The Spirit - March 7, 2024

 We are a little more than half way through our Lenten journey this year. I thought it would be a good time to evaluate our gratitude work. I hope you are each keeping up with some sort of gratitude practice as we seek to be “grateful to our core in 2024!” I know I have struggled a little to get into the habit of practicing gratitude every day, but I want to encourage each of you to not give up on this important task even if you miss a day (or a week, or even a month). Even if you haven’t even begun, I encourage you to find some way of keeping track of your gratitude each day. We are making more gratitude journals in the office and you can always stop by and pick one up.

As we work our way through this time of renewal and growth, I’d like to share my own gratitude with you. I am filled with gratitude for each and every one of you who make up the heart and soul of our congregation. Together, we continue to embrace the teachings of Christ’s love, compassion, and are working diligently at building up a community that can continue to guide and share the future of the church on their spiritual path.

In the midst of life’s challenges and joys, let us remember to lean on one another for support and encouragement. Our faith is strengthened when we come together in fellowship, lifting each other up in prayer and extending a helping hand to those in need. It is truly a blessing for me to be a part of such a loving and caring church. Let us continue to build up the body of Christ. I look forward to seeing the beautiful things this congregation will accomplish.

I also want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who generously give their time, talents, and resources to support the ministries of our church. Your dedication and commitment are truly inspiring, and I am constantly humbled by the generosity of this small, but mighty congregation. It truly is a testimony and witness to those saints that have gone before us. For I am also humbled by the generosity and wisdom of those that have gone before us to set us up for the reality of days of struggle. Due to your continued generosity and the generosity of those that have come before us, we are able to focus on the ministry of our church.

As we continue on this journey together, I pray we be guided by the light of God’s love and grace. Join me in seeking out the wisdom and strength in sharing our faith with one another. For we are called, as Christ’s body and church, to live out Christ’s ministry of compassion, justice, and humility in all that we do. May we also seek to continue to live into the mission of this historic community of the faithful in Henderson as we teach about Christ, live in the ways of Christ, and work at uniting Christ’s church. I am truly grateful to be in this work with you all.

Peace Always,

Rev. David Clifford

As we continue in gratitude….

By Carolyn Dorsey

These are some words from Leo Buscaglia, one of my favorites, that I read on a Facebook post, and I wanted to share them with you: “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of person kind, bring hope to the lost and love to the lonely.” I was watching a movie, Mountain Top, and saved a quote that touched me…. “No human heart can contain the Father’s Love…it always spills out.” I think I noticed these words more because of our focus on gratitude at FCC. It has become a part of who I am and who you are, and who we can all become.

This is what gratitude is all about…not just saying thank you all the time, but letting it live in our hearts and bring us joy that will spill out to others wherever we go. It can be at church, at lunch with friends, visiting someone who is hurting and lonely, or even at the grocery store! If we focus on gratitude, the love and joy will just spill out by our smiles and hugs and words that we share.

Look around you, and I promise you will know without a doubt who is joyful and hopeful, or those who are angry, hurt and sad. Take the time to develop your own gratitude to a point that the first thing you think of is to reach out and show some love to others. It becomes a natural thing to do after a while, and it spreads like wildfire.

Our focus on gratitude in 2024 will help us all to learn to take good care of ourselves by feeding our hearts with grateful, thankful thoughts, so that we overflow with the Father’s Love. Please take the time to explore writing in your Gratitude Journal periodically; let it become a conscious practice, and it will change how you look at every single thing in your life.

Thanks for listening, with Love, Carolyn Dorsey

WALKING-SITTING MEDITATION

Lent can be a time to refocus on spiritual matters by means of practicing prayer, exercising self-control and fostering simplicity in our everyday life.

FCCH will offer a Walking-Sitting Meditation during the season of Lent. Our sanctuary will be open each Tuesday from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, February 19th through March 26th. This hour could be an opportunity to calm ourselves, refocus daily life and provide a quiet time for prayer, meditation and personal contemplation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Daylight savings time begins Sunday, March 10. You will need to remember to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

 Sunday School classes meets every Sunday @ 9:30 a.m. prior to worship. These classes include teens, children and adults. The nursey is also open at this time.

Lenten Sermon Series: Covenant: Join Rev. David's Six-Week Lenten Sermon Series as we are reminded to trust in God's everlasting covenant with us.  The sermon titled; "Unbreakable" based on Ephesians 2:1-10

The Outreach/ prayer group will meet on Mondays @ 9:30 a.m.

Weekly Bible Study for Adults-(on Psalms) and Youth Group Activities is on Wednesdays from 6-7 pm.

 The Next Lenten Service & Luncheon will be March 13@ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 

 CWF ‘s March projects: The Ladies will be assisting Christian Community Outreach clients on March 16 from 1- 3 p.m. They will be collecting Tuna, Salmon and chicken in March.

FCC Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 21 at 6:30 p.m.

 Ministry Team meetings are now set up for the last Tuesday of each month. The Team will be meeting again on March 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Community news: Holy Name Church Annual Used Book Sale. They will begin accepting items March 5 through March 15. They accept hardback and paperback books, magazines, DVD’s, CD, software, audio books and video games. They do not accept VHS, encyclopedias, tape cassettes, textbooks or molded books. You may call the school 827-3425 to let them know you are on your way and the school will have someone load them in for you. The Books Sale begins Saturday, March 23, 8:00 to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 24 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A new “Monday Morning Preacher” podcast was released this past Monday. Be sure to check it out on our Facebook page.

The CWF served over 150 people for the Lenten Luncheon. As Always these ladies come through for FCC and their guests.