Please note, due to the weather forecast, all church related events tonight, Tuesday, March 20, 2018 have been canceled.
This is an excerpt from our January-February 2018 newsletter:A Call to Repentance Joel 2:12-13
12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.
The world as Joel knew it was in drastic decay, it had been ravaged by locusts and drought. The people were exasperated. They were at their wits end. I fell like Joel sometimes and look at world, and darkness closes in as the task before us can be overwhelming to say the least. What do we do in these times when our world, God’s world is not as it should be?
Lent, for me at least, is the best time to analyze those thoughts. We are given the formula for that change in Joel. “Turn to me with all your heart.” I believe it should read “Turn to me with ALL your heart.” What is in our hearts is not all good, our hearts harbor our hopes and dreams, our highs and lows and the deepest of hurts and disappointments. God desires it ALL. To give it all we have to God we have to get rid of the roadblocks.
The roadblocks are removed through designated time for God and God’s healing touch. The next section of the formula is fasting, weeping and mourning. Sounds like an odd way to bring wellness doesn’t it? I look at it like luggage for a trip. If you are going to Alaska, you pack nice warm clothes. If in time you go to the Caribbean and you never unpacked from your last rip you have no room for what is needed to travel.
In this Lenten season can we unpack the unnecessary and fill up our luggage with the proper items for a fulfilling life’s journey with God? There is much in this life we were not meant to carry beyond the cross. Christ carried much of it for us, yet we still pick it back up. Can we trust in the gracious, merciful God? Can we release and refuel to be a better version of ourselves and move toward who God designed us to be?
Whatever Lenten practices you decide to take on this year, I pray that we, as individuals and as a church, come whole-heartedly before our God who is waiting with open arms to forgive and be an active participant in our lives. This Lenten season reflect on the greatest gift ever given, the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
Blessings,
Pastor Shannon
“God’s Farm” bible study will be held every Wednesday night at 7pm from Feb. 21-March 28. Please contact Krista Gallo if interested.
| Dover District Clergy & Laity,
Dover District Leadership Training will take place on Saturday, February 24th at Avenue UMC in Milford, DE. Attached is the information about the classes being offered which includes the registration form; however, for your convenience, I have also attached (see below) the registration form as a separate document. Please share this information with the laity at your church. Registration deadline is February 15th – please make sure you mail early so it arrives on time!
Blessings, Cathy Cathy J Myers
Administrative Assistant Dover District Office Phone: 302.526.2629 |
Ash Wednesday- February 14th
6PM- Prospect UMC
Palm Sunday- March 25th
9:30- Prospect UMC
11:00- Trinity UMC
Maundy Thursday- March 29th
6PM-Trinity UMC
Good Friday- March 30th
6PM-Prospect UMC
SonRise- April 1st
6:30AM- Trinity UMC
Easter Morning- April 1st
9:15- Prospect UMC
11:15- Trinity UMC
Come see Prospect’s live beautiful Christmas tree decorated with advent ornaments!
Prospect and Trinity United Methodist Church have several times for Christmas Eve services this year. Please come join us and bring your family members or friends!
All are welcome to the following 2017 Easter worship services:
Please join us!
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