March 28, 2018 - WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
HOLY WEEK
"But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's suffering, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed."
~ 1 Peter 4:13

We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey, forty days of preparing ourselves for Easter. One thing I’ve found over the years is that people sometimes want to jump from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the Easter celebration, without going to the foot of the cross. But can we really even begin to understand Easter without traveling with Jesus to the cross? Can we understand the depths of his sacrifice or even the depths of God’s love? During Holy Week, the church will hold two special services – Maundy Thursday, March 29 th at 7:00 PM and Good Friday, March 30 th at 7:00 PM. On Thursday, we’ll have a special observance of the Last Supper in the Upper Room and remember Jesus’ command for his disciples to love one another. On Good Friday, we’ll experience a Tenebrae service of darkness, as Jesus is betrayed, arrested, denied and crucified.
Our journey will end on Easter Sunday morning, when we will celebrate an empty tomb and a resurrection. There will be two services – a Sunrise Service at 7:00 AM and an Easter Celebration service at 10:30 AM, with Easter brunch from 8:00 to 9:30 AM. We hope you’ll come and celebrate with us!

Grace to you and peace,

It's Not Too Late To Invite Someone
 To Join Us For Church
Announcements & Important Information for the Week

Easter Brunch- sign up sheet
The church will be holding a Easter Brunch again this year. This will be a free-will donation to raise money to provide children with camperships to attend United Methodist Church Camps this Summer. Please take a moment to look at the meal sign-up sheet and see where you might be able to help out providing food or serving. Online sign-up form: Easter Brunch

Summer Reading Sidekicks Program
We are trying to organized volunteer tutors for the Summer portion of our reading program. If you would like to help please email Linda Honold: [email protected] or call 712-210-4777. This will only be for the month of June due to Summer school in July. The more volunteers the more kids we can serve and possible less time commitment for those volunteering.

Fellowship Time
Please take a look at when you might be available to host fellowship, without your time and donations to fellowship-time we cannot always make it happen. Fellowship time is what you want it to be, cookies, juice and coffee is just perfect. You can mix up the treats you provide as you wish with bars, fruit, muffins, donuts, cheese & crackers, etc. What you want and can do is just fine It’s a great time to buddy up to serve.

Pans & Dishes
Please take a moment to look through the pans & dishes that have been left behind from church meals and/or funeral dinners. Items that have not been claimed will be donated to New Hope.
 
Leadership Mailboxes
Those who have a church mailbox please be sure to check them regularly and pick up anything that may be in them.
 
Upcoming HCI Visioning Bible Studies - A People of Salt and Light
“This Bible study on the Sermon on the Mount invites you to take the quality of the life of your congregation seriously. Jesus’ sayings are carefully organized to model for disciples, then and now, how to live together as a faithful community whose identity and activity is rooted in God’s graciousness.” This will be a journey of discovery, interaction, discernment, openness, becoming aware and prayer. We will have different groups to facilitate some different times to accommodate getting more people involved. Look for more details soon!
 
HCI Visioning (CRMU's Basement) - Sunday, May 6th - 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This will be a meeting coached by Melissa Drake. This is a time to look at our core values and see how they truly fit with who God has created us to be and possibly become.
 
"Choose Kind" T-shirt Fundraiser - They more we sell, the more we raise!
The church is doing a "Choose Kind" T-shirt fundraiser for our members and friends. Money raised from t-shirt sales will fund different Local Youth Mission & Outreach Projects: Summer Lunch & Reading Program, School Supplies
The t-shirts are like those CR-B had done. We have chosen 2 different colors for our fundraiser. We hope to have events or projects where we can wear the shirts.
Please let me know if you have questions. Order forms are available on the back table of the sanctuary or on our Facebook page. or click here: T-shirt Order Form
Still Availble...Spiritual Gift Inventory
 Don't forget to unwrap your gifts!
You may also access a PDF copy here:
Spiritual Gifts Discovery Extra copies are on the back table of the sanctuary.
You may chose to send your results back using this online form: Top 3 Spiritual Gifts Form or you may email them to: Mandy Smouse
This Sunday's Worship Servers
Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 am
Liturgist: John Richardson
Host:
Host:
Host:
Host:
Acolyte:
Acolyte:

