A Note from Pastor Rich – May 2021

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

Happy May! We are still in the Easter Season. Easter is a time to rejoice, be thankful, and be happy because life extends beyond the soil of the earth. Ponder what God has done and will do. He sent Jesus to save us and will send Him again to take us to heaven where we will live forever with God. Take time to smile and celebrate, for we are people of the resurrection! May is a time to celebrate Spring. Flowers are blooming, leaves are popping out, birds are chirping, and the air is warmer. Ponder anew what God has done and is doing for you. God loves you!

Seniors are back to meeting in real life. Join us each Wednesday at Noon. Bring a sack lunch. Come and ponder what the Lord is doing with us. We help each other grow and mature. As one senior said, “I really don’t mind getting older, but my body is taking it badly.” Come ponder with us and you will feel younger.

God bless you all with His love, peace, joy, and may His face shine on you.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Rich

Hi gang,

I am soooooo excited, folks are returning to the Senior Center, I am looking forward to each Wednesday. I can taste the PJ ! It has been a long lonely year. Thanks to all who cleaned the Senior Center. Watch for more things coming to enrich your life.

Here are some thoughts to ponder and to give you a smile.

When I was a boy, I had a disease that required me to eat dirt three times a day in order to survive….it’s a good thing my older brother told me about it.

I like having conversations with kids. Grownups never ask me what my third favorite reptile is.

Everyone my age is older than me. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

Few women admit their age, few men act it.

How do you know you’re old? People call at 9 pm. and ask, “Did I wake you?”

The older you get, the more you need to keep the fire extinguisher close to the cake.

That is enough for this month. Happy May.

Love,

Zeke

A Note From Pastor Don – May 2021

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K.

(St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know)

May 2021

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:50-53)

This month we continue celebrating Easter joy with three more Sundays including one for the Ascension of Jesus, then it’s Pentecost Sunday and the Holy Trinity the Sunday after. On the national calendar, May also includes the National Day of Prayer, Armed Forces Day, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. There’s much to celebrate, remember, and be thankful to God for.

As I look back on the last fourteen months, it seems there is a gradual return to pre-covid life even though the pandemic is still with us. During the stay-at-home order in the Spring of last year, I was the only one in the office for weeks; Sunday worship was reduced to one service with me, Frannie, Chuck and the Praise Team in the sanctuary, streaming the service to our members at home. Sunday School, Bible study, Confirmation, and all youth activities were put on hold. Today, people are back in church in small numbers, the seniors are meeting again, Tim Grace has jump-started a family Bible study in between Sunday services, Confirmation has resumed, and we had an Easter egg hunt. Lord willing, if things go the way they are going, more of our regular activities will resume as well—maybe even some new things, who knows.

It might seem this past year has been a time for our church to simply retreat into itself for protection and survival. There have been fewer meetings, less things to vote on, fewer activities for volunteers to donate their time at, etc. You may be pleasantly surprised to know however that many of our ministries have continued unabated. For example, our preschool opened for class in September with twenty-four students. At a time when older siblings were staying at home attending class on a computer, the younger ones were able to be here a few hours of the day, making life a little easier for families in our community—parents were thrilled we had this much-needed ministry. On top of that, we have hosted a home school with ten students in one of the modular classrooms. Again, parents in our community have been so happy to have this option for their children, and have thanked us (our church) for letting them learn and play here on our beautiful campus. I am baptizing two of the home-school children and their older brother on May 2^nd. Through the generous giving from you, our church members, we have been able to continue support for our friends at Camp Lutherwood Oregon, Public Safety Chaplaincy, Wash Jo Mission of Hope, The Northwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and The Gideons International. And our seniors group continued meeting via Zoom on the internet.

So continue to enjoy the beautiful Spring Easter season of our Lord, and give thanks for the many blessings He is pouring out onto us on a daily basis. May His peace and joy be with you.

Pastor Don

A Note from Pastor Don – April 2021

Posted on April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K.

(St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know) April 2021

It is difficult for me to collate all my thoughts concerning the reintroduction of the Equality Act which was recently passed by the House, and is now before the Senate. On the one hand, I want equality for all people in this country just as much as the next person. Well, as much as most people, because there are some who believe certain people should be discriminated against. On the other hand, some very intelligent Christians are saying if passed, the Equality Act will harm the Christian Church, and undo anything resembling Christian social order in this nation.

One such fellow Christian is Dr. Andrew T. Walker. Dr. Walker is a professor of Christian ethics and a defender of the advance of the moral witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has academic interests in sexual ethics, human dignity, family stability, gender anthropology, natural law, public theology, and church-state studies. Impressive! He wrote recently, “The Equality Act, in any view, is a symbol for the de-conversion of the West.” In other words, if the Equality Act is passed into law, society and everything else will go down the tubes.

