The Rev. Janice Puliti, pastor of St. John's UMC Ivyland, assures us that even if we've fallen short, it's not too late to honor the spirit of Lent in the final week, precisely because Holy Week, like Lent, is still a time for preparation, as we "ponder the impact of Christ's death and await His coming Resurrection."

While churches traditionally welcome special guests for worship on Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, that welcome is happening a week sooner for some of our congregations. And that seems appropriate, since Jesus, the reason for the season, was boisterously welcomed with shouts of Hosanna! as he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

On this Palm Sunday, March 25, two churches--and no doubt, many more--will be joined for worship by guests who are not strangers but indeed, neighbors. Green Hill UMC in Conestoga will celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday with a special service that features the Friendship Community Worship Team. The group of developmentally disabled adults perform liturgical dance to praise music.

Meanwhile,  Wharton-Wesley UMC in West Philadelphia will worship this Sunday with the  West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, which has been leasing worship space there since December. The fellowship moved there temporarily in December, because its regular host church, nearby Calvary UMC, was having problems with its heating system during the frigid winter.

Eastwick UMC (8321 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia) will sponsor a night of inspirational talent and testimony offered for an important cause on Saturday, March 24, 6 to 8 PM. An assortment of musical performances will be interspersed with reports on disaster recovery needs and hopes in the wake of three 2017 hurricanes that devastated areas of U.S. southern states and Caribbean territories, including Puerto Rico. The goal is to inspire donations to support efforts to rebuild and restore structures and lives in areas still reeling from late-summer hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

The "My Brother's and Sister's Keeper" free benefit concert will feature singers and choirs, praise dancers, maybe even poetry and spoken-word, but also an offering and update reports on the hurricanes' destruction and ongoing recovery efforts. Download the concert flyer.

Eastwick UMC is raising the funds to help Philadelphia Black Methodists for Church Renewal, an affiliated caucus of the Eastern PA Conference, make contributions to support several hurricane recovery efforts. Philadelphia BMCR is part of the UMC's national BMCR caucus representing the interests and concerns of black United Methodists.

The local caucus recently voted to raise funds and distribute them equally to regional BMCR caucuses in the Southeast and South Central jurisdictions for disaster recovery efforts there and also to the conference's Helping Puerto Rico Rise Again campaign to support the restoration of Methodist churches and ministries in Puerto Rico.