April 2006 – Vol. 2, No. 4

Pastor’s Paragraphs

Warm Greetings.

Driving in his car, Ned’s been listening to the music the youth selected for their youth choir tour next year. I love the song called “I’m Not Cool:”

I’m not cool, and that’s okay.
My God loves me anyway.
I’m not cool, and that’s alright.
I’m still precious in his sight.
I’m not cool, and I don’t care,
How I’m supposed to do my hair.
I’m not cool and that’s okay.
My God loves me anyway!

Meanwhile, driving in my car, I’ve been listening to “Jesus Christ Superstar.” In it, Caiaphas the High Priest sings with the other priests:

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth
Miracle wonderman—hero of fools?
No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans,
One thing I’ll say for him—Jesus is cool.

My friends—the miracle of Easter morning is that we don’t have to be cool. Jesus is cool enough, righteous enough, forgiving enough, strong enough, and GOD enough for all of us.

Amen! May you have a truly cool—a truly Jesus-filled Easter!

Groovin’ with you and God,

Pastor Stephanie

Soup and Sermons

Soup and Sermons in Lent 2006 will be intergenerational events, focused on fellowship and considering our faith. Join us for these informal evenings Sundays from March 5^th to April 9^th, beginning at 5pm.

4/2: Love Does Not Delight in Evil—Sam Ogilvie, Clyde Folsom, and a friend. Soup provided by Mission Board

4/9: The Love of God—Sherrie, Caitlin, and Ian Barrows. Soup provided by Board of Christian Education

Holy Week Schedule

April 13—Maunday Thursday
The Senior Choir presents the cantata Shadow of the Cross. The program will Include a communion service

April 14—Good Friday
The Glory Tellers will present a program on Good Friday, April 14th, followed by refreshments in Fellowship Hall.

April 16—Easter Sunday
7 am—The early service at the Pickards which will feature a series of reflections on the empty tomb.
10:15 am—Easter Worship Service

BACC Concert

You’re invited to the Bangor Area Children’s Choir’s Spring Concert

Sunday, April 9 at 3 pm.
All Souls Congregational Church
Broadway, Bangor

Come listen to Ian, Nicole, Jenny, Hannah, Caitlin, Laura and Ben sing with the BACC. Then come on over to FBC for our final Soup and Sermon at 5 pm.

Do you have something to announce? Contact the newsletter staff at newsletter@fbcbangor.org.

Library Corner

My dear FBC friends, I am introducing a new column in this newsletter. This column is to bring to your attention some of the wonderful books that we have in our Church library. Welcome to the Library Corner!

This month’s book is the autobiography CRYING WIND by Crying Wind. This story takes place during the mid 1960’s and is about the life of a “modern” Kickapoo Indian girl named Crying Wind.

Crying Wind begins the book describing her life as a teenager on the reservation of her childhood. She has dreams, which are no longer possible when her grandmother dies. It is at this point that Crying Wind has to leave the reservation and ends up living in the white world. All through this time, she tries to remain Kickapoo and yet is questioning her religion. As Crying Wind continues to go through the trials of life, she learns, though reluctantly, about Jesus. Eventually Crying Wind commits her life to Jesus.

Nearly all of us question our religion at one time or another. These questions and their partner emotions are depicted in this book. CRYING WIND is an enjoyable read. I must admit to examining my own journey after reading this book. I feel that you too, as you read CRYING WIND, would have reason to look at your own journeys.

We have two copies of this book in our church library. Please enjoy.

I will have another book or two in next month’s column. Until then, Happy Reading!

In Christian Love,
Shirley Boberg, Church Librarian

Thanks!!

The Ida J. Brown Mission Circle wishes to thank everyone who donated men's shirts which the members made into johnnies and will be distributed to nursing homes in the area by the Hospital Chaplaincy Program.

Newsletter Contacts: Any submissions for the newsletter may be delivered to the church office or any member of the Publicity Committee: John Cheney, Pam Levesque or Ned Salinas or emailed to newsletter@fbcbangor.org. The deadline for the May Issue is Sun., Apr. 23.