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A
Word from the Pastor
Why Lent?
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the almighty,
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God in whom I trust”.
Psalm 91:1-2
Kids ask the ‘darnedest’
questions… A ten-year-old youngster asked her pastor, why do we have the
period of lent? The educated explanations of the worship Calendar and the church
year, and the history of the early church practice, did not answer the question
for the youngster. With a quizzical expression on her face, she said, “Do we
have to do Lent again this year? My
mom insists that we give up something for lent. Do I have to give up something
again?”
The child was on to something.
Not only is she asking for the rationale for repetitive nature of the
Christian Liturgical year, but she is also
asking whether we are ready for Lent; why Lent? Are we ready? What does it mean
to be ready for the season of Lent?
Life
is a learning experience and we learn through repetition. Lent is a gift – a
chance to receive again God’s love and grace to us. Lent calls us to live in
the shelter of God, to abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Are we ready to
discover afresh that God is our refuge and fortress? Are we ready to trust in
God again?
Come
let us walk the Lenten journey together. We need one another.
I
wish you a meaning- filled Lent.
Pastor Dorothy
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Prayer
Circle
Fridays
from 1:30-2:30 pm
Please
come – prayer is powerful & effective.
James
5:16
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Prayer
–
In prayer, we change our
posture from reasoning to trusting, from thinking to conversing, from self
–oriented meditation to communicating with God, from self reliance to trusting
in God, from me-centered to God centered.
In prayer, we are linked
to God through the Holy Spirit; thus we reach beyond our own power.
Disciple
Bible Studies Continue:
Tuesday mornings, 10am
Thursday
evenings, 7:30pm
All studies are held In the Conference room in
the education wing of the church. We have extra books on hand. Please come,
learn, share fellowship and enjoy conversation. No former bible knowledge
needed. Come just as you are!
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CHURCH
FAMILY POTLUCK
DINNER:
Time: After morning Church Service
Date: March 21st, 2004
Please
plan to attend and bring a friend to Church, followed by good food and
fellowship.
We
will not serve a meal to the Homeless shelter on Saturday, March 20th,
2004; instead, we will invite the residents of the shelter to fellowship
with our Church Family on March 21st, 2004.
We
are asking for your help in the following areas: kitchen
help, set-up, cleanup and
transporters for our guests.
We
also need all of you wonderful cooks to make one of your favorite dishes
to share; it can be a main dish, side, or dessert.
If
we work together, this Pot Luck Dinner will be a success.
A
sign-up sheet will be available after church each Sunday, from February 22nd
through March 14th, 2004. You may call the church office to
volunteer your help or to bring a dish. We also need to know how many are
planning to attend – all ages are welcome!
Joan Parris
Homeless Meal Coordinator
(978) 562-3632
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The
Link
We
welcome your comments and suggestions for future editions of The
Link. Please email any related articles or correspondence to our
address at andreahm@comcast.net
or leave them in the container behind the church office door by the 20th
of each month. The Link is
also posted on our church website at www.marlboroumc.com.
Visit the site to check out all the latest happenings at FUMC of
Marlborough.
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Our Mission Statement
To provide a place where people feel
close to God,
To give spiritual help and guidance
through worship,
To be part of a community of believers,
To provide Christian Education for
people of all ages,
To provide a place for fellowship,
To set an example for the community,
to continue the word that Christ gave
to his disciples,
To preach the gospel;
to be Disciples.
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Board
of Trustees Corner
Parking Lot Project:
Can you help the sub-committee investigate our financial options for the
project? Please contact the chairperson, Mr. Tom Racca at tracca@racca.com
or (508) 393-6777. We hope to begin this project as soon as possible.
Donations are very welcome!
Room Behind The Stage:
The room needs to be cleaned out and we need volunteers to help. Thanks
for your donated items so far.; however, please do not leave any
more items in the room!
