Busy week, Again.

The BBQ is our next big event. We're expecting a good crowd for the 6:30 event on Friday night. Invite friends. The food is going to be out of this world and where can you find better fellowship. Pastor Arlin wants the men to set some time for a future meeting and the Praise Band wants to practice a special number for Easter.

On April 5th, we will celebrate Palm Sunday with palm branches and all. Pastor Arlin will preach on the topic: "Jesus, the New Covenant, Enters Jerusalem." The scripture is Mark 1:1-11. This is the perfect way to enter Holy Week.

There is a sign-up sheet for our Good Friday prayer vigil. It is good that we are such a praying church and you will want to be part of this important event. If you haven't signed up be sure and look for the list and Friday night or Sunday morning to get on the schedule.

It's not too early to invite your friends to the Palm Sunday and Easter services. We want to break our 109 record attendance and WE CAN DO IT!

Have a good week.

Lenten Devotional reading

A Special Meal
By Larry Linville

My life was in shambles
collapsing
falling apart.
In desperation
I climbed a tall hill
and sat under a big tree
far away from the cruel world
awaiting the enlightenment
of the rays from the rising sun.
As I tried once more
to pray to God
another man joined me
in that remote place.
With much on his mind
he listened to me
and placed his own problems aside.
Soon my heavy load
left me floating in ecstasy.
A few days later
with Passover near
I saw him alone again.
In gratitude I offered him a gift
and he graciously accepted.
He told his followers
how to meet me
and I led them to a special room
where I catered his Last Supper.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work

Busy Week Ahead!!!!

BBQ is coming a week from Friday night at 6:30. (April 4th) The men are in full swing in preparation. We are spreading the word and expect a large turnout.

Next Sunday will be another sermon in our series on Covenants from God.
Pastor Larry will lead us from Jeremiah 31:31-34 in a sermon: "God Promises A New Covenant With The People." The Hebrew word for "new" can mean "renewed" and that is probably what is the writer's intent. God kept making covenants and the people kept breaking them so God has another idea -- write in on their hearts.

Our series in moving toward it's fulfillments on Palm Sunday as Pastor Arlin introduces the New Covenant in the Palm Sunday lesson.

As always, it helps if you read the scripture several times. This is a rather short passage so it will be easy to read it each day.

Who do you know that does not attend worship? 80+% of them will say "yes" if you invite them to join you at worship. Any sales person would love to have that percentage.

Apportionments report

Apportionments are our fair share of the mission program of the Annual Conference. It is figured in such a way that it is fair for both large and small churches. Many churches (large and small) struggle at the end of the year to come up with the payment. It sometimes becomes such a big problem that it is the object of newsletter items, statements from the pulpits, etc.

In today's mail was the statement for the first 2 months of the year. Our church has paid 50% at the point. This is such a great practice and a way we can avoid placing ourselves in a stressful situation. This is possible because of your gifts to the church as an expression of your love to God.

Thanks for your generousity!

Lenten Devotional reading

I Made The Three Nails
By Larry Linville

A Roman soldier came into my shop
and told me that I must come to a stop.
He had a big special order for me.
Make the roughest nails and he wanted three.

He said to be sure they were very rough
for this guy who hadn’t suffered enough.
I must admit that I’m good at my craft
and I could help give this fellow the shaft.

Later in the day I went out to see
the guy who would suffer because of me.
I watched as they drove my nails in his skin
and some of his blood gushed out on my chin.

Just at that moment his eyes looked at me
and his forgiveness was all I could see
I stood with people and watched him die
and constantly wiped a tear from my eye.

“forgive them they don’t know what they have done”
was his prayer I heard and wanted to run.
My legs wouldn’t move so I looked above
and his eyes seemed to tell me of his love.

Both hurting and healing at the same time
I grieved that I was part of the crime.
By my good work he was nailed to a tree
but his death gave true life to you and me.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Worship for March 22, 2009

Last Sunday, Pastor Larry helped us look at the Ten Commandments as God's covenant with a people who had been in slavery for 400 years. We saw this covenant as God's act of grace to help the people learn to live as free people. The emphasis was on what God did.

