The ground…the ordinary, always present,
ground…and God called it holy.

I know that Moses took off his shoes because God told him he was standing on holy ground.
What I don’t know is, when is the ground holy, this ground that yields to us Life?

If the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, no amount of planting or tilling or harvesting is going to mean the bounty is ours.  We can’t earn it; everything is a gift.
And the gifts are not unique:  They’re everywhere…commonplace…ordinary:

ordinary trees, ordinary vegetables,
ordinary fruits, ordinary flowers…
ordinary beauty, ordinary bounty
ordinary extravagant gifts.

Just in case, I’ll take off my shoes from time to time and say, “Thank you.”

Tip of the Month

Use the handouts from after each worship service and from the class to guide you and your family every day to a deeper caring for the Earth.

Your Caring for Creation Team

Items do not need to be packaged in kits or in any specific combination, If, however, you would like to package your collection, here are some ideas for containers:  backpacks, gym bags, laundry baskets, paper bags or boxes.  Also, if you plan to donate gift cards, please be sure to indicate the dollar amount on the gift card.

In lieu of bringing donated items, you may also consider making a financial contribution to LFS Carolinas.  Your gift provides hope to someone in crisis by helping LFS reach out to people who otherwise fall through the cracks of the traditional human services system.  Thank you for your continued support of the LFS Carolinas

Zachary Drew Baker joined us by Holy Baptism recently. He was born on August 4, 2006 and has been very active with his mother, Blair Johnson-Schadt and his “new” family – the Schadt clan! Zachary served as an attendant as his mother married Dan Schadt last June.

Kathy Costello joined us by Transfer from the Lutheran Church in Aspen, Colorado (LCMS). She is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida (attending the same high school as Dot Walck) and along the way has also lived in Alaska, Indiana and Ohio. She and her husband, James (who will join later this year) have two grown sons and four grandchildren. Kathy enjoys wood carving, baking and her home. She is sponsored by Gloria Bowers and is at home at 302 South Third Street in Albemarle (704-984-6816).

We rejoice to receive these new members into our fellowship…Remember that they (and others!) will be honored at our New Member Covered-Dish Dinner on May 20th.

Please look for sign up sheets in May’s bulletins

Plans are well underway for our New Members’ Covered Dish Dinner on May 20th, with appetites eager to try all the favorite dishes folks will bring! Some 20-plus new members or families have joined us in this past year. I hope we will all do everything we can to welcome these folks, make them feel at home, and encourage their spiritual growth through worship and fellowship. How blessed is the joy of church family as we receive encouragement from and learn to know each other.

Evangelism has to do not only with bringing in and welcoming new members, but also with nurturing current members. Let me encourage you to contact folks that you notice not being in church. Drop a note or make a phone call to say that you miss them. Then, when someone attends after a few weeks of absence, tell them you have missed them; make your words warm and sincere. Express appreciation for contributions they make or qualities you observe.

Outside the church, share your good faith and church experiences with neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Invite them to be part of programs and activities and learning or sharing opportunities. Then, watch for them to show up. Show newcomers around the church buildings, tell them about classes and programs that might be of interest to them, answer questions they may have or help them find answers. Above all, pray for those who do not yet believe to come to knowledge and faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

OUR COMMUNITY INN NIGHT SHELTER needs your help with providing a supper meal during 2012. Available dates are posted on the wall near the Church Office. Please prayerfully consider providing a meal for this ministry…dates are available throughout the year for your convenience.

OUR YOUTH will assist with the Community Table Soup Kitchen on Fridays during the summer months.  Sign up dates will be posted outside Kim’s door on May 13th.  Our Fridays will begin with service on Friday, June 15th.

9th ANNUAL LUTHERAN MEN’S FISH FRY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30TH, 6 PM     
Our Lutheran men will sponsor and cook a delicious fish dinner with all the trimmings. The parish (and friends of the congregation) are invited for the dinner on Wednesday evening, May30th at 6pm.  All proceeds from this dinner will go to assist our Lutheran Men in their ongoing projects during the year.  There is no charge for the dinner….but your donations will be greatly appreciated.  A nursery is provided, so please join us in the Parish Hall for this early evening of good food, fun and fellowship.

PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL and college graduates are reminded to get their information on graduates’ plans/activities/etc. to the Church Office as soon as possible. Information will be published in the June Newsletter…and will be in the bulletin on HS Graduate Sunday – June 3rd.