Dr. Walker is a Southern Baptist. While I cannot agree with his beliefs on infant baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and justification by grace through faith alone, I agree with his long-term optimism, that, no society can march against nature (God’s creation) without nature eventually striking back. On top of that, government legislative jargon on paper won’t change a single thing in God’s created order. At best, it can only hinder our observation of it.

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, also a very intelligent Christian, says similar things on the Equality Act as Dr. Walker. He says the bill sounds innocent, but will bring sweeping changes to the detriment of the Church and her institutions. You may have already read this, as a copy of his letter was mailed to you recently by a concerned church member. Pastor Harrison encourages us to love our neighbor, inform ourselves about the Equality Act, write our representatives, and pray for them. This I also agree on.

Compared to these giants of Christian thought and leadership, and many more like them, I am a small-city pastor with a Masters of Divinity degree. My daily preoccupation seems to be, stemming the flow of backsliding and declining participation in the worship life of church members, let alone the secular dismantling of Western Civilization. Yet, I was trained, educated, and called to speak God’s Word into these times. With that said, continue to worship regularly and hear God’s Word as well as study it on your own and with other Christians. If you feel government actions are burdening your conscience, consider increasing the frequency of your worship participation and study of the Bible. Also consider less doses of partisan news feeds per day, and look for reliable, primary sources of current events. I can help you with resources that are Scriptural and faithful to the Lutheran Confessions. If you are conflicted that Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions do not line up with what you believe about social issues, I can help with that as well. Together, perhaps we can find answers which bring more clarity and peace from God. This is also what you have called me to do.

In closing, I offer my own perspective on the Equality Act. It’s only my opinion, and I could be wrong. I’ll leave the deep theological and philosophical ramifications of the Equality Act to Dr.’s Walker and Harrison, be pragmatic and say it should be no surprise to us when these types of congressional acts come down the pike. Presidents, governors, congresspeople and senators are well-educated in law, philosophy and ethics. One would think they would defend and preserve classical Western values. At the end of the day though, it’s the will of the people that change the laws of this country. I don’t know how many of our representatives in Salem and Washington D.C. are Christian, but I’ll take a conservative guess and say one-quarter. If it’s more, then I emphasize the point: it doesn’t seem to make any difference. The laws of this land reflect the values and norms of society, and it appears society is having its say—and way. Along with this, I doubt most congresspeople and senators possess sound Christian doctrine such as can be found in the Lutheran Confessions, or are skilled in hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation) of the Hebrew Bible, and Greek New Testament. How on earth could they be sympathetic to Christian causes such as the sanctity of marriage, life, human sexuality and act on it? Perversion is natural and easy to act on. Biblical, orderly, righteous wisdom and conduct is taught, learned, and acted out with the help of the Holy Spirit against one’s own sin on a daily basis. To me, it’s no wonder the world is the way it is.

Our foundation of values and ethics are based on truths thousands of years old, and written for all generations by the One who created everything. We never have to give-in to the spirit of the age, and when we do, there is forgiveness from Jesus Christ. As for me, I plan on clinging to God’s truth until the end despite my sin, so that the next generation might see and learn that their church community endures in godly hope of eternal life.

What would the apostle Paul say about all this? But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians, 5:8-11.

Pastor Don

A Note from Pastor Rich April 2021

Posted on April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

Welcome to the Easter Season. As I write this it is Holy Week or also known as Passion Week. It is about the passion, the love of God for us through the suffering, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus. It is my prayer that you find a deeper love for Jesus this season. Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” I encourage you to take time to be still and experience Jesus. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God…”

This week is also the start of Major League Baseball. Here is a lesson. Dick Wade, a sportswriter wanted to know how much action really occurred in a baseball game. He clocked the time it took the ball to leave the pitcher and the time to the ball was actually in play.
He discovered that the amount of action was about 9 minutes. Because of the downtime, players can play 162 games a year and play every day, unlike football and basketball. The Christian life needs downtime. This Easter. take time to rest in the Lord. Increase your Spiritual endurance.

Great News! On the last Wednesday of this month, we will resume in-person gatherings at the Senior Center. Mark April 28 as a time of rejoicing. Bring your sack lunch at 12 noon. We will start our program at 12:30 pm which will include worship. If you are unable to attend in person, we will also be on Zoom starting at 12:30 pm. The other Wednesdays in April will be on Zoom at 1:30 pm.

