Preparing for Sunday
Last evening, as we were getting ready for bed, I happened to check my phone for the news. There were three main stories.
First, there was the news that Representative Gallagher, chair of the House China Select Committee, was resigning from Congress on April 19 of this year because so many people had criticized him for not supporting the impeachment of the Homeland Secretary, despite the fact that he had successfully negotiated a ban on Tik-Tok that made it through the House of Representatives. Plus, in the story it also mentioned that the chair of the House Appropriations Committee would also be leaving before the end of her term. It was another example, as former Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan wrote a couple weeks ago, of “the doctors leaving the asylum”. Gallagher’s resignation will leave the Republicans with a single vote advantage over the Democrats, which pretty much means that little of substance will get accomplished in Congress through the next election except those things that can win bi-partisan support - which may not be all bad.
The second story was the massacre at the concert in Moscow. ISIS - the Islamic State - has claimed responsibility, which the US government confirms. The Russians claim that there were ties to Ukraine. Ukraine’s military intelligence says the gunmen were probably a Russian secret operation to create anger at Ukraine. Whoever is ultimately responsible, over 110 people died and another 145 or so were injured, with more deaths expected over the next couple of days. In the context of Russian support for the Palestinians and Iran and their allies, it reminded me that it is easier to destroy than to build, that killing continues around the world whether or not a state of war exists, for people hold grudges and have forgotten how to forgive. The Islamic State grievances against Putin and Russia go back twenty years to the Chechen War, where Russia invaded the small territory which was once part of the Soviet Union and majority Moslem.
And the third story was the announcement by Princess Kate, Prince William’s wife that after her abdominal surgery it was discovered that she had cancer and is now undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Our myth is that nice, beautiful, wealthy people, especially those smart women who marry a prince and have three beautiful children, will never have problems, especially health problems. After all, Queen Elizabeth II died in her late nineties, about the same age her husband Prince Philip died. We forget that the late Queen’s father died at age 56 - but that was from lung cancer and he was always a heavy smoker. And so we’ve taken this idea that it is only our vices that cause us health problems at young ages - It is smoking, drinking, drugs, STD’s, or the hard work and stress of being poor that harms our health.
Yet, Princess Kate didn’t appear to have any vices - She attended Cambridge University, which is the British equivalent of Yale, and meant she was raised wealthy and was smart. There has never been any scandal about her. She appears to be an excellent mother, and is loved by the British people. She seems to have been fit and healthy - the type of woman who we would expect to drink a class of red wine while eating a 4-ounce steak, asparagus, and a salad - no dessert, please! She regularly attends church services with her family. So what went wrong, we ask?
The answer, my friends, is that “it rains on the just and unjust alike.” Doing the “right” things doesn’t assure us of a trouble-free life. It only reduces the chances of trouble. But trials and tribulations come to all people. The large advantage of the Christian believer is not the lack of trouble, but the understanding that the troubles of this life are temporary and pass, because all people die eventually. In the long sweep of history which God looks at, what is the difference in a thousand years about whether a particular person lives 96 years, 56 years, 40 years, 20 years, or 3 months? All are born, live, and die. “But those who wait upon the Lord, they will rise up like eagles.” Eternal life comes to those who accept that Jesus is truly Son of God, God walking upon the earth, and choose to follow Him.
For this week, as Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem to great fanfare, we must remember that He was only about 33 years old when He died on the cross. But then, He came alive again. And we who follow Him will also live again in the flesh.
And on days when the politics are in turmoil, when bombings and mass killings happen in the most controlled of all societies, and even the “beautiful people” face cancer diagnosis and their own mortality - Jesus’ promise of eternal life to those who follow Him sets all things right and gives us peace.
Personal
This week there is not much to tell. In addition to the normal events, I traveled to Ripley’s Epworth UMC for a clergy meeting. Spent considerable time preparing for the events of Holy Week.
Please pray for Jean Huber, in the hospital.
