MARCH 2, 2021

As we journey to the cross and the resurrection at East- er, we continue our “travels” through the Holy Land with our series, “ of Nazareth: The Tour.” Each week we’ll “visit” different areas in and learn how that location affected the . Culture, con- text, and geography all greatly impacted the form of Christ’s ministry. So, pack your passport and sunscreen and join the Pastor Tours group as we explore the region and ministry with Jesus, our guide.

March 7—Mount of : Teaching :38-48 We continue following Jesus throughout the Holy Land to the place where He delivered His most famous (and challenging) sermon. Many people believe they know the (at least in part), but few have really plumbed the depths of its meaning and implications for the Christian life. We’ll look at some of the deeper issues of this sermon and see how it serves as a constitution for a new way of life.

March 14—Sea of : Stormy weather Luke 8:22-25 The dominates the region where Jesus did most of His ministry while on earth. Using this body of wa- ter for transportation, sound enhancement, and daily meals one can easily see why Jesus chose this region to begin His mission. We’ll hop on a boat and look at this rich sea in the north of Israel. Continued on page 3 Page 2 Letting go and letting God catch our tears during Lent There are infinitely more prayers of lament in the Bible O God.” I love this image! than there are prayers of praise or even thanks. That may That God has a bottle for our surprise some of us but it’s true. There’s a book in the Bi- tears! That means we don't ble named Lamentations where the author, Jeremiah, need to keep them ourselves spends a good deal of time revealing to God the hardship in our own little bottles, stor- he is enduring. There is no book called the Praises of Isai- ing them until they change to ah. A full one third of the psalms are songs of lament. anger, or frustration, or Sometimes people just need to lament or wail to God vengeance. We don’t have to even though He knows what we are going through. It’s store them because God has just nice to express it aloud. Psalm 42 is one of them. It a bottle to take our tears starts off innocently enough, but then waxes poetic about when we cry. the sorry state of the psalmist’s soul. A lament is an im- That bottle must be pretty passioned plea. It is saying that something is not right. As large because the tears ex- if the writer says "Lord, there’s something really wrong pressed throughout the cen- here. And I must give voice to my complaint!" turies, over countless trials, That’s very different from whining. God does not like ailments, and deaths can Pastor Rob whiners. Whiners always manage to find a way to com- sure build up. Yet, the psalm- [email protected] plain even in good circumstances. A lament is a legitimate ist imagines them all stored response to hardship. Blues singer Mahalia Jackson used by God. All of our tears mixed together. The tears that Je- to say, "Singing the blues is like crying from a pit in need sus shed for Lazarus mixed with King David’s tears after of help.” The same could be said of lament. My uncle is a losing Absalom. Their tears combined with the newborn’s blues guitarist and singer in Northeastern PA and most of tears which are mixed with the widow’s tears after losing his songs come from this pit of despair. When he sings, he her spouse. All of them in a bottle together. Countless reveals a deep, desperate part of his biography that I’d tears from countless sorrows all held by God. never known. The songs are his lament and he readily will Lent, it seems to me, is a particularly good time to bring admit he feels better after singing them. our laments to God. There is something about this season Psychologists know that tears that are never shed do (to say nothing of this year!) that wants us to lament. God not go away. They become something else—bitterness, receives our tears—the literal tears and metaphoric irritability, depression, or a hardness of heart. Most of the ones—as readily as God receives our songs of praise. time when I find that a person is chronically belligerent, So, this Lent, take the time and share those long-held it’s because they have not shed tears. We can offer lament tears with God and free yourself from weight that’s built in the confidence that God invites us to bring the fullness up over the past 12 months. of our sorrow. See you Sunday, Psalm 56 (my favorite psalm, incidentally) is a lament +Rob to God. The psalmist writes, "Put my tears in your bottle, Page 3 March Mission Focus: Hope Within Community Health Center Imagine having Hope Within also a sick child but offers extremely low knowing you -cost counseling ser- could not possi- vices. Counselors bly afford the are graduate stu- medical bill to dents from Lancas- seek treatment. ter Bible College Or having to de- who need a set num- cide between ber of face-to-face buying a life- counseling hours to saving medica- qualify for licensure tion or groceries. (think of them as For many neighbors in our commu- Patients are immigrants, part- interns). They operate under direct nity, that’s a reality. time workers, single parents, and supervision of the licensed profes- Our March Mission Focus is Hope students and work in hair salons, as sional counselors employed by LBC. Within Community Health, Counsel- Amazon drivers, cooks, and recep- Primary dental services are also ing, & Dental Center in Londonderry tionists. They make too much money available to patients. As the link be- Township, a free Christian primary to qualify for state medical assis- tween oral health and general health medical care facility serving the un- tance, yet they cannot access insur- is well documented, HW offers clean- insured residents of Dauphin, Leba- ance through their employers or ings, fillings, and extractions in collab- non, and Lancaster counties who fall through the marketplace due to cost oration with qualified dental volun- below 250 percent of the federal and the gap is wide. teers and with the dental hygiene stu- poverty level. About a quarter of the In conjunction with local hospi- dents from HACC. total patient base served at Hope tals, HW offers free lab testing and Hope Within is funded solely by in- Within comes from Hummelstown. imaging as prescribed by onsite pro- dividual donors and support from The center has 13 volunteer medi- viders. The center has a pharmacy churches and civic groups. Volunteer cal providers who work full time in on the premises and dispenses asth- opportunities exist for medical pro- local hospital systems yet find time ma, diabetes, thyroid, cholesterol, viders, nurses, dentists, dental assis- to volunteer. Each volunteer takes and some anxiety and depression tants and hygienists, receptionists, every opportunity to point people to medications to patients free of and handymen as well as other skills. Christ by offering to pray with pa- charge. In addition to board- For more info visit their website tients and when asked, explain that certified primary care providers, hopewithin.org or find them on Face- their reason for providing care is HW has a volunteer psychiatrist and book at Hope Within Ministries. because Christ first loved us. a volunteer acupuncturist. “Jesus of Nazareth—The Tour”

