Holy Week Services Thursday, April 2, 2015 Maundy Thursday ..................... 6:30 PM Join us for Holy Communion with a twist! Friday, April 3, 2015 Good Friday .............................. 6:30 PM The distinctive ceremony of Tenebrae is the gradual extinguishing f candles while a series of readings are recited. Saturday, April 4, 2015 Easter Egg Extravaganza .......... 2:00 PM INsight Sunday, April 5, 2015 Easter Sunday Sunrise Service ........................ 6:30 AM MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF Traditional Worship ................... 8:30 AM BENTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Contemporary Worship ........... 10:50 AM APRIL 2015 From the Pastor Grace and peace to you in the Name and Spirit of Jesus Christ! Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Day! Happy Resurrected LIFE! When we think of Easter, what comes to mind? Worship? Sunrise Service? Egg hunts? Family gatherings? Food? Easter dress? Spring time? Bunnies? What is Easter really all about? Biblically, the Easter Event (which includes the events of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday) is recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John). Juxtapose this with the birth of Jesus which is only recorded in two of the four Gospels (Matthew and Luke) Could this be a way the Gospel writers are telling us the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection? In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus foretells the Easter Event three times to His disciples (Matthew 16:13-28, 17:14-23 and 20:1-28). This is building up the importance of the Easter Event. Historically speaking, why is “Easter” is called “Easter”? Here is a definition that I found at History.com: “Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Other accounts trace Easter to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient reference to Easter week and the white clothing donned by people who were baptized during that time. Through a translation error, the term later appeared as esostarum in Old High German, which eventually became Easter in English. In Spanish, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, for Passover. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew), the Jewish festival commemorating the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter.” Chronologically, the date of Easter is determined by the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring – March 20th). Last year (2014) Easter was on April 20th and next year (2016) Easter will be on March 27th. Culturally, we tend to “tidy” up Easter and make it clean and pain free. Theologically and literally we want to jump from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, from shouting “Hosanna! (Save us!) to “Alleluia! (He is risen!) For our children we tend to allow the focus of Easter to become more about the Easter Bunny than about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Theologically (study of God) and ecclesiologically (study of the Church) speaking, Easter is the ultimate gift that God provides. In the resurrection of Jesus from the dead we are given new and eternal life, we are forgiven and are able to forgive, and we are freed to live and love like Jesus. The Easter Event is reason why the Church exists and the reason why we are able to receive the Holy Spirit for guidance in living and loving more like Jesus. Looking at Easter from all of these perspectives, what has Easter become for you and your family? Are there some priorities that need changing so that Easter becomes a higher priority for you? How can we, the church, better help you and your family in living and loving more like Jesus? My prayer and hope for you and my family is that we celebrate Easter everyday of the year! Receiving new and eternal life, being forgiven, having the capacity to forgive and being free to live and love like Jesus is really something to celebrate! Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Day! Happy Resurrected Life! Grace and peace, Rev. Dr. Danny Gleason Senior Pastor O.P.A.L.S. First Quarter Financial Report (Older People with Active Life Styles) Income $186,749.00 Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Expenses $185,487.00 11:30 a.m. in the Worship Center $5.00 per person for lunch The OPALS (Older People with Active Apportionments Life Styles) will meet to hear guest Benton UMC’s 2014 apportionment amount was speaker, Mrs. Jack Gore of Plain Dealing, $58,650.00, we finished out this obligation in sharing a book review of Terry Kay’s February of this year. memoirs, The Year the Lights Came On. This is a story of a boy growing up in a The apportionment obligation amount for 2015 is small southern town in Georgia – on the $56,119.00. We have paid 21,365.00 so far this wrong side of Hwy 17. It is just after WWII year. and electricity becomes the “social leveler.” Jack says it is very nostalgic about a time most of us remember. Everyone is We were able to finish out paying the balance of invited to join this 55+ bunch as they enjoy a delicious meal 2014 due to a plea to the congregation with a together and this delightfully entertaining story. generous return and were blessed with two Everyone is welcome, generous contributions for this purpose that also but please make a reservation by calling: enabled us to make a sizable payment towards Sandra Upshaw at (318) 326-5966. 2015. SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEANING As Spring is upon us, many of us are tidying up our homes, or as some say Spring Cleaning. Have you ever thought about doing a spiritual spring cleaning? This could come in different forms for different people. Some may want to start a prayer journal, some may want to become more active in missions, and others may just need to make church a priority. No matter your reasoning for spiritually spring cleaning, the goal is still the same. Here are a few things to think about during your cleanse: 1. Take time to cleanse your heart – we must draw nearer to God for this to happen… we can’t cleanse ourselves, we require HIM. Read: Psalm 51:10 and Hebrews 10:22 2. Deep clean from the inside out – once our heart is cleansed, our language should follow. Not just bad language, but negative talk, gossip, anything that isn’t uplifting. Read: Luke 6:45 and Philippians 2:14 3. Remove the garbage from our mind – remember the old saying, “garbage in, garbage out”? We need to feed our mind and thoughts with the word of God. Read : Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:5 4. Clean out your spiritual closet - seek forgiveness for the hidden sin in your life. Read: Psalm 32:3-5 5. Get rid of baggage – forgive those who have wronged you and let go of bitterness. Read: Hebrews 12:1 and Ephesians 4:31-32 6. Make sure Jesus is a part of your daily life – let the Son shine in. Read: 1 Corinthians 1:9 and Psalm 56:13 7. Don’t take things too serious - learn to laugh and yourself…and at life. Read: Psalm 28:7 and Psalm 126:2 2 SHARE YOUR STORY Each month we have activities that can be done by an entire family or by individualsindividuals andand highlightedhighlighted inin ourour newsletter.newsletter. IfIf youyou participateparticipate inin anyany ofof thesethese activities, we would love for you to share your story. Maybe it’s something a kid says or does or a way in which the activity moved you or someone else. Submit these via email to [email protected] or share on our Facebook page. We would love to know your story!!! FUNdamentals of Generosity Friday, May 1 at 5:30 PM-Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM Cost: $125.00 (includes 6 meals and room with roommate) Wesley Center, 2350 Methodist Parkway, Woodworth, LA 71485 Call Rev. Cheryl Nelson at (318) 422-0914 Cheryl Nelson and Cheryl Fell are teaming up once again to facilitate another women’s weekend at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, LA, on May 1-3, 2015. This year’s theme is “FUNdamentals of Generosity” with Cheryl Fell providing the “fun”, and Rev. Cheryl bringing the spiritual component. The gathering begins with supper at 5:30 PM on Friday night and ends around 2:00 Sunday afternoon. There is always time reserved for, resting, hiking, playing board or card games, and putting together a jigsaw puzzle – something for everyone. We will experience walking the outdoor laby- rinth on Saturday morning, having morning devotionals in the little white church, and several surprises! The cost of the weekend is $125 which includes 2 nights’ lodging, 6 meals and use of the facility. Registration forms are in the church office; just fill one out and send it directly to the Wesley Center with your registration fee. If you need more information, contact Rev. Cheryl at (318) 422-0914 or [email protected]. This is the weekend before Mothers’ Day so you can give it to yourself (or your mom or daughter) as a present! This annual event is truly a blessing, when women gather just to enjoy the fellowship and encouragement of sisters in Christ. Just come . and don’t forget your spirit of generosity! BENTON UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Many thanks to each and every one who helped make our annual Style Show and Luncheon a success.