Grand Valley United Methodist Church
March 2024 Newsletter
Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 9th!
In this newsletter:
1. From the Pastor
2. Special Services
3. Flowers for Easter
4. Birthdays
5. Calendar
6. Event Details
7. Church Reports
8. Just for Fun
From the Pastor….
Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan’s new book The Last Week paints a historical picture of the last week of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Romans had total control of the area; they had already crucified over two thousand citizens in 4 BCE (before common era), just before the birth of Jesus. By 6 CE (common era) Herod and his son had been replaced by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The high priest Caiaphas was the “go-between Man” who saw to the collection of taxes for both Rome and the temple. He was in charge of the temple and saw to it that no one would unset the balance between church and state. Jesus was the fly in the ointment that could spoil this delicate balance.
On the first Palm Sunday there were two parades. The one for Jesus came from the east, and the one for Pilate from the west, both coming to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Pilate came with soldiers to make sure that there was order and control, that nothing would go wrong. The other came to bring in a new kingdom and to offer the people the good news.
Jesus spent his ministry preaching and healing the poor. He stayed away from large cities, where the rich and powerful lived. This last week was the time where the hope of the common people came into direct conflict with the political powers of the time. How could a man on a donkey with a small band of followers upset a powerful authority like that of Roman and Jewish authority in the first century?
By 70 CE the temple had been destroyed and it was never rebuilt. Even the Roman Empire eventually fell. However, as we all know, today, two thousand years later, we are the fruit of the man from Galilee, Jesus. When we come to the time of Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we need to remember that God can and has changed the would in ways that we could not comprehend. Jesus lived in a dangerous world under a oppressive government, yet God’s will came through this man who totally became “…obedient to death, even death on a cross! “ Some of his last words were, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He came to show us the way to God’s heart with a kind of faith and love that calls us to a new life, here and into the future. Have you met a risen Savior? Is he in your world today? Come and worship him with those who love him.
In Christ Love,
Michael
Special Worship Services
We will be holding some special worship services in March to celebrate Holy Week:
Sunday, March 24 – Palm Sunday, 10:00
Thursday, March 28 – Maundy Thursday, 5:00
Sunday, March 31 – Easter Sunday, 10:00
We invite you to join us for any or all of these services.
Maundy Thursday
The History of Tenebrae: The service of Tenebrae follows a tradition of the church dating back to at least the 8th, and perhaps as early as the 5th century. It dramatizes the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. The service moves from light to darkness, with the diminishing light symbolizing the fading devotion of the apostles. The literal translation of the Latin word, Tenebrae, is “shadow”. It is hoped that each person present will become more aware of the sadness and despair that were evident before and during the crucifixion. There will be no benediction; you are asked to leave silently as you contemplate the tragedy of the crucifixion. Jesus, the Son of God, is dead; there is nothing more to say or do, but to wait—for the day of resurrection!
Maundy Thursday is also the night on which we remember that institution of the Lord’s Supper. The original purpose of the feast of the Passover (or in Hebrew, Pasch) was to commemorate each year the liberation of the Jews from bondage in Egypt. This was a joyful feast. For the Jews, food was sacramental an outward sign of God’s goodness to the world; and a complete meal included sustenance, joy and companionship all given by God. It was in this setting on Thursday night that Jesus ate with his disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper which was to be in remembrance of him as the true Paschal Lamb and which was to signify a deliverance more wonderful than that of the Jews…the deliverance of the sinner form the bondage and power of the Devil—deliverance form sin and death.
A third Maundy Thursday tradition is the Tenebrae (darkness or shadows). As the candles are extinguished, they symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples and friends of Jesus. It also portrays the fading light of the world Christ was departing from it.
EASTER LILIES / SPRING BOUQUETS
You are invited to help decorate our sanctuary for Easter with Lilies or Spring Bouquets. Please complete the form at the end of this newsletter and place it in the collection plate or bring it to the office by Palm Sunday, March 24th. On Easter Sunday there will be a bulletin insert acknowledging all our arrangements. You may designate your flowers in memory of a departed loved one or in honor of a loved one still living.
