Easter 2016 has passed and with it all of the accompanying celebratory

trappings. The baskets have returned to the attic, the plastic eggs are being recycled, somewhere in the house there is at least one purple Peep left unconsumed – at least until the toddler finds it.

At Madison Park, the silk palms have been put away from the children’s Palm Sunday processional. The basins and towels from Maundy Thursday have been washed, dried and returned to their holding place. Alanna Story’s road gear from the Good Friday Celebrate Recovery gathering has been repacked. The last lingering notes of our glorious Easter worship have long since died out in the Worship Center. And the orchestra copies of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” have been returned to their filing cabinet to await our next annual observance of the greatest event in the history of the world.

But can we really let the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ wait a whole year to be acknowledged and celebrated again?

The early followers of Christ understood that Easter was an event to be remembered and reinforced on a regular basis. It shifted the worship calendar on a weekly basis from

Sabbath observances to Sunday celebrations. For those of us who occasionally rise early enough to see the sun come up, we have the opportunity to recall the miracle of Easter through God’s gift of a daily Sonrise.

I don’t want our celebration of Easter to ever end. I want to remember the glory of the resurrection in my heart and allow it to empower my life every moment I have left on this earth. I want to let the power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave be alive in me and make me alive with Him. I want to LIVE! Don’t you?

Easter never ends for the follower of Jesus Christ. That’s the point! Jesus overcame the grave. That means there is no end to life with Him. Eternal life is, literally, never-ending-life.

Let’s commit to live like we’re alive. Imagine how it might change our homes, our families, and our communities if we lived every day with resurrection power, hope, and joy. I can’t wait to see what God will do as we live like Easter never ends!Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

Shre your thoughts on this article; visit the blog and leave a comment at MadisonPark Church.

Is Easter over? by Paul Strozier, Senior Pastor

April - June Proceeds benefit IndiaMake a purchase at Holy Grounds and a portion of the proceeds will benefit ministries in India. Come early or linger after the Sunday worship services to enjoy conversation and refreshments. Visit MadisonParkChurch.org to view the full menu. Sundays, 8:30am-11:15amMasterCard, Visa and Discover accepted.

Worship ServicesSUNDAY9:00am - A blend of traditional and contemporary music, prayer, and teaching from God’s Word.11:00am - Features a praise band with distinctively modern edge and teaching from God’s Word.Classes are offered for all ages at 9:00am and 10:45am. Children at 11:00am. Visit Grand Central for a complete listing of all elec-tives or visit the Ministries page at MadisonParkChurch.org.

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Need someone to talk to? You can often find them over a cup of coffee! The ministry of Holy Grounds offers not only delicious fare, but a place to con-nect. Guests to MPC often gravitate to the familiar sur-roundings of coffee and tables. It’s a scene that’s common to our culture, so it provides instant familiarity and provides an open space for the ministry of hospitality, food and fellowship – a place to connect and build relationships. The relaxed atmosphere can change a person’s countenance so

they can be open to God’s leading as they go into worship.

Shelly Stottlemyer, MPC Connections Pastor, shares, “Every aspect of the

Holy Grounds ministry is intentional, from the buying of the coffee beans to the selling of the final product. We are using a local coffee bean roaster, Noble Tea and Coffee, run by

A Place to Connect

biweekly weavings of the family at Madison Park Church of God - April 4, 2016

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Current Teaching SeriesPastor Paul Strozier Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00am

It’s not about religion…It’s about relationships! The same power that brought Jesus to life can resurrect your relationships. Join us as we discover - How to LIVE with the Ones You Love!

