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From the Pastor

I imagine most or all of us are familiar with the story known as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)! If you are, which son do you most identify with? The younger son who took his inheritance and then squandered it? Or the elder son who did everything right, but felt like a slave of his Father? These are two different ways of engaging our Christianity -- to abandon it and God OR to live obediently but w/o a connection to God's love and grace. Both are ways in which we get lost from God and the truth of our belovedness. 


This story invites us to ponder on 'coming to our senses' in our personal lives and in our society. What have been those moments for you? Are you in need of a 'coming to your senses' moment in any area of your life right now? I hope you'll join us on Sunday for 9:30 a.m. Worship and Community as we reflect on this story and enjoy being together.

Meanwhile, here's a blessing I discovered that I hope blesses you:


Karla


Stop. Turn around. Be reconciled. Change. 

by Steve Givens

May God bless us in our stopping, in our listening to a gentle inner voice that says: “Enough! This is not the way.” That says: “You know better than this. There is no life in this. Stop doing what you hate and what destroys.”


May God bless us in our turning, in the effort it takes to switch direction when we would rather not, and head in the direction of a home we know we can trust, back to the arms of a forgiving God, a slow and steady movement to an unchanging changer who is also the all-forgiving giver of everything that is good and holy and right.


May God bless us on our journey back to reconciliation and forgiveness, beaten down and tired and hungry and aching as we are, longing for something we know only God can give.


May God bless us as we arise each day and seek to find the holy and the sacred in the ordinary and mundane, as well as in the extraordinary. May we see them all as gift and may we trust God to give us what we need each day as we raise our hands in gratitude for all we have been given and in sorrow for all the ways we have failed to recognize a God who is so clearly evident.


May God bless us and by doing so transform us into God’s own image, full of mercy and healing and service and love. May we be perfectly compassionate as God is perfect in compassion.  



(https://givenscreative.com/2022/03/a-blessing-for-prodigals-like-us/)


On March 30 the United Church of Christ recognizes One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday. This is one of four special mission offerings of the UCC. This Lenten offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the UCC within Wider Church Ministries. Please make checks out to Zwingli with OGHS in the memo line and Zwingli will send it on to the UCC. Thank you for supporting this very important mission of Zwingli.

Looking for an opportunity to express your opinion on US public policy?


As a member of the United Church of Christ, Zwingli is supported with resources by our national offices. Among these resources is an Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington DC. This Office gives information to understand the issues and legislation -- and the ability to easily express our opinion to our political leaders. Go to this website to access these opportunities to express yourself (if you do not have a computer, check out your local library). 


We will update this announcement with new opportunities (as they are added - bolded) so you can know the current issues you can respond to. You can also get alerts in your inbox by signing up here. Currently, there are opportunities to express your opinion on: Support for Humanitarian Aid and Peace-making is non-negotiable; Protect Govt Funding; Protect DEI; Protect Medicare and Food Stamps; Protect Trans, Nonbinary and Intersex Civil Rights; .,Protect Everyday Consumers; Have a Heart for God's Planet; Foreign Aid; Federal Funding Freeze; Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking; Immigration Policies; Trans Protection; Voting Rights; Affordable Internet; Indian Boarding Schools; and Military Aid to Israel. We know that some of you want to put your faith beliefs in action and hope those of you who wish to advocate find this resource useful.


 
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Zwingli United Church of Christ

www.paoliucc.com

https://www.facebook.com/zwingliuccpaoli/

zwingliuccpaoli@gmail.com

PO Box 530, Belleville, WI 53508


 
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"A small church with a big

and open heart!"


Pastor

Rev. Karla Schmidt

pastor.zwingliuccpaoli@gmail.com

608-572-4557



Kathie Wagner, Administrative Assistant

zwingliuccpaoli@gmail.com

Phone: 608-845-5641