The Link

*Some email carriers clip long messages. If you are not able to see the Constant Contact logo at the bottom of this email, look for the button that will allow you to view the entire message.*

THE LINK

Vol. 67 No. 11 ✥ March 18, 2026

March 22, 2026 ❖ The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Lessons: Ezekiel 37:1-14a; John 11:1-45

Sermon: "Catching the Wind"

Daily life and the events of our world can overwhelm us and leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Ezekiel's prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones gives a vision of hope in the most desolate valleys and renewal in our places of despair and decay. As we near the end of our Lenten journey, we are reminded that whenever we find ourselves in circumstances that rob us of strength and hope, God never leaves us and offers to us the promise of new life.

Anthems:

"Breathe on me, Breath of God" - Jackson

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" - arr. Martin

Worship is live on our homepage and YouTube channel at 11:00 a.m.,

but we love having you with us in the sanctuary!

Lenten Series: Spiritual Exercise for the Soul

Just as we care for our physical bodies through exercise or our minds through training, so too should we care for our souls through spiritual exercise. During Lent this year, let us push ourselves to reach beyond our own schedules and to-do lists and embrace this season of introspection to discern what God has in store for us as we allow God to renew us in preparation for the celebration of Easter Resurrection. On the altar are symbols of some of the classical disciplines that have guided the Christian faith: Bible study, prayer, worship, meditation, and service.

Sunday Worship in Lent

11:00 a.m. Sundays, February 22 – March 29

Ecumenical Lenten Lunches

Wednesday Service at Noon, Followed by Lunch

Palm Sunday - March 29

11:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship

12:15 p.m. Covered Dish Luncheon & Easter Egg Hunt

Holy Tuesday - March 31

12:00 p.m. Labyrinth Communion

Holy Wednesday - April 1

12:00 p.m. Ecumenical Lenten Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Maundy Thursday - April 2

5:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Supper

6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship with Tenebrae

Good Friday - April 3

7:00 p.m. Choral Presentation of the Seven Last Words of Christ

at First Baptist Church of Rocky Mount

Easter Sunday - April 5

11:00 a.m. Worship

PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION

Join us on March 29 for our Palm Sunday worship and celebration. Our children will lead us in the Procession of Palms, and the Children’s Choir will sing in worship. After worship, we’ll enjoy a fellowship luncheon and Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. We hope everyone can join us for this time of worship and fellowship for the entire Lakeside family!

Palm Sunday Sign-Up

Maundy Thursday Supper Signup

Please remember the following persons who need our prayers and support:

ECU Health Medical Center, 2100 Stantonsburg Road, Greenville, NC 27835

Doug Edwards, Room S127

At Home:

Janice Bobbitt (Chuck Taylor's sister), 4204 Whitehurst Dr, Wilmington 28409

Robyn Edwards Chapman (Jeannette Pittman's cousin), 1481 Richardson Road, Apt. C406, Apex, NC 27523

Bob Davis (Dan Davis' brother), 427 McIver Street, Greenville, SC 29601

Michele Costa Foster, 105 Gloucester Court (03)

Charlotte Gilliam, 3794 Loblolly Drive (04)

Bill Jones (Dorrie Wright’s brother)

C. B. Morris, 1930 Northern Boulevard (04)

Jeannette and Grady Pittman, 313 Englewood Drive (04)

Cornelia Singletary, 15 Weatherstone Drive (04)

Patricia Taylor (Napoleon Taylor's wife), 514 Hammond Street (04)

Betsy Waters, 401 E. Rhode Island Avenue, Room 275, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Our Members at Home:

Jackie Allsbrook, 113 Old Colony Way (04)

Ann Bishop, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway, Apt. S210, Durham, NC 27705

Sallie Ray Wilkerson, HeartFields at Cary, 1050 Crescent Green Drive, Cary, NC 27518

We offer our sympathy to Dick and Nancy Berry and their family upon the death of Dick's father Elwood Berry, who died on March 15, at 101 years old. Elwood was a member of Lakeside for 69 years. A service celebrating his life will be held at Lakeside on Monday, March 23, at 11:30 a.m. Visitation with the family will take place immediately after in Sugg Foyer.

Give Now

TAR RIVER CHORUS CONCERT

"Reflections of the Soul"

Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.,

This year, the Tar River Chorus, including some of our Lakeside singers, will perform John Rutter’s Requiem, in honor of the 40^th anniversary of the piece.

YOUTH NEWS

What a wonderful time we had Sunday night with Deanna Deaton who taught us all about instruments from around the world and how, in every language and culture, music can be a way for us to worship and praise God. The drum circle was so much fun! Many thanks to all our families who made the effort to join us. We will have a regular schedule of activities this Sunday night beginning at 5:00 p.m.

We hope all our families can join us for our Palm Sunday festivities on March 29. Children will lead the Procession of the Palms and sing in worship. Youth will be needed following the covered-dish luncheon to hide Easter eggs for the children. There will be no Sunday evening activities on March 29 or April 5 because of the Easter holiday.

Elizabeth

MUSIC NOTES

We are excited to welcome back Jason Schodt as our guest organist this Sunday! Jason, who studied organ at East Carolina University, is a Lakeside member and current student at Duke Divinity School. We're thankful for Jason sharing his time and talents with us again this weekend!

Jake

TOPNOTCHER NEWS

Our choir, along with several other community choirs, has been working hard on a performance of Theodore Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ. The concert will take place on Good Friday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church. Our own Jake Mauk will be conducting! We would love to have a large turnout for this event. If you require transportation, please contact the church office to arrange a ride.

There will be no Continue the Communion in April since the first Sunday of the month is Easter. We will meet next on May 3 at Rocky Mount Ace Buffet (Chinese buffet), 1457 Benvenue Road.

Our trip to Dee and Stewart Gibson’s little slice of heaven, Bellamy Mill, on Fishing Creek in northern Nash County, will be on Tuesday, April 7. We will meet at the church at 10:15 a.m. and depart at 10:30 a.m. Please sign up for this lovely outing on the Event Registration page of our website or call the church office and be sure to let us know if you would prefer a ham, turkey, or veggie sandwich as your Honey Baked Ham boxed lunch.

Sue

GATHER AROUND THE LONGEST TABLE

On Thursday, April 30, the Harrison Family YMCA is bringing The Longest Table to Rocky Mount! This nationwide movement brings neighbors from across the community together for a free potluck meal and wonderful fellowship. The event is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Landis Pavilion adjacent to the YMCA.

We are in need of Table Captains to provide food and paper goods for about 8 to 10 people, volunteers to assist with setup and cleanup, and folks to attend. Lakeside is one of the sponsors of this event, so we hope you will come out to meet our neighbors and support this exciting event. Contact the church office or Bria Lewis at the YMCA for more information.