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The deadline for submitting newsletter announcements is noon on Wednesday.  Please email any announcements to admin@uccasheville.org.
Letter from the Pastor
Margot Pickett
Intentional Interim Pastor 
margot.pickett@uccasheville.org
Spring has always been my favorite season. The way the earth seemingly comes back to life brings me hope and joy every year. But spring this year, even though it is technically less than a week old, has instead brought me anxiety, disappointment, and maybe something close to despair. The unseasonably warm weather in February that caused trees, bushes and flowers to bloom early was a nice mid-winter treat, but we all knew it wouldn’t last and that we’d likely have a frost that would damage or kill the blossoms. And indeed, not only did we get a frost, we got snow and 3 days of sub-freezing temperatures. I have to admit that I was barely able to enjoy the daffodils and flowering pear trees knowing they were going to be ruined in coming days. And seeing them frozen and then turned deadly brown made me nearly cry.

It’s not just that the blighted blossoms were ugly. It wasn’t even just that at some symbolic level they made me think of other deep disappointments and set-backs in our world lately. It was also that all of this served as a stark reminder that our climate is changing…rapidly…and we human beings are to blame and we generally are doing little to stop it.

And yet, as I watch the natural world around me, it is coming back to life. Some things will not revive this year, and I am well aware that farmers are suffering much more than mild depression because of this disastrous weather, but nature is resilient. Each new bloom testifies to that, bringing me hope and joy again. And yet…there is still that reminder that we, that I, need to do more to protect our environment, a fragile and precious gift that God has given us and asked us to tend.

The focus of this week’s Peace Prayer is “Where there is despair, let me sow hope.” How appropriate, I thought. Time to sow some hope! Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” and doctors and psychologists tell us that having hope gives us energy to heal better and to take positive steps forward. May we all find ways this spring to sow some seeds of hope for ourselves, for those in difficult circumstances, and for our endangered earth.

In faith, hope, and love,
Margot
 
Holy Week 
Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday on April 9, will soon be upon us. We hope you will be able to join us for all the services at church that week.

On April 9th, our morning worship service will focus on both Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as well as the difficult days that followed. On Maundy Thursday, April 13th, we will gather in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm to remember Jesus' Last Supper and his final days in Jerusalem. On Good Friday, April 14th, at noon, our Organist and Choir Director, Kevin Bryant, will provide an hour of contemplative music that will evoke the mood of the Passion. The hour-long concert will include organ, piano, Georgia Pressman on flute, Jim LeStock on the cello, as well as vocal solos by Amanda Horton. Easter morning service will be at the usual 10:30 time and be a joyous celebration of the Resurrection. As always, this is a time of high drama and inspiration, moving us from excitement to deep sorrow and grief and back to joyful hope and celebration in one week.

We hope you can be here with us.
This Week's Scripture
On Sunday, March 26th, at 10:30 am, the following scripture will be part of our service:
  • Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Acts 2:1-21, 43-47
This week's sermon will focus on this section of the UCC Statement of Faith:
          You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church
          of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues,
          and races.
 

Ministry News & Updates
Yolanda Adams, Ministry Coordinator
(ministry@uccasheville.org)


Dear Ones,

Sorry I had to duck out on you last Sunday. I was not feeling well and needed to lay down for a bit and I didn't think you wanted to me to stretch out on the pews to take a nap.  I am slowly feeling better, but it just seems that I am in the time of life where I am an aging house that as soon as one thing is fixed, the floor falls to the basement. I am grateful for the prayers, the phone calls and concerns. I will try not to make you worry so much. I am blessed to have this congregation as my family. Thanks for the love. See you on Sunday.

~Yolanda
 
Staff News
Did you know Kevin Bryant was
~Born in High Point
~Moved to this area at a very young age
~Hobbies are watching and participating in sports
~Favorite teams are Michigan and UNC
~Indulgences are chocolate and athletic shoes ;-)

Ask him about his yearly concert series (most are free).

