Monday, April 15, 2013

OUR WEEK —
APRIL 21ST TO APRIL 27TH

REMINDERS —
Pastor Melodee will be on vacation from 
April 16th through April 22nd. 
For emergencies, call Bill Umbaugh or 
Brick.
Tom Cline will be filling in for church services 
on April 21st.
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WEDNESDAY APRIL 17TH —
• DORCAS-RUTH CIRCLE AT 1:30 P.M.;

Hostess:  Laura Smith
• ESTHER CIRCLE AT 7 P.M. IN ADAIR U.M.C.;
Hostess:  Lola Peterson 
• MARTHA CIRCLE AT 7 P.M. IN CASEY U.M.C.
Hostess:  Betty Elgin
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THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH —
• DEBORAH - MARY CIRCLE - 2 P.M.

AT CASEY U.M.C.
 Hostess:  Evelyn Lewellen 

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SATURDAY APRIL 20TH —

Darlene Bett's 90th Birthday Party held at 
Heritage House in Atlantic from 1:30-4:00 P.M.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
The church is 22 days into the Great Fifty Days.

Tom Cline is our speaker at both services today.

Today is The Festival of God’s Creation.
 COLOR: WHITE

SCRIPTURE READINGS
The Scriptures build around a common theme 
of "Your Works Testify to Jesus."
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ACTS 9:36-43
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
Tabitha showed the power of the Risen Christ
through acts of charity. She was widely known
for her works of mercy to all in her local
community, especially the clothing she made
for widows. 

 36-37 Down the road a way in Joppa there was
a disciple named Tabitha, "Gazelle" in our
language. She was well-known for doing good
and helping out. During the time Peter was in
the area she became sick and died. Her friends
prepared her body for burial and put her in a
cool room.

38-40 Some of the disciples had heard that Peter
was visiting in nearby Lydda and sent two men
to ask if he would be so kind as to come over.
Peter got right up and went with them. They took
him into the room where Tabitha's body was laid
out. Her old friends, most of them widows, were
in the room mourning. They showed Peter
pieces of clothing the Gazelle had made while
she was with them. Peter put the widows all out
of the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he spoke
directly to the body: "Tabitha, get up."
40-4 She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter,
she sat up. He took her hand and helped her up.
Then he called in the believers and widows, and
presented her to them alive.

42-43 When this became known all over Joppa,
many put their trust in the Master. Peter stayed
on a long time in Joppa as a guest of Simon the
Tanner.
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PSALM 23  (UMH 754 or 137)
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.
A PSALM OF DAVID

1-3  God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
   You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
      you find me quiet pools to drink from.
   True to your word,
      you let me catch my breath
      and send me in the right direction.

4  Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I'm not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd's crook
      makes me feel secure.

5  You serve me a six-course dinner
      right in front of my enemies.
   You revive my drooping head;
      my cup brims with blessing.

6  Your beauty and love chase after me
      every day of my life.
   I'm back home in the house of God
      for the rest of my life.
 Many of us learned the King James version 
in Sunday School and it is the only one that 
really sounds right. 
 PSALM 23
(KING JAMES VERSION)


1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house
of the LORD for ever.

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REVELATION 7:9-17
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
"Who are these, robed in white?" one of the
elders asks John. These are disciples of Jesus
who entered into Christ's own suffering and the
suffering of the world.


9-12  I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too
huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations
and tribes, all races and languages. And they
were standing, dressed in white robes
 and waving palm branches, standing before the
Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

   Salvation to our God on his Throne!
   Salvation to the Lamb!

All who were standing around the Throne —
Angels, Elders, Animals— fell on their faces
before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

   Oh, Yes!
   The blessing and glory and wisdom and
   thanksgiving,
   The honor and power and strength,
   To our God forever and ever and ever!
   Oh, Yes!

13-14  Just then one of the Elders addressed me:
"Who are these dressed in white robes, and
where did they come from?" Taken aback, I said,
"O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know."

14-17  Then he told me, "These are those who
come from the great tribulation, and they've
washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the
blood of the Lamb.  That's why they're standing
before God's Throne. They serve him day and
night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will
pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no
more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb
on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them
to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every
last tear from their eyes."
———————————————————————
JOHN 10:22-30
THE MESSAGE (MSG)
The works of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, are
done in the name of the Father and testify to his
oneness with the Father. His sheep hear his
voice and follow (do the same works).

22-24  They were celebrating Hanukkah just then
in Jerusalem. It was winter. Jesus was strolling
in the Temple across Solomon's Porch. The Jews,
circling him, said, "How long are you going to
keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us
straight out."

25-30  Jesus answered, "I told you, but you don't
believe. Everything I have done has been author-
ized by my Father, actions that speak louder than
words. You don't believe because you're not my
sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know
them, and they follow me. I give them real and
eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer
for good. No one can steal them from out of my
hand. The Father who put them under my care is
so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No
one could ever get them away from him. I and the
Father are one heart and mind."
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MONDAY, APRIL 22ND —
THIS IS EARTH DAY
Observance of Earth Day celebrates God's gift
of the earth, our planetary home.

 There is a beautiful song in our hymnal -
“THE FAITH WE SING” with the title
“I AM YOUR MOTHER”.  It's called an Earth 
Prayer and can be read as a poem  or sung.  
Very moving.
Earth Day Prayer submitted by Rev. Ken Carter,
pastor of Providence United Methodist Church
in Charlotte, North Carolina:


O God, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is,
    seen and unseen:
You place us in your creation, and you command
    us to care for it.
Your works declare glory and splendor, and you
    call us to praise and reverence.
Where we have degraded or destroyed earth's
    bounty, forgive us.
Where we have taken beauty and majesty for
    granted, have mercy upon us.
Where we have become estranged from the
    creatures with whom we share this planet,
    grant us your peace.
Renew us in the waters of baptism, refresh us
    with the winds of your spirit,
    and sustain us with the bread of life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, and for the sake of
    the new creation, we pray. Amen.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
THE OFFICE IS CLOSED TODAY
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH — 
Small Group Study in Casey U.M.C. — 
Yes Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several 
Excellent Excuses - at 5:30 P.M.
 AD COUNCILS TO MEET IN CASEY—
CASEY AD COUNCIL AT 7:00 P.M.       
ADAIR AD COUNCIL AT 7:30 P.M.
ABC COMBINED AD COUNCIL MEETING AT 8:00

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH —
World Malaria Day: April 25

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SATURDAY - APRIL 27TH — 
GAME NIGHT IN CASEY U.M.C.
It's that time again. Bring us a game we've never 
seen before. Come and play a favorite you can't 
live without.
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FUTURE FOCUS —
SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH —
Loose change offering for Clinics of Iowa

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Thank you for your attention to our church life 
this week. You are indeed a necessary spoke in 
the wheel.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Melodee