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Email: office@stmarysucc.org
Page last updated: January 29, 2005
T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXVI February, 2005 No 2 - modified for the Web.
Ash Wednesday Service - February 9th
Lenten Communion Service - February 13th
Family Bowling Party - February 6th
Faith Flix Nite - February 26th
Consignment Sale - March 12th
Discipleship is at the heart of the Christian life. As Christians we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. This means that the Christian life is one of both being and becoming. We are; but we are also not yet fully. To be a disciple means to be a learner. To be a disciple means to be a follower. We are followers of the Christ. But we are true followers only to the extent that we have opened our lives to being changed by the message, the person, the power of the master whom we follow. Christian discipleship is about changed lives. Christian discipleship is about transformation - the transformation of the world through the transforming power of the Spirit at work in those who follow Jesus. Change is at the heart of the gospel message. Jesus preached a repentance that meant turning away from lives that were broken and empty, and to follow him into lives filled with promise and possibility.
As a season of repentance, Lent encourages each one of us to reexamine and refocus on our faithfulness to our Christian discipleship. Each one of us should be asking the question, "Does my life reflect my commitment to be a faithful follower of Jesus?" Faithful disciples worship together. Faithful disciples learn and grow together. Faithful disciples share what they have to help carry on the work that God calls us to do together. Faithful disciples acknowledge their God given gifts and are willing to utilize them in the advancement of God's realm. Lent commemorates Jesus' fast of forty days to pray and to study and to discern the leading of God's Spirit before his journey began. Lent gives us the opportunity to rededicate ourselves as Christian disciples. may each of us use this time of study, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to grow in our discipleship that we may become more fully the disciples of Christ that we are called to be.
Grace and peace,
Dick
On February 9th, all are invited to celebrate the beginning of the Lenten season as we gather for our annual Ash Wednesday worship service beginning at 7:30 PM. Pastor Scott will be joined by Rev. Gerry Fuss from Emmanuel (Baust) Church for a service that includes the Imposition of Ashes and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. As we host this event, all of us at St. Mary's UCC are encouraged to participate in this meaningful service of worship and celebration.
The first Sunday in Lent is Sunday, February 13th. We at St. Mary's UCC will begin our season of reflection and penitence with our 10:00 AM service of worship and Holy Communion which will be served in the pews. As we prepare our hearts and our lives for the coming of Holy Week and Easter, all are invited to share in this most meaningful way to begin the Lenten season.
Again, during the first four Sundays of Lent, the churches of our Westminster UCC CLuster will gather for a series of evening worship experiences on Sunday evenings starting at 7:00 PM. This will be n opportunity ofr 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:
February 13th Benjamin's-Krider's, Westiminster
February 20th Emmanuel (Baust), Tyrone
February 27th St. Mark's, Syndersburg
March 6th Grace, Taneytown
Everyone is invited to come and enjoy an afternoon of bowling and pizza on Sunday February 6th from 2-4:30 PM. Meet at the church at 1:30 PM. We will carpool to the Thunderhead Bowling Alley in Taneytown. We will have both duck pin and ten pin lanes. After our two hours of bowling each person will get a soda and a slice of pizza. The cost will be $5.00 a person. There will be a sin up sheet in the vestry, or see Nancy H.
The young adults of the church are invited to bring their friends to a night of fun and fellowship on Saturday, February 26th, starting at 6:00 PM and ending at 9:00 PM. We plan to discuss the movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ." Plan now to attend. Nursery care will be provided.
The Church School Elective's Class will be starting a new video series called Margin on Sunday, February 6th. In this video series, Dr. Richard Swenson, a medical practitioner, provides a "prescription" against the danger of overloaded lives. Focusing on the sovereignty of God and four key areas of emotional energy, physical energy, time, and finances, he offers and overall picture of health that employs contentment, simplicity, balance, and rest.
The Elective's Class consists of adults of all ages and meets in the North Room every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM. Everyone is welcome.
4th SUNDAY TRADITIONAL SERVICES
Starting February, the pastor will be leading traditional style worship services on the fourth Sunday of the month in the Vestry during the 9:00 AM Sunday School hour. Members of the Adult Lecture Class were pleased to share their class time as an opportunity to offer a traditional worship service on contemporary praise service Sundays. Our first gathering is on February 27th at 9:00 AM. All are welcome.
CONGREGATIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS REPORT FOR 2004
Congregational crafts raised $4,390.76 in 2004 and over the past four years total sales were $23,429.87, all for the Sanctuary Fund. See the yearbooks for complete reports. I offer St. Mary's members my gratitude and appreciation for your loyalty and service to my endeavor. All the items you purchased and help sell, the crafts and baked items you made and monetary gifts given made us a success. I humbly thank you form the bottom of my heart. Only as a team working together could we have been successful in this endeavor. It was greatly appreciated. In Christian Love, Nancy
The Kid's Consignment Sale, to benefit the Christian Preschool & Kindergarten Program, will be held on Saturday, March 12th 2005 at the First Presbyterian Church of Westminster from 7 AM to 12 Noon. A special 1/2 price sale will take place later that day from 4-6 PM for donations not sold during the morning. The sales feature quality used children's clothes, accessories, baby furniture, equipment, games, and toys. Everyone is welcome to consign and shop. Consignors earn 60% of the price of their merchandise. For more information or to obtain a consignor's packet, call 410-857-4389. A flyer is posted on the bulletin board by the church office.
Thank You for sharing our Parish News! If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the church office.
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Email: office@stmarysucc.org Page last updated: January 29, 2005 |
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