Today at Stevi UMC

Bill Gragg is our April liturgist

The joyful music from the Brass Ensemble

It's Holy Humor Sunday!

Fellowship time!

April has arrived in the Bitterroot Valley and the day couldn't have begun any better, weather-wise, as the faithful arrived for study, worship, and fellowship.

The final session of the Lenten study (a seven-week adult study) took place this morning. Those present engaged in a discussion of the faithfulness and example that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has for the church. The adult classes, Book of Revelation and the Wired Word, resume their gatherings next Sunday.

The worship service was enriched by the Brass Ensemble's hymn medley. Bob Edgar (trombone), Mitch Edgar (tuba), Clay Freeman (baritone), and David Paul (baritone) filled the worship space with the joy that is music! Pastor Charles' message was taken from John 20:19-31 and considered the lessons we can take from the Apostle Thomas.

Our fellowship time has reverted to its regular time (following worship) and the joy of sharing cake with the April birthdays was wonderful to see.

Bathroom Renovations Begin on Monday

Can you help? 

All  skill levels needed and every little bit helps.

Monday - 9 am - Remove wallpaper

Tuesday - 9 am - Wall repair and painting prep

Wednesday - Noon - Wall repair and painting prep

Thursday - 9 am - Painting

 Friday - 9 am-noon & 3 pm - ? - Painting

Saturday - 10 am - Final clean-up

Lenten study prayer

This is the final session in our study. Next Sunday we'll resume our regular adult classes @ 9:00 am - the Book of Revelation (fellowship hall) and The Wired Word (church library). 

Participants in the Lenten study, Ponderings from the Heart: A Mother's Reflections, are using prayer beads, an ancient prayer practice, as part of their Lenten discipline. 


Touch the first bead, offer that line of the prayer, pause for contemplation, move to the next bead and repeat.

The Prayer for the seventh week:
Bead 1: Promise-keeping God,
Bead 2: Make me Your servant and witness -
Bead 3: That I may persevere in discipleship,
Bead 4: That I may be devoted to prayer,
Bead 5: That I may be faithful despite the risk,
Bead 6: That I may love unity and diversity in the Body.
Bead 7: Guide me and empower me by Your Spirit.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday morning music

Bob Edgar, Mitch Edgar, Clay Freeman, and David Paul were out this morning to practice their music for tomorrow's worship. You'll want to be here to hear the results!

UMW Cleaning Day

Bev (standing) and Shirley at work

Trudy (standing) and Shirley work their magic

Carole sorts through the boxes

Carole and Bonits making decisions in the storage shed.

Thanks to Trudy Freeman, Carole Koval, Shirley Pollard, Bev Schneider,and Bonita Ziegler for rolling up their sleeves for today's UMW cleaning day.  Thanks as well to Carol Goffe for the new labels for the cabinets.

Celebrate our April birthdays

We'll be sharing birthday cake during fellowship time on Sunday (following the worship service).

Amy Farrell - Carol Goffe - Bill Gragg - Roy Haarman - 
Emma Ludington - Janet Lonski - Bill Lyon - Lisa Nicholls -

Marcia Prather - John Soper - Dan Severson - Sherrie Vogele -

Bonita Ziegler

A prayer for April Fool's Day

St. Basil the Blessed, Holy Fool

THE FOOL'S PRAYER

by: Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)

HE royal feast was done; the King

Sought some new sport to banish care,

And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,

Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

 

The jester doffed his cap and bells,

And stood the mocking court before;

They could not see the bitter smile

Behind the painted grin he wore.

 

He bowed his head, and bent his knee

Upon the Monarch's silken stool;

His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!

 

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart

From red with wrong to white as wool;

The rod must heal the sin: but Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!

 

"'T is not by guilt the onward sweep

Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;

'T is by our follies that so long

We hold the earth from heaven away.

 

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,

Go crushing blossoms without end;

These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust

Among the heart-strings of a friend.

 

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--

Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?

The word we had not sense to say--

Who knows how grandly it had rung!

 

"Our faults no tenderness should ask.

The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;

But for our blunders -- oh, in shame

Before the eyes of heaven we fall.

 

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;

Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool

That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,

Be merciful to me, a fool!"

 

The room was hushed; in silence rose

The King, and sought his gardens cool,

And walked apart, and murmured low,

"Be merciful to me, a fool!"

"The Fool's Prayer" is reprinted from The Little Book of American Poets: 1787-1900. Ed. Jessie B. Rittenhouse. Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1915.