Holy Peeps

Welcome to Holy Week--the big conclusion to the Season of Lent. We began the season weeks ago with Ash Wednesday. We placed ash crosses on ourselves to remember from ashes we came and to ashes we shall go. We are human. We are frail flesh. Yet we are held, healed and loved eternally by God.

Holy Week began this week with Palm Sunday. Worship opened with us waving palm branches and joyfully signing Hosanna! as we imagined ourselves among the crowd welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem. The worship service ended, however, with shouts of "Release Barabbas!" and "Crucify Jesus!"

Palm Sunday reminds us: We are human. It is wise to be humble. And wait: There is more to the story.

Tomorrow night on Maundy Thursday we will travel with Jesus as he celebrates Passover with the disciples. Our sacrament of communion comes from this night. In it Jesus signals he will love people across the coming betrayal, denial and failure. He knows we are human and need help and he loves us.

Humans of all kinds fail, hide and collude in Jesus's unjust and brutal death on a cross. It's sobering. Yet God's response is I know you are human and I love you. My love overcomes and restores any broken part of humanity. Yes, there will be ashes and pain. Yet trust in me and you will know something more than human: That you are entirely my beloved peeps and I have a purpose for you.

Grace & peace, Pastor Sarah

All Welcome!

In everything Discovery does

Worship

In person, streaming, recorded

& in this newsletter

Sunday Ministries

Sing, Act, Study, Support, Help

STUDY MATERIALS

Study Brochure & Extra study notes

Sunday March 24

Palm Sunday

Pictures & Reflections

Thursday March 28

Maundy Thursday

6:00 Meal, 7:00 Worship

In person or livestream

Sunday March 31

Easter Sunday

7:00 Early Bird Service

8:00 Potluck Breakfast

10:30 Celebration Worship

April 7

Celebrating Ministry

Catered Picnic Lunch!

Gospel of Matthew Study 2024

Mission & Updates

Annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering

Ongoing: Pantry & Good Samaritan support

Thank you for sharing your pictures and stories

Study, Prayer, Theology

You are invited to use the Lent "Kindness Habitat" brochure for prayer and study.

May God grow us all into a Kindness Habitat this season. (PDF link below)

Kindness Habitat - Lent Study & Prayer

For this fellowship meal we will be upstairs in the Commons

Thursday March 28

6:00 PM Meal in the Commons

We are dining upstairs so that the flow from meal to worship mirrors the text in Matthew. Jesus and the disciples have a Passover meal together - which turns into what we know as the sacrament of Communion.

After the 6:00 meal, worship begins at 7:00 in the Commons. We will have Crown of Thorns bread (like usual!).

Then we'll move into the sanctuary for the rest of the worship service. We hope this also creates a seamless and inclusive experience for those online or worshiping through a recording.

Easter Early Bird Worship

Sunday March 31

7:00 AM Indoor/outdoor service

Dress for a little walk but there will be indoor options, too.

Casual worship with a choose your own adventure component.

Christ is Risen!

Easter Potluck Breakfast

Sunday March 31

8:00 Potluck Breakfast

Sign up in the Commons if you'd like to bring something or just show up!

Easter Celebration Worship

Sunday March 31

10:30 AM

We are pulling out all the stops as usual!

The link to this service and the worship bulletin can be found in the "usual" worship section of this newsletter.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Let's have a blast!

Christ is Risen!

Yes, you read that right!

We are having a catered lunch fellowship!

Fried Chicken Picnic.

After worship we will have our Annual Meeting. We will celebrate ministry and what God is doing through Discovery. And we'll take care of regular business such as: Nominating, compensation, whatever ministry updates.

This is usually a pretty quick meeting, so stick around and enjoy a celebratory lunch together.

All are welcome!

Thanks for your OGHS Support!

Many of you have responded to the call to support the 75 year old One Great Hour of Sharing offering. Thank you! Once again pooling our resources together we make an impact. God uses us as not just individuals but as a whole church.

We appreciate how faithful OGHS is and all the resources and stories of hope they share year after year. It's our honor to be a part of this kind of habitat.

If you haven't had a chance to give yet, we will leave out OGHS envelopes for a couple more weeks just in case!

You can read more or even donate online to this worthy cause at... One Great Hour of Sharing - Info & online giving

Amazon Rain Forest

Amazon is not just an entity you order from.

It is a phenomenal world habitat in the South American continent.

Week by week we are sharing fun facts about this habitat as Discovery prepares to host a guest from Peru on April 14 during the worship service. Pastor Sarah will have a conversational interview with the director of a National Geographic funded agency.

All are welcome to this incredible opportunity.

And the Deacons are hosting a special fellowship lunch after worship.

Easter is a time of sacredness and joy.

And how about a bit of silliness: What do you think of peeps? You know: the marshmellowy bird candy on Easter?

Break the ice by asking others about their lives, listening closely and being vulnerable. This is a place where kindness begins.

Camp Calvin Crest

for elementary ages through High School

Discovery & Presbytery provide scholarships to attend.

See Jeff Dickinson to apply for Discovery Scholarships.

Synod School

for ALL AGES, family groups, singles, friends.

Something for everyone

July 21-26, 2024

Storm Lake, IA - Buena Vista University

Discovery, Presbytery & Synod provide scholarships to attend. See Jeff to apply for Discovery Scholarships.

New soft T-Shirts are coming!

Beginning April 7 you can order a new Discovery T-shirt. There is a small logo on the front and then Take Another Look at Church on the back.

Both children and adult sizes are available for $20.

You can order in-person at church or email your order request to tech@discoverypc.org

Cash, check or Venmo all work!

If you need assistance in covering the cost of a shirt, let Pastor Sarah, Chris, Kaaren or Ruth know! You can also share that request via the email above.

We look forward to a day in June when we can all wear our T-shirts together!

2024 Discovery Deacons

Discovery has a faithful, committed team of 2024 Deacons!

Deacons pray and then support several aspects of Discovery's ministry including: Fellowship, Mission and care for special needs.

Please join them in caring for church ministry as as we seek to make the world a kinder place.

Good Samaritan Fund

In honor of the Peace Walk, all are invited to make a contribution to the Discovery Church "Good Samaritan" Fund. This funds helps neighbors in need with basic assistance including food and rent.

You can mail in a check with a memo - Good Samaritan. Or place offering in a blue envelope on Sundays - and note Good Samaritan.

Thank you!

Recently this fund has helped with: Rent, Daycare, Food assistance and a car repair.

Worship in many ways

*Worship in the sanctuary or in the flexible spaces just outside

*Worship through singing, lighting the lamp, listening, coloring, being in Time for Discovery, praying, or doing the extra activity during the sermon.

Color, play, and be able to watch and hear worship at the same time.

Discovery has extra near-the-sanctuary seating/activity spaces- for those who want to color or need extra table space to sit at and still be near the worship service.

5 Items such a success - Let's continue!

1. Peanut Butter
2. Jelly
3. Breakfast Items (Cereal, Oatmeal packets, toaster pastries)
4. Toothbrushes
5. Toothpaste

Please drop off items in the box by the pantry or in the Covenant Room.

THANK YOU!

We are phase 10 of 10!

The city of Omaha is doing major construction along Q street and then 48th St by the church. It is a two year project that is beginning now. The early phases are along Q street between 42nd & 48th. The last phase (Phase 10) is along 48th St. between the railroad tracks and Harrison. Having 48th St closed north of us will still be an impact in the coming months and year. We pray for patience and safety. And we'll include periodic updates, too. Here's a link to the main website for KeepOmahamoving.com

48th St Improvement project 52875