Weekly Newsletter - March 27, 2025

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News of the Church

View the Lent 2025 Schedule

Ben Gosden Book Reading at Mulberry


On March 31 at 5:30 pm, we will host Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden in the church Parlor for a book reading and discussion of his debut book, Grace Rediscovered, which reflects on how God transformed his greatest brokenness into a life with new meaning. Join us to hear Ben's story "of rediscovering grace, not in some far-off, distant place, but in the everyday moments of healing and surrender." Books will be for sale, and after the reading, Ben will hold a Q&A and book signing.

Help Stuff Easter Eggs for Egg Hunt 4/13


Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be Sunday, April 13, and we need your help to get ready! In the atrium and narthex there are buckets with empty Easter Eggs in them - pick up a bag and fill with candy, or bring your own pre-filled eggs before Palm Sunday. 

We extend our Christian love and sympathy to Carolyn Dominy, Erin Heggins, and family on the death of Carolyn's grandson and Erin's nephew, Dustin Ivey Fordham, who passed away last week.

Hart's Mortuary has charge of funeral arrangements.

We have a beautiful Easter Sunday tradition of church members bringing flowers from home to decorate the cross outside the sanctuary. The flowering cross not only serves as a beautiful decoration for Easter, but also symbolizes the new life that comes from Christ’s death and resurrection. We are seeking someone to continue this meaningful tradition by serving as the coordinator for the flowering cross. This would include preparing the cross for flowers before Easter, receiving flowers on Easter Sunday morning and adding them to the cross, and working with our flower and worship guild. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Beth Smith at 478-719-9041.

Join the Flower Guild!


We are looking for church members to join the church Flower Guild! The Flower Guild coordinates and manages the flower arrangements that grace our altar on Sunday mornings as well as other special arrangements. If you are interested in participating or learning more about the guild, call Beth Smith at 478-719-9041.


If you are interested in placing flowers on the altar, there are several openings available this year. Contact Beth to learn more.

Weekly Worship & Prayer during Lent


Join us as we continue our monthly Worship and Prayer service with a special weekly Lenten series. Lent is a season for reflection and spiritual growth as we prepare for the joy of Easter, and this five-week journey will provide an opportunity to deepen our faith through prayer, contemplative practices, and worship. Our evenings will be centered around the theme of gardening; like seeds planted in rich soil, nourished by prayer, scripture, and the light of Christ, we are called to cultivate a deeper, more fruitful faith.


Each Wednesday evening, we will gather for a fellowship dinner at 5:30 PM, followed by a time of scripture, song, and guided prayer at 6:15 PM. Whether you are seeking a new Lenten discipline or simply longing for a space to draw closer to God, we invite you to make the most of this season with us. All are welcome! Nursery is provided.

A Bicentennial Moment

In anticipation of Mulberry’s upcoming Bicentennial Celebration in 2026, the Leonard Hill Cochran Historical Room presents a moment of Mulberry history.


The following are excerpts from The Council of Ministries meeting, August 9, 1971, Dr. Handy Hancock was senior pastor, Mike McAfee, associate pastor.


“Sunday night. August 29th, at First Baptist Church, evening services will be a union of the three churches in the area, Mulberry, First Presbyterian and First Baptist.  It was expected that such a group service would be held every six months.

Promotion Sunday for the Children’s Division will be August 29th.

Christian Education Sunday will be September 26th when all Sunday school teachers and officers  will be honored and recognized.

Plans for Laymen’s Day – a Sunday when a prominent lay person will speak - were discussed for October 10th. 

The Christian Enrichment School will be held October 10-14 at Vineville Methodist.

Dr. Hancock discussed the opening on August 1st of Magnolia Manor’s 50 apartments.  A contribution of $250 to help defray expenses for landscaping the grounds was approved.

The next Communion Sunday funds would used to support Methodist churches in Chile because of their misfortunate earthquake in July.

It was announced that the church now has available a plug-in for the radio microphone with an additional mike with a 25 to 30 foot cord which on Sundays when it is needed for special activities.  That would enable the church to do baptisms of babies, receiving people into membership, etc., which could not be done formerly at the 11 0’clock service because it did not fit in with the radio service.  It was felt that these ceremonies are meaningful to the congregation, that they should have the opportunity to see and hear them both over the radio and in the sanctuary.

In September, there will be a luncheon for senior citizens.

The recent bus trip to Atlanta to attend the baseball game had 30 participants and it was noted that 300 attended the church picnic.

It was announced that summer Children’s Activities had the largest attendance ever. 

Offerings have averaged $138 per week and average attendance for April, May, June was 482.”

Sunday Worship

March 30, 2025

Fourth Sunday in Lent

  

Rev. Jack Varnell, preaching

Dying To Live

Mark 8:34-35 


Assisting with Worship

Ushers

Bert Thompson, Kyle Starling, Waverly Golson, Ed Powell, Tom Woodcock,


Acolytes

Ben Morris, Crucifer

Drew Morris, Candle Lighter


11 a.m. Worship Service will be Live-Streamed and available on Facebook and YouTube.

