First United Methodist Church 404 Azalea St. Lake Jackson, TX 77566 Volume 48, Issue 4 April 11, 2018 EASTER QUOTES The Lord is risen! The Jesus did not die on the Inside this issue: Lord is Risen indeed! cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted April Birthdays 2 I want to share some lives. His purpose is far Memorials 2 quotations about Easter deeper: He wants to make that I have run across and us like himself before he Children’s Ministry News 4,5 have given me food for takes us to heaven. This is Youth Ministry News 6,7 thought. Perhaps it will our greatest privilege, our give you something to Finance Committee 8 immediate responsibility and Report “chew” on as well: our ultimate destiny. ~ Rick Warren Society of St. Stephen 9 Dr. Lynne Settlemyre News Easter says you can put Pastor truth in a grave, but it won't Our Lord has written the Church Library News 9 stay there. promise of the resurrection, Easter is always the answer ~ Clarence W. Hall Women’s Ministry News 10 not in books alone, but in to "My God, my God, why every leaf in spring-time. Scholarship News 11 The stone was rolled away hast thou forsaken me!" ~ Martin Luther from the door, not to permit ~ Madeleine L’Engle Christ to come out, but to Our old history ends with the A dead Christ I must do enable the disciples to go in. cross; our new history everything for; a living Christ ~ Peter Marshall begins with the resurrection. does everything for me. Special points of ~ Watchman Nee We live and die; Christ died ~ Andrew Murray interest: and lived! ~ John Stott Let every man and woman May you experience the First Vergel & count himself immortal. Let Do not abandon yourselves joy of Easter today, and Anita Perry him catch the revelation of Scholarships to to despair: We are the every day! Jesus in his resurrection. Let be awarded on Easter people, and him say not merely, "Christ God Bless, May 6th Hallelujah is our song. is risen," but "I shall rise." ~ Pope John Paul II SLP Summer ~ Phillips Brooks Camp June 12th - Christ has not only spoken And my two personal July 26th to us by his life but has also favorites: Birds, Bees, spoken for us by his death. Flowers and Faith ~ Soren Kierkegaard - pg. 3 P a g e 2 The MESSENGER Debbie Smith 1 Toni Galloway 11 Benny Howard 19 Ryan Henderson 1 Wade King 11 Tony Webb 19 Tommy Kerr 2 Tommy Settlemyre 11 Nick Saxton 21 Jerry Higgins 2 Cindy McCoy 12 Noah Hankinson 21 Garrison Goldman 3 Nancy McGaugh 12 Cody Orr 22 Ed Suazo 4 Alicia Reyna 13 Laney Spoonemore 22 Madison Helmintoller 5 Becky Wanieck 14 Benjamin Cook 23 Sidney Helmintoller 6 Roberta Hemphill 14 Loren Whitehead 25 Tom Patterson 7 Lynne Settlemyre 15 Betty Petersen 25 Gabriel Reyna 7 Mark Strong 16 Emily Grady Parell 26 Ron Mertz 9 Richard Wood 16 Letha Kuck 26 Jim Abel 9 Ron Bachman 16 Pat Patterson 27 Jake Broaddus 10 Kate Webb 17 Carolyn Morrison 28 Sharon Doerr 10 Meri Joy Brightwell 18 Vannysa Vega 29 If you have a birthday this month and do not see your name listed, please call the church office so we can update your record. Memorials Donation received in memory of: John Motes Given by: Peggy Wille School for Little People Summer Camp When: Tuesdays and Thursdays June 12th –July 26th (No school July 4th week) Prayer and Praise Notes: To request prayer through our Intercessory Time: 9-1 (Please bring lunch) Prayer Team, complete the Prayer Registration: No later than May 1st Request form on ConnectCard in your Cost: $250 Sunday bulletin or contact the church office 979.297.3046 or [email protected]. Volume 48, Issue 4 P a g e 3 Birds, Bees, Flowers and Faith By the Rev. Mark Price* When the weather turns warmer and because when its spidery branches are Play. Not a video game or a phone app. the grass grows greener, it’s easier to moving with the wind, they seem to be Physically play. Move. Dance. understand the promise of new life and arms waving in praise of the season. Interestingly, the Irish jig and tap renewed hope that Christians proclaim According to tradition, forsythia means dancing have their roots in an early as “Easter people.” anticipation—an appropriate companion Saxon tradition called the “hop- word for Resurrection. egg.” The purpose was to step As we celebrate the Easter season, the among a dozen eggs as if walking the It is said the dogwood tree used to grow 50 days after the