Dear Church,

As we approach another Holy week, beginning with Palm Sunday on March 24th, I’m mindful again of how cheers of joy can turn so quickly into shouts of “crucify him.” This happens, I believe, when God doesn’t do what we expect God to do; when our ideas get in the way of God’s intentions; when our hope is overwhelmed by fear. This will happen to all of us–and perhaps already has–this week and in weeks to come. So perhaps the prayer we most need to pray is one for courage; asking God to love us in such a way that fear is not defeated, but that strength to do what is right is made all the stronger.

Rev Sarah Speed, a creator with A Sanctified Art, offers such a prayer in the form of a poem:

Courage
We summon every ounce of courage.
We give ourselves pep talks
and we call our friends.
We dig deep within.
We practice the words out loud,
rolling them around in our mouths,
imagining the response.
We deal out every “what if” card our brain holds on to
and spend absurd amounts of time
imagining all the ways it could go wrong.
And then finally, blessedly, we say it:
I love you.
To speak the truth of your heart takes courage.
It always has.
But please,
summon your courage,
join the parade,
and speak with conviction.
For God has been saying to the world since day one:
I love you.
What is your response?

May we pray for God’s voice of love to ring clear in our ears when it is joyful and when it is fearful. May we share that love in those same circumstances, trusting God to give us the strength to do so.

The Lord Bless and Keep you,

Rev. Ben

Announcements

• Family Promise: It’s time to start thinking about Family Promise again, and Easter comes early this year! We will be providing all the fixings for Easter baskets. We have received all the candy and small toys/party favors we need but are still in need of a few bags of Easter grass. Donation boxes are located in the breezeway and the classroom across from the office. All Easter basket donations are due at church by March 24, 2024 so the families have time to assemble baskets for their children. Our week to host dinner for our families is April 7-13, 2024. As we get closer to this date there will be a signup sheet posted in the narthex. We will need a main entrée and two sides for about 15 people. We will also need a driver to take the meals up to the Day Center each night. Please consider helping with this mission.
• REMINDER…FPCoG our 5th Saturday commitment for H.O.P.E is Saturday, March 30. A sign-up sheet is on the table near the hallway in the Narthex. Please sign up to provide food, help prepare, set up, serve, clean up, or come and converse with the guests at H.O.P.E. Help provide a day of dignity and help nourish the bodies and souls of the homeless in our community! If you have any questions, please contact Julie Tedder.
• One Great Hour of Sharing: This offering will be collected next two Sundays. For Palm Sunday, “Fish Banks” can be placed in the basket in the front of the sanctuary during any of our hymns. You can also make an offering online or by placing an envelope in the offering plate.
• Please welcome Rev. Ashley-Anne Masters to our pulpit Palm Sunday. In addition to preaching, she will be sharing a few words about the Presbyterian Campus Ministry with us. As a longtime friend and college and seminary classmate of Rev. Masters, Ben is extremely excited for FPCoG to hear the word Ashley-Anne will share.
• On Easter morning bring flowers to either the 9:00am garden service or the 11:00am sanctuary service to place on the new flowered cross! Thanks to Rich Whipple for designing and building a new, bigger cross for us!
• Please join in sharing a meal together to benefit Able to Serve in our Fellowship Hall on Sunday, April 28th after church. The menu (catered by Angie’s Restaurant) is 1/4 chicken (white or dark meat choice), green beans, roll & dessert for $12 per person. See Melisssa Miley or Lucy Paradies to pre-purchase tickets after church on or by before April 14th as all must be pre-ordered.
• The Thursday Morning Bible Study: The Thursday Morning Bible Study continues their Lenten studies. Please join us each Thursday at 10am!
• The Adult Sunday School class meets each Sunday morning at 9:30 am for thoughtful discussion and fellowship in the comfort of your home or live & in person. They are using THE PRESENT WORD Bible Study. Please contact Karen Lovering or Mike Koenig for more information. Hope to see you there!
• Walking Group: The Walking Group meets each Tuesday weather permitting. The walking group meets at the Village at 6pm to walk. We will park at Cadence assisted living on Minglewood Dr. and walk 2 laps around the Village. If you have any questions, contact Martha Long. In the event there is inclement weather, we’ll just gather the following week.
• Liftavator update: The lift is being installed over the next 2-4 weeks! Once installed, we will schedule opportunities on how to properly use the lift. For any questions contact Karen Lovering.