March 10, 2013 - 4th Sunday of Lent

Good afternoon,

I will start off with the most important information:

TIME CHANGE!  We change to daylight savings time this weekend.  If you want to get to church on time put your clocks ahead one hour (remember: Spring forward, Fall back) before you go to bed on Saturday night. You have been warned!

Sunday Worship
The  story from Luke’s Gospel this week is a very familiar one.  It is the story of the “Prodigal Son.”  Unfortunately, well know stories are frequently the ones we think we know and understand the best, just because we have heard them so often.  But, have you ever gone back to a familiar childhood story, perhaps because you are now reading it to a child and you realize that there is much more to the story than you remember.  You can now see levels of meaning that you could not see as a child.  I am hoping that we can see the story of the Prodigal Son with new eyes.  I would particularly like to look at the story from the point of view of the different members of the family.  And again, who do we identify with in the story?

In the time for the Story for all ages, we will hear someone say “I found...”

From the Scriptures we will hear from Letters to Churches: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21,  and from the Gospels: Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32.
The reflection is, “Father, Older Son or Younger Son?”  

Family Fun Night

This Saturday, March 9 at 7:00pm.  A time for the Spirit West family (if you are getting this email, your are part of the family) to get together for some fun.  Lots of planning has gone into this, there will be games for all ages!  Bring your whole family and some snacks to share. 

Membership Classes

Membership Classes will be starting on Sunday afternoons in the near future.  Watch this space and the Sunday announcement sheet for details.

rEvolve Concert

It has been confirmed that rEvolve will play in concert at Spirit West United Church on Sunday, April 14 at 7:00pm.  Mark it on your calendar.  It is hoped that this concert will also be the launch for their new CD

Maundy Thursday Seder Supper for Christians

On Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 6:00pm we will remember Jesus’ time with his disciples at a Passover meal that became for us Holy Communion.  The is a combination Pot-Luck Supper and Service.  Because we need to know how many to set up for, we are asking that you sign up.  There will be sign-up sheets available on Sunday.  For those of you who attended the Seder last year, we will be using a different (and somewhat shorter) Haggadah (Order of Service) this year.

Annual Plant Sale

For the past two years, Liane Maitland organized a plant sale here at Spirit West.  It provided the community with some lovely plants.  With Liane’s passing, we have lost our Plant Sale Co-ordinator.  We have willing workers, but we are looking for someone who will take on the role of co-ordinator so that the Plant Sale can continue.  If you are interested, please call the church office (780-481-1406)

Church Photo Directory

IPC Canada has approached Spirit West about creating a Photo Directory for our church.  The way these directories work, is that the company takes family portraits and these are assembled into a directory along with information about the congregation.  The directories cost the church nothing and every family that is photographed receives a copy.  IPC makes its money by selling photo packages to families, in a manner somewhat similar to school photos.  I will be asking on Sunday if there is interest in pursuing this.  If you might not be here on Sunday, but would like to express your interest, email the church.
 
Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)
F Saturday, March 9  – Family Fun Night, 7:00pm, Lower Hall
F Sunday, March 10  – Lent 4
F Wednesday, March 13 – Lenten Study, 1:30 pm

Looking Ahead to Holy Week

F Thursday, March 28 – Maundy Thursday, 6:00pm – A Seder for Christians (Pot-luck Supper and Service combined)
F Friday, March 29 – Good Friday Service, 10:30
F Sunday, March 31 – Easter – Celebration of the Resurrection with Communion, 10:30

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to seeing you.

Blessings,

Larry

(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv

Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org