March Birthdays:
10 – Lisa Waszak-Koning
12 – Timothy Botkin
15 – Karen Dornan
29 – Jessica McElroy
Our Seekers Class (Adult Sunday School) meets every Sunday morning at 8:30. We invite all to attend.
On Tuesdays, at 10:30, we hold a Women of the Bible study. All are welcome to join.
Join us for Bible Study every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We hope you can join us.
Choir and bell practices are back! Choir meets at 4:00 on Wednesday and bells meet when necessary. We are always looking for participants, so if you would like to join either of these wonderful musical groups, please contact the office at (970)285-9892 or by email: [email protected]
Prayer Partners meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 10:30. If you have anyone that you would like to add to the Prayer Partner list, please contact Bert Botkin at (970)216-8682.
Church Council Report
The Council met on Tuesday, February 13th. The minutes of the January meeting were approved.
Treasurer: Penelope reported that we have 3 CDs coming due soon and the finance committee needs to meet to discuss what to do with them. Overall, we are in good shape financially.
Mission & Outreach: The ramp for one of our congregation members was built. Soup Lunch is going well – we have served as many as 19 in one day. Tomato seeds are being ordered and soon it will be garden time!
Trustees: John reported that Roto-Rooter has worked on the sewer line for the Faith House. Miscellaneous minor repairs have taken place. The flag out front has been replaced.
Worship: We are ready for Ash Wednesday and are planning for Easter.
Christian Education: VBS planning is in process.
Memorial: The Memory Book is up to date and a new stone will be purchased for Mitzi Burkhart.
Next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 12th.
Treasurer
FINANCIAL NOTES
The Church ended up in the black for January. Just by $622, but that is okay. Anytime we are in the black is good. Some of our short-term investments are coming due in March, June, and July, so Council will have to help make the determination where these funds will be reinvested. The statements are available on the bulletin board, along with the finalized December, 2023 ones.
For 2023, besides $84,000 in contributions, the congregation and friends donated the following:
Capital Improvement Fund $4,177
Deb Penrose VBS Memorial Fund 325
Grand Valley Givers 2,675
Shoes 3,535
Community Garden 200
Mission & Outreach Fund 857
Christian Education Fund 935
Soup Kitchen 600
VBS 800
Special Sundays 493
Mefors 1,700
Pastor’s Fund 270
UMCOR 515
Total $17,082
So, thank you for all of your support for operating the Church and our Mission work during 2023.
Things to Ponder
– If the No. 2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still No. 2?
– Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
– Why are you “in” a movie, but “on” TV?
– What was the best things BEFORE sliced bread?
– Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?
– Why do “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing?
– Why do British people never sound British when they sing?
– At a movie theater, which arm rest is yours?
– When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny?
– When French people swear, do they say “Pardon my English”?
– Why do people say “heads up” when you should duck?
EASTER LILIES / SPRING BOUQUETS
You are invited to help decorate our sanctuary for Easter with Lilies or Spring Bouquets. Please complete the following and place it in the collection plate. On Easter Sunday there will be a bulletin insert acknowledging all our arrangements. You may designate your flowers in memory of a departed loved one or in honor of a loved one still living.
______________________________ will provide flowers for Easter.
(Your name)
Please use one line for each arrangement you intend to provide.
One arrangement may also be used for more than one person.
In memory / honor (circle one) of _________________________________
In memory / honor (circle one) of _________________________________
In memory / honor (circle one) of _________________________________
In memory / honor (circle one) of _________________________________
In memory / honor (circle one) of _________________________________
The last day for notifying the church of your Easter flowers is Passion/Palm Sunday, March 24th.
Please deliver your flowers to the church on Thursday, March 29th or Friday, March 29th between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Also remember to put a small tag with your name on your flowers so you may take them home after the Easter Sunday service.
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon