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News and Announcements are published on Friday each week.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent 

Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10John 3:14-21

Hymns: 425, 571566, 702580543

Calendar 

**** PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 9, 2024.  Set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night.  ****

Witness

As we travel through Lent let’s pray about who we might invite to join us for Holy Week services.    Many, if not most, of our friends and relatives celebrate Easter in some way.  The richness of Lenten, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services can deepen our understanding and appreciation for the holy gift that Easter is.  As much fun coloring Easter eggs is, and as yummy as a chocolate Easter bunny is, the gift of the Resurrection is all-satisfying.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, about a third of adults overall (32.3%) reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023. Nearly half of these adults (49.9%) were between the ages of 18 and 24, 38% were between the ages of 25 and 49, 29.3% were between 50 and 64 and 20.1% were 65+ (Source: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/anxiety-statistics/).  Discovering that a nonchurched person in your life is struggling with depression or anxiety provides an opportunity to witness to that person. While most of us are not qualified to diagnose a person’s depression or anxiety, as Christ’s witnesses we can bring a message of comfort and hope to the people who suffer from these disorders.  Using the LASSIE (Listen, Ask, Seek, Share, Invite, Encourage) approach to witnessing, this Every One His Witness module explains how to witness in a natural way to those in our lives who are dealing with depression or anxiety without the peace of Christ.  https://www.everyonehiswitness.org/course/witnessing-to-people-with-depression-or-anxiety/

Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 10 for a shower for new baby Watt.   It’s a boy!  We’ll gather after the Divine service.  Refreshments will be provided.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of  The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.  Since 1942 , the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ and encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and in supporting global missions.  The 2024 LWML New England District Convention is April 26 and 27.  Join in a Bible study, presentations by leaders in Missions, and good fellowship.  Speak to Betsy for more information about the Convention or about LWML in general.

Sunday morning Bible Class topics

3/10: Religious Revivals in America

3/17: 19th Century Mission Activities

3/24: The Church and Social Issues

4/7: 19th Century Threats to Christianity

Mercy  

Cressey Road – Cressey Road Church at 81 Cressey Road in Gorham is collecting clothes of any kind for the indigent in the community. It is done 9-noon on the first and third Saturdays. 

Gorham Backpack Program - Our friend Heather Whitaker, at present is feeding at least 110 families in Gorham through the BackPack Program. Much of the food is coming from the Gorham food Pantry and they are soliciting direct cash donations. If anyone would like to support them you can make a donation at their website gorhamfoodpantry.org.  

MAP INTERNATIONAL is a Christian based organization that provides medical care and antibiotics to people in 91 nations. Every $10 donated generates $400 worth of medicine. To make a donation MAP INTERNATIONAL p.o box 96487 Washington D.C 20077 or map.org on line 

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-883-2730 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

Life Together

The Boston Bach Birthday is back! BBB 339 will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in Boston. As always, all musical events are free and open to the public. Organist and Bach Birthday artistic director Jonathan Wessler will kick the day off at 9am with a recital featuring all of Bach's organ chorale partitas. More information at flc-boston.org/bach.

The Winter/Spring issue of the LWML-NED newsletter, The Beacon, is available via this LINK.  This issue has all the latest news on the upcoming District Convention scheduled for April 26-27, 2024, in Trumbull, CT.

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.    

A Life Thought in the Church Year for March 10 – Lent IV: Surprise pregnancy and terminal diagnosis come with risks and costs. But as with the ancient Israelite serpent infestation, the real enemy is neither one’s neighbor nor the Maker (Numbers 21:8). Only impaling the snake (not terminating each other) brought deliverance, and the antidote called for faith instead of death. Christians insist God has sent us His Son for extending lives and not ending them (John 3:17).

Stewardship Thought for March 10 – Lent 4  Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Even the good we do in this world is a gift from God, prepared beforehand for us to do. And this too is a gift! For isn’t doing good also a good thing for the one who does it? So from first to last, from the Lord’s free salvation given to us to the good works He’s prepared for us, everything is a gift of God’s grace.

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS, INFORMATION & TRUTH… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week's topics include: The Promises of God, Embryo Adoption, Making Parenting Easier, The Book of Mormon and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod or your favorite podcast provider.

Please Sponsor an Easter Plant - Fellow Redeemer Saints, we humbly ask you to please help contribute to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord by beautifying our Church with Easter flowers on Easter Sunday, by sponsoring an Easter plant. We will have a number of Tulips, Easter Lilies and Daffodils displayed on Easter Sunday and are looking for your support. The cost to sponsor these beautiful plants are as follows:

10 - 7” Daffodil pots $10.50 each   11 - 6” Tulip pots $8.90 each   8 - 6” Easter Lily pots $10.50 each

Those that sponsor a plant will be encouraged to take it home after the Easter Divine Service or anytime during the Easter Church Season. If you would like to support this effort please enter your name next to the plant you would like to sponsor on the Sign-up Sheet in the Narthex. You may place your designated payment in the offering plate or give it to Sandra Day. Easter Flower Envelopes are provided. Checks may be addressed to Redeemer Lutheran Church, please make a note on your check that it is for the Easter flowers. The deadline for sponsoring a plant is March 24. Thank you for your support!    Blessings, Redeemer Altar Guild.

Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the April church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by March 22.  March will be a busy month so please be mindful of this deadline.

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Thursday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information.

