We Would Like You To Know —
CHURCH SCHEDULE & EVENTS
February 21 – February 28, 2021
THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR
Sun 2/21
9:00 am … FACE-TO-FACE WORSHIP at Kinmundy First UMC in sanctuary, Drive-In listening (FM 87.9) on the parking lot or WATCH Pastor Dave’s video of the entire worship service at kinmundychurch.org
10:45 am … FACE-TO-FACE WORSHIP at Wesley UMC
Wed 2/24
10:30 am … COMMUNION & WEEKLY PRAYER SERVICE will be held in the Kinmundy Fellowship Hall
Sun 2/28
9:00 am … FACE-TO-FACE WORSHIP at Kinmundy First UMC in sanctuary, Drive-In listening (FM 87.9) on the parking lot or WATCH Pastor Dave’s video of the entire sermon on kinmundychurch.org
10:45 am … FACE-TO-FACE WORSHIP at Wesley UMC
- Phase 4 COVID 19 Guidelines
— Churches may gather indoors for any purpose in groups of 50 and less
— Churches with larger rooms may gather indoor groups of up to 25% of the room capacity, but may not exceed 100 people in total
— Social distancing, face masks, and other precautions should be taken for all activities
— Church buildings may be open all kinds of groups and meetings of appropriate size, and all church staff and volunteers can regularly use the building
— Facemasks and social distancing are required
There are still many concerns regarding the safety of gathering during a time of Coronavirus. Bad things are predicted for large cities. But people in our region are working hard to keep each other safe.
PASTOR DAVE will continue providing a video of an entire worship service on the Internet for you to watch at home each week throughout the Spring. We will still mail a transcript of the sermon with the bulletin and make a DVD for those who request it. - “From Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday:
A Lenten Journey”
Kaskaskia River District 2021 Lenten Devotional Book
Today’s devotional: Sunday, February 21, 2021
More or Less?
“… I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25:40
In a little country church, attended by only a few families, I was the children’s Sunday School teacher — by default. Two of the six children in the church were our sons, Andy and Alex. Children’s ministry is not my strength, but duty called. During one of the first Sundays in Lent, I was trying to impress upon the kiddos the importance of making sacrifices in the name of Christian love so as to prepare one’s heart for the joy of Easter Sunday morning and the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Alas, to me, this is the meaning of Lent. I suggested to my pupils that they “give up” something for Lent like many adults do. What could they give up that would be a sacrifice? An hour of cartoons on Saturday morning? Chocolate? Complaining about doing chores? My little lambs were having none of it. In fact, they were complaining just at the thought of giving up cartoons or chocolate. It was time to try another approach. “Then, how about starting something new?” I asked. “Try adding something this week that will show your commitment to ‘loving your neighbor as yourself.’” The figurative bell rang as the other parents came to collect their children and there was no time for further discussion.
The next week, I heard about “setting the table for mom without her asking, feeding the dogs and cats before dad did that daily chore, being nice to the girl on the school bus that nobody ever wanted to sit by, going to visit Aunt One and listen to her stories so she wouldn’t be lonely.” I fought back tears as they shared how they put Christian love in action.
This became a Lenten tradition for me … adding something rather than just giving up something as a sacrifice. For me, I have typically devoted more time to study and spiritual growth. I often times read Max Lucado’s “The Final Week of Jesus” during Holy Week or “When the Angles Were Silent,” the longer version, throughout Lent. Last year I read Chris Tiegreen’s “The Promise of Lent” devotional. I listen to my “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Godspell” CDs which admittedly are somewhat secular but inspiring to me, all the same. As I write this, I reflect on the children’s choices. Their “something more” were acts of service which took Christ’s love out into the world. While personal study for spiritual growth will always be important to me, I realize that I can learn from the little ones. Sacrifice means not just giving up something, but also giving of oneself. After all, Christ gave it all that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Prayer: Dear Lord, during this season of Lent and beyond, help me recognize the needs of others and be willing, like the little children, to fill those needs in Your holy name. Amen.
— Ann Schwarm, Lay Leader, Vandalia First UM