I am excited about the ecumenical opportunity which several churches have agreed to participate in during the Season of Lent. Hazelwood will be joining with our brothers and sisters in Christ: fellow Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians. I encourage all to attend these weekly services of fellowship and worship at the different host churches. (See below for more information.)
My mind has been on Lent for a couple of months now; yes, even before Christmas I was thinking about Lent. And, I suppose it would be a bit premature to begin writing a “Lenten” column this week, so I will wait until next week. But that’s how my mind works; always thinking ahead, planning ahead, writing next week’s sermon, looking to my upcoming calendar. Maybe - as I think ahead once again - I will take on a spiritual practice for Lent that brings my attention to the current moment.
Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book An Altar in the World, writes, “No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it.”
Simply to look down, head bowed, and give thanks for the red X that I am standing on in the present moment. Sounds like a plan…
Rev. Eric
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Sunday Worship begins each week at 10am, in-person and online, streaming via Facebook. Click HERE to go to our Facebook page.
For those of you worshiping online, click HERE after Friday to find the upcoming Bulletin.
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To see information about the songs we will be singing this Sunday, click here: http://www.hazelwoodchurch.org/worship-songs-this-week/
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To read last Sunday's Pastoral Prayer and Sermon, click HERE.
To watch past services, you may go to Youtube by clicking HERE.
To see just the scripture and sermons from each week, click HERE.
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Upcoming Sermons
February 26: Encountering Jesus: How Tempting!; Matthew 4:1-11
March 5: Encountering Jesus: Back into the Womb; John 3:1-17
March 12: Encountering Jesus: The Bucket List; John 4:5-42
March 19: Encountering Jesus: Now I See; John 9:1-41
March 26: Encountering Jesus: Lord, He Stinketh!; John 11:1-45
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Unsettling Lent - Devotional
The church has several copies of Unsettling Lent as the devotional for the soon-to-arrive season of Lent. You may pick up your copy in the narthex outside the sanctuary. A donation of $5 to cover the cost of the devotional is suggested (please mark your donation "Lent Devotional" to help our bookkeeper).
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There will be a Service of Ashes on Wednesday, February 22, at 7pm. All are invited and encouraged to come and receive the ashes. The service will be contemplative; with prayers, a brief message and the imposition of ashes. “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.”
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Season of Lent - Weekly Service
Several churches are joining together for the Season of Lent to hold weekly get-togethers on Wednesday evenings of dinner, fellowship, and devotional services. Hazelwood Christian Church will be joined by First Presbyterian, Saint Andrew Presbyterian, Grace Episcopal, Community of Hope, Holy Trinity Lutheran, and Lutheran Church of the Cross.
The plan is for a meal of soup and bread at 6pm followed by a service of devotion at 7pm. All are welcome to attend both the meal and the service. Here is the schedule for the hosting churches:
March 1: Saint Andrew
March 8: Hazelwood Christian
March 15: Holy Trinity ELCA
March 22: Community of Hope
March 29: Grace Episcopal
The pastors of each church have agreed to use Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith, as a springboard for each worship/devotional service. The book would make an excellent Lenten devotional book. “In An Altar in the World, Taylor shows us how to discover altars everywhere we go and in nearly everything we do as we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in.”
You may find the book by clicking HERE.
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Encounter God.
Encounter God’s Word.
Encounter God’s People.
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Walk-a-Mile
This year, Hazelwood walkers and supporters raised $1,400 to support the Muncie Mission's many needs, helping to provide warm shelter, hot meals, and hope for a brighter future. Thanks to all who helped in any way. God Bless.
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Note of Appreciation
Hazelwood,
Thank you for your support to First Choice for Women. This work could not survive without the generosity of people like you who give their time, talents, and treasure. We are so blessed by your contribution and look forward to our continued partnership as we work together to save and change lives every week.
Kailee McKnight, Executive Director, First Choice for Women
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Looking Ahead
Volunteers are needed for Christian Ministries' Food Pantry on March 14, 15, 16, & 17. Please contact Shirley Bookout at 765-744-1207 to sign up or for more information.
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Prayers requested for these Hazelwood participants (alphabetical by last name):
- David Cartwright
- Jeff Clary
- Ruthanne Devroy
- Jeane Garrett
- Mariangella Glaze
- Lois Gross
- Louise Maley
- Marcia Miller
- Jairen Rees
- Bill Ritchie
- Leah Ritchie
- Ron Smith
- Judy Thomas
- Mark Wages
- Molly Wantz
- Annie Yingst
Prayers requested for these friends and family of Hazelwood participants:
- Donna's Dye's granddaughter, Heather Kruger
Note, the friends and family list will re-set at the first of every month. At that time, we request confirmation that the one being named has given permission to continue to be listed on this newsletter prayer list, in order to honor their personal agency and privacy. Thank you for understanding the importance of this in the digital age.
