Rise Above the Spiritual Floods
Did you know the present ground
floors of buildings in Old Sacramento are the original second floors? And, the
present basements are the original ground floors? Amazing! Because of recurring
floods on the first floor level streets of Old Town
We can do wonderful things to transform our
environment or situation to meet our changing needs. We humans are great at
“rising above” challenges and difficulties.
When it comes to our physical existence, we can be very creative and
inventive. But do we pay as much attention to our inner well being? Do we apply
as much creativeness and inventiveness to meeting our psychological challenges?
Often not. Physical needs often make themselves
evident in ways hard to ignore. Spiritual needs can seem easier to put off.
Yet, just as not dealing with the physical challenges of existence can cause
potential problems—such as being overwhelmed by flood waters –so can ignoring spiritual challenges. They can also become a flood that
overwhelms us. Jesus came to teach us, show us, and empower us to live on all
levels of human existence—body, soul, and spirit. Through his spiritual
presence in prayer and worship, in scripture and community, Jesus wants to help
us deal with the challenges of life.
Do you
ever feel overwhelmed by the challenges you must face each day? Don’t ignore
them or put them off. There are creative and inventive answers if you’re
willing to open your mind, soul and heart to His guidance and leading. Let this
Easter season be a time you decide to no longer put off dealing with the issues
of your inner life. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed by a spiritual flood.
Rise above it with the help that Christ gives.
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Holy Week
Activities!
Be sure to mark
your calendars and join us for all the activities coming up in the life of the
church. They begin on Palm Sunday, April 9th, with a procession of the
palms by the children of the church. Practices for children wishing to
participate will be held on Tuesday nights during T.N.T. and on Sunday, April 2, during
Sunday school.
Welcome New Members!
We will receive
new members, Sally Christie and Kathleen Stevans, into our church family
on Palm Sunday. A reception will be held in their honor immediately following
the service. It is our hope and prayer that they feel welcomed and at home in
our church!
A traditional Passover Seder will be held in Koinonia Hall at 7 p.m.,
following a potluck dinner at 6 p.m., on Maundy
Thursday, April 13th. A Passover Seder is a
Jewish religious feast which celebrates when God brought the Hebrew people out
of slavery in
This year Passover and Maundy Thursday will be on the same date, which
happens only every few decades. The Passover Seder at the church will include
traditional Jewish liturgy (readings and prayers) and some traditional Passover
food. The symbolism of the Seder for
both Jews and Christians will be presented.
A potluck meal will be included as part of the Seder,
and the Chancel Choir will perform a special anthem. For more information,
please contact the church office.
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Preparations
are underway for a fun-filled day of Easter Sunday activities and hunting eggs. This
year, the egg hunt will be held on Easter Sunday at noon, following the
Easter Brunch. There will be games and activities to keep the anxious
egg hunters busy until the hunt begins. Younger children will be searching for
eggs in the church yard, while older children will spread out into the open
field to find more. Prizes for golden eggs and finding the most eggs are up for
grabs, so get ready!
Order Your
Easter Lily by April 10
Order forms are available in the Narthex, the church office, and on page 5
of this newsletter for lilies in honor or memory of a loved one. Thanks to all
who help make the sanctuary so beautiful for our Easter service.
See’s Candy Easter Fundraiser to
No need to run to town for Easter Candy this year. The youth of the church will be
selling See’s candy through April 9th for your convenience. When you place an
order with one of the church kids, you’ll be helping them pay for supplies for
their programs and activities at the church.
Youth News
Another yummy Spaghetti dinner is in the works on April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m.
in Koinonia Hall. Proceeds will help kids wanting to attend summer camp at
Westminster Woods. The menu will include spaghetti, bread, salad, drink and
dessert. Tickets are just $6 for adults, $3 for children, and are on sale now
at the church. Mark your calendars, take a chef’s day off, come on down and bring the family.
Hope to see you there!
April 29th 6 AM
Calling all WOW members! You won’t want to miss this event sponsored by
“Youth For Christ” with more than 1,000 youth
attending from 100 churches! How does 4,000 slices of pizza sound? Do you like basketball,
volleyball, swimming, soccer, rock climbing, skateboard park and more at five
separate places in
Calling All Youth! Save the date:
Tuesday, April 25, 2006 @ 6:30 P.M.
in Koinonia Hall
Once again we will make 500 peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches to distribute to the homeless in
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Fees for week-long summer camps are $365 before April 1,
and $390 afterwards, so if you haven’t already sent in your non-refundable
deposit of $75, run over today and pick up a form from the church office to
mail. Registration can be also completed on-line at www.westminsterwoods.org.,
and you may use a credit card to pay camp fees. If you’ve missed early bird
deadline, there’s still time to secure a slot, but you may want to hurry
if your camper likes Buccaneer camp, because there are only 60 slots available
for
Summer wouldn’t be complete without meeting new friends and experiencing
God’s love through the many activities that the Woods offers. Campers from the
church will attend during the week of July 23 – 29, or July 30 – August 5. The
balance is due 30 days before opening day of camp session.
