Children's Easter Activities

Palm Sunday March 20 9 AM - noon Gleason Hall
Come experience a First Century Jerusalem Marketplace.  Visit a Jewish temple, shop in the local market, visit the petting zoo, and more. This is a special Sunday in the life of the church.
We hope that you and your families will join us.

Children go to your class at 10:20 AM for costumes, then join the processional through the sanctuary.  From there they will attend the Jerusalem Festival in Gleason Hall .

Teens:  Join us in the Youth Lounge after Jerusalem Festival on Sunday, March 20 for a screening of the movie/musical Jesus Christ Superstar some thematically appropriate tasty treats (lamb kabob, tabouli, pita and humus) Presented by the Northrops.   

Bunny Breakfast March 26 9-11:30 AM Gleason Hall

Menu:  Pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee and milk.  

Pictures taken with the Easter Bunny, Easter Egg Hunt, games and crafts.

Imagine

Open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are ripe for harvest John 4: 35

M.B. Powell at Labyrinth in St. Louis

A rather odd set of circumstances found me vacationing in New York City with my parents a few years ago.  The parents had taken their 39+ year old daughter to the Statue of Liberty.  We chatted with the lady from Tokyo who stood in front of us in the long line.  We were trying to explain that we were from St. Louis in Missouri. "Near Branson." She replied.  The way she envisioned the significant locales in Missouri made us smile!

The next morning I was off to the final "must see" sight---Strawberry Fields in Central Park.  When I explained to my parents that this was a memorial for John Lennon, they just kind of looked at me.  The taxi driver had a similar reaction and gave me an update on what had been done recently and instructed me to stay on the winding path.  And so I was off to gather more ideas for the garden at home that would have more "history".

The morning was beautiful and the sprinklers turned off as I arrived.  There were people dressed in business suits sitting on the benches reading.  The greenery was lush under the shad of big old trees.  It was sooooo quiet.  No conversation to be heard.  Chirping birds contributed to the only music to b found.  Thus I arrived at the center of Strawberry fields and the overwhelming stone mosaic in the shape of a large sunburst.  In the center was carved a single, simple word. . .Imagine.

I stood there totally overwhelmed with the beauty and simplicity of the place.  This simple word was a call to action I thought.  Imagine all that could be if dress and hopes could be achieved.  Imagine all that the Heavenly Father envisioned for his Son as he lived his earthly life.  Who among the people of his day, could imagine the influence that Jesus would have on individuals and the course of history!  Imagine the power of his teachings in our lives and imagine all that is still to be done.  The field is ready for harvest.  We go forth with a vision---a mission---to lead our lives according to the teachings and love of Jesus Christ as we seek to make disciples of all nations.  Imagine the difference each of us as individuals and together can make in the lives of others!

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art---

Thou my best thought by day or night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Reprinted from St. Mark Presbyterian's 2001 Lenten Devotional with permission of M. B. Powell

Midweek Worship and Reflection: Jesus and Pilate

Join us at 6:15 in Fellowship Hall for a service of reflection focusing on "Truth:  Jesus and Pilate"

John 18:28-19:16 Truth

Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Of Bravery and Brothers

My 5-year-old daughter refuses to hold hands with her 8-year-old brother in the parking lot. Perhaps it’s because he’s a boy and suffers from the affliction our generation would have called “cooties,” but more likely it’s because he’s her older brother and suffers from an affliction I call the “Jiminy Cricket Syndrome.”

As the big brother he views it as his responsibility to alert us of her mistakes. Whether it’s the occasional “bad” word, toys that are left in the middle of the floor or excessive use of the iPad, all transgressions are brought to our attention. None of this is done out of a mean-spirited need to get his sister in trouble. In fact, it’s quite the contrary; he is motivated simply by a need to ensure that she makes good choices in the future.

Though his intentions may be pure, this watchdog mentality has not endeared him to her heart. She prefers to play alone in her room with the door closed, insists on sitting on the opposite side of the table from him at dinner, cannot share a seat with him in the car and, as mentioned, will not hold his hand. Ever. End of story. For her, the proverbial snooping “big brother” is, in fact, her big brother.

