Custer United Methodist Parish
Newsletter
 

Another Contemporary Worship Service Scheduled for 
Saturday, May 1

Parish

Have you seen it yet? Are you going to see it? Not since the movie "The Exorcist," which was released when I was in college, have I wrestled with the question of whether or not to go see a movie. Now, the movie "The Passion of the Christ" is creating just as much or more of a stir.

I have wrestled with many of the same questions about seeing the movie as you probably have. I was burned out and turned off by all the hoopla leading up to it–the articles, the interviews, and the previews. I am not anxious to watch the brutal, bloody beating and slow, agonizing death of my Savior, Lord, and Friend. I do not like the commercialism and merchandising of Christian truths that should be embedded in our hearts and lived out by our faith instead of just being printed on our t-shirts or carried around in our pockets. In general, I have rarely liked religious films because they are not consistently faithful to the Scriptures or the facts we do know.

But on the other hand, I did go see "The Exorcist" and was able to process it; I’ve gone to lots of other less socially redeeming movies since that one just because I like to go to the movies; so why shouldn’t I go see a movie about my Boss, the Jewish Carpenter? And if I am going to exercise my right to critique it, I had better see it first-hand to be able to speak with some authority, especially if I want to discuss it with some of you. And if it does get people talking, looking into the Scriptures, and committing more of themselves to God it can’t be all bad, right?

So, yes, I have seen it. I folded my arms across my chest throughout most of the whole movie--holding in all the emotion I was feeling and protecting me from all the pain my Savior was experiencing. There were people crying all around me. The movie theater itself was the quietest I have ever been in before. And I’ll be glad to discuss it more with you if you like.

Should you see it? That’s up to you. I have told folks if you have to see it, then you should go see it but if you don’t have to see it, don’t go. You will not be less of a Christian if you don’t see this movie. Nor will you be more of a Christian if you do see it. Our faith is defined not by an emotional response to a movie, but by how we live because of The Greatest Story Ever Told.

After all my thinking and reading about the movie, I liked what Jenny Youngman wrote in her article for I Lead Youth..."I hope we can all (those who see the movie and those who do not) take a step back and see this movie for what it is–one storyteller’s version of the Crucifixion. Yes, movies are how we tell stories today. Yes, Gospel messages can be communicated through Hollywood movies. Yes, having Jesus on the big screen gives us a tremendous opportunity for outreach and evangelism. But the story of Jesus does not live or die on the basis of whether we see the movie. Let us pray that those who do choose to see the movie walk away with a deeper understanding of their role in the continuing drama of God’s relationship with the world. Let us all take advantage of having Jesus on the big screen by telling everyone with whom we come in contact ‘the rest of the story’. Because we know that the climax of the Jesus story is not in the last twelve hours, but on the third day." Happy Easter!

5:00 to 6:00 P.M. There will be a "Come and Go" communion at the Ansley United Methodist Church.

7:00 P.M. Maundy Thursday worship services will be held at the Merna United Methodist Church

8:00 P.M. 25^th Annual Last Supper Pageant at the Broken Bow United Methodist Church.

6:30 A.M. Easter Sunrise Service at the Broken Bow United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

7:00 A.M. Easter Sunrise Service at the Merna United Methodist Church.

8:00 A.M. Easter Service and Breakfast at the Ansley United Methodist Church.

Camp Sunday is scheduled for May 2^nd, 2004 in Broken Bow. John Jones, director of camping ministries for the Nebraska United Methodist Camps will be present at the Broken Bow United Methodist Church to share experiences about camping. During Sunday school time a "Camp Roadshow" will be presented showing a camp-like experience. Mark your calendars so that you do not miss this camping experience. Watch for more information!!

Please remember that Bible School is the last full week in May. Anyone wanting to help teach, furnish food or be in charge of the music should contact Lisa Fecht.

Sabrina Jensen was one of two Fort Hays State Track members to receive the Busch Gross Award. Jensen was named three times as an All-American, twice in the 4x100 relay and once in the 100 meters. The award is given to the outstanding senior male and female athletes who have displayed leadership, academic and athletic ability while competing for the Tigers. The award is named after a former FHSU athlete and coach. Jensen, a 2003 graduate of Fort Hays State, Kansas, currently holds records in the 100 and 200 at the school.

