MARCH 24TH TO MARCH 30TH
REMINDERS —≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH —
DORCAS-RUTH CIRCLE WILL MEET AT 1:30 P.M.
IN ADAIR U.M.C. PAT HOEGH IS HOSTESS
“The Crucifixion”
THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST —
DEBORAH-MARY CIRCLE WILL MEET AT 2 P.M.
IN CASEY U.M.C. JOYCE WRIGHT IS HOSTESS
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MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH —
— MARCH 19TH —
1702 - Upon the death of William III of Orange,
Anne Stuart, the sister of Mary, succeeds to the
throne of England, Scotland and Ireland.
1946 - RUTH POINTER was born today. She is
an American R and B singer, the eldest member
of The Pointer Sisters, popular during the 70's
and 80's. She is best known for her spectacular
deep throaty vocals. She now sings with her
daughter and granddaughter.
earned three Tonys, an Obie, three Emmys, and
two Golden Globes. She has six Academy
Award nominations.
MARCH 20TH —
1852 - HARRIET BEECHER STOWE'S book
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published today.
I read this in my childhood and it was my
first introduction to racial discrimination.
General Federation of Womans' Clubs founded.
1985 —
Libby Riddles is 1st woman to win the Iditarod
Trail Dog Sled Race.
1917 — Loretta Walsh was the first female US
Navy Petty Officer.
1904 —
Helen Keller graduates Radcliffe College. You
may recall, Helen was both deaf and blind.
Jane Addams' book Twenty Years at Hull-House
is published.
Hull House was a Settlement House located on
the near west side of Chicago founded in 1889.
Hull House became, at its inception in 1889, "a
community of university women" whose main
purpose was to provide social and educational
opportunities for the working poor.
Julia Morgan begins work on the Hearst
Castle.
1923 —
The Equal Rights Amendment, drafted by
Alice Paul, is introduced in the United States
Congress.
Nellie Taylor Ross is inaugurated as the
thirteenth governor of Wyoming
1926 —
Bertha K. Landes is elected mayor of Seattle.
1928 —
Margaret Mead publishes Coming of Age in
Samoa.
1933 —
Nellie Taylor Ross becomes the first woman
to head the U.S. Mint.
1935 —
Eleanor Roosevelt begins writing "My Day,"
a syndicated newspaper column.
1938 —
Billie Holiday first performs "Strange Fruit,"
a song about lynching in the South
1939 —
Eleanor Roosevelt resigns from the
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
after it prevents Marian Anderson from
performing at it's Constitution Hall.
Marian Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert
draws an audience of 75,000.
Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter
appears on the cover of the Saturday Evening
Post on May 29, 1943.
Harvard Medical School admits women for
the first time.
1948 —
Eleanor Roosevelt presents the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights to the UN General
Assembly
1948 —
Margaret Chase Smith becomes the first
woman elected to both houses of Congress.
1949 —
Burnita Shelton Matthews is named Federal
District Court judge for the District of Columbia.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 24TH —
PALM OR PASSION SUNDAY
Passion/Palm Sunday marks the beginning of
Holy Week. The name of this day indicates that
the key focus of the liturgy is intended to be not
just on the "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem, but
on the torment of Christ during his trial and time
leading up to his execution.
SIXTH SUNDAY IN LENT
COLOR: RED OR PURPLE
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• LITURGY OF THE PALMS
LUKE 19:28-40
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
Luke recounts Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
GOD'S PERSONAL VISIT
straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near
Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called
Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with
instructions: "Go to the village across from you.
As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered,
one that has never been ridden. Untie it and
bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are
you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.'"
32-33 The two left and found it just as he said.
As they were untying the colt, its owners said,
"What are you doing untying the colt?"
34 They said, "His Master needs him."
35-36 They brought the colt to Jesus. Then,
throwing their coats on its back, they helped
Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a
grand welcome, throwing their coats on the
street.
37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives
begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples
burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty
works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God's name!
All's well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him,
"Teacher, get your disciples under control!"
40 But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones
would do it for them, shouting praise."
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PSALM 118:1-2, 19-29 (UMH 839
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
PSALM 118:1-2
Thank God because he's good, because his
love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
"His love never quits."
