Friends and Members:
When one can begin to see the twilight down the road a ways one becomes more reflective on this seeming long journey of professional life. As we come this Sunday to Palm Sunday, I have thought about a number of special Palm Sundays of the past. I cannot share all or most of them here but would like to share three settings for this special day. We lived in Arizona for eight years and there some of the palm trees grow about 8 feet tall and are covered with many branches. Cutting them to decorate was easy and they were full and beautiful and fresh. We would then take them and decorate the sanctuary in so many special ways with palms on the end of pews and walls and doors and of course displayed on the altar. Then there were many to give to everyone attending. These times are special in my memories. Here at Bethlehem the decorations have been special also. I remember one Palm Sunday when our grandson (now the manager of a business in Northern Virginia) read the scriptures while our grand daughter (now a first year student at the University of South Carolina) rode upon the wooden donkey as it was pulled down the aisle. Finally during the COVID spring of 2020, when we were not allowed to have worship, I bought palm branches and delivered them to every church member and regular worship attendees, I would knock on their door and wearing a mask either hand them a palm or leave them on the door or porch. It took about 4 hours but was such a special experience. As I drove from home to home I could just hear that wonder phrase we apply to the first Palm Sunday, “Ride On, Ride On!” What a joy to have such special memories. The disciples had a great memory also as the scripture tells us…”When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:" Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday, April 10th— 10:30 am Palm Sunday
Scriptures: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19:28-40
Sermon: “Into Jerusalem”
11:30 am –Church Council Meeting
Sunday, April 17th—Easter Service 10:30 am
Saturday, May 21st—Spring Bazaar - Flyers and Quilt Raffle Tickets are available
Sunday, May 29th—10:30 am memorial Day Worship in the Stone Church
Proverb for the Week: “A person’s spirit sustains them in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
Proverbs 18:14
Bob Edwards, Minister
When one can begin to see the twilight down the road a ways one becomes more reflective on this seeming long journey of professional life. As we come this Sunday to Palm Sunday, I have thought about a number of special Palm Sundays of the past. I cannot share all or most of them here but would like to share three settings for this special day. We lived in Arizona for eight years and there some of the palm trees grow about 8 feet tall and are covered with many branches. Cutting them to decorate was easy and they were full and beautiful and fresh. We would then take them and decorate the sanctuary in so many special ways with palms on the end of pews and walls and doors and of course displayed on the altar. Then there were many to give to everyone attending. These times are special in my memories. Here at Bethlehem the decorations have been special also. I remember one Palm Sunday when our grandson (now the manager of a business in Northern Virginia) read the scriptures while our grand daughter (now a first year student at the University of South Carolina) rode upon the wooden donkey as it was pulled down the aisle. Finally during the COVID spring of 2020, when we were not allowed to have worship, I bought palm branches and delivered them to every church member and regular worship attendees, I would knock on their door and wearing a mask either hand them a palm or leave them on the door or porch. It took about 4 hours but was such a special experience. As I drove from home to home I could just hear that wonder phrase we apply to the first Palm Sunday, “Ride On, Ride On!” What a joy to have such special memories. The disciples had a great memory also as the scripture tells us…”When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:" Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday, April 10th— 10:30 am Palm Sunday
Scriptures: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19:28-40
Sermon: “Into Jerusalem”
11:30 am –Church Council Meeting
Sunday, April 17th—Easter Service 10:30 am
Saturday, May 21st—Spring Bazaar - Flyers and Quilt Raffle Tickets are available
Sunday, May 29th—10:30 am memorial Day Worship in the Stone Church
Proverb for the Week: “A person’s spirit sustains them in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
Proverbs 18:14
Bob Edwards, Minister