Nurses needed for volunteer service at
Got children who like the great outdoors?
Here's your chance to volunteer and receive camp tuition, including meals, for
yourself and one or two of your children. You will provide normal nursing
duties on an as-needed basis, while enjoying the camp and your child during
your free time.
Nurses will be asked for a resume and references,
and will interview over the phone. Check out www.westminsterwoods.org for
more information, or call 707-874-2426, ext. 0.
Wine Tasting Event
A pleasant afternoon at The Ryde Hotel will be the
setting for a Delta Wine Tasting and Food Sampling event from 1-4 pm, sponsored
by the
Vintners from around the Delta
including Benson Ferry, Bogle, Carvalho, Herzog, Scribner, Six Hands, Watts,
and Wilson will offer their products for your enjoyment. The New Holland Combine, our favorite band
for dancing, romancing, or just plain easy listening, will entertain throughout
the afternoon, and there will be a silent auction of fine art and unique items
that you won’t want to miss. Watch for the beautiful posters we’ll be hanging
around the Delta designed by local artist Michael Pieretti. Tickets will go on
sale the first week of April and can be purchased at the church office, or by
calling 776-2828 The cost is $20 in
advance, or $25 at the door. All proceeds will benefit church programs. Don’t
miss it!
The Roby Family of Montana gave a heart-warming
concert at our church, Tuesday, March 14, and returned the next day to perform
again for choir members and the WOW youth group. The five-member family group
performed a repertoire of traditional and contemporary Christian song,
utilizing both their wide vocal range and a variety of instrumentation. The Tuesday evening audience numbered more
than fifty, including many children from the TNT program, which usually meets
on Tuesday nights. For those that missed
the concert, CD’s are available for purchase from the church office.
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Showers of Blessings
By Debbie Phulps
March has been teasing us, giving us her sunny smile only
to snatch it way with a stormy glance. Each of her moods in its turn bringing
us blessings: rain for the plants, snow for the skiers, warmth for the flowers,
and sun for baseball practice. In March, our congregation was blessed to
receive a visit from the Roby Family of Montana who shared their inspiring
musical ministry - a special treat.
Recently during Sunday worship, a parishioner expressed "what a
blessing the Walnut Grove Church is." I’m sure many would concur; and that
is as it should be. However, I recall an Avery and Marsh lyric: "The
church is not a building. The church is not a steeple. The church is not a
resting place. The Church is a people." Yes, God directly bestows
blessings such as the rain and the sunshine; but God also showers blessings
indirectly, if WE respond. For instance, the Robys did not just drop into
Walnut Grove. They were called, and I don’t mean by some divine, telekinetic
link. Rather, Peter Mondeel, heard their CD while at his sister’s home and
being so inspired, contacted them. As a result of Peter’s response in prayer
and effort, the Robys were in our midst. There is quite a bit of the
Walnut Grove Church which operates in this manner ( PTL ). The callings vary.
Some are big happenings like organizing the Home Tour or conducting the youth
programs. Some are behind-the-scene things like fresh flowers on the communion
table or the repair of a leaky faucet. Some take us far away such as providing
assistance to Katrina survivors. And some take us around the corner like
visiting a shut-in or mailing a card of condolence. The church is individuals
responding to God’s callings. As a result, the Walnut Grove Church is a
blessing to its members and its community. I’ve heard that we are "blessed
to be a blessing." Are YOU listening to God’s call?
God’s blessings abound in the spring rains, the
new grass, a hand to hold, a child’s laugh. God’s blessings are eternal such as
the birth of His son, a stained cross, an empty tomb, life! God has indeed
given us much. In relating the parable of the faithful servant, Luke 12:48
notes, "Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even
more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much. "
Are YOU responding to God’s callings? Be a blessing in some way, every
day.
