Sunday, March 1: Worship at 10:30 We begin our journey to the cross in our first week of Lent, with the sacrament of Communion. Choir will be singing a familiar song. Fellowship downstairs to follow.
Monday, March 2: Bible Study is cancelled as Pastor Paul is out of town. (Sorry!)
Tuesday, March 3: Morgan Park community meeting at Good Fellowship Club, 6 pm.
Wednesday, March 4:
**Women's Fellowship, 1:30 pm, in Fellowship Hall. All women are welcome to attend.
**"Grill's On" Community Potluck, 5-7 pm: Join us in the Fellowship Hall as we share a community meal together. Friends and strangers welcome! As always, bring what you have, or just bring yourself. There is always enough!
Thursday, March 5: AA meets in the Fellowship Hall, 7 pm
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
"Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him." ~Matthew 4:11
…Always wanted to talk to that guy…I mean, I've prayed countless times to him, and received guidance from him enough to consistently say "thank you" and "amen" – but really, I just want to talk to him. Small talk. Chit-chat. "How's the weather?" "What'cha think of (this or that)?" I want to hear him engage in group conversation, or table fellowship. Watch a game together. Head out camping for the weekend.
In the same sense, I'd love to be a witness to the moment quoted above. He's been fasting. He's been tempted by the devil. He's just about to begin his public ministry. "And the angels came and waited on him." I mean: did they talk? Jesus and the angels…did they banter in the context of their common experiences? "Hey, thanks for lending a hand…by the way, how's Dad doing?" – that kind of thing.
In my casual approach here, I don't mean to be flippant, and certainly not disrespectful. It's just that in all of my prayer I've learned that to welcome him into my life means to welcome him into every part of my life – and certainly not every moment of my life is laden with the solemnity of intentional prayer.
Really, I mean, what's Jesus talking to you about when you're, say, cooking dinner…sauteing onions to put on your burger? (I know, I know…but I do eat healthy…sometimes.) What's Jesus say when you're looking for a lost wallet, or taking out the garbage?
That's the kind of Jesus that I really want in my life…and of course, he is there.
Always there.
I just need to include him in the conversation.
Keep in touch, Friends
Pastor Paul