The Good Shepherd, Easter Surprise!, Prayer Week
Dear Church,
We’re halfway through our journey through Lent, the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, when we draw near to God through remembering Jesus’ journey to the cross and resurrection. As part of our journey we have collected devotional reflections from various saints from Stillmeadow. Here is today’s Lenten Reflection from Joe Kidwell.
“ONLY GETTING STARTED”~ by Jeremy Camp
When we read Psalm 23:1-4, King David is saying “The Lord is his Shepherd.” The Psalm speaks to me as God is our guide in life. I believe King David wrote this as a reflection of his time shepherding in his youth. King David is saying God is the greatest shepherd because he can make all things right. The main words of this scripture are: leading, guiding, refreshes, and comforting. They are all reminders of what God does daily in our lives!
We received our greatest Shepherd in Jesus. In John 10:11, Jesus uses a parable to talk to his followers. “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” This is another reminder that when we surrender to Jesus Christ, he will never leave us even when we stray. He is always there!
I surrendered 18 months ago to Jesus, and he radically transformed my life. When I am reminded of this Psalm, Jeremy Camp’s song “Only Getting Started” comes to my mind:
To anyone who trusts in Jesus’ name
Watch your world become forever changed Here’s a song about light from darkness
I believe you’re only getting started
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzJ-PyMVIcU
KEEP FOLLOWING THE LENTEN DEVOTIONALS
Pick up a physical copy at either campus. Click the button below, or subscribe for emails here: www.stillnaz.com/lent2023/subscribe.
Hear Sunday’s Services
Stillmeadow Lane Campus — Pastor Josh Kleinfeld
York City Campus — Pastor Jade Frederick
Holy Week Prayer Week
Let’s join our hearts in prayer together every night of Holy Week.
Monday and Tuesday we’ll be at the Stillmeadow Lane Campus.
Wednesday-Good Friday we’ll be at the York City Campus.
Make a plan now to join us for these times of prayer and worship from 7-8PM.
Baptisms on Easter
Have you given your life to Jesus? The next step is to be baptized!
Baptism is the ancient symbol of the church to recognize that a person has been cleansed of their sins, has died to their old way of life and has been raised to Jesus’ way of life. For the baptized it is an opportunity to say “I am all in” to the way of Jesus.
We want to celebrate your new life in Christ with baptism on Easter Sunday. If you have questions, you can ask pastorjosh@stillnaz.com. And you can sign up at www.stillnaz.com/baptism.
Emotionally Healthy Relationships - teaches 8 practical skills to empower people to love and relate to one another in a way that builds unity in your church. It’s very practical including things like sentence stems you can use to start a difficult conversation with someone. The result is a church where conflicts aren’t just IGNORED but are actually RESOLVED.
Check out this video introduction.
EHR begins Sunday, March 19th at 9AM in the Sprenkle House Second Floor. To register email pastorbrad@stillnaz.com or sign up at the button below.
Grow with us
Check out our listing of other groups and let us know if you’re interested in one. If you’d like help, you can contact Karon Kagan (kkagan@stillnaz.com) or Pastor Tabitha Martin (pastortabitha@stillnaz.com).
N.O.M.A Groups-No One Matures Alone-If you would like to be in a N.O.M.A group contact pastortabitha@stillnaz.com.
Men’s Conference-Saturday, May 6th, 9AM-7PM at the York City Campus. Questions? Contact Wayne Rumsey at 717-549-5589 or waynerumsey@yahoo.com. Register for the conference HERE.
Serve with us
Each person serving at Stillmeadow is part of a tradition of serving that has existed for 85+ years at our church and 2000+ years in the church universal. You have been gifted and we’d be honored to serve with you. Here are two of the many ways you can join in:
Easter Help
Join us for the Easter Surprise (April 1) or help with Easter music (April 9). If you’re interested in helping welcome families at the Easter Surprise contact pmoses@stillnaz.com. If you’re interested in celebrating Jesus through song in our band or in our choir please contact pastorjohn@stillnaz.com.
Habitat for Humanity
April 22nd has been scheduled to work on the Chestnut St. Project! Contact Sue Cox at s-cox@comcast.net.
Strengthsfinders 101
March 18th 8:30AM-3PM. Research and Biblical insight combine to help you identify and live from your natural talents. $20 includes lunch and material. Register at stillnaz.com/discipleship or email pastorkent@stillnaz.com.
Sabbatical Explorations (We want to hear from you)
On Sunday, March 5, our board secretary, Scott Mingus announced that the church board and Pastor Josh are working together to plan a sabbatical in 2024 and 2025. The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program offers a scholarship to cover Sabbatical costs for both pastor and the church. So Pastor Josh is working with the board to apply for this sabbatical scholarship.
We desire that this would be mutually beneficial for him and for Stillmeadow. So, to prepare for reflection prior to and during a Sabbatical, we invite you to share your thoughts. You can find out more and stay up to date at www.stillnaz.com/sabbatical.
Congratulations to the Child Dedication Families
Twice a year we gather families together to dedicate children to the Lord. We believe this is one of the most important decision parents can make and one of the most important moments in the life of the church. This past weekend we celebrated 14 children from 11 families. Take a moment and pray over these names. And if you have a young one to dedicate, you can sign up for our September event here.
Joseph and Taylor Baublitz—Joseph Daniel
Dalton and Jenna Heim—Amelia Grace
Mark and Morgan Jones—Natalie Danielle
Ramsey and Amanda Kenzitt—Emery Katherine and Leighton Marie
Ethan and Janell Greer—Noa Renee
Heath and Katelyn Grim—Corban James
Sarah and Kyle Lingg—Harrison David
Zel Metzler—Malakai Jericho
Kyle and Jackie Ryer—Lucy Ann
Beau and Rachel Savage—Foster Davis
Christian and Amanda (Higgins) Wilkinson-Jaclyn, Elena & Evelyn
Condolences to…
Samantha Jarzynka & Family-Samantha’s grandmother, Olida “Dean” Burgess passed away Sunday, March 5.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
For His Kingdom,
Pastor Josh and the Stillmeadow Team
PS How do you read the news or a newsletter email like this? May I encourage you to pray over each headline?
Pray for those who have lost loved ones.
Pray for the families from the dedication.
Pray for the Sabbatical explorations.
Pray for those taking the Strengths class.
Pray for the workers preparing for and the kids coming to Easter Surprise.
Pray for habitat for humanity.
Pray for those who will help around Easter.
Pray for the Men’s Conference and for the small groups.
Pray for those taking the Emotionally Healthy Relationships course.
Pray for those getting baptized and for prayer week.
And pray for how you may get involved or impact any one of these. And follow what God shows you.