Palm Sunday, March 16, begins Holy Week with a special worship service and the Sunday School children waving the palms at the beginning of the service. During the Church School time the children will be treated to learning more about Holy Week with puppets; skits, etc. This should be great time together.

On Maundy Thursday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. there is a wonderful opportunity to come and worship together in a “Tenebrae Service” which means “shadows” and ends in darkness. This particular service has become a special tradition for us. It moves us from Jesus’ riding into Jerusalem to His going to the cross. We will all participate in the service and Holy Communion will be served around a table in the altar area.

March 23 is Easter Sunday. Worship services will be offered at 7:00 a.m. and at the normal 9:00 a.m. time slot. The 7:00 a.m. service will be held as a “Sunrise Service” with the Confirmation Class leading us. Following the 7:00 a.m. worship service there will be a breakfast served by our Music Dept. with a free will offering taken. Our 9:00 a.m. worship service will be a service that includes our Chancel Choir and a special Easter message from Rev. Bailey. Come and join us to worship on the most celebrative Sunday.

Palm Sunday is just around the corner, and the kids are excitedly waiting for a chance to wave their palm branches at the 9:00 Worship service on Palm Sunday, March 16th. Following worship the Sunday school classes will meet in Fellowship hall for a short program followed by Cinnamon rolls, juice and milk. All are invited to stay and attend with the kids as we shout Hosanna and prepare the way for the King.

During the month of March we hope that you might consider giving a special gift, over and above your pledge, to our special Easter offering. The offering will go to help with the Apportionment Giving to our Annual Conference. Apportionments definitely represent real ministry around Iowa and the world. They help to continue to support our Conference Ministry of our Bishop, our District Superintendents, and our Ministry Programming people. It also helps with relief ministry, homeless shelters, programs for unwed mothers, our camping programs, colleges, and hunger programs around Iowa. It also goes to support UMCOR which has been there even in our own community when we had flooding. Many ministries are supported in your gift to the Easter Offering. An envelope is included with this newsletter or you can simply designate your gift “Easter Offering”. May God bless your generosity.

3-2-08 “Are You Thirsty?” John 4:1-15

This portion of scripture shares a wonderful encounter Jesus has with the woman at the well. It is well worth reading the whole account but for our purpose we will look at the first fifteen verses. These verses help us look at our own “thirst” and the inability to quench that thirst other than through Jesus Himself. Are you thirsty? Let Jesus provide you “living (continuous) water”.

3-9-08 “I Was Blind But Now I See” John 9:1-7; 11-15; 34-41

Jesus heals a man born blind. This causes all kinds of conflict with family, neighbors and especially the Pharisees. Finally Jesus talks to the man about even a deeper subject - “spiritual blindness”. He has come into the world to help us to “see”.

3-16-08 “The Servant King” Philippians 2: 5-11

Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the final week of his life riding on a donkey as the symbol of humble royalty. He comes as the Messiah. But what kind of Messiah? He comes as one who is the humble servant of all. He comes as the Savior who gives of His very life for others. What does this mean for us in our relationship to Jesus and in our relationship to others?

3-23-08 “Do Not Be Afraid” Matthew 23:1-10

Over and over in scriptures we are told “Do not be afraid”. This is a message given by God, Almighty in the Old Testament to the Israelites and the message that comes from Jesus over and over in His resurrection. Specifically today we hear it from the angel at the tomb. Truly at Easter the admonishment to not be afraid is so very relevant. Because Jesus has even conquered death, then what do we have to be afraid of?

3-30-08 “Believing In What We Can’t See” John 20:24-30

In this “post-resurrection” moment with Jesus we have Thomas being instructed about the importance of faith. Faith is truly not living only by “sight” but truly being convinced of reality that we do not see. Today we will study with this aspect of faith.

Because of weather cancellations the Lenten Study on Prayer to be held on Sunday evenings during Lent will be postponed. This is an excellent study that will be offered another time under the same format. Be listening for it.

The March 6 meeting of our group will be at 1 pm for a dessert luncheon. (We will meet at the Presbyterian Church at 12:00 for the Lenten Lunch first). The program is “Learning for a Lifetime” by Verna Nielsen (she is known for her interesting programs). If you haven’t given your pledge by now, come prepared to do that also. Hope to see you there. Also, looking ahead, our District Superintendent Rev. Anne Lippincott will be the featured speaker at a Day Apart on Saturday, April 19 in Nashua. It begings at 9:30 and concludes with a salad luncheon. This is UMW sponsored but will speak to everyone.

