The Harmony Herald Newsletter
Easter is a promise,
It promises us life.
By the resurrection of Jesus,
Who died for us in a sacrifice.
This promise is not just for now,
But for us forever more.
To bring us each hope,
And peace and love and joy.
So let us love like He has taught,
And sing His praises high and say.
Alleluia everyone,
Christ the Lord is risen today.
.....By Carolyn
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Thoughts to Ponder
It is good to mark your Bible, but it is better to let your Bible mark you.
You are only poor when you want more than you have.
Christ offers a crown only to those who take up His cross.
To show other what Christ will do for them, show them what Christ has done
for you.
We do not really pray to God until we are absolutely honest with God.
Give God what's right; not what's left.
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AN EASTER WISH
Submitted by Leah
May the glad dawn of Easter morn bring joy to thee.
May the calm eve of Easter leave a peace divine with thee.
May Easter night on thine heart write, O Christ, I live for thee!
Author unknown
The Alphabet
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
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The Real Meaning of the Cross
“At the cross we understand what God means when he talks of loving us, begin
to take it in that there is
nothing that he will not do, no sacrifice he will not make, no suffering
that he will shirk, if only he can
help us. ‘He loved me,’ said Paul, standing upon Calvary and gazing in a
stunned way at the cross, ‘I
who was a persecutor, and a blasphemer, and injurious, and yet he loved me
and he gave himself for
me.’ And with that [Paul’s] heart broke, and the old life was gone.”
—Scottish preacher Arthur John Gossip,
in a 1926 sermon titled “What Happens at Calvary”
The Promise of Christ
The 14th chapter of John’s gospel contains this promise our Lord gave his
disciples: “If you love me,
you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Advocate
(sometimes translated Comforter), to be with you forever” (John 14:15-16,
NRSV).
Jesus added: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little
while the world will no
longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live”
(John 14:18-19).
What a wonderful promise! Jesus knew he would be dying. He knew the
disciples would see his
resurrected body. But even after Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples
wouldn’t be alone. The Holy
Spirit would come to comfort and embolden them.
“[My] peace I leave with you,” Jesus concluded. “Do not let your hearts be
troubled, and do not let
them be afraid” (John 14:27).
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Good Friday?
At first glance, Good Friday appears to be a misnomer. It seems inconsistent
that the day of Christ’s
crucifixion should in any way be described as “good.” But that seeming
inconsistency vanishes when
we understand that the ancient meaning of good was “holy.” The word holy is
entirely consistent with
the suffering and cross that Christ endured for us. Hence, Good Friday is
also known as Holy Friday.
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There’s Something Better Coming
This season of Easter is a special time for Christians to celebrate the
ultimate reason for our hope:
Christ is risen, and invites us to rise with him to new life.
• Easter is an invitation to try again with God’s help to break that
addiction we had given up all
hope of ever breaking. There’s something better coming. ...
• Easter is a chance to work at renewing the marriage we had given up all
hope of ever saving.
There’s something better coming. ...
• Easter is an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors who, in our
busyness, we neglect. There’s
something better coming. ...
• Easter is an invitation to look at our lack of love and seek God for
compassion. There’s
something better coming. ...
• Easter is a chance for all no-hopers to regain their vision of what can
be! There’s something
better coming. ...
• Easter is an opportunity to renew our faith. There’s something better
coming. ...
• Easter is a chance to “renew our strength and mount up with wings as
eagles; to run and not
faint.” There’s something better coming. ...
The Symbols of Easter
Christianity has many symbols; the most recognizable is, of course, the
cross.
There are a number of symbols linked with Easter or the Resurrection: the
butterfly, the lily, the pomegranate, the phoenix and the peacock.
The butterfly represents the Resurrection and eternal life. It emerges from
its
cocoon or chrysalis and gloriously rises into the sky in its splendid new
body.
Similarly, Jesus and his followers are born into a new life on Easter.