Maxine and I pray that the Easter Season will be an enriching time for you.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Rich

Hi Gang,

Wow and more Wow! I can hardly wait for April 28! It will be wonderful to see folks again at the Center! Thanks to all who cleaned the Center. Your work of love is appreciated. We had a Spring Robin contest. The first person who saw the first Robin in their town received a Starbucks gift card. I am pleased to announce who won. In the city of Sherwood, it was Marge Peters, in Newberg, it was Kay Divine, in Hillsboro, Mari Jewel Ficken and Maxine Kiessling in Beaverton. It appears that women are better bird watchers than men. Maybe they see better.

Here is an Easter smile or two:

My father was cheap. Every Easter we would wear the same clothes, but he would take us to a different church.
Easter candy is better than Halloween, and you don’t have to ring a lot of doorbells.
If it weren’t for capital punishment we would not have Easter.
When you are older you want Easter eggs that are dark chocolate.
Hoping my Easter guests will help me take down the tree.
Where does Valentine’s Day come after Easter? Give up? In the dictionary.
Why should you not tell an Easter egg a joke? It might crack up.
How many Easter eggs can you put in an empty basket? Only one, after that it is not empty!
What comes at the end of Easter? Got it? The letter r

Have a great April!

Love, Zeke

April 2021 From Your Congregational President

Posted on April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

April 2021 From Your Congregational President

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord !

Well a good friend of ours ends his voicemail greeting with a little slogan that is appropriate for all of us to keep in mind, “Remember, it’s later than you think.” To me it means, we often feel like we have all sorts of time but then all of a sudden we realize that our time is actually very limited and precious, every single minute of it. With that thought in mind, I recently came upon a book that I would like to share with you, it’s called The Power of 1440 by Tim Timberlake. The motivation for his writing involved the passing of his father and a perceived missed opportunity in not being fully present during the final day with his father. 1440 is the number of minutes we all have in a day, Timberlake wants us to see with new eyes the benefit and blessing of every moment of every day.

In recent weeks I keep coming back to the book of Mark and Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem in Chapter 11.

As they approached the city near the Mount of Olives He sent two of the disciples into a near by village to fetch a colt with very specific instructions and “they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks on it; and He sat on it. And many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!”

And Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple area; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

Mark then jumps to Jesus re-entering Jerusalem where he again enters the temple area and begins to drive out those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds and He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple grounds. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and they began seeking how to put Him to death; for they were afraid of Him, because all the crowd was astonished at His teaching.

And whenever evening came, they would leave the city.

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. And being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree that You cursed has withered.”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him.

Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.

Also from Mark in Chapter 10 beginning in verse 46, Bartimaeus Receives His Sight.

Then they came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” And throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And replying to him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you ?” And the man who was blind said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight !”

And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

The above passages are wonderful FAITH messages weaved into the story of Palm Sunday and Jesus’ Journey to the Cross. He was working right to the end growing the faith of the disciples and equipping them and us with the substance that we need to believe in His Healing Grace

Lastly Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” May these scriptures provide the necessary encouragement to expand your FAITH walk and service here at St Paul and the surrounding community.

Things to look forward to and volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks and this summer:

Neighbor 2 Neighbor Event May 8, 2021: If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. Teams will help seniors with yard work, window washing and/or gutter cleaning. Assignments will be outside projects that can be done safely from a distance and are in Dundee, Newberg, Sherwood, and along 99W towards King City.
Dog Nose Work Event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday June 4 & 5. There will be NO access to the campus for church members except people wanting to observe the event. In the past there have been around fifty participants who come from all over the Northwest with their four legged friends to participate in the Nation Association of Canine Scent Work It is really quite amazing to watch the enthusiasm of the handlers and dogs alike. If you are interested there is more informations and some videos on their website NACSW.NET
Robin Hood Festival: The festival and parade will be July 16-17; looking for a few leaders and volunteers for the float committee.
Vacation Bible School: VBS is set for August 2-6 and our theme is Outer Space! We will be doing Miraculous Missions based on John 3:16!

Blessings,

Tim Grace

A Note from Pastor Don March 2021

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K. (St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know) March 2021

Places of the Passion

A Series of Services for Holy Week

Palm Sunday: Bethphage

March 28^th, 8:30 & 10:45 AM

In this Places of the Passion service for Palm Sunday, we go to Bethphage, the place where the ride into Jerusalem on a donkey begins for Jesus. It is here where we discover that Jesus is a humble King who serves as he heads toward the cross.