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
"His love never quits."
And you who fear God, join in,
"His love never quits."
PSALM 118:17-29
17-20 I didn't die. I lived!
And now I'm telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous
gates! I'll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
you've truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God's work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let's celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God's
name — from God's house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You're my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he's so good.
His love never quits!
———————————————————————
• LITURGY OF THE PASSION
ISAIAH 50:4-9
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
The servant hears God's word and faces
torture with confidence.
Isaiah presents the voice of a prophet turned
teacher to people suffering injustice. "Do to me
what you will. Bring it on! I will not be
disgraced. The Lord will vindicate me."
4-9 The Master, God, has given me
a well-taught tongue,
So I know how to encourage tired people.
He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
to listen as one ready to take orders.
The Master, God, opened my ears,
and I didn't go back to sleep,
didn't pull the covers back over my head.
I followed orders,
stood there and took it while they beat me,
held steady while they pulled out my beard,
Didn't dodge their insults,
faced them as they spit in my face.
And the Master, God, stays right there and
helps me, so I'm not disgraced.
Therefore I set my face like flint,
confident that I'll never regret this.
My champion is right here.
Let's take our stand together!
Who dares bring suit against me?
Let him try!
Look! the Master, God, is right here.
Who would dare call me guilty?
Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of thread-
bare socks and shirts, fodder for moths!
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PSALM 31:9-16 (UMH 764)
A prayer in the voice of one suffering rejection
and persecution. This Psalm is chosen because
it puts the "reflective" voice of the prophet into
the "real-time" voice of one undergoing unjust
suffering, feeling abandoned or rejected by
others, and trusting God to bear vindication
and deliverance.
9 Lord, show me your favor. I'm in deep trouble.
I'm so sad I can hardly see.
My whole body grows weak with sadness.
10 Pain has taken over my life.
My years are spent in groaning.
I have no strength because I'm hurting so much.
My body is getting weaker and weaker.
11 My neighbors make fun of me
because I have so many enemies.
My friends are afraid of me.
Those who see me on the street run away
from me.
12 They have forgotten me. I might as well be dead.
I have become like broken pottery.
13 I hear the lies many people tell about me.
There is terror all around me.
Many have joined together against me.
They plan to kill me.
14 But I trust in you, Lord.
I say, "You are my God."
15 My whole life is in your hands.
Save me from my enemies.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
16 Let your face smile on me with favor.
Save me because your love is faithful.
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PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
Philippi was a Roman colony and for veterans of
the Roman Army, this was a major "retirement
village." Issues of authority, respect, and social
rank were prominent and obvious in the
regional culture.
5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus
thought of himself. He had equal status with
God but didn't think so much of himself that he
had to cling to the advantages of that status no
matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he
set aside the privileges of deity and took on the
status of a slave, became human!
Having become human, he stayed human. It was
an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim
special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless,
obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient
death — and the worst kind of death at that —
— a crucifixion.
9-11 Because of that obedience, God lifted him
high and honored him far beyond anyone or
anything, ever, so that all created beings in
heaven and on earth—even those long ago
dead and buried—will bow in worship before this
Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the
Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the
Father.
———————————————————————
LUKE 22:14–23:56 (or LUKE 23:1-49)
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
All along, Jesus keeps choosing the downward
way. Sinking, going downward, heading into the
heart of human suffering, even unto death itself.
apostles with him, and said, "You have no idea
how much I have looked forward to eating this
Passover meal with you before I enter my time
of suffering. It's the last one I'll eat until we all
eat it together in the kingdom of God."
17-18 Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said,
"Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I'll
not drink wine again until the kingdom of God
arrives."
19 Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and
gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given
for you. Eat it in my memory."
20 He did the same with the cup after supper,
saying, "This cup is the new covenant written
in my blood, blood poured out for you.
21-22 "Do you realize that the hand of the one
who is betraying me is at this moment on this
table? It's true that the Son of Man is going
down a path already marked out—no surprises
there. But for the one who turns him in, turns
traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday."
23 They immediately became suspicious of
each other and began quizzing one another,
wondering who might be about to do this.
GET READY FOR TROUBLE
24-26 Within minutes they were bickering over
who of them would end up the greatest. But
Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their
weight around and people in authority like to
give themselves fancy titles. It's not going to be
that way with you. Let the senior among you
become like the junior; let the leader act the
part of the servant.
27-30 "Who would you rather be: the one who
eats the dinner or the one who serves the
dinner? You'd rather eat and be served, right?
But I've taken my place among you as the one
who serves. And you've stuck with me through
thick and thin. Now I confer on you the royal
authority my Father conferred on me so you
can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom
and be strengthened as you take up
responsibilities among the congregations of
God's people.
31-32 "Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried
his best to separate all of you from me, like
chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in
particular that you not give in or give out. When
you have come through the time of testing, turn
to your companions and give them a fresh start."
33 Peter said, "Master, I'm ready for anything
with you. I'd go to jail for you. I'd die for you!"
34 Jesus said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this,
Peter, but before the rooster crows you will have
three times denied that you know me."
35 Then Jesus said, "When I sent you out and
told you to travel light, to take only the bare
necessities, did you get along all right?"
"Certainly," they said, "we got along just fine."
36-37 He said, "This is different. Get ready for
trouble. Look to what you'll need; there are
difficult times ahead. Pawn your coat and get a
sword. What was written in Scripture, 'He was
lumped in with the criminals,' gets its final
meaning in me. Everything written about me is
now coming to a conclusion."
38 They said, "Look, Master, two swords!"
But he said, "Enough of that; no more sword
talk!"
A DARK NIGHT
39-40 Leaving there, he went, as he so often
did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed him.
When they arrived at the place, he said,
"Pray that you don't give in to temptation."
41-44 He pulled away from them about a stone's
throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove
this cup from me. But please, not what I want.
What do you want?" At once an angel from the
heavens was at his side, strengthening him. He
prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him
like drops of blood, poured off his face.
45-46 He got up from prayer, went back to the
disciples and found them asleep, drugged by
grief. He said, "What business do you have
sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to
temptation."
47-48 No sooner were the words out of his
mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one
from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to
Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, "Judas, you
would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49-50 When those with him saw what was
happening, they said, "Master, shall we fight?"
One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest's
servant and cut off his right ear.
51 Jesus said, "Let them be. Even in this." Then,
touching the servant's ear, he healed him.
52-53 Jesus spoke to those who had come—
high priests, Temple police, religion leaders:
"What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs
as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day
I've been with you in the Temple and you've not
so much as lifted a hand against me. But do it
your way—it's a dark night, a dark hour."
A ROOSTER CROWED
54-56 Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and
took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter
followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of
the courtyard some people had started a fire and
were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One
of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him,
then took a second look and said, "This man was
with him!"
57 He denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him."
58 A short time later, someone else noticed him
and said, "You're one of them."
But Peter denied it: "Man, I am not."
59 About an hour later, someone else spoke up,
really adamant: "He's got to have been with him!
He's got 'Galilean' written all over him."
60-62 Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're
talking about." At that very moment, the last word
hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed.
Peter remembered what the Master had said to
him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny
me three times." He went out and cried and cried
and cried.
SLAPPING HIM AROUND
63-65 The men in charge of Jesus began poking
fun at him, slapping him around. They put a
blindfold on him and taunted, "Who hit you that
time?" They were having a grand time with him.
66-67 When it was morning, the religious leaders
of the people and the high priests and scholars
all got together and brought him before their
High Council. They said, "Are you the Messiah?"
67-69 He answered, "If I said yes, you wouldn't
believe me. If I asked what you meant by your
question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's
what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man
takes his place at God's right hand, the place of
power."
70 They all said, "So you admit your claim to be
the Son of God?"
"You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.
71 But they had made up their minds, "Why do
we need any more evidence? We've all heard
him as good as say it himself."
LUKE 23
PILATE
1-2 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate and began
to bring up charges against him. They said, "We
found this man undermining our law and order,
forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting
himself up as Messiah-King."
3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King
of the Jews'?"
"Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied.
4 Pilate told the high priests and the
accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here.
He seems harmless enough to me."
5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up
unrest among the people with his teaching,
disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in
Galilee and now all through Judea. He is a
dangerous man, endangering the peace."
