MID-WEEK LETTER from Grace United Methodist Church

March 8, 2007 Editor: Linda Entwistle

LAST WEEK:

I'm thinking a little farther out into the changing seasons than some of you are, yet- except for Doug Bauling, who has already ordered the seed for our corn crop, and a few of you die-hard gardeners who have already started some plants indoors.

In a church office, once we celebrate Ash Wednesday, we're focused on Holy Week and Easter, and with Easter comes spring.

This week, I had to contact florists about the palms for Palm Sunday and the flowers for Easter Sunday. And on a rather cold, cloudy day in early March, a serendipitous event occurred. The first young lady I spoke to was named "Spring". Spring was not able to answer all my questions, so she connected me with... "April". I smiled most of the day after that!

I find myself smiling more lately. Things just seem lighter, less oppressive. From time to time that has to do with the weather. Rather than go out into the cold, I'd brought my lunch to work most of the winter. But lately I've been going home. I end up with the same lunch, but at home I can sit in a comfortable rocking chair in the sunshine afterward. I can't actually rock in the chair, as our cat likes to share the same patch of sunshine, but that's okay.

The sun hasn't been altogether that reliable, however, so there's more to it than that. I recently read a book that invited the reader to consider that the real "sin" behind control issues is the fact that in the process of controlling, you put yourself into the center of that event. And that nothing and no one deserves to be the focal point or center of anything other than God. When we accept God as the center, He pulls everything and everyone toward Himself. And as we are drawn nearer to God, we are also drawn nearer to each other.

Some days, it's as simple as that, and we find ourselves richly blessed.

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FINANCIAL UPDATE: To date, we have had:

Income of $47,613 Expenses of $42,421

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THE CALENDAR: (Please note especially items marked with an asterisk).

Thursday, March 8: J.O.Y. sharing group will meet at 7:00 in the parlor.

Saturday, March 10 * Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 a.m. Sunday.

Be sure to set your clocks forward one hour!

Sunday, March 11: * Quarterly Conference will be held at noon in the fellowship hall. This is an opportunity to ask questions, voice opinions, and share information relevant to Grace Church.

Grace Years worship service at Parkview in Savoy at 2:00.

College-age Bible study at 5:00.

Senior High Youth Fellowship will meet at 6:30 in the pastor's study.

Monday, March 12: Growing in Grace rehearsal at 4:00 in the sanctuary.

Finance Committee meeting at 7:00.

Tuesday, March 13: Quilters will meet at 6:30.

Angelus hand bell choir will rehearse at 6:30.

Chancel Choir will rehearse at 7:30.

Wednesday, March 14: Men's Breakfast Group will meet at 6:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall.

Cherub Choir will practice at 5:30.

Life Song will practice at 6:30 at the Aters' home.

WellSpring service at 7:30.

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If you know of someone who is in need of pastoral care, please contact the church office (328-1414) or respond to the e-mail address above.

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