From the Pastor
Why all the emphasis on reaching out to others
beyond our members? The most important reason is that, according to the
clear message of the New Testament of the Bible, people who do not believe
Jesus to be God's Son who came to rescue us from destruction because of our
sins will be excluded from the joy and peace that God longs to give us.
Salvation is not automatic. It requires our response to God's grace and
love. Believing in Jesus to be the Savior, freely acknowledging him as our
Savior, repenting of the pain and offense our sins have caused, being
baptized as the Scriptures teach, living a life characterized by love and
obedience-these need to be our responses to God's sending Christ into the
world.
What God has done through Jesus is good news. All people need to hear
it, know it includes them, and live as the Scriptures teach. We would be
missing the mark if we did not lovingly share this good news with others.
The church has many functions. None is more important than reaching out to
others and make known God's love and grace.
George
Pastor: Dr. George J. Lespagnard
SUNDAY SERMON: March 16, 2008
Title: Next Stop--Jerusalem
Text: Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:30 a.m.
WORSHIP: 10:40 a.m.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
OFFERING: $2,090.00
ATTENDANCE: Sunday School 60 Worship 96
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PRAYER LIST:
Dan Atkeson family, Jack Braden, Dale Foust, Ernie
Hurdle, Inez Agers, Lynn, Julie and Gary Garrelts, George and Susan
Hatcher, Blanche and Billy Williams, Tom VonFeldt, Ed and Pat Carr, Kirby
and Pat Barnes, Jerry Kennedy, Beulah Rees,
Elijah and Jeremiah Atkeson, Harvey Wells, Jeanette Eastman family,
Mike Deck, Randy and Karla Kelly, Velma Stites, Bob and Ollie Robbins, Bob
Lattin, Jared and Kelley Reust, Luc Valentin, James Lippincott, Laura
Vargas, Don Davis, Phyllis Hephner, Ralph McClure, Pete Andrade, Aaron
Devan, Jonathan Barnel, Cassandra Grayson, Caity Hall, Donna Tullis,
Machaelle Shetler, Donna Thompson, Jeff Wiggins, Lisa Harmon
Jim Holmes will be having surgery Wednesday, March 12th.
Mike Deck has had some relief from the neck pain!
We received word this morning that Albert Jimenez, father of Rafael
Jimenez, passed away.
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DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
Merrill Deck had a Hole in One at Sim Park golf
course March 4, 2008. Witness was his friend and golfing buddy, Richard
Long.
Rebekah Fillmore competed in the state Spelling Bee and placed 8th.
She is the daughter of Mark and Darise (Atkeson) Fillmore of Belle Plaine,
KS and the grand daughter of Dale and Donna Atkeson.
Jay and Dartha Lewis moved to Geronimo, OK where Jay will pastor a
Baptist church.
Dr. John Burke accepted the Gold Star Award for USD 261 from the
Haysville Chamber of Commerce.
Johnny Burke was league champion in middle school wrestling.
Carlos Galvan will be playing hockey in Kansas City this week-end.
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WORSHIP
Maundy Thursday service will be held at First
Christian Church, Thursday, March 20th.at 7:00 PM.
Good Friday service will be held at St Mark's Presbyterian Church,
Friday, March 21st at 7:00 PM.
Why, Christ Jesus,
Did you die,
When in your might
Even great Caesar would have
Taken flight?
Why, Christ Jesus,
Did you die,
Upon that cruel tree?
Listen my soul and know,
It was for thee.
"This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me. This cup
is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke
22:19-20
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples as they sat at the table with
him for the last time. He knew full well they would soon leave him to face
death alone. Not in our deepest imaginings can we conceive of such love.
That Jesus would forgive them and even lay down his very life for such as
these.
Thank you Lord Jesus! We pray your Spirit will be very near as we seek
to remember that night with your disciples in that upper room. We have
entitled this time of remembering Maundy Thursday, and will observe it in
our church on Thursday, March 20th, at 7:00 PM.
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CHURCH GROWTH
Pancake Feed
Saturday, March 15th is our 6th annual pancake breakfast, from 8:00 to
10:00. The "crew" will be cooking up some tasty sausage and cakes. So
bring your neighbors and kids for a hearty meal and lots of fellowship.
DON'T FORGET to put us on top of your "to do list" for Saturday.
Easter Fun Day
Saturday, March 22nd 10:00am - 12:00pm
We have a fun day planned for the children of the church and their
friends and neighbors. We will have crafts, egg hunt and lunch. Please
sign the clipboard at the back of the sanctuary so we will know how many to
expect. If you have middle or high school youth who want to come, they can
hide the eggs for us and help their sibling in the craft room. Remember,
we need a total count for lunch.
If you are able to donate individually wrapped candy or pennies,
nickels or dimes to put in the eggs for the egg hunt, please give to Lenora
or bring them to the church office on Sunday the 16th so the ladies can put
them together after church. We also need empty gallon milk cartons.
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VBS
It's time to Power Up and start planning in earnest
for VBS!
Come join the Power Lab Team this Sunday, March 16th, following
worship service. You'll hear all about this year's exciting VBS theme and
find out how you can get plugged in!
You don't have to be a Rocket Scientist - if you are at least 14, like
kids, like to have fun, and love the Lord - then you belong on this project
team! Come join us for an electrifying experience!
For more information, call Machaelle at 524-5884.
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EASTER SPECIAL OFFERING
First Christian will receive the Easter Special
Offering March 16 and 23rd.
The 2008 Easter Special offering theme is "Your Witness to the Ends of
the Earth". The theme reminds us that when we support the Easter offering
we are providing resources and gifts to ministries as close as our
community to the corners of the globe.
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FROM THE E-MAIL FILE: Davin and Amanda
Reust
Davin and I are really trying to make this work for
us. Your continued prayers and support are always appreciated. I will
probably be visiting home in May to see my expected niece and for my
youngest sister's high school graduation. Davin is not planning on coming.
Don't feel sorry for him, though! He's going to go hang out on the beach
in Ghana with a bunch of our friends in April. (April and May are big
vacation months for Mali PCVs as it is fifty billion degrees here!)
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Youth Friends
Looking for an opportunity to make a difference in
some young person's life? At our Haysville Ministers Association meeting
last week Linda Long was present to share information about a mentoring
program called "Youth Friends" which the Haysville School District is
putting in place for youth in fourth through eighth grades. It can be
documented that a caring mentor makes a significant contribution to a young
person's life. One of the statements on a Youth Friends brochure says,
"Mentors make great people possible". For more information check the
material on a table in the foyer. Also, you may call Linda Long who is
associated with the USD #261 Haysville LEARNING CENTER, 554-2331, Program
Director for Youth Friends.
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