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Members, Friends, & Guests:
The sermon series, “Close Encounters of the Holy Kind” concluded last Sunday. Meeting God as well as people around us, face to face, Meeting people face to face, as opposed to meeting people via zoom or virtually changes us!
Ash Wednesday begins the journey to Jerusalem. United Church will observe Ash Wednesday with a drive-thru service on Wednesday, March 5 from 7:00 – 8:30 am on the ellipse of United Church’s campus. A service of imposition of ashes will be held in the sanctuary at 9:00 am on Wednesday.
The weekend of March 8 & 9 begins a Lenten sermon series entitled, “The Difficult Words of Jesus,” based on a book by the same title written by Amy Jill-Levine. The series will look at the difficult and sometimes troubling words Jesus utters in his teachings. Here is the schedule:
Sat/Sun 8 & 9 March
Sell What You Own, Mark 10.17-27
Sat/Sun 15 & 16 March
Hate Father & Mother, Luke 14.25-33
Sat/Sun 22 & 23 March
Servant of All, Mark 10.35-45
Sat/Sun 29 & 30 March
A Face in the Crowd, Matthew 15.21-28
No Saturday Service due to Bargain Basket's "Thrifty & Fifty" Celebration
Sunday April 6th
Outer Darkness, Matthew 18.23-35
Sat/Sun 12 & 13 April
Your Father the Devil, John 8.31-39 (Palm Sunday)
Thursday, April 17
Servant of All, John 15 (Maundy Thursday)
Sat/Sun 19 & 20
New Life, John 20.1-18 (Easter)
Saturday Night worship will continue through the summer with the exception of April 5th, when we will pause to enjoy a celebration of the Bargain Basket's 50 years...More to come on that later.
Saturday night, April 19, the night before Easter, will highlight an Easter Vigil. The service will review the story of salvation and will be an excellent prelude to celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus! Last Saturday night, 42 people joined in worship and then enjoyed an incredible Jazz Concert led by John & Susan Touissaint and a talented team of high school and college students!! I can only say, WOW!!! Another Jazz concert will be part of the service on March 15!
United will host two opportunities to observe Ash Wednesday. One is a drive thru on the ellipse of the campus off of Barfield Drive from 7:00 am to 8:30 am on March 5. Ashes will be imposed on the forehead or the hand, a prayer will be offered, a scripture verse to carry through the season as well as a cup of coffee! A 9:00 am service will be held on Wednesday March 5 in the sanctuary!
Dysfunctional Families of the Bible study continues Thursday, March 6 at 10:00 am in Disseler Hall. The text for the study will be 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 2 Samuel 13:1-22. Here is the link to the study questions for Thursday. Click Here to Download Study Questions
The Executive Committee, staff and Trustees will be on retreat March 24 to pray and discuss possible strategic objectives for the next five years. In order to assist with that planning, please take time to answer the attached survey and return to the church office via email or drop off by March 16.
The original intent in conducting a survey to support planning the future of United Church was superseded by the search for new settled Senior Pastor. With that important effort behind us, a strategic planning session is on the calendar — but can only be successful with your input. Please take a few minutes to tell us what you think! Your responses are completely anonymous, but we do need them quickly. You can download this file and print it at home, or grab a blank copy at church on Saturday or Sunday. All surveys need to be returned by March 16th so your ideas can be tabulated. Click Here to Download Survey
Your feedback is essential. The leadership will be seeking direction from the current congregation of United Church and seek to understand what the future congregation of United Church might need as well!!! Kind of tricky and deserving of your prayers.
Finally, please save the date for Thursday, April 3 at 10:30 am. The Veterans Group will host a Four Chaplains Award Ceremony in Disseler Hall. United Church will recognize some incredible people, hear music from the Marco Island Charter Middle School under the direction of Martie Miller and enjoy some refreshments! Please plan to attend this 45-minute ceremony!
Welcome Home!!!
Pastor Ed
Click Here for Pics from Saturday Night Worship
Click Here for Pics from Handbell Festival
Click Here for the Ash Wednesday Promo
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