Week of March 23, 2025 - Third week of Lent

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
– 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 (NLT)

The Season of Lent at Our Church:   Lent is a forty-day (not counting six Sundays!) season that has been set aside in many church traditions as a time of preparation for the joy of Easter.    We invite you to join us on Sundays during Lent as we set aside time to reflect on God’s goodness and the life He offers us in Christ.  We do hope to see you during the Season of Lent this year.

Lenten Scriptures:  The Scripture quotations which "top and tail" these weekly updates during Lent are taken from the three-year lectionary series of recommended Scriptures for the week.  This week's suggested Scriptures from the lectionary are:  Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Luke 13:1-9.
GRAFTON ORANGE SULLIVAN ASSOCIATION (UCC) meets Sunday, March 23, at 2:00 pm at the Church of Christ in Hanover to mark the conclusion of the Association ministry.   All Association business will be handled by the conference beginning April 1, 2025.
FLOWERS FOR EASTER
The church will purchase a variety of spring potted plants to decorate the sanctuary, as usual.
Would you like to dedicate one or more to loved ones and help with the expense?  (The flowers can be in memory or in honor of someone.)
Dedication: Fill out the sheet on the clipboard next to the flowered box at the back of the sanctuary, or send your information with your check.
A list of the dedications will be in the Easter morning bulletins,
and then you can take a pot either home or — to someone who would be blessed by it!
****************************************************
Three ways to make your donation - any amount appreciated:
Leave cash or check in the flower-covered box on one of the tables at the back of the sanctuary,
or
Leave a check in the offering plate with memo marked Easter Flowers
or
Send a check, with memo marked Easter Flowers, to the church before April 9.
NOTE: In order to leave time to purchase the flowers, please send your donation by Wed. April 9.
Questions? Please ask Laurie Wadsworth or a member of the Flowers Committee (Rhonda Fenton, Susan Johnson, or Jane Patch).
The Spring Etna Ladies Aid Rummage Sale will be held in Trumbull Hall, Etna, on Friday, May 2, from noon to 6:00 pm and on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. $5 a bag after 11:00 am on Saturday.
Donations of clean, seasonal clothing, jewelry, and small household items in good condition will be accepted at Trumbull Hall from Tuesday to Thursday (April 29-May 1).
Please, no books, exercise equipment, electronics, televisions, computers, or large furniture items.
All the funds raised will be used to benefit the Upper Valley community and service organizations.
Bible Studies:  We offer three weekly opportunities for Bible study/discussion. We hope that you're able to join us for at least one them!
  • Our Sunday morning Bible discussion group meets at 9 am in Trumbull Hall. We're reading and discussing some of the lectionary series Scripture readings for the Lenten season.
  • On Wednesday mornings at 10 am in Trumbull Hall, Pastor Chris leads a spirited Bible Discussion focused on the previous week's sermon. A Zoom link is available for those who wish to join in but are not able to attend in person.
  • On Monday evenings this year, Pastor Chris is also leading a focused 1 Corinthians Bible Study group, serving as an adjunct to Pastor Chris's current sermon series. It's "in full swing", but new attendees are still welcome! See Pastor Chris if you're interested in participating.

Then [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
  “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
 Luke 13:6-9 (NLT)

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2024

Categories

Tags