"Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

Pastor Jack is away in Savannah GA with the second cohort group of Pastors Rest, Work, Play. This is through our Upper New York Conference and stems from our Bishop's focus on supporting Pastors in their work. Please keep Pastor Jack in prayer during this time of renewal.

+++ We will continue our Eastertide worship this week on Sunday, April 27 at both 8:30 and 10am. Pam Kelsey-Gossard will be leading worship and the title of her meditation is "How Do You Know." We will be worshipping live on Facebook at the 10am service and this will be uploaded to our YouTube channel following the worship service. However you join us, we are glad you are here!

+++ Our annual garage sale begins this week on Thursday, May 1 from 9am-6pm, Friday, May 2 from 9am-6pm and Saturday, May 3 from 9am-12 with a $5 bag sale.  You may bring your clean, saleable items to the church Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  Please do not bring items after Tuesday. We always need help, check out the sign up board outside the Fireside Room to lend a hand. See Shelley Dawson Smith with any questions.

+++ Next Sunday, May 4, is Native American Sunday and Reverend Candace Lawrence will be leading us in worship. Native American Sunday is one of the six conference wide opportunities to support outreach in the larger church, with this offering used to support Native American ministries. Special envelopes will be available for your use.

See you in church!
Blessings from the church office.

Good Friday Morning...

On this Good Friday, as we contemplate the sacrifice offered for each of us by Jesus on the cross, my reading takes me into the 14th chapter of Luke's Gospel account...

                     "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and
                       the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
                                           (Luke 14:11 HCSB)

Dying to self happens every day, especially when we are justified in being upset. Our frustrated response doesn't match with Jesus' humility -- giving up all His rights as God to come to be questioned, beaten and killed by His creation. He let go of His reputation so He could be lifted up -- on the cross and then to heaven -- and lift us up with him.
   
You just don't get humble by trying to be humble. That just ends up feeling like false modesty or a humble bragging point. Humility comes not from thinking less of yourself, but of yourself less. When you see yourself as the reason (both as individuals and corporately) Jesus had to die, you learn to value the new life He has given you -- and you want others to come to know Him too. 
   
Sharing your God story is a powerful witness -- but remember to keep the focus on Jesus. Your past may have been really messed up, but what Jesus did overcomes everyone's messed up behavior over the past two thousand years. Embrace your part in the mind-staggering work He is doing in, around, and through you, and watch Him go!
         
Lord Jesus, Your sacrifice for me pulls me down to the grave as I think about my sin, but then it lifts me up to heaven with You as I consider the unmatchable gift of Your righteousness in me. Thank  you. Amen.   

+++ Our Resurrection Day worship services are at 8:30am and 10:00am and this week both of these services will be in the beautifully decorated Sanctuary. We will celebrate Easter with wonderful music, scriptures and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I'll be thinking about how "Jesus is our Redeemer" and looking at the things we KNOW for sure! What is it that you believe you KNOW? I will share a few things I believe I KNOW. We will, of course, be "live-streaming" at 10:00am on the church Facebook page and then uploading the completed worship to our YouTube channel. But we hope to see you in the Sanctuary when we worship on Sunday morning!  

+++ Team and Ministry leaders... please remember the articles for the May/June edition of our church newsletter need to be in the office on Sunday. Thanks for helping us keep to our publishing schedule!  

+++ The great Immanuel Garage Sale is only a couple of weeks away! Grab one of the flyers from the usher's table on Sunday and don't forget to sign up outside the Fireside Room to get involved in the fun!  

+++ When you are cleaning out to prepare your donations for the Garage Sale our Knit and Stitch group would be glad to take any unused yarn you might like to donate. Talk to Karen or Judy to arrange your donation to help the group in their ministry work.

+++ Sunday is the last day to let me know if you are feeling moved to stepping into the role of Highway Cleanup Coordinator. If no one is able to step into this role, we will let the DOT know that they should seek another organization to take over these responsibilities. 

+++ The Cicero UMC is organizing a Lancaster, PA bus trip to the Sight and Sound Theater to see the production NOAH. The trip is scheduled for June 3-6 and there is a flyer on the bulletin board across from the office door with more information.         

Make this day a day in which you come closer to Jesus!   
Pastor Jack 

Today my reading takes me into Luke's Gospel account to the story of the healing of Jairus' daughter.....

                    "Jesus said, "Stop the weeping! She isn't dead; she's only asleep."
                          But the crowd laughed at him because they knew she had died."                                                                                                             (Luke 8: 52-53 NLT)

Once we've read the story of Jairus' daughter, we can chuckle at those laughing at Jesus -- Oh, they don't know what we know. Watch this! We're in the loop, though, only because of our vantage point.  
   
Jesus calling the girl's death "sleep" I think foreshadowed the resurrection -- but how could any of the people present have guessed that? They thought they knew what dead looked like.... but Jesus shocked them. He stopped their wailing -- which was expected but probably superficial -- in favor of something unforeseeable but genuine.
   
Only God knows how our trials and challenges will pan out. As Christians, we know who Jesus is and what He can do. But at the moment, we don't know what He will do.  
   
I think human expectations can be a huge barrier to what God can do. Assuming you know how a situation should go doesn't allow for God's ability to do the impossible, to break through where no one else could. Faithlessness is thinking you know more about a situation than He does. In every trial, ask whether you will let Jesus use you for His work.... instead of trying to put Him to work for you.  
   
"Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I've assumed how You should act. You alone are God, and You alone always do what is right, in every situation. Amen."

+++ This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am. The Palm Sunday parade starts in the Fireside Room for our 10:00am worship. We'll be hearing the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and I will be looking at how "Jesus is our King". Following worship, we will enjoy our last 2nd Sunday luncheon until the fall. Thanks to all of you who have signed up for this wonderful meal and fellowship time. If you're joining us from home, look for our Facebook page "live-stream" at 10:00am. Or watch the completed worship on our YouTube channel after worship is completed. And if you're watching the live-stream, feel free to put your prayer requests into the comments section of the page and your prayers will be a part of our morning prayer time, as well.  

+++ Sunday is also the last day to order Easter flowers to decorate our Easter morning altar. See Julie or Robbie to get your orders in this week. 

+++ On Monday night there will be a Mission Trip planning meeting here at 7:00pm. Talk to Mike B. if you are interested in being a part of the group!

+++ The May/June edition of the Upper Room magazine is now on the table in the Narthex.

+++ Don't forget the 4/20 deadline for articles for our May/June church newsletter. Team Leaders... please make sure your articles are into the office by that date. Thanks!  

+++ Our Holy Week Schedule.....

•  Maundy Thursday worship is at 7:00pm on Thursday April 17th. We will celebrate the Last Supper as Jesus and his disciples did that night in the upper room and then strip the Altar in preparation for Good Friday.
• Good Friday will see our Sanctuary open for your personal devotions from 12:00noon - 3:00pm.  Come when you can and leave when you must as                 we keep Jesus company on the cross.
• Easter Sunday we will celebrate the Resurrection at 8:30am and 10:00am with both services being held in the Sanctuary!  Lots of music, great scriptures and a real celebration are planned for our worship services on Resurrection Day!     

Make this day a great day and keep your eyes always open for Jesus moving among us! 
Pastor Jack   

Today, my reading takes me into Luke's Gospel to a familiar story...
  
                    "Getting to his feet, Jesus told the wind, "Silence!" 
                      and the waves, "Quiet down!" They did it. The
                       lake became smooth as glass. Then he said
                         to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?"
                                        (Luke 8: 24-25   MSG)

When storms arise, the question is always, Where is your confidence that God is who He says He is?  He's right there, isn't He -- chilling in the stern of your almost capsized boat. It's been said that God rules the world with His feet up --- because nothing fazes God.
   
But we get fazed regularly. Hard things are, after all, hard. But with God, the hard times are always worked into something good, something we have no right to expect but every right as God's children to count on. Sometimes we're not even looking for God in a situation that cries out for Him. And each time God does something, we're right to be amazed -- even the wind and waves obey God!   
   
Trust is essential, though. The Bible doesn't guarantee that God will answer every prayer the way we want or expect. But whatever God's response, God is still God. God is always good, faithful, just, and true to God's nature. I think our faith in the bad times shows we trust God to be who God is, and that God's grace is enough for us.  
   
So today, join me in praying... God, my Lord and my King, You are enough for me in every season and situation. Help me to trust You more and more. Amen. 

+++ IT'S CRAFT SHOW DAY! Stop in on Friday (4pm-8pm) or Saturday (9am-3pm) to check out some of the beautiful crafts our artisans have created. You can even grab something to eat, and all the proceeds generated are used for the support of our mission work here at Immanuel. Bring a friend and show them the beautiful church in which you worship and the beautiful people in our church family. What a great way to spread the Good News of Jesus!   

+++ On Sunday we celebrate the 5th Sunday of Lent as we gather for worship at 8:30am and 10:00am. We will hear again the story of the raising of Lazarus as we look at "Jesus as our Comforter". We'll look at how Jesus comforts sisters Mary and Martha and how he promises to comfort us, as well. And we'll join in the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, as well. Also, on Sunday don't forget to stop at the table in the Narthex to order your Easter flowers to decorate our Easter altar and then sign up for our final Second Sunday Luncheon until the fall... being held next Sunday, April 13th after worship!   

+++ Sunday is also our Meal Ministry delivery day. Thanks to Sam, Marilyn and all their helpers who work to bring a bit of cheer to those needing it in our congregation through this wonderful ministry.  

+++ Next week's schedule includes:

• Our Finance Team meets on Tuesday night, April 8th at 6:00pm in the Fireside Room.
  
• This is followed by our Administrative Council meeting on Tuesday at 6:45pm.
  
• Our Trustees meet on Wednesday, April 9th at 4:00pm.  
  

+++ Coming up for your calendars... here are our Holy Week plans...

• PALM SUNDAY is next Sunday, April 13th! We will gather for a Blessing of the Palms in the Fireside Room to start the worship service.
  
• MAUNDY THURSDAY worship is on Thursday, April 17th at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. This moving worship time includes the celebration of the Last Supper and the Stripping of the Altar in preparation for Good Friday.
  
• GOOD FRIDAY will see our Sanctuary open for meditation and prayer from 12:00noon - 3:00pm.  Stop in any time you are able and enjoy the peaceful time  to be in Jesus' presence.  
  
• EASTER SUNDAY is April 20th, and we will celebrate the Resurrection at 8:30am and 10:00am in the Sanctuary. Join us for this great celebration of the  Resurrection!    
  

Make this day a great day and always trust in God to get you through the day!   
Pastor Jack