A Message from Pastor Summer

I am one of those people who has always been afraid of the dark. Now that I am a grownup, I have it under “control,” but when I was little I would be overwhelmed by the dark at times. Even though I would bury myself under my blankets and try to imagine brighter places, there were still those nights when it became too much for me. I would cry out for Mom and Dad. They would come to my rescue, put their arms around me, and assure me that everything would be all right. When they left the room, it would still be dark, but the fear would be gone and I too believed that everything would be all right.

Easter is God’s word of assurance that everything will be all right, even in the darkness. Of all places, it is at the grave that the women hear the wonderful news that Jesus is risen from the dead. Can you imagine a darker place to hear the greatest news? Our experience is the same. Even in the darkest moments and darkest places of our lives, the promise of the gospel is that God meets us in those moments and places. In the darkness, God takes us in his arms to assure and comfort us. The goods news of Easter is that the dark cross of Calvary was not the end. We need not be afraid. God has the final word in all that happens. Even when the darkness remains in our lives, the fear can be taken and, like the women of old, we come to see and believe in the promise of Easter. A promise which wonderfully says that by God’s grace and power everything will be all right. We are and will remain in God’s arms and keeping. May we find comfort and strength in that Easter promise.

Peace,
Pastor Summer

Book of Faith

We have now finished the Gospel of John and will be taking a different tack until the summer. We will be reading The Magnificent Defeat by Frederick Buechner. Each chapter is grounded in a passage of scripture. Frederick Buechner is one of the most celebrated religious writers of our times. “Here is prose so beautifully written that it verges on poetry. Yet The Magnificent Defeat wrestles with sweaty contemporary problems, including the problem of those who want to believe and can’t.” – United Press International. We will still be meeting at noon on Wednesday at the CEB. Place an order for your copy of the book with the office or sign-up at the church or CEB. It’s a great book even if you are unable to attend the class. The dates for our meetings will be May 14, 21, 28, June 4 and 11. Join the conversation.

Discipleship

Discipleship will be meeting again on May 22 at the CEB. Supper will be at 6:30 and the discussion will follow at 7:30. We would
love to have you join us.

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch will be going once again to Spain 92, south of the Somerville Circle, 1116 Rt. 202 on May 8. The phone number is 704-9292.

Youth of Zion Calendar

May 4 – Ministry Sunday with Bishop Bartholomew of the New Jersey Synod
May 18 – Youth Sunday
May 18 – YOZ Meeting – CEB – 5:30-7:30
March 31 – June 1 – Box City

Living Stewardship - Using Your Time Wisely

I have a confession to make. I waste a lot of time. I wasted time just trying to write this article. The biggest waste of time in my life is casual computer gaming. It is a sin how much time I spend on this fun, but valueless activity.
I bet some of you have your own time-wasters, too. Others are thinking, “I wish I had a moment to waste!” Your lives are busy with work, family, and other activities.
I know you are waiting for me, as Stewardship chair, to tell you that your time should be spent working for the church, but I’m not going to do that. I am going to say don’t be like me and waste your free time. Think about how you use your time. Doing something for the church is never a waste of time, but developing and strengthening personal relationships and maintaining yourself through rest and exercise are also important and time well-spent.
Make sure that at the end of each day you can look back and be satisfied with how you spent your life that day.