March 2018
Pastor's Note
I enjoy March for many reasons, one of which is the celebration of another Patrick – St. Patrick. He grew up in Britain and early in his life was captured and taken to Ireland. He remained in captivity there, working the land for about six years. After he escaped and returned to Britain, he studied Christianity and eventually had a vision that led him back to Ireland as a missionary.
His work in Ireland made a big impact and led to many myths, including banishing all the snakes from the island and using a shamrock to explain the Trinity. Regardless of the truth of these, he followed God in difficult circumstances and extended God’s love to new places.
One of his legacies is a beautiful prayer, that I encourage you to use and reflect on this month. Here is a part of St. Patrick’s Breastplate:
I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need: the wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; the Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.
I love how this prayer directs our attention to how Christ is present all around us – walking with us in every part of our life. It is a prayer that assures us of God’s promise to be with us and compels us to walk with God.
This month in worship we will continue to explore the different covenants God makes in the Old Testament. These are promises of life and fruitfulness, holiness and forgiveness. These covenants are first and foremost promises God makes with us, but they also draw us into the work of God in the world. And so we pray the prayer of St. Patrick as we journey forward, guided by these covenants, knowing that our Christ is right there with us!
Coming Up...
Tuesday, March 6
6:00 p.m. Young Lives Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Knitting Group
Thursday, March 8
6:30 p.m. Refugee Dinner (see below)
Sunday, March 11
Daylight Saving Time begins - be sure to set your clocks forward before bed by 1 hour!
Monday, March 12
9:00 a.m. District Committee on Ordained Ministry
1:00 p.m. Dove Notes (in the Harmony Classroom upstairs)
7:00 p.m. Finance meeting
Tuesday, March 13
6:30 p.m. United Methodist Women/Wesleyan Guild
Monday, March 19
6:00 p.m. Trustees meeting
7:00 p.m. Administrative Council meeting
Saturday, March 24
10:00 a.m. Spring Cleaning! (See below)
Sunday, March 25
10:15 a.m. Palm Sunday worship
Thursday, March 29
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday worship
Friday, March 30
7:00 p.m. Good Friday worship
Sunday, April 1
8:30 a.m. Brunch in the Fellowship Hall
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Easter Celebration service
11:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt
Lakewood UMC Refugee Dinners
Lakewood UMC’s Church and Society Task Force is working with Refugee Services of Texas to provide dinners for refugees. By hosting the dinners, Lakewood UMC will extend a message of welcome and hospitality to people who have been displaced as the result of war, persecution or natural disaster. The dinners will give people from the same country or region an opportunity to break bread together and to share their stories, experiences, and support.
The first refugee dinner will be Thursday, March 8, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The first dinner will be for a group of three Afghan families who recently arrived in the United States. We hope to provide dinners for refugees from other countries on a quarterly basis.
The food for the dinners will be prepared by refugee families, at the cost of $45.00 a tray, which will feed up to 35 people. The food for the March 8 dinner has been covered with a donation. Contributions for future diners will be most welcome!
Please contact Cindy Estee at (469) 235-8747 or contact the church office if you would like to help with setting up, hosting or cleaning up for the March 8 dinner.
Lenten Study: Atone-what?!
Join us in the Fellowship Hall every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. during Lent for a special study in which we explore the significance of Jesus’ work on the cross—often called Atonement. All are invited to attend, even if you haven't been able to come to any of the meetings so far!
Spring Cleaning!
As buildings tend to do, Lakewood has collected some "stuff" over the years. Join us on Saturday, March 24 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. so that we can clear some of that stuff, or organize it, and get the church building in tip-top shape for Easter and the rest of this year!
Holy Week
Sunday, March 25
10:15 a.m. Palm Sunday worship
Thursday, March 29
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday worship
Friday, March 30
7:00 p.m. Good Friday worship
Sunday, April 1
8:30 a.m. Brunch in the Fellowship Hall
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Easter Celebration service, featuring choir processional, handbells, and Hallelujah Chorus
11:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Lilies
If you would like to order Easter lilies, please send the following information to the church no later than Sunday, March 25:
- Your name
- Number of lilies you are ordering ($10 each)
- Name(s) of people you would like to remember, honor, or appreciate - please specify which category for each name
- Payment of $10 for each lily
Happy Birthday to...
Gail Baldwin 3/5
Jordan Frank 3/5
Tommy Robbins 3/12
Jo Ann Biggs 3/19
Betty Watson 3/20
Si Henson 3/22
Josh Neuroth 3/28
Jennifer McLaughlin 3/29
This Month, We Pray for...
Gail Baldwin; Lynn Bruce; Linda Castor; Wilma Elrod; Mary Ann Finley; Buford Finley; Jean Fowler; Erik Galvan; Adelaide Hart; Olie Heflin; Aleen Johnson; Liljequist family; Harold Logan; Jan Logan; Rev. W.W. McNeill; Carolyn Miracle; Marie Miranda; Mike Miranda; Pat Norvell; Jorge Ortiz; Brandon Owen; Laneir Owens; Susan Price; Kathy Purvis; Elizabeth Robbins; Robin Robbins; Beth Saxton; Jeanne Scroppo; Linda Simmons; Alan Smith; Kelly Smith; Travis Smith; Danielle Swagger; Barbara Venable; Chris Venable; the Wade family; Betty Watson; Louise Williams