Looking toward Sunday…
I saw this bumper sticker recently… And I thought, “Really? Is it really that simple? Because we as a people seem to do this poorly. Myself included.”
Sunday, we continue in John’s Gospel 15: 9-17. It’s a continuation of the passage we read last week. This is a snippet of a large conversation Jesus has with his disciples before he leaves. He tells them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” I read this passage and said to God, “Great…one more thing I have put on my to-do list, which, by the way, isn’t getting any shorter.”
As the week went by, I read a different interpretation that somehow helped me in my frustration… Love one another as I am loving you… As I am loving you… Do you feel the difference? Perhaps loving one another is not meant to be a task we check off our daily to-do lists, but loving one another is a way of life. It’s a natural outworking of being loved.
How are you feeling God’s love today? How about God’s mercy?
Sunday we will hear Jesus’ words, we will be invited to the sacred table the Christ sets before us to remember that God is loving us, is abiding with us, each and every moment of the day.
Maybe, just maybe as we receive the bread and the cup, we will receive what we need to Love One Another. Maybe it really is that simple. I hope you’ll come Sunday.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday, May 7
11:00am Staff Meeting
5:00pm Tutoring
6:30pm Open Hands Ministry {FH}
Tuesday, May 8
10:00am Collaborative Ministries {P}
6:00pm Men’s Brotherhood {FH}
Menu: hamburger steak, baked potato, salad, Texas Toast, fruit cobbler
Wednesday, May 9
CHOIR WILL NOT MEET!
Thursday, May 10
5:30pm YOGA Class {P}
7:00pm Square Dancing {FH}
Sunday, May 13 Seventh Sunday of Easter
9:45am
Children – Youth Service Project with Cathy Waitman
Confirmands & Adult Sunday School: “UCC: Who We Are” {FH}
11:00am
Worship in the Sanctuary
SUNDAY MAY 20th IS PENTECOST SUNDAY…REMEMBER TO WEAR RED!
OUR CHURCH AT PRAYER
CHURCH MEMBERS: June Grubb, Carolyn Spivey, Peggy Bates, Ruth Fritts, Margot Everhart
HOMEBOUND MEMBERS: Lib & Jimbo Hinkle, Jo Hudson, Valerie Price, Rita Tussey, Adena Wall, Marzell Crotts, Hoyle Potts, Doris Flynt, James Everhart
OUR FRIENDS: Susan & Joe Calloway (friends of Patti Lovell), Coney Leonard (Sylvia Walser’s brother), Virginia Byars (friend of Alisa Johnson), Derrick Wong (friend of Joni Walser), Ashley Anderson (Lee Ann Peele’s cousin), Kiana Sinz (friend of Patti Lovell), Louis Honeycutt, Eliza Paris (friend of Sylvia Walser’s granddaughter), Ronald Yates (Eddie Yates’ dad), Harold Peoples (friend of Cheryl Walser), Rev. Jamie Armstrong (1st UMC) and his wife, Rev. Elizabeth Graves, Ashley Hutcheson (Heidi & Ron Hutcheson’s daughter), Morgan Cecil (daughter of Charm & Steve Ketner)
LATER ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR
Tuesday, May 22
5:00pm Fellowship Hall
First Reformed United Church of Christ
104 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Free to all. Donations appreciated!
All proceeds to benefit American Children’s HomeNazareth Child & Family Connection
Fun Fest Raffle Tickets are HERE!
BUY YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THE JUNE 2ND RAFFLE!
It’s that time again – FUN FEST!
Thank you to Cloninger Ford Toyota of Salisbury, NC for the donation of our
1st Place Prize – a 2018 Corolla iM!
Prizes are as follows:
1st Prize
2018 Toyota Corolla iM/ Classic Silver Metallic
(Donated by Cloninger Ford Toyota of Salisbury, NC).
2nd Prize
$1,000.00 Visa Card
3rd Prize
65 Quart RTIC Cooler
4th Prize
$200.00 Gift Certificate to Great Wolf Lodge
5th Prize
Amazon EchoAll winners not present are notified by phone immediately following the give-away. All proceeds benefit Nazareth Child & Family Connection.
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR TICKETS)
Buy Raffle Tickets NOW
Nazareth Raffle TicketsBelk Charity Sale Event
Belk is helping Nazareth Child & Family Connection raise money during their annual Charity Sale Event.
The Charity Sale is a private, four-hour sale dedicated to supporting local non-profit organizations. Participating charities will have the opportunity to raise money for their organization by selling event tickets at $5 each and keeping 100% of ticket proceeds. Ticket holders will receive 20% – 70% off of Belk purchases storewide, including special savings on rarely-discounted brands. It is a win-win! Belk’s two Charity Sale events in 2017 together raised more than $11 million for thousands of participating charitable organizations located in Belk’s 16-state market area.
Belk’s Spring Charity Sale is set for Saturday, May 5th, from 6am-10am at any Belk location.
Only one ticket may be purchased per donor.
Click Below to Buy Charity Shopping Tickets NOW
Buy Charity Tickets- ATTENTION CONFIRMANDS!
Please add the following meeting dates to your calendars.
May 6th, 13th and 20th during Sunday School for
The “UCC: Who We Are” classes - “UCC: WHO WE ARE” is a new video-led class scheduled for May 2 through June 3. All who are interested in learning about the United Church of Christ are invited to attend. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall, so there will be plenty of room!
- NEW MEMBER SUNDAY IS MAY 20 In anticipation of New Member Sunday, anyone interested in becoming a part of our congregation or learning more about the church should plan to attend the new video-led series titled “UCC: WHO WE ARE” on May 6 and May 13. If you are planning to attend, email Carolyn at carolyn@frucc.org
or call the church office 336-248-2617 - WINSTON SALEM DASH GAME SUNDAY , JUNE 3 at 2:00pm. The deadline to sign up is SUNDAY, MAY 6. The cost is $13 per person. We will be sitting in a covered area near home plate. If you are interested in attending, please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the Education Building or email Cathy at cathy@frucc.org
or call the church office 336-248-2617
Visit the Winston-Salem Dash website for more information. - GRADUATION SUNDAY is scheduled for Sunday, June 3rd. We would like to honor all milestones in education. If your child is graduating from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school or college. please email Carolyn at carolyn@frucc.org
or call the church office 336-248-2617
by Sunday, May 27th. - 25th GREATER PIEDMONT OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT hosted by The Davidson-Forsyth Churchmen Fellowship will be Saturday, May 12 at Lexington Golf Club. This is a Captain’s Choice, Best Ball tournament. It will begin with a 2:00 “shot gun” start. The cost is $55.00 per person or $220.00 per team. There will be FOUR hole-in-one prizes. All golfers will receive a goody bag and a door prize. Money raised goes toward scholarships, local charities, and local projects. Everyone is welcome to play: women, youth, and individuals. For information contact Danny Thompson 336-479-556
- REGISTER NOW FOR…
VBS – Shipwrecked
At Second Reformed UCC
June 17 – 21
Meal 5:30 – 6:00
Program 6:00 – 7:30Children
Preschool…Fifth Grade…Nursery available for under age three
Themes
Sunday When You’re Lonely – Jesus Rescues!
Monday When You Worry – Jesus Rescues!
Tuesday When You Struggle – Jesus Rescues!
Wednesday When You Do Wrong – Jesus Rescues!
Thursday When You’re Powerless – Jesus Rescues!
Middle/High School and Adults – Class with Rev. Jim Luck
“WORSHIP 101: VBS – It’s not just for kids anymore!” - A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHOIR DIRECTOR:
WANTED: People to share their musical gifts
WHEN: June and July Worship Services
WHO: Anyone…young or old
WHAT: Piano to Banjo…Solos or Quartets…
and EVERYTHING in BETWEEN
HOW: If you are interested, please email ELLEN
If interested, Email Ellen at ellen@gmail.com - SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN & TEENS:
JOHN’S RIVER VALLEY CAMP Don’t miss out on opportunities to sign up for John’s River Valley Camp. The 2018 Traditional Summer Camp Schedule includes opportunities for various age and grade levels.
2018 Registration HAS ALREADY BEGUN. Follow the links below for more information:
Johns River Valley Camp 2018 Summer Camp
Facebook 2018 Summer Camp - JOHN’S RIVER VALLEY CAMP WORK OPPORTUNITIES for Summer 2018
Competitive Salary…Meaningful Work
Johns River Valley Camp seeks seven or eight persons to serve as full time resident leaders during the summer of 2018. Candidates will serve between the times of June 4 through July 31. The on-site Johns River Camp training and orientation will take place during the time of June 4-8, 2018. Plan to arrive on Monday, June 4, between 11:00am and noon.
If you are interested you can email Phil Hardy at phardy.jrvc@gmail.com
Or go to the web site at JRVC and click on Summer Staff Job Description and Application.
You may also obtain a copy of the Johns River Valley Camp Summer Camp Assistance Team Application by emailing Carolyn at carolyn@frucc.org
or contacting First Reformed UCC church office at 336-248-2617 - BE A PART OF DISCOVER PROGRAM AT NO COST
DISCOVER is a program that challenges formative middle and high school youth with careful theological and moral reflection prior to college life. In the midst of theological reflection and activity, students will have the opportunity to discover God in new ways, especially as incarnational and interactive; discover who they are as children of God; discover how to live out their faith; and discover what they are called to do vocationally.
To learn more about DISCOVER and to apply, visit…
Discover Program
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