Tuesday, March 24, 2009

OUR WEEK—MARCH 29 - APRIL 4

REMINDERS —
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH—Confirmation in Casey UMC from 6 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
A Mystery Dinner catered by Pastor Lynn and Barry
Williams will be served. I do not know what the banquet
will be but, I heard Pastor Lynn and Barry were out
hunting for fresh frogs and bats. Yummm! (Hee hee).
Lenten Services at Good Shepherd Church in Adair
will begin at 7 P.M.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH —This is Angel Food Distribution day in Casey UMC.
The orders may be picked up from 1 P.M. to 2 P.M.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 29TH —
TODAY IS OUR 9 A.M. COMBINED SERVICE AT THE
COMMUNITY CENTRE IN ADAIR. COME TO SERVICE
Text ColorSTAY FOR AN EXCELLENT CHICKEN DINNER
AT 11 A.M.

This is the Fifth Sunday in Lent
One week until Palm Sunday
Two weeks until Easter
Our Color is Purple
The most persistent single image throughout these
readings is the heart. It is the heart that will be the
witness to God's new covenant, the heart that seeks
instruction and wisdom in the psalm; it is the heart
of Jesus, not his ancestry or ritual perfection, that
takes him where he must go.

OUR SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY ARE:
JEREMIAH 31:31-34
(New International Reader's Version) NIRV
Jeremiah envisions God's new initiative to deliver the
exiles in Babylon, not just from captivity, but from
their own waywardness.
31 "A new day is coming," announces the Lord.
"I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel.
I will also make it with the people of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their people long ago.
That was when I took them by the hand.
I led them out of Egypt.
But they broke my covenant.
They did it even though I was like a husband to them,"
announces the Lord.

33 "This is the covenant I will make with Israel
after that time," announces the Lord.
"I will put my law in their minds.
I will write it on their hearts.
I will be their God.
And they will be my people.

34 A man will not need to teach his neighbor anymore.
And he will not need to teach his friend anymore.
He will not say, 'Know the Lord.'
Everyone will know me.
From the least important of them to the most important,
all of them will know me," announces the Lord."I will forgive their evil ways.
I will not remember their sins anymore."

PSALM 51:1-12 (New International Version) NIV
(UMH 785)

David poured out his soul to God in prayer for
mercy
and grace. Those that truly repent of their
sins, will
not be ashamed to own their repentance.
David had
not only done much, but suffered much
in the cause
of God; yet he flees to God's infinite
mercy, and
depends upon that alone for pardon
and peace.
Where there is truth, God will give
wisdom. Those
who sincerely endeavor to do their
duty shall be
taught their duty; but they will expect
good only
from Divine grace overcoming their
corrupt nature.


1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

HEBREWS 5:5-10 (Worldwide English Version) WEV
There is no real deliverance from death but to be
carried through it. He was raised and exalted, and
to him was given the power of saving all sinners.
Christ has left us an example that we should learn
humble obedience to the will of God. We need
affliction, to teach us submission.


5 So Christ did not choose himself to be a high priest.
But he was chosen by the One who said to him, `You
are my Son, and I am your Father today.'

6 In another place in the holy writings God said, `You are
a priest for ever like Melchizedek.'

7 When Jesus was a man, he talked to God who was
able to save him from death. He called loudly to him
with tears. God heard him because he honored and
respected God.

8 Even though Jesus was his Son, he learned to obey
God in the troubles he had.9 When he became perfect, he saved for ever all who
obeyed him.

10 God called him a high priest like Melchizedek was
a priest.

JOHN 12:20-33 (New International Version)
Jesus' Hour Arrives
Some Greeks now come to see Jesus, signaling to
him that his long awaited hour has arrived. Jesus
speaks of the mystery of life coming through death,
applying this to his own death. In the midst of this
teaching the Father himself bears witness to Jesus
from heaven, but the crowd has a mixed response
to the Father's voice, just as they have had to Jesus,
the Father's Word.


Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went
up to worship at the Feast.

21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,
with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."

22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man
to be glorified.

24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the
ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it
dies, it produces many seeds.25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who
hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my
servant also will be. My Father will honor he who serves me.

27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father,
save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I
came to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from
heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had
thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the
prince of this world will be driven out.

32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men to myself."

33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to
die.
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MONDAY, MARCH 30TH —
This is Pastor Lynn and Naomi's day off.
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Staff Parish Council Meeting in Casey UMC at 7 PM.
We will begin work on evaluations and we will consider
radon presence.
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No Bible Study this evening
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TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST —
Adair Bible Study this morning - from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST —≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Adair United Methodist Women will meet in the church
at 9 A.M. this morning.
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THIS IS OUR LAST CONFIRMATION CLASS - AND
THAT
IS NOT A JOKE! Louise Arter will provide food
for our ravenous offspring. Thank you, Louise.

St. Johns Lutheran Church in Casey will host Lenten
Service this evening at 7 P.M.
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Good news! Sally Hubbard is back in her home. She
is doing well and getting her strength back. Welcome
home, Sally.
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COMING EVENTS —
On Palm Sunday, April 5th, we will have a combined
9 A.M. service in Casey UMC. After service, there will
be a brunch
honoring the members of this year's
Confirmation Class
. Their commitment deserves all
of our support. Congratulations, kids!
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Thank you for your help this week. We are blessed
to have many competent individuals stepping forward
to participate in our church life. Your support and
assistance keeps us on the road.
God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn