March 12th Worship
Lessons: John 4:5-42
Message: How Hungry Are You
The crocuses in front of the church have emerged and are threatening color with each peak of sunlight from the clouds. We are in the beginning days of our community’s transformation from death to new life. Every day, now, will reveal new colors which represent new life! Let’s take a “Lenten Walk!” Next time you’re out for a walk, with your dog or friends, or just to get away from work for a moment, spend time seeking out color that indicates new life.
Look closely at the tree branches. Are buds forming? What is growing inside that bud?
Look closely at the ground under trees. Are there green shoots emerging from the frozen soil?
Take a deep breath and pay attention to the smell. Are there signs of a transforming earth in the air?
Pay attention to what you hear as you walk. Beyond the sounds of traffic is there a bird calling out to another? Can you hear children laughing or calling out to one another? What other signs of a transforming world can you hear?
During the Sundays of Lent you might have noticed a theme emerging from the gospel readings each Sunday. Last Sunday we talked about Nicodemus and his transformative conversation with Jesus. This Sunday we will hear of another transformative conversation, this time between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. Both of these individuals are least likely suspects of Love Evangelism and BOTH are (or become) influential in their preaching the Way. Jesus reveals himself as Divine by creating transformed and transforming individuals once humble conversation at a time. Join us this Sunday to hear Matt preach about this extraordinary woman and how God uses her to transform the community into new life.
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Cheryl
Music:
Prelude: “Fugue in D Minor, I:15” Johann Pachelbel
Anthem: “I Will Guide Thee” Nathanial Niles
Meditation: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” African Am. spiritual Marina Khankhalaeva, mezzo soprano
Postlude: “Chorale in F Minor” J. S. Bach
Live Stream Information
We will continue streaming our worship on both Zoom and Facebook Live. Please share these links with your friends. Bear in mind that we cannot share the Zoom links publicly (to keep from being Zoom bombed), so please share it person to person rather than posting it on Facebook/Twitter, or other public social media. It’s fine to share the Facebook link broadly and publicly. For zoom login information please reach out to Pastor Cheryl at cheryl@newtonchurch.org.
Note: that we continue to work on streaming as we make improvements to the sanctuary sound system.
Zoom Link: UPA Sunday Morning Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81334929545?pwd=S1lsRlRmSnlkTUE0cHRlWWQwWUJndz09
Call in: 929-205-6099
Children and Youth
I am excited to share with you this Sunday on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Since I am preaching, Pei will be leading Sunday school on this story of the Samaritan woman, along with having music time with the children.
Next weekend the UPA Youth Group is joining the cohort from church going on the NuDay Syria Service trip, leaving church at 1:00pm. Look out for an email from me with more details. We had a great lock-in last weekend. Many thanks to Lynda McQuillan for helping to chaperone overnight!