Let’s Go to the Movie! You are invited to a special showing for Maryland Community Church folks of the Movie “The Chronicles of NARNIA - Prince Caspian”. Mark May 17 @ 10 a.m. (Showplace 12) on your calendars to enjoy this movie together. Questions contact Deb Lampton or Amber Gentry

The Terre Haute Children’s Choir will present its Spring Concert on Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m., at Central Presbyterian Church. (125 N. 7th Street, Terre Haute.) This final concert of their 2007-08 season will feature the Treble Choir, Lyric Choir and Combined Choirs. Organist Gary Jenkins will also perform a piece which showcases the organ at Central Presbyterian. This free program is open to the public and will be enjoyable for all ages. The Terre Haute Children’s Choir is under the leadership of Anita Gambill, Artistic Director, and Kristina Waugh, Assistant Director.

Tracy’s Heart Cookbooks for sale:Have you been looking for a new recipe to try out? We are pre-ordering cookbooks for Tracy’s Heart. There will be a table in the foyer before and after both services (May 4th and May 11th). Each cookbook is $15. All proceeds go to Tracy’s Heart. Pick up an order form today! Deadline to pre-order is Sunday, May 11th.

Porn and sexual addictions. If you are a guy and are interested in a small group addressing porn and other sexual addictions, email oldmanout@yahoo.com.

Celebrate Recovery meets at Mt Pleasant Church every Friday at 7PM. Celebrate Recovery is a recovery group for all addictions. For more information, call 232-4808

Let’s Go to the Movies! You are invited to a special showing for Maryland Community Church folks of the Movie “The Chronicles of NARNIA - Prince Caspian”. Mark May 17 @ 10 a.m. (Showplace 12) on your calendars to enjoy this movie together. Questions contact Deb Lampton or Amber Gentry

Goodwill Drive. We will have a Goodwill truck at exchange on May 4. Bring your Goodwill donations. Simplify, declutter, and help a great cause.

NEW CHIX SMALL GROUP STARTING: on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m. We’ll be studying spiritual gifts, our passions, and how God has uniquely created us to serve and minister. This “Ministry & Me” small group will run for 6 weeks. Contact Jody Elslager at jmelslager@aol.com for more information.

2008 Lighthouse Classic 1800 Golf Fund Raiser is June 6 at Idle Creek. They are looking for golfers and for sponsors. If you can help with either please contact:
Gary Schneider @ 920-819-6735 or garyabound@gmail.com

Thanks to MyFootprint for the list!

Use cleaner transport

• Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.
• Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). And don’t take the drive-through—park the car and walk inside instead.
• Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car’s air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
• Avoid short airplane trips—take a bus or train instead.

Add energy-saving features to your home

• Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures—but remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste program.
• Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.
• Insulate your water heater. Even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.
• Choose energy efficient appliances.

Adopt energy-saving habits

• Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
• Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.
• Dry your clothes outside whenever possible.
• Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping.
• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.
• Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase electricity generated by wind and solar power for a small rate surcharge.
• Purchase carbon offsets to make up for the energy use you can’t eliminate.

Reduce your Food Footprint

• Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.
• Plant a garden—it doesn’t get more local than that.
• Shop at your local farmer’s market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you.
• Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
• Eat lower on the food chain—going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.

Reduce your Housing Footprint

• Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.
• Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets.
• Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
• Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
• Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
• Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.

Adopt water-saving habits

• Take shorter, less frequent showers—this not only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.
• Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost instead.
• Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.
• Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.
• Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.
• Regularly look for and fix leaks.

Reduce your Goods and Services Footprint

• Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to.
• Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics!
• Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn’t produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.
• Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled “post-consumer waste.”

Goodwill Drive. We will have a Goodwill truck at exchange on May 4. Bring your Goodwill donations. Simplify, declutter, and help a great cause.

NEW CHIX SMALL GROUP STARTING: on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m. We’ll be studying spiritual gifts, our passions, and how God has uniquely created us to serve and minister. This “Ministry & Me” small group will run for 6 weeks. Contact Jody Elslager at jmelslager@aol.com for more information.

CHIX FLIX: Women of MCC! Join us for a night of community, food, games, activities, door prizes and several “chick flicks” on Friday, April 25th from 7 – 10 p.m. in the Atrium. Sign up starting April 13 at the CHIX table in the Atrium to bring food and reserve your space!

Men – mark your calendars: Berean Brothers campout, Fri-Sat May 30-31. Details coming soon!

APRIL conneXion EVENT: The young adults from conneXion will team up with the college group as we head to the ISU FIELD CAMPUS in Brazil on Sunday, April 27th from 1-5pm for a day of outdoor fun, including volleyball, canoeing, yard games, trails, etc. Want to carpool? Meet at the church at 12:30. Need directions or have questions? E-mail Stephanie Bachelor at stephanie925@gmail.com or call at 812-243-4462.