April 10: How to Live RESPECTFULLY with the Ones You Love - Ephesians 5:33, Ruth 1-4

April 17: FAITHFULNESS: Staying in the right place at the right time - 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

April 24: FORGIVENESS: If you truly love something, set it free - Philemon

May 1: PATIENCE: The wisdom of endurance - James 1-5

Sandi Patty: Forever Grateful - The Farewell Tour

Sunday, April 24 - 7:00pm Madison Park Main Auditorium

Be blessed by the music and testimony of multi-award winning Sandi Patty in concert. Tickets available at the Church Office. Premier Seating Tickets must be purchased online. Church group rate is $18.50 per ticket (a savings of $6.50) Use the promo code CHURCH. For more information and to purchase tickets go to: http://oetkend-esign.com/premier/sandipatty/042416-01b.html.

Church of God Regional Convention and CHOG Table

June 21-23 - Hosted at Madison Park Church

The theme of the Regional Conventions of the Church of God is Reclaim Your Neighborhood, emphasizing the practice of reclaiming what hell has stolen— a natural extension of the concept, “Jesus is the Subject.” The reclaim rally cry is centering on each church’s local sphere of ministry. • Six Plenary Sessions, beginning on Tuesday at 7:00pm continuing through Wednesday night, will feature guest speakers: Milton Grannum, Ben Hardman, Arnetta McNeese Bailey, Steve Arterburn and Reggie McNeal with worship leaders Alanna Story. • Thursday will feature a CHOG Table—TOPIC: Immigration/ Refugee Crisis. For complete schedule and to register go to jesusisthesubject.org/church-of-god-convention-2016.

News You Can Use

Special Mental and Emotional Health EveningUnderstanding and Managing Anger Monday, April 25 - 6:30-7:30pm in Room 176 Pastor Doug Linville will be the guest speaker. Sponsored by Stephen Ministries, Contact: Nancy McCafferty at (765) 644-1472.

J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Thursday, April 21 at 12 Noon at Scatterfield Ministry Center. Enjoy wonderful fellowship, delicious food and guest speaker, Bonnie Corbey of the Community Hospital Stroke Team. Bring food to share at the pitch-in meal. Contact: Jackie Corn, at the Church Office.S.A.L.T. (Single Adults Living Truth)•Sundays, 6:00-7:30pm in Room 175 - Bible

Study, Life Lessons, I Corinthians by Max Lucado.

• Wednesdays at MPC: Join other singles at a table to enjoy a delicious Lighthouse Café Dinner and fellowship.

Contact: Wanda Anderson, anderson.wanda@yahoo.com or Karl Grady, graddykarl@att.net.

Sponsor an Elementary CamperJune 9-11 for grades 1-3July 10-15 for grades 3-5at Camp Challenge, Church of God Youth

Camp in Southern IndianaTRAKs is seeking to provide MPC children

the opportunity to experience the everlasting encounter of church camp. Kids wanting to attend camp this summer are currently raising funds and building camaraderie in preparation for this life changing week. The desire is for any child wanting to attend camp to be provided the opportunity. Please consider sponsoring a camper or making a donation to the “Elementary Camp Fund.” Your gift is tax deductible. You will be included in the experience via photos, social media, personal and written contacts. The cost is $220 per camper per week. Give in regular worship offerings, online or by texting. Please indicate for “Elementary Camp”. Contact: Christi Maidlow, Children’s Ministries Pastor.

Children’s MinistriesChildren’s Programs Sundays at 9:00am and 11:00am Classes and Child Care for all ages in the Children’s CenterWednesdays from 6:30-7:45pm in the Children’s Center. Our final QUEST for this school year launches

on April 27. This session will discover and explore Paul and Saul. A family experience at 6:30 pm in the Main Auditorium on May 25th will cap the 5-week learning investigation. QUEST welcomes preschool - elementary age children to join in their grade level classrooms..For more information or to volunteer, contact Christi Maidlow, Children’s Ministries Pastor.Children’s Ministry Assistant Training: Sunday, April 10 at 9:00am in Room 191. Kids completing grades 3-9 are invited to serve as Children’s Ministry Assistants (CMA) in preschool classes. Special training will equip CMA’s. Contact: Christi Maidlow, Children’s Ministries Pastor.

