 This morning in my daily Lenten devotional reading of the Psalms, I ran across the line, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:11). The translation I am using places an exclamation point after this line. (I checked other translations and the exclamation point is absent.) Interesting. I have a difficult time reconciling my notion of “being still” with an exclamation point.
Then I get to thinking. Given that I have such a difficult time sometimes - okay, most of the time - with being still, maybe I need that exclamation point as a not-so-subtle-reminder to… be still… And, continuing with my focus on the use of punctuation, I think it helps me to surround “be still” with a few periods to act as pauses. … Be still … To breathe into being still. Breathe. And take another breath coming out of being still.
May your Lenten journey continue with deep breaths and many moments to … be still …
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
March 19: Encountering Jesus: Now I See; John 9:1-41
March 26: Encountering Jesus: Lord, He Stinketh!; John 11:1-45
April 2: Encountering Jesus: Which Gate?; Matthew 21:1-11
April 9: Encountering Jesus: The Risen Christ!; Matthew 28:1-10
April 16: Guest: Rev. Cheryl Russell, Associate Regional Minister
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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. Today's dinner and service will be here at Hazelwood! Here is the upcoming schedule for the hosting churches:
March 8: Hazelwood Christian
March 15: Holy Trinity ELCA
March 22: Community of Hope
March 29: Grace Episcopal
All are encouraged and welcome to attend any or all of the services.
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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Encounter God’s Word - This week: Matthew Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Beatitudes and the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.
Mahatma Gandhi said of the Sermon on the Mount, “Christ’s Sermon on the Mount fills me with bliss even today. Its sweet verses have even today the power to quench my agony of soul.”
The Sermon on the Mount is the first of five “discourses” or sermons that Jesus delivers in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus offers both a reinterpretation of the law as given to Moses as well as a new law. As you read the next three chapters of Matthew that make up the Sermon on the Mount over the next several weeks, be mindful of a line or two that calls to you. Make the line a mantra for the week. Attempt to live into what Jesus is asking of his followers.
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Disbursements
The following organizations each received $250 from the Permanent Fund distribution to the Missions & Benevolence Team:
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- The Salvation Army
- Christian Ministries of Delaware County
- First Choice for Women
- Habitat for Humanity
- Motivate Our Minds
- YWCA
- Children's Clothing Bank of Delaware County
- Soup Kitchen of Muncie
- A Better Way
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Dick Miller is a patient at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
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Prayers requested for these Hazelwood participants (alphabetical by last name):
- David Cartwright
- Ruthanne Devroy
- Jeane Garrett
- Mariangella Glaze
- Lois Gross
- Louise Maley
- Dick Miller
- Bill Ritchie
- Leah Ritchie
- Ron Smith
- Judy Thomas
- Mark Wages
- Molly Wantz
- Annie Yingst
Prayers requested for these friends and family of Hazelwood participants:
- Rhea Morgan's sister, Joyce Rupe
- 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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Seeking Volunteers for Holy Grounds
Holy Grounds, our refreshment time after the worship service, helps start the week off on a positive note! It's a pleasant way to catch up with one another, greet visitors, and enjoy some snacks. We have room for a few more teams to join the rotation. If interested, please call Stefanie in the church office: 765-282-5969, or email her by clicking HERE.
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Bible Study
Weekly Bible Study (both in-person and on Zoom) continues today, March 8, at 10am as we continue our study of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Rev. Eric will be facilitating. This week we will be studying Chapters 8 and 9. 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
Our class (both in-person and on Zoom) continues this Sunday, March 12, after worship in Cartwright Hall.
This week our Sunday School class This week our Sunday School class will continue our study of Amy-Jill Levine’s book, Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week. We will be studying Chapter 3 - Teachings: Risking Challenge. “Levine sets the narrative in historical context and analyzes the risks and motives of the story’s characters.”
If you would like to participate via Zoom, click HERE.
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Calendar
Wed., March 8: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Choir Rehearsal, 5pm, Sanctuary ; Lenten Dinner & Service, 6pm, Cartwright Hall & Sanctuary
Sun., March 12: Sunday School, 11:15am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom
Wed., March 8: Bible Study, 10am, Cartwright Hall & Zoom; Lenten Dinner & Service, 6pm, Holy Trinity ELCA (900 W. White River Blvd.)
Click HERE to see events further out on the calendar.
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Summer Camp 2023
It's time to get back in touch with nature, re-connect with old friends, and meet new friends …that is what camp is all about! Click on the schedule below for more information about the different camps available and to register. Be sure to register before May 15 to avoid late fees!
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From Middletown: A Study in Modern American Culture (1929)
“In many cases the church seems to serve Middletown [Muncie] not as a method of meeting situations [i.e. poverty], but, somewhat like Rotary and similar groups, as a repository or safeguard for a set of ideals, whereby the whole puzzle makes sense, and permanence is given to the slippery business of living.”
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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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