 
Membership News!
Need a name tag?  Lost a name tag?
We want to know who you are. Do you want to know who we are?  We hope so!
It means we need name tags. If you need one, please ask a greeter or a Deacon to show you where the clipboard with the request form is and a name tag will be ready for you the following Sunday.
______________________________________________________
 
Exploring the Path to Membership Classes
If you have been visiting our church for a while and are thinking about joining, here is an opportunity to learn more about us and the United Church of Christ as a whole.

Classes will run for three Sundays beginning April 2nd in room E- 107 in the Education Building, from 9 until 10 am. Each week attendees will hear from different speakers and have an opportunity to learn and ask questions about our church, what we believe, who we are and also about the wider mission of the UCC. 

Recommended reading is Balaam's Unofficial Guide to the UCC. We have a few copies available but you can purchase the book on Amazon as well.  There will be handouts as well a tour of our church.

We invite you to come with energy, questions and to ready to have a joyful and educational experience. We know that not all can make it for all three Sundays, but please come when you can.

For more questions, please contact Yolanda at ministry@uccasheville.org or call 828-252-8729. 
 
You do not have to come to classes to join the church but it is recommended.

______________________________________________________

New Member Sunday
Sunday April 30th will be New Member Sunday. If you have waiting for the right time to join, this is your day!  There will be New Member Bio Forms available in the Narthex starting this Sunday. For more information, please contact Yolanda at ministry@uccasheville.org or call 828-252-8729.
 
______________________________________________________
A Celebration of Life for John Martin
A Celebration of Life Service with military honors, will be held Saturday, April 1st, 11 am, at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on Charlotte Highway in Fairview. It would be lovely if everyone who knew John and his family could attend. Please contact Yolanda for more information.

There will be a white rose on the Chancel Table in his memory this Sunday.
Life of the Church Ministries
Bell and Chime Workshop
This Sunday, March 26, you are invited to attend a "Get to Know Bells and Chimes" workshop from 12:15 - 1 pm in the Sanctuary.  The only requirement is curiosity and willingness to listen and try out a new skill.  Betty Dillashaw has led many workshops, so she will not expect anyone to be perfect!  Also, attending this workshop does NOT mean you'll be expected to ring with the bell choir!!  You may, however, learn a bit more about how to listen to and/or watch a bell or chime choir.  If that's all you're interested in doing, come!!  If you really want to learn to ring, come!!  Everyone is welcome! If you have questions, call Betty at 336-260-0836, or email her at bettydtleaf@gmail.com.
Youth News
Taleese Morrill
Youth Ministry Coordinator
taleesemorrill@gmail.com
 
This Sunday we've got Teen Church as well as Laundry Love.
 
Your teens have been such an important part of Laundry Love as we get busier and busier! I am always amazed by their hard work and great attitudes. I hope you know that they are a necessity to the Laundry Love program, not a burden, and I am so grateful to all of you for having them be a part of this program.

Taleese
 
The photo above is a scene during Children's Time from last Sunday with J.P. and Taleese Morrill. 
 
The FCUCC garden is ready for spring!
 





 





Springbank: Annual Retreat for the Women of FCUCC, May 7-11
Springbank Retreat Center, located in the beautiful South Carolina low country, is just the place to unwind, rest, create, eat good food and enjoy good fellowship.  A group of creatives from FCUCC first “retreated” there in 2014, fell in love with the natural surroundings, and have returned every year since.  This year there is space for 14 women to attend.
 
The days consist of breakfast and morning time in silence, lunch in fellowship with each other, mornings and afternoons free to enjoy the natural surroundings, sleep, pursue something creative, or engage with the holy at one of the many sacred sights on the property. In the evening we enjoy fellowship at dinner, devotion after dinner and game time after devotion. 
 
The cost this year is $308 which includes lodging and 4 suppers. Partial scholarships are available.  
 
If you would like more information, or a registration, please contact Carol Austin-Janssen at craustin@gmail.com. If you would like scholarship information, please contact Mandy Kjellstrom at mkjellstrom@gmail.com.
 