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A
Thank You from Su-Ann
Thank
you very much for the generous gift. It has been my pleasure playing the
piano for the church. As some of you may know, my family and I have moved
to Groton. It has really been wonderful having a church family like you.
Su-Ann Teh |
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Please Pray for
Cheryl Allen
Effie Beals
Edith Capestany
Carl
Jean Dorchester
Nydia Eliassen
Bill & Evie Golan
Cindy Hyden
Joshua Hyden
The Kearney Family
Kay Little
Matilda Mayers
Robin
Mehaffey
Joses Montume
Mary Morin
Steve Mulrey
Ginny Murtagh
Almon
& Geraldine Nisbet
Matthew
Nolen
Natasha Papile
Marion Paton
George Prehatin
Olga Racca
Kathy Ricciuti
Eric Searles
Karen Searles
Sally Williams
Stu Yerbury
The Zaia Family
“Faith
is not believing
that God can,
It is knowing that He will.”
--
Anonymous
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Six
Week Lenten Study:
March
1 –April 15
Tuesday
mornings at 10:00am
Thursday evenings at 7:30pm
“A
Purpose Driven Life”— What On Earth Am
I Here For?
by
Rick Warren
A
group book study will be an awesome spiritual discipline during this Lent.
Each
person will read four very short chapters each week, and we will gather for
discussion and reflection. The book has been at the top of The New York Times
best seller’s list for a while. All studies are held in the conference room in
the education wing of the church.
The
book is on sale at Cosco Wholesale Club for $11.00. Please pick up a copy and come for
a stimulating discussion.
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Lenten
Season
Schedule...
Worship
Services & Sunday School
at ten o’clock every Sunday – we need you. They
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
It is awesome to have a large mass of renewed strength.
Palm Sunday – April 4th
Celebrate Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem, waving palm
branches in worship.
Maundy
Thursday – April 8th, 7:15pm
A service of communion and
seven words of Jesus on the cross.
Good
Friday – April 9th
A day of fasting and prayer:
Please skip a meal or two, as you are able. Sacrificing helps us to focus
on the Lord. The sanctuary will be opened from 10am- 3pm; stop by for a
personal prayer time. The pastor will be in the sanctuary from 11am-1pm.
Easter
Sunday – April 11th
Celebration of the ‘Risen Christ’ & Family
worship service at 10:00am. Sunday school students will minister to us
during the service. The choir will minister in music, accompanied by the
band.
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Sometimes
attributed to “Dear Abby,” here are the Ten Commandments of a Long and
Peaceful Life:
1.
Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all
human activities.
2.
Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never
come to pass.
3.
Thou shalt face each problem as it comes. You can handle only one
at a time.
4.
Thou shalt not cross bridges before you get to them, for no one yet
has succeeded in accomplishing this.
5.
Thou shalt not take problems to bed with you, for they make very
poor bedfellows.
6.
Thou shalt not borrow other people’s problems. They can take
better care of them than you can.
7.
Thou shalt be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear
ideas different from your own. It’s very hard to learn something new
when you’re talking.
8.
Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday for good or ill – it is
gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life today.
9.
Thou shalt not become bogged down by frustration, for 50 percent of
it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive actions.
10. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones – for a lot
of small blessings add up to a big one.
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| 1 Tom Racca |
| 3
Ethan Cox |
| 6
Judie Perry |
| 7
Richard Edelman |
| 8
Dorothy Barry |
| 9
David Locklin |
| 12
Linda Gibson |
| 21
Teresa Balogun |
| 21 Brian
Williams |
| 23 Shawn
Mayers |
| 25
Evelyn Golan |
| 28 Ade
Balogun |
| 28 Nicole
Bramwell |
| 18
Robert & Linda Gibson |
| 22
Judie & John Perry
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| 24
Jorge & Eneida
Moscon
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Choir Practice
We are singing some awesome songs for Easter; please
come and have fun.
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Link
Editor:
Andrea Hammond-Mason
Logo
designed by
Tami
White
There
are many things you can do when you give your life to God.
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