Sunday, May 5th is Communion Sunday.

Communion elements will be in the little library for those who wish to take Communion during worship online.

Community Unity Potluck this Sunday May 5th

Bring a dish or a topic for discussion

Small group study of An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor Begins Tues. May 7

On May 7, 14 and 21.  We will meet at 7 p.m.,” at the church OR if weather permits, in Sutton Loop Park. Bring a chair to the park and look for the group. Text Jan Harsh 314-780-1797 with any questions. The book follows Barbara Brown Taylor as she left full-time ministry to become a university professor, a decision that allowed her to discover new ways to "keep the faith" outside of traditional Christianity. Now, in An Altar in the World, Taylor shares her techniques for encountering God far beyond the walls of the church. The book is available for pick up at the church

Thank you for your generosity with the 2024 Easter Offering!



The Administrative Council chose to round up the Easter offering. By adding approximately $500 more to your generous gifts, the Kwasha Molya School and Mosaic Services will each receive $1500 from this year’s Easter Offering. Our thanks and praise to God from whom all blessings flow!

Don't forget to sign up to be a part of the Tech Team 

You don’t have to know anything about technology ahead of time.  Training and mentoring will be provided. You can learn at your own pace and will have someone sit with you on your first few Sundays. Tech Team members are asked to commit to serving about once a month during a worship service. If you are interested reach out to Chris Shirar (chrisshirar4@gmail.com) or put a note with your name and number/email on the online Connect Card or paper Communication Card. A little nervous about trying this out? Get a friend to come with you to learn! It will be fun!

Dear Friends,

I drove a late model car recently that was equipped with technology that detects when you are driving too close to the edge of the lane and signals the car to automatically steer itself back to center of the lane. It’s a little strange to feel the car steering itself, but probably not as strange as driving off the edge of the road.

This “stay in in your lane” system is just one of several technological advances that make cars safer. Back up cameras that beep when you are too close to an object and blind spot detectors that flash when someone is on your blind spot give us warnings that help keep us, those around us, and our cars safer.

I am amazed by the technology that is involved with these safety features. It’s tempting to wish for technology could help us stay in the right lanes and avoid collisions as we make decisions in life’s journey.  But long before technology came about it seems that God has provided ways that help us make better decisions in life.

This Sunday, as we continue the sermon series, “Make Good Choices!” we will talk about a warning device that is available to us. Andy Stanley, the author of Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets describes it as “paying attention to the tension.”  We will reflect on a moment in King David’s life when paying attention to the tension helped him make a good choice and talk about how it might help us too.

God’s grace and peace be with you,

Pastor Kim

Do you know of a child who would benefit from attending Freedom School?

There are still slots available for scholars. Freedom School applications are still being accepted at the Maplewood UMC site. Go to the church website (www.maplewoodumc.org) to find the links for online applications or to download an application.

Freedom School is a full-day, (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) 6 week, Monday – Friday (except for holidays) summer literacy and empowerment program offered to children who have completed grades Kindergarten through 5.  There is no cost for the program outside of a $30 refundable deposit which for this year will be provided by Maplewood UMC.