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It's Not About The Religion,


It's About The Relationship!

Sermon Series:

"A Million Dreams”

See Previously Recorded Messages
THE MID-WEEK BUZZ

Happy Thursdays Dear People!


Happy 2nd week of the Easter Season. What a joy to be a Mainline Protestant congregation that celebrates the whole season and not just the day. Until Pentecost Sunday, May 19th, we will be looking at the post-Easter Jesus. I know it will be a fruitful few weeks as we continue to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. My heart and mind are still reeling after our resurrection celebration this past Sunday. There is something about Easter that engulfs my entire being. Resurrection is the reason that we are here. The message we share about new life and the grace of 2nd chances is why we keep doing what we are doing. I hope that your spirit is still reeling a well. After several counts from several individuals, we had close to 160 individuals in worship. We basically, doubled out weekly attendance. There were many guests and what was most surprising and uplifting; the majority of them came on your invitation.

They were connected to you. Let this be a lesson for us as we seek to grow our congregation. The 80% of new people in Sunday worship are there because they were personally invited by a parishioner. So get on it dear ones … let’s capitalize on this amazing day.


This coming Sunday, we will visit one of my favorite narratives after the resurrection. You have heard me preach on him before, but it really is a story that begs to be shared and reflected upon every single year … the story of Doubting Thomas … who I label, “Believing Thomas.” You will want to make Sunday a priority for you and your family. It is my guess that many of us are oh so much like Thomas the Disciple. Especially because Congregationalists are a ”heady” bunch. The level of theological training and understanding is a high bar, set by the wider church, The United Church of Christ. We ask a great number of questions. We see “doubts” as necessary for our faith to grow and flourish. So, if you have any doubts, then church is where you need to be on Sunday morning. Here is a link if you want to get a head start.


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A19-30&version=NRSVUE


So, don’t put your Easter Bonnet in the attic quite yet. Resurrection will be our focus for the next few weeks. I encourage you to search your hearts for where you need resurrection in your life. Remember, the resurrection power that flooded that tomb for three days is here and available to us. We are an Easter people. Praise to the Resurrection Savior. I love being your pastor.


Holding you close and lifting you high!

Pastor Greg

Music Ministry

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Christ: Dead, Buried and Resurrected

As we are in the first week of the Eastertide season, I think of Paul’s letter to the 1 Corinthians where he says this is the gospel I delivered to you and what was given to me, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). We go through a gamut of events and emotions throughout this week. Even more if you start with Palm Sunday with its jubilant expectation. As I’ve been reflecting on how we are called to worship in light of this week two things stick out to me.

First, is that our worship should attend to the full array of the Christian and the human experiences, its joys, its expectations, its losses, its pain and its surprises (to name a few). To overemphasize one is to miss out on the fullness of God with us in all of our circumstances and also presents a picture of life and the Christian faith that is not real. Second, is that our worship should attend to the mystery of God in each of these elements of our faith. The cross and the resurrection should remind of us the power of God and also the mysterious working of that power. May we live and worship in the fullness of the mystery and power that is this week.

UPCOMING EVENTS & WEEKLY NEWS

Continues April 18th!

“The Secret Message of Jesus” by Brian Mclaren

Lenten Book study

Began February 22nd. 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.


Note this Thursday April 4th and next Thursday April 11th we will not be meeeting but will countinue on April 18th! So you can catch up on your reading!


For Lent this year, Pastor Greg has offered a book study on, “The Secret Message of Jesus,” by Brian McLaren. This has been a fascinating look at how one of our leading progressive Theologians look at the life, words and actions of Jesus. Order your book today. I encourage you to not read ahead, but by sections with your group. Click on the ink below for a place to order:


https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Message-Jesus-Uncovering-Everything/dp/B002VBAXR6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3I00337P8XIGE&keywords=the+secret+message+of+jesus&qid=1706727999&sprefix=the+secret+message%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1

Strike a Pose and Say Cheese!


I will continue to ask you after worship for a quick capture!- Julie


The Church will be updating our member photo board! Starting. Julie Hume will be in charge of capturing a terrific photo of you and your family after Church on Sundays. We have so many great smiles in our congregation, let us make them shine!

The Outreach Ministry!

Greetings from Outreach,


Spring is here! There is new life everywhere! We hope that you find joy in all the beautiful days ahead!

Our Outreach Ministry wants to help make those days better for our un-housed neighbors. How can we make that happen? We can add a little sunshine to their day by creating Blessing Bags to hand out as we see one of these friends on the street.


For April, we will be filling our Basket of Hope with small items to put into the Blessing Bags. We have created a special list of the items that are needed. And we also have many of these items on an Amazon Wish List to make it super easy for you to make a purchase and to help us keep track of what is still needed.

The extra fun activity will be on May 5, we will make this a Do Church Sunday and create the bags together. We will include a resource sheet with local food, health and housing resources. We then will pass them out to everyone at church to put in their cars to have ready to give to someone in need. Now that sound fun.

So prayerfully consider how you can help this Ministry to help our neighbors. Start gathering your hotel provided shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap. Thank you so much for all the ways you help our Outreach Ministry! Blessings to you.


Supplies for 100 Blessing Bags

Soft granola bars

Pudding cups

Fruit cups or applesauce

Small water bottles

Small size bottles of shampoo (hotel size)

Small size bottles of conditioner (hotel size)

Small size bottles of hand lotion (hotel size)

Small bars of soap (hotel size)


If you are comfortable shopping online, please consider using this Amazon Wish List for any of the following items:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PN0OP4Y8FV94?ref_=wl_share

Hefty Slider Jumbo Storage Bags, 2.5-gallon size

Soft washcloths

Travel size packs of wet wipes

Travel size toothpaste

Toothbrushes

Dental floss

Small size of deodorant

Small combs

Small size bottles of sunblock

Tubes of Chapstick or lip balm

Small packages of Kleenex

WEEKLY BIRTHDAYS

Who's got an upcoming BIRTHDAY?  


The Community Church of Poway wishes the following members a Happy Birthday. We hope you have a blessed day celebrating YOU! 


Ryan Cones. April 4

Meetings

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Adult Scripture Review:


Sunday’s following worship in the fireside room!

Email Susan Gurriell

at sgurriell@gmail.com

Every Tuesday!
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Books & More


We are returning with our 10 am start time in the Fireside Room as we continue discussing The Bel Canto by Ann Pachett. This spellbinding novel about love and opera, and the unifying ways people learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis.


All are welcome to join us.

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We have a special activity planned for April 23 at 10:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Lisa Bronner will present her book Soap and Soul and we will make a sugar scrub to take home. Lisa will have her book available to purchase. It is full of eco-friendly, non-toxic solutions for cleaning and caring for your body, home and beyond.


You may recognize her last name, she is the granddaughter of Dr. Emanuel Bronner, the founder of Dr. Bronner’s natural cleaning products. We ask those who are interested in attending on April 23 to sign-up in advance, to ensure that we have adequate supplies for the sugar scrub. Please contact Linda at lindadengland@gmail.com.

Please join us, all are welcome!

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Centering Prayer:


Tuesdays at 6:30pm

Contact Colleen Clementson at powclem@yahoo.com or on

her cell at 858-663-6584, for the ZOOM invite

Your Favorite Weekly Joke 

Thank you for checking out our BUZZ! Here is what you were waiting for! If you have a favorite joke or any tips to make the BUZZ even better, please send emails to julie@ccpucc.org :)


Joke of the Week:


Did you hear about math book that got a therapist?

It had a lot of problems…

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