Preparing for Sunday
Born around 416, at the end of Roman rule in Britain, the son of a man who was both a Roman Senator and a church deacon, the sixteen-year-old boy was kidnapped from his father’s villa on the western coast of England by Irish pirates. The pirates took him to northeastern Ireland, where he spent six years as a slave herding cattle and sheep. At age twenty-two, he heard a voice saying he would soon escape, and then, the voice told him his ship was ready.
He traveled by foot about two hundred miles to the south to a port, (perhaps Wicklow) where he persuaded the captain of a vessel to take him on board. The sailed for three days and landed in Britain. The entire company walked through a wilderness for 28 days without food. Patrick encouraged the crew to put their faith in God, and prayed for food. Shortly after this, they came across a herd of wild boat, which they killed and ate. Naturally, this greatly increased his reputation - and God’s reputation - among the crew. After some further traveling, he returned to his father’s home and began to study Christianity in depth in France.
A few years later, Patrick had a vision that he received a letter from a group of people in western Ireland asking him to come and walk with them.
His ship landed in Wicklow, but he was not welcomed, so he moved up the coast towards the Dublin area. Soon, the son of a local chieftain had joined him. Over the years, he baptized thousands of people, and, as bishop, he ordained local priests. It is said that he used the three-leaved shamrock to demonstrate the Holy Trinity to people. Today, he is remembered as the man who brought Christianity to Ireland.
After Rome fell in 476, the Romans in Britain and France either returned to Rome or had to fend for themselves as bandits roamed and tribes migrated. It is from Ireland that missionaries were sent throughout the Middle Ages to convert the people of Britain, France, Germany, and the Low Countries of Belgium and The Netherlands, as well as Scandinavia, including Iceland. Without Christian Ireland, Christianity’s progress in Europe would have been set back over 500 years. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Personal
Performed the funeral for Kenny’s father on Monday with Saundra and met many relatives. Tuesday was an intense sermon-writing day.
Saundra had a bout of A-Fib Wednesday evening that started about 5 pm. But, unlike her previous bout, there were no adverse symptoms except that it kept her awake until midnight. She had plenty of energy all day and evening. Apparently, the bout continued until about 5 am -she is able to document her heart rate on her Fitbit watch.
She checked in with her heart doctor on Thursday morning. With her new Watchman device which largely prevents the formation of clots, and her blood thinners (she is bruising very easily!) they said she shouldn’t worry unless it makes her feel bad or it continues for several days. However, that had not stopped her from worrying Wednesday night, so she slept for several hours after talking to her doctor on Thursday morning.
On Friday, she drove to Johnson City, TN to celebrate our great-granddaughter’s first birthday today with our daughter and granddaughters. She’ll return Sunday.
A neat thing: You’ll remember the thunderstorms we had Thursday night? By 7 am Friday, the storms had moved east of us, but radar showed a big mass of storms moving through middle Tennessee and Kentucky. She prayed for a gap in the storms to allow her to reach Johnson City without weather problems. God granted the prayer - no rain except for sprinkles the last five minutes, after she arrived in Johnson City. Isn’t God good?
We do not see God in action because we do not ask for the little things. Ask God for the little things - green traffic lights when you are running late, a found $20 bill in a coat pocket when you need a bit more money, a reminder that God is with you on a tough day, and see what happens!
Remember the Potato Bake coming after services at Cedar Grove, starting around noon.
Next week, Palm Sunday, our confirmation class will graduate.
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
Potato Bake/Bar – After Service (noon), March 17, Cedar Grove Fellowship Hall
Vaught Chapel Egg Hunt – March 23rd, 1 pm at Bob Burwell’s, 2391 Buckner Bend
Palm Sunday – March 24. Includes Confirmation Ceremony
Passover Seder Meal – Thursday, March 28, 6 pm Cedar Grove Fellowship Hall
Good Friday Service – Friday, March 29, 7 pm Vaught Chapel
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
Sermon
“Knowing Jesus” is the sermon this week. Who is Jesus and what did He do for us? And what is the “order of Melchizedek”?
Readings
Old Testament – Jeremiah 31:31-34 - I will write the Law on their hearts.
Psalm – Psalm 51 - Renew the Spirit within me
Epistle – Hebrews 5:5-10 - the order of Melchizedek
Gospel – John 12:20-33 - Greeks ask to see Jesus
Songs
Warmup Song “Shout to the Lord” SCREEN
Vaught – “Crown Him with many Crowns” UMH 327
Praise Song: – “That’s Why we Praise Him” SCREEN
Hymn: “Grace, Greater than our Sin” UMH 345
Vaught – “Cleanse me” UMH 252
Hymn: “Blessed Assurance” UMH 369
Closing Hymn – “Victory in Jesus” UMH 370
Vaught – “My Faith Look Up to Thee” UMH 452