The Community Clarion March 2021 Volume 51, Issue 3 PASTOR’S PAGE The Following is from a anonymous Individual (xo): The season of Lent, a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of the Easter season. It is a time of self-examination and reflection.” I did not grow up in a church that observed the Church calendar, maybe that is why I am so drawn to it. Or maybe it is the order and intentionality that I love. It is especially true during Lent. Having a season set aside to honestly contemplate exactly what in my life is stealing my freedom, has helped me more than I can tell you. It takes bravery to ask myself: what specific habits or sin-patterns are keeping me from being the person God intended…keeping me in slavery? The honest answer to that question brings me such sorrow. And “Godly sorrow brings repentance.” And repentance is truly what I want. Because I do not have all the time in the world. Ash Wednesday reminds me, I will die one day…from dust to dust. I do not have time to waste on things that steal my focus away from what matters most. Or worse, I do not have the luxury of time to allow habits to take over and make me more self-focused. I pray that your season of Lent will be meaningful and life changing my friends ~ xo Some of the habits, traditions, items, and various activities listed above can eas- ily cause us to forget who we are in Christ. Putting off those things for a short time will not grant us the joy and peace we find with a lifetime of Jesus as our Savior. Pastor Kevin Easter Will Come in April! How about a little Easter trivia? Easter will occur on Sunday, April 4, 2021. You probably already knew that Easter falls on a different date each year… but why? Easter and the many church holidays related to it—such as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday—are called “moveable feasts,” because they do not fall on a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar, which follows the cycle of the Sun and the seasons. Instead, these days follow a lunisolar calendar, similar to Jewish holidays. According to a Fourth Century ruling, the date of Easter is set for the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first full Moon of Spring, occurring on or shortly after the Spring Equinox. March 22 is the earliest Easter can occur on any giv- en year, and April 25 is the latest. If that first spring full Moon occurs on a Sunday, then Easter will be observed on the following Sunday. Astronomers can tell us precisely to the exact minute when the Moon will arrive opposite the Sun that will brand it as a “full Moon. However, the Church follows its own methodologies in determining when the Moon turns full. One important factor is something called the “Golden Number.” It is a rather arcane series of computations that in the end provides a date for Easter. Of course, on occasion, the date for the full Moon does not exactly line up with the date that is provided by astronomy. Now for a little fun! 10 Fun Facts About Marshmallow Peeps 1. Peeps were once made by hand, and it took roughly 27 hours to create (because the marshmallow had to cool). Now, with mod- ern equipment, it takes about six minutes. 2. The first Peeps had wings! The candy’s manufacturer wanted to update their look, however, so the wings were “clipped.” 3. The first color was yellow—and yellow is still the most popular color. Yellow was followed by orange, pink, lavender, green, and blue. 4. According to the Just Born Candy Company, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the maker of Peeps, enough are produced each year that if they were all lined up, the line would circle the earth twice. 5. They also come in all sorts of shapes, including bunnies, Valentine’s hearts, and Halloween pumpkins. Even though other shapes are available, the traditional chick is by far the most popular. 6. The machine that makes Peeps, the Depositor, has remained unchanged for more than 50 years—and the recipe hasn’t changed, either. They are still made just as they always were, with a mixture of liquid and granulated sugars, corn syrup, gelatin, and vanilla. 7. They are the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy and they’ve sat at the top of that list for more than twenty years. Eve- ry spring, more than 1.5 billion marshmallow Peeps are eaten. 8. Each chick has just 28 calories and is fat-free. 9. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where Peeps were born, the tradition is so large that for New Year’s Eve, the locals drop a giant Peep instead of a ball! 10. Surveys show that nearly two-thirds of people who eat Peeps bite the heads off first — but that’s not the only way to eat one. Other ways to eat them include letting them get stale first, microwaving them, freezing them, or putting them on pizza! Thank You So Much! On Valentine’s weekend the staff of this church were blessed to receive a monetary gift from the congregation. We are so thankful to you for blessing us this way. Please accept our thanks and know that we would hug each and everyone of you personally if we could. Due to Covid re- strictions we can not do that at this time. So here is a virtual one for each of you. We’re So Excited! Have you seen the new, updated Parlor? Our Trustee’s have just completed a project to make our Parlor look like new again! The damage from the roof leak has been corrected. The wiring has been updated. The wallpaper has been removed and the walls are now painted pretty grey colors and the trim is white.. The thermostat has been updated to a new programable model. Insurance paid for some of the work but the church has a $2,500 deductible. Now… We need some help. The old furniture and fixtures worked with the old couches, chairs, lights, end tables and wall hangings. But the new room needs a new look! We are opening this up to you see if you can help! Monetary donations are being accepted to purchase new furniture and fixtures. If you can help the Trustees to finish this project,, please give a donation and mark it “Parlor Renewal”. Any amount will help! We will keep you updated with our progress each week.. Thank you from the Trustees Celebrations Anniversaries GOFORTH, Wreatha 03/20 Birthdays GODBY, Jacob 03/02 SHILTZ, George 03/02 BROWN, Keith 03/04 COLEMAN, Kevin 03/06 COLEMAN, Khaylah 03/06 DAGGETT, Sandee 03/08 HOEFS, Lori 03/10 LEIDENHEIMER, Jonathan 03/13 COSTIN, Peyton 03/18 BAILLIE, Ginnie 03/21 SENQUIZ, Carlos 03/21 WILSON, Dee 03/22 HAAS, Alberta 03/28 KOVACH, Patricia 03/31 March 2021 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7:00 Choir Practice 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 10:45 7:00 4:30 Worship Choir Practice Curbside Hot Meal 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Daylight Saving 7:00 4:30 Time Begins Choir Practice Curbside Hot 10:45 Meal Worship 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 10:45 7:00 4:30 Worship Choir Practice Curbside Hot Meal 28 29 30 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 Palm Sunday 7:00 Maundy Good Friday Choir Practice Thursday 10:45 Worship .