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April 16, 2020 Finding Joy Dear Church Family, WHAT’S INSIDE: I chuckled at the divine timing of God when I opened up my devotional guide after a very tough Announcements 2 day and stumbled upon this passage from James: Staff Picks 4 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you A Little Good 5 News know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy,” the NIV translation reads, “whenever you face trials.” In The Message translation it reads: “Consider it a sheer gift.” I will be the first to admit that it’s hard to consider these trying days as “occasions for joy.” Instead they seem to be occasions for stress, occasions for fear, occasions for boredom or loneliness or emptiness. Indeed, I am having trouble finding joy in the midst of pandemic. I bet I’m not alone. SCRIPTURE CARD April 16-25 Clearly, God is inviting me to look for joy in these trying days. Maybe God is inviting you to do the same. TH Colossians 4:2-5 So I thought about James’ words, and I realized that I am strangely F 1 Corinthians comforted by the knowledge that the Biblical authors knew what it was like 15:1-11 to live through trying days. James didn’t live through a pandemic, but he did live through days of persecution and violence. He knew what it was like S John 20:11-20 to fear for his well-being and the well-being of those he loves. He knew what it was like to face an unknown future with more questions than S John 20:21 answers. M Psalm 114 But in spite of his uncertain circumstances, there was something James was sure of: JOY could be found in any circumstance. Because every T Jonah 1:1-17 circumstance - no matter how bad or good or indifferent - carries with it the potential to strengthen our endurance, to deepen our faith. Every W Matthew 12:38- circumstance carries with it the opportunity to encounter and experience 42 the risen Christ. Every circumstance has the potential to make us more like TH Psalm 116:1-4 Jesus. F 1 Peter 1:13-16 And becoming more like Jesus is always an occasion for joy. S Luke 14:12-14 So here’s what I’m learning about God in these trying days: while these trials may take away much of what we enjoy about life, they do not have the power to take away the joy we find in Christ. [continued...] CROSSPOINTS Page 2 April 16, 2020 Finding Joy (cont.) In fact, nothing has the power to take away the joy we have in Christ, except for ourselves when we choose to ignore it. And it sure is foolish to do so, because it’s Christ’s mysterious joy that has the power to carry us through our trials into greater strength, renewed hope, and abundant life. I am reminded of my favorite poem by Mary Oliver entitled “Don’t Hesitate” in which she writes: “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give into it ...Don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.” -Mary Oliver, “Don’t Hesitate” Indeed, the joy of Christ is not made to be a crumb. And its plenty is all around us. May we have the courage and patience to look for it. With joy, Pastor Laura Announcements Our Prayer Concerns and Celebrations Please pray for: all serving in the military; Michael Bereman; Benjamin Webb; Charlotte Reynolds and family; Dana Hall’s mother; David Kelder; Gresham Yeager; Howard and Anna Surface’s daughter-in-law; Rhonda and Ray Oliver’s niece; Ron and Patty Brown’s daughter; Chip and Karen Moore’s son; Jim Dukeman’s brother; Rod Dolen. Confidential prayer requests can be made online at apexumc.org/prayer. Sympathy Is extended to Kemp Covington and family upon the death of his mother, to Janine Daly and family upon the death of her mother, to the family of Jeanne Hack upon her death, and to Sharon Monfort and family upon the death of her mother. Apex UMC Front Line Heroes Many members of our church family and other family and friends venture outside the protection of their homes daily to heal the sick, correct the wrongs, save property, and restore lives. For each of them, we give God thanks and pray for God’s protection. We can expect in the weeks to come they will be even more crucial in saving our lives and community. We invite our church family to help in a variety of ways and you can find out how on our website (apexumc.org/helpers). AOSP Still Needs You! We are incredibly hopeful that we will have another amazing year this summer at the Apex Outreach Service Project! AOSP is a week of repairing homes and building faith, open to all students who have completed 8-12th grades, and we need 11 more work team leaders to accommodate all the youth who want to serve. Mark your calendar for the week of July 19-25 and sign up to help (apexumc.org/aosp)! Toby White Scholarship The 2020 Toby White Youth Scholarship is now open for applications. Seniors actively involved at Apex United Methodist Church are invited to apply by May 20. More information and the application are available on our website (apexumc.org/tobywhitescholarship). Virtual VBS 2020 No matter what the world looks like this summer, your children can still experience the powerful impact of an amazing Vacation Bible School. The children's team is putting together everything you need to hold VBS at home or to host a small group of friends and neighbors in your backyard, and we will be there every step of the way to make it fun and exciting! You must register online at apexumcfamily.org/ vbs between May 4-31 in order to guarantee a packet for your child. Registration is $10 per child, which includes craft and game supplies and a cool t-shirt. Packets will be distributed near the end of June so you can hold VBS on your own schedule in July. For questions, contact Norma Wallace CROSSPOINTS([email protected]). Page 3 April 16, 2020 Announcements Online Daily Devotionals Join us Monday-Friday and build some new patterns and routines in this season of life. Dana, Erin, Marcus and a special guest will meet to talk about a daily scripture reading. You can check them out on the Apex UMC Facebook page (facebook.com/apexumc), or you can sign up for a text (remind.com/join/aumcdevo) with the daily devotional or text @aumcdevo to 81010. Blood Donors Are Urgently Needed! Apex UMC and the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town of Apex Community Center (53 Hunter Street). Go to the Red Cross website (www.redcrossblood.org), enter 27502 in the zip code box, and you will be directed to the AUMC Blood Drive site where you can select your time. Blood supplies are critically low! When you donate, please wear a mask. Red Cross will utilize all proper protocols to ensure safety. Thank you for saving lives! COVID-19 and Summer Apex UMC is closed for in-person worship and events through May 17, in accordance with guidelines by the CDC and North Carolina state government. We will make decisions about summer events in early May, once we see what – if any – changes come to the safer-at-home order. Remember to check our website, apexumc.org/coronavirus, as information continues to change. Apex UMC Needs Form The Congregational Care staff has developed a document if you or other AUMC families you know would benefit from services such as: a weekly/regular phone call; picking up prescriptions; shopping/delivering groceries. Please complete the form (apexumc.org/help) and someone will contact you soon. Questions? Contact Pastor Ellen Rose at 919-362-7807 ext. 316. Youth Ministry We will resume Sunday Night Online this week! Join us at 6:30 p.m. at youtu.be/U4dt1DetRO4 for our large group games and teaching, then join your virtual Small Group meeting. Our weekly newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with all things youth. If you are not receiving the newsletter, email Dana Hall ([email protected]). Children’s Ministry We want to help your family maintain routines of worship and Bible study. Weekly elementary and preschool lessons will be delivered by Sunday morning via email to all those on our newsletter list. To be added to this list, email Ellen Griffin ([email protected]) for ages 3 through 5th grade or Deborah Wade ([email protected]) for nursery only. Check our Facebook page (facebook.com/apexumcchildren) for additional lesson activities posted throughout the week and check our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxCTJjM3IAaniFWU4DkoqoQ) for sing along videos with Ms. Cathy, Bible story videos with Josh, and more. Western Wake Crisis Ministry UPDATE You can still bring your food donations to Apex UMC. There are bins outside the CLC entrance labeled WWCM and food will be picked up daily. Items most needed: soups, peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta & pasta sauce, mac & cheese, nabs and cereal bars.