Faith Formation, Adult Forums & Workshops
Finding Peace/Sowing Peace in a Tumultuous Time - continues
During the season of Lent, we invite you to come by the church on Wednesday evenings for a short time of prayer, reflection, conversation and quiet centering on the Prayer of St. Francis, also known as the “Peace Prayer.” (See photo right). We meet in room E-105 at 5:30 pm through April 5th. Feel free to drop in for any or all sessions. Jane Stoffer and Loraine Tuenge will facilitate the time together.
 

March 26
The Book of Esther
Join Rev. Brenda Lewis, at 9 am in room E-107, as she takes you through the Book of Esther. Also known in Hebrew as "the Scroll" (Megillah), is a book in the third section writings of the Jewish Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and in the Christian Old Testament. It relates the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia, born as Hadassah but known as Esther, who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a genocide of her people. The story forms the core of the Jewish festival of Purim.  Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not explicitly mention God. 

April 2
The Book of Ruth
The book tells of Ruth's accepting the God of the Israelites as her God and the Israelite people as her own. In Ruth 1:16-17, Ruth tells Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried."  The class will start at 9 am, in Room E-101.
Faith in Action
One Hour of Sharing
We will collect our annual One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering on Sunday, March 26th. This special offering supports ministries that fund health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries and disaster response here in the US and around the world. This is a great way to minister to our brothers and sisters near and far who are in need.


Refugee Update
Lee Perkins delivered a great couch, donated by Maria Fire and Calvin Allen, to a refugee family who really appreciates it. The family of 4 have gotten by with one mattress and a table with chairs for 2 weeks.

Mostly the refugees need a friend that will talk with them one hour a week to improve their English.  It is very rewarding. Remember to bring baby boy things for another refugee family. Their baby is due June 4.  For more information call Carol Duin at 337-5228.
 
Continuing Ministries
What are you passionate about?
Are you PASSIONATE about a cause or a social-justice issue and looking for a way to connect that passion with the community? Do you know how to start a new ministry or that First Congregational has a number of groups and volunteer opportunities available for you to connect and use your time and talents. As we move forward during this year of discernment, it will become very important for all of us to feel connected and involved in a meaningful way to our faith, community and the world.

Some of the existing Ministries and groups are Earth Team, Pritchard Park, Men’s Group, Room In the Inn, Habitat For Humanity and the Deacons. There is a Creative Contemplative Group as well as a Book Group. Would you like to donate to the food pantries at Emma and Johnston Elementary?  We got that too. A list of existing Groups and Ministries can be found on the church’s Our Ministries webpage.

How about starting a group or a ministry? Where do your passions lie? All these and other burning questions may be asked of your intrepid Ministry Coordinator, Yolanda at ministry@uccasheville.org,  or call 828-252-8729 for more information.
News from the Chancel Team
Lilies are synonymous with Easter and for this Easter season you may pre-order and pre-pay for beautiful, locally grown Easter Lilies in honor or in memory of loved ones.  The cost of the each lily is $7.
 
The deadline for ordering is Sunday, April 2nd.

There will be an order form tucked in the worship bulletin for you to put in the collection plate, or if you will not be at church this Sunday, please email Yolanda at ministry@uccasheville.org, to place your order.
Sacred Pause
At Sacred Pause, you may take time to create, be quiet, read, write or do nothing but listen to your own breathing and relaxing music. Join us on Mondays, 5:45 pm in Room E-101. For more information, contact Yolanda.


Fellowship Time volunteers 
We need Fellowship Time volunteers.  We all enjoy having time together after the service to connect.  This ministry is supported by church staff who make the coffee and set out refreshments for our enjoyment. It's the volunteers who clean up after we're done. Only two to four people are needed each week to do this. Signup sheets are available at Fellowship Time for you to volunteer for one or more weeks.  Some people have fun working together in teams. Available dates extend through end of the year. For questions or more information contact Yolanda, Joanne Roudebush or Terry Kaeser.


Game Night is back!
Everyone is invited to Game Night, Tuesday, March 28th, in room E-103, to enjoy a high stakes game of dominoes or Rummikub. Mary and Dennis will sweeten the pot with some yummy snacks.




