Joining Hands
Pastor Jason Joining hands across our community is a powerful act. It symbolizes our longing to live in unity with one another. It enacts our belief that we have much in common. It embodies our hope that together we can make a difference in our community. And in a time when dissension, division, and disunion is rampant within our society, joining hands across the distance of our communities and in spite of our differences speaks to a core hope of our Christian faith and practice: “that they may all be one,” as Jesus prayed in the gospel of John.
On Thursday, May 3 at 7:30 am, we have the opportunity to join hands as people of faith along with folks around our country to pray for all people in our country. DUMA will present the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast hosted at Gospel Tabernacle Church. Joanie and I have tickets and we ask you this:
Will you please attend the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast with us?
The breakfast will benefit the DUMA Benevolence Ministries (including the Food Pantry and Financial Assistance services). What a great way to live in to our calling as Christian to be a part of this community gathering to join hands, lift prayers together, and support persons in need in our community.
Please call, text, or email Joanie or myself to reserve a ticket for yourself. They are just $10…and I promise you will have a great time with Joanie and me at the breakfast!
A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ (Mark 4:3-8)
This Saturday, April 28th we will gather at our community garden site from 10am-12noon. We will turn the land, build rows, and begin to plant seeds. All hands are welcome as we begin to make rows and plant seeds in the ground–there is something for everyone to do. If you have any seeds to contribute or any gardening tricks up your sleeve, please come and share.
The goal of our community garden is to care for God’s land, tend to the produce and collect a harvest that we can share among our church family and those in our community in need. By taking care of the earth and growing this garden, we hope to address some of the issues of food insecurity and accessibility in our community. We pray that as a church family, we can be the good soil and produce a “hundredfold” to share with all of our neighbors and friends–not just through food, but also through lessons learned and relationships built in the process!
Scripture Readings
Acts 8:26-40–“As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’” (v.36,NRSV)
Psalm 22:25-31–“Our children and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news—
that God does what he says.”(v.30-31, The Message)
1 John 4:7-21–“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”(v.12-13, NRSV)
John 15:1-8– “This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” (v.8, The Message)
This Week at Hood
Wednesday, April 25th, 1:00 pm – Prayer & Inspiration LUNCH PROVIDED!!
Wednesday, April 25th, 6:00 pm – “Young-ish” Small group (childcare provided)
Wednesday, April 25th, 6:00 pm – Choir practice (childcare provided)
Thursday, April 26th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Pastor Jason at The Cellar for Drop-In Coffee & Conversation (108 N Wilson St)
Saturday, April 28th, 10:00 am-12 noon – Community Garden Workday
Sunday, April 29th, 9:00am – Men’s Breakfast at Craker Barrell; 11:00 am – Worship
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, May 3rd, 7:30 am – DUMA Prayer Breakfast
Wednesday, May 16th, 6:00 pm – Love Wins: Kids Mission Night
Wednesday, May 16th, 7:00 pm – Board Meeting
Sunday, May 20th, 11:00 am – Installation & Service of Standing for Revs. Jason & Joanie Williams, Lunch following