T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXV MARCH , 2004 No 3 - modified for the Web.
Mel Gibson will give us an unusual opportunity this Lenten season to ponder the significance of Jesus’ death. Passions are already running high over Gibson’s new movie, "The Passion of the Christ." It is no accident that the film’s release is scheduled for Ash Wednesday and for many of us, witnessing this new Hollywood depiction of the last hours of the life of Jesus will be a moving and sobering experience that will create a lasting impression upon us.
As a child of the fifties, I can remember the epic biblical films that helped to shape my early understanding of the gospel message. "Ben-Hur," "King of Kings," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," these were all movies that attempted to recreate the world of Jesus’ time, and tried to give us a portrait of who Jesus was and the impact that his story had on the lives of those who came in contact with him. The warning that we have on this latest film is that this movie portrays in graphic form, the violence and horror of crucifixion as the most brutal form of capital punishment executed by the Roman world of two thousand years ago. It is not recommended for young children.
Whether we watch the movie or not, Lent is the time in our Christian year when we are especially mindful of the significance of Christ’s passion and death on the cross. We are called to remember the story and ponder its significance for our lives and the life of our world. Using the word ‘passion’ to refer to the suffering of Jesus preserves the old usage of the word that included a sense of suffering and submitting to that over which we have no control. This year as we ponder the passion of Christ, I suspect that many of us may have a new appreciation for passion as that which takes control of us, that for which we have no barriers, that for which we are will to suffer and that for which we are willing to die. If we at St. Mary’s are serious about passionate spirituality, this is our opportunity to seriously explore and seriously experience the cross of Christ as the central symbol of our faith. My hope for each of us during this Lenten season is that we might embrace the Passion of the Christ and make it our own.
Grace and peace,
Dick
Again, during the five Sundays of Lent, the churches of our Westminster UCC Cluster are gathering for a series of evening worship experiences on Sunday evenings starting at 7:30 PM. This is an opportunity for us to worship and pray together as we grow in our faith as churches in the United Church of Christ. All in our St. Mary’s congregation are encouraged to participate. Services are scheduled for:
Feb. 29th St. Mark’s, Snydersburg
March 7th Emmanuel (Baust), Tyrone
March 14th Trinity, Manchester
March 21st Grace, Taneytow
March 28th Benjamin’s-Krider’s, Westminster
The Evangelism and Spiritual Life committee is once again sponsoring the spring spiritual retreat. This year’s retreat will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2004 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the Aisling House in Millers, MD. Lunch is included. All members and friends of St. Mary’s UCC are welcome to attend. There is a $5.00 registration fee per person. Registrations can be made at the church office through Sunday, March 14th. Space is limited, so plan now to attend. Those persons who have attended prior retreats have found them to be spiritually uplifting and renewing.
The Concern for Others Committee is pleased to announce that we are almost at the halfway point in our "Rainbow of Hope" Campaign to benefit Hoffman Homes for Youth. Our goal is to raise $1000 to support Hoffman’s efforts to expand their current treatment programs, and to keep pace with the challenges of dealing with abused, neglected, and severely disturbed children. St. Mary’s has been a long-time advocate of Hoffman Homes, and we are extremely excited and proud of our commitment to this campaign. Our campaign will end on Sunday, March 14th, with the proceeds from that morning’s Table Fellowship also helping us to reach our goal. We ask for your continued generosity towards this worthwhile endeavor. Help us to complete our "rainbow of hope" for these kids, by filling our "soup" pot, which you will find in the back of the sanctuary. Please give prayerful consideration to this wonderful effort. Thank you for your support.
Enclosed with this newsletter is an Easter Offering envelope, as the Stewardship and Enlistment Committee decided last year to use this instead of the coin folders that had been used years before. This special offering at Easter time will help our church reach out to the world in a very tangible way through the support of our Benevolence Fund.
Please give generously as together in Christ’s name we make a difference.
The idea of "One Great Hour of Sharing" was conceived in 1946. During and following World War II, Protestant churches made appeals for worldwide reconstruction and relief. An Episcopalian Bishop, Bishop Sherrill, challenged the Episcopal churches to raise one million dollars in one hour. This idea has grown to include up to twenty-nine communions in support.
From the beginning, the "One Great Hour of Sharing" has benefited communities and countries spanning the globe. Personal volunteers are used to train people in better farming, better nutrition and child-care. The communities are taught how to make tools and carts for farming and agriculture. Gas and electric were created where there was none to help make products and market them. Your gifts have helped to bring richer lives and hope to many.
In the gospel we read of Jesus feeding five thousand people with the offering a small box lunch. Even the smallest gifts can be used for big purposes. Serving in Jesus’ name by sharing what we have received is one way to live out our call to discipleship. Envelopes will be provided in the March 21st bulletin. Please give generously to help "One Great Hour of Sharing" continue with its mission to those in need.