So the prospect of the two of them sharing a school building for the first time was a bit amusing. My son, now a third grader, was eager to show his sister, a new kindergartener, the ropes. Throughout the summer he told her what to expect in P.E., how to behave appropriately in the hallway, what the rules were for using the slide properly and how to navigate the car rider pickup line at the end of the day. Needless to say, most of this information fell on disinterested ears. My daughter has met very few situations she couldn’t handle.

In the final few days before school started, however, her normally steely facade began to show cracks. She was particularly concerned about whether she’d be able to find her classroom the first day. My son assured her that he would hold her hand and walk her to the door. To my surprise, it was an offer she accepted graciously.

And then, the night before the first day of school, I walked into the bathroom and found my son alone, standing in front of the mirror, his eyes full of tears.

“You okay, buddy? Nervous about the first day of school?”

A nod, followed by tears.

“Math was so hard for me last year,” he whispered. “And I don’t want to be away from home. I don’t want to be away from you.”

I could see that my son was in the midst of an anxiety attack, something I knew all too well, since I had been helping him manage them for about four years and helping myself manage them for about 40. Truth was, I wasn’t ready for him to go back to school, either; I wasn’t ready for any of them to go back. But I couldn’t let them know that. One of the dirty truths of motherhood is that 90 percent of it is one big poker bluff.

Just as he was panicking at the thought of going back to math and missing mom, I was panicking at the thought of sending my last child off to kindergarten. I had been asked by nearly every mother I had encountered in the past month how I felt about this transition, and repeatedly denied any type of emotional crisis. “I work,” I countered repeatedly, “so the extra time will really be helpful.”

Shmeh. Of course it was breaking my heart. Every mom sending her last child to kindergarten struggles with the fact that there are no more babies in the house. Had I done all I could do to prepare her for the world? Would we be as close once she started school as we were before? And of course there were the worries that every new school year brings, from the minor (how long before their teachers find out my kids spent the whole summer eating frozen pizza and watching “Days of Our Lives”?) to the unthinkable (what if this year the intruder drill isn’t a drill?)

I gave my son a quick squeeze and put on my brave mom face.

“This year will be better,” I assured him. “I know your teacher. She’s awesome.” (She is. She shakes each student’s hand as they enter the room each morning. How cool is that?) “And all of your friends are in your class.”

He continued to cry.

“Buddy, I know this is hard, but you can’t do this in front of your sister.”

The crying stopped and was replaced by a steady, confident voice that I barely recognized.

“Mom, I know. I’m doing this in here, but I won’t do it where she can see,” he said with determination. “And tomorrow when it’s time to get out of the car, I’ll be fine. No tears. I’m going to be brave and hold her hand.”

The next morning we started with a quick breakfast and the obligatory photos and then piled into the van. I pulled up next to a crowded sidewalk in front of my children’s school and watched nervously as my son opened the door. He paused in the backseat, reached back and took his little sister’s hand. As if preparing to jump out of an airplane, they leapt from the van to the curb, and walked hand-in-hand to the front door.

He was scared, yes; perhaps when other little boys his age were not. But I remembered those words: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” For him, that “something else” was his little sister; at a time when she needed him most, he would put aside his own fear to be the courageous big brother she needed him to be.

 "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Kathy Deters

Under The Heavenly Skies

Greetings Mound Ridge Friends!

You're Invited to the Annual Mound Ridge Spring Fundraiser!

April 9, 2016, "Under the Heavenly Skies" at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium!!! 

Come Celebrate 65 years of Summer Camp Ministry! Evening includes - Dinner, Auction Fundraiser, Time travel back in time to view what the heavenly constellations were like on that first summer of summer camp ministry!

In addition to the event, you can BUY a STAR!  The basic package ($100) or deluxe package ($125).  Your star will be launched into space on upcoming rocket launch.  Show someone you care with this special gift.  See Bruce Cranston at St. Mark Presbyterian for more details.

All proceeds will ensure camperships and summer program for 2016. Your contributions will help children on that first summer experience, when children of God began connecting with God, life, nature, fun and making friends for a lifetime.