Weekly Schedule
· Sundays, 9:00 AM – Worship at Vaught Chapel with Facebook Live. Sunday School follows
· Sundays, 9:00 AM – Radio broadcast of previous week’s sermon, WVVV-FM 96.9 FM. Also available on Tune-in App and in emailed podcast.
· Sundays, 9:30 AM – Sunday School at Cedar Grove UMC
· Sundays, 10:30 AM – Worship at Cedar Grove UMC with Facebook Live.
· Sundays, 2:00 PM – Worship at Cedar Grove Assisted Living (Except 3rd Sundays)
· Sundays, 6:00 PM - Questions and Answers with light meal in Fellowship Hall
· Mondays, 7:00 PM - Help & Hope - Support Group for parents of addicts at Cedar Grove UMC
· Wednesdays, 7:00 PM – Bible Study and Discussion at Cedar Grove UMC
Monthly Meetings
· 1st Tuesday, 9:00 AM – Breakfast at Cheryl’s, all welcome
· 1st Tuesday, 7:00 PM – Amateur Radio Club Meeting, Cedar Grove UMC
· 2nd Thursdays, 12:30 PM – United Methodist Women, Cedar Grove UMC
· 3rd Mondays, 10:00 AM – CEOS Service Group, Cedar Grove UMC
· 3rd Thursdays, 6:00 PM – CEOS Group, Vaught Chapel
· 4th Monday, 7:00 PM, Odd -numbered months – Administrative Council, Vaught Chapel
· Last Tuesday, 6:30 PM – Finance Committee, Cedar Grove
· Last Tuesday, 7:00 PM – Administrative Council, Cedar Grove
· 4th Thursday, - Gideon’s, Cedar Grove – See Brooks Layman for details
Special Upcoming Events
Vaught Chapel Egg Hunt, Saturday March 23 (Today) at Bob Burwell’s home on Buckner Bend Road at 1 pm.
Palm Sunday – March 24. Includes Confirmation Ceremony at Cedar Grove
Passover Seder Meal – Thursday, March 28, 6 pm Cedar Grove Fellowship Hall (Family Friendly - bring kids and grandkids. Adults will enjoy the teaching about the meal that became the Last Supper and Holy Communion. Kids will enjoy the games.)
Good Friday Service – Friday, March 29, 7 pm Vaught Chapel - What happened the last day before Jesus was laid in the tomb?
Easter Sunday – March 31.
- 7 am Sunrise Service at Cedar Grove
- 8 am Breakfast at Cedar Grove Fellowship Hall
- 9 am – Regular Service at Vaught Chapel
- 9:30 am – Sunday School at Cedar Grove
- 10:15 am – Sunday School at Vaught Chapel
- 10:30 am – Regular Service at Cedar Grove
Vaught Chapel Women’s Retreat – April 13, 10 am to 2 pm, Saundra Speaking
Cedar Grove Spring Sale – May 2nd & 3rd, Fellowship Hall
Mother’s Day – May 10
Pentecost Sunday, May 19
Annual Conference, Buckhannon, June 6-9
Sermon
“Holy Week Begins” What happened after Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?
Readings
Old Testament – Mark 11:1-11 - Jesus arrives in Jerusalem
Psalm – Psalm 118 - Let us rejoice and be glad
Epistle – Philippians 2:5-11 - Humble yourself like Jesus did
Gospel – Mark 14:1-15 - Mary anoints Jesus, and the Passover Meal
Songs
Warmup Song “He has Made Me Glad (I Will Enter His Gates)” SCREEN
Vaught – “I will Enter His Gates” Blue 64
Praise Song: – ““Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” UMH 278
Hymn: “Come, Let us Use the Grace Divine” UMH 606
Vaught – “Jesus, Name above All Names” Blue 1
Hymn: “Wash , O God, Our Sons and Daughters” UMH 605 (Cedar Grove)
Hymn: “Tell me the Stories of Jesus” UMH 277
Hymn Vaught – “My Jesus, I Love Thee” UMH 172
Closing Hymn – “Thank You Jesus for the Blood Applied (Charity Gale)” SCREEN
Vaught – “O, How I Love Jesus” UMH 170