PRAYER CALL REMINDER Tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Many in our congregation are facing major health issues, hardship or loss.

Our Father in Heaven calls us to pray for these and all people.

Join us as we dedicate 15 minutes to this end.

Prayer Call #513-386-0000, Code 369231

 
Men's Fellowship Breakfast Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 a.m. Pastor Bob and John Savonis will be the chefs
 

SPRING CLEAN UP - CHURCH GROUNDS  

 
Saturday, April 13th 9:00 a.m. until the job is complete -(hopefully around 12:00ish). Please plan on spending Saturday morning April 13th with us as we work on making our church grounds beautiful for the spring season. Any time you can give would be a blessing. The work is not difficult, we are weeding, cleaning up sticks and leaves, mulching, trimming bushes, and whatever else needs to be done. No reservations are needed, and any amount of time you can contribute is welcome and appreciated. If you are planning to attend, please contact Ken Shuskus at 860 655-7623 or kshuskus@comcast.net to let him know your availability. This is a big job and we need your help – many hands make light work!
 
 
The safety and security of the children, youth and adults who attend the West Hartford United Methodist Church is of the utmost importance to the leadership of the church.  Our goal is to make the West Hartford UMC a warm, welcoming and safe place to be; every single day of the year. Recently, the West Hartford Police Department, at our request, did a walk through of our building to assess our security practices and found that, with one exception, we are a secure site.  The one concern raised centered around the doors into the kitchen and Fellowship Hall area of the church that are unlocked during our Sunday morning worship hour.  To address this issue, the following procedure will be in effect beginning February 10th. On Sundays, the doors from the parking lot leading into Fellowship Hall will be unlocked for entrance into the building from 8:00 A.M. until 9:05 A.M.; and from 10:00 A.M. until 11:05 A.M.  Those doors will be locked at all other times.   To gain entrance into the building at all other times on Sunday, please enter by the main entrance facing Berkshire Road. We understand this change in our procedure may cause some inconvenience to some of our members, for that we ask for your understanding to be patient with us as we seek to improve our security system to be both accessible and secure. Thank you, Pastor Bob
 
PALM SUNDAY SERMON TITLE God Asks: “Do You Know What I Have Done for You?”
 
 
In the Church Library Sunday at 10:15 or 15 minutes after the end of the 9:00 a.m. worship service. All are welcome to join this opportunity to grow in our faith.

LENTEN DISCIPLINE

GIVE GENEROUSLY

Our 2019 Lenten Extra Mile Challenge invites you to make a sacrificial gift to the church during the 40-days of Lent.  This year our offering will be designated for an external and internal cause.  Externally, part of the offering will go to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), our mission arm to assist where disaster happens in the USA and around the world.   The other portion of our Lenten offering will help support our growing children’s and youth ministry as we seek to reach young people in our community.   Prayerfully consider what God is calling you to offer for God’s ministry through UMCOR and our children’s and youth ministry. 'Extra Mile' Cards are on the Welcome Table in the Narthex.
 

Palm Sunday Thru Resurrection Day April 14, 2019 – April 21, 2019

April 14, 2019  - Palm Sunday 10:00 a.m. - Our traditional Palm Sunday Combined Service. Receive a palm to remember our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.  As we move through the service the concluding portion will lead into the passion of Jesus. DAILY PRAYER Monday, April 15 to Thursday, April 18 at 12 noon A brief prayer service in the Sanctuary to follow Jesus the final week of his earthly ministry. ---------------------------------------- April 18, 2019 - Holy [Maundy] Thursday 12 Noon  - Daily Prayer in the Sanctuary 7:00 p.m. -  Service of Holy Communion --------------------------------------- April 19, 2019 - Good Friday 9:00 a.m.      - The Sanctuary will be open for prayer 12:00 Noon  -  Meditative Service on the Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m.      -  Service of Tenebrae (Darkness) in the Sanctuary ---------------------------------------- Saturday, April 20, 2019 - Easter Egg Hunt
                                             10:00 a.m. - For all Children
 --------------------------------------- April 21, 2019 - The Day of Resurrection, Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Message: “What’s Next?” (Part 1 of Easter Season Series: “As it is in Heaven”) 6:00 a.m.     - First Service of Easter in Memorial Garden 9:00 a.m.     -Traditional Easter Celebration of the Resurrection 11:00 a.m.     - Morning Joy Celebration of the Resurrection
Please bring Easter Candy this Sunday. There is a box in the Narthex for your candy donations. Thank you
 
