Loving and Learning in Lodi April 5 2020
We are still worshipping at home this Sunday…so
keep an eye out for the ‘Worship at Home’ email!
Holy Week begins this Sunday, Palm Sunday. As a church
community, we are still supporting the palm growers and will receive palm
branches. The cost of our order was $49. We ordered, again, from Eco-Palms. You
can learn about them by clicking on this link: https://ecopalms.org/pages/video.php/.
By continuing with our order, we have, in a small way, contributed to the
people in these palm harvesting communities as they harvest palms in
environmentally better ways.
On a personal note, I have more sadness than usual about
this Sunday and not being together. Palm Sunday is a fun Sunday together as we
wave our palm branches. Sunday would be a communion Sunday. Sunday would be a
potluck Sunday. Sunday would be a Youth Group Sunday…so many of our usual
activities that will not take place in the church building. ☹
A quote has been running through my head this week: “They
also serve who only stand and wait.” It is the last line of the poem “On
His Blindness,” by John Milton. Remember, that as all of us wait and limit our
contact with others, we are truly serving others in the best of
ways…keeping each other as safe and healthy as possible!
Missing you all…but grateful to carry you all in my heart,
Pastor Diane
Sunday, April 5, 2020 ~ Palm Sunday
Hymns: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna verses
1 - 3 #278Christ Beside Me verse 1 TFWS #2166
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus verses
1 & 3 #277
We Sang Our Glad Hosannas verses 1 - 4 TFWS#2111
John’s disciples and the Pharisees
had a habit of fasting. Some people asked Jesus, “Why do John’s disciples and
the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but yours don’t?”
Jesus
said, “The wedding guests can’t fast while the groom is with them, can they? As
long as they have the groom with them, they can’t fast. But the days will come
when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Mark 11:1 – 11
When
Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and
Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, saying to
them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find
tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If
anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he
will send it back right away.’”
They
went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.
Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the
colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. They
brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it.
Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches
cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on
the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus
entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything,
because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the
Twelve.
Leader: The Word of God for the people
of God. People: Thanks be to God.
THE CHURCH IN ACTION
Easter Flowers: Since we will probably be worshipping at home on Easter morning,
we have decided to still remember and honor our loved ones…but donate the
monies to Matthew 25 instead of purchasing flowers. Pastor Diane contacted our
local Food Bank with the Good Samaritans to see if they needed help. Kris Weir
said they were doing fine and agreed that Matthew 25 was a good place to give
instead. Currently, Matthew 25 is low on funds and trying to meet the needs of
people in our community for rent, utilities, car repairs, etc. The form is at
the end of this email. We hope you will respond generously as we remember and
honor our loved ones this Easter. You can learn about the ministry of Matthew
25 at https://matthew25coalition.wordpress.com.
Feeding Medina County food pick up for all county residents (no
forms or income requirements) on Thursdays going forward at 7:30 a.m. at the County fairgrounds.
www.feedingmedinacounty.org/
We are no longer collecting 2-liter bottles for Vacation Bible
School, please recycle them.
School My Sheep:
Given the hard-hit families due to COVID-19,
and the constantly changing economic landscape, School My Sheep may be more important
than ever this year. If you see clearance school items, or clothing, let us
know. We have room to store items. Katrina Morgan at katrinamorg@gmail.com or Larry Scott at
scottlandyard@neo.rr.com.
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