APRIL Good News newsletter 2017

From Pastor Liz Dear Friends –

Easter is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian year. During the fifty days from Easter to Pentecost we focus on Christ’s resurrection and ascension and the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the first Easter (John 20:22-23) and on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The origin of the English word Easter is disputed, but may come from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eastre and her festival. In any event Easter should be a great time of celebration to a believer in Jesus Christ.

I hope that this sense of joy and celebration is present in each of your homes and within your hearts. The secular world has de-Christianized Christmas and Easter and made them non-religious in nature. It is up to you as individual Christians and collectively as the body of Christ, the church, to realize and appreciate what God has done for you in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Please join with us at the many opportunities to worship during this season and in particular during Holy Week. It will strengthen you in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.   Blessings, Grace and Peace, Liz

Holy Thursday, also called “Maundy Thursday”Early Christians began to regard the Thursday of Holy Week as a special time

for participating in the Lord's Supper. The day came to be called "Maundy Thursday," a reference to Christ's giving a "new commandment" (John 13:34) to His disciples. The word "maundy" comes from the Latin word for "commandment." Usually the early Maundy Thursday observances included a ceremonial foot-washing, in imitation of Christ's washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:5- 11).

On Holy Thursday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m., gather with others for a special service of Holy Communion, as we connect with those who shared that first Lord’s Supper.  

Remember Your Special Easter Offering!In year’s past, our special Easter Offering has been designated to help pay our Prior Claim

apportionment in full. This is another way of reaching around the globe to help others.At a recent Finance Committee meeting, it was decided that this year’s offering will be used

to pay this apportionment, which is about $6,000.00. 10% of whatever this offering raises will also go to support Park View Mission. With that in mind, please prayerfully consider what you might want to give in appreciation for what Christ sacrificed for us all. Envelopes will be provided in the pew racks! Make your check payable to “Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church”. Mark it “Easter Offering”.

Mark your calendars!!GOOD FRIDAYApril 14, 2017

Cantata with Combined Choirs, Timberlake UMC, 7:00 p.m. 

Read Ahead  Each Sunday The lectionary provides us with readings from the Gospel, the Epistles (Letters) the Old Testament and the Psalms. The lectionary follows a three year cycle, which when finished will have covered the majority of the Bible. Pastor Liz believes that reading ahead will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the service. For April 2, 2017, 5th Sunday in Lent ~ the Scripture is Ezekiel 37:1-14 & Psalm 130. The sermon text John 11:1-45 is and the message is “Come Out!”.For April 9, 2017 Palm/Passion Sunday ~ the Scriptures are Isaiah 50:4-9a; & Philippians 2:5-11 & Psalm 118 The sermon text is Matthew 21:1-11 and the message is “What Would You Do?”.

For April 13, 2017, Holy Thursday ~ the Scriptures are Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14; & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 & Psalm 116. The sermon text is John 13:1-7, 31b-35 and the message is “Why We!”For April 16, 2017, Easter Sunday ~ the Scriptures are Acts 10:34-43; & Colossians 3:1-4. The sermon text is John 20:1-18 and the message is “Before Daybreak”.

For April 23, 2017, 2nd Sunday of Easter ~ the Scriptures are Acts 2:14a, 22-32; & John 20:19-31& Psalm 16. We Start a New Sermon Series this week on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon text is Galatians 5: 22-26, Romans 12:9 and the message is “Love”.For April 30, 2017, the Scriptures are Acts 2:14a, 36-41; & 1 Peter 1:17-23. This is the second week in our sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon text is Galatians 5:22B-26, John 15:11 and the message is “Joy”. 

Address Change... Thomas E. Evans2956 Hathaway Rd.Apt. 506Richmond, VA 23225 

Top of the Hill will meet on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 11:00 a.m. Dessert and drinks

provided. More information provided later

FRIENDS WHO CAREPlease send your reports of visits and phone calls each month to Scottie Nuckols, 1250

Jefferson Oaks Court, # 44, Forest, VA 24551. Or e-mail to mx55566@gmail.com. On your report please note the month and year, names of those visited (or called) and the number of times visited or called that month and any comments of our pastor. Please try to get this information to Scottie by the 5th of the month. We express our appreciation to all the volunteers who participate in this ministry of compassion.

A total of 18 visits and 48 phone calls were made in FEBRUARY.

