was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy spirit,

When I was a child, when playing games with my friends, a phrase that we would use when we didn’t like the outcome is: “I want a do over.” In other words we felt justified in having the opportunity to try again in the hopes that the outcome would be different and we would win the game. How many times in our lives would we like to have had the opportunity to have a do over granted to us? It might have been a mistake in some relationship with a friend which resulted in the souring of the relationship to the end that all came to an end. It might have been in an exam in school that we had taken and done rather poorly on and wished to take it again so that we might achieve a passing grade.

In reality life gives us very few “do overs.” The hands of the clock go in one direction and there is no going back to some point and give things another go around. We find ourselves presently in the season of Lent (time of repentance) which leads us to the main festival of Christianity which is Easter (renewal) as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In Lamentations 5:21 we find these words: “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old.” Lent is a great time to be “restored to the Lord” as some of us have wandered away from that relationship that we at one time had. It is never too late to return to him.

In Judea, Galilee and Samaria the Church had been experiencing an increase in numbers (see Acts 9:31-35) and people of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord after Peter healed Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years. These people learned that they had been missing a central aspect in their lives. John Wesley, the Founder of Methodism would ask people “How is it with your soul?” This is a good time as we pass through Lent and come to the celebration of Easter to make some changes in our lives. We need to establish a closer relationship to our Great Companion in this life who does allow us a “do over”...a chance to return...

In 2008 I am asking our people to invite others, who have drifted away from active church life, for one reason or another, to return and have a “do over.” Please understand that you are loved by God and because of

that we are called to reach out in love and full acceptance. There is something in our human nature that allows

us to drift through life rather than have an intentionality of direction. People join the church and are faithful for a while but something happens and we get out of the “church habit” and then as we pass through time it becomes easier and easier to just drift further and further away. We all need our faith to succeed in life and to be victorious.

We invite you to join us for worship for a “do over.” We invite you to study the Scriptures and to feel the fellowship that exists in the Saugerties United Methodist Church. As the motto of our denomination reminds us...we are the Church of “Open HEARTS, open MINDS and open DOORS.”

If the theme of Matthew’s Gospel is that of the Royal King, the Son of God, the theme of Luke’s gospel is that of the “Christ the Lowly Son of Man.” In the pages of his Gospel we meet a Christ who is identified with the poor, the dispossessed, and the outcast. Clearly, Luke understands that Christ is none of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. He is the lowly Son of Man. Today is Palm Sunday when we recall Jesus’ arrival into the Holy City. Many of those who were there that day wanted to have an earthly King who would set things straight for them. But here we have Jesus arriving on a colt, not a mighty horse adorned with the fine things of life. Yes their disappointment was great, in the end as Jesus turns out not to be the conquering hero that they had expected.

This portrait of Christ as the lowly Son of Man must always be balanced against Matthew’s presentation

of him as the Royal King. We are always tempted to reduce the “Kingliness” of Christ into a demanding, authoritarian, judgmental Christianity that is devoid of compassion. Along side of the “Kingliness” of Christ, we must always retain the lowly Son of Man. For each of us knows in our moment of truth that we ourselves have wronged others; we ourselves have failed to keep the moral law; we ourselves have yielded to motives that were less than pure. The Christ of Luke’s Gospel understands our human weakness and frailty, and expresses that understanding in his treatment of the lowly who are symbols of our own immorality. This image of a compassionate Christ is a great source of comfort to all who are weighed down by a sense of their own guilt.

But the significance of Christ the Lowly Son of Man does not end here. Rather, it goes on to declare that those who would stand with this Christ and believe in Him, must also stand beside Him with the poor and the dispossessed if they would claim His forgiveness and His kingdom. His mission is to set all people free, and to this end he has given His life.

There is a tradition in Christianity of holding Easter Vigil services. This is a service that begins in total darkness and ends in light which reminds us of what Christ has done for us on that first Easter Sunday. Other churches will hold Easter Sunrise service that also are held very early in the morning, before the first light, and concludes with the rising of the sun which reminds us of the Son’s arrival in our lives and the victory that he came to bring to all people.

Magdalene came to the tomb.” The writer of John emphasized this theme of light and darkness throughout his book. He tells us that God’s Son came into the world as light and that this light shines into our darkness and that darkness is never able to overcome it. What looked like complete darkness with the physical death of Jesus turns into light with His resurrection. The darkness of life has been broken, this is the great and good news that Easter brings to you and to me.

We are pleased to have members of the Gideons Bible Society present to bring a message (in place of pastor’s sermon) on March 9, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. Offering plates will be at the door for their work.

The annual World Day of Prayer service, sponsored by Church Women United, will be held at the Katsbaan Reformed Church on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Women attending are asked to bring a bag lunch with dessert provided.

