BRIGHT HOPE LAUREL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS WITH THE WORLD

Volume 3, Issue 4 April, 2011

From the Pastor’s Desk - Wait and Prepare

everyone else. If you are like me, you Special points of
Don’t get me wrong, it do not like to wait. But Interest
is not that one person’s maybe this “waiting” is
life is anymore or any a good thing.  Special Offering “One Great
Hour of Sharing” -- Sunday,
less important and I don’t know about April 3rd, 2011 during worship.
valuable in God’s eyes. you, but I hope to be so  Construction begins at the
But during this time we much better when I church.
call Lent, we are all finally get to meet God  April 17th-April 24th -- Holy
Week Services Begin
called to step aside and face to face.
 April 17th - Palm Sunday
look inward with a I know I can’t do that Worship at 11 AM
desire to be more than on my own, but with  Thursday, April 21st - Passover
we are right now. each day through God’s Service at 7 PM
When I saw this grace, I know I can grow  Friday, April 22nd - Good Friday
As you all know, my Service
cartoon this past week, I more and be more in
 Sunday, April 24th - Easter
family spent the last had to laugh as I would God’s eyes and in God’s Sunrise at Wolf Laurel,
week and a half at the love to have a coffee pot service. Breakfast at church, and Easter
beach. It was a time of the size of Noah’s ☺. As we are half way Worship Service
warmth [which Yes Noah was through Lent, many are
apparently has still not preparing with no real probably already
come to the mountains]; knowledge of when it wondering what they
a time to relax, and a would happen or how. thought as they gave Inside this issue:
time to reflect. It was a The same is true of us something up …
time to “slow down” and even today. We know probably wondering if APRIL SERMONS 2
enjoy life with my that the tomb was they will make it
family while watching empty. We know that through. FINANCIAL REPORT 2
the tide and the jellyfish Christ ascended and My message this
THOSE SERVING IN 3
roll in ☺. promised to come again. month is to do what WORSHIP (APRIL)
Yet it was more than All that is left for us is Noah does above. Drink
that. It was a time to to wait and wait and your coffee, take a nap, 4
“TO GOOD TO BE TRUE”
stop long enough to wait. etc. and be refreshed.
think of myself and my Yes I know the truth. God out over the next
life. It was a chance for The church has been few weeks with your MONTHLY CALENDAR
INSERT
your pastor to do what waiting since Jesus hearts open and willing.
we pastors seldom do: ascended and it still See what God
 Scripture and Sermons
April 3 HOLY COMMUNION - “Hunger Pot” Offering
Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 5:8-14
Sermon: “Going Live”

April 10 Scripture Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon: “From Life to Death … and Back Again!!!”

April 17 Scripture Lesson: Luke 19:28-40

Sermon: “Are You Ready”

April 24 Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon: “The Experts Were Wrong”

ATTENDANCE AND FINANCIAL GIVING

FebruaryMarch 2011

Average Attendance: 42

Ash Wednesday Service Attendance: 14

Regular Giving : $ 5139.58

Average Regular Giving: $ 1284.90 (per week)

Designated Giving: $ 742.00

($42.00 - Hunger Pot; $700.00 - UMCOR/Japan)

($ 2,078.15 per week is needed to meet our church budget.)

*The figures above are from the last Sunday of February through the last Sunday of March.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

GREETERS: USHERS:

3 Judy Womble and Danny Burnette 3 Danny Burnette and Marsha Boyd
10 Ed Ponder and Marsha Boyd 10 Lisa and Mark Anderson
17 Mike and Jenny Miller 17 Harold and Dixie Tipton
24 Angela Fox and Sherry Lesley 24 Mark and Lisa Anderson

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

SCRIPTURE READERS: NURSERY/PRE-SCHOOL:

3 Nicole Johnson 3 Angela Fox

10 Tom Wrenn 10 Liz Benjamin
17 Judy Womble 17 Marsha Boyd
24 Rich Ashley 24 Judy Womble

CHILDREN’S TIME: Jenny Miller, Dixie Tipton, Rev. Johnson, and Cammie Monroe

CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Carolyn Ponder; Lisa Anderson

“TWEENS CLASS”: Kathy Wrenn, Lois Lynn Bellemare, & Cammie Monroe

COMMUNION STEWARDS: Dr. Ernie and Frances Powell

COUNTERS:

3 Rich Ashley and Assistant

10 John Hamrick and Assistant
17 Tom Wrenn and Assistant
24 Don Mathis and Assistant

AUDIO VISUAL: Danny Burnette and Brian Dodge

If you are unable to serve when indicated, please ask someone to take your place .
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY, please tell the Pastor.
THANK YOU for your service and dedication to Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church!
 triumph o’er his foes; He
arose a Victor from the
dark domain, And He
lives forever with His
“Their words seemed to [the Disciples] like idle tales, and they did not believe saints to reign” (Lowry).
them” (Luke 24:11).

In the 1980s, John Knoll and his brother Thomas began experimenting with a computer program to manipulate images.
Software companies thought they were crazy, because photographers didn’t use computers at that time. Initially the
brothers called their program Display, then Imaginator, and finally they settled on Photoshop. Today Photoshop is used
by amateurs at home and professionals in businesses around the world. A San Jose Mercury News article noted its
place in popular language. When something looks too good to be true, people say, “It must have been Photoshopped.”

On the first Easter morning, the women who took spices to anoint the body of Jesus found the tomb empty and heard
angels say, “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6). When the women told this to the disciples, “Their words seemed to
them like idle tales, and they did not believe them” (v.11). Nonsense! Mind-boggling! Too good to be true!

If someone manipulated the evidence, then millions of people around the world gather today to celebrate a myth. But if
Jesus conquered death, than all He said about forgiveness, power to change, and eternal life is real.

Because Christ has risen and lives today, this news is too good not to be true!

This article is excerpted from: Our Daily Bread

Copyright © 2010 RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.