April 2019 newsletter

House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                          April 2019

But God…            

Good Friday’s freezing rain feels appropriate.

Tears freeze on trees and hang in suspended misery.

Life came to us.  We killed Him.

Hope came.  We mocked and chose despair.

Light came.  We shut our eyes

Against the Truth we did not want to see.

Now, with eyes unseeing as darkest night,

We weep our bitter tears,

And nature weeps with us.

But Easter comes, and the Son rises, 

His light reflecting iridescent rays

From prismed tears. 

Son-warmed grief melts away

Releasing needed moisture to buried seeds.

Earth gives birth to life anew.

                                   By M. Lois Rivera-Wenger 

This was written in 1986, soon after Lois moved here from Oregon with her three children and literally went through a cold and grief-filled Good Friday, but one that was followed by a warm and wonderful Easter.      

Notes, Prayers and Praises

• APRIL BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Mary Ellen Overholt 4/5, Bertha Swarr 4/13 and Cathy Atwell 4/19!
• THE ANNUAL GOOD FRIDAY WALK in Harrisonburg will start at noon at the Blessed Sacrament Church, with a brief meditation and prayer at each of ten “stations of the cross” in the downtown area, and will end at the St. Stephens United Church of Christ. 
• BE IN PRAYER FOR NEAL NELSON and for Elly as she prepares to see him transition to the Envoy Nursing Home in Staunton sometime this month.
• GEMEINSCHAFT HOME’S annual fundraising dinner is at Park View Mennonite Church from 6-8 pm Friday, April 5.

April Lectionary Texts

7   Isaiah 43:16-21  Psalm 126  Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8

14 Isaiah 50:4-9a  Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 

21 Isaiah 25:6-9  Psalm 114   1 Corinthians 5:6b-8  Luke 24:1-49

28 Acts 5:27-32  Psalm 150  Revelation 1:4-8  John 20:19-31

April services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm

7 Location: Park Place meeting room, 2nd floor                        432-0531

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger  

Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                             Ice cream social time                                             

14 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3399  Caverns Drive           908-0391                                         Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                                    Carry-in meal                    

21 Location: Lewis & Mary Ellen Overholt   Heritage Haven    432-7277                               Worship and Sharing: Kent Palmer

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                   Brown bag meal

28 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802     564-1524

Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell                                           

Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                     Carry-in meal