Don’t Dwell on the One

3rd Sunday in Lent
Just these lines …

… to say thank you for your flexibility on Sunday with our weather event. The morning was difficult to navigate because of the terrible storms coming across the country leaving death and destruction in its path. We didn’t want to add to this by bringing you out for worship on a questionable weather morning. Finally, the skies cleared and several hundred of you joined us at the 11:00 worship hour. Thank you.

I hope you’ll take the time to listen to my sermon on a not-so-popular topic these days, Temperance. It was titled Extinguishing the Flames. Here is a quote from my sermon:

Temperance, this morning, calls us all to speak with love and to act with respect. It calls us to debate with integrity and humility. Temperance is not simply a nice-to-have virtue; it is the essence of a healthy society and culture. Without humble engagement … with temperance … our ability to talk with each other, to care about and for each other, and to work together for the common good just wastes away.

If you missed being with us, you can worship by clicking here. If you prefer our Contemporary service, several of us pre-recorded Saturday for the 9:30 livestream, which is available here.

Most of you know I’m a collector of lists. So, did you know that this Friday, March 21 is National Courtesy Day? Let me offer a list of a few ways you could celebrate this special day:

• Be on time.
• Say “Please” and “Thank you” when you are asking for or receiving services. Say “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” when you are wrong.
• Smile because it costs nothing, and it brightens the day of other people.
• Wait your turn.
• Clean up after yourself.
• Open the door and let the other pass in front of you.
• When driving, allow other drivers to go in front of you.
• Be humble. Arrogance is ugly.
• Remember people’s names.
• Keep your word.
• Do not ask invasive questions.
• Do not save places at events for people who are not present when other people are trying to find a place to sit.
• If you borrow something, return it in its original condition, or in better condition.
• Don’t talk loud in public so as to disturb other people.
• Greet the people you meet warmly.
• Introduce yourself to people you do not know.
• Allow people to get off the elevator before getting on.
• Do not chew loudly.
• Do not eat the last food item. Offer it instead to someone else.
• Do not ask people what their salary is, how much money they have, or how much land they own.
• Do not utter four-letter curse words.
• If you see something that needs to be done, do it without having to be asked.
• Give up your seat to elderly people, people with challenges, and women.
• Park your car within the allotted space.
• When someone is talking, look them in the eye, and give them your full attention.
• Do not interrupt people. When you are talking to someone, turn off your smartphone.

 

Pastor’s Benevolence and Discretionary Funds

If you are able, might you consider a financial gift to a couple of important funds for the church: the Pastor’s Benevolence Fund and the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. These funds support a number of vital pieces to our ministry that are often unplanned but require action. Both of these funds have become ominously low in the past few weeks.

• The Pastor’s Benevolence Fund gives the Pastoral Staff discretion and authority to provide confidential financial support to persons in our church community who are in need, and may include food, medicine, or assistance with bills.
• The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is under the direction of the Senior Pastor and utilized at his discretion for items that are not within the Operating Budget. This Fund is reviewed by the Finance Committee each month.

You can contribute to these funds here by choosing “Other” and typing “Pastor’s Benevolence Fund” or “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo box.

 

Video Devotional

I got the idea for this devotional from our Resident Bishop, Ken Carter. Last week, I got to go with my friend, Tommy Little, to Baseball Spring Training in Phoenix. I love baseball. While in Phoenix I learned three players were recently elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of them was Ichiro Suzuki. The only real question was whether the vote would be unanimous. I hope you’ll listen to my devotional below, titled Don’t Dwell on the One.

 

• Butterfly Project – Order caterpillars & habitats and care for your butterfly to be released on Easter Sunday. Order here by March 23 and pick up in The Commons on March 30 between 9 am -12:15 pm.
• Jerusalem Marketplace – Sunday, April 13, 9 am – 12 pm in the Gym.
• Community Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 19, 6-8 pm
• Maundy Thursday Worship – The Last Supper Service led by Rainbow Express Ministries – Thursday, April 17, 7 pm in the Sanctuary
• Good Friday Tenebrae Service of Shadows with Special Music Presentation – Friday, April 18, 7 pm in the Sanctuary

Be sure to review all of our Lenten & Easter happenings here!

 

 

Other Upcoming Events

• Enjoy Dessert & Conversation with Kathy Izard, Trust the Whisper author – TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 19 in The Commons.
• Women’s Empowerment Brunch with Guest Speaker Kristin Mockler Young – Saturday, March 29, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. Register by THIS Sunday, March 23.
• Meet the Pastors: Membership Interest Gathering – Sunday, March 30 in the Sanctuary Reception Area.
• 5th Sunday Fellowship – March 30. 12:15. Bring a dish to share & view American Coup: Wilmington 1898.
• Family Worship – Special date! Sunday, April 6 (moved from April 13), 9:30 am in The Gym.
• Wear BLUE on Sunday, April 6 to support our Global Impact Missions Partner Brave Step in their Color It Blue Movement to encourage survivors, loved ones, allies and the community to embody their advocacy and initiate new conversations about the pervasive issue of sexual assault.
• Leadership Information Session – Tuesday, April 8, 7 pm in Room 97/99 or Zoom.

 

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us this Sunday in person at 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Contemporary), 11:00 (Traditional), or online at 9:30, 11:00 or 12:30 (Spanish – in person or here on demand).

This Sunday in our Spanish-speaking service (CCH), Pastor Roldan will be preaching from Acts 4:23-31, and his sermon title is The Value of Good Company.

This Sunday, I will take us into week three of our worship series, Shaping the Virtuous Heart: Restoring Our Communities and Redeeming Our Souls. My sermon is on the ancient virtue of justice and is titled Banging on the Door from Luke 18:1-8. I’ll bet that within the last 24 hours every one of us has looked at some aspect of our lives or the world around us and thought, “It’s not fair!” It just seems we human beings are hardwired to look for injustice. Let’s talk about it on Sunday.

In the 11:00 service, we will be hosting a string quartet to join us to enhance our worship experience. They will be playing on the prelude, the hymns, and the choral offertory, Depth of Mercy.

I hope you are considering inviting someone in your relationship world who may be interested in connecting with some of our meaningful Lenten traditions. I imagine we’ll be the only church around these parts in the days ahead with a donkey walking our aisles on Palm Sunday (April 13) and hundreds of butterflies on Easter morn (April 20) fluttering over the church. Who in their right mind would want to miss that?

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and yet hope-filled days. Remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

Shaping the Virtuous Heart.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

 

Did you know that Russ Rogers turns 90 years of age this Sunday, March 23? Happy Birthday, Russ!

 

Did you know that the tool trailer we equipped in December is now in place for recovery teams in Spruce Pine, NC? Thanks for your generosity! Now we have another opportunity to stock a new trailer with tools for recovery teams in the Asheville area! Just click on this link, select a tool to buy and it will automatically be shipped to the Conference Office. Global Impact will purchase any remaining tools from the list after Easter Sunday, April 20. Thank you for providing tools to this second recovery work site!

 

Did you know that our 11th & 12th Grade Youth Small Group crafted prayer beads for Western NC? These will be delivered with the prayer beads that Adults & Kids created last week.