During the Sundays in March, our church will receive donations of used clothing items. These items will be sent to area groups working on behalf of the poor in our region. Clothing can be brought to the church starting Sunday, March 7th, through Sunday, March 28th. Please refrain from using oversize boxes and overfilled bags. Thank you for thinking of others during this Lenten season.
The deadline for turning in orders for Wolfgang Candy if March 14. The 29th will be pick up day at the church.
On Sunday, March 7th following the worship service there will be a meeting of those individuals interested in forming a planning committee for Vacation Bible School. This committee will help recruit teachers, select curriculum and assist in the planning for a Vacation Bible School this year. The committee is open to all church members. If you are interested but can not make the meeting please call the church office (410-346-7977 or 410-848-3862)
The Senior Youth Group is sponsoring a Coffee House on Saturday March 27, 7-10 pm. All are invited to enjoy a live contemporary performance by H.I.S., all the coffee/tea you can drink, and a great time of Christian fellowship. Admission is FREE, so invite a friend or two to share the love. The Youth are accepting donations of baked goods (brownies, Rice Krispie treats, etc) and snacks (pretzels, chips, Doritos, etc) to serve our guests. If you would like to contribute, please drop off your items in the basement between 5:00 & 6:00 pm on March 27. For more information or any questions, please contact the church office.
We will be taking orders for Easter flowers in March. This year we will be taking orders for lilies, tulips and daffodils at the cost of $7.00 each. Flyers to order will be in the bulletins the last week in February and the first two weeks of March, or call the church office (410-346-7977 or 410-848-3862) Deadline to order is March 14.
Why would Christians be interested in a meal so tied to Jewish identity? Tradition says that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Passover meal. Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospel state that it was, but John’s gospel is clear that it was not. In Johns gospel Jesus is sacrificed on the cross at the same time that the lambs are being sacrificed in the Temple for the Paschal Feast; and therein lies the true connection; Jesus is the Lamb of God who has ransomed us from death and fulfilled the true mission of Israel to be a light unto the Gentiles. It is in Jesus that we have our Passover from death to life. The purpose of this meal is to allow us to create a deeper understanding of Judaism and of our common heritage, as well as a deeper appreciation of what our redemption in Christ is all about.
Come join us on Sunday, April 4th at 6:00 PM in the fellowship hall for this special event. Reservations are REQUIRED. A sign up sheet will be in the rear of the sanctuary for the month of March. Deadline to sign up is Sunday, March 28th. If you have any questions contact the church office.
FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
The Stewardship & Enlistment Committee is pleased to announce that the end is in sight to complete the funding for our Sanctuary and Organ renovations. With the deficit dropping to below $85,000 in our Capital Improvement Fund, we believe that a final campaign to raise $60,000 over the next three years will provide sufficient income to finish paying for these two renovation projects. We will be mailing a letter to everyone in the congregation in the near future that will explain this campaign more fully. Please watch for your letter and consider your prayerful response. Again, we thank all of those who have continued to support this historic undertaking and we are grateful for all of those who contribute to our church with your gifts.
Saturday, April 3rd will be our annual Easter celebration. There will be egg hunts, crafts and other fun activities. More information to follow in April newsletter and bulletins.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 24th. The Fellowship Committee is planning a special event for all ages. Don’t miss out on the fun! Keep your eyes and ears open for more details.
Message from the The Evangelism and Spiritual Life Committee
We at St. Mary’s UCC want everyone to be able to participate fully in our worship services. To facilitate this process, large print bulletins are available at each church entrance. Our facility is also equipped with a hearing assistance speaker. Receivers are located in a basket on the windowsill between the sound booth and bell tower entrance. If you need help locating the above items please ask the Greeter or the Elder of the Month for assistance.
Handicapped parking and accessibility located at the rear of the church provide those with difficulty walking a close place to park and ramps for easier access to the building. Wheelchair seating is now available in the sanctuary.
The Evangelism and Spiritual Life Committee is striving to make St. Mary’s a caring, loving, and welcoming place for everyone to worship.
Fellowship time is scheduled every Sunday following worship. Most Sundays, the Fellowship Hour is held in the Vestry immediately following worship. This is an informal gathering of anyone (members and visitors) who would like to stay after worship for a snack and mingling. We encourage members to host the Fellowship Hour on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. There is a sign up sheet in the Vestry along with instructions on the tasks associated with hosting the Fellowship Hour. Nothing fancy is expected. Serving something as simple as cookies, punch, and coffee is fine. The
Fellowship Committee hosts those weeks in which there are no volunteers.
The 2nd Sunday of each month is designated as Table Fellowship. During this time, the Fellowship Committee serves a meal following worship. Again, all members and visitors are encouraged to attend. A free will offering is collected to cover the cost of the meal. Any profits are donated to the Sanctuary Fund. In 2003, over $500 was donated.
The 4th Sunday of each month is designated as Birthday Fellowship. The Fellowship Committee serves birthday cake and celebrates all birthdays that fall in that particular month.
Come one, come all. Take advantage of these opportunities to share good food and good company!
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