Upcoming Joint Worship Service: Christ's Church and Falls City UMC

April Lectionary

April 6:

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 I Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35

April 13:

Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 I Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10

April 20:

Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5; 15-16 I Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 Ephesians 2:4-10; 19-22

April 27:

Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20 I Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 John 17:20-23 John 13:34-35

Right Brained Theology

Many of you are unaware, though probably not surprised, that I have a Masters in Art and have completed all but my dissertation in that field. Needless to say, I thrive on creativity and am constantly energized that I am formed in God's image - the Master Creator. This becomes a healthy explanation for my imaginative passion.

Most individuals today envision Jesus as a fairly conservative Jew - but I would adamantly disagree. Christ thought outside of the box . His vision was right-brained in the fact that he opened his sight past appearances and behavior - he honored the gracious beggar and distained the bigoted ruler. Jesus did not limit himself to borders of medical discrepancy - but hung out with lepers, women who were hemorrhaging, souls filled with demonic spirits, and the maimed, blind, and deaf. He was just as happy with a prostitute as with a priest - as he was able to look past prestige to promise

Jesus was innovative with his stories, his teaching and his visual illustrations. He used objects like that of a coin, a fish, a seed, a lamp, a rock to bring home his point. With a bit of bias, I think he and I had some commonality - we both used the right side of our brain. (To be honest, that is probably where most similarity ends.) But with this in mind, I want to expand my treatise to create a challenge for the faith walk in each of us. We live in an analytical world, where information is key. Everyone is an expert in almost everything. Our choices and opinions are important to us. Therefore, judgment (especially our own) is extremely important.

For just a moment, I would invite you to put away your "standards" - your preconceptions - your well-toned theology and judgment of right and wrong. Place your watch in the desk drawer. Turn off the TV, iPod, radio and other sensory stimulus. Just for a day - block out racial barriers, cultural differences, and gender roles. Make sure that your day planner has been stashed away and that your friends and family have been warned, for you are about to encounter the "right brain theology" of Jesus. This will become a day when you look with interest at everyone; where unconditional love is the introduction and sustaining force - and the other person's thoughts mean more than your own. It is a time when you can actually meditate on the warmth of the sun and the breeze across you face. When life's problems are yielded to God - so that your Creator can fashion for you a new heart of God's making and not yours. Life will not be controlled by your judgment, your fears, or your preconceptions - but by the honest and pure direction of God's Spirit. Oh, I know, this attitude can't last. For we would be seen as freaks - as revolutionaries - as unconventional. We might even be seen as souls who respond to our world as that of Jesus. And we couldn't have that - -could we?

Lee Fields - New Member to Christ's Church

For over two decades Lee Fields has been a part of Christ's Church in both interest and loyalty. During the past few years, she as been a resident of the Dallas Retirement Center in Dallas. She stays connected to our congregation through her faithful prayers and visits of several of our members, including Marj Howard and Bev Herzog. For the past two months she as voiced a desire to join our Church. On April 13, she will be presented to the church as a new addition to Christ's Church. We welcome Lee Fields with great joy!

Dedication of the Griffin's Habitat Home

The dedication of the Griffin's new Habitat home located at 763 Marsh Street in Independence is scheduled for April 5, at 2:00pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend this significant event that YOU helped support! For more information, call JoAnn King at 503-838-6603 or Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Willamette Valley at 503-364-6642.

Local Volunteer Needs

I am part of the Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC), which discusses the unmet needs of homeowners in Washington and Columbia counties. All the sheetrock needed in Vernonia has been donated.

Our current needs include bundles of insulation as well as ovvice and data entry help. Our website is www.vernoniaflood.com

Training is being planned for case management and construction in March, but no date has been set. Twelve volunteer teams from Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) should arrive in March to do needs assessments by going door-to-door or at a walk-in center. Rebuilding of homes will start soon, once needs and estimates are completed. A resource committee has been selected to seek deals on building materials and financial support for homeowners who need additional assistance.

Please contact Phyllis Wright at pwright12@juno.com or cell 971-404-9405 if you have questions or a group which would like to volunteer.

Our recent study of Israel and Palestine alerted us to more situations there and improved our newspaper reading; we are interested in knowing who would like to see some of the films we did not have time to show during the sessions. We can schedule a time after Easter and Spring Break. Please let us know! Contact JoAnn King or Pat Jaffer.

We are so blessed to be a part of this congregation! Special thanks to James and Jolene for putting it all together! We may have set an occupancy record in James’ living room. I finally have mailed the last of the thank you notes,to thank here. First we thank Santa Claus for the cute horse and socks; second we thank the anonymous adopted grandmother for the beautiful blue gift box set. You all have touched our hearts as well as stocked Ryan's room!

Ministry Opportunities At Christ's Church

Our church is blessed with an army of voluntary ministers! We have members who assist with the lawn care ministry; some who volunteer with our financial management; while others ably assist in the ministries of hospitality, ushering, worship, visitation, and office administration - just a few of the myriad of services yielded.

But in case you occasionally have an hour or two on your hands - we have some openings for heartfelt workers in some very special areas within our church life. YOU might be just the person to fill that needed opportunity.

In order to grow, we also need to be involved. Pray about the following ministries and help us to find competent individuals to minister within these areas of service:

¤ Greeters and Ushers for Sunday morning

¤ Hospitality - to assist us with "Coffee Time" following services

¤ Teachers - to facilitate discussion groups...and aids to help with our ESL program

¤ Worship Leaders to support Pastor James with our Sunday worship

¤ Worship Assistants for the Sound Room

¤ Office Aids - to lend aid to Janna an hour or two a week

¤ Encouragers - to uplift members who are ill, going through loss, or just need a smile because it is their birthday

These are just some of the many areas of ministry that could use an occasional helping hand. Sharpen your faith - use your God given talents! If you would like to look into any of these possibilities, call us at the church office, 503-838-1724.

Presbytery of the Cascades Summer Camp Program

Sign up now for early-bird pricing

Registration is up and running. All the information is online at www.campcascades.org, and you can either register online or mail in the form that is on the brochure. Brochures are available in the church office. Please call Elizabeth Larkin, Camp Coordinator, with any questions at 503-460-3024. Early-bird pricing ends April 6.

Highlights from the March 7-8 State Meeting of the Presbytery of the Cascades

Meeting held March 7-8, 2008 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR.

A total of 228 presbyters registered attendance at this meeting.

Some Highlights:

Dreaming Cows Mural Project

Artist's Lecture and Reception: Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Hamersly Library, 301A. (Library hours: Mon-Thur: 7:30am-midnight, Fri: 7:30am-6pm, Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: Noon-midnight)

In her circulating exhibit, Dreaming Cows, Betty LaDuke concludes, "the cup is half full!"� Inspired by Heifer International, (a humanitarian organization concerned with issues of world hunger and a sustainable environment,) the giclee reproductions of murals are stories from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the United States.