Scripture: Luke 13: 34
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
Dear Friends,
Have you looked at our Lenten station near the entrance of the Sanctuary? Each week there is a different display reflecting our scripture for the day. Last week someone commented to me that their children asked why a rooster was in the sanctuary. They were able to give a good answer about the role of the rooster in the passion of Christ. Which was great! However, they wondered to me why we had the rooster out so early in Lent. The answer is that it isn’t a rooster; it’s a hen, with baby chicks underneath. We had a good laugh, and I had to agree that our hen looks more like a rooster than a hen.
Throughout scripture various descriptions for God have been offered, from rock, to fortress, to wind, but one that is very rich, but not often preached about it that of a mother bird. Deuteronomy 32:11 and Psalm 17:8 are two verses for example. Do you remember the song, “On Eagles’ Wings”? It’s a favorite of many and it is based on the prophet Isaiah.
At first glance the protection of a mother bird doesn’t seem like much; just a bunch of feathers and a sharp beak, but there is more! There is the willingness of mother birds to put themselves between danger and their babies even putting their lives on the line. Isn’t that what Christ did for us? He put his life on the cross for us.
Next week we will have “wine” and milk at the station along with a loaf of bread. After listening to the sermon you may know why. Take it from here,
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
G.I.F.T. STARTS TONIGHT! Each Wednesday in March (excluding Holy Week) you are invited to share in G.I.F.T. (Growing In Faith Together). We meet at 6:30 for soup supper, clean up together, and then have a blended worship at 7:00. There will be both traditional and contemporary worship music, all of it honoring God. At 7:30 we have dessert and fellowship, and folks head home by 7:45. Your participation in G.I.F.T. will make a difference not only in our lives together in Southminster, but in your own spiritual growth as a person.
We are looking for adults and children to participate in our G.I.F.T. celebrations. Would you be willing to read? Play an instrument? Sing (by yourself or with a group)? Please talk to Wendy.
CHOIR MEMBERS ARE STILL NEEDED TO SING FOR EASTER SUNDAY! If you can make a short-term commitment, then come to our rehearsal this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the choir room. Those who sing, pray twice!
Sign-up deadline is this Sunday for the MARCH FELLOWSHIP EVENT: the Lisle Sr. High School spring musical “Music Man.” We will attend the play on Friday, March 19, 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Sign up in the narthex by March 7. Any questions please contact Karen Fitzgerald (cell phone: 630-738-8060).
Yes! Finally! The long-awaited and dearly loved ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER AND TALENT SHOW is almost here!! Mark this on your calendar: Sunday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. Please sign your act up, on the sheet in the narthex (look for the picture of Eric and Robby), and also sign your party up on the sheet so we know for how many people we will be feeding. For only $5 per adult and $3 per child (anyone 3 or under is free) you’ll get a good meal, you’ll have lots of fun... and you’ll be supporting a good cause: our Youth Mission Trip.
Children in Pre-School through Grade 3 will begin their Sunday School Class with a short singing practice. They will be learning “Jubilee!” Grades 4 and 5 will be given handchime parts to play after Easter Sunday.
The fund drive to purchase a NEW LAWN TRACTOR revs up in March! Look for a 2010 tractor poster and fundraiser box in the narthex on March 7 and 14 for the sole purpose of funding this special purchase in April. Please support this important fundraiser with a monetary donation and your prayers. Email or call John Sundquist for details: Sundquist_john@comcast.net or 630-469-2273.
This Sunday, and the first Sunday of every month, is the day we bring OFFERINGS FOR THE PEOPLE’S RESOURCE CENTER. The March emphasis is personal care and sanitary products. Donations can be placed in the narthex (near the stairwell to Fellowship Hall).
CHIME CHOIR needed for APRIL 18TH SERVICE! Junior High, High School, and Adults interested in ringing for the service on April 18th need to sign the sheet on the choir room door. Two rehearsals are mandatory: Sundays, March 28 and April 11, for about 20 minutes immediately following the worship service. Location: Choir Room.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL MISSION PROJECT: *Cheep* *Cheep* Chicks, to many of us, symbolize spring, rebirth, childhood. But for some, chicks can mean more; they can mean survival. Southminster’s children will be collecting money to purchase chicks for Heifer International, helping to fight world hunger. Just $20 buys a flock of chicks for a hungry family, providing eggs and nutrition to the recipients. Please help your children collect change to aid in supporting Heifer, and consider donating. We will be collecting until Easter. Thanks!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL MEETING THIS SUNDAY: There’s a high seas adventure happening at Southminster this summer at Vacation Bible School. For those adults that are brave enough to help lead our adventure, there will be a brief meeting this Sunday after church in the parlor. We need all hands on deck to make this a successful voyage. So, climb aboard, and get your passport to fun this Sunday!
EASTER EGG MADNESS: This Sunday, following worship, come join us for Easter egg stuffing! Just sit down, relax, and chat while filling eggs with delicious candy and fun toys which will make lots of kids very happy. Also, help make the Easter party as tasty as possible and donate small candies (No Valentine’s candy or candy with peanuts, please) for the Easter egg hunt. We will be collecting candy until March 21 and will have egg-stuffing parties on March 7th and 21st. All are invited! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Children’s Easter Egg Breakfast on Saturday, April 3, at 9:30 a.m.! There will be games (weather permitting), crafts, breakfast, and an Easter egg hunt. The breakfast wouldn’t be possible without your support! We hope to see you this Sunday!
ACOLYTE Schedule:
March 14 - Billy Petersen
March 28 - Maddie Frey
April 11 - Dakota Dolister
April 25 - Haley Jablonski
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
Wednesdays in March (excluding Holy Week) - G.I.F.T. (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
April 3 - Annual Easter Breakfast (9:30 a.m.)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
ADULT EDUCATION: Join us at 11:00 a.m. Sunday for our continuing Bible study. Our lectionary passages for this Sunday’s class are: Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Luke 13:1-9. Consider joining us for the fellowship of study. -Blair
YOUTH!
SPY and PYNGUINS: We will be preparing for the Talent Show at SNL this week. PYNGUINS meet at 6:00 p.m. SPY, please join us at 6:30 p.m., instead of the usual 7:00 p.m., this Sunday so we can have more time to work with the PYNGUINS for Talent Show.
SYS = Save Your Stuff. We need your salable surplus stuff for our RUMMAGE SALE, coming in mid-May. So put that stuff in a safe place and watch for information about when to bring it to church.
The S.O.L.A.C.E. SINGLES group is planning to go to the FREE Global Flick (“Happy-Go-Lucky”) at the COD McAninch Art Center on Tuesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. We will meet for dinner at 5:00 p.m. at Giordano’s, 455 W. Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn. The sign up sheet is in the narthex.
RECORDINGS OF OUR WORSHIP SERVICES: If you enjoy listening to the Sunday service again but can only listen on a cassette tape, please let Andrea Schmidt know (630-629-4526 or lizzie3@comcast.net). If no one is using the cassettes, we are going to phase them out because the service is available for viewing on DVD.
