MULBERRY STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

March 4, 2018

www.mulberrymethodist.org

PRECIOUS PAINS? It is good to be in the season of lent, a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. It is a time for us to focus on our relationship with God. Spending this time can be very productive and can guide us into deeper spiritual growth - but only if we are honest with ourselves. I don’t know of anyone who was more honest with himself than C.S. Lewis. His famous writings are classics, but did you know that he also wrote poetry? I ran across one of his poems that I thought you might enjoy this Lenten Season. “As the Ruin Falls” C.S. Lewis All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you. I never had a selfless thought since I was born. I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through: I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn. Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek, I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin: I talk of love – a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek - But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin, Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack. I see the chasm. And everything you are was making My heart into a bridge by which I might get back From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking. For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains You give me are more precious than all other gains. Take a look at the 3rd stanza, where clarity arrives at last. God reveals to Lewis his “lack” and he sees the chasm between where he is and where he desired to be. God is constructing a “bridge” to help us return to him. Yet, we dismantle that bridge, piece by piece, as we come apart again. The final two lines are haunting. Blessing God for falling ruins? Pains more precious than all other gains? If you’ve been there, maybe you know what he means. How might your Lenten journey bring you precious pains this year?

Sunday Worship March 4, 2018

Third Sunday in Lent

Worship Times 9:00 am/Chapel

10:00 am/NewRoom – Library Ballroom

11:00 am/Sanctuary

The Voice “The Voice Speaks Truth”

John 2:13-22 (NLT)

Rev. Jeff Cook

Assisting with Worship Nine O’clock Ushers Bill Jackson & Clay Washburn

Eleven O’clock Ushers Josh Carroll, Richard Ector, Waverly Golson, Charlie Griffis, Mel Jamison, Darin McClure,

Jason Mott, Ed Powell, Doyle Powers, Bert Thompson, Ben Vaughn & Tom Woodcock

Acolytes Alex Stone, Lead Acolytes Maddie McClure, Crucifer

Mary Caroline Bushway & Piper Bushway, Candlelighters

Davis Uren, Communion Steward

The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God

and in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Yates, Sr. and

Mary Jean Yates by Charles H. Yates, Jr.

Trevor Ward, Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Sunday Mornings - Youth Sunday School 10:00 am – Youth Class Room 314

Sunday Evenings - Anchored - 5:00 pm

Wednesday Evenings - Youth Fellowship 6:15 pm

Love, Care and Share around the Table

Wednesday, March 7

Program: Edith Schwartz -

“Mulberry’s Stained Glass

and the Gospels” –

Christ in Gethsemane

Menu: Baked Spaghetti

Nine O’clock Worship 29

NewRoom Worship 66

Eleven O’clock Worship 152

Total Worship Attendance 247

Rich Kosowski, Director of Music

Ainsworth Choir Wednesdays at 7:15 pm.

Children’s Choir Cherub Choir (K3-K5) & Wesley Choir (Grades 1-5)

Wednesdays at 6:15-7:00 pm

If you have questions, please contact Rich at richk@mulberrymethodist.org or 478-745-8601.

Cherry Blossom Organ Concerts March 19-23, 2018

12:00 Noon - Sanctuary Details soon.

Where: High Falls State Park When: Friday, April 6 – Sunday, April 8

Reservations can be made through the Georgia State Parks website, or by calling (800) 864-7275.

For more information please contact Ed Powell at (478) 737-1518.

Mulberry Scampers Spring Venture:

Kicking off our 47th year of family camping!

Holy Week Worship Schedule

Palm Sunday Processional & Service March 25, 11 AM Service

Holy Week Services 12 Noon (followed by lunch)

Monday, March 26 Rev. Dr. Derek McAleer, Speaker

(Director of Administrative Services, South

Georgia Conference)

Tuesday, March 27 Rev. Steve Waldorf, Speaker

(Vice President, Georgia United Methodist

Foundation)

Wednesday, March 28 Rev. Fran Magoni, Speaker

(Associate Pastor, Martha Bowman UMC)

Good Friday Service, March 30 Rev. Steve Vinson, Speaker

(Senior Vice President for Communications,

Magnolia Manor)

Maundy Thursday

Communion Service Thursday, March 29, 6:00 pm

Rev. Jimmy Towson, Speaker

Easter Egg Hunt/

Picnic on Coleman Hill Saturday, March 31, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service April 1 - Coleman Hill - 7:00 am

Flowering of the Easter Cross April 1 - 10:00 am (Courtyard)

Easter Sunday Butterfly Release April 1 - 10:30 am – Mulberry Courtyard

Easter Sunday Services April 1

9:00 am – Sanctuary

10:00 am – NewRoom (Library Ballroom)

11:00 am - Sanctuary

Give It Up For Lent

You are invited to this 3 Week Lenten Study at

Noon in the Conference Room on the

following Wednesdays:

March 7, 14 & 21.

This is a bring your own lunch study.

Please bring your Bible.

All of other materials will be provided.

Contact Rev. Jeff Cook at

jcook@mulberrymethodist.org to sign up.

Flowering of the Easter Cross

On Easter Sunday morning members of Mulberry are asked to bring flowers from their yards or gardens to place on the cross in Mulberry’s courtyard. The cross will be covered in greenery and chicken wire and flowers will be easily placed on the cross. Please bring flowers to the courtyard prior to Sunday school. This beautiful blooming cross will symbolize our risen Christ to all who pass by our church home after Easter.

Pam Johnston, Director of Children & Family Ministries

There is a bucket in the atrium to receive donations for Daybreak.

Supplies Needed: coffee creamer coffee stirrers powdered drink mix

paper napkins Corelle bowls

Mulberry’s Community Garden

Volunteers welcome on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00 am.