Children’s MinistryThe annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, April 15, at 10:30 a.m., here at CHUMC. We need volunteers. We are also asking for donations of candy to fill the Easter Eggs.

Vacation Bible School (June) is right around the corner. We will need volunteers for this also. Keep in prayer the children and all the activities we have planned.

  ~Jody Underwood, Lay Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Mission NewsThe food basket for February was full of love.  We gave 35lbs. of food to Park View Mission. The food included 30 boxes of Mac & Cheese; 3 pks. of spaghetti; 4 cans of sauce; 2 meat products; 3 boxes of inst. potatoes; 3 jars of peanut butter; 8 cans of fruits & vegetables.  WE also collected 9 bottles of dish-liquid totaling 168oz.; 8 bars of soap; 6 pks. of toilet paper equaling 44 rolls.  Thank-you to all who help to make this mission possible.  The Mission committee thanks all who gave to Meals on Wheels in February. Because of your generosity the Meals on Wheels in Lynchburg will be able to operate in 2017.  ~Thank-you from Linda Jessen & the Mission Committee

FOOD CARTFor the month of APRIL we will be collecting items for the Food Cart for Park View Community Mission.

Food Cart for APRIL“Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, Cereal, Toilet Paper”

Please place in the food cart, located in the Commons. Help those in need.

The Merry Marthas Circle will meet at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 12th, at 9:30 a.m., to clean the kitchen and pack Kits for Conference. Bring your own cleaning supplies and tools.

~Judy Robertson  

Join Us...

For a Very Special Worship Service Sunday, April16 at 10:30 a.m.

Easter is the most important holy day of the Christian faith. Its roots are tied to the Jewish Passover, which was the season in which Jesus was executed. Passover is when Jews remember how God liberated them from Egypt. For Christians, the more proper name is Resurrection Sunday, and it marks the discovery of the empty tomb and the return of Jesus from death. It is the liberation of all humans from the consequences of our stubborn refusal and inability to follow God. The Easter Service is not some sort of a stand-alone thing. It is part of a series of events, the devotions of Holy Week, that the early Church treated as one worship

service. It starts at the 'Holy Thursday' or 'Maundy Thursday', which marks Jesus' mandates to serve, to take Holy Communion, and to love as He loved. On that day Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Good Friday is the day of Jesus' execution, the first day of Jesus' death.

The Easter season isn't just Easter Sunday. It's 50 days long, and the last of those days is Pentecost, marking the birth of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit with power. 

Do You Have the Fruits of the Spirit?Right after Easter, on April 23, Pastor Liz will begin an inspiring new Sermon Series: “The

Fruits of the Spirit.” Is your life filled with love and kindness? Are you by nature gentle and patient? Do you have all the self-control you need? Are peace and generosity a part of your everyday nature? Come and hear how you, as a beloved child of God, can be filled with what Paul calls “The Fruits of the Spirit”, starting April 23rd! 

GRADUATE INFORMATION NEEDEDChestnut Hill UMC would like to honor its graduates. If you (or your child or grandchild) is

an elementary, high school, college, or vocational school graduate this year, please call the church office (239-8423) and let us know what school you will be graduating from and your plans for the future. We would like to include that information in an upcoming newsletter and bulletin. We are also planning Graduate Sunday to celebrate graduates in either late May or early June. Please let us know your availability so that we can have as many of our graduates attend as possible! 

Due to the limited number of volunteers for nursery, nursery caregivers will now keep the nursery for the MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE ONLY. Thanks to all that volunteer and if you would like to help out, please let me know.

~Thanks, Sylvia

Our CondolencesChestnut Hill United Methodist Church extends Christian love and sympathy to the family of

Joseph Horsley Wills and especially to his daughters, Wanda, Barbara, and Sandra. Mr. Wills passed away on March 10, 2017. 

Gifts & MemorialsIn Memory Of:

Joe Wills Given by: Beryl Martin, Gene & Neta Pearson

 

The Resurrection is Our Cornerstone of FaithThe resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Without it, the believer has no hope for this life or for the life to come. The apostle Paul wrote, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain" (1 Cor. 15:17). Our belief in this great teaching is not based upon some religious feeling or upon an unfounded idea about what may have happened in the past. Nor are we talking about an isolated rumor, but about a historical fact with solid evidence to support it. In the early part of this century, a group of lawyers met in England to discuss the biblical accounts of Jesus' resurrection. They wanted to see if sufficient information was available to make a case that would hold up in an English court of law. When their study was completed, they published the results of their investigation. They concluded that Christ's resurrection was one of the most well-established facts of history!