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Worship Committee News
Summer will be here before you know it, and the
Worship and Music Committee is working out assignments for music during June,
July, and August. First of all, we would like to give our faithful organist
some time off, so if there is someone out there with ability to play the piano
or organ for a service, please let Audrey know. Anyone lurking quietly out
there? Secondly, we’d love to have some special music to minister to our hearts
and souls, so again...if you’re willing to help with that, let us know. Or, if
you know someone who is not a church member but who might be willing to play or
sing, please make that contact for us and let us know. Call Audrey or Pete
Mondeel at (916) 777-5459. Thanks!
Calling all appetites: The traditional Easter
Sunday brunch will be served at 11:30, following morning worship. As in recent years, those hardy individuals
attending the sunrise service in Paul Barnes Park will be served hot coffee and
a snack at around 10 in Koinonia to tide them over. Bring your friends and family to share our
meal and the fun of watching neighborhood kiddies searching for those elusive
Easter eggs. With apologies to the
composer of “Deck the Halls,” we think this is truly the “season to be
jolly”! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Christian Nurture News
Many thanks to Lucy Ishizuka for helping
out with babysitting on Sunday mornings. We sure appreciate you, Lucy! Don’t
mind the high grass in the church yard right before Easter Sunday, as we’ve
asked Larry Horn to hold off on his great job of keeping the yard looking so
nice to allow the grass to grow just past “egg height.” Thanks, Larry! We also thank Malcolm
McCormack for locating some palm branches for the children to wave on Palm
Sunday. Be on the lookout for tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner, and order forms
in the Koinonia for the Easter Candy Sale. We’re hoping to cover our Easter
supplies and some extra to help send some children to summer camp. Next meeting: April 2 following the
service.
Your Session at work…
Plans are underway to lay the foundation for the new basketball court
and fence around the court perimeter. We
are actively seeking a new Facilities chair as we look at upgrades as well as
future plans for the Locke property, plus maintenance for the church and manse.
We sadly accepted the resignation
of Michael Morris, our faithful Memorial Committee Chair. We wish him well on
new challenges that now require more of his time. A big Thanks to Michael for all he’s done for us! He will
be missed.
Financial Report… Expenditures for the first quarter were $6025, and
income was $6272. However, we have some large financial challenges ahead, and
we hope to keep up the good work...and a little prayer helps too!
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The following 2006 church newsletter schedule is to help those who want to
submit items such as articles, lists, event dates, news and information
regarding the many activities of the church.
We hope this will help everyone with their planning so we can continue
as a church to spread the Good News! Thank you, in advance for all your time,
effort, and energy put into God’s service.
January
No newsletter
(Annual Meeting report/pledges due
Jan. 23)
February
January 25, for Feb/March newsletter
March March
24, for April/May newsletter
May May 24, for June/July/August newsletter
August August 23, for Sept/Oct newsletter
October
October 25, for Nov/Dec newsletter
Session:
Class of 2005 Class of 2006
Class of 2007
Vacant Shirley Hobart 776-2828
Pan van Loben Sels
Facilities
Fellowship, Personnel Missions
David LaBahn 776-2598 Lynn Ortega 776-1980
Audrey Mondeel 777-5759
Treasurer, Memorials Christian Education Clerk of Session, Worship/Music
Malcolm McCormack
Financial
Operations 776-1347
Deacons:
Class of 2005 Class of 2006 Class of 2007
Mary Lou Hudson
775-1940 Adrienne
Young 776-1865 Sandy Waterhouse 776-2167
Jerry James 776-1892
Pat Horn 776-4217 Maria Robinson 776-4166
Linda van Loben Sels 776-1223 Lois Gregg 776-1155 Nancy Rutherford 776-9221
Jennifer Thatcher 776-1440
Mary Fulster 776-1281
Joan Hansen 776-4996
Betsy Jenkins 776– 4528
Welcome to our newest Session members: Bill Rutherford and Lynn Ortega,
and our new Deacons: Sandy Waterhouse and Betsy Jenkins. We’re glad to have you
aboard! Many thanks to past Session and
Deacon members who so faithfully served the church.
Session/Deacon’s Retreat
Sunday, April 30 at 12:00 noon
At the McCormack Ranch
Hey, Deacons and Elders, mark your calendars for an afternoon of food,
fellowship and discussion of goals of the church. We’ll meet at the McCormack
Ranch at noon for a potluck luncheon and begin the discussion at 1 p.m. Please
bring your notebook, calendar, and ideas for how the church may serve its
community as we look toward the future. If you can’t attend, please write down
any ideas or suggestions you may have so we can share them at the discussion.
If your last name ends in:
A - L, bring sandwiches or a salad.
Q - Z, bring dessert or beverage.
Hope to see
you all there!
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