Ginger Snaps with Otsie Lackey

Kim Klein Stromboli

May 24th!

Today the official governor statement is that churches can open at 25%. For us that means no changes to the services this Sunday - still in the parking lot only. But on May 24 we open up the church at the usual time of 10:30... sitting apart, etc. We will also FaceBook live and post the service online from indoors - respecting those that stay home.

Stir Crazy 12 Key Lime Pie

Stir Crazy 11 Hot Rolls

Stir Crazy 10 Zucchini Stuffed Meatloaf

Stir Crazy 9 Bacon Bits

Communion Outline for May 3 - Prepared by Beverly and Mary Lynn Bogle

Suggestions for Celebrating The Lord’s Supper

At Home

Sunday May, 3, 2020 (after worship)

Suggested Order of Celebration and Reflection:

As you begin your Communion celebration, take a moment to remember that none of us is alone today. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper in communion with the body of Christ, the communion of the saints and our Lord.

A reflection on the Lord’s Supper  by The Rev. Frederick Buechner follows:

The Lord's Supper is make-believe. You make believe that the one who breaks the bread and blesses the wine is not the plump parson who smells of Williams' Aqua Velva but Jesus of Nazareth. You make believe that the tasteless wafer and cheap port are his flesh and blood. You make believe that by swallowing them you are swallowing his life into your life and that there is nothing in earth or heaven more important for you to do than this.

It is a game you play because he said to play it. "Do this in remembrance of me." Do this.

Play that it makes a difference. Play that it makes sense. If it seems a childish thing to do, do it in remembrance that you are a child.

Remember Max Beerbohm's Happy Hypocrite, in which a wicked man wore the mask of a saint to woo and win the saintly girl he loved. Years later, when a castoff girlfriend discovered the ruse, she challenged him to take off the mask in front of his beloved and show his face for the sorry thing it was. He did what he was told, only to discover that underneath the saint's mask, his face had become the face of a saint.

This same reenactment of the Last Supper is sometimes called the Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning "thanksgiving," that is, at the Last Supper itself Christ gave thanks, and on their part Christians have nothing for which to be more thankful.

It is also called the Mass, from missa, the word of dismissal used at the end of the Latin service. It is the end. It is over. All those long prayers and aching knees. Now back into the fresh air. Back home. Sunday dinner. Now life can begin again. Exactly.

It is also called Holy Communion because, when feeding at this implausible table, Christians believe that they are communing with the Holy One himself, his spirit enlivening their spirits, heating the blood, and gladdening the heart just the way wine, as spirits, can.

They are also, of course, communing with each other. To eat any meal together is to meet at the level of our most basic need. It is hard to preserve your dignity with butter on your chin, or to keep your distance when asking for the tomato ketchup.

To eat this particular meal together is to meet at the level of our most basic humanness, which involves our need not just for food but for each other. I need you to help fill my emptiness just as you need me to help fill yours. As for the emptiness that's still left over, well, we're in it together, or it in us. Maybe it's most of what makes us human and makes us brothers and sisters.

The next time you walk down the street, take a good look at every face you pass and in your mind say, "Christ died for thee." That girl. That slob. That phony. That crook. That saint. That damned fool. Christ died for thee. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee.

~originally published in Wishful Thinking and later in Beyond Words

As you read, jot down consider your own make believe and how you know God. Consider what you have learned in the last month about mercy and about justice.

Please read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

Make note of and share 2-3 things, events, or blessings for which you are thankful.  Please share these with the people at your table, the people in your home, the people at the end of your telephone line, the people on your Facebook page, the people with whom you send and share text messages, and letters or on social media pages. As you share, you may notice that your blessings expand, even exponentially. God is so good to bless us so.

Read Psalm 46—joyfully—with praise in your heart!

Share the communion elements of the bread and the wine with one another.  If you are having communion remotely by phone or FaceTime, share remotely nonetheless.  Jesus caused His body to be broken for you.  Jesus shed His blood for you.

Please pray with one another the following prayer or any prayer you wish to say:

Loving God, you have given us as one body a share in the one bread and the one cup and made us one in Christ. Help us to bring your salvation and joy to all the world.  We ask this through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

This day and all days, celebrate that you are one with, and in the body of, Christ.  Hallelujah!  Amen.

THIS SUNDAY, May 3, 2020

THIS SUNDAY, May 3, 2020 (Acts 2:42-47)

·         We will live-stream the message from Church at 10:30 a.m. on FaceBook. 

·         Those that wish to can meet in the Church parking lot (Fifth Street) and hear the message delivered outside and on your radio (within 150 feet) while remaining in your cars.

·         We will end the service with the option of COMMUNION in your CAR.  Those that wish to can choose the designated sparking lot exit and sealed bags with the elements will be handed to you.

IN OTHER NEWS

·         Next week a special edition, Mother's Day Sunday in a Box, will be delivered to your doorstep.

·         LOOK FOR our new postings of members sharing recipes - episodes of STIR CRAZY

·         Find the worship service videos posted online after the Facebook live streaming - go to the link on the first page of our website or go directly to: vimeo.com/littlegraychurchofdexter (it can be difficult to find by just searching for it online - typing the URL into your browser is easiest).