Plenty of great teachers, mystics, martyrs and saints have spoken words full of grace and truth. In the case of Jesus alone, however, the belief has persisted that when he came into the world, God deigned to take on the likeness of a man in order that men might reach out.  

April Birthdays1  Marable

Southall-Vess3 Tammy Cole

Nicholas RedfordFinn Tiller

5 Burnell Tyree6 Tamlyn Beiler7 Donna Abbott

Kyle CyrusMargueritte Jordan

8 Tamara Mason9 Kay Allen

Jenna InmanBarbara LeFewMichael Southall-Vess

10 Robert Weaver13 James Peters, Jr.16 A. Ellen White17 Dianne Johnson19 Donald Childress20 Debbie McGlothlin 

22 David ColeRobert MyersJason SmithLaura White

23 John Harden24 Kelly Kinzer26 Arthur Snodgrass27 Kim Stewart

Elizabeth Willis28 Linda Collins29  Carolyn Phelps

Those Who Serve ~ APRILUSHERS: Fred Norvelle, Head Usher

NURSERY CAREGIVERS:April 2 ~Brenda Torian, Kirsten TillerApril 9 ~Jody Underwood, Robbie HodgesApril 16 ~Ann Ruhland, Linda WrightApril 23 ~Linda Jessen, Jane WhiteApril 30 ~Elaine Clarke, Pat Moore

GREETERS:April 2 ~Marsha BurksApril 9 ~Pat ShortApril 16 ~Kitty BurgessApril 23 ~Elaine ClarkeApril 30 ~Scottie Nuckols

CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Ages 4-11)

Information will be provided in the bulletins.

OFFERING COUNTERS:

Hylton Glass, Sylvia Glass, Maggie Musgrove 

GOOD NEWS is published monthly for members a nd friends of Chestnut Hill United Methodist

Church. Send articles to the church office by the 15th of the month.

OUR ATTENDANCE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORSHIP

2/26 33 663/5 35 663/12 33 673/19 35 60 

Our Church Financial PictureThrough the end of February 2017

General Operating Funds:

Needed to meet our 2017 Budget $ 232,777

Needed to meet our budget to date $ 38,796

Actual receipts to date $ 30,429

Shortfall to meet budget to date $ 8,367

Actual expenditures to date $ 29,864

Overage meet expenses to date $ 565

Joy In Missions Funds:

Our Giving Goal for 2017 $ 11,600

Needed to meet our goal to date $ 1,933

Actual receipts to date $ 1,982

Special Offerings* (not budgeted):

Received to date $ 1,400

Dispersed to date $ 1,260

*Christmas, Easter, Annual Conference,

World Communion, etc.

2017 Joy In Mission Donations

To date, the following amounts have been paid to the missions indicated.

Missionary Covenant Relationship $ 0.00

Interfaith Outreach $ 0.00

Park View Missions~Food for Families $ 0.00

Society of St. Andrew $ 0.00

Adult Care Center $ 0.00

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank $ 0.00

Camp Timothy $ 0.00

Churches for Urban Ministry $ 0.00

Daily Bread $ 0.00

Free Clinic $ 0.00

Good Neighbor $ 0.00

Habitat for Humanity $ 0.00

Heart Havens $ 0.00

Heifer $ 0.00

UMCOR-Non-Administrative $ 0.00

Undesignated $ 0.00

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS:

Meals on Wheels (Souper Bowl) $ 0.00

UMCOR(One Great Hour of Sharing) $ 0.00

Thank You for Your Generosity

   

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church

4660 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24502

Phone Number: 434-239-8423: FAX: 434-239-7209

E-mail: chestnuthillumc@comcast.net

On the web: www.chestnuthillumc.net

Church Office HoursMonday-Thursday9:00 am—3:30 pm

Friday9:00 am-1:00 pm

DIRECTORY OF CHESTNUT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Sharma Lewis Richmond Area Resident BishopScott Davis Lynchburg District SuperintendentLiz Ecklund MinisterVernie Barrow Minister EmeritusMonica C. Campbell Administrative AssistantWilliam Sperrazza Director of Music MinistryJudy Martin BookkeeperElaine Clarke Lay LeaderJody Underwood Lay Children’s Ministry CoordinatorChris Glass Lay Youth Ministry Coordinator