This Sunday is Mothers’ Day — as well as (fittingly) Blanket Sunday. We will honor moms and offer an opportunity for the church to support Church World Service’s “Blanket” program. CWS blankets ($5.00/blanket) will go to provide shelter and warmth etc. etc. to those in crisis around the world. There is a special offering envelope in the bulletin this Sunday. Checks can be made out to the church with a memo CWS – Blankets and Kathy will make sure the funds get to the right place.

The scriptures this Sunday are: Act 10:44-48 and John 15:9-17 with a sermon entitled: “Changing Positions.”

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,

Peace and Joy

Gary

I have included two “invitational” attachments for you to consider.

The first needs a bit more “preface” than the second.

An interesting and energizing phenomenon has been occurring in our church over the past months maybe year or two and that is that we have been blessed with a growing number of young people (late 20s and 30s and early 40s) who have been attending with their families (children). There is something bubbling within them and what it is is yet to be defined BUT – I have had in-depth conversations with a few of them and there seems to be a desire to experience the faith in a deeper way than merely through the more formal, organizational, structural avenues of the church. The attachment included will give the details of what they are planning but suffice it to say that they have reserved a weekend in September (14th – 16th) at the Bishop Booth Conference Center (Rock Point) to provide a get-away for people in the church (maybe others) who are trying to find their way “back to the faith”or “deeper into the faith.” This retreat is open to all ages (with the exception of children). The “lead” time will give families the opportunity to set up child care for their kids. The details of what will be offered during the weekend has still to be worked out BUT — you can be a part of that process as well as they are planning an evening of sharing and discussion and maybe discernment (Wednesday May 23rd in the Fellowship Hall) beginning at 7:00. You are invited to bring yourself and your spirit into this experience.

The second invitation needs less of an introduction. We are planning a Habitat for Humanity international trip (experience) for next February. You are invited to extend the hands and the heart and quite a bit of the sweat of Christ – to those in need of safe and affordable shelter.

I am sorry about the wordiness of all of this — but the Trustees have changed my pay structure — I get paid by the word – spoken and written (brace yourselves for extended sermons).

Here’s the information for the September retreat: September Retreat

Here’s the information for the Habitat Build: HABITAT 2013

May God’s blessings pour on you – into you and through you

in Christ,
Gary

This Sunday — we are planning to have a worship service in the sanctuary beginning at 9:30 in the morning. The scriptures are: Acts 8:26-40 and John 15:1-8 with a sermon (message) entitled: “Where are you going?”

This being the first Sunday of the month we will celebrate Communion and you will have an opportunity to support the Deacons Fund by using the “Special Offering” envelope in the pews. The Deacons, through their fund, purchase the weekly bulletins, the daily devotional: “Upper Rooms” flowers for special occasions (roses for baptisms, carnations for the Easter Cross, potted flowers for Mothers’ Day – coming soon to a church near you, in the past they have provided hearing assist equipment, candles for Christmas Eve and Advent and assorted other things – such as special ads in local publications). If you wish to support them in this mission please consider giving to their fund by using the special offering envelope in the pews this Sunday.

As Betty and I were gone for two Sundays I hope you had an opportunity to hear and participate in two service one led by Rev. David Andrews and the other led by Alex McGuire.

Thank you Alex for job well-done — with Spirit.

We are a gifted church.

Blessings to you all and I hope to see you on Sunday.

In Christ,

Gary

This Sunday’s service will include a children’s message focused on the NEW RAILINGS (maybe a prayer of dedication for them – the railings and the children). The scriptures are: Acts 4:32-35 and John 20:19-31 with a sermon entitled: “Open or Closed?” The Bible study of Mark will finish this Sunday with a pot luck (following coffee hour) as the last 3 chapters of the Gospel will be covered. Even if you have not attended up until now — you are invited to join in feasting on the Word and on some food. I hope to see you on Sunday as Sunday School for ages 3 through Middle School will resume.