This week Pastor Arlin will help us look at the influence on the children of Israel. His sermon will be based on Exodus 24:1-8 with the title, "The People Affirm God's Covenant with Them."

Spring is coming our way, the weather is feeling better and the spirit of the people is bubbling over. It's a great time to be at worship. Please join us on Sunday and bring someone with you.

Lenten Devotional reading

Jesus Upset My Table
By Larry Linville

The great Passover time was drawing near.
A very profitable time of year.
My chance of making much money was great
so I sold everything to improve my fate.

Hundreds of pigeons at my temple stall
made it look like I was at a big mall.
The early crowd came with money in hand.
My profits were growing just like I planned
when this guy burst in and started to yell
upsetting my table and raising hell.
He shouted words about a den of thieves
and freed my pigeons and rolled up his sleeves.

My pigeons all flew to freedom out side.
My anger boiled up and made me decide
I would follow him as he was leavin’
and find a time when I could get even.

I followed after him throughout the week
listening to every word he did speak.
He said that anger can ruin one’s life
and he said that love could help in our stife.

But I joined those with their fists in the air
shouting “Crucify him! Kill him I swear.”
Up to Golgotha I followed this guy
and he looked right at me and said, “Don’t cry!”

Just then I looked up and there in the sky
where my pigeons had just started to fly.
Somehow I felt he sent them all my way
for some message he had wanted to say.

A second chance he was giving to me
so just like my pigeons I could be free.
Down from Golgotha I led all the birds
following as I said special words.

Out in the open I watched them go freeand
a new freedom was given to me.
I took all the things I heard that man say
and lived my life a different way.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Devotional Poem

I Gave My Linen Cloth To Jesus
By Larry Linville

For a linen cloth I spent a great treasure
and each time I looked it gave me much pleasure.
I didn’t know how I would use it some day
but I knew it was more than just for display.

A crowd was assembling just outside of town
to celebrate a man who had great renown.
On a donkey he rode like a winning king
all the people lifted their voices to sing.

I thought this must be the occasion for me
to bring out that linen cloth in my great glee.
I threw it in front of that donkey he rode
where among the branches it’s great beauty glowed.

After he had passed I took it to my house
and thought I could make from it a special blouse.
A blouse that had been laid out on the highway
but the events took a bad turn by Friday.

I ran to the cross with my cloth near my heart
at the right time to see his spirit depart.
I knew that this cloth wouldn’t dwell in my room
so I gave it for him to wear in his tomb.

I gave that which was the most precious to me
to the one who suffered so I could be free.
If you give to Jesus what you cherish best
your life will always be eternally blessed.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Devotional Poem

The Donkey and His Cross
By Larry Linville

(based on the Legend of the “Little Gray Donkey.”)

A story is told many years ago.
It is a legend I think you should know.
A little gray donkey gave Mary a ride
as Joseph walked bravely right by her side
Bethlehem was where they both had to go
And the donkey had to struggle so slow.
He traveled with very much donkey pride
for the treasure Mary carried inside.

That donkey’s descendant wasn’t so calm
as he bore Christ on the day of the palm.
He saw people cheer and he saw them shout
as he followed the Jerusalem route.
Later in the week he was standing near
on Calvary’s hill and he heard them jeer.
His heart was sad and it ached to the core
knowing he had not fulfilled his chore

The cross wasn’t something for Christ to bear.
He reasoned “I should have carried it there.”
He grieved as he turned his back to the sight
and bowed his head as he felt so contrite.
In honor of his loyalty and love
Christ looked on him from his perch up above.
He caused a shadow to fall on his back
to leave an image of the darkest black

If you look at a gray donkey today
you’ll notice this honor is there to stay
as a mark to remind us of the great love
which that donkey received from God above.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Getting Ready for Lent 3

Pastor Arlin led us yesterday to examine God's provision of the impossible with Abram and Sarai. He looked at the covenant God made.

Next Sunday Pastor Larry will look at the covenant we commonly know as the Ten Commandments. Sermon: "God's Covenant with Israel." Exodus 20:1-17. We will place this covenant against the background of their freedom of slavery.

We will learn that the covenant is a guide to people who have received a new freedom. It helps them understand how to live in right relationships with God and with their sisters and brothers.

