OUR WEEK—APRIL 6TH - APRIL 12TH

REMINDERS—
Thursday, April 3—Casey U.M.C. United Methodist Women will meet at 2:00 P.M.

Friday, April 4th, and Saturday, April 5th—The Community Theater will meet at 5:30 P.M. at the Community Building in Casey.
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Sunday, April 6th—3rd Sunday of Easter—Our colors are white or gold.
This is Communion Sunday.
The scripture readings for this day are:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41,
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (UMH 837),
1 Peter 1:17-23,
Luke 24:13-35

There will be a Special Offering earmarked for Native American Ministries.

Today the DOUBLE DIGIT YOUTH GROUP will have it's first meeting at the Casey Community Building. Meeting time is 2:30 to 4:30. If you didn't get an invitation, no matter . . . come anyway. COOL!

Monday, April 7th—This is Pastor Lynn's scheduled day off. The Casey U.M.C. Disciple Study will meet from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Tuesday, April 8th—Adair U.M.C. Disciple Study will meet from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 9th—Prayer Breakfast will be held in Happy Chef at 7:00 A.M.
I know, bring a friend.
This morning we will hold a Worship Service at the New Homestead Nursing Home
in Guthrie Center. The service is scheduled from 9:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.

DON'T FORGET—
"Just Give Me Jesus" revival scheduled for April 18th and 19th at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Both days of the revival are free and there is no need to register. Friday evening's meeting will be from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and the Arena doors will open at 5:30 P.M.
Saturday's meeting will be from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Arena doors open at 7:00 A.M.




A NEW BOOK that is highly recommended is titled:
SETTLING IN
My First Year in a Retirement Community
By Richard L. Morgan

Morgan speaks frankly about the losses and realities as he approached his own not-yet-frail "fourth quarter" (after age 75). Drawing from his journals of those sometimes-agonizing months, he takes us through his decision to move to a long-term facility and the first year of setting in.

As one reviewer says, "Settling In speaks loudly of the continuing call of a God with hands outstretched, who is always challenging us to further horizons, larger concerns and constantly surprising us with news to love and be loved."

Morgan's soul-baring reflections are invaluable for those considering a move to a retirement community, for family and friends, for current residents, and for staff of facilities.

LIFE IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING—
We can be constantly sure of that. The days of "We have always done it that way" are long gone.

For example, we are fortunate to have several keyboard players in our community, but there are times when they are unable to contribute — so we have CD Players,
DVD Players and, in many cases, magnificent sound systems. Many congregations have bands (guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, trumpets, trombones, etc.) that play regularly. We older folks always say "That's too loud," but these people come and give their time and their talents, and . . . we rejoice.
Smaller communities really scramble to keep a ministry vital— we have fewer monetary resources, fewer people, and a maturing age demographic. One solution to communication has been to put information in a "blog". (That word is a shortening of the term "web log"). According to a magazine called "Worship Trends" pastors use blogs to find solutions to problems, get support, get new ideas and suggestions, and to communicate information. They say that people of a congregation will send e-mails in reply much more freely than they will make a phone call. This may not be true of some small communities that have an older age demographic, who may (or may not) be more technologically challenged. If you would like to find links to some of the pastors' blogs, go to www.umportal.org.

I won't say the blog is here to stay, after all, "life is constantly changing."
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HELP US FILL THE TRUCK—at Annual Conference in Ames this year. Lets FILL THE TRUCK again this year with many needed items that will be appreciated by people all around the world.
These are the items we are collecting prioritized by UMCOR.

BEDDING KITS ($50 value)
2 Flat double-bed sheets, 2 pillow cases, 2 pillows

LAYETTE KITS provide women with basic supplies for the needs of their new babies • 6 cloth diapers
• 2 shirts or 2 one-piece body suits (Onesies)
• 2 gowns or sleepers
• 2 baby washcloths
• 2 diaper pins
• 1 sweater or jacket open in the front
• 2 receiving blankets Bundle items inside one blanket, and secure with diaper pins.

Top Ten List of Bulk Material Needs (listed in order of priority)
1.Terry cloth hand towels (15" x 25" or 16" x 27", No kitchen towels)
2.Metal nail files or fingernail clippers (no emery boards, no toenail clippers)
3.Children's blunt scissors
4.Pencil sharpeners (plain, small, individual sharpeners -no emblems)
5.Baby sweater/jackets (open in the front-$6 value)
6.Cloth baby diapers (cloth only--no disposable diapers)
7.Ruled paper (pad, spiral, or loose leaf)
8.Baby gowns or sleepers
9.School Bags (finished size 14" x 16"-$6 value)
10.Any separate items from Bedding kits
All items included must be NEW items.
Do NOT include any No personal notes.

We've had a busy month.
Thank you for your help.
Pastor Lynn