Resurrection, we see Stations of the Cross. This egg dance is straight and tall, but reminders all around us. So be sure to likely the distant relative of hopscotch. after it was used as keep an eye out on your next spring a crucifix for Christ, The Council at Nicaea in 325 AD gave stroll. God made it short the Church a revised creed. The last Birds and twisted with a line reads: “We look for the resurrection The robin, a very thin trunk so it could never be used as a of the dead, and the life of the world to common bird in the cross again. The dogwood bloom has come.” U.S., has a red breast four parts, each with a rusty red color As Easter people, we don’t have to look and a legend to explain it. Seems that on the end and a small hole, a reminder further than spring for an exclamation once a gray robin flew to Christ’s crown of where the nails were driven into the point to that affirmation. of thorns to draw out a thorn, and when cross. The center stamens look like the it did, a drop of Christ’s blood fell on its crown of thorns. breast, leaving a stain forevermore. Faith Bees The traditions that developed around It takes lots of buzzing bees to spread these spring symbols helped explain the pollen and make flowers grow. The the concept that God in the flesh took honey these creatures create is a on death and came back to tell us there biblical symbol of God’s favor. The is life on the other side. What fantastic Torah agrees, for it describes God’s news! promised land again and again as The four branches of This spring, be a witness to the good “flowing with milk and honey.” dogwood blossoms remind news that Christ is risen: people of the Cross. It is Flowers believed Christ's crucifix was Learn about the symbols and notice Long considered a symbol of hope and made from a dogwood. them when you are outdoors this Photo by Cindy Caldwell new life, the daffodil is one of the season. Even better: plant some blooms most often connected to the dogwoods and flowers in your yard and Article copied from UMNow at Resurrection. UMC.org. United Methodist on the grounds of your church. Now is a biweekly e-newsletter Tradition says that for church members to high- giving a gift of Fashion a cross from cuttings of spring light examples of Christian daffodils will ensure flowers. Invite others to help. Set it out living, share inspirational in front of your church, or even your messages, and focus on what it happiness for the receiver—but always means to be part of our give a bunch: a single bloom signals house, for all to see. connection. doom. Make (don’t buy) a gift for someone *Mark Price is Minister of who needs to be reminded of the love Spiritual Formation and The flowering shrub known as the Facilities Manager at Christ forsythia is what I call the Easter tree, of God made known in the Risen Christ. United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN P a g e 4 The MESSENGER This month our our children that Paul’s 2. We can help others Elementary students will story is really our own learn about God be studying discipleship. story. through kind The tomb is empty, now actions. Our elementary GO AND TELL! We will memory verse for April 3. We can help others Coming Up be taking a look at the is: learn about God by life of the Apostle Paul taking care of God’s May 4th and what his journey He began to preach house. Block Party into and through about Jesus in 5-7 PM discipleship was like. synagogues. “He is God’s 4. We can help others Our children are part Son”, he declared. learn about God by of the most un- sharing God’s word (Acts 9:20) reachable group in the with others. world. Who better to Our Preschoolers The preschool share the love of Jesus will also learn about memory verse for April Christ with children sharing the Good News! is: May 13th than other children? The lesson themes will Sunday School singers When we equip our be- Tell everyone the good perform at the 9AM children to share the news about Jesus. gospels, we are 1. We can help others service teaching them to walk learn about God (Mark 16:15) with Kingdom purpose. through the things June 3rd Together, let’s show we say. VBS volunteer meeting 12 Noon June 4th-8th Choir Camp June 17th-22nd Lakeview Summer Camp July 16-19th VBS! Volume 48, Issue 4 P a g e 5 Palm Sunday – Elementary Students baked ‘Empty Tomb Rolls’.