The Lenten Tree – Each class is taking a turn putting symbols of Easter and Lent on our Lenten Tree. Purple bows for penance and royalty, silver coins for the betrayal of Jesus, and symbols of

the chalice and paten to remind us of the Last Supper are already on the tree. In the remaining Sundays before Easter, three more symbols

will be placed on the tree - wreaths made of vines to remind us of the crown of thorns, pretzels to remind us of the Hold Trinity, and crosses made of nails to remind us of the crucifixion of Christ. For Easter, all these symbols will be removed from the tree and

butterflies will replace them. The butterflies symbolize Christ rising from the dead like a butterfly from its cocoon.

On Palm Sunday, the children will carry palms to the altar as a part of the worship service. There will be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday.

Theme Sunday – March 30, the Junior High is planning the worship service around Moses and the Bible story of how God sent him to lead his people out of Egypt. The younger classes will be singing,

Our thanks go to Audrey Klinkenberg for reviewing the church membership records dating from March 29, 1953 through March 21, 1989, entering them in her computer and printing out the information for our records in a clear and concise way.

Beginning in April, the paretning class will be viewing and discussing a DVD entitiled "Your Family and Money.” The DVD, led by Jim Williams, deals with a gamut of money issues related to young children and teens: developing good money values and management skills through allowances, budgeting and saving, and preparing for the financial challenges of adulthood.

The parenting class meets in the lounge during the time that the children are in Sunday School. Our members include parents of children of all ages. We welcome any new members who would like to join our ranks as we support each other in christian parenting.

Pastor’s 2008 Jr. Confirmation

The following compose this year’s confirmation class:

Student Mentor

Nichole Black Kristen Heuvel

Andrew Mentz Kristen Heuvel

Ian Byrne Jason Jones

Jacob Gilmore Dee Gilmore

Luther Heigl Doug Byrne

Joshua Kopycinski Matt Jones

Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6 are the days we are assigned to provide workers at the WELL. Three workers are needed for Wednesday and, at least, two for Thursday. We are expected to arrive by 11:30 – 11:45 and we provide coverage until closing at 4:00. Please contact Karen Reynolds @ 246-0309 to say, “Yes, I’ll be there.”

Upcoming dates for 2008: Please Mark Your Calendars...May 21, 22; July 9, 10; Sept. 10, 11; Dec. 10, 11.

The Rummage Sale

The rummage sale is scheduled for Friday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 12:00 (noon) in the Fellowship Hall. Saturday will be a bag sale – all you can get in a large paper bag for $1. Donations of clothing, household goods, toys, sporting goods, or books may be left in either the basement or the Fellowship Hall. If you need help in bringing stuff to the church, please contact Al McDowell.

We will be setting up for the sale after church on March 2. A light lunch will be provided, but donations of food would be appreciated. We are also looking for help in sorting and pricing items during that week, as well as help on the days of the sale, and with clean up on Saturday. A sign up sheet is on the table in the Narthex or speak with Marilyn Bucher, Joan Robinson or Diane McDowell.

The Parenting Class is inviting all children, parents and friends of the Church to its annual Easter Party. This celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There will be games, crafts, and snacks. Children under 6 need to be supervised by an adult. For more information, contact Karen Black.

Women of the Saugerties United Methodist Church are on the move. More than 20 women from SUMC attended an exploratory lunch meeting with women from other churches on our district to learn about the organization. We have decided to move forward to re-form a unit of United Methodist Women here in our local church.

United Methodist Women invites all women of the church to come together for ministry, mission and support of one another. The PURPOSE of United Methodist Women is:

The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

At our first meeting, we decided to focus on the welfare of the sick, infirmed and/or housebound individuals within our church family. This, we feel is within the program scope of United Methodist Women, internationally.

The Purpose and program of UMW have evolved out of a history of more than a century of women whose primary concern has been mission. The needs of women and children that motivated women in the predecessor organizations during the early nineteenth century still threaten the well-being of women and families today: lack of quality education for women, affordable health care, insufficient housing, racial discrimination, economic disparities between women and men, and unemployment among women and racial or ethnic minorities. The total program UMW encompasses:

Come join us on Sunday, March 9 for the election of officers. We will meet following worship service. Bring a sandwich for a time of fellowship with other women of our church.

Easter Week Activities

Holy Thursday (March 20) – Join us for a covered dish supper at 6PM in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a dish, beverages will be provided. A service commemorating the Last Supper follows.

Good Friday (March 21) – There is a 3PM service at the First Congregational Church near the old post office.

Easter (March 23) –

8:30 Service - Communion.

9:30 – 10:30 Brunch in the Fellowship Hall.

Donations of food for the brunch are appreciated.

Come join us.

10:45 Service – A service of praise and music.

This service will end with a bell ringing. Please

bring a bell.

Once again the United Methodist Youth Fellowship will be selling Krause’s chocolates for Easter to raise funds

The MYF members will be available in the church Narthex all three weeks for your convenience, before and after church.

Take advantage of this direct to you delivery of Easter candy. Even if you aren’t making Easter baskets, buy