10:00 am at Jetton Village III your prayer concern(s) in the prayer box Gazebo, Cornelius, NC. If you would like to Aldersgate Brings the Best Bites and located in the Narthex. join us to walk or would like to donate please Bands of East Charlotte Together for a Full Our Prayer List go to the below link: Day of International Flavor – FREE! Enjoy international food (sandwiches and Pat Inman (sister of Jackie Samuels), http://www2.mda.org/site/TR/MuscleWalk/ specialties from around the world) and live Martha Lee, Donna Pruitt, Martha MuscleWalk2017-National? music and entertainment. Fun for all ages. Stafford (sister of Janice Rose), Rita fr_id=23434&pg=entry This year includes even more activities for Stafford (niece of Janice Rose), Charles children with a tent for creative sandwich- Stephenson, Carl and Frances Stinson Our team name is Hannah's Heroes. Please making and bouncy slides all day. From see Dawn Beaver with any questions. noon until 2pm, enjoy free face painting and balloon artistry.

Nursing/Assisted Living Care Maxine Kincaid, Hazel Lands, Anne Lever, Attic Sale Sarah Lever, Ec Little, Jean Stoneman Saturday, April 29 New Address for Anne Lever 7:00am to 12 Noon Regency Retirement Village Cokesbury United Methodist Church 9120 Willow Ridge Road 6701 Idlewild Road Wesleyan Circle Meeting Pineville, NC 28210 704-537-5818 Tuesday, May 2nd Phone: 704-542-9449 Sponsored by the United Methodist Women 12:30pm Church Office The Helping Hands UMW Circle will recognize Mother’s on Mother’s Day Sunday. A Mother’s Day Bulletin will be prepared (cost will be $1.00 per name) from the list of names received “in memory of” or “in honor May Birthdays of” mother’s and/or loved ones. The altar 4 Janice Rose flowers for Mother’s Day will be placed in 11 Joann Fitzsimmons their names. 11 Patience Brumley Church Wide Breakfast 14 Robert Kurt In Memory Of: Mother’s Day 15 Nadine Starnes Sunday, May 14th 17 Hannah Beaver 9:00 a.m. 22 John Beaver Fellowship Hall 25 Mackenzie Garlick In Honor Of: Everyone is invited for our Church Wide Breakfast on Mother’s Day. Join us on Sunday, May 14th at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The signup sheets are in the Gracie Beaver’s Mission Trip Narthex and Lands Class. Please sign up, so Placed By: we can get an idea of how many are coming. Gracie will be going on another Mission You may also call the church office. Trip this summer (7/16 thru 7/22) to Mount Hope, WV. She will be going with TeamEffort and Amount enclosed ______will be working on building houses, for kids ($1.00 per name) ages 6th grade through 12th grade. Please return by Sunday, May 7, 2017

Mother’s Day Bulletin Open Street 704 Event Sunday, May 7 With God’s help and guidance, we are a United Methodist Church Commonwealth Avenue will be closed from prayerful and welcoming United Methodist 1-5pm for this event. church community. 2434 Commonwealth Ave. A community dedicated to making of Charlotte, NC 28205-5132 disciples for Christ – one that is flexible, 704-376-4924 intentional, inviting to others, and a safe place to explore and grow spiritually. We will be all those things in Christ by taking small prayerful steps, keeping in mind that, although we may be limited in our abilities, the Spirit of God knows no such bounds and will work within and through us to accomplish wondrous and great things!

Honorarium Gifts Our Stewardship Budget March 26, 2017 In Honor of: Janice Rose and the Choir Sunday School - 11 in appreciation of the Concert at Church Attendance - 30 Brookdale Charlotte East Offering - $600.00 By: Susan Sharpe April 2, 2017 Memorial Gifts Sunday School - 10 Church Attendance - 30 Budget April 18, 2017 Offering - $3,223.00 In Memory of: Ralph Stephenson April 9, 2017 Steve Kurt – Pastor By: Lee and Charles Stephenson Sunday School - 11 Patience Brumley – Pastoral Care In Memory of: Irma Fields Church Attendance - 27 Offering - $1,817.00 By: United Methodist Women Sunday School – 10:00am April 16, 2017 Worship Service - 11:00am In Memory of: Margery Weaver Sunday School - 11 By: United Methodist Women Church Attendance - 44 Office Hours Offering - $1,382.00 Mon. – Thurs. 9am to 1pm Our Vision Commonwealth