|
We have been given an Extra Sunday to order....
Easter Flowers
These three are
available:
Lilies - $13.85 Hyacinths - $8.85 Tulips - $8.85
Deadline to order: March 5th
To order: CLICK HERE or Sign up at church
(If you wish to purchase flowers in honor or in memory of someone, please note on your order)
| |
This Sunday is Communion Sunday
Communion elements will be available in the red Upper Room on the Flora side of the church.
| |
YOUR information is
needed for our updated Church Directory
We are close to being able to print and put online a New Church Directory. If you have not turned your information in, we need it by March 15th so we can print and have the new directory ready by Easter.
| Maplewood UMC Kids on Sunday! | |
Last week in Sunday school, our science experiment with fire and a balloon failed seven times! We did NOT give up. We showed up every time and help finally came to save the balloon! (That help was US!
How does God help us when we fail? No Matter what you’ve done or think about yourself, God loves you so much. Jesus helps us start over again and shows us a better way! Last week, one of our friends said that when we breathe in and out, God’s love comes down on us like rain. Try taking some deep breaths this week when you are having a rough time!
This Sunday come and hear the story of Nicodemus who visited Jesus at night and try another science experiment with Kool-Aid! (There will be snacks and games too!)
| The flowers on the pillars in the altar area last Sunday were given by Anna Baskett’s family in gratitude for the people of Maplewood UMC. Please continue to hold Anna’s family in your prayers. | |  |
 | |
Dear Friends,
As a pastor one of the things that I do is plan and officiate at funerals. Sometimes when it is time to plan the service, the loved ones of the person who has died will begin the conversation with a confession of sorts saying, “We don’t know how to do this!” To which I respond, “You don’t have to. That’s what I am here for. We will work together.”
Now that we can google or pull up a YouTube video to learn about almost anything, I think we sometimes get caught up in the belief that we should be able to figure everything out on our own without asking for help.
That’s part of what I love about the story of Nicodemus, a religious leader who was supposed to know the answer to the questions of faith. He realized, after meeting Jesus, that he didn’t have it all figured out after all.
I wonder if that wasn’t part of the reason he sought Jesus out after dark to ask him more questions. He thought he was supposed to know these things already! But Jesus met Nicodemus where he was and revealed that part of what the Holy Spirit does is teach us about God.
This Sunday as we continue the sermon series, “Lookin’ for Love: In all the Wrong Places” we will talk more about how Jesus and the Holy Spirit, help us find that love. We will celebrate that we don’t have to have everything figured out before we come to God. God WANTS to and WILL help us, and the whole world, find God’s love. It will be a good day to come “Lookin’ for Love.”
God’s grace and peace be with you,
Pastor Kim
|  | Last week Pastor Kim led a prayer service for a former Early Childhood Center staff member and her newborn baby who was delivered early to protect both Mom and Baby’s life. During the service, the friends and family at one point gathered around and prayed over a prayer quilt made by the Maplewood UMC Quilters. The picture is of the quilt covering the ICU bed of baby Dessa who was 2 pounds 2 ounces at birth. Please continue to pray for baby Dessa to grow and thrive and for her Mom to return to full health. Thank you to our quilters for providing these quilts as a means of grace for so many people. | | |
|
Join a Lenten Small Group Study
During Lent everyone is encouraged to attend worship each Sunday and take part in a small group during the week. This year some small groups will discuss the book, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith. Other groups will focus on their insights from the daily devotional, Embracing the Uncertain: 40 by Rev. Magrey R. DeVega. Samples of each of these books will be available for you to look at on Sunday.
| |
|
You Are What You Love book
discussion led by Steve Wall-Smith.
Sunday mornings 9:45 a.m. with Adult Conversations Group.
You Are What You Love Sign Up (Sunday)
| |
In addition to small group discussion, here are more spiritual growth opportunities:
Online Prayer Group, Tuesdays, 1 p.m. via Zoom. (The link for this ongoing group can be found in the church calendar below.)
Prayer in the Pastor’s Office, 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. This group is open to all who wish to take part.
Caring Group, 1 p.m. via Zoom. Led by Mary Kunce. (The link for this ongoing group can be found in the online church calendar.)
| |
|
Embracing the Uncertain: 40 Devotions for Unsteady Times book discussion, led by Pastor Kim, Tuesdays, 7 p.m. at the church, February 28 – April 4. (Group requires a minimum of 5 participants to form.)
Embracing The Uncertain Sign Up (Tuesdays)
Embracing the Uncertain: 40 Devotions for Unsteady Times book discussion, led by Pastor Kim, Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. by Zoom, (unless group prefers in-person) Begins Saturday, February 25 through April 1. (Group requires a minimum of 5 participants to form.)
