Chairman’s Corner | Reflections |Church Calendar | Drape the Cross |Affiliate Spotlight| Come and Sea |Easter Egg Hunt | Kingdom Crafters |Note from Flower Committee | Buildings and Grounds |Benevolence Committee | Prayer Requests
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER March – April 2024
W. James Ormond, Board of Governors Chair – 2023-2024
james.ormond@ormondlandscape.com
REFLECTIONS
“Who Do You Say I Am?”
By the time this newsletter goes to print, the Super Bowl will be over and either the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco Forty-Niners will be the NFL “World Champions” of 2024. Not only will people be talking about the game, but they will also be talking about the commercials and the half-time show. I want to talk about one commercial in particular- the “He Gets Us” commercial or commercials. Did you see them? What did you think? Were you impressed?
They are all part of a $100 million advertising campaign featuring a website, billboards in major cities, a book, and ads that have been viewed more than 300 million times (even before this year’s Super Bowl). This is all done to get skeptics interested in Jesus.
On the surface this sounds like a great idea to promote Christianity. But who is the Jesus that is being promoted? That’s the topic of this reflection.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ ” (Matthew 16:13-16).
On March 31, we celebrate Easter commemorating the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the dead. This is the most significant day in human history for it marks the biggest victory ever, far surpassing any Super Bowl victory! It crowns the true world champion of all time, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God!
But is this the Jesus of the “He Gets Us” campaign? I think not. The Jesus being promoted by this campaign is a very compassionate person and Jesus certainly was and is compassionate. Jesus was fully human and identified with us as the Son of Man. But he was and is also fully God and identifies as the Son of God, our Savior. I believe this is where the “He Gets Us” campaign falls short. I came to this conclusion based on two articles by Natasha Crain. I have attached those two articles below for you to explore for yourself and draw your own conclusion. Her conclusion in the first article, “7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign” is “Yes, Jesus was fully human, but He was also fully God. When you remove half of the picture of His identity (as the campaign does), you give people the understanding they want but not the fuller understanding they need. Because of this, “He Gets Us” has the potential to actually harm the public understanding of Jesus. People need to know that Jesus is our Savior, not a compassionate buddy.”
Just before Peter made his confession of who Jesus is, Jesus warns the disciples, “Be careful, be on your guard against the yeast (the teachings) of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Mt. 16:6). We need to be careful and discerning, too. So, who do you say Jesus is?
March 10 – Come and Sea Luncheon – following the 10 am service
March 24 – Palm Sunday – 10 am – Chapel
March 28 – Maundy Thursday Service – 5 pm – Chapel
March 29 – Good Friday Prayer Vigil – 12 – 3p – Chapel
March 30 – Easter Egg Hunt – 11 am – Chapel Lawn
March 31 – Easter Sunrise Service – Beach Access # 12
March 31 – Easter Service – 10:00 am – Chapel
DRAPE ON THE CROSS
Why is the cloth on the cross?
At Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel, we drape the cross that stands in the side yard of the chapel grounds during the Easter season. The draping of the cross is a symbolic depiction of the Easter season that goes back hundreds of years in church history. It is a visual way to reflect on and remember the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
The purple cloth represents Christ as King, reminding us that Christ is our Savior and King. The purple cloth remains on the cross from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday.
The black cloth represents the mockery, suffering crucifixion, and death of Christ. The black cloth remains on the cross from Good Friday through Holy Saturday.
The white cloth represents the resurrection of Christ. The white cloth remains on the cross from East Sunday through Ascension Day when the cross remains bare until next Lenten season.
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT
COME AND SEA
Our Chapel continues to make ‘Connections’ with affiliates and newcomers a priority. Would you like to be a part of making Emma Anderson even more welcoming? If so, please join fellow affiliates on Sunday, March 10th, immediately following the worship service, for lunch and encouragement as Rev. Chris Thore, with over 35 years of ministry experience, shares ideas to enable us to invite others to “Come and Sea”.
Chris is founder of SummerShine Resort Staffing Ministry and co-founder of CLUB Ministries. His ministry emphasis is “Celebrating, Connection and Caring”. Chris has filled our pulpit before and will preach this year’s Easter services. You do not want to miss this “Come and Sea” event! Lunch will be provided prior to the session, which is scheduled to last approximately one hour.
To register for this event, please contact Annette Newton at:
Beach Access #0-12 (Scott’s Ave.) across from the Chapel
A “Connections” Social will follow at the Youth Cottage.
KINGDOM CRAFTERS
We have started meeting at 10 AM on Wednesday, and we have a few new members.
A missionary friend of ours works in Mexico to help translate the Bible into the many indigenous languages. Some of these languages are oral cultures so their Bible needs to be in audio format. They have designed a little box the size of a cell phone that has the books of the Bible in different languages. These Bibles are then taken by foot all over the countryside. So, in a recent newsletter I saw a picture of an audio Bible next to a crocheted pouch with a caption “would like more of these- hint hint”. I presented the idea to our group. Knowing this group, I estimated high – 100? Well, we sent 117 Bible bags! We also gave 22 hats to Sandra to take to the NICU. Again, these ladies are a fantastic bunch. Their creativity is just amazing.
If you are interested in finding out more about Audio Scriptures, please visit this site:
audioscripture.org
We are beginning a new project for our Operation Christmas Child boxes: dolls.
They are made out of socks!
Photos courtesy of Julia Pollock
Thanks for supporting our group! We couldn’t do it without you.
Julia Pollock, Kingdom Crafters Chair
FROM THE FLOWER COMMITTEE
Honor or remember a loved one by purchasing a Lily to be displayed at the front of the sanctuary on Easter. An insert in the Easter bulletin will list names of all the individuals for whom lilies have been given. The cost is $10 per Lily. Order forms are available at the church. DEADLINE for ordering is Monday, March 18th.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Maintenance notes —
The elevator in the Fellowship House has been repaired.
We are in the process of replacing the doors and door locks upstairs on the Youth Cottage.
Crack monitors have been installed on the walls in the Chapel.
We are investigating the potential of repairing the floor in the nursery.
BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE
The Benevolence Committeewill begin collecting condiments for Share the Table until Sunday, March 24th. Suggestions are ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, peanut butter, jelly, oils, spices, marinade, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce. Other items will be accepted.
Share the Tableis a faith-based community Food Ministry supported by seven local churches, civic groups, local businesses, and individuals within Pender and Onslow County.
Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel is a nondenominational church that gathers for worship, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and Christian fellowship.
Our mission is to glorify God and to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all.