Maundy Thursday: The Upper Room

April 1^st, 7 PM

In this Places of the Passion service for Maundy Thursday, we climb the stairs to the Upper Room to join the disciples in receiving the body and blood of Christ in bread and wine. We are reminded here that Jesus sets a place at the table for each of us, even though he knows all that we have done. Amazingly, we find that he is willing to give completely of himself to forgive us. The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.

Good Friday: Golgotha

April 2^nd, 7 PM

In this darkened service for Good Friday, stand at the foot of the cross on Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where the crucified Christ breathes his last for our sake. His suffering is in plain view, as well as his great love. His death redeems us all.

By the time you read this newsletter, Washington County will be at a “moderate risk” level for Covid-19 reopening. This is good news because it means we can have more people in the church, and we can even begin to have coffee and snacks in the church basement again. The six-foot separation between families and masks will still be in place. If you are unsure if it is safe for you to return to the church in person, please call me, and I’ll answer any questions you might have that might help you decide. Online services will continue throughout Holy Week regardless of the risk level. May God continue His blessings upon you during Lent and Holy Week.

Pastor Don

A Note from Pastor Rich – March 2021

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

Life can be frustrating at times. It has now been a year since we discontinued our Senior weekly gatherings. Another year of life has passed by us. COVID-19 is the culprit. Some of us have adjusted to a weekly Zoom meeting. We had The Imposition of Ashes. We are learning from the Prophet Daniel. We are using the Lenten season to apply Daniel to the present. All Seniors are invited to join us. It is still uncertain if we can meet in person during Holy Week. The vaccinations are not advancing fast enough. Check your Sunday bulletin for updates.

The world seems to be in disarray. Iran is asserting itself. China is persecuting Christians. Our government is proposing dangerous changes in our values. As Christians, we need to be active in standing up for Jesus. In Luke 12:8-9 Jesus says: “I tell you. Whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the Angels of God.” The Lenten season gives opportunity to strengthen our trust in Jesus. I pray that God will bless you with His love.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Rich

Hi Gang,

I look forward to getting together again. I am skinny due to the lack of PJ!! I am also lonely. The Senior Center is eerie, so quiet. In spite of the fact, we still can smile.

A young man was shopping in the Market when he noticed an old lady following him. He ignored her, but at checkout, she was in front of him. She told him he looked like her son who recently died. He said he was sorry. He asked if there was anything he could do for her. She said yes, as I am leaving can you say “Goodbye Mother,” that would make me feel better. Sure he said. As the old woman was leaving, he called out, “Goodbye Mother.” As he got ready to pay he noticed his bill was $125.00. He said, how can this be? I only bought a few items. Your mother said you would pay for her, said the clerk.

I want to live my next life backwards.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they cannot remember them either.
You know more about prescription drugs than your pharmacist.
My memory is not as sharp as it used to be. Also my memory is not as sharp as it. Used to be.
Forget the health foods, I need all the preservatives I can get.
When you fall down, you wonder what you can do while you are there.

Enough for now. Check me out next month.
Love,
Zeke

March 2021 From Your Congregational President

Posted on March 2, 2021April 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord !

church cross Things are starting to free up a little with more of our members getting their vaccinations and we are seeing more people in church on Sunday but we have a ways to go. The Governor has changed COVID restrictions for churches to recommendations; a December 24th article on KATU website states, “All originally imposed restrictions surrounding religious gatherings have been lifted and changed to be only guidelines.” St. Paul has continued to proceed very cautiously and has limited our attendance to the recommended maximum of twenty-five (25) members at any service. This has not really been an issue we have had less than that at most services. So it really becomes a question of what people want to do and what they feel comfortable doing.

Pastor Rich continues to meet with the seniors on Zoom meetings on Wednesdays that are well attended. We were hoping to have in-person gatherings with the seniors during Holy Week but the slow roll-out of the vaccinations is making that unlikely. Pastor Rich continues to monitor the situation and the seniors talk about this on their calls. Time will tell.

Things to look forward to in the coming weeks:

There are Lenten Services every Wednesday leading up to Holy Week that starts on Palm Sunday March 28.
Our traditional Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 3. We will need volunteers to hide eggs and help in ushering the kids. Please start to drop off candy if you would like.
We will have a cleanup in the Grove and also in the Sanctuary on Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 AM – 12:00; there will be a BBQ at noon for those that would like to participate.
There is a council meeting scheduled in the Library on March 11 at 6:30 PM and a Voters’ Meeting Sunday, March 14 in the lower level of the church. The Voters Meeting was moved up a week so as not to conflict with communion and to allow Pastor to attend the meeting.

