ECUMENICAL LENTEN SERIES – This year we are making an effort to restart our Wednesday prayer service and lunch during Lent. Three of our community churches will be participating-First United Methodist Church, St. Mary’s Church, and the Greenbush Reformed Church. A short worship service will begin at 12:00 Noon each Wednesday, 3/1-3/29, at the United Methodist Church (1 Gilligan Road in East Greenbush). Prayer Service will center around meditations by Michael Kelly Blanchard entitled ‘Waiting At the Station’ which is based on the mysteries of the Stations of the Cross. Lunches will be very simple as we try to restart this program inclusive of soup, bread, dessert, and beverages. GRC will host the lunch on March 15, 2023. A signup sheet is located on the glass cabinet in lobby of sanctuary for desserts and volunteers for 3/15. Both the service and the lunch will take place in the fellowship hall of the First Methodist Church.
MAUNDY THURSDAY SEDER-Thursday, April 6, 2023, at the Christian Education Center in Chilton Hall. We will gather at 5:30 PM and the Seder will begin at 5:45 PM. Traditionally, our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate the Festival of Passover by hosting a Seder (often in their homes) which retells the story of the Exodus using various symbolic foods. It was during one such Seder that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. (It’s important for us to remember that Jesus was Jewish.) We will remember this event by celebrating our own Seder followed by the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Seders are normally family events so children are invited to join us! Dinner is included! (Child-friendly food will also be available) So that we can ensure there is enough room and food for all, a sign-up sheet is located on the glass cabinet in the lobby of the sanctuary or you may sign up by contacting the church office.
EASTER SUNDAY – April 9, 2022. Sunday School Classes, Children and Worship, and Godly Play programs will not meet. At 7:00 AM we will gather for a Family Sunrise Service to recall some of the stories that might have been on the minds of the women (and our minds too!) as they travel to Jesus’ tomb. The service will begin in the cemetery behind the church, weather permitting, and then move into Chilton Hall of the Christian Education Building. It will be followed by a light breakfast. At our 9:30 AM worship service we will celebrate the resurrection.
“MEETING JESUS AT THE TABLE”-It’s interesting to note how often Jesus’ ministry occurred at a dinner table. During our Sunday morning worship, Pastor Dave will be reflecting on a number of these stories using a book by Cynthia Campbell and Christine Fohr. If you would like to follow along using this book as part of your Lenten devotionals, copies of the book are available on the glass cabinet in sanctuary lobby. A $14 donation is requested for each copy (or any amount you can afford). If we run out, please add your name to the sign-up sheet and we will order more copies.
Schedule for topics: Chapter 2 on 2/26/23, Chapter 3 on 3/5/23, Chapter 4 on 3/12/23, Chapter 5
on 3/19/23, Chapter 6 on 3/26/23, Chapter 7 on 4/2/23, Chapter 8 on 4/9/23
THE ADULT CHRISTIAN ED CLASS WILL STUDY “WITNESS AT THE CROSS” DURING LENT. A BOOK AND DVD STUDY BY AMY-JILL LEVINE. The class meets every Sunday at the conference table in the church lounge from 10:50-11:30 AM. Ms. Levine is the Professor of New Testament and Jewish studies at Harford Seminary and University. During this study, Ms. Levine will ‘take us by the hand and walk us through the crucifixion story, pausing alongside each of the characters gathered there to see and hear and feel how they individually experienced this horrific event and how they were affected by it.”
LENT/HOLY WEEK PLANNING COMMITTEE: Next meeting on March 8, 6:30 PM