The lily is perhaps the most common Easter symbol because it’s displayed
during Easter worship services and blooms around this time each year. The
lily’s bulb decays in the
earth, yet new life sprouts from it in the form of the flower — reminiscent
of the new life that emerged
from the tomb so many years ago.
The pomegranate is used as a symbol of the power of Christ and his
Resurrection because
of the many seeds that burst forth from the fruit. These seeds represent the
many believers
who follow Christ. They also represent the magnificence of divine grace and
the fertility
of the Word.
The peacock sheds his feathers annually. Each year the feathers grow back
more beautiful
and more brilliant in color. This renewal symbolizes eternal life or
resurrection. There’s
also a myth that the peacock’s flesh doesn’t decay after death —
immortality. (The
peacock is sometimes used to represent human vanity, because of the way he
proudly
struts and displays his plumage.)
The phoenix was a mythical bird that lived in the Arabian Desert for
five hundred years. It set its own nest on fire and perished in the flames.
But on the third day it rose from its own ashes and ascended into the sky
as a new and beautiful creature. It’s easy to see why the phoenix
represents immortal life and the Resurrection.
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Easter Lasts Forever
I ran across a tract the other day entitled, “Easter Lasts Forever.” Easter
lasts forever! Isn’t that what
we believe? This life is not always pleasant. In fact it can deal us some
harsh blows — death, loss of
job, divorce, war, rejection, financial difficulties, and the list goes on
and on until it seems like Good
Friday everyday. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But the
believer in Christ looks
forward. Yes, it may be Friday, but Sunday is coming! This is our eternal
hope. The world may seem to
be falling apart, but Jesus still reigns. His resurrection proves that he
has conquered sin, death and the
devil. It guarantees that those who have died in faith will be raised and
will live forever with Jesus and
all believers in heaven. When that is considered, all of our problems of
this world pale in comparison to
the glory to come. Yes, Easter lasts forever!
—John Merrill
St. John Lutheran Church,
Fraser, M
THE U IN JESUS
Before U were thought of or time had begun, God stuck U in the name of His
Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true, You can't spell out JesUs and
not include U.
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's
why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell
crUcified.
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His
plan?
The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, and this word resUrrection is
spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension, He felt there was one thing
He just had to mention.
"Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like
I love U."
So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know
JesUs too?
It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all
starts with U.
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A Fresh Look at Holy Communion
A minister was having lunch with a retired college professor when the
professor said that he looked
upon Communion as a form of cannibalism. The pastor was so astounded that he
decided to examine
the meaning of the sacrament again.
His reexamination of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper yielded these
thoughts:
1. Communion is extremely important because Jesus asked his followers to
follow the practice often –
in remembrance of him. (See Luke 22:19) Was that a request we should ignore?
2. Communion is significant because it reminds us of the price Christ paid
for our salvation – his death
on the cross. “This is my body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19, NRSV).
3. It is also a symbol of the new covenant which God has made with us in
Christ. Upon taking the cup
of wine, our Lord said, “This is my blood of the new covenant” (Matthew
26:28, NRSV). He is our
Lord. Communion helps us remember that we are his people, servants of the
covenant-maker.
4. The sacrament is a vivid reminder that we are grateful that we are tied
to Christ and look forward to
his ultimate triumph on Earth. We partake of Communion joyfully, thanking
God for the gift of Christ
and anticipating his final victory when he shall be known worldwide as “King
of kings and Lord of
lords” (Revelation 19:16, NRSV).
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I got a letter today from Eileen . she and her sister Carolyn
used to camp at Swartswood
and was friends with the ladies in the UMW. The sisters were
from Banger, Pa. Carolyn
passed March 9,2010. She had pancreactic cancer. The quilters were just
talking about the good times
we had with everyone.
Submitted by Sadie
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The winners of the 3rd annual Chili Cook-off in the April newsletter. 1st
place- Lois , 2nd
place- Mark and the hottest was Pastor Kem Monk. We had about 30
people in attendance
and 8 chili's to test. Everyone had a great time.