Easter Baskets for The Friendship Center Two years ago our children put together Easter Baskets for the children at the Friendship Center.  We would like to do that again this year.  The children there are ages 1-16.  And there are 23 of them.  I would like to ask for donations of candy and toys to put into these baskets.  I will buy 23 baskets or tote bags for the older children.  Please consider donating so we can bring the joy of Easter to these children and families. The children and I will be putting the baskets together on Palm Sunday. In Christ's service, Amy Meredith apmeredith2003@yahoo.com (860) 999-2005
 
On Saturday, April 27th, members of West Hartford United Methodist Church and others from the community will be Walking at Dunkin Ball Park in Hartford!  Why?  Because we believe every child of God, no matter their age, deserves to be fed spiritually AND physically! Did you know that 1 out of every 8 people in our county and in our state do not know from where their meal is coming tonight?  1 in 6 children may go without a meal tonight!  That is called being “food insecure.” Foodshare estimates that for every $1 donated, 2½  meals are provided to hungry people!  Isn't that awesome?! Approximately, 80% of what WHUMC walkers raise will go to the Friendship Service Center in New Britain, 5% will go to End Hunger CT and 15% will support Foodshare, the food bank from which the Friendship Center and so many others gets much of our food.  About a third is fresh produce providing even healthier options! The WHUMC Walk Team is prepared to make a stand that says no one should go hungry.  Will you consider joining us by praying for our efforts and perhaps even joining us? To make a donation to support a WHUMC walker registered online, you can click on this link: Support A WHUMC Walker! In the alternative, you can bring a check to church and give it to one of the Walkers between now and April 27th. Hunger may be big, but Praise God, our community of faith is bigger.  Together, we CAN end hunger in our community!  Let’s go make a difference together!
 
  Youth/Middlers (Grades 6-12) Next Meeting, Sunday April 28 @ 10:00 a.m. Update and Schedule For our March outing, we put our brains together and escaped another room! Youth and adults alike had a blast together, as always. Over the last few months, our group has been talking about compassion and kindness and have written our own covenant of how we want to strive to treat people in our youth group, church, and lives, using Jesus as our example. We have also been brainstorming ways to contribute to both our church community and our community outside of our church walls. Stay tuned to see what we're up to! Schedule: April is a very busy month with spring breaks and Holy Week, so there will be no outing. Our meeting dates are as follows: April 7 @ 10 am in youth room: Let's fill some eggs for the Easter Egg hunt! (Also, please let me know if you are interested in helping to hide eggs the morning of April 20.) April 14 - Combined service at 10 am so there will be no youth meeting April 21 - HAPPY EASTER! (No youth meeting) April 27 - Walk Against Hunger - Please talk to Katey or Suzy if you are interested in participating! April 28 @ 10 am in the youth room - regular meeting! Have a blessed April! Katey, Suzy, Mary & April whumcyouth@gmail.com ----------------------------------------- UMARMY Update: SAVE THE DATE! Our UMARMY trip will be July 14th through 20th! More information to come soon.
 

Sunday, April 28th   The Member Care Ministry Team is sponsoring a special after church Pizza Party. Gather in Fellowship Hall following Morning Joy service.

 
CLASSIC MOVIE CLUB NEWS Sunday, 28th April at 4:00 p.m.
The Black Swan (1942) starring Tyrone POWER, Maureen O’HARA, and Anthony QUINN The term “Matinee Idol” must have been coined for Tyrone Power.  From the mid 1930’s until he entered the service during World War II,  he was consistently one of  the top box office attractions.  His costar in The Black Swan (1942) is the ravishing and raven-haired Maureen O’Hara. This swash- buckling adventure benefits greatly from gorgeous technicolor.
Bring your parrot and eye patch and join the Classic Movie Club on Sunday, April 28th at 4 PM for adventure on the high seas. See you then and bring a friend Ray Ramezzana, curlyqlink115@aol.com