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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 Thursday,


Outcast God,

born into poverty in an occupied land,

driven from your land as your family fled violence,

living alongside the marginalized and the oppressed.

dying between criminals to the jeers of the crowd,


Open our eyes,

that we who seek to follow you may recognize your face

in the faces of those who are enslaved.


Open our ears,

that we who seek to hear your word may recognize your love

in the stories which are often drowned out.


Open our hearts,

that we who seek your way of life may be bold in witnessing

to your longing for justice and peace. Amen




We need your presence on the long road, Lord.

The road between fear and hope,

the road between the place where all is lost

and the place of resurrection.

Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,

we are in need of your company!

Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power,

let this time of worship, be a hallowed hour





Jesus, our Risen Lord, we recall how you walked with the disciples in their grief and uncertainty on the road to Emmaus. Unable to believe what the women told them, they walked without hope, the light having gone out of the world.

But the tomb was empty! You were not there! How can such an amazing truth be hidden from our eyes?

Lord, we see what we want to see, only able to comprehend what we already know. How is it that after experiencing your miracles, we so easily fall back into our old expectations? Why do we rely on the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness to you?

Jesus, create in us the awe that expects a miracle. Let our grief and uncertainty become the channel to seeing you anew. Astound us with your presence and fill us with your love. Teach our hearts to burn with your Word so that we may believe it and live it in the world.

Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died!

Christ has risen!

Christ will come again!

Good Morning and Happy Sunday!


I hope that your Monday is going well. As I sit here, the eclipse has just concluded. It was pretty amazing even though we didn’t get a huge amount of darkness. I had my approved glasses on and was kind of taken back by what I go to see. Amazing … our entire country glued to the skies, all of one mind, to see this act of nature. I was chatting with a friend who traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to witness the eclipse within the path of totality. Her response:


“I was a reminder, that there is a presence so much bigger and brighter than us. Perfect, amazing, because we as humans, had nothing to do with it.”


A whole lot of truth in that observation. All we had to do was enjoy it! Oh, that we could live our lives led by this ideal … “There is a presence so much bigger and brighter than us.”


With that in mind, the eclipse also made me think about science. We live in a world where science has done so much for each and every one of us. The progress we have made, even in the last 30 years is impressive. I mean, where would we be is we did not have smart phones. Are you with me? So … when scientists can tell us exactly where and when an event like this will take place, to amazing accuracy, it boggles my mind that there are folks who disregard science on so many levels. Science is a gift from God. And what is so wonderful is that with all of the knowledge we have, we also know that this “presence so much bigger and brighter than us,” is at the center of it. Hmmmm … Science and Faith? … a great, divine and holy combination.


This coming Sunday we will visit another amazing post-Easter Jesus sighting story, the Road to Emmaus. It is a road that many of us travel. Metaphorically, it is a road of disappointment, sadness, grief and confusion. I pray that this road reveals for you what Jesus was able to reveal to these grieving disciples.


“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord;

Open the eyes of my heart, I

want to see you, I want to see you.

To see you high and lifted up,

Shining in the light of Your glory.

Pour out you power and love,

As we sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”


I look forward to seeing you this weekend in worship. Being the company of our beloved community is what makes my heart smile and gives me the “umph” to waltz into another week. I love being your pastor.


Holding you close and lifting you high!

Pastor Greg

Music Ministry

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Resurrection Songs

We have been singing a lot of upbeat songs in the Easter season focusing on Jesus’ resurrection, and our participation in that resurrection life. I have taken some pause because there have been times myself when I have not felt like singing such positive songs and I have at times heard critique of churches that act as if everything is good all the time and never tend to or lament the pain and suffering in the world. I do not ever want to be a church or a worship leader who doesn’t recognize the pain, the doubts, or the tensions of our world in our worship. But to also be true to life experience and to what our faith tells us, we also must live in the hope of resurrection as well.

The verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1 comes to mind, “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the sun.” Indeed, in the church there is also a season for everything. We just spent 40 days in lent, in the doubts and the pain of loss, but we now spend 40 days from Easter to the ascension celebrating new life, speaking hope to the darkness and celebrating that there is always a new day.

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! 


Cynthia Thomas. April 14th!

Meetings

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Adult Scripture Review:


Sunday’s following worship in the fireside room!

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:


Before dismissing the children to enter the sanctuary, the Sunday school teacher asked, "Do you know why it’s important to be quiet in church?"


A child replied, “Because people are sleeping.”


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