Looking Forward to The Fifth Sunday in Lent 

Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34Hebrews 5:1-10Mark 10:32-45

Hymns: 616601430865435350683

 

 

 

The Fifth Sunday in Lent 

Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34Hebrews 5:1-10Mark 10:32-45

Hymns: 616, 601430, 865435350, 683

Calendar 

Witness

As we travel through Lent let’s pray about who we might invite to join us for Holy Week services.    Many, if not most, of our friends and relatives celebrate Easter in some way.  The richness of Lenten, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services can deepen our understanding and appreciation for the holy gift that Easter is.  As much fun coloring Easter eggs is, and as yummy as a chocolate Easter bunny is, the gift of the Resurrection is all-satisfying.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, about a third of adults overall (32.3%) reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023. Nearly half of these adults (49.9%) were between the ages of 18 and 24, 38% were between the ages of 25 and 49, 29.3% were between 50 and 64 and 20.1% were 65+ (Source: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/anxiety-statistics/).  Discovering that a nonchurched person in your life is struggling with depression or anxiety provides an opportunity to witness to that person. While most of us are not qualified to diagnose a person’s depression or anxiety, as Christ’s witnesses we can bring a message of comfort and hope to the people who suffer from these disorders.  Using the LASSIE (Listen, Ask, Seek, Share, Invite, Encourage) approach to witnessing, this Every One His Witness module explains how to witness in a natural way to those in our lives who are dealing with depression or anxiety without the peace of Christ.  https://www.everyonehiswitness.org/course/witnessing-to-people-with-depression-or-anxiety/

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of  The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.  Since 1942 , the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ and encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and in supporting global missions.  The 2024 LWML New England District Convention is April 26 and 27.  Join in a Bible study, presentations by leaders in Missions, and good fellowship.  Speak to Betsy for more information about the Convention or about LWML in general.

Sunday morning Bible Class topics

3/17: 19th Century Mission Activities

3/24: The Church and Social Issues

4/7: 19th Century Threats to Christianity

4/14: Fundamentalists Battle Evolutionism

 

Mercy  

Cressey Road – Cressey Road Church at 81 Cressey Road in Gorham is collecting clothes of any kind for the indigent in the community. It is done 9-noon on the first and third Saturdays. 

Gorham Backpack Program - Our friend Heather Whitaker, at present is feeding at least 110 families in Gorham through the BackPack Program. Much of the food is coming from the Gorham food Pantry and they are soliciting direct cash donations. If anyone would like to support them you can make a donation at their website gorhamfoodpantry.org.  

MAP INTERNATIONAL is a Christian based organization that provides medical care and antibiotics to people in 91 nations. Every $10 donated generates $400 worth of medicine. To make a donation MAP INTERNATIONAL p.o box 96487 Washington D.C 20077 or map.org on line 

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-883-2730 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

Life Together

The Boston Bach Birthday is back! BBB 339 will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in Boston. As always, all musical events are free and open to the public. Organist and Bach Birthday artistic director Jonathan Wessler will kick the day off at 9am with a recital featuring all of Bach's organ chorale partitas. More information at flc-boston.org/bach.

The Winter/Spring issue of the LWML-NED newsletter, The Beacon, is available via this LINK.  This issue has all the latest news on the upcoming District Convention scheduled for April 26-27, 2024, in Trumbull, CT.

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.  

A Life Thought in the Church Year for March 17 – Lent V: Jesus Christ embodies the God who abides beside us in our ailments and frailties. Our incarnate and crucified Savior suffers with and for those who cannot sustain or save themselves. He regards even human beings beset by weakness or sickness high enough to take on our condition Himself (Hebrews 5:7-9). The Gospel just leaves no room for abortion or assisted suicide.

A Stewardship Thought for March 17 – Lent 5 Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus gives everything He has: He gives Himself. That self-giving is the model for our giving in all aspects of our lives. In our family, in our church, and in the world at large, Jesus calls us to follow His example of self-giving. We can only do this if we are connected to His self-giving in faith.

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS, INFORMATION & TRUTH… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week's topics include: The Promises of God, Embryo Adoption, Making Parenting Easier, The Book of Mormon and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod or your favorite podcast provider.

Please Sponsor an Easter Plant - Fellow Redeemer Saints, we humbly ask you to please help contribute to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord by beautifying our Church with Easter flowers on Easter Sunday, by sponsoring an Easter plant. We will have a number of Tulips, Easter Lilies and Daffodils displayed on Easter Sunday and are looking for your support. The cost to sponsor these beautiful plants are as follows:

10 - 7” Daffodil pots $10.50 each   11 - 6” Tulip pots $8.90 each   8 - 6” Easter Lily pots $10.50 each

Those that sponsor a plant will be encouraged to take it home after the Easter Divine Service or anytime during the Easter Church Season. If you would like to support this effort please enter your name next to the plant you would like to sponsor on the Sign-up Sheet in the Narthex. You may place your designated payment in the offering plate or give it to Sandra Day. Easter Flower Envelopes are provided. Checks may be addressed to Redeemer Lutheran Church, please make a note on your check that it is for the Easter flowers. The deadline for sponsoring a plant is March 24. Thank you for your support!    Blessings, Redeemer Altar Guild.

Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the April church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by March 22.  March will be a busy month so please be mindful of this deadline.

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Thursday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information.

Looking Forward to The Sunday of the Passion 

Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12Philippians 2:5-11Mark 14-15

Hymns: 442438542431643423

 

 

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