Clothing Needs Women’s: clothes (large size),

socks & shoes

Men’s: belts, shoes, socks & jackets

Parenting Small Groups We are looking to start two small group/Bible

studies about parenting, and we have material for

each stage of your kids’ lives, from toddlers to

teenagers. The day and time have not been set yet

because we are flexible on whether to do it Sunday

mornings or a weeknight, but childcare would be

provided. If you would like to be a part of one of

these groups, please let Pam know.

PARENT PRAYER GROUP Wednesday Nights, 6:15-7:00 pm

Come join us in a small group (children's activity

provided) if you want to explore phases of your

child's development and spiritual needs, whether

they are 2, 11, or anywhere in between!

Contact Pam if you're interested.

Palm Sunday Processional

March 25

11:00 am Worship Service Meet on sanctuary steps at 10:55.

Easter Egg Hunt/Family Picnic

Saturday, March 31

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Coleman Hill

Easter Butterfly

Release

Sunday, April 1

10:30 am

Mulberry Courtyard

Mary Grace Rumford and Doyle Dwayne Bennett were united in Holy Matrimony

on February 17, 2018 at Mulberry Street UMC. Rev. Jimmy Towson officiated.

Upper Rooms March/April Upper Rooms are available in the Atrium.

Grace Circle The Grace Circle will meet Thursday, March 8 at 6:30 pm

at the home of Beth Golson.

To Patsy Fountain and family upon the death of her mother,

Jackie Carter on February 20, 2018.

The Ark Encounter & Creation Museum Trip We now have a date for The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum trip with

Annette Barnette! The trip will be September 24-28, 2018. Please begin inviting your friends and fellow Mulberry members to an

interest meeting on March 13 at 5:30pm in the parlor. The cost of the trip is $545 per person, based on double occupancy.

Give me a call at the church (745-8601) or email me at jcook@mulberrymethodist.org with any questions.

Mulberry Street United Methodist Church 719 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201

P.O. Box 149, Macon, GA 31202 Office (478) 745-8601

www.mulberrymethodist.org

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED WEEKLY

Our 11 a.m. service is broadcast live over Radio Station AM 940 WMAC.

This Week at Mulberry

Sunday, March 4 9:00 am Worship/Chapel

9:30 Blue Room Kids 9:45 am Sunday School

10:00 am NewRoom Worship/Library Ballroom 11:00 am Worship/Sanctuary

11:15 am NewRoom Group 4:45 pm Anchored

5:00 pm Women’s Bible Study/M. Walker

Tuesday, March 6 6:15 am Women’s Bible Study/Starbucks 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study/Taste & See

9:30 am Staff Meeting/Conf Rm 12:00 pm Kiwanis/F-Hall

5:30 pm Travel Ministry Seminar/Parlor 6:30 pm Small Group/Lamback’s

Wednesday, March 7 9:15 am CCM Chapel

10:30 am M/O Worship/Chapel 12:00 pm Lenten Study/Parlor

4:30 pm UMW Executive Committee Mtg/Conf Rm 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Supper

6:15 pm Children’s Choirs 6:15 pm Youth Fellowship 7:15 pm Ainsworth Choir

Thursday, March 8

9:30 am Circle of Friends Sewing Group/Rm 232 6:00 pm Traditional Worship Task Force Mtg/

Youth Rm 6:30pm Grace Circle

Sunday, March 11

9:00 am Worship/Chapel 9:30 Blue Room Kids

9:45 am Sunday School 10:00 am NewRoom Worship/Library Ballroom

11:00 am Worship/Sanctuary 11:15 am NewRoom Group

4:45 pm Anchored 5:00 pm Women’s Bible Study/M. Walker

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID MACON, GA

PERMIT NO. 417

Mulberry Street UMC Staff Jimmy Towson, Senior Pastor Jeff Cook, Associate Pastor

Trevor Ward & Tyler Giles, NewRoom Worship Leaders Richard Kosowski, Director of Music Pat Crowe, Organist

Bruce Bishop, Church Administrator Trevor Ward, Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Pam Johnston, Director of Children & Family Ministries Betsy Abbott, Director of Hospitality Karen Carter, Connections Director

Laura Dannenberg, Financial Secretary Linda Parker, Administrative Secretary Doris Andrews, Church Cook/Custodian

Clifton Carswell, Jeffrey Smith & Michael Washington, Custodians Tshanghi Corey, Director, Children’s Center Debbie Towson, Director, Macon Outreach

Rev. Jimmy Towson – 538-9067 Rev. Jeff Cook – 229-886-7032

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Sunday Morning NewRoom Small Group 11:15 am

Contact: Jim Smith (478-747-4189) or Michael Woodward at woodward2191@windstream.net

Sunday Evening Women’s Bible Study 5:00 pm - Home of Molly Walker (4336 Old Club Road)

They will be studying the book of Esther. All women are welcome. Contact: Molly (478-731-7175) or mollywalker@cox.net.

Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study 6:15 am - Starbucks at 4640 Forsyth Road

Contact: Clare Rauls (478-731-6813) or clarerauls@bellsouth.net.

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study 7:00 am - Taste and See Coffee Shop (downtown)

Contact: Rev. Jimmy Towson (478-538-9067) or jtowson@mulberrymethodist.org.

Tuesday Evening Small Group 6:30-8:00 pm - Home of Sam & Gini Lamback (821 Wesleyan Drive)

Contact: Rev. Sam and Gini Lamback (478-550-3067) or lambacks@bellsouth.net.

Memorial Fund In memory of Dr. Charles Ridley White by Ms. Beth Hamrick