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Week of Compassion Special Offering: February 19 & 26
Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Your gifts to Week of Compassion bring hope out of despair, find blessings amid devastation, and help transform loss into new life. Your contributions bring tangible relief and change the course of lives.
Through domestic disaster response in familiar communities; preparedness training for congregations and individuals; refugee response in the aftermath of national conflicts; and ecumenical partnerships that engage international disaster response and support basic human needs for shelter, food, education, and livelihoods Week of Compassion proclaims this truth: God’s mercies RISE UP ANEW each day.
You can give to Week of Compassion directly by clicking HERE or on the graphic above, or give through Hazelwood (100% of all donations received will be given to Week of Compassion). If you choose to give through Hazelwood, please note "Week of Compassion" in the memo line of your check. |
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Bible Study
Weekly Bible Study (both in-person and on Zoom) continues today, February 15, at 10am. Rev. Eric will be facilitating. This week we will begin our study of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. You may participate every week or as you are able; each week’s study will be independent from the others.
If you would like to participate via Zoom, click HERE.
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Sunday School
On February 19 the Sunday School class will conclude our visit to early 18th-century France by immersing ourselves in the life of The Miserable Ones or in French, Les Miserables. We will continue our study of The Grace of Les Miserables by Matt Rawle with Chapter Six: The Blessed Garden: A Hopeful Vision. All are welcome. Come join us!
On the first Sunday of Lent, February 26, we will begin a study of Amy-Jill Levine’s book, Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week. “Levine sets the narrative in historical context and analyzes the risks and motives of the story’s characters.” Please let the office know if you would like a book to be ordered for you. Or you can order at Amazon HERE. |
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Calendar
Wed., February 15: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Bell Choir Rehearsal, 6:30pm, Choir Room; Choir Rehearsal, 7pm, Sanctuary
Thurs, February 16: Preschool Team, 3:30pm, Room 108 & Zoom
Fri., February 17: Praise Band Rehearsal, 5pm, Sanctuary
Sun., February 19: Sunday School, 11:15am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom
Mon., February 20: Presidents Day - Church Office Closed
Wed., February 22: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Ash Wednesday Service, 7pm, Sanctuary; Choir Rehearsal, After the Service, Sanctuary
Click HERE to see events further out on the calendar.
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Jones Scholarship Applications
C. Darrell and Edith Jones Scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now available. You can access a digital copy by clicking HERE, or you can pick up a printed copy at the table just outside the Sanctuary doors. This scholarship is designated for undergraduate study with a limit of 4 years. Applicants, or their parents, must be a church member for at least two years. Deadline for submission is March 1.
For more information, contact Mary Ann Matchett, chair of the Jones Scholarship Committee, by email at mrsstiky@comcast.net.
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Recently the Muncie Police Department visited the 4-5 class. They did a great job interacting with the students. They showed them one of their K-9 dogs and brought several different types of police vehicles.
The 4-5 class put together over 100 bags for our first responders to thank them for their service. The thank you bags included items like, water, snacks, candy, tide stain sticks, thank you papers, and donated gift cards. Thank you to all of our first responders!
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The growth of the [religious] nones in American society has been dramatic. In 1972, just 5 percent of Americans claimed “no religion” on the General Social Survey. In 2018, that number rose to 23.7 percent, making the nones as numerous as both evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics. Every indication is that the nones will be the largest religious group in the United States in the next decade.
~Ryan Burge
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2023 Receipts through January: $20,453.05
2023 Expenses through January: $22,673.91
2023 Outreach Disbursements through January: $3,560.45
Sleeping Room Project: $288.22
Winnie's Kids: $3,272.23
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To make a financial gift online via Givelify, click here:
https://giv.li/cv3bky
After you are in the Givelify site, to designate a gift to something other than the general fund, choose "Other" and then type in the message box to let us know to which fund you are donating.
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Please submit items for the newsletter by Monday at noon each week.
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Rev. Eric Brotheridge, Senior Minister
Stefanie Petty, Office Administrator
Rhea Morgan, Bookkeeper
Marianna Gill, Worship Coordinator
Lori Rhoden, Organist
Brooklyn Wolf, Youth Ministry Assistant
Angela Lopez, Director of Weekday Preschool and Extended Learning Center
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