Council will be working on the agenda for the Voters’ Meeting, if there is anything that you would like to see discussed I ask that you drop me a note or that you speak with one of our Pastors, an Elders or one of the board members.

Blessings,

Tim Grace

Well in the hurry to get my article completed I missed the most important part, the scripture for this month, thanks to Debbie for the reminder. Here is my favorite part of the entire Bible including Romans 8:28.

Romans 8:18-39

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

February 2021 – Pastor Don – Lenten Series: Places of the passion

Posted on February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

Our series for Lent: “Places of the passion”

In this worship series for Lent, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, contemplating what happened at each place our Savior stood along the path of his suffering for our sake. Prepared by one of pastor Don’s favorite seminary teachers Reed Lessing, each service explores the meaning, history and spiritual inspiration associated with the location highlighted. We will learn things we may not have known before as we grow to understand more deeply the hard road our Lord took that the way to heaven might be open to us.

We’ll begin with a special service for Ash Wednesday, February 17th. In this service, we go to Jerusalem, the place of the Passover, where Jesus gathers with the crowds and sacrifices himself for us.

Week 1: Wednesday, February 24^th. In this service, we go to Bethany to remember that Jesus is anointed for burial by his friend Mary, at her home in this small town. We are called to prepare our hearts for Christ’s death as well, while still looking toward the fragrant surprise of the empty tomb.

Week 2: Wednesday, March 3rd. In this service, we go to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus went with his disciples to pray. We are called to find places to pray this Lent and seek the will of the Lord in our lives.

Week 3: Wednesday, March 10^th. In this service, we head toward Gethsemane, where Jesus is betrayed and arrested in this garden under cover of darkness. We witness Jesus being taken away by soldiers, but we know that his journey toward the cross will take away our sins.

Week 4: Wednesday, March 17^th. In this service, we go to the Courtyard, outside of where Jesus is put on trial before the high priest and where Peter denies Jesus. We are called to confess that we often tend to distance ourselves from Christ, when we should be drawing closer to him.

Week 5: Wednesday, March 24^th. In this service, we go to Pilate’s Judgment Hall, where Pilate is positioned here to set Jesus free, but turns him over to be crucified instead. We are called to remember that the judgment that should have been placed on us was placed on him that we might be free.

All midweek services will begin in the sanctuary at 6:30 PM. You may attend in person or participate from home via Facebook Live. Because Washington County is still at extreme risk for COVID-19, we won’t have soup-suppers. God willing next year we’ll be able to share meals together again at the church during Lent. Our special youth liturgist this year is J.P. Garstka.

February 2021 – A Note from Pastor Rich

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

Welcome to February! This month has significant events to acknowledge. On the February 17^th, Lent starts with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a very meaningful time for us. It reveals a loving God to us. Our sins have been paid for and we are free from the bondage of hell. Share this good news!

On February 2nd you can wish your friends, Happy Groundhog Day. This creature predicts if winter will be short or long. Such power in a rodent 😊

In February Robins start to return. If you participate in Senior Zoom meetings, you could win a prize if you are the first to see a Robin.

On the 14th. You can invite others to be your Valentine. What does that mean? It means that they are special to you. You want them to be part of your life. St Valentine’s Day is a religious not a national holiday. It was declared a Saint day by Pope Gelasius in AD 496. At the Reformation, Lutherans kept most of the Saint days. Valentine was a priest who was sentenced to death on February 14. Before he died he sent a note to his girlfriend and signed it “From your Valentine.” Now people invite others to be their Valentine. That is to an important person in your life. Jesus says to each of us. “I love you.” Say yes to His message to you. Invite Him to be your Valentine.

I pray all seniors will be vaccinated in February and we can start meeting in person. Have a safe month. God’s Blessings to all. Be my Valentine!

In Christ Our Valentine,

Pastor Rich

Hi Gang, Hope your Valentine’s Day is sweet with well wishes, cards, and chocolates. But please note that I still prefer PJ. My address is still at the Senior Center. It has been almost a year since I have seen you. I can hardly wait to see you soon.

Here come some smiles. To smile and laugh is good for you.

What did the paper clip say to the magnet? I find you very attractive.

What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine’s Day? I am stuck on you.

Why didn’t the skeleton want to send any Valentine cards? His heart wasn’t in it.

What did the calculator say to the pencil? You can count on me.

What did one watermelon say to the other? You’re one in a melon.

What did one blueberry say to the other one? I love you berry much.

What did the whale ask the other whale. Whale you be mine?

Knock knock Who is there? Bea who? Bea my Valentine.

Have a good month.

Love,

Zeke