Hello Church,
If you were at church yesterday, or saw my post on Facebook last night, then you’ve heard news. We are moving this Summer down to the Lockwood UMC in Lockwood Missouri. Its about an hour outside of Springfield and already reminds me a lot of Marceline. It has been an amazing six years up here, and that’s including a pandemic!!!
Next Sunday we’ll announce who will be coming in as your next pastor. There is an additional change this year as well. Like many other churches in our conference this year, we’re being joined with another church. This means that our new pastor will be serving two churches. This will be a change, but it will be a positive change. It won’t be easy as there will be many things that we’ll need to adapt to. We will also make the announcement of which church will be joining us Sunday as well.
Because there are a lot of changes that are coming up, we’ll be having an information session related to all of this after church on Sunday. If you can attend, please do so. If you can’t attend, but have questions (or if you can but still have questions) please come in and see me. I will be more than happy to answer as many of them as I can.
While I am switching into a transition mode, that doesn’t mean that things will be coming to a stop around here. One of the best things that you can do for a new pastor is to keep going forward. It is easier for a new pastor to join in things that are already in progress than to try and get things started.
In the meantime, keep all the pastors and their families involved in your prayers, and all the churches and their congregations as well. Change can be difficult, but as we seek to follow where God is leading, we will come through to the other side, and I believe even stronger because of it.
This Week’s Radio Reading
You can hear these readings on My Country 99.1 every Monday and Friday between 7-7:30am, or you can listen here!
UMC News
We’ve got news from around the denomination! Take a look at the links below to see what we’re doing close to home and far away.
Caring for people with memory issues
Revised Social Principles reflect increased attention to creation care
Church restores hope, mobility to disabled
This Week’s Bible Readings
Monday: Joshua 11-13, Psalm 71, Luke 9
Tuesday: Joshua 14-17, Psalm 72, Luke 10
Wednesday: Joshua 18-20, Psalm 73
Thursday: Joshua 21-22, Psalm 74
Friday: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1, Psalm 75
Parting Shot
Take a look at the end of this message for a picture of a couple of hard working guys. They’ve spent a lot of time up here the last couple of weeks making sure the Sanctuary is getting into even better shape than it already was.
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Have a great week!
Peace,
Pastor John
Important Announcements
Over the next two Sundays we’re going to have a couple of important information sessions. Originally they were both going to be about General Conference, but we’ve split them up into two different topics.
Apr. 14: Pastoral and Charge changes
Apr. 21: General Conference
If possible, please make plans to attend both. If you can’t, as always, please come see me with questions, comments, curiosity, etc.
Going On This Week
Community Calendars
Marceline School Calendar
My Country 99.1 Community Calendar
Worship Links
Youtube Services, Messages
Worship Music Lists: YouTube, Spotifiy
🎂 🎂 🙂 Send a note or a message to these folks and celebrate with them!
Get caught up!
You can always get caught up on sermons if you’re behind. We try to have them posted on Monday morning, so check back if it hasn’t been posted yet. You can find all of the sermons on their own playlist.
Prayer & Devotions
Google Calendar for Bible in a Year
Downloadable Bible in Year
Daily Prayer App
Venite.app
Everyday Sanctuary
Daily Devotions
Seedbed Devotions, YMI
The Upper Room, Our Daily Bread
GPS Guide from Church of the Resurrection
Daily Meditations from the Center for Action & Contemplation
Other Resources
Bible Project great Bible Study resource for really engaging the Bible
YouVersion Online Bible
Prayer List
Groups: Church: Denomination, Conference, Area UMC's, Area Churches
Schools: Students, Teachers, Administrators, Employees, Parents
Community: Food Pantry, Ministries in Linn County, Ministerial Alliance
Government: Leaders, Local, County, State, National
Situations: Pandemic, Racism, Economic Disparity, Mental Health, Natural Disasters
College Students: Colby Sims, Emma Sheerman, Brianna Teeter, Carter Vandeloecht, Sam Gillman, Will Heller, Tess Sheerman
Individuals: Jim Ewigman Family, Leslie Berry family, Kristen Gibson family, Genelle Hauf Family, Nancy Austin, Gin Maydew, Michelle Gladbach, Jim Switzer, Tammy Phillips, Hazel Knutson, John Stelplugh, Kevin Fagan, Lin Gregg, Bob Magee, Ed Franks, Jack Gruber, Willy Goss, Tony Tucker, Bill Moore, Laura Anders Mom, Gary Sartains, Glorianna Webster, Erica Pamplin, Olivia Robinson, Debbie Daniel, Blake Cagle, Zoe Tolliver, Kyle & Carol Lake, Ruth Terrell, Linda Ewigman, Milton Harper, Vickie Gregg, Robert Johnson, Dan Brooks, Francis & Betty Mordecai, Ruth Farris
Pioneer: Inez Johnson, Jean Belt, Estella Cupp, Fred Seba
Military Service: Nick Cain, Jeremy Kabler, Patric Munson, LTC John Casey Welch, Tyler Nanneman, Jeffrey Tucker, Kelly Tucker, Brandon Wellman, Heath Floray, Steve Graves, Michael Pyrtle, William Leukenotte, Kerry Lowrey
Parting Shot
You don’t want to know the number of times these guys have moved and bolted pews, or like in this picture, covered over unnecessary vents. If you see one of them, get them a heating pad and aspirin for their knees.