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From the Pastor the Spring of a New Day

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From the Pastor the Spring of a New Day March 2021 From the Pastor The Spring of a New Day Officially, it is still winter, but spring is not that far away. Winter effects still reign, yet already we are seeing the first signs of spring. The blooms on the trees and the opening of the daffodils are just the beginning. One day soon, however, all the trees and bushes will share in the springtime. Until then, there is a change in one flower, one tree, and one blade of grass at a time. One rain shower, one warm day, and then suddenly spring is fully here. Everything is new. Everything has another chance. Common to everyone is the dream of a righteous and a just world; a “springtime”, a day when everything is new and has new potential; a beautiful hope in which all people can dream. The Prophet Isaiah looked to the spring of a new day: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing...the ransomed of God shall return and come home with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35ff Jesus once said it like this: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 It is at hand, yet not fully realized. Still, the “winter” of life experience is with us. Suffering, pain, sorrow, hopelessness, disease, hatred, and death are real. Yet, amid the “winter”, we do see signs of a new day. A little here, a little there, but it is just the beginning. One day soon, however, this new day will come. Until then, signs of the coming new day are seen. There is a change in one person’s heart and actions. One person forgives another, one person gives to the poor, one person feeds the hungry, and one person provides shelter. One person seeks peace with an enemy, and one person comforts someone who is mourning. One person loves mercy, one person acts justly, one person walks humbly with God. One parent loves their child unconditionally. One child returns to the love of home. One stranger acts as a neighbor to another stranger in need. One person prays silently. One person gives anonymously. Suddenly, like the spring, God’s new day will be fully here. Until then, you and I can be the signs of the “spring” of that day to come. The desert will blossom like the crocus, the kingdom of heaven at hand. Lenten Worship Series Stewardship Corner Elaine Wright, Stewardship Chair Join us as we continue our Worship Series entitled, In my introductory article to the congregation last month, I brought forth the idea that this year’s GUMC “The Lonesome Road.” Stewardship Committee would begin to think about stewardship in a different way. I am excited to tell you that we have already begun developing a comprehensive plan that emphasizes year-long GENEROSITY as Jesus took a lonesome road to Jerusalem and invited an important spiritual discipline. his followers to go with him. Ultimately, it led to the cross before revealing an empty tomb. Our committee promises to increase communication with you around our current pledge standings. In that vein, I thought I would share a brief financial pledge update. See below: There were many lessons for disciples to learn on the Lonesome Road that are still valuable lessons for our - As of February 1st, 2021, pledges total $2,189,828 from 364 family units. own lives today. - We are down from this time last year by 49 family units and $370,659. Join us during the Sundays of Lent as we apply these - By year-end 2020 we had 72 fewer pledging family units overall. lessons to our own walks of faith. I share all of this in full transparency and because we still do not know what the full impact of the On-site and online at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. pandemic and the changing wants and needs of the community will be as our church enters a new era. What I do know is that church giving is cyclical and sometimes seasonal. If you have not yet sent in a 2021 Holy Week Services pledge card, it’s never too late and no pledge is too small! (You can easily access the form on our church website). We need to focus on generosity as a key spiritual discipline now more than ever! Our committee Holy Week (March 29—April 2) will be hosted by Kingsway Christian, Germantown United Methodist, will pledge to continue to share this type of financial information with you throughout the year. Copies of Germantown Presbyterian, New Bethel Missionary Baptist, and St. George’s Episcopal. We will have virtual the full financial summary sheets for GUMC are available at each Church Board meeting. Holy Week services. The schedule has not been set. Please keep an eye on your emails and on our Facebook posts for more information. Aside from increased communication, we are in the process of prioritizing several additional areas for improvement. These include working with the church financial manager and financial secretary to develop Testimony Will Present Tenebrae Service for Holy Thursday new ways to interpret pledge and donation data, working with key church stakeholders on generosity core I messaging, and implementing a financial growth series for our members. More to come on these April 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary throughout 2021. Tenebrae, Latin for darkness, is a service that focuses on the final hours of Jesus’ life beginning with the One final theme that resonated from our committee is the need to continue to say THANK YOU to our preparation for the Lord’s Supper and concluding with the crucifixion. Through the reading of amazingly faithful GUMC membership. Because of your generous giving, we are able to do so much more scriptures, presentation of music, and the darkening and stripping of the sanctuary throughout the than simply keeping the lights on. Our missions, youth programs, senior programs, adult education, service, we will feel the anguish of Jesus as he prays in the garden, the agony of His final moments, and music programs, and so much more are made possible because of your generous spirit. THANK YOU! the hope in the promise of eternal life. Please pray for our GUMC Stewardship Committee as we embark on this transformative journey to improve Why Holy Thursday and not Maundy Thursday? The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word our stewardship processes, increase overall giving, and ultimately bring more people to Christ. mandatum, or commandment. John 13:34 (NRSV) reads, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” As an act of service, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples after the Lord’s Supper. The Maundy Thursday service incorporates the washing of the feet. As we will not be washing feet in this particular service, we will refer to it as Holy Thursday. The Testimony Youth Choir will lead this service to usher in Good Friday as we anticipate the resurrection on Easter. All are welcome. Nursery will be provided. Time Change: March 14 Remember to set your clocks one hour forward on March 14 for Daylight Savings! 2 3 Lenten Preaching Series and Waffle Shop March On: Adult Education Mary Groh, [email protected] Some speakers virtual; Waffle Shop to-go! March Bible Studies! As part of our observance of Lent, older adults in our church have attended a Words of Life service at the Lenten Preaching Series for over 20 years. Since the XYZ’s are not taking day trips at this time, you might want to virtually attend one of the Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today offerings Calvary Episcopal is offering this Lenten season. Calvary Episcopal Church launched its 98th annual Lenten Preaching Series and March 23 – April 27, 9:30-11:00 am via Zoom Waffle Shop on February 19, and it will continue through March 26. Some speakers will be participating via recorded messages from a physical distance, Cost: $19.00 and some will be in-person. All will be live-streamed at 12:05 p.m. on What if the Ten Commandments were not just a set of ancient rules, but a Wednesdays and Fridays and are a mix of national and local spiritual leaders from guide to experiencing the good life today? These ten ancient “words” were a variety of backgrounds and religions. given to us by a loving God who longed to set safe boundaries, create order The services will be streamed on Calvary’s Lent Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ out of chaos, help communities live peacefully, and protect us. Join Mary lentenpreaching, YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/calvaryepiscopal, and its website: Groh and Cathy Whitaker for this 6-week DVD study by United Methodist https://calvarymemphis.org/worship-2/livestream/. Minister and best-selling author, Adam Hamilton, as we examine the commandments in their historical context, consider the meaning of each Attendees for in-person services must sign up in advance by calling 901.525.6602, wear masks, and sit commandment in Hebrew and explore how the latest research in science and spaced apart from others. A new addition for 2021—a line-up of local musicians specializing in psychology illuminates the commandments as a way of ordering one’s life everything from the hammer dulcimer to the harp—will play preludes to a mostly empty house.
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