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As you know I love genealogy and the wonderful secrets that can be
found..... i was recently given this
information and thought that there are many who would remember some of these
wonderful people:
Enjoy! Sadie
Mt pleasant School, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, NJ - June 17, 1912
Viola R Williams, teacher
School officers:
Jesse Sherred -president. Charles B Westbrook - Vice president
George B Southard- Dist Clerk. C harles Kays- Hiram Beegle
Merrit Swartswood- Uriah Emmans- Elmer Hill- J.E. Martin
Pupils
Robert Castner,Harold Castner,Charles Hallet, Edward Hooey, Lewis
Westbrook,William Emmans,
Joseph Emmans, Nancy Crouse,
Bessie Crouse, Ethel Sipley, Lena Emmans, Elsie Emmans, Ethel Westbrook,
Mable Hallet,
Ellen Castner
Mildred Lambert, Carrie Kithcart, Minnie Kithcart, Mildred Hooey, Helen
Hooey, Frances Hooey
Pearl Savercool
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Eventide
The sun may be seen no more today
It has disappeared beyond the hills,
It has shown forth it's last bright ray,
My heart, to over flowing, fills
Clouds are crimson and golden,
The east has turned to gray.
I sit pondering over things that are olden
Oh, if things had not happened that way.
Would I be sitting here alone,
Thinking, always thinking?
My heart is sad, the sun is sinking.
But may my heart respond to live anew
As the dawn, Please let it be morn
And for the reason I was born may I be true
For me, yes, for me a new day will be born.
By Wilma
True wisdom comes in many packages indeed. Sometimes even out of the mouths
of babes, and
sometimes from those of advanced years as well. After all GOD often works
through many different
people.
1. Be Fishers of Men.... You catch 'em, He'll Clean 'em.
2. A family altar can alter a family.
3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
4. Don't put a question mark where God put a full stop.
5. Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
6. Exercise daily... Walk with the Lord!
7. Forbidden fruits create many jams.
8. Give God what's right, not what's left!
9. Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.
10. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
11. God grades on the cross, not the curve.
12. God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over
"religious nuts"!
13. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
14. Having truth decay? Brush up on your Bible!
15. He who angers you, controls you!
16. He who is good at making excuses, is seldom good for anything else.
17. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!
18. Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
19. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.
20. Never give the devil a ride! He will always want to drive!
21. Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.
22. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
23. "Pray" is a four-letter word that you can say anywhere.
24. Prayer - Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!
25. The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not
protect you.
26. This Church is "Prayer Conditioned"!
27. To be almost Saved is to be totally lost.
28. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning!
29. Watch your step carefully! Everyone else does!
30. We don't change the message, the message changes us.
31. Wisdom has two parts: 1) Having a lot to say. 2) Not saying it.
32. Worry is the darkroom in which "negatives" are developed
33. The work will wait while you look at the rainbow, but the
rainbow won't wait while you do the work.
I hope that you have enjoyed this message. Have a great week, and remember
that God answers all
knee mail!
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
ST MATTHEW 27
R R U O I V A S S E N T I W S
A R A J U G U Y S T G A M E E
G S O R E A R S F N S A M E V
E Y A S P S T A I I E O E P E
N S A I A O U K V R C N H S I
I B S D L B T S D E Y U V G H
V E U O D E B T T I S A R Y T
E J K O R O R A E N N N N C U
I Y O A Y C L A R R I E R H R
L L M R U I S O I A S O P I T
B L A E P Q H I W L B E A R R
M M L L R T O T M E S H A M E
O L U A S E N O M O L O S A T
T O U C H E J P J N N O R A A
S I G N I N R O M E N O T S W
WORDS:
BARABBAS CROSS CRUCIFY DREAM ELIAS ENVY GHOST GRAVES
HALL JEREMY JESUS JOSEPH JUDAS KING LOTS MARY
PILATE POTTERS QUAKE ROBE SIMON STONE THIEVES
THORNS TOMB TWAIN VEIL VINEGAR WATER WITNESS