Again, read the scripture several times and invite someone to worship with us next week.

Lenten Devotional reading

I Heard the Stones Cry Out
By Larry Linville

When Jesus rode that donkey into town
I found a big stone and then I sat down.
Leaders told Jesus to make them be still
an act he wasn’t about to fulfill.
As he looked and saw so many folks shout
He said, “If they stop, the stones will cry out.”

On that Friday on Golgotha I stood
and wondered aloud “how can this be good?”
When he took his last breath all noise quit
I went to a rock -- I just had to sit
and I thought I heard -- but sometimes I must doubt --
that there were some stones that just had to shout.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Lenten Devotional reading

Moses and Lent
By Larry Linville

Moses led God’s children
toward a great promised land.
When they finally got there
they found it was so grand.

The forty years they traveled
required great dedication
before they reached the blessing
they went through great frustration.

Lent is a forty day quest
with much sacrifice and search.
Instead of living in a desert
we spend much time at church.

They followed Moses each day
through all the thick and thin.
We follow just as they did
with a promised land to win.

The manna and the quail
sustained them on their quest
just as God provides for us
as we daily face each test.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Spies and Lent
By Larry Linville

Scripture: Numbers 13:25

Moses sent twelve young men into the promised land.
It took forty days for this shaky little band.
Ten of them came back with a real negative view.
The others felt that their God could help them get through.

When we enter our lent quest toward a promised land
our success is set up by our positive stand.
We can side with the ten and fall on our face
or follow the two and improve the human race.

Lent is a time to consider all of our odds
and where we have been following other gods
as we turn our thoughts to what God can do with us
as He turns our negative lives to a big plus.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

A Lenten Devotion

Goliath And Lent
By Larry Linville

1 Samuel 17:16

That giant strutted out each day
his sadistic way to play.
Morning and evening he appeared.
Each time all the people feared.

Forty days Goliath taunted
the Israelites were feeling haunted.
His egotism matched his size
unaware of his big surprise.

It only took one little stone
by a shepherd standing all alone
to bring that giant down to size
and walk away with the prize.

The forty days of Lent my friend
helps us, like David, to ascend
against the strutting giants we face
and win the battle with God’s grace.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Friday, March 6th is the night and Paradise UMC is the place.
6;30 pm is the time for the best meal in Clay County.
Corned Beef and Cabbage to celebrate this month of the Irish.
You are invited to make a donation for our Ukelele ministry.

Besides all that, you have a chance to have good fellowship and there may be some good much as a group sits around with guitars, banjos, ukes, madolins, violins, etc.

C U there.

Worship for March 8, 2009

We started our series on God's Covenants last week.
This week Pastor Arlin will lead us to look at the covenant with Abram. You may read about this at Genesis 17:1-16. Because of their advanced age, Abram and Sarai show us that God's grace does for us what it is humanly impossible for us to do.

Please read the scripture several times this week and bring a friend with you for the services on Sunday.

Devotional Poem

Elijah and Lent
By Larry Linville

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:16

Fasting in reverse was Elijah’s flair.
He ate and then went to Mount Horeb where
he waiting forty long days there on high
and was filled with blessings as God passed by.

He ate before hunger covered his bed.
At that time he was spiritually fed.
His hunger was turned away from all food
and he was in a God-searching mood.

God comes to us in a mighty way
when physical hungers are put away
and we place ourselves in the path of God
where patiently wait to be deeply awed.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

First Sunday in Lent

At the service today I am using a poem that will go with the sermon about Noah and God's Covenant with the Rainbow. I include the poem here for your use as devotional reading.

The Flood and Lent
Larry Linville

Scripture: Gen. 7:12

God saw the world was full of sin
and wanted to start over again.
Noah received a special mission
to build a boat that wasn’t for fishin’.

He loaded up animals two by two
and set off in his big floating zoo.
Forty days and forty nights it rained
but Noah’s family was sustained.

The church is symbolized by a boat
which the Holy Spirit keeps afloat.
We can get closer to God at Lent
when more time with the church is spent.

Our forty day Lenten journey can lead
to overcoming things that impede
in our efforts to start over anew
and do the things we know we should do.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.