Cost per person is $75.00/ or $700.00 table of 10 (bring a group),
Contact Mound Ridge Office 573-265-3098 or moundridge@glpby.org
RSVP= March 21

Worship Prayers from March 5, 6

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  Gracious God, seeker of the lost:  draw your children back to your loving embrace, restore us to our inheritance as daughters and sons, and reconcile our hearts to you, that we may become ambassadors of your reconciling love to all the world.  Through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit we pray.  Amen

  

CALL TO WORSHIP

He was alone, starving in body and in spirit, a stranger far from where he belonged, forced by grim necessity to wallow, sick at heart.

         Yet he came to his senses, and set his course for home.

We run away and wonder why we are alone.  We starve our spirits and estrange ourselves from that which is the true source of life.

         And so we set our course toward home and find ourselves each drawn within God’s welcoming embrace.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess that we have strayed from your ways.  Like the Prodigal Son, we have wasted our inheritance.  You gave us the earth for our home, but we squander earth’s resources and hoard its bounty.  You gave us neighbors to love, but we pursue selfish ambitions.  You gave us the commandments that lead to human flourishing, but we break your law and forsake your love.  Forgive us our sin and bring us to repentance.  Draw our wandering hearts back to you that we may find freedom in obedience to your love.  Through Christ our Lord we pray.  Amen

Scripture for Worship March 12, 13

John 12:1-8

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.³ Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Random Acts or Just Kindness

I have often been on the receiving end of Random Acts of Kindness.  The first was at a Cracker Barrel in Mississippi.  Two gentlemen paid for our dinner.  It was certainly a warm gesture after being on the road all day.  But, I seem to have a hard time  knowing how "to pay it forward".  Do I do the same thing?  Does it need to be dollar for dollar? Or, does letting someone in front of me at the grocery store count?

I have been ill lately and have again been on the receiving end many times----a neighbor cleared snow off our driveway, another brought over brownies and a rose, many church friends have called or written notes offering to run errands, bring a meal or take me to the doctor.  Now I am so deep in random acts of kindness debt, I may never dig myself out of the hole.

Fortunately I found a web site which has 96 ideas.  But, I think many of these suggestions are just being kind, acting in a Christian way which I strive to do daily. http://www.bradaronson.com/acts-of-kindness/.  Seeing some of the suggestions, I realized that I do some of them on a regular basis like "letting a car merge" or "stopping for a pedestrian in a crosswalk" or "letting someone with one item ahead of me at the grocery store."  That got me thinking, "Which is more important, random acts of kindness or being kind on a regular but small scale basis?"

Recently there has been a back lash to being "politically correct".  Some think being politically correct is a sign of weakness of caving in.  But, isn't it really just being kind and courteous? There seems to be more incivility than usual with this being an election year. But we don't have to agree to be kind, do we? So, I'm suggesting that rather than making plans to carry out random acts of kindness, we live in a Christian, courteous, kind way every minute of every day even with those whose opinions are different from our own.

Luke 6: 35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Jaclyn Morgan

Red Tent: Jephthah's Daughter and her Companions

In ancient times the Red Tent  was a safe and sacred space where women gathered to experience, share, celebrate and mourn the rhythms of life of a woman.

Today, our Red Tent gathering is a safe and sacred space for all who gather.

Join us in Fellowship Hall 10:00-11:00am as we study “Girlfriends: Exploring Women’s Relationships in the Bible” by Barbara Essex

Thursday, March 10

Jephthah’s Daughter and her Companions;

Judges 2:14-19King James Version (KJV)

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.

18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

Thursday, April 14 Ruth and Naomi; Ruth 1:16-18

Thursday, May 12

Lois and Eunice; 2 Timothy 1:5-7

Midweek Worship and Reflection: Mud

Join us tonight March 9 in Fellowship Hall at 6:15 for a service of reflection centering on the following scripture:

John 9New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Savior of the world, what have you done to deserve this? And what have we done to deserve you? Betrayed and arrested, cursed and spit upon, you wait for death, and look for us whose sin has crucified you. To the mystery of undeserved suffering, you bring the deeper mystery of unmerited love. Forgive us for not knowing what we have done; open our eyes to what we are doing now. Amen.