Iraan High School Seniors' Lunch - May 4

The annual lunch for the seniors from Iraan High School is coming up next week on May 4th (just after noon). Please come and share in this special send-off for the youth of our community.

UMCOR response to spring storms

The storms that tore through the southeast last night (and last week) have wrecked havoc in communities large and small. UMCOR is already at work bringing relief, helping annual conferences respond and reach out to people whose lives were forever changed by the storms.

Please consider helping UMCOR reach those in need. 100% of your donation goes to the relief effort.

Remember on the donation form to give credit to First UMC - Iraan.

Visit this link to make your secure donation.

May e-newsletter is available

The May edition of the e-newsletter is available for viewing at this link. The paper version of the newsletter will be available in the fellowship hall on Sunday morning.

Prayer Requests from Easter Sunday

Joys: Beautiful Easter sunrise service sponsored by the Iraan Ministerial Alliance; Worship assistance from Aiden and Logan; Medical people who stand ready to help us; Fire fighters who stand ready to help us.

Concerns: Rain is needed; families of fire fighters who have died battling the wildfires; healing mercies for Wanda M. and Belinda A.; Travelling mercies.

Easter in Iraan

Easter is a celebration of life and today in Iraan we shared that life together as a community of faith! After the community sunrise service this morning, we gathered for another fantastic breakfast potluck. Each month there is a wonderful assortment of treats for every taste and our cooks this month really outdid themselves!

_____________

At the conclusion of worship this morning, Pastor Charles presented Aiden and Logan with their own Bibles. The two boys have done a terrific job serving as ushers since coming to Iraan with their folks, it is great having such willing and capable help!

He is Risen!

Easter Prayer

O Lord, Your wondrous birth means nothing unless we are born again; Your death and sacrifice mean nothing unless we die to sin; Your resurrection means nothing unless if You be risen alone. Raise and exalt us, O Savior, both now to the estate of grace and hereafter to the state of glory; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit You live and reign, One God now and forever. Amen.

- The United Methodist Book of Worship, #392

Which came first: Easter or the Eggs?

Check out this story from the United Methodist News Service about some of the traditions that have grown up around the Easter story.

This afternoon at FUMC - Iraan

The community was invited to enter into a quiet time of reflection on this Good Friday afternoon. There was a restful, inviting feeling in the sanctuary and it was a much-needed balm for anyone who wanted to remember why this day is called, "Good."

Good Friday Meditations

(St. John of the Cross by Salvador Dali, 1951)

Today is Good Friday and together with Christians around the world we remember the fateful events that led to Golgotha and the Cross. The church in Iraan will be open from Noon - 3:00 p.m. for prayer and meditation.

The Seven Last Words of Christ, the last seven expressions of Jesus on the Cross recorded in Scripture. Ponder these words today as you experience the Passion of Christ.

The First Word: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." - Luke 23:34

The Second Word: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43

The Third Word: "Jesus said to His mother, 'Woman, this is your son.' Then He said to the disciple: 'This is your mother.'" - John 19:26-27

The Fourth Word: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" - Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46

The Fifth Word: "I thirst." - John 19:28

The Sixth Word: "When Jesus had received the wine, He said, 'It is finished'; and He bowed His head and handed over the spirit." - John 19:30

The Seventh Word: "Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.'" - Luke 23:46

Maundy Thursday

Giotto, The Arena Frescos (1305-1306)

Read John 13:1-17, 31b-35 as you enter into the holy mystery of Jesus' last supper with His disciples.

Wednesday of Holy Week

(St. Stephen's House, Oxford)


Jesus surrounded Himself with people who, like us, had failings and shortcomings. The events of Holy Week reveal the disciples' human nature and weaknesses: Judas betrays Jesus for a pocketful of coins; the disciples sleep while Jesus agonizes in the garden; Peter's anger causes him to take up a sword and strike the high priest's slave; the chief priests act out of fear or jealousy of Jesus; Pilate's willingness to hand over a man he believes to be innocent; and perhaps most poignant of all, Jesus' own very human desire to escape the Crucifixion. And is it possible that even today, our own human nature, weaknesses, and failings cause us also to betray, deny, convict, and crucify again? (from http://www.gbod.org/)

Collect for Wednesday of Holy Week:
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave His body to whipped and His face spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from http://www.dailyoffice.wordpress.com/)

Palm Sunday

Thanks be to God for a wonderful Palm Sunday worship service today!

Today's Scripture Lesson

Today's lesson comes from Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29.

A prayer for rain

("Prayer for Rain" statue - Champaign, Illinois)

A Prayer for Rain

"...Can the heavens give showers! Are You not He, O Lord our God! Therefore we will wait for You - expectantly; For You have made all these things. For He spoke and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." - Jeremiah 14:22; Psalm 33:9

O God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to all those who seek Thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance; Send us, we beseech Thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to Thy honor, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Pray and Prayer)

A joy-filled Sunday in Iraan!

