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“Norris News”
February
2012
PLEASE CLICK ON THE
CALENDER LINK ALSO
FOR MEETINGS
& EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH
Inspiration from the Pastor …
“...Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...”
Well, dear friends and members of Norris...I'm being put to the test again.... How? By seeking to do that which is pleasing to God...that means I'm once again placing a challenge in front of everyone... What is it this time, you wonder? Consider the first line of this column. What word do we find repeated in this brief section...and do we recognize the source of the quote? Those at the January Administrative Council meeting were given a BIG clue.
Lent begins with our Ash Wednesday service February 22nd at 6:30 and concludes Sunday, April 8 as we celebrate Easter Sunday. Too often, we move from one part of the year to the next without being intentional about what it is God is wanting us to do...What changes God is asking in our lives? … What parts of our lives need to be cleansed again? So, in the spirit of the living God, the One who wants our hearts, our minds, and our very souls to be united in Christian fellowship, we are being asked to think of the person who has been and may continue to be the hardest person for you to acknowledge...the one who you would never want to see again. This person might be living or not, someone who has hurt you. Someone you might wish dead or gravely injured. Some may have a hard time bringing anyone to mind. Others might have a hard time selecting just one person.
Perhaps you are not ready to do this. Maybe your pain is still too fresh. But there will be a time when you will need to bring this person to mind and seek God's will and healing peace in all this.
To avoid doing this is to limit God working in our lives. But then,k we are a stubborn people..l.(An assumption based on myself...as well in Scripture...!!) To have real healing, god needs to hear us tell what is bothering us. God already knows. But healing involves getting real with God and getting real with ourselves. Otherwise this is just wasted time and energy. We can't fool God no matter how much we want to pretend that “it's okay...nothing is really bothering me...” (yeah, right!!! I buy that...well, sometimes I do.)
The more honest we can be with god, the more healing we experience. These Wednesday Lenten studies will focus on the challenges of forgiveness as we consider Scripture and other resources. The move we're able to “bring to the table,” the richer our experience will be. Unless we are willing to give God our best, we lose something of that incredible sense of God's healing, restorative love and acceptance.
Out of the pulpit, Pastor, pleeeeze!!! So, I will, for the this moment. But do know I am praying for us all, as we seek to release that which keeps us from more fully being the people god is creating us to be.
Our Lenten studies will begin Wednesday, February 29th and conclude Wednesday, March 28th, the week before Holy Week. Maundy Thursday service will be at 6:30 p.m. April 5. The time and place of the Good Friday service will be in the March newsletter. The sites for the Lenten lunches will appear in the Sunday bulletin. We will be hosting the luncheon on March 28th.
Bless you as you consider who it is your need to forgive. In true forgiveness is the peace that only our Lord and Savior can bestow. Otherwise, we find ourselves in pieces. God seeks wholeness and healing for all creation. May we feel God's hand in this undertaking and know that God will provide what it is we need more than we will ever realize.
Your sister in Christ...Pastor Susan
Thank
you each in our outreach to the family who suffered the house fire Sunday,
January 15. How wonderful to see God's love in action!! May we continue
in that amazing strength that knows no end...
Newsletter
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Nursery
Schedule
February
5th -
Sunday School - Kathe Brown;
Worship
- Gail
Norton
February 12th - Sunday School -
Carrie Gibson ; Worship
- Kelly
Brown
February
19th - Sunday School -
Carole
Reynolds
; Worship -
Dave Manon
February 26th- Sunday School -
Jeff Myers
;Worship
- Kathy
Brown
March
4th- Sunday School -
Dave Manon
;Worship
-
Carole
Reynolds
Children's
Church Schedule
February
5th -
Colleen Reynolds & Sara Shull
February 12th - Nick Mason & Jeff Myers
February 19th -
Ashlee Sells & Carrie Gibson
February 26th- Blake
& Dana Fuller
March 4th- Dave
& Pam Manon
Power
Point Schedule