Embracing The Uncertain Sign Up (Saturday)
| |
Congratulations to Mark Watkins who was named Wrestling Official of the Year by the Missouri State High School Athletic Association! We are proud of you, Mark! | |
Congratulations to Ethan Floyd on placing 2nd in the district wrestling finals. | |
|
NEW THIS WEEK: Items printed in Green
**Thursday, March 2
9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop
1:00 p.m. Caring Group
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178?pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09
Meeting ID: 374 571 1178
Passcode: 674257
** Saturday, March 4
8:30 a.m. Lenten Book Study Embracing the Uncertain: 40 Devotions for Unsteady Times - via
10:30 a.m. - Women's AA Meeting
**Sunday, March 5
9:00 a.m. Prayer with Pastor Kim
9:45 a.m - .ADULT DISCUSSION GROUP
9:45 a.m. Children's Sunday School
11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and on Facebook - Link: facebook.com/mumcstl
**Tuesday, March 7
1 p.m. Prayer time via Zoom.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178
Passcode: 674257
3:30-4:30 p.m. - Boy Scout Meeting
7:00 p.m. Lenten Book Study -Embracing the Uncertain: 40 Devotions for Unsteady Times
| |
**Wednesday, March 8
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Boy Scout meeting
**Thursday, March 9
9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop
1:00 p.m. Caring Group Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178?pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09
Meeting ID: 374 571 1178
Passcode: 674257
7:00 p.m. Choir Practice
To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com
| |
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms 118:24
| |
|
Prayers for....
...Current confirmation class members
..Mary Kunce—who is having her third surgery this week.
..for the Family of Anna Baskett, who died on February 16.
...Betty Rhodes - for Tanika and the Rhodes family
Continuing prayers for ...
... Nina Berry - for Chad to be happy and healthy
...John Rutledge- recovering at home
,,,Wendy Moseley- Eric & Teena Newton: Eric has pancreatic cancer
...Dan Wine whose 101 year old grandmother died as the result of complications from a fall
...the people of Turkey and Syria impacted by the earthquake and for all those involved in rescue efforts
AND NOW... THANK YOU...
...to confirmand, Henry Stotler, for leading us in worship as the liturgist last Sunday.
...to Tom Cordeal and all who gave food and help for the Ash Wednesday Supper.
...to Diane Watkins, Bob and Jan Harsh, Courtney Stotler, and Renee McDonough for assisting with meal for the Baskett family after Anna’s service.
|  | ...to Tori Chandler, Grace Floyd, and Isaiah Springer for the gift of music during worship | |
 | |
March, 2023
by David Phelps
I’ve sometimes been accused of caring about things that don’t matter to others. In the past, some folks have expressed it by saying I need to “get a life.” I don’t know what the current expression is but I’m sure it’s something equally cutting. When folks find out I recycle, sometimes they ask why I “bother.” And as a lifelong science fiction fan, I’m used to having my interests dismissed. This won’t endear me to some folks but as someone who isn’t a sports fan, I could say the same thing about football (just kidding, guys).
Years ago, a college friend referred to a man in need as a “transient” and implied that the man didn’t “deserve” help. Fortunately for all of us, we have a savior who knew everyone needs help sometimes and didn’t ask whether we “deserve” it. Jesus constantly saw the people and needs no one else noticed. One day in the midst of a crowd, a woman with a bleeding disorder touched the edge of Jesus’ robe and was healed instantly (Luke 8:43-44). With people pushing and shoving on every side, Jesus asked, “‘Who touched me?’” (vs. 45a). Everyone denied touching him, and Peter and the others said, “‘Teacher, so many people are pushing You from every side and You say, “Who touched Me?”’” (vs. 45b Evangelical Heritage Version). They might as well have said, “Get a life,” or asked, “Are you crazy?” Every time Jesus stopped to heal someone, to offer mercy, “‘to seek and to save the lost,’” (19:10b EHV), there must have been people who thought, “get a life.” But Jesus said, “‘Someone touched me, because I know that power has gone out from me.’” (8:46b EHV). READ MORE
| |
Memories from the past
Spring of 2009 Maplewood UMC was the set for the movie: Up In the Air
| |
Snow making equipment was among the equipment used for the movie. They changed the name of our church to the Shepherd Pines Lutheran Church | |
|
Fellowship Hall was decorated for the wedding reception after the wedding.
Some of the congregation got to be at the reception.
| |
George Clooney was one of the stars of the movie. Crowds formed daily to catch a glimpse of George and others. | |
To the enjoyment of the crowd, George came out to say hi and shake a few hands. | |
|
DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY; send articles to jbrx10@yahoo.com.
The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday
| |
If you prefer not to receive this weekly newsletter please click unsubscribe below
| | | | |