6-7 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a
Galilean?" Realizing that he properly came
under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck
to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem
for a few days.
8-10 Herod was delighted when Jesus showed
up. He had wanted for a long time to see him,
he'd heard so much about him. He hoped to see
him do something spectacular. He peppered him
with questions. Jesus didn't answer—not one
word. But the high priests and religion scholars
were right there, saying their piece, strident and
shrill in their accusations.
11-12 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus.
His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then
they dressed him up in an elaborate king
costume and sent him back to Pilate. That day
Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves.
Always before they had kept their distance.
13-16 Then Pilate called in the high priests,
rulers, and the others and said, "You brought
this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I
examined him in front of all of you and found
there was nothing to your charge. And neither
did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a
clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done
nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving
death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step
and let him go."
18-20 At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him!
Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had been thrown
in prison for starting a riot in the city and for
murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and
so spoke out again.
21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify!
Crucify him!"
22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime?
I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm
going to warn him to watch his step and let him
go."
23-25 But they kept at it, a shouting mob,
demanding that he be crucified. And finally they
shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave
them what they wanted. He released the man
thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and
gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.
SKULL HILL
26-31 As they led him off, they made Simon, a
man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in
from the countryside, carry the cross behind
Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed, along
with women weeping and carrying on. At one
point Jesus turned to the women and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry
for yourselves and for your children. The time
is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women
who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that
never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never
gave milk!' Then they'll start calling to the
mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills,
'Cover us up!' If people do these things to a live,
green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with
deadwood?"
32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along
with him for execution.
33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill,
they crucified him, along with the criminals,
one on his right, the other on his left.
34-35 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they
don't know what they're doing."
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them.
The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the
ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved
others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah
of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"
36-37 The soldiers also came up and poked fun
at him, making a game of it. They toasted him
with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews!
Save yourself!"
38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king
of the jews.
39 One of the criminals hanging alongside
cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save
yourself! Save us!"
40-41 But the other one made him shut up:
"Have you no fear of God? You're getting the
same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he
did nothing to deserve this."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you
enter your kingdom."
43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will
join me in paradise."
44-46 By now it was noon. The whole earth
became dark, the darkness lasting three hours
—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right
down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I
place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed
his last.
47 When the captain there saw what happened,
he honored God: "This man was innocent! A
good man, and innocent!"
48-49 All who had come around as spectators
to watch the show, when they saw what
actually happened, were overcome with grief
and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well,
along with the women who had followed him
from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and
kept vigil.
50-54 There was a man by the name of Joseph,
a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of
good heart and good character. He had not
gone along with the plans and actions of the
council. His hometown was the Jewish village
of Arimathea. He lived in alert expectation of the
kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus. Taking him down, he
wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him
in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never
yet used. It was the day before Sabbath, the
Sabbath was just about to begin.
55-56 The women who had been companions
of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They
saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed.
Then they went back to prepare burial spices
and perfumes. They rested quietly on the
Sabbath, as commanded.
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MONDAY, MARCH 25TH —
The office will be closed today
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28TH —
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
AT ADAIR U.M.C. — 7:00 P.M. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH —
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SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST —
THIS IS EASTER SUNDAY
WE HAVE LOOSE CHANGE OFFERING TODAY
FUTURE FOCUS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD —
• ADAIR AD COUNCIL MEETING IN ADAIR UMC
AT 5:30 P.M.
• CASEY AD COUNCIL MEETING IN ADAIR UMC
AT 6:00 P.M.
• JOINT AD COUNCIL MEETING IN ADAIR U.M.C.
AT 6:30 P.M.
* BIBLE STUDY AT CASEY U.M.C. - 7 P.M.
“Christ the Victor” and “What if Judas had Lived ———————————————————————
SUNDAY, APRIL 7TH —
Special Children’s Worship Sunday
at both churches
RED BIRD MISSION TRIP
Brief informational meeting in ADAIR U.M.C.
AT 11:30 a.m.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH —
SPRC MEETING IN ADAIR U.M.C.
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Thank you for giving your spirit to the existence
of our church this week. Whatever you find to
do, you do it with your whole heart and we have
great appreciation for that.
God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Melodee
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