JOY FELLOWSHIP WILL meet for their last luncheon meeting before the summer break, on Tuesday, May 8th at 11:30 in the Parish Hall. Sandra Nance – the Director of CARE Café, our Adult Respite Care facility in Stanly County – will be our guest. A delicious meal will be served…we hope you’ll join us. Please call the Church Office to let us know you’re coming!

OUR PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES are with First Church Member Heidi Ramseur who became the wife of Keith Lee, at First Lutheran Church on April 28th. We rejoice with this young couple and their families and friends at this joyous time.

West Virginian Anna Jarvis had been deeply influenced by her mother and she often recalled hearing her mother say that she hoped someone would one day establish a memorial for all mothers, living and dead. Anna had been particularly touched at age twelve while listening to her mother teach a Sunday School class on the subject, “Mothers in the Bible” Mrs. Jarvis closed that class with the statement: “I hope that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers.”

After her mother’s death, Anna Jarvis begin a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. She and her supporters began to write a constant stream of letters to pastors, businessmen, politicians, and newspaper editors. She spent a fortune trying to attract attention to her idea, and took every opportunity to give speeches, send telegrams, or write articles promoting her cause.

On the second anniversary of her mother’s death, May 12, 1908, Anna led a tribute to mothers at Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. She donated five hundred white carnations, her mother’s favorite flower, to be worn by everyone in attendance. On this first Mother’s Day service, the pastor used the text from St. John 19closeJohn 19 Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and spanided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They spanided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. The Death of Jesus 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Jesus' Side Is Pierced 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” Jesus Is Buried 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (ESV) closeJohn 19closeJohn 19 Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and spanided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They spanided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. The Death of Jesus 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Jesus' Side Is Pierced 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” Jesus Is Buried 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (ESV) Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and spanided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They spanided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. The Death of Jesus 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Jesus' Side Is Pierced 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” Jesus Is Buried 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (ESV) : “Woman, behold thy son; Son, behold thy mother.”

After that, things began to take off. Various states jumped on the bandwagon, officially proclaiming a Mother’s Day each year, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially established Mother’s Day as a national holiday, to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

But having succeeded at last, Anna Jarvis soon became embittered by the commercialization of the holiday and turned against it, actually filing a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother’s Day festival. She was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a Mother’s Day Convention where women sold white carnations. She wrote to a Philadelphia Newspaper expressing her sentiments: “This is not at all what I intended. I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit! A printed card is fine, but why not write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world? And candy! You take a box to mother-and then eat most of it yourself! A pretty sentiment!!!”

Shortly before her death in 1948, Anna Jarvis, now living in a nursing home, received Mother’s Day cards from all around the world. But she told a reporter she was sorry she had ever started the whole thing.

We aren’t…
Happy Mother’s Day…and God’s Peace!

Love, Pastor John

Special thanks to David Smith of our congregation for sharing the tradition of Easter Bread with us on March 21st.  The children enjoyed learning about bread making and the references to bread in the Bible.  They especially enjoyed the tasting!  Thanks for sharing your gifts with us!

As we look to Easter and Spring Break, keep activities at First Lutheran at the forefront of your planning for the month.

April 1st – 6pm Dinner/Program
April 8th and April 15th – No Programs
Spring Break…Enjoy this time of renewal and recreation.
April 22nd – Middles School Canoeing; High School Zip lining!  More details to come…Sign up on Kim’s Board
April 29th – High School Canoeing; Middle School Zip lining!  More details to come…Sign up on Kim’s Board

Sunday, April
22, Caring for Creation Sunday

Our NC Synod’s Caring for Creation Task Force asks all congregations to set aside at least one Sunday each year to praise God for the earth and to celebrate all of Creation.

April 22 is a fine time to remember God’s fragile planet and all that is in it…. our Easter season, with spring springing, and with Earth Day that same weekend.

On April 22 First Lutheran will celebrate through worship and praise with special
music, the sermon and a temple talk at both services.  There will be special caring for Creation classes for children, and the adults and youth are invited to attend a special
class as well.   The main hall bulletin board will highlight the “Greening of the Kitchen” project and the solar installation project.

Annual County Hazardous Waste Disposal

Youare especially encouraged to take your hazardous waste to be recycled at the annual Stanly County event on Saturday, April 14, 9am-1pm at the Agri-Civic Center.

Tip of the Month

Earth Day events are an especially good opportunity to involve your families in
caring for God’s Creation.  Google or check local papers and radio for various events around the region.

Your Caring for Creation Team