·         Manuscripts and bulletin pieces are posted (Friday) on the Pastor's blog -go to the Our Leadership Page of our website and click on: Still in One Peace

As always - THANK YOU for your continued stewardship!

Zoey Lemon Cake - put it on YOUR to-do-list!

Stir Crazy 7 Judy Harshey has the best ideas

Stir Crazy 6 Nel Bogle sharing Grandma Breedyk's Butter Kook recipe (from the Church Cook Book)

Stir Crazy 5 Bonnie Grassie sharing Chicken Jazz recipe (from Betty Messick)

Stir Crazy 4 - Ruth sharing a Potato Casserole recipe

June Marshall Upside Down Pineapple French Toast

June Bible Pumpkin Bread

watch STIR CRAZY

Watch our totally off Broadway postings for STIR CRAZY  - the show for those who are trying new recipes during this extended stay at home.  Mining some of the depth of Church family,  picking the brains of our great cooks, having some fun and staying connected - it is what it is.

Here are the rules (totally made these up):


1) We post the recipe (no secret ingredients so it can be duplicated)
2) You go over the recipe AND tell a story
3) ONE TAKE. No editing.  Simple - it is what it is.
4) No bad words!

Bonus -  you get to end with a little Shout-Out

Watch services without FaceBook on Vimeo

This is still new to us, but we have posted last Sunday's message and each of the Daily Focus messages with music on VIMEO (not unlike YouTube)

You can watch them without FaceBook though they are not live streamed.

Many have been unsuccessful at "googling" the videos, but follow this link

vimeo.com/littlegraychurchofdexter

Looking for more resources?

Looking for Easter Sunday message, bulletin readings, DIY Sunrise, etc. Call the church and have it mailed/emailed or sent the way that you prefer to receive it.  Manuscripts are posted on Pastor Stephen's Blog "Still in One Peace" - you will find the button on the Our Leadership page.

Easter Sunday Plans

·         This week we will offer another "Sunday in a Box" with children's Easter activities and helps to tell the story.  Delivered to the door steps of our families with children.

·         A Do-It-Yourself Sunrise Service is available for those that want it for Sunday morning or for a reflection at any point in the week.

·         We will also live-stream the message from Church at 10:30 .m. on FaceBook. 

·         A special opportunity (for those that wish) to meet in the Church parking lot (Fifth Street) and hear the message delivered outside and on your radio.  Any car within 150 feet of our FM Transmitter will hear it over a selected radio channel (probably 88.1).  Remaining in our cars allows for a form of gathering and ensures an 'OK' distance.  Pastor Stephen will be on the Cross/Bell pedestal in the middle along with Maryl McNally bringing special music.

·         Anyone wanting the written version of the Church service (preaching notes and bulletin pieces) mailed/emailed - please let the office know. 

We love this art and the ARTIST

Some Favorite New Artists!

Blood Drive coming soon!

 SUNDAY  IN  A  BOX

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

HERE IS THE IDEA

            As the days seem to blur together because our schedules are disrupted - let's not let Sunday be a blur as well.  It is difficult not to be together to meet as a Church for worship - but things being as they are, here is Sunday in a Box.... a way to practice Sabbath and worship as a family at home.  In particular - this Sunday is Palm Sunday and enclosed are lessons (even crafts and activities) for the day.  As a family, go through the appropriate lessons and thus worship together. Lessons are designed for different age groups - but multiple lessons may be enclosed since you know your children's abilities best. 

ALSO THIS SUNDAY

            Go to the Church's Face Book page and watch the service.  Live streaming for April 5 at 10:30 a.m.  A simplified service. Some music, children's message, the main message (15 minutes and from the Sanctuary), prayer, then more music.  Woohoo!

IN OTHER NEWS

·         Checkout the Church's new Face Book page (https://www.facebook.com/thelittlegraychurch/) and watch a video of the message.  Send us your information to be shared.  Look for important news.

·         Check out the Church's Website too (http://firstpresbyterianchurchdexter.org/).  Look also for manuscripts, blog posts, Latest News.

Easter Plans

            Next week we will offer another Sunday in a Box with children's Easter activities and helps to tell the story.  We also plan to live-stream the message from Church.  Aside from that, many have asked the question , "Is there a way for us to gather?" We hope to offer the opportunity to meet in the Church parking lot, ensuring an OK distance and staying in our cars, and have the message delivered outside but through your radio.  Using an FM Transmitter, we can be present and hear it over a selected radio channel.  Stay Tuned (bad pun) for more information on this. 

Thank you for your continued stewardship!

            Many have sent in tithes and offerings through the mail and it makes a difference.  On our Church website at the bottom of the Life Together page is a donation button to make direct online donations. And yet others have inquired about Bill Pay. Did you know you can continue to make contributions to the church with just a click of a mouse? Most banks offer a “Bill Pay” service if you are enrolled in online banking. You set up the payee, schedule the amount you want to pay and the date, your bank will send your check directly to the church. Contact your bank for more information.

            Thank you for your faithfulness!

Here is the message by Beverly Coots from Last Sunday, March 22, 2020

Hello Friends, among other forms of news we will post Sunday messages right here.  Look for them!

We are excited to be offering them.