New Orleans Crash – NEW TRIP – July 7-12.
We have a few spots left on the July trip to rebuild homes in New Orleans. Cost for the trip is $100 and includes housing and food once in New Orleans. We also have need of borrowing some vans for the trip. If your van would be available, let us know! To reserve your spot, contact Jeanette Sounder at vjsouder@yahoo.com or (812) 239-1431.

Youth Embracing Service is working on a project we’re calling Let’s Stop Litter (LSL).
We are asking individuals and groups in our community to help us pick up the trash on Saturday, April 19th. We’re are meeting at 9am in the K-mart parking lot near US 41 and Old National Bank. Our rain date will be Saturday, April 26. We’re providing the garbage bags and will have some trash grabbers for the older folks who don’t want to bend over Please email Donna Mansard at YouthEmbracingService@gmail.com for more information.

To figure out your ecological footprint, check out http://www.myfootprint.org

WERE YOU BORN TO BE WILD? Whether you have a Harley or a Honda join us in front of the cross on the south side of the church at 6 p.m. a few Friday evenings and we’ll ride as a group to the following places and grab a bite to eat: APRIL 18 Paris, IL Monicals Pizza; APRIL 25 Plainfield, IN (TBA); MAY 2 Sullivan Bobes Trattoria Italiano; *MAY 3 is the first year for the Motorcycle Blessing MCC at 11 a.m. Questions? Contact Carl Royer at croyer@mccth.org or 240-0102. re info!

APRIL conneXion EVENT: The young adults from conneXion will team up with the college group as we head to the ISU FIELD CAMPUS in Brazil on Sunday, April 27th from 1-5pm for a day of outdoor fun, including volleyball, canoeing, yard games, trails, etc. Want to carpool? Meet at the church at 12:30. Need directions or have questions? E-mail Stephanie Bachelor at stephanie925@gmail.com or call at 812-243-4462.

Goodwill Drive. We will have a Goodwill truck at exchange on May 4. Bring your Goodwill donations. Simplify, declutter, and help a great cause.

NEW CHIX SMALL GROUP STARTING: on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m. We’ll be studying spiritual gifts, our passions, and how God has uniquely created us to serve and minister. This “Ministry & Me” small group will run for 6 weeks. Contact Jody Elslager at jmelslager@aol.com for more information.

CHIX FLIX: Women of MCC! Join us for a night of community, food, games, activities, door prizes and several “chick flicks” on Friday, April 25th from 7 – 10 p.m. in the Atrium. Sign up starting April 13 at the CHIX table in the Atrium to bring food and reserve your space!

Men – mark your calendars: Berean Brothers campout, Fri-Sat May 30-31. Details coming soon!

“RETURN TO THE SHEPHERD”(A CREATIVE STUDY OF PSALM 23)
WHEN: EVERY OTHER FRIDAY EVENING 6:30-8:00PM FOR 7 SESSIONS,BEGINNING APRIL 18TH.
WHERE: THE ART REACH STUDIO: 683 WABASH AVENUE SUITE 208.5, DOWNTOWN T.H
WHAT: A CREATIVE STUDY OF PSALM 23
TEXT: A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23 BY PHILLIP KELLER (1970) ZONDERVAN PRESS, ISBN 0-310-21435-1 $4.99 OR LESS
ART SUPPLIES WILL BE PROVIDED BY ART REACH. DONATIONS WELCOME.
WE WILL STUDY ONE VERSE OF PSALM 23 EACH TIME WE MEET BY CREATIVELY EXPRESSING OUR PERSONAL REFLECTIONS. For more info,contact: kgotshall@smwc.edu

PUPPET SHOW IN THE WEE VILLAGE: Our puppet friends, Noah and Jonah will join the children during Chapel and teach about OBEDIENCE on April 13 & 20!

THE CHATTER BOX: Be sure and pick up The Wee Village 2008 Family Handbook. Stop by The Wee Village Lobby Desk and pick yours up TODAY!

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL: 30 Hour Famine on April 25th & 26th. Contact Rob Ball at 234-7100 ext 202 or rball@mccth.org.

New Orleans Crash – NEW TRIP – July 7-12.
We have a few spots left on the July trip to rebuild homes in New Orleans. Cost for the trip is $100 and includes housing and food once in New Orleans. We also have need of borrowing some vans for the trip. If your van would be available, let us know! To reserve your spot, contact Jeanette Sounder at vjsouder@yahoo.com or (812) 239-1431.

-Jody

Community was deepened today, and we talked about that at supper a bit.  Amy mentioned that she knew who Ezra was from eXchange, but may not have ever developed a friendship with him if not for this trip.  She talked about how thankful she was for that opportunity to know him.  And Jennifer recalled that she and I had met Ezra for the first time about a year ago at a Habitat for Humanity Crash in West Terre Haute.  Now we know one another much better, more truly, and can see this as a wonderful fruit of this experience.  I’m so thankful for the chance to have met Joanna, and I don’t think we’d have connected if not for this trip.  She has brought such blessing to my week, on top of the other blessings poured out.  New friendships have been made and are deeply rooted in a shared experience and a common passion.  This is what we talk about when we say that community happens on the way to cause. 