Continued from page 1 Palm Sunday, March 28— March 21—Bethany: Rebirth Jerusalem: Revelry to Rage and Renewal Luke 19:29-42 John 11:1-44 Tours of Israel always end We move outside of the at Jerusalem. It’s a holy city region of Galilee to Bethany for Jews, Christians, and which lies close to Jerusalem. Muslims, and is ripe with Bethany was the hometown passion and fervor. There’s of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus a feeling of tension that ris- and is the place that demon- es throughout the streets, strated one of Jesus’ greatest but there’s also a feeling of miracles, bringing life from expectation. It’s here Jesus death. Scott Wise, our direc- was greeted as a king only tor of Ministry Advancement, to be put to death days later will bring us the message, as a prisoner. Moving into highlighting the important Holy Week we uncover the events of this small town. mystery and tragedy here.

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Sponsors still needed for 2021 A special thank you to the sponsors of our altar flowers. These arrange- Thank you ments are a beautiful addition to the online and in-person services and are to our continuing again in 2021. Contact Rachel Irvin at 717-545-3438 or sponsors! email [email protected] to reserve your dates. Right now, being able to worship without attending in person is important to many, particularly our seniors. The weekly radio broadcast heard each week requires a sponsorship of $40 to reach those at home, and we need sponsors for our 2021 season. To sponsor a Sunday, con- tact the church office at 717-566-0252 or info@tumc htown.org. Feb. 7: Altar flowers presented in loving memory of Bruce D. Irvin Sr. by his son, Bruce Jr. Radio broadcast presented in memory of Ernest and Carolyn Baum by their daughter, Kathleen Keough. Feb. 14: Altar flowers presented in celebration of Terry’s birthday and their wedding anniversary by Terry and Marsha Davis. Radio broadcast presented by Robert and Kathy Weber. “Show love to all.” Feb. 21: Altar flowers presented in memory of Joseph Fruhwirth by his wife, Rita, and family. Radio broadcast presented in memory of Arlington and Kay McGarvey by Fred and Barbara McGarvey Feb. 28: Altar flowers presented in memory of Charles and Mabel Brandt by Ester Rathfon. Centerpiece present- ed in honor of Gwen Sener’s birthday by Janet Rhoads and family. Radio broadcast presented in honor of Trini- ty’s bell choir by Mary Elizabeth Hamsher.