April 2019Pastor’s Pen

The month of April continues with the Lenten Season, Passion Week, and Easter. If you are walking your faith, then you should be walking through our church doors for all the activities and observances of Christianity. Our Light Lenten Suppers on Wednesdays at 5:00pm have been well

attended. We will conclude watching “Jesus of Nazareth”. It has been a good time of fellowship and visioning the life of Jesus through the movie, “Jesus of Nazareth”. When Passion Week comes, we begin it with Palm Sunday. This observance in the Church Year is based on the scripture where Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem and is proclaimed King. We will have palms available for everyone to help in the celebration. The Philippi Voice of Praise Choir will bring us a special Palm Sunday Service of Song.On Wednesday, we will celebrate a Christian Seder meal. This is based on the Jewish Passover Seder and tells the of Moses and the children of Israel in Egypt. What is interesting is that the Messiah Cup during the Passover observance is the same one Jesus drinks from and is the basis of our observance of the Lord’s Supper. Remember Jesus was in Jerusalem to observe not only Passover, but to go to the cross. Bring a cover dish and get ready for a new experience!Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin, “maun”, which is translated, ‘commandment’. We remember Jesus on the night of the Last Supper said to his disciples, “This commandment I give to you that you love one another.” Maundy Thursday service holds a dear place in the hearts of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Communion on a weekly basis is one of our sacraments in our denomination. Maundy Thursday Service reminds us that as Jesus was present then, so He is present now when we observe Communion. Following communion, we will have a Tenebrae Service, in the extinguishing of seven lit purple candles remembering not only the Last Supper, but Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his arrest. The lectern, pulpit, and altar will be stripped of its cloths, cross, and communion symbols to remember Jesus’ presence is no more. Good Friday was called ‘Holy” Friday. We will have a service to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. We have a special duet planned for the service. The church sanctuary will be open for prayer through the day until 6:00pm.For every Christian Easter Sunday, is the holiest observance next to Christmas. With Easter lilies decorating the sanctuary, we will have a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.It truly is a holy season for each of us. Jesus loves us! I look forward to being with you as we go to the empty tomb!

Philippi Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) P.O. Box 555Deltaville, Virginia 23043 (804) 776-6230 Chaplainlrland@yahoo.comCell (850) 209-8416

I am your servant in Christ, Pastor Lydia

Wednesday, April 3 5:00pm Light Lenten Supper Fellowship HallSunday, April 7 9:00am Sunday School Fellowship Hall 10:00am Worship Service Fellowship HallWednesday, April 10 5:00pm Light Lenten Supper Fellowship Hall

Sunday, April 14 9:00an Sunday School Fellowship Hall 10:00am Palm Sunday Worship Service

Sanctuary 3:00pm JYF Easter Egg Hunt Church and GroundsWednesday, April 17 5:00pm Christian Seder Supper

Fellowship Hall

Thursday, April 18 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Tenabrae SanctuaryFriday, April 19 10:00am Good Friday Worship Service SanctuarySunday, April 20 10:00am Easter Worship Service Sanctuary

Among Our FlockBlessed be the name, Ethel Wiley. Ethel passed away on Saturday, March 23, after an extended stay in the hospital. There will be a Celebration Service sometime in May. Let’s keep her husband, Cloyde, in our prayers and check in with him in a phone call. A Celebration Service was held on March 11 for Martha Gilbert. Earl Simpson recently had out patient surgery on his eye lids and is home doing better. Bill Parker has some health issues and is home following some treatments. It was good to visit with Danni Shelly as she continues to adjust to being retired. Danni has been fighting a bad cough and cold. Joe James lost his sister, Jane James, recently. Please keep he and his wife, Denise in your prayers as well of both having their own health issues. I visited with Charlotte and Kelly Slaughter. Charlotte is feeling better. It was good to see Marcia Norton the other week, even if it was for a couple of days. She is back down in Florida now—she and Billy will be heading up soon,

as well as Mary and Jack Williams—travelling mercies back up here! Joyce Mills got some really good news concerning her brother, David, they found a medication that is able to treat his cancer, and he will be going back to work. We believe in the power of God’s healing! Joyce Mills and John Schnoering should be coming back this way soon from Arizona. Traveling mercies to you, too! Our visitors this past month are Dustin and Kristen Dize, with their two daughters, Julia and Claire, who are regulars at JYF. Good to have Doris Haislip and her grandkids, Aiden and Andilee Haislip (they are JYF Youth) with us at the various church events. Linda McKittrick’s granddaughter, Kensey McKittrick, has been with us as well at JYF, Shirley Tiller’s great grandson, Liam, has been at JYF, too! It was good to see Stephen Ward and Robert Lucas on a visit to Effie Ward and her sister Annette Laird. And it was a joy for Pastor Lydia to meet Nellie Jane Harrow and Sally Harrow, Philippi members!

Nursing Homes: Helen Haley, Stanley Walden Special Prayers: Denise James, Frances Ward, Charlotte Slaughter, Sissy Womack, Bill Parker

REMEMBER OUR SERVICE DISCIPLES

Gray Dickerson143 Trouville Lane

Unit 6Chula Vista, California 91913

SFC Matthew P. DeagleCCO I-64 AR

Unit 15964APO AE 96271

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper NewsWe had a superb turnout from the Philippi Church family and Deltaville community for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 5. Everyone got Mardi Gras beads as Epiphany was coming to a close, and Lent would begin on the following day.

