April 10, 2022 Palm Sunday
“This is our God. Not a distant judge nor a sadist, but a God who weeps. A God who suffers, not only for us, but with us. Nowhere is the presence of God amidst suffering more salient than on the cross. Therefore, what can I do but confess that this is not a God who causes suffering. This is a God who bears suffering. I need to believe that God does not initiate suffering; God transforms it.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber
Come to our Easter Celebration next Sunday!
Music director AJ Beu has been rehearsing the choir and a trumpet player to bring a special anthem. At the close of our worship, we will send forth our minister, Rev. Kara Courtney, to her next adventure with promises for a great future.
Why does the date for Easter change every year?
Long, long ago Christian church leaders, sparring with other religions’ celebrations of Springtime, decided to celebrate Easter on the Sunday that follows the first full moon of Spring: Spring. Full Moon. Easter Sunday. In fact, the word “Easter” or “Eostre” was borrowed from one of those other religions.
April 24 Special Congregational Meeting.
A special congregational meeting will be held during a shortened worship service on Sunday, April 24. There will be no Facebook Live streaming that day.
The purpose of this meeting is to gather honest and frank information from the congregation and discern the next step the congregation wishes to take in creating a new existence and vision for PVCC, following the resignation of Rev. Kara. Mission Council will work toward putting that next step into action.
We will gather around tables in the overflow area of the Great Hall. The order of worship will be
1) Welcome and Song; 2) Congregational Meeting; 3) Communion/Offering; 4) Song and Sending Forth
If you are a participating member of PVCC, you will receive an email with meeting details. The PVCC Constitution defines a “participating member” as those members who, in a calendar year, either attend worship services, support the general budget, or contact the church for a pastoral need. Members who do not participate in one of the ways listed above are considered inactive members.
PVCC Garage Sale May 5-7.
You may start bringing your sale items on Sunday, May 1. We need volunteers to make this a successful sale. There will be a volunteer sign-up sheet on Sunday.
Brené Brown, inspirational author.
At least one of our PVCC members takes inspiration from researcher and author Brené Brown who writes about shame, vulnerability, and leadership. Her television series, “Atlas of the Heart” airs on HBO. She has written several best-selling books. Check her out for your own inspirational journey.
From the PVCC newsletter archives, this week in 1971: from PVCC minister Bill Reece: The very best Easter song I know is a strange folk song called “Lord of the Dance.” …Jesus decides to ‘dance’ in every situation that life presents him. He ‘danced’ not only at joyous weddings and with carefree children, but with the sick, the poor, the self-righteous and the losers. It even pictures him as one who ‘danced on a Friday when the sky turned black.’ At the end is the Easter affirmation, ‘I am the dance and I still go on.’
— Melanie Naden, PVCC Moderator