Student MinistriesIMPACT—Junior High Ministries: Sundays at 11:00am in Crossroads Auditorium (doors open at 10:15am), and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45pm in Rooms 176-178.April Teaching Focus: Stepping UpIGNITE—Senior High Ministries: •Wednesdays from 6-8pm in Crossroads Auditorium. •Bible Studies: Sundays at 9am in Room 180March

• Teaching Focus: #GOALS

Missions and OutreachUpcoming Mission Trips:An opportunity to witness firsthand whatGod is doing in areas where Madison ParkChurch is invested with her finances and her friends on the field.

• Haiti May 5-13, 2017 • Heart to Honduras in October 2016

For more information contact: Doug Linville, Missions Pastor.

Shop and Donate to Dove Harbor

Shop at any Payless or Kroger and a percentage of your purchase will be given to Dove Harbor. Register your Payless card for Dove Harbor at pay-less.com. Click on Sign In or Register - Enter email address and password - Enter zip code and pick your store - Click create account - Enter your plus card number, last name, and click save - Enter all of the information requested and hit

save - Enter 37835 or Dove Harbor, select organization from list and click on confirm. Dove Harbor - Click enroll.

Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Payless card number. Members must swipe their registered Payless card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Payless card when shopping for each purchase to count. Any purchases made within our region, which is Anderson and surrounding areas, including Indianapolis locations within the Kroger family will count towards Dove Harbor.

Opportunities to ServeGrand Central Volunteer Opportunity Volunteers are needed to work one worship service per month at Grand Central. Assist people by answering questions, pass out printed information and distribute listening enhancement devices. Workers are needed for both the 9:00am and 11:00am services. Contact: Trish Thomas at (765) 649-0850.

Greeters for Children’s Ministry AreaSunday Mornings: TRAKs needs your smile and hospitality on Sunday mornings serving in First Impressions. Children’s Ministry is growing! In the past eight months we have had more than 100 new children/families visit TRAKs on Sunday mornings. Would you serve 30-minutes, one service, one morning greeting our new families and extending a Madison Park “warm” welcome? Contact Christi Maidlow, Children’s Ministries Pastor.

Family News To submit a threads announcement regarding a birth or death, please contact the Pastoral Care office at (765) 642-2000. In Sympathy with: • Stacy and Anthony Emery on the passing of her father, Paul “Jay” Stapleton on March 21.

Wednesday, April 20 at 6:00pm in the Hospitality RoomExplore Madison Park provides the essential information you need to know before calling Madison Park Church your church home. The class answers questions such as who we are, what we believe, and our church membership process in a relaxed, fun, and interactive format. You’ll meet others who are on the same journey as you and begin the process of getting connected. Find details or sign-up in the Hospitality Room or online at MadisonParkChurch.org. Contact: Shelly Stottlemyer, Pastor of Connections Ministry.

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• April 6: Beef and Noodles // Kids Option: Beef and Noodles• April 13: Meatloaf, Baked Sweet Potato // Kids Option: Cheese Pizza and Chips• April 20: Italian Spaghetti // Kids •Option: Pasta and Marinara

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Contact UsMAILING ADDRESS PO Box 2479 • Anderson, IN 46018MADISON PARK WORSHIP SITE 6607 Providence Dr. • Anderson, IN 46013CHURCH OFFICES 2200 Madison Square • Anderson, IN 46011 24-hour line: (765) 642-2000 • Fax: (765) 643-0976 Hours: M - F / 8:30am to 4:30pmwww.MadisonParkChurch.org

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• Rhonda and Greg Williamson on the passing of his niece, Vivian• Larry and Becky Rosenberg on the passing of his mother, Verna Rosenberg.• Millie Corzine and family on the passing of her husband Carlos Corzine on March 25.

Pastoral Care for the MPC FamilyIf you or your loved one is facing an upcoming surgery, or is hospitalized please make the Pastors aware by contacting Pastoral Care at the Church Office. The MPC pastors want to support you in your time of need with visits and prayers. Due to confidentiality it is requested that either you or your immediate family contact the office. Contact the Church Office at (765) 642-2000.