Effie Ward had the wonderful guests of her son, Stephen Ward and his husband, Robert Lucas. Effie’s sister, Annette Laird, was there, too, as well as Gladys Prince.We started serving at 5:00pm and ran out of pancakes at 5:45pm. We had over a hundred to support this special tradition at the Philippi Church. Special thanks to Jimmy Walden and Robert Howell for cooking, as well as our Fellowship co-chairs, Lillian Fahnestock

and Carol White. Many thanks to those who set up and cleaned the Fellowship Hall afterwards!

Our Lite Lenten Suppers havebeen well attended. We arewatching the movie, “Jesus of Nazareth”. Come join us on April 3 and April 10 at 5:00pm in the Fellowship Hall as we bring Lent to a close.

The Junior Youth Fellowship has been having a blast with the Spring season upon us. They had enjoyed drawing with chalk on the parking lot and playing outside.

Last Sunday, we made bird feeders with pine cones, peanut butter, and bird see. We also made a mess, but had a great time. We clean up!

Thanks to all for the dinners after youth group. We appreciate you!We now meet at 3:00 on Sunday afternoons! Easter egg hunt on April 14!***If you would like to help furnish a light supper for our youth on Sunday, please contact Betsy Hudgins.

The Young-At-Hearts (55+) will be having their luncheon on Monday, April 1, at 12:00pm. We will be discussing the upcoming trip to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. We hoping around a cost that will cover, transporation to and from, entrance ticket, and boxed lunch.

The Disciple Men will have breakfast in the Fellowship Hall at 8:00am on Saturday, April 6. Please remember to sign up.

The General Board will be meeting on Monday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. Please note the time change!Chairpersons of the various functional committee, please send in your report to the Church Office.

The Disciple Women will meet on April 22 for our luncheon at noon, followed by our Bible Study. The Disciple Women Bible Study is available on the table in the Fellowship Hall. Pick one up! Pastor Lydia will teach the first lesson, and then we will rotate this responsibility.

The Lectionary Learnings Tuesday at 2:00pm to study the upcoming Lectionary readings. Bring your Bible and come study with us! We meet in the Fellowship Hall.

Our 20s,30s, &40s folks met last month

with 15 in attendance. This group, which is still working on a name, will meet againon Saturday, April 13 at 6:00pm for a potluck meal. We will have child care socome and join us!

Meals on WheelsPlease Volunteer

April 3rd Jimmy & Mary Lee Walden

April 10 Linda McKittrickBlair Curdts

April 17

April 24 Bob & Pat Hatcher

Come on Philippi Church Family! We’ve got some meals to deliver! People are counting on it! “This commandment I give you, that you love one another.”

Choir NotesThe Philippi Choir of Praise will be presenting a Mini-Musical on Palm Sunday, April 14, during the 10:00am Morning Worship Service. The program is titled "Who Is He?" Please join us as we review the life of Jesus from birth to the cross in a "Lessons and Carols" format, alternating Scripture and Song in a worship experience. This service is a great way to focus your heart and mind on the life and death of Jesus as we enter Holy Week and ultimately celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

New Cross for The SanctuaryOn Sunday, March 31, we will be consecrating ournew cross in the Sanctuary during the 10:00am Worship Service. It was commissioned toan artist and given by members of our congregation.It is made of three woods: walnut, cherry, and bloodwood.

**Jesus' Obituary**Obituary   Jerusalem News   33 ADJesus of Nazareth

Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, for mankind's sins.Jesus Christ, a descendent of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the adopted son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother. He is survived by His mother, Mary, His Apostles, numerous disciples, and many other followers.Born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, Judea, Jesus was visited by three wise men on the night of His birth. They'd followed a wondrous star in search of a King and to present Him with gifts. Upon finding Jesus, they fell on their knees and worshipped Him.Jesus was later baptized in the Jordon River by John the Baptist.During His early years, Jesus worked as a carpenter with his father, Joseph, but later became a teacher. Jesus also worked as a healer, and many of his miraculous cures have been recorded, including healing the blind and raising people from the dead. Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Word of God, healing the sick,

inspiring the lonely, assisting the poor, and feeding the hungry. Once, He fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Wednesday, the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast with His Apostles at which time, He foretold His death. On the same day, He was tempted by Satan, but Jesus resisted Satan's effort. On Thursday, Jesus was arrested and put on trial. He underwent extreme torture. He was found guilty and sentenced to be crucified by order of Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate.Following His crucifixion, Jesus' body was buried in a stone tomb, donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family. Pontius Pilate ordered the guards to put a heavy boulder in front of the tomb and Roman soldiers guarded the entrance.Jesus, nevertheless, rose on the third day and appeared before His Disciples. Forty days later, He ascended into heaven.Jesus was most noted for His kindness and mercy and for His messages of faith, love, and hope, which will live in hearts forever.In lieu of flowers, the family requests love, peace, and hope. Donations may be sent to anyone in need.

("Jesus' Obituary," Adapted by Bobette Bryan, 2010)

source: http://www.bobettebryan.com/cards/html/greeting204.html

Philippi Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) P.O. Box 555Deltaville, Virginia 23043

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