Prayer List

Scott and Wanda Fitzgerald  

Nancy and Lowell Belk  

Jarrod Heggins  

Jimmy Roach 

Freeda Chapman 

Thomas Marlow 

Linda Sankey 

Yetta Price  

Eddings Smith  

Bettie Causey   

Sharon and Tony Marks, sister and brother-in-law of Kathy Welch 

Mable Mashburn, Kathy Welch’s mother  

Ashley and Mary Hurt 

Frances Inzer 

Charlotte Barker  

Michael Downs, grandson of Harold Downs  

Judy Freeney 

Shaunacy Fifield 

Susan McIntosh, Daniel’s mother 

Brian and Sonnya Wilson 

Elena Balkcom, Stephanie Henson’s daughter 

Robin Frischkorn 

Barbara Henley  

Carmen Meadows and the family of Timothy Meadows  

The family of Lois McLain 

Edith Smith, mother of Hinda Ramsay 

Flo Martin 

Ray McIntosh, Daniel’s sister 

Susan Dunn  

Martin Magda 

Michelle Blount, CCM Director 

Robin Harris, Volunteer Coordinator at Macon Outreach 

Susan Middlebrooks  

Dennis Stewart, Michael Stewart’s brother 

Jackie Holtzclaw, Katherine Holtzclaw’s mother. 

Sylvia Hathcock  

Raleigh Godsey  

The family of Dustin Ivey Fordham, Carolyn Dominy’s grandson 

Kay Harris  

 

The United Methodist Church, Bishop Robin Dease 

District Superintendent Jay and Kay Harris 

 

Our church, its clergy, and its members

Coming Up at Mulberry

March 31

Ben Gosden Book Reading



Full Calendar

On Call Line

478-219-9926

Check out what's going on in Realm!

Be sure to check out the News feature on Realm!

If you need help getting connected, contact the church office at

478-745-8601.

Ainsworth (Adult) Choir Rehearsal

Wednesdays at 7:15 pm in the Choir Room!

We welcome all who like to sing and want to be part of music ministry in worship. Come join us! Please contact Terre Johnson, Director of Music, for questions.

**Nursery is provided during Choir Rehearsal for any parents wanting to join!

Weekly Prayers & Scripture

Week 18: Judgement


Day 1. Isaiah 51:5 (Morning); Matthew 25:31-33 (Evening)

Day 2. Ecclesiastes 12:14 (Morning); Psalm 51:4 (Evening)

Day 3. Revelation 6:10 (Morning); Psalm 143:2 (Evening)

Day 4. 1 John 4:17 (Morning); John 3:17 (Evening)

Day 5. James 2:12-13 (Morning); Matthew 7:1-2 (Evening)

Morning Prayer of Petition

Just God, you rightly judge the world, not to condemn but to redeem. Search my own heart, and open my eyes to:

  • my sin, which leads me away from you,
  • my resistance to following you,
  • my fear, which keeps me from acting,
  • my cynicism, which robs me of hope.


As you shine a light into my life, help me to know that your judgements are aimed at my salvation. Amen.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude

Merciful God, you are slow to anger and quick to show compassion on your people. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness in my life, revealed through:

  • the grace others have shown me,
  • the second chances and new opportunities given to me,
  • the new doorways being opened for me,
  • the burdens and guilt lifted from me.


God, I thank you for your mercies which are new every day. Amen.

Taken from The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer

Donation Needs

Macon Outreach Needs

*No more plastic bags*

Cases of bottled water

Financial Donations

Cereal

Hamburger helper

Cornbread mix

Condiments

Cake/cookie/muffin mix

Snack items

Daybreak Needs

Cereal 

Jelly

Sugar

Vienna sausages (4.6 oz.)

1 min. Instant Grits

Chips (individual bags)

Tylenol/ advil/ ibuprofen

Orajel

Cough medicine (non-alcohol)

Cough drops

Bio freeze/muscle cream

Aspirin 81mg

Paper towels

Water

Disinfectant spray

Air freshener

Men's t-shirts (white) lg, xl 2x

Men & women's underwear (new)

Resources & Links

South Georgia Advocate

The South Georgia Advocate, a twice monthly online news publication, is the official news source of the South Georgia Annual Conference and a ministry of the Office of Connectional Ministries.

Click here for the Georgia Advocate

One Matters Resource Toolkit

As part of this year's conference focus of "One Matters", the South Georgia Conference is providing monthly resources designed to empower each of us in our mission of making meaningful connections and living out transformative discipleship. Each toolkit presents a challenge questions & resources tailored to address that challenge.

Click here for the One Matters Toolkit

Have an addition to the newsletter?

Email Millie Thompson at mthompson@mulberrymethodist.org

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