Joys from Sunday's service:

*We had 23 in worship this morning!

*Two family pews: The Gufstasun family and the Bolen family!

*Ed & Wanda's son & daughter-in-law visited last week and got a lot of chores done.

*No government shut-down.

*Brian, Aiden and Logan Gufstason served as our ushers today.

Concerns:

*People of Japan and Haiti

*Prayers for wisdom and discenrment for our nation's leaders.

*Our need for rain.

*Wanda M.'s continuing health concerns.

*Prayers for Debbie and Thanda.

*Those affected by the wildfires in west Texas -including those in Ft. Davis without electicity or water and those fighting the fires.

*Prayers for those traveling.

United Methodist Leadership Summit

Today's United Methodist Leadership Summit was an on-line, interactive effort with more than 1,000 sites registered around the world. One of these sites, in Zimbabwe, had more than 300 attendees! What a witness to our world-wide movement!

The challenges to The United Methodist Church are real and have deep-seated causes. Today's webcast was an effort to address the issues and some of the concrete actions the denomination is going to take to move ahead to "Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

10-fold.org & you

If you want to know what the United Methodist Church is all about, consider these statements from UMCOR and www.10-fold.org and what the United Methodist Church is doing right now:

*For the people of Haiti, more than a year after the 2010 easrthquake there is progress, but there is still a long way to go as we rebuild churches and schools.

*In much of Bolivia it is common to walk a mile to get water for the day. But the real challenge is in carrying the heavy water jars back, and then the water may still need to be purified. Digging wells nearby will eliminate these hardships.

*Farming is a challenge in many lands, and is more difficult in Sierra Leone, where war has destroyed crops and equipment and old techniques deplete the soil. Training farmers in new wyas is starting to make a difference.

*Thousands of "street children" are without care in Bangkok, Thailand; St. Petersburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and in major cities in the United States. Yet the numbers seem to be declining as churches step up their outreach.

Midweek Message

Our scripture text for Sunday, April 10 is Psalm 130. Pastor Charles will be leading us through an examination of "How low can you go?"

Prayer joys & concerns from April 3

JOYS Gustafson Family from Minnesota worshipped with us today. Brian & Jess and their sons Adrian (who helped with the offering) and Logan. Belinda’s first week at work was great. Good time had by all on last week’s archaeological dig. Gift of spring and new life. Good news health reports: Ed C. Katie B. with us today. CONCERNS People of Japan. Need for rain. Prayers for Healing: Wanda C. and others. All the skunks, possums, armadillos out and about.

April arrives in Iraan

Our time in Iraan began today on a warm note, and that was just fine for the faithful who came for fellowship, learning and worship! Thanks to Kirke McKenzie, we enjoyed some fresh donuts for our fellowship time! Kirke also served during the worship as our song leader, for which are always thankful.

We were blessed to have a new family in the Iraan community, the Gustafson's (from Minnesota), with us today. One of their sons, Adrian, even helped Evans with the offering and did a great job!

Psalm 23 (by Isaac Watts)

(St. Simon's Episcopal Church - Buffalo, NY)

The famous English hymn writer, Isaac Watts, wrote paraphrases of the Psalms and set them to music. Today's sermon text, Psalm 23, is perhaps the most famous of the Psaltar and is offered to you today in the words of Watts:

Psalm 23: God our Shepherd

My Shepherd is the living Lord; Now shall my wants be well supplied; His providence and holy word Become my safety and my guide.

In pastures where salvation grows He makes me feed, he makes me rest; There living water gently flows, And all the food's divinely blest.

My wand'ring feet his ways mistake, But he restores my soul to peace, And leads me, for his mercy's sakes, In the fair paths of righteousness.

Though I walk throught the gloomy vale Where death and its terrors are, My heart and hope shall never fail, For God's my Shepherd's with me there.

Amdist the darkness and the deeps Thou art my comfort, thou my stay; Thy staff supports my feeble steps, Thy rod directs my doubtful way.

The sons of earth, and sons of hell, Gaze at thy goodness, and repine To see my table spread so well With living bread and cheerful wine.

How I rejoice when on my head Thy Spirit condescends to rest! 'Tis a divine anounting shed Like oil of gladness at a feast.

Surely the mercies of the Lord Attend his household all their days; There will I dewll to hear his word, To seek his face, and sing his praise.

The Cross and Flame and you

Our denomination's Cross and Flame insignia contains elements that relate to God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, John Wesley's faith, and the merger of two denominations. What does the Cross and Flame mean to you?

To learn more about the "Cross & Flame" visit this link.