Newsletter for April 9, 2021
Flowers in the sanctuary for Easter in honor / memory of:
Doug Baldridge by Evelyn Baldridge
Tom Rambo by Elinor Rambo
Elaine Soward by Brenda and Sterling Staggs
Lola Lee by Brenda and Sterling Staggs
Wilma, Evelyn and Char by John and Sheila Iott
Samantha by John and Sheila Iott
FROM THE PASTOR
Happy Easter! It was wonderful to celebrate with you this Easter both in-person and online.
A couple notes about our in-person trial:
It was really difficult not to sing those wonderful Easter hymns. I confess: I caught myself singing one phrase of one verse. It was just like muscle memory. Randy started playing and I started singing. Singing as a congregation is something we may not do for quite some time. Masks are designed to inhibit the spread of germs for about a 6-foot distance at a normal speaking voice. Masks are not designed to prevent spread for singing. Singing can spread germs as far as 27 feet and cannot be contained by the cloth masks we wear.
I’ll need to put up better signs on the pews designating which ones are open and closed. I’ll provide better details about how to socially distance in our pews.
If you have other thoughts, please let Marie, Brenda or I know so we can discuss that with the Elders.
Vacation:
I will be on vacation Monday April 12 through Monday April 26. If you have any emergency needs during that time, please contact Pastor Sheri or Elders co-chairs Marie Lancaster and Brenda Staggs.
Pastor Tracy
Banners have been ordered for Porta John 3:16. They will be here in a couple weeks and posted on him.
To begin to get the word out about Porta John 3:16 and our relief ministry, please head down to the church and take a picture with Porta John 3:16. Post your picture to Facebook with the hashtags #portajohn316 and #reliefministry. Please send your pictures to the church.
** for all Zoom meetings, contact the office for details **
ELDERS MEETING
The next Elders’ Meeting will be Sunday, April 25th at 1:00 pm. Join via Zoom.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Please join us for Bible study on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00pm. There is an optional prayer time at 1:45pm. Join via Zoom.
BOOK CLUB
Our next book is The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton. The book club will meet on Sunday, April 18th at 3:00 pm. Join via Zoom.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The next meeting of the Leadership Council will be Sunday, April 18th at 7 pm. This is an open meeting. Join via Zoom.
THRIVING CONGREGATIONS
The next meeting for our Thriving Congregations team will be Sunday April 11th at 1:00 pm. Join via Zoom.
PRAYER LIST
Please pray for all on our prayer list.
The purpose of this series of lectures is to examine the historical relationships between religion and politics. Pastors and Lay Leaders will learn from historical, cultural, social, and theological studies with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of religious participation in U.S. American public life, the nature of civil religion, and Christian participation in the public sphere. Special attention will be paid to the U.S. Presidency in historical perspective and its interactions with Christian life and practice.
The Rev. Edwin David Aponte, Executive Director of the Louisville Institute
Please plan to attend all classes, as each lesson builds upon the preceding one.
When: Saturday, May 1, 8, & 15, 2021
Location: 100% Online!
Registration Fee: $60
Unlimited number of participants per online login
Register by: April 28
www.lextheo.edu/lay-school-of-theologyMore information: Contact Deena Ainslie at (859) 280-1212 of dainslie@lextheo.edu