Evangel "God's People Revealing the Love of Christ"                        March 2010

Attention:
Kriebel Fellowship Hall & Kitchen will be closed
for tile replacement February 22-March 13,
2010! All meetings, etc., will be located in other
areas of church or cancelled depending on
organization.
 

	COOK and EAT
Sign up NOW for a hands-on cooking class! Simple, nutritious and fun meals. Room for only 12! Cost $5 total for all 5 classes! April 8, 15, 22 and May 6 and 13 at 5:30 PM at Elliott Avenue Baptist Church. Registration Sheets at Welcome Center

Roger's Ramblings,

I don't know about you, but for me, this winter has been depressing. When you look at all the snow and the cold and day after day with no sunshine, it's depressing. But there is hope, hope in a brighter tomorrow. Spring is on its way, and I can't wait until it gets here. With spring comes the celebration of the Easter season. And because of Easter, we can have hope – hope in a new life.

So, let me ask you. How do you prepare for Easter? Think about it, we do a pretty good job preparing for Christmas. There are signs everywhere that something special is going to happen. We hang wreaths, light candles, trim the tree, wrap gifts, and on and on. But to prepare for Easter, what do you do? If you're a real fanatic, you dye a few eggs and buy a new outfit and BAM! You're done. Though for Christians, Easter is the most important day of the year, or it should be. It's the day we celebrate the central event of history – the day Jesus rose from the dead in order to make eternal life possible for you and me. So, how do we prepare for this important Christian event?

If we look at how Jesus prepared for Easter, we can see how we can effectively and meaningfully prepare for Easter. We first need to: Do what Jesus says. The Bible tells us as Jesus prepared for Easter he told two disciples (we do not know which two) to "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'" (Luke 19:30-31, NIV) Though the disciples didn't understand, they just did what Jesus told them to do.  They obeyed Jesus. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. They didn't know how it was going turn out, but they simply did what Jesus said to do. Their simple obedience brought glory to God.

The second way to prepare for this Easter is to: Feel what Jesus feels. As Jesus approached Jerusalem on the donkey and saw the city, the Scriptures tell us, "He wept over it." (Luke 19:41, NIV) The Greek word translated "wept" in our Bibles signifies more than tears; it suggests the kind of soul-searching, gut-wrenching, teeth-gritting sobbing that a person does at the tomb of a friend. In fact, it is the word used of Mary's sobs at the tomb of her brother Lazarus, Mary Magdalene's sobs at Jesus' tomb, and Peter's "bitter" weeping after he denied Jesus and heard the cock crow. So, Jesus wept violently for the people of Jerusalem - not for himself and not for the cross that awaited him, but for the fate that would come upon that city. Rather than the joyful shouts and praises that resounded all around, "Hosanna", "Hosanna", Jesus heard the screams, the cries, the shrieks and groans of the men, women, and children. Everyone else was having a party, and Jesus was filled with compassion for the lost sheep of Israel who didn't even know their own sad condition.

The third and final way you can prepare for Easter is to: Tell who Jesus is. (Matthew 21:10-11) When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:10-11, NIV) When Matthew reports that the city was "stirred," he uses the same word he used later in his Gospel, in Matthew 27:51, where he said that at the moment Jesus died on the cross, "The earth shook and the rocks split." (Matthew 27:51, NIV). The city was stirred as an earthquake "stirs" the ground. That's what will happen if you and I begin doing what Jesus says and feeling what Jesus feels - the whole city will be stirred! People will ask, "What's going on?" "What's this about?" "Who is this?"

There is hope found at Easter. This year prepare yourself for Easter by doing what Jesus says, feeling what Jesus feels, and telling who Jesus is.

May God Bless You This Easter Season,

Pastor Roger

American Baptist Churches of the
Great Rivers Region
42nd Annual Area II Meeting

"Thy Kingdom Come…"
Matthew 6:10

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at
Central Baptist, 501 S. 4th Street, Springfield, Illinois

Speaker – Dr. Alistair Brown, President of Northern Seminary
Worship together with the Area II church family

 Workshops being offered:

• What is your Vision? – Led by Dr. Dwight Stinnett
• Thy Kingdom Come – Led by Dr. John Grisham
• The Power of Hospitality – Led by Rev. Ivan Greuter
• Nest Generation of Pastor – Led by Greg Henson, Executive Director
  of External Relations for Northern Seminary
• What's New at Camp – Led by Jennifer Brady
• New Commandment Men's Ministry – Led by Terry Maurizio
  
  TimeLine for the Day:
  

AMERICA FOR CHRIST OFFERING 2010

Dear Elliott Members:

            As I survey our community, I see countless people in need of Jesus' love and healing touch. You may ponder, as I do, how you can reach out and make a difference in so many lives. It's a difficult challenge to take on as an individual, but I am convinced that as American Baptists working together, we can make a difference by supporting the America for Christ Offering 2010.
            This year's theme - "With Willing Hands: Connect, Care, Celebrate"---is a powerful reminder that Jesus' public ministry was all about connecting and caring for people in need. Through the work of National Ministries, which is supported by the America for Christ Offering, we can participate with our Lord in connecting, caring, and celebrating the power of the Gospel:

• as people come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ;
• as children in poverty are reached through the Penny Project;
• as youth, children, and adults grow in discipleship;
• as communities are changed through Christian centers;
  as we increase church vitality through the Church in Mission trainings; and
• as we help to support and relocate refugees into churches and communities.

            The America for Christ Offering 2010 strengthens our churches by providing support to our pastoral counselors and chaplains, designing leadership workshop and conferences, promoting excellent discipleship resources through Judson Press, and providing opportunities for churches, individuals, and youth groups to participate in home mission through Volunteer Ministries.
            We are encouraged by this year's theme to come alongside people "with willing hands" to connect, care, and celebrate. How do we see Jesus at work in our community and country? How can we help Jesus with this important work?
            Please join me in giving generously to the America for Christ Offering 2010 and help us to reach our goal of $1350.00. Together we can touch and change lives for the cause of Christ. Together we can make a difference. "For the love of Christ urges us on." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).



Sincerely,



Laura Winch
Missions Ministry