Community and Ministry Partner News Employment Opportunity:

Immediate Job Opening at Christian Women Connection Part-time Receptionist/Data Specialist. Provides primary reception and secretarial assistance, operate a multi-line telephone system, and provide primary data entry and management for the constituent database. Experience in customer service, operating switchboard, Microsoft Word and MS Access preferred. 34 hours (M-Th 8-3:30, F 8-5). Applications will be accepted until a qualified candidate has been identified. The application and job description are available online at http://www.christianwomenconnection.org/employment-opportunities.html or in the office. Contact Amanda Rees at (76) 648-2105.

Poetry to Benefit Dove Harbor Poets of Madison County, a book to be published by Stacy Savage of Poetry Contests For a Cause and Janine Picket of Indiana Voice Journal, will benefit Dove Harbor. They are seeking poetry

submissions from poets currently living in Madison County, or former residents who lived in the county at least five years. All proceeds from the sale of the book which will be available on Amazon, will benefit Dove Harbor. Submit 1-5 poems (36 line limit) any style or form. Include a short bio of up to 100 words. Send electronic submissions to madisoncountypoets@yahoo.com or mail to Madison County Poets, 3121 Mounds Road, Anderson, IN 46016 by April 30.

Holy Grounds volunteers and parishioners, Robyn and Mark Littler. They actually just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic where they visited some coffee bean fields.”

With nearly 15,000 guests being served in 2015 by about 32 volunteers serving gourmet coffee, lattes, smoothies and other specialty drinks, assorted pastries, and more, the numbers add up! Over $12,400 of HG proceeds and tips in 2015 benefited mission projects at home and around the world.

Each month the proceeds of Holy Grounds are designated to benefit a specific mission’s project, from a local ministry organization, to purchas-ing vitamins for Haitian infants and

children, to ministry expansions for our sister congregation

in Chelyabinsk, Russia, to the

purchase of bicycles for Church of God pastors in India. The proceeds

from April-May-June will go to minis-

tries in India.

Shelly concludes, “We want our purpose to be dual - assisting parishioners and guests with feeling warm and

welcome and to raise a lot of proceeds to go back out into the mission field.”

Come early or linger after the worship service to enjoy conversation and refreshments. Holy Grounds serves gourmet coffee, specialty drinks, assorted pastries, and more. Proceeds benefit missions at home and around the world. Holy Grounds is located in The Commons. Open Sundays, 8:30am—11:15am. MasterCard, Visa and Discover accepted.

If you would like to serve on one of the Holy Grounds teams, contact Shelly Stottlemyer, Connections Pastor.

MPC Staff Receive CommissioningTwo MPC staff members have felt a distinctive call into ministry and taken steps to both recognition and accountability by Indiana Ministries and the Church of God.

Credentialing in the Church of God movement takes the form of commissioning, licensing and ordination. Each requires that certain qualifications be met for ministry and accountability. Licensing is the second level of credentialing toward ordination.

Christi Maidlow, serving as Children’s Ministries Pastor at MPC, and Doug Linville, long-time Director of Dove Harbor, Miriam Project, and Linville Counseling, now serving as Missions Pastor, have each been meeting with

the Ordination Committee of Indiana Ministries and have been awarded a Ministerial License, enabling them to continue on the path to Ordination.

The approximate three-year process consists of interviews, preparing a Life and Ministry Plan, writing Theological and Biblical documents, one-year Mentor/Supervision process, Bible Content Survey, and reading /

educational program. The candidate must also meet other requirements

in the various areas of qualification, including

motivational, moral and ethical, Theological

and Biblical, dispositional and relational, educational, and vocational.

We celebrate and congratulate both

Christi and Doug for God’s Calling upon

their lives and their obedience and faithfulness. Pray for them in their new ministry responsibilities and as they continue on the path to ordination.

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