Pastor Mike’s Paper Pulpit First Christian Church Elder & Contact Information CONNECTING POINTS FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Elders Mack Jones—267-3090 Brett LeTourneau—706-2192 Moses Rodriguez—217-4786 Mike Souza— 674-2268 Secretary Amanda Stutsman—559-674-5203 Pastor Michael G. Stipe—559-259-6879 (2016 Shepherding lists are posted. Call your elder when there is a need.) AN EARLY EASTER In AD 325 the Council of Nicaea established the formula for selecting the date for Easter. It would be on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. (March 20th or 21st) The earliest Easter since then was in 1818 (March 22nd) and the latest was 1943 (April 25th). In the 40 years from 1996-2036 Easter lands in April all but 9 times. Those fall in the month of March. 2016 marks the earliest date for Easter since 2008 (March 23rd) and will be the final March Easter until 2024 (March 31st). But Easter is not just early for us in this day. For all of those who followed Jesus, it was way too early to lose their beloved one. Their grief at His death swept over them as a wave that extinguished hope. This is not what it was supposed to be. This is not what was supposed to happen. But it was still early, for Easter had yet to arrive. Death still reigned in the world and sin still took its toll upon those too weak to withstand it. But at just the right time—very early in the morning—something wonderful and amazing happened. What had been put off in the dark of night was now thrust into the brilliant dawn of a new day. It was Life! Life beyond our understanding. Life beyond our earthly existence. Life that swallowed up death. Easter may be early this year, but it is right on time. I will see you Sunday! Connecting People To God - To Each Other & To The World March 2016
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Pastor Mike’sPaper Pulpit
First Christian Church Elder & Contact Information
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Elders
Mack Jones—267-3090
Brett LeTourneau—706-2192
Moses Rodriguez—217-4786
Mike Souza— 674-2268
Secretary
Amanda Stutsman—559-674-5203
Pastor
Michael G. Stipe—559-259-6879
(2016 Shepherding lists are posted.Call your elder when there is a need.)
AN EARLY EASTER
In AD 325 the Council of Nicaeaestablished the formula forselecting the date for Easter. Itwould be on the first Sunday afterthe first full moon occurring on orafter the vernal equinox. (March20th or 21st)
The earliest Eastersince then was in 1818(March 22nd) and thelatest was 1943 (April25th). In the 40 yearsfrom 1996-2036 Easterlands in April all but 9times. Those fall in themonth of March.
2016 marks the earliest date forEaster since 2008 (March 23rd)and will be the final March Easteruntil 2024 (March 31st).
But Easter is not just early for usin this day.
For all of those who followedJesus, it was way too early to lose
their beloved one. Their grief atHis death swept over them as awave that extinguished hope.This is not what it was supposedto be. This is not what wassupposed to happen.
But it was still early, for Easterhad yet to arrive. Death still
reigned in the worldand sin still took its tollupon those too weak towithstand it.
But at just the righttime—very early in themorning—somethingwonderful and amazing
happened. What had been put offin the dark of night was now thrustinto the brilliant dawn of a newday. It was Life! Life beyond ourunderstanding. Life beyond ourearthly existence. Life thatswallowed up death.
Easter may be early this year, butit is right on time.
I will see you Sunday!
Connecting People To God - To Each Other & To The World
bondage again to fear, but you received theSpirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba,
Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spiritthat we are children of God, and if children, then heirs –heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we sufferwith Him, that we may also be glorified together.” –Romans 8:15
When I was six years old, I sang a solo from DottieRambo’s Down by the Creek Bank musical. The lyricswere, “I am adopted. I’m a special kid you see. I’m proudto be a member of the royal family.” My entire concept ofadoption was based upon the movie Annie and whateversupplemental information my parents provided at thetime. It wasn’t until much later that I began to understand
adoption in the context of my relationship with myHeavenly Father. “Abba” is the Aramaic word that childrenwould use for their fathers, the equivalent to our “Daddy.”We have the privilege of calling upon God as our “Dad”whenever we choose. Also, we are not just children, buttrue heirs in line to receive a heavenly inheritance ofeternal life.
Through adopting Jacques and Maisey, I have a smalltaste of what it feels like to bring an outsider into myfamily. They live in my home, they spend time with me,and they enjoy all of the benefits of having a parent wholoves them. This brings me great joy. From that, I canreasonably infer that my Heavenly Father takes joy ingiving me His Spirit of adoption. I am adopted, I amspecial, and I am proud to be a member of His royalfamily.
~Melissa
PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES
Greg & Vicki SyversonCMF International — Mexico
Scott & Anelle PriceCMF International — Tanzania
Vince & Gretta PaynePanama Mission Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Yoon Kwon ChaeKorea Gospel Mission
Champions For TomorrowClovis, CA
American Indian Christian Missions
Doors of Hope
Madera Community Food Bank
Madera Rescue Mission
Madera Love INC
Discover more information on themissions we support on ourwebsite: www.maderafcc.org
Attention all Middle School and High School Aged Students!
J O I N U S W E D N E S D A Y S 6 : 3 0 - 8 : 0 0 P M &S U N D A Y S 9 : 3 0 – 1 0 : 3 0 A M
C O N T A C T D A N I E L O R D E V I N A W I T H A N Y Q U E S T I O N S( 5 5 9 ) 9 9 4 - 5 1 7 7
Have you’ve ever heard of mob mentality? It means thatpeople are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors,or follow certain trends. I often imagine how I would have re-acted to the day they crucified Jesus if I was present. Would Ihave joined in with the crowd? Would I have walked away andhidden? Or would I have been bold enough to stand up to thecrowd and profess my belief in Him? I hope I would havedone the latter. Today we can make the choice to follow Himeveryday of our lives and show others His love that Heshowed us on the cross!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
3 Scott Stutsman16 Willivee Wright17 Alice Morriseau
There are now four emphases in prayer that are opento you as a part of our church family.
The FCC Prayer Team meets each Sunday morning inPastor Mike’s office at 8:45 to seek God and prayerwalk the church facility.
Prayer Hosts are available during the service to prayspecifically with you and for you.
The Intercessory Prayer Ministry meets Tuesdays from6:30-7:30 PM to lift up our church family.
House Of Prayer is aninter-church groupwhich meets Thursdaymornings from 6:00-7:00.
The only thing missingis you!
from ramona . . .But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerlyawait a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,who, by the power that enables him to bringeverything under his control, will transform ourlowly bodies so that they will be like his gloriousbody. (Philippians 3:20-21 NIV)
This verse reminds me that my life here is verytemporary. It directs my thoughts to my Savior,Jesus, to His cross and His glorious resurrection.Our citizenship is in heaven, not here because ‘here’is only temporary. ‘Here’ is where everything andeveryone is in a state of decaying. Heaven is wherenothing and no one decays ever. Therefore, heavenis permanent. The very decaying of our bodiessupports the Word in calling them ‘tents’. Tents are
very temporary as dwellings go; they are theemblem of our pilgrimage. Castles crafted of
stone are much more substantive, the emblemof permanence, protection and power . One
day our tents will be transformed intocastles crafted of glorious, permanent,
heavenly stuff. This is the hope of theResurrection.
“Don’t fear the hard
work of waiting on
God’s voice.”~Anonymous
As we move toward Easter we will ex-plore the Godly Connections that Jesusmodeled for us as his followers.
March 6th—“Connected To His Father”
March 13th—“Connected To His Followers”
March 20th—“Connected to His Mission”
March 27th— Easter Sunday“Connected To Life”
Saturday—March 6th Men’sBreakfast at Perkos @ 7:30