Announcements
SYMPATHY: to Gary Livingston at the passing of his wife, Rita Livingston, on Wednesday, March 12. Visitation will take place here at the church on Monday, March 17, at 10 a.m. A service will follow at 11 a.m.
SYMPATHY: to the family and friends of Carol Fitz, who passed away on Saturday, March 8. The funeral was held here at the church on Wednesday, March 12.
SYMPATHY: to Phyllis Smith at the passing of her daughter-in-law, Kim Smith, on Monday, March 10. The funeral was held on Thursday, March 13, in Westminster.
SYMPATHY: to Butch & Susan Kyker at the passing of their nephew, Joshua Ward, on Saturday, March 8. The funeral was held on Friday, March 14, in Westminster.
THANK YOU: to my church family for all the prayers and cards I received at the passing of my sister, Sharon Dawson. She is with the Lord now, and I know that I will see her again one day! Margaret Barker
LIVING CROSS COSTUMES: are available for pick up downstairs in the Costume Room, 30 minutes before and after the main services. Please see Eli Fenton for any questions.
USHERS & PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS: are needed for each night of the Living Cross. If you would be willing to help in this area, please sign up at the Welcome Desk.
From My Heart
With the time change last weekend, it seems like everything has kicked up into high gear around here. Living Cross preparation is in full swing and will be upon us in just a matter of weeks. We have tickets to use as a reminder of each night’s presentation. Please invite your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to be in attendance to enjoy this year’s program.
Coming up on March 30th, we are having “Bring a Friend Day.” We have a specially designed mug for each of the guests. The mug is black, but when hot coffee or tea is poured into it, the mug lights up with the Church of the Open Door logo on both sides. Each guest you bring will be given a mug.
We also have a beautiful Thomas Nelson Publishing Company reference study Bible that will be given to the person who brings the most visitors. To be clear, a visitor is someone who does not normally attend our church! This Bible is filled with helps and notes to explain verses, to aid the reader in understanding the Bible. It is a very nice Bible, and you will certainly enjoy studying and learning from its pages. If you work hard and get some folks to help you by coming as your guest, you can take the Bible home with you on the 30th.
The Scriptures tell us in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” We might not all be able to sing in the choir, or have a part in the drama, or be on the prop crew - but all of us can pray for the Lord to bless the Living Cross! We should pray for a good full house each night, for the songs, the message of the scripture, and the message of the invitation to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. We should pray for the Holy Spirit to convict hearts and draw the unsaved to the Savior. So, the Lord said to ask, and it will be given to us, seek and we will find, and knock and it will be opened unto us. And let me remind you in James 4:2, the Word of God tells us, “…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” Let’s begin now, setting some prayer time aside each day for the Lord to hear our prayer and bless the Living Cross in 2025.
Also, on the 30th, following the evening service, we are having a fellowship time where we will partake of homemade chili. I think I will refer to this Sunday evening service as “heart-burn Sunday.” We have had some special chili recipes at several of these events, and there will be signs to let you know what you are eating. This is always a wonderful time for our Church family!
This is the day that the Lord has made - so let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
Pastor Norris
Hospitalizations
Charles Bugglen - Bayview 12
Joseph Frazier - CHC 312
Tracy Hochhalter - UMMC 15
Betty Ogle -Washington Hosp. 17
Susan Schuiling - Kernan T09