with the Scarborough Free Baptist Church

        The crocuses in our yard are poking their blades up through the ground. Soon they will be blooming. It's like a miracle. The ground all around is brown with withered grass and dead leaves from last year's garden. The snow has been gone only a few days. I haven't even planned what we will plant for flowers this year yet. Still this is the time of hope and new life.
        I think some of the Jews in Jesus' day were looking at the situation surrounding them--Roman occupation, control by a small group of power-hungry Jewish leaders, and unscrupulous traders and businessmen cheating them at every opportunity (no better business bureau to appeal to in those days!). It looked very bleak indeed unless you wanted to be dishonest. Withered grass and dead leaves were what you saw in the human dimension unless you looked in the corners and borders where the crocuses began to bloom in lives changed
by the touch of the Master. That was what bothered the leaders of His day. Change had come in the person of Jesus, and that threatened their power. Time had come for them to deal with Him.
        They had to make a choice, either to accept His claim as the Chosen One, the Messiah, or destroy Him. If they accepted Him, then they would have to admit they were wrong about their concept of the Messiah, king and mighty warrior. To destroy Him would risk the anger of the people touched and healed by Jesus; a risk they decided to take. Somehow they had overlooked some of the writings in the Old Testament, like Isaiah 53, which described the Messiah as one who "had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." vs. 2b. In their attempt to keep things normal, on an even keel, they managed to change the whole of human history. By crucifying Jesus they unknowingly carried out God's divine plan to redeem mankind.
        It was no accident that Jesus died at the time of the Passover. While the Jews of His day may have been looking for the perfect and least expensive (or even the most expensive) lamb for their sacrifice for atonement, God provided the only one acceptable to Him, Jesus, the Christ.
        Somehow in our bumbling way we continue to think that dry, withered grass and leaves of our good works might take the place of glorious, rich and fresh beauty of the flower of God's grace in Jesus Christ. Look again at His great mercy and grace and see the extravagant beauty of His gift in full bloom for us. It is a step of faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and not a long labor of our feeble good works that opens and sustains our relationship and fellowship with God our Creator-Redeemer.
         This Easter season join me in seeking Him with all our heart, for we will surely be found by Him. This is the hope of the believer and the assurance we have from His Word. Come and rejoice and celebrate this joyous Good News this Easter season.
                        Yours as a young plant reaching for the Sonshine,
                                           Pastor Phil

   Posters...mailings...stamps...monies...prayer partners....
                 donation of supplies...monies
 

Secret pal sign up slip will be in foyer on table until May 1st. If you would like to be involved by sending cards and words of encouragement secretly please leave your name.

April 13 is South Gorham’s Baptist Women’s tea. If you signed up with Kathy Clark - Mark your calendars.
 
A.B. Women Sunday - here at our church “Pursue Peace” All ladies are involved either by participation or
prayer. Thank you.

A new outreach is “Sunshine baskets.” If you would like to participate please contact Gert Pooler or Gail Key.
 
Christian Education Committee actively working on updating our inventory of supplies, study books, craft supplies and necessary items to be used by Sunday School, youth groups and Vacation Bible School. Two bookshelves were donated by Cliff Lord and muchly thankful for his generosity & kindness. One is located in library and the other will be placed in a Sunday School class. Supplies will no longer be stored in dark furnace room. Jr. Church is being manned by weekly with volunteers. Materials (very easy to follow) is available and please don’t say no if asked. Think about it first. Thank you.


The tot’s room will be located downstairs across from water fountain. This room is more set up for the little children who are able to get around crawling or walking and able to play with the toys.

We will still have nursery upstairs for infants only. Because of the delicate sound system which is now located in the room.

Easter Events
 
April 16:  Palm Sunday
April 20:  Maundy Thursday Service 7 P.M.
April 21: Good Friday Service  7:00 P.M. at South Gorham
April 23  Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast 6:00 A.M. at Scarborough
               9:30 A.M. Worship Service