"Holy week was celebrated with two services: Maundy Thursday- a solemn reminder of the sacrificial gift to us and Easter "Sunrise service" in the Garden, followed with an Easter Brunch fit fir a king. Our final celebration was the 11:00 worship where we celebrated the lives of saints who had gone before us. Each one remembered was represented by a butterfly fastened to the cross that entered the sanctuary on Ash Wednesday. It was a fitting reminder that new life comes to us by way of the cross.

May will be busy.

May 2- Toni Craven speaks at FCC, Montgomery, lunch served.

May 3- District 111 Assembly at Mount Calvary, Tuskegee. Dale Braxton will present a program on his trip to Africa.

May 9- Leadership retreat-FCC, Montgomery. lunch served.

The Board approved:

1. The additional cost of $50.00 for the leaf blower.

2. An expenditure of $100.00 for Robert Henderson for assistance with heavy yard work.

3. A donation to the Christian Menís Fellowship of $25.00.

4. Lending the usage of the church facilities for the EAMC Hospice group using the labyrinth.

5. Upgrading the computer internet at a cost of $4.00 per month.

Mae DeBrunner and Diane Wood were appointed to deliver the donations to the Food Bank

Church Family Luncheon- April 26

May 2- Toni Craven speaking FCC, Montgomery

May 9 Leadership Retreat, FCC, Montgomery

May 17, Robert Henderson will speak at 11:00 worship Service

May 24, Tina Tatum will speak at 11:00 Worship Service

May 31, Family luncheon

PLEASE NOTE: We are in need of housekeeping supplies; cleaning supplies; paper products for the restrooms and lunches. We also need willing workers to do housekeeping.

May is a very busy month for me and for the Village family. A group of us will go to hear Psalms scholar Toni Craven at FCC Montgomery on Saturday May 2 and then another group will be at FCC Montgomery the following Saturday for our Leadership Retreat. The District assembly is May 3, where we will hear from Dale Braxton about his life-changing trip to the Congo last year.

Our practice of testimony continues this month, with Robert Henderson in the pulpit on May 17 and Tina Tatum on May 24. I ask you each to prayerfully consider the question "Who needs to hear MY testimony?"

On May 31, we will celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the church, with a special fellowship meal after worship. Details will be coming soon. This summer, we will begin work on the future story of Village Christian Church. Please be in prayer for the process of discernment and spiritual strategic planning which will lead us to the development of our future story.

Your pastor,

Diane

VCC, you really did us proud. You accepted the challenge to give during Lent rather than sacrificing a treat. You donated 107 pounds of staples and $407.00 in currency to the Food Bank. The butterflies were symbols of love, and the donations were concrete proof! Give yourself a big pat on the back!

Kenny Banks

Lura Ann and Hal Decker

Ev and Janice Johnson

Billy Nolan

Cecil Yates

If you know of others who need to be added, please contact Mae DeBrunner or Dottie Battle.

Acts 4: 5- 12

Psalm 23

1 John 3: 16-24

John 10: 11-18

Acts 8: 26- 40

Psalm 22: 25- 31

1 John 4: 7-21

John 15:1-8

Acts 10: 44- 48

Psalm 98

1 John 5: 1- 6

John 15: 9- 17

Acts 1: 15- 17; 21- 26

Psalm 1

1 John 5: 9- 13

John 17: 6- 19

Acts 2: 1- 21

Psalm 104: 24- 34

Romans 8: 22-27

John 15: 27- 28; 16: 4b- 15

We believe we are called as a

nurturing faith community to

share with all, Godís love

as revealed in Jesus Christ

through prayer, worship, education,

and outreach to others.

To make all people feel welcomed and wanted.

To provide a facility (inside and out) that is physically accessible to all.

To be open to people who come from

diverse backgrounds.

To be open to people who may have had negative church experiences

in the past and who are searching

for an open, inquiring community

of faith where we can all agree

to disagree agreeably.