Carlan's Corner

Dear Family of faith,
They look spectacular! The stained glass windows are in! What an extra ordinary Holy Week this will be this year as we get the chance to worship three times with our new windows adorning the sanctuary-- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. They have been a year in the making, and you will hear more about the story when we dedicate them during worship on Sunday, April 15th. They were installed yesterday on my birthday, making this year's celebration all the more special for me personally.
Tomorrow night is the first of our Holy Week special events beginning with a Dessert Buffet in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m. Just bring whatever dessert you enjoy making and share it with others. Drinks and eating utensils will be provided. Following the buffet, the Maundy Thursday worship service with Communion will begin in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. Evening services have always been my favorite, so I hope you can attend. There is something about the darkness that quiets our spirits and makes us more sensitive to God's leading presence.

Last Monday as we remembered and celebrated the life of Dave Malaby, I was moved by two things. First of all, all three of Dave and Loretta's sons spoke about their father and what he meant to them. Secondly, one of Dave's grandsons, a navy man, got the privilege of presenting the American flag to his grandmother at the cemetery in Bushnell. The latter was a particularly emotional event for the whole family and those of us who watched. It reminded me that life is not about words and not even deeds as much as about relationships-- relationships of friendship, of love, and of mutual understanding. Never waste your life staying to yourself or amassing things that will be thrown away or sold after you are gone. It's the people around you who mean the most. Spend your time and energy with them.
See you Sunday for the celebration.
With affection,
Pastor Carlan