Monday, April 4, 2011

MMC: Lazarus is Alive Again

Good Morning Bethlehem

As we are nearing the end of our Lenten journey there is much going on and I hope that you are able to join us as we prepare for and celebrate Easter.

A few announcements
  • Council is meeting Sunday after worship, all are invited to join us. 
  • Mark your calendar for Palm Sunday, April 17.  The children and youth of Bethlehem will be leading us in worship as we travel with Jesus in the last week before and including his death.  Then after worship we will be having an Easter Festival potluck and crafting event making confetti eggs and God's eyes. 
  • We are now collecting items for the tag sale.  If you would like to drop them off during the week and you do not have a key, please give me a call before come to make sure I'm around.  I will gladly open the door for you and even help you carry items if I'm available. 
Book of Faith Puzzler
Last week's question was: In the gospel last Sunday, we heard about the Samaritan woman who was going to draw water from the well.  What other story in John talks about people drawing water?  A)Jesus’ baptism B) The feeding of the 5,000 C) The wedding at Cana D) Jesus walking on water.  In John 2, during the wedding at Cana, Jesus asked water be drawn to fill jugs that he then turned into wine. Congratulations to Nancy B for winning the puzzler.

This week's question is: What is the name of the blind man that Jesus heals in the gospel of Mark?  A) Barabbas B) Legion C) Jarus D) Bartimaeus  Think you know the answer? Willing to Google it?  Email me by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing. 

Sunday's Worship
Serving in worship this week is:
Worship Assistant - Mark H
Reader - Bob MC
Communion Assistant - Cheryl M
Usher - Tori M & _____
Coffee Hour host - Jeff K
If you would like to be an usher or a communion bread baker, please let me know.  And thank you to all of you who are willing to serve to make our worship a more worshipful experience.

Sunday's Text
We again continue with this wonderful lectionary series of stories from John when Jesus talks of faith with people.  So I'm going to focus just on the gospel text John 11:1-45, the story of the death of Lazarus and Jesus raising him to life.  I'm not knocking our other three great readings, it is just that the gospel is so rich (and it is so long it is going to take me all week to memorize it). 
vs 4 Jesus says that God's glory will be revealed through Lazarus' illness.  When has God's glory been revealed to you through something that first seemed like a bad thing? 
Vs 5-6  Why do you think Jesus stayed two extra days?  Are your prayers always answered immediately?
vs 16  Thomas was willing to die for Jesus.  Are you willing to die for Jesus?  Are you willing to die for anyone or anything?
Both Martha and Mary say to Jesus that if he was there Lazarus would not have died.  Where they blaming Jesus, stating the obvious, putting their faith in him or something else? Do you ever blame God for not acting in time?
Vs 38  Lazarus' tomb is very similar to what Jesus' tomb will be like.  How is Jesus' resurrection like this return to life?  How are they different? 

I hope you all have a great week!  

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