3.31 - UMM Yard Sale (Noon-5 p.m.)

4.1 - UMM Yard Sale (6 a.m.-noon)

4.2 - Communion Sunday

4.3 - Prime Timers

4.9 - Palm Sunday

4.9 - Egg Hunts

4.9 - UMM Noon Meeting

4.13 - W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Day

4.13 - Holy Thursday Service

4.14 - Good Friday Service

4.15 - Joy for Johnny

4.16 - Easter Services

4.21 - Women’s Retreat Begins

4.23 - UMW Noon Meeting

4.24 - Friendship S.S. Supper

Life Lines MILLBROOK FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

April 2017

Take Up Your Cross By Pastor Jerry

Greetings in the name of our Risen King and Savior. As I was preparing to write this letter to you, I experienced one of the most powerful events of the day. It’s an event that happens every day, but we rarely pay attention to it or celebrate it. However, if it didn’t happen the world would as we know it would die. I watched the sun rise up, and scatter the darkness. How awesome! But even more glorious was what it called to my mind, the Resurrection of King Jesus, the one who rose from the dark dungeon of evil by the power of God, and scattered the forces of darkness forever. Now we are blessed with the gift of walking in the light of the Risen Son. What a different world it would be without the Resurrection of our King Jesus. Thanks be to the God who has blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. I recently read a statistic that shocked me. The researchers stated only two out 100 people who have been given the gift knowing the Risen Jesus will invite someone

Upcoming Events

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We are going to have an informational meeting on Sunday, April 2nd at 5 p.m. Both parents and youth need to come. After our informational meeting, we will continue to meet on Sunday evenings at 5:00 pm until the confirmation worship service on Pentecost Sunday, June 4th.

If you have any questions or know anyone that is interested, please call Pastor Jerry at 850-326-1373.

Holy Week The week of Christian observances leading to Easter Sunday begins with Palm Sunday and progresses through Holy or Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Holy Week is a time of fasting, reading, and prayers in which we pay particular attention to the final days, suffering, and execution of Jesus.

Palm Sunday The Sunday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.

Holy Thursday The Thursday of Holy Week is the day on which the Last Supper and the institution of the Lord's Supper is commemorated. Holy Thursday is also referred to as Maundy Thursday.

Good Friday Service

The word "tenebrae" comes from the Latin meaning "darkness." The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus' burial.

This increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus' death and of hopelessness in the world without God. The service concludes in darkness, sometimes with a final candle, the Christ candle, carried out of the sanctuary, symbolizing the death of Jesus. A loud noise may also sound symbolizing the closing of Jesus' tomb. The worshipers then leave in silence to ponder the impact of Christ's death and await the coming Resurrection.

Easter Sunday Focusing on Christ's resurrection and ascension, Easter is the most joyous day of the Christian year. We celebrate the good news that in Christ’s death and resurrection we are continually being made new by God’s love and saving grace. The Easter Season, also known as Eastertide or the Great Fifty Days, begins on Easter Day and ends on Pentecost.

CONFIRMATION CLASS

Holy Week 101: What Do The Services Mean?

Making Disciples of All People

Psalms 31

In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed;

Deliver me in Your righteousness.

Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge,

A fortress of defense to save me.

(Continued from page 1) to come to church with them this year. Only two people. I hope and pray they made a mistake in their research. Why, because to invite a precious soul to come to church with us is like being a door that opens the way for someone to experience the many gifts God wants to pour into their lives, the gift of becoming a follower of the Risen Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life. I want to ask you a question; I often ask myself. If everyone in the church invited others to come like I do, what kind of church would we have? As you make plans for Easter, pray and plan to invite someone to come church with you. The last assignment Jesus gave us was to make disciples of all people. Every time we invite it gives glory

to God. Speaking of making disciples, we are now ready to launch what I consider one of the great joys of being a Pastor, leading our confirmation class. So it is with great joy that I extend this personal invitation to any of our middle school or high school youth who want to join our confirmation class. Confirmation is a great and joyous time in the life of our congregation because it gives our youth time to be with their Pastor and discuss what it means to be a Christian, how we live out our faith in the church and the world, answer God’s call to service, make new friends, and claim the faith. We are going to have an informational meeting on Sunday, April 2, at 5 p.m. Both parents and youth need to come. After our

meeting, we will continue to meet on Sundays at 5 p.m., and then have the confirmation worship service on Pentecost Sunday, June 4. At the meeting, Jared and I will share an outline of the schedule and expectations for parents and youth. If you come to the meeting, it does not mean you are making a commitment. It’s simply a time for you to see if you want to make the journey with us. Know that as you consider being part of our class that I am praying for you. If you have any questions please call me at 850-326-1373. Congregation, thanks for your generosity. You are making a difference. When I think of you, I praise God for the privilege of serving with you for such a great cause. I’ll see you this Sunday at the church where God’s love is made real.

REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED

Millbrook FUMC volunteers help out at the local food pantry every second Thursday of the month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are always need volunteers even if you can’t stay the full time. You can those in our community who are need of food for their families, Call the church office at 285-4114.

Volunteers are needed for our new home bound visitation ministry to reach out to those in our community who need help.

Please call Rhonda Flanagan @ 334-285-9375, or Tom Tucker @ 334-285-0698 if you are interested in being a part of this ministry.

W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Food Pantry Ministry

Homebound Minis-try Visitation Program

Check your calendar, and save the date now as we plan a week-end retreat to focus on Living a Life of Worship - a Bible Study based on Sarah Young's Jesus Calling series. You can join us the whole weekend ($125 in-cludes all meals, lodging, and facilities) or just come during the days for $50 (lunches and facili-ties). Registration has begun. You can register at www.mfumc.org or by calling the church. For more in-formation, contact Cala Obenauf (430-1261) or Jacki Smith (285-4114)

Women’s Conference To Focus on “Jesus Calling” Series

Joy for Johnny Respite Program

Volunteers are needed in April for the upcoming Joy for Johnny program. Families receive respite care and a special evening for four hours for their special needs child and his or her siblings. If you can help, contact program leader Vanessa Brandau at vbrandau@ucpcentralalabama.org

This Month at Millbrook FUMC:

Sunday Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 UMM Yard Sale

2-Communion Sunday 3:00 Grief Share 5:00 pm Confirmation Class

3 9:30 am Monday Morning Prayer Group 10:30 am Prime Timers 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

4 6:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Front Porch Grill) 6:00 pm Cub Scouts

5 5:00 pm Supper 5:45 Devotional Speaker 6:00 pm Children’s and Youth Activities 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Praise Team Practice

6 6:00 PM Trustees Meeting

7 8

9– Palm Sunday Noon UMM Meeting 3:00 Grief Share 4:00 pm Egg Hunt 5:00 pm Confirmation Class 7:00 pm Neon Egg Hunt

10 9:30 am Monday Morning Prayer Group 6:00 pm Boy Scouts 6:00 pm Lillian Hancock Circle

11 6:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Front Porch Grill) 6:00 pm Cub Scouts

12 5:00 pm Supper 5:45 Devotional Speaker 6:00 pm Children’s and Youth Activities 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Praise Team

13 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Volunteer @ WELCOME 7:00 pm Holy Thursday Service

14 7:00 pm Good Friday Service

15 4:00 Joy for Johnny

16– Easter Sunday 6:00 am Sunrise Service (Pancake Breakfast following the Sunrise Service) 8:15 Communion Service 9:15 Traditional Service 10:45 Traditional & Contemporary Services

17 Office closed for Easter 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

18 6:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Front Porch Grill) 9:30 Doris Cobb Circle 1:30 Suzanna Wesley Circle 6:00 pm Cub Scouts 6:30 pm SPRC Committee

19 5:00 pm Supper 5:45 Devotional Speaker 6:00 pm Children’s and Youth Activities 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Praise Team

20 6:30 Communication Action Team Meeting

21 Woman's Retreat Camp Chandler

22 Woman's Retreat Camp Chandler

23 Noon UMW Meeting Noon Emmaus Luncheon (Mission House) 5:00 Confirmation

24 9:30 am Monday Morning Prayer Group 6:00 pm Friendship Sunday School Supper 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

25 6:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Front Porch Grill) 6:00 pm Cub Scouts 6:30 pm Finance Committee

26 5:00 pm Supper 5:45 Devotional Speaker 6:00 pm Children’s and Youth Activities 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Praise Team

27 28 29

April 2017@ MFUMC

1 Pat Moore Gideon Barth 3 Patty Copeland Aric Adams Levi Blanchard Tyler Blanchard 6 Jim Gaines 7 Jane Burgett 8 Kathy Ricks 8 Chuck Weise 9 Mackenzie Blanchard 10 Renae Foshee Karron Dukes 12 Kenny Wilson 13 Gary Williams Margaret Thomas Verna Green 14 Daisy Goza 16 Velma Gober 17 Justin Sawyer 18 Frank Cobb 18 Maxine Gilmore 18 William Bacon 21 Steve Dukes Jennifer Morris 22 John Gilmore Jason Nix 23 Ida Clemons 25 Mark Aspden 30 Vic Fraley Betty Jean Cobb

SCENES FROM YOUTH LOCK-IN

April Birthdays

April Anniversaries

3 Gerald & Debbie Boutelier

9 Buddy & Betty Cobb

10 Carl & Jean Rae Cobb

11 Freddie & Gwen Story

17 Joe & Faye Williams

20 Don & Verna Green

24 Jamie & Missy Blanchard

United Methodist Men’s Yard Sale

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue

to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in

him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and

overflowing with thankfulness.