Join women around the world on March 8th and ring a bell for women’s rights. We are to urge the governments to give women everywhere the right to vote, be educated and live free of violence. Women account for 70% of the world’s poor, and 80% of the refugees. Many are kept illiterate. Many are not allowed to have paying jobs. Things are being done, but there is still much to do, so please join in support of the initiative and ring a bell outside your door sometime on March 8. And if you can’t do that, keep this in your prayers and watch for chances to do something to help. One way is to give to the UMW’s mission program. They are at work in every corner of the world (and even in the USA). If you are not a member of UMW please consider a gift for this mission. It can be given to Joann Wehner or left in the church office. Just be sure to mark what it is for. Thank you.

Immanuel Lutheran Church (512 5th Street NE) will host the World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 7th at 1:30 pm. This years program is “God’s Wisdom Provides New Understanding”. World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women and men of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday in March each year. Throughout the day, we collectively pray all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset. Our prayers follow the sun’s path around the globe.

The church is offering Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones for the Easter Service. The cost of the Lilies are $12.00. If you would like to purchase a Lily in Memory of a loved one please call the church office (334-3689) by Thursday, March 14th.

Because of the many school day cancellations, the School District will no longer have early out days on March 12th, 26th or April 9th

A big “THANK YOU” to everyone who remembered me on the 80th birthday recently. Your thoughtfulness helped to make it a very special occasion.

Much love to all,
Carroll Robinson

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Robert Cook will be celebrating his 80th birthday on March 6th with a card shower. If you would like to send Bob birthday greetings please send them to:

Bob Cook
707 9th Street NW
Independence, IA 50644

1. PRAY:  John 11:25:  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  This is the real meaning of Easter for Christians.  Celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus this month as we think about Palm Sunday, Easter and the various ways we remember this holiday.  New life, spring, flowers, eggs, etc. all have a message and after this winter of ice, snow and cancellations, let us remember, new life is the truth.

2. PRAY:  For all UMC services each Sunday and invite God to inhabit our praises as we focus on Him and we become aware of His presence.  Help us to truly set aside our “issues” and turn our eyes and hearts upon Him and His wonderful plan of salvation and way of living.  Pray we spend some quality time reading the Word and praying on our own.

3. PRAY:  Sunday, March 9th, 6 p.m. you are all invited to a special service where Bonnie Davis and Carroll Robinson will share about their recent trip to Israel.  All prayer partners and their students are invited to attend.  There will be light refreshments and a time of fellowship and worship.  PRAY for us to grow in our understanding of where the church and Israel are aligned in these times.  You will hear first hand from our own UMC family what they saw and heard over there.

4. PRAY:  For our staff and volunteers at UMC for wisdom, guidance and health as they serve in ministry to our community.  Pray each one senses the leading of the Holy Spirit as we serve the Lord.  We pray for His will to be done and His kingdom to come to UMC.  Let prayer arise and our enemies be scattered.

Brrrrrrr!!! This has been quite the winter so far, a lot of cancellations for church activities as well as school. We must remember to pray for the students and teachers so they can catch up with their work before they have to be tested. Because the students have to “catch up” there will be NO After School Kids on March 12, 26 or April 9th. Hopefully we will be able to have it on April 23rd.

Start thinking of www (Wednesdays with the Word) in July and maybe that will warm you up! We are going to have this program again but you’ll have to read the next newsletters to see what will be going on. We hope you will come join us this summer.

Thanks to all of you who helped support the College Care Packages. But if you would still like to give we could use a bit more help to purchase gift certificates and pay for postage. Just mark your gift College Care Package. Thanks again.

There will be a special service on Sunday evening March 9th at 6 pm in Fellowship Hall. It is the prayer partner gathering but we invite YOU to come. Carroll Robinson and Bonnie Davis will share about their trip to Israel and it should be really interesting. There will be a light refreshments.

Thank you to those who helped Chaperone the Hockey Game! The kids had a lot of fun. Your help was greatly appreciated!

March 2008 Sunday Helpers Schedule:

March 2008 Acolytes: Chantele Thompson & Lizzy Jacobson
April 2008 Acolytes: Megan Lang & Paige Davis

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