Easter Celebration Service at 10:30 am
Liturgist: Sharon Richardson
Host:
Host:
Host:
Host:
Acolyte:  Addison Smouse
Acolyte:
*Additional Communion Helper:
*Additional Communion Helper:
***If we need to have over-flow in the fellowship hall***

Click to sign up to server during worship
April- Worship Server Sign-up Sheet or If you can fill a spot please contact Mandy at: [email protected]   or call/text 712.790.9020
Building a House of Prayer for Our Church & Community
Weekly Prayer:
Preparing for Easter
Easter is a time of joy and renewal. Followers of Jesus saw their darkest days replaced with the miracle of hope and eternal life. Christians today take time for self-examination and reflection during Lent. "Going dark" for a few weeks prepares us to fully experience those first rays of resurrection light on Easter.
This prayer was composed by the Rev. Michaela Youngson, the Methodist Church of Britain.
video via http://www.umc.org
HCI-Top 3 CORE VALUES Of Coon Rapids UMC
which were chosen by our congregation from
the that were surveys filled out.
In Children and Youth News...
Camp registration for the 2018 season is officially open! Registration information can be found at  www.iaumc.org/camps
Registration, campership applications will be available in Fellowship Hall also. Scholarships will be available for families who need help covering the full cost of the camp.
Camping experiences bring positive change by offering a Christian community, spiritual growth and skill development in a safe, outdoor setting.
Weekly Prayer List
Let us pray for all who are hurting in our church family, 
our community and for peace and justice in the world. 

Ron Brower
Duane O’Tool
Family & Friends of Richard E. "Dick" Shirbroun
Family of June Gellhaus (Elaine Bowman’s sister)
Maxine Smouse
Diane Andersen
Mairyn Lucille Bailey (Great Granddaughter of Glen & Janet Knight)
Allia Janning (Gloria Dahl’s daughter)
Betty Christensen
Christine Mincer
LuAnn Headley
Dan Stork
Joan Hague (Jaxine Petty’s aunt)
John Richardson
Roger Petty
Daniel Kult (deployment)
Our Church
Our Community 

Those not listed individually, that are experiencing illness or distress

TRH and Parkview Assisted Living Residents: 
Merlin Sievers
Dorothy Davis 
Rich Wiskus
Connie McPherson 
Lyle Knight
Betty Knight 
Evelyn Long
Ron Barker 
Sam Cretsinger

Shut-ins: 
Dorothy Blanchard 
Marilyn Taylor

Submit Prayer List Request (please include name and relevent information)
Prayer requests will be listed for 30 days unless asked to keep on the list due to other reasons.
You may submit requests or changes to Pastor Joyce or Mandy Smouse. 
High School Seniors will be recognized during worship service and fellowship time.
Senior members of the church should be recieving a information form to fill out and return. If for some reason you don't recieve a form or you know of a senior that did not please contact Mandy Smouse: email We want to insure everyone that wishes to participate is included.


Mark Your Calendars
April 29th will be a
Free Community Meal

Stay Tuned For Details!









There will be
Special Music April 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd!

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Practice Times
Bell Choir - 6:30 Wednesday 
Women's Choir - 7:15 Wednesday
All are welcome!

Please contact Cindy Seastrom if you are interested in joining the adult bell choir.


This Week's
Birthdays

March
28 Duane O’Tool
29 Aaron McCurdy
30 Gary Troutman

April
1 LuAnn Headley
1 Judy Thompson
4 Raymond Cadwallader
4 John Grettenberg
4 Nathan Muench
5 Glen Knight
6 Dorothy Blanchard
6 Steve McCurdy
6 William Thomas
6 Alex Nixon

Anniversaries

MINISTRY of Our Church
Food Pantry Needs

  • toilet paper
  • feminine hygiene products
  • paper towels
  • Kleenex
  • trash bags different sizes!

Cash donations are always welcome too, please just write Food Pantry in the memo. You can bring items to the First Christian Church, 220 Elm St. or there is a small tub in Fellowship Hall.


Mission News
Free Community Meal
April 29th - Look for details coming soon!
Worship Service
Sundays at
10:30 am
119 4th Ave., Coon Rapids