A Message from Pastor Sara - Joy Reigns Lutheran Church

WE EXIST THAT ALL MAY KNOW JESUS CHRIST AND BECOME HIS FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS.
A Message from Pastor Sara
The story of Pentecost (50 days
after Easter when the Holy Spirit is
given to us) might cause us to ask
the question:
How do I let my expectations and
cynicism close my heart to the new
voice rising like a fierce wind?
Or to put a positive spin on the
question, How do I make a
commitment always to be surprised
by God?
Eugene Peterson describes it this
way: "What we must never be
encouraged to do, although all of us
are guilty of it over and over, is to
force Scripture to fit our experience.
Our experience is too small; it's like
trying to put the ocean into a
thimble. What we want is to fit into
the world revealed by Scripture, to
swim in its vast ocean."
May 22 — May 29, 2015
THIS WEEK’S LESSON
Acts 2:1-21
CHURCH AND OFFICE
35 Mayo Road
Edgewater, Maryland 21037
PHONE
410-266-5691
If, when Pentecost arrives, you do
not find yourself perplexed or
amazed, consider releasing the tight
grip of your certain thoughts and
make space for holy surprise.
info@joyreignslutheranchurch.org
Thanks to Christine Valters Paintner,
and patheos.com for help on this
topic.
PRAISE WORSHIP
Sunday at 9:15 AM and 10:30 AM
Nursery starts at 9:10 AM
Blessings,
Pastor Sara
IT’S A PENTACOSTAL ALTAR: ALL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
One of the great surprises of Pentecost is that all those gathered heard Scripture
in their own language. Many thanks to John Hilbert for bringing back beautiful
altar fabric from a recent business trip to South Africa to help us experience a bit
more of Pentecost right here at Joy Reigns.
BOWIE BAYSOX BASEBALL BASH!
Interested in spending an evening at the Bowie Baysox ball park having an
Italian buffet dinner and watching a baseball game together? We have reserved
the air-conditioned owner's suite for JRLC on Thursday, July 30. The price is $22
per person, $10 for ages 3-5. A minimum of 50 people is required to get these
prices. Please email Lisa Lasfargues (lisa@llphotopub.com) or Sara Starry
(starry.saraz@gmail.com) by Sunday, May 31 and let us know if you are
interested in joining in the fun! Stay tuned for how this event will be connected
to an exciting summer preaching series.
CUSTODIAL HELP NEEDED AT JOY REIGNS BEGINNING JUNE 1
With thanks to Maddie Graham for her service, we are now looking for weekly
custodial help at Joy Reigns to begin June 1. If you are interested in applying or
know someone who is, please contact Pastor Sara at 410-266-5691 or by email
at sarayotter@gmail.com
EMAIL
WEBSITE
www.joyreignslutheranchurch.org
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Join us again in the Fall!
THRIFT SHOP
Open Monday and Saturday
9 AM — 12 PM
PASTOR
The Rev. Sara Yotter
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Lenore Liller
TRANSITIONAL OFFICE
ADMINISTRATORS
Jen Mabe
Sonya Connolly
YOUTH LEADERS
Ali & Scott Purvis
JOY THRIFT COORDINATOR
Michelle Poole
Summer Worship Schedule Begins June 21st
Praise Worship Sundays at 9:30 am
Outdoor Worship Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
Praise Worship with Communion will continue in the Worship Center
through the summer at 9:30 am on Sundays. You are also welcome
to attend on Wednesday evenings, as the topics will be different.
Here’s the basic schedule for Wednesdays:
BYOP (bring your own picnic) starting at 6:00
6:30-7:15 is Faith 5 worship (with acoustic worship)
7:15 starts s’mores with a featured gourmet s’more of the week.
Pastor Sara will lead Faith 5 (highs and lows, bible, talk, prayer, blessing) and have a SHORT message on the verse for
the day and Communion. This also fits into one of the council goals to help the congregation increase in spiritual
disciplines with a weekly take home Faith 5 resource.
Other Announcements
DR. ULYSSES BURLEY INVITED TO SERVE ON PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HIV AND AIDS
Dr. Burley, program assoc. for the ELCA strategy on HIV and AIDS, has been invited to serve as a member of the
Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. “It will be my role as a member of the PAC to assure that human care and heart
care are as much a part of the goals as health and HIV care,” he said. See more at: http://elca.org/NewsandEvents/blogs/NewsBlog/85
VBS – CATCH THE BUZZ!
We have a great start on gathering volunteers to help with VBS, but we need a few more! If you can’t help during the
week of VBS, we have the perfect way for you to be involved. A DECORATING committee is being formed. It would involve
a little planning and work before VBS begins. If you have CREATIVE ideas or just some TIME to help, please contact Betsy
Pacher; betsy.pacher@verizon.net.
FINAL CEREAL COLLECTION FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
Our last collection date for cereal will be Sunday, May 31. Thank you to all our generous donors! When this school year
winds down we will have delivered almost 200 boxes of cereal. We know that learning is so much more productive with
some nutrition in the belly!
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR CMS COLOR RUSH (5K) ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH
Central Middle School’s PTSA fundraiser is on May 30th, and we can help! We can organize people at the starting line or
direct them to the “color explosion” station. Healthy, colorful fun!! Contact Kelly Purnell at kelly.purnell@verizon.net or
sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4fabaa22a31-volunteers/9961288 if you are interested.
Prayers
Healing prayers for Steff Linden
and George Ward.
We also pray for the youth
affirming their baptism:
Amy Emminizer, Robbie Peake,
Ben Talbott, Princess Talbott and
Tony Woods,
and all those who have and are
currently serving in the military
and their families.
* If you'd like a prayer added to this list
please email officejrc@gmail.com.
Congregational Giving Snapshot for the Week Ending Sunday 5/17/15
General Giving received last week
$2,092.00
Total General Giving received in May
$11,300.00
Total needed for each month
$18,098.00
Thrift Shop received last week
JOY REIGNS
$801.00
i s an E L C A ch ur ch t h at sh ar es a li v i n g, dar i n g c on f i den ce i n
G od’ s gr ace. F or us, t h i s f a i t h come s t h r ough t h e good n ews of J esus C h r i st
an d gi v es us t h e f r eed om an d t h e cour ag e t o won der , di scov er an d b ol dly
p ar t i ci p at e i n wh at G od i s up t o i n t h e wor ld. L i b e r at ed b y o ur f ai t h , we
emb r ace ev er yon e as a wh o le p er s on — quest i on s, comp lex i t i e s an d al l.