Author: Church Office

Summer is here and we will again hold Lemonade Socials following the worship service in the narthex. This is an opportunity to relax and visit with your church family.

We invite you to host one of the socials. You would provide lemonade and some light snacks. Cups, plates, napkins, etc. will be provided and the tables will be set up. You will find  sign-up sheets on the Ministry Table outside the Pastor’s office door.  We hope you will choose a date to serve as host.

The first social will be June 22^nd and continue thru August 24^th.

If you have any questions, please see Linda Slade or Mary Ann Russell.

Introducing the Community Chest:

Give What You Can, Take What You Need

We’re thrilled to introduce a new way to care for one another: the Community Chest. Think of it as a shared table of generosity, where every item carries a whisper of kindness.

Here’s how it works: bring what you can like groceries, cleaning supplies, or gently used home goods—and place them on the Community Chest table. If you’re in need, feel free to shop from the table at no cost. If you’re in a position to give a little extra, you’re welcome to leave a donation for anything you take. All proceeds will go directly to our local food bank.

What should you bring?

· Perishable items you won’t use before they spoil

· Buy-one-get-one-free deals you don’t need both of

· That fancy candle you lit once and realized wasn’t your scent

· Extra cleaning supplies, unopened toiletries, or kitchen gadgets with life left in them

This isn’t just a donation table, it’s a small act of mutual care. It’s a way to reduce waste, support one another, and pass a little love along to our neighbors in need.

Why Now?

We know things are feeling a bit chaotic right now. There’s uncertainty in the economy, and growing concerns about potential shortages of everyday items. During times like these, being part of a caring community is more important than ever. The Community Chest is one way we can respond, not with fear, but with generosity and trust.

We may not know what the future holds, but we do know this: we are not alone. We have each other. And that makes all the difference.

Let’s stock the chest with hope, with kindness, and maybe a few extra rolls of toilet paper, just in case.

Please join us for the services of Holy Week

Palm Sunday– April 13, 9:30 a.m.

Maundy Thursday– April 17, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday– April 18, 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday– April 20, 9:30 a.m.

May 3^rd  8:00 a.m.

May 3^rd is the date for this year’s Community Yard Sale.  This is the second of our two fundraisers to support our youth ministries. The proceeds from the yard sale will help to ensure that everyone who wants to go to the church camp will be able to attend.

There are several ways in which to support this work.  First, you can reserve a space on that day for $15.00 and set up your own yard sale offerings.  Second, if you don’t have enough items for your own space, you can donate what you have for the church’s yard sale table.  You can drop off your donations in the Narthex from 9:00AM – Noon on Saturdays April 12^th , April 19^th  and April 26^th.  Finally, you can sign up on Friday night, May 2^nd or Saturday, May 3^rd  to help run the sale.  There are plenty of positions to fill and each job is for only a two hour segment.  If you have any questions contact Tim Smith 717-333-1812 or Candy Steiner 717-823-7945.

The Way of Jesus: The Descending Path

As we approach Holy Week, a time in the Christian calendar that calls us to reflect deeply on the central events of Jesus’ life, it offers us an opportunity to meditate on the meaning of the cross and its profound relevance to our spiritual lives today. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday each highlight aspects of this “descending path”—a path that calls us to embrace the world’s pain and suffering, not avoid it, and to find resurrection and transformation through that embrace.

Ken Wilber, a well-known philosopher, makes an interesting distinction between two kinds of spiritual paths: ascending and descending.

· The ascending path is about transcending or rising above the world. It’s the search for enlightenment, liberation, or escape from suffering—often found in practices that seek to lift the soul above earthly concerns.

· The descending path, on the other hand, invites us to go into the world’s pain and suffering. It’s about embracing life as it is, including all of its challenges and hardships, and finding meaning and spiritual depth through that embrace. It’s not a path away from the world, but a path into the heart of it.

For Christians, the cross is the ultimate symbol of this descending path. It represents Jesus’ willingness to enter fully into human suffering—to bear the weight of the world’s pain, injustice, and brokenness. Jesus’ journey during Holy Week is the most powerful example of this path. From the intimate moment of sharing a meal with His disciples on Maundy Thursday, to His arrest and crucifixion on Good Friday, Jesus shows us that the path to resurrection and life comes through the willingness to descend into suffering.

When Jesus says, “Whoever loses their life will find it,” He’s speaking of this deep spiritual truth: true life comes not from escaping the world, but from fully engaging with it. The cross shows us that embracing suffering is not only part of the human experience, but also a way to connect more deeply with God and with each other. As we remember these pivotal events during Holy Week, we are invited to reflect on how we, too, might live this path.

One of the most powerful ways we can walk the descending path is through prayer and spiritual practice. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things or seeking comfort; it’s a way to connect deeply with God in both our joys and our pain.

As we enter into the observances of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we are invited to reflect on how prayer allows us to embrace God’s presence in our own suffering. Prayer opens our hearts to the suffering of others, just as Jesus embraced His own suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through contemplative prayer and moments of stillness, we come to realize that true spiritual growth doesn’t come from avoiding suffering, but from embracing it, transforming it, and allowing God to work through it.

The descending path is not just a theological concept; it has real, practical implications for how we live day-to-day. Here are a few ways we can embody this path, particularly as we walk through Holy Week:

· Compassionate action: Engaging with the world’s pain—whether it’s injustice, personal suffering, or global issues—by showing love and care for others, just as Jesus showed compassion to His followers and those in need.

· Prayerful presence: Being present with others in their pain, just as Jesus was present with us in His suffering. This can mean simply listening, offering support, or showing up when someone is hurting.

· Embracing our own challenges: Understanding that growth often comes through struggle. By inviting God into our own suffering, we allow God to transform it and help us grow spiritually through the experience. This is especially meaningful as we reflect on Jesus’ own suffering and ultimate resurrection.

As we enter into Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we are reminded that the descending path is the way of Jesus. It’s a path that leads through suffering but also into resurrection. The cross, which symbolizes Jesus’ radical love and identification with our pain, shows us that spiritual life doesn’t come from avoiding the world’s brokenness, but from entering into it, fully present, with love and compassion. Through prayer, compassionate action, and a willingness to embrace the pain of the world, we walk the same path that Jesus walked—transforming suffering into grace and resurrection.