Just a reminder that the Mission Committee has set up a display at Kinney Drugs with “Church World Service Hygiene Kits” available for sale at $8:00 per kit. These kits may go anywhere in the world (maybe even Vermont) where there is a need. You may purchase them and Kinney’s will hold them for us.

Peace to you all,

In Christ,

Gary

Just a pastoral reminder that tomorrow is Easter — when we celebrate new life — The sunrise service is at 6:30 at Comfort Hill Farm followed by Easter breakfast in the Fellowship Hall followed by Easter worship at 9:30. When you enter the sanctuary you will notice SOMETHING NEW – something long needed — NO — it is not a new pastor.

Looking forward to our time together.

In Christ,

Gary

This is just a reminder of what is going on over the next few days and
hoping you can avail yourselves of some of these experiences as we move
through Holy Week.

Thursday (today) Chessy Kelley will be leading meditation from 4:30 – 5:00 in the sanctuary.

The choir gathers at 6:00 to go over the music for this evenings Maundy Thursday service in the Fellowship Hall that begins at 7:00. This service, if you have not experienced it, is very meditative and introspective with communion and readings and the extinguishing of candles.

Please hold those who will be in the church for the Watch Night Vigil beginning at 8:00 this evening and going through 3:00 tomorrow afternoon.

At 4:00 tomorrow we will host the Ecumenical Good Friday Service

On Saturday there will be a Festival for Children from 9:00 – 10:30 including an Easter Egg Hunt and crafts and cookie decorating (plain sugar cookies would be appreciated if you want to bring some).

On Sunday — we finally get to Easter
6:30 is the Easter Sunrise Service at Comfort Hill Farm (Kennel) followed by the Easter Breakfast in our Fellowship Hall put on by the men of the church who have gathered to prepare things at 5:00.

This all leads to the Easter Celebration of worship at 9:30.

Following a few pounds of ham being eaten in our homes — everyone is authorized to take an Easter NAP.

God Bless You All,

In Christ,

Gary

If there was a Sunday to invite a friend this might be it — as we will tell the Christian Story from the perspective of Palm Sunday as well as the challenging Passion days leading to and including Christ’s crucifixion. This very well may be the most meaningful service and a wonderful preparation for Easter which — surprise surprise — is the following Sunday. Most of the children are invited to say in the service this Sunday — I believe the younger two classes will be holding class. Will all those who will be reading during the Passion Reading please plan to be at church by 9:00 am. Also the two children helping out – it would be good for them to be here early as well.

We will have communion this Sunday – by Intinction – as part of the Passion Reading.

Hope to see you on Sunday

Gary

The Mission Committee has set up a system of purchasing Hygiene Kits for Church World Service during the month of April. They will be available for purchase at Kinney Drugs in Vergennes (Ferrisburgh) for the price of $8.00. Last Sunday I announced that we would have a Hygiene Kit Putting Together Party known by one as the (HKPTP). Originally I thought we could do it on Thursday (tomorrow) at 3:30 but a better idea came across my mental ticker. Maybe the Seasoned Ones might like to put the kits together on Friday between 11:00 and 1. That is what we will do. If you are a Seasoned One or wish you were or are about to become a Seasoned One or if you can spell Seasoned One or if you have every heard of the Seasoned Ones you qualify to participate in the now infamous (HKPTP). We will have lunch provided and a bit of fun putting together maybe 60 kits to be sold at Kinneys in April.

Thank you and God Bless You

Gary

In Christ,

Gary

Sorry for the delay in sending this out — I know most of you were hoping to receive this on Friday, giving you more time to prepare for Sunday’s service. The scriptures are: Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:14-21 and the sermon is entitled: “Blinders.” The operative question is: Do you have blinders on? Maybe just other people have blinders on. A direction that I am thinking about going tomorrow is to focus on different aspects of Jesus and ask which one speaks easiest to you and which one may you have difficulty with? This might be interesting. The Bible study in “Mark” will be resuming this week after coffee hour and the texts to focus on tomorrow are: Mark 12:1-44 and 13:1-37 in other words — Mark chapters 12 and 13.

Blessings and peace to you all

See you tomorrow

Gary