See You for Mother’s Day Sunday!

Happy Thursday Church!

How all my “sheep” doin?  I hope that your week has given you opportunity to lie down in green pastures and drinking from still waters.  Big thanks you to everyone who made Good Shepherd Sunday so meaningful. I don’t know if I told you but I am not overly fond of that designation for me as pastor.  I prefer to think of myself as a gardener and you as the flowers. I know it’s not biblical, but it suits me and suits you.  A big surprise came to me on Sunday morning.  Did you know that we have a “Grand Champion” lamb owner in our congregation?  In 1964, Sylvia Shelley’s lamb, Speedy Gonzalez, was crowned Grand Champion at her local fair.  Her little lamb was auctioned off for 390.00 which made a huge dent in Sylvia’s college tuition. We salute you, Syliva, as our own precious shepherdess.

This coming week, we will be back in John’s Gospel, 14:15-21.  This passage is full of affirmations for our short journey to Pentecost which we will celebrate on May 24th.  I hope you and your family will be in worship with us this weekend, either in-person or online.  Click on the link below to read through our scripture passage.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John 14%3A15-21&version=NRSVUE

As a young 13 year old, I was asked at a youth Bible study … “What is Love?”  The group in attendance offered the usual responses—affection, compassion, putting others before yourself … you get the idea.  I remembered one of the verses from our passage. Verse 15.

“If you love me keep my commandments.”

So, I popped up and proclaimed … obedience. I remember the youth director leading the study, looked at me great surprise. It seems, my statement stole his thunder, as my answer was what he was hoping we would arrive at after an hour or so of group study.  When you think about it … obedience is a huge part of love, especially the divine love we are given through our relationship with God and with each other.

We are on the heels of summer. I think it is going to be a great summer for us as a church.  I hope that during these months we all learn something new about who we are and what we are called to do.  When you are in town, I encourage you to make Sunday worship part of your summertime routine.  Typically, things slow down a bit during these months, but I say this year … “Hang On!”  God is going to do a new thing.  Until Sunday, know that I love being your pastor/shepherd/gardener!  

Holding you close and lifting you high!

Pastor Greg

Special Days v Every day.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, so of course it has been on my mind a lot this week as we plan a great day for Kendra (and on Saturday for my own mom). Of course, Kendra is so amazing, that every day she deserves to be loved and praised. I’m sure you feel the same way about the mother figures in your life. So, it’s a tension between setting aside this one day to honor and not forgetting she’s amazing every day.

The same can be true of our worship for God. We set aside Sundays as a day of worship, but of course God is worth loving and praising and talking to everyday. We set aside one day of the year to remember the resurrection, but what are we missing if we don’t think about and live out that resurrection every day. The special days serve as an amplified reminder of how we should be living every day.

Greetings from Outreach

First a HUGE thank you for all the amazing gifts you provided for the April Basket of Hope, benefitting Alabaster Jar Project. Your generosity was overwhelming. You bring Hope to the survivors who are guests at the Grace House! Thank you, thank you!

For May, our generous Basket of Hope will benefit Abraxas High Schools’s food pantry. Many students rely on this pantry for nutritious meals. We want to help fill the pantry with items that the students can take home before their three-week summer break.

Abraxas High School is a continuation high school that serves students who need an educational environment that is smaller and more flexible than a traditional high school. In addition, they offer an Adult Transition Program designed to enhance and promote greater independence of practical life skills for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Groceries needed:

Shelf stable milk

Boxed cereal

Pasta, rice, dried beans

Jarred pasta sauce

Canned chicken, tuna, low sodium Spam

Canned soup, chili, vegetables

Instant potatoes

Gift cards in $25 denominations for

Stater Brothers, Walmart or Albertsons/Vons

Gift cards for fast food including Subway, Chipotle, Habit, In and Out or Pizza

Books & More

On Tuesday, May 12, Books and More will start reading “West with Giraffes”.

Author Lynda Rutledge tells a story that is part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.

Everyone is welcome to join this wonderful group of ladies every Tuesday in the Fireside Room at 10 a.m.

Thank you for checking out our BUZZ! Here is what you were waiting for! If you have a favorite quote or any tips to make the BUZZ even better, please send emails to julie@ccpucc.org :)

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