Earth Team Movie Night
Everyone is invited to watch the movie, "NO IMPACT MAN," which asks the question: can you save the planet without driving your family crazy? It's an entertaining and funny look at well-intentioned environmentalism.  Friday, March 31, 6:30 pm in the Library. 
A Special Invitation from Stir the Soul Cafe 
Join us this next Wednesday, the 29th, 2 to 4 pm, in the Library, to view the movie "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" by Webber and Rice. This story of forgiveness and deliverance compliments this season of Lent.  Its music is delightful, the cast is great and the story is worth hearing again and again. See you there!

Loraine Tuenge
Stir the Soul Cafe Coordinator
Remember

This Week's Birthdays

Ruby Leggat - March 25
Jerene Broadway - March 27

 
Our Wider Community 

March 25-26
The Citizens Climate Lobby is holding its 2017 Mid-South Regional Conference at the Collider, 1 Haywood St. Ste. 401, in Asheville, Saturday, March 25, from 8 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, March 26, from 8 am to 12 noon. For more information and to sign up, go to 2017 Mid-South Regional Conference, or contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.
 

March 31, April 1 & 2
Crestview Baptist Church Worship Arts Ministry presents "Streams of Mercy" Passion Drama Musical at 6:30 pm, Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at 10:30 am at 3258 Pisgah Dr, Canton, NC. More information can be found on our website at www.crestviewcanton.org.


April 5
Would you like help hundreds of Buncombe County residents learn to read better, help their kids with homework, move out of poverty and get better-paying jobs to support their families?

Well, you can, and it's easy.

Calvin Allen and two amigos (The Spell Casters) have entered the spelling bee held by the Literacy Council, a non-profit that has helped thousands of children and adults since 1986.

The Spell Casters will  fry their brains trying to memorize hundreds of obscure words such as "amphisbaena," dress up like wizards, compete in the Spelling Bee at the Salvage Station on April 5 and endure public humiliation.

All you have to do is click on The Spell Casters and donate to this worthy cause.


April 29
A message from Dr. Danna Park:
On Saturday, April 29th, Asheville's Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) will be hosting the annual  Integrative Healthcare Conference. 

I have had the pleasure of working with the planning team for this event and am excited to share with you what we have lined up for the day.  Although the conference is geared for healthcare providers, and will have a  CME/CEU's available for a wide range of health professionals (including credits for medical assistants), it is also open to the public for a fee of $25 for the day.
 
This event will include Dr. Brian Asbill from Asheville Cardiology discussing life style modifications for reversing heart disease, Dr. Natalie Sadler exploring non-pharmaceutical management options for depression, anxiety and insomnia, and Elizabeth Holmes, RD, reviewing different kinds of popular diets. 

Breakout sessions will  be varied and include experiential use and applications of heart-rate variability biofeedback, integrative approaches for thyroid issues, and approaches for chronic pain management in children and adults. Practical and experiential sessions in Tai Chi for Health, use of essential oils for wellness, and health benefits of Tae Kwon Do are also included.  A delicious and healthy lunch is included in the cost.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn from expert practitioners, collaborate with professionals in the field of Integrative Medicine and will return home, or to their practices, with information and insights that can be incorporated into their lives or into direct patient care. 

For more information click on Integrative Healthcare Across the Lifespan.  Please share in spreading the word to your friends and colleagues!

 

On-going Events

Tuesday
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 pm at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 pm.

Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville, 10 am. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.


Wednesday
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.

Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group, 6 pm, at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

Green Drinks meets at 7 pm at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.

Sierra Club meets at 7 pm at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.
 

Thursday
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books, 6 pm on the fourth Thursday of the month. 

Political documentary film and discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books 6:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month. Sponsored by Asheville Citizens Accountability Project.

Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 am. Call 258-1695 for more information.

Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 pm.


Saturday
Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 am to 1 pm. Call 258-8737 for more information.

Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 pm at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.

Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.
 

Sunday
Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 pm at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month. 






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First Congregational United Church of Christ Asheville · PO Box 3211 · Asheville, NC 28802 · USA

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