Longwood continues to fill our pulpit from within our congregation plus have recently benefited from a retired pastor in Marshall, Rev. Dr. David Van Horn. Rev. Van Horn is from the Disciples of Christ Church, and will be with us part time through at least until Memorial Day. Here is our current plan for pulpit supply.
March 14—Rev. Van Horn (reminder, time changes this morning!)
March 21—Worship at regular time (10:15), with “The Message” an open study of the lectionary readings.
March 28 (Palm Sunday)—Rev. Van Horn
April 2 (Good Friday)—Rev. Van Horn, 7:00 p.m.
April 4 (Easter Sunday)—Rev. Van Horn, 7:30 a.m. (almost a Sunrise Service), with breakfast to follow (and of course, an egg hunt!)
April 11 and 25—Rev. Van Horn,
May 9 and 23—Rev. Van Horn
(Sundays after Easter and in between Rev. Van Horn’s services, will be led by elders in the church with an open study of the lectionary like on March 21)
We will have a TCSM council meeting at Longwood, with Range Line (date set for March 29, but may change). More information will follow in the April 2021 Newsletter about pastor search.
LPC Presbyterian Women
I am delighted to say that our PW meetings will begin again on Wednesday, April 14th. We will give further details later.
We are also looking forward to Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 am with a breakfast to follow. We plan to serve breakfast casseroles, biscuits & gravy, & sweet breads or rolls. We always have a nice assortment of things to offer. Our cooks come up with some delicious offerings. We hope everyone will join us. I’m sure there will be an Easter egg hunt for the young ones too. Blessings to all. Sharon
LPC Youth Sunday School
Sunday school is having lots of fun lately. For February, the kids made valentines and sent them to the folks at Golden Oaks Nursing home. It sounds like it was a great joy for both the senders and the recipients. I’ve heard it was such a hit that Teacher Becky is planning on another project for Easter. Staying connected with all ages is a wonderful thing!
Becky, thanks to you and your Sunday school class—great ideas! JR
Cares and Concerns
Please keep all of our church families in prayer. Remember, those who are in the nursing homes always enjoy greeting cards:
Concerns from Both LPC & RLPC:
- Bill & Margaret Schlomer at Golden Oaks
- Helen Coffelt, at Sylvia Thompson
- Georgia Reid, at Golden Oaks
- Jeff Barnes’ ankle
- Mary Kirchhoff at Golden Oaks
- Patricia Brouillette, and family
Thank You
The family of Bob Schlomer would like to thank everyone for all the kindnesses and support that you have shown us. Your outpouring of love and grace has meant so much to us. Thank you, Bill & Margaret, Kim, Dave, Becky & Jeff and our families.
Sympathy
Our prayers go out to the Johnson family for the loss of Elijah Johnson (Delbert & Amy’s son). He will be missed by many.
From the Internet:
Editors’ comment: Thanks to all who have contributed to the following interesting stories, quips and quotes.
Submitted by Charles Lawrence:
Back Home!
If I had the power to turn back the clock,
Go back to that house at the end of the block--
The house that was HOME when I was a kid,
I know that I’d love it more now than I did
If I could be back there at my mother’s knee,
And hear once again all the things she told me,
I’d listen as I never listened before,
For she knew so well just what life had in store.
And all the advice my dad used to give,
His voice I’ll remember as long as I live;
But it didn’t seem really important then;
What I’d give just to live it all over again.
And what I’d give for the chance I once had,
To do so much more for my mother and dad;
To give them more joy and a little less pain;
A little more sunshine—a little less rain.
But the years roll on and we cannot go back,
Whether we were born in a mansion or in a shack;
But we can start right now—in the hour that’s here,
To do something more for the ones we hold dear.
And since time in its flight is traveling so fast;
Let’s not spend it regretting that which is past;
But let’s make tomorrow a happier day
By doing our “good to others”—TODAY.
Author Unknown.
We all have a past. We all have made choices that maybe weren’t the best ones. None of us are completely innocent, but we all get a fresh start every day to be a better person than we were yesterday.
Jesus didn’t die for us so that we could continue treating people the way people treated him. (read again and again…)
The first duty of Love is to Listen.—The Simplicity Habit.
Stand for what is right, even if it means standing alone.—Clergy Coaching Network
We are closer to God when we are asking questions, than when we think we have the answers.—Abraham Joshua Heschel
In a world there everything can be bought and sold, Integrity is Priceless—Clergy Coaching Network
Don’t give your past the power to define your future.
Pray so big and so often that when God meets you at Heaven’s gate, He says with a smile, “Kid, you kept me very busy.”
People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved and people are being used. --Clergy Coaching Network.
Charles, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, maybe 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company, and obviously demonstrating their “Older Person Friendly” policies.
One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. “Charles, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic. You do a bang-up job when you finally get here, but your being late so often is quite bothersome.”
“Yes sir, I know, and I’m working on it.”
“Well good, you are a team player. That’s what I like to hear.”
“Yes sir, I understand your concern and I’ll try harder.”
Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “It’s odd though, you’re coming in late. I know you’re retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning so late and so often?”
The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin, “They usually saluted and said: ‘Good morning, General, can I get your coffee, sir?”
The mark of a great church is not how many people come, but how many people live differently for having been there. —Clergy Coaching Network
Make sure everybody in your “boat” is rowing and not drilling holes when you’re not looking. Know your circle.
Planting a tomato garden (you may have heard this story before): An old man wanted to plant a tomato garden, but it was difficult work as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son:
Dear Vincent: I am feeling sad because I will not be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m too old already. I know if you were here, you would happily dig the plot for me like in the old days. Love Papa.
A few days later, he received a letter from his son: Dear Papa, do not dig up that garden; that’s where I buried the money. Love, Vinnie.
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any money. They apologized to the old man and left. That day, he received another letter from his son; Dear Papa: Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances. Love Vinnie.
Fear does not stop death. It stops life. And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.
Falling in Love is easy, but staying in Love is very special! Clergy Coaching Network
I always knew I’d get old. How fast it happened was a bit of a surprise, though.
Straight from the "Ron A." humor department:
We’ve recently learned, (probably from DNA testing discoveries) that the family name of “Yoda”, one of the characters from the movie, “Star Wars”, is actually, “Layheehooo.”.
All together now, “Yoda Layheehoo”
Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant. There will always be someone out there who needs what you have to give. (Thanks, Ron. We needed that!)