Students at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln were recognized for academic achievement during honors convocations on March 28^th.

The Rising Scholars Convocation honored Freshmen and Sophomore scholars who have attained a 4.0 grade point average in their academic studies.

Sophomores Jacqueline Baumann and Jason Parsons were honored for High Scholar.

Be Thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be Thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be Thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

Be Thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Next month’s meeting on April 7^th will be held at Off-Broadway in Broken Bow at 2:00.

President Joyce Solomon presided over the business meeting. Joyce will be attending the United Methodist Women’s Conference in San Antonio, TX, this month.

Our next meeting will be April 15^th at 6:30 P.M. Note that this is one week later than the regular date. This is the Annual Spring Salad Supper when guests are invited. Ruth Sloggett of Broken Bow will present the program, "Then Sings My Soul". All guests are encouraged to bring a music box for display. 

Shirley Blakeman and Ione Davolt were hostesses.

Guild will be hosting the May 6^th Spring Salad Supper at in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 P.M. Julie Ostrand will be presenting a program on Yugoslavia.

When is Easter? As you know, Easter falls on a different day each year. Have you ever wandered how they determine that date. Personally, I think it is kind of complicated. To begin with, you need to know a little bit of background about the calendar and how it is set up. Some calendars are based on the moon, some on the sun, and some are based on a combination of both. The calendar that we go by still has a little bit of a moon-based system in the months, although the average month is a few days longer than the rotation of the moon and the earth.

The most important factor contributing to the date of Easter is, of course, the fact that the death and resurrection of Christ occurred during the time of the Jewish passover, which is on the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Plus, all of the Gospels record that the Ressurection occurred on a Sunday. From the very beginning, the date of Easter was directly linked to the fluctuating Lunar cycles.

Another important factor in determining the date is the Vernal Equinox. In the Northern parts of the world, the first day of Spring is on about March 21^st. This is the day of Vernal Equinox. Vernal means Spring: Equinox means equal night. Night and day are the same length, each lasting 12 hours on this day. Easter is often associated with Spring because Spring means new life and the return of life to the earth, and Easter is the celebration of the triumph of life over death.

The date of Easter is normally defined as "The first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Vernal Equinox. That sounds pretty simple, but when you consider all the problems with it, that is where the confusing part comes in. First of all, there is the problem of needing to define a longitude on earth for which Sunday is determined. Second, the moon’s orbit is subject to variation, which makes it quite difficult to calculate a precise date. In order to come up with a consistent date, the church at the Council of Nicea decided to use what is called an "ecclesiastic moon" – essentially a virtual moon based on the Babylonian 19 year cycle. They also fixed the date of the Vernall Equinox at March 21^st as this also tended to fluctuate. Now the date of Easter can be figured out quite easily, but the date varies significantly from year to year. Easter can fall as early as March 22^nd, or as late as April 25^th. The exact date of Easter repeats itself approximately every 5,700,000 years. Just in case you are more organized than myself and like to plan ahead, the following are the dates of Easter through the year 2010.

The theme of the meeting was Vessels of Mission. Opening worship began with a potter sitting at her wheel working on clay. Just as clay can be reshaped if it is not to the potter’s liking, our lives can be reshaped. Just as the clay must be firmly attached to the wheel and centered, so must out lives be attached and centered in Jesus Christ and Bible Study.

At this meeting the voting delegates elected the Core Planning Group for the next quadrennium, as well as eight representatives and three alternates from the Jurisdiction to the Women’s Division. Mary Ellen Kilmer from Plainview, NE was elected to the Committee on Nominations on the Core Planning Group. Marilyn Zehring, the Nebraska Conference UMW President, was elected to the Women’s Division.

During the election process, there were several speakers, Genie Bank, President of the Women’s Division, Dr. Mackie Norris, a noted speaker on health and wholeness, Mai Gray, a former President of the Women’s Division, and Diane Clark Vogler, Vice-president of Women’s Division.

Raquel Martinez was the song leader assisted by pianist Jorge Lockward. Bishop Martinez spoke for communion Sunday morning. Both Bishop and Raquel Martinez send their regards to the Custer Parish.

Joyce Solomon

I would be glad to share more in depth with any group.