-Jody

We woke to find out that a couple of our team had been sick all night, and several others of us were various stages of queasy.  The sickest stayed in for the morning to rest with the hope that they’d feel well enough to join us mid-day.  The rest went to the boys’ home to repair chairs and tables and help in the kitchen and laundry.  We gave gifts to the staff, the ladies who work so hard for these boys.  The ladies in the laundry offered to sing us a song as thanks for our gifts.  Jay and Dave had "help" from Ambrosio and Isaias in using the tools to fix the chairs.  In the meantime, our prayers had been answered in that those who felt ill were well enough to join us for the afternoon.

Joanna prayed a strong prayer, claiming this day and this orphanage for the Lord, praying against Satan and the sickness we had been feeling.  We entered boldly to share more of God’s love with them.  We prayed with them, talked about forgiveness, sang songs, and pour as much love and attention as we possibly could in the time we had left.  We each met at least one boy who captured our hearts.  For me, it was the trouble-maker from the first moment in our group.  Humberto was mouthy and disrespectful, cutting off the other boys, and acting like he was the ruler of this particular kingdom.  Somewhere in the week, I invited him to play frisbee, and by the end of the day today, I had my arms around him and tears in my eyes.  Part of our team passed out gifts to the boys in assembly line fashion, and Humberto said that he wanted it to be me who handed him the gift.  And my heart broke.

We all left today with broken hearts; hearts broken for the things God loves.  We are transformed by our experiences this week, and we don’t quite know what we’ll look like when we fully understand and integrate the magnitude of it all.  What we do know is that God highly values the care of orphans (James 1:27), and that it is a beautiful thing to be in the midst of His presence when we do that which He is so passionate about.

-Jody

Today’s blog was a done deal by 9am.  We met for our usual meeting to start the day where we talk about the details of the day, and someone shares a devotion.  I was up early enough to do my Life Journaling and found 2 Corinthians to speak to me about our week, and I made a note to talk about this passage when I was due to lead a devotion later in the week.  Too late.  Amanda read from that passage: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” (2 Cor. 2: 14-16).  Amanda talked about what we smell like when we leave the orphanage: sweat, dirt, the body odor of young men.  But what is the smell we leave?  That of our savior.  Susie said that she appreciated those words, for she had been praying and reading this morning from Psalm 121 “I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, and the maker of heaven and earth (v. 1-2).  She had been thinking of that verse as we drove past hills covered with shacks on the way to the orphanage, and also that she felt that God has been pouring His spirit into us so that we can share his “aroma” with the staff at the orphanage, to bless them and pour the spirit of God into their lives for strength and purpose in their lives and the lives of the orphans.
Then Jo Ellen spoke up and asked me to read something for her, as she didn’t think she could get through it without crying.  She said that God gives her words sometimes, and this morning (well before our devotion time), He had given her the following:

We went to Guatemala
the orphans there to see.
But we found much more than that,
a witness there to be.

This foreign land so far from us
God asked our group to visit.
It wasn’t for our own success
but for our Lord’s we did it.

The children are so needy
of God’s great gift of love.
Many times we shared this gift
and found strength from above.

Community was formed down there
between  new friends and old.
Because the cause is worth the trip,
the group found patience bold.

And so the cause was added to
because our Lord commanded.
We left the sweet aroma
of God’s love as He planned it.

There was more than one tear when I finished reading.  I thought that was enough of a demonstration of the presence of God in our community this week, and then Joanna told me that she was so glad to hear what Susie shared because she’s been reading Psalm 121 over and over this week.  As my friend Scot says, “Bam, Bam, Bam.  And Bam.”

The rest of the day was wonderful.  Painting at the babies’ home (and holding babies, of course), yard work at the new girls’ transitional home, and making purchases for some projects we want to do at the boys’ home (the bunk beds are very wobbly, and the guys want to reinforce them).  This afternoon we talked about humility with the boys at the orphanage and decorated photo frames with pictures we took of them yesterday.  And then we played and talked and threw the frisbee and colored the ground with sidewalk chalk.  There was a greater openness with the boys and a greater connection with them as individuals.  Tomorrow is our last day with the boys, and I think it is going to be very difficult to leave them.

Tonight in our team’s time together, we shared our passion for the orphans we’ve met and the pain of separation that we know will come.  But there is such joy and contentment in being in the midst of serving God with abandon, even when it aches a little.  One of the many mysteries of God: how we can serve and give and pour ourselves out, and feel such peace and certainty in the knowledge that we are doing what we were made to do.

-Jody