WELCOME VISITORS If you are worshiping here for the first time today, welcome! We are glad to have you with us. Please fill out a visitor information card, located on the right as you enter the chapel, and place it in the offering plate.
OFFERING Plates are available just inside the doors to the chapel. Our gifts take many forms: open-hearted presence here, voices lifted in song, the prayers that rise in us, the material gifts we share with neighbors, and our willingness to live in a world as allies and advocates for those whose needs are overlooked. The monies we bring symbolize the offering of our lives in all circumstances. A separate labeled basket is available each week to receive Our Daily Change offering.
COMMUNITY JOYS AND CONCERNS: If you would like to add or update a prayer request, please contact the church office.
We celebrate: The Mission Study Team for their ongoing work. ⸰ Jim Storey and his efforts to get us better lighting in the narthex and parlor, as well as better electrical access at the chancel.
We remember in prayer: Bob Gambrell, having surgery to receive and artificial heart valve on March 7⸰Arden Starnes, her family, and her caregivers ⸰ Vicki Collins, recovering from shoulder surgery ⸰ Wanda Mitchell, friend of Sally Broughton, has been referred to hospice care after a hospitalization for pneumonia.⸰ all who continue to be affected by loss caused by recent storms. In our congregation, we remember especially Andrew Tripp, Cindy and Dennis Riley, Jackie Wintle, Joyce Cucinella, and Bob, the father of Natalie’s partner Jeff ⸰ Susan Laney, receiving therapy at home ⸰ Ongoing prayers for the extended Lytle family ⸰ Mary Craig ⸰ Jackie Ligon Cole ⸰ Pat Crumpler ⸰ Martha Dugger ⸰ Rick Garrison ⸰ Fran Roberts’ sister-in-law, Linda Briggs ⸰ Jon Hettrick and his family ⸰ Marjorie Hettrick ⸰ Shane Reece (Nancy Garrison’s son) ⸰ Pat Wilson’s son, Kell
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS NEXT WEEK Don’t forget to Spring Forward and turn your clock ahead one hour.
PANCAKE SUPPER Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper is March 4th at 6:00 PM – one last hurrah before we begin Lent! Sign up in the narthex to be a pancake cooker, or to bring a protein, egg casserole (meat,vegetarian,or vegan), or fruit. King cake will be provided. Please join us for a fun evening and wear those Mardi Gras beads!
ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of Lent in the church year. Receiving ashes marks our humanity as people of the earth. Join us in the Fellowship Hall this Wednesday, March 5 at 6:00 PM for our Ash Wednesday Service. If you would like to be a reader for our Ash Wednesday service, please get a reading from Laurie after worship this morning.
COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES The Swannanoa Valley Ministerial Alliance is having a community Lenten service every Wednesday at noon from March 5-April 16, with a Good Friday service on April 18. Each will be led by a different church (we are leading the April 2 service). All services will be hosted at Black Mountain UMC and will be followed by a free community meal provided by Open Table.
TOGATHER We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month through May at 1:30 PM in the chapel parlor. This is a time where all are welcome to build and strengthen relationships, spend some time in quiet reflection and prayer, learn and practice calming and relaxation skills, and share resources. This is an open group; feel free to come whenever you are able. Contact Beth Meriwether (828-777-2867) for more information.
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS We meet Sundays at 9:30 in the Adult Ed room. In March we will begin reading and discussing the book, Pause: Spending Lent with the Psalms, by Elizabeth F. Caldwell. All are welcome at any time, even if you haven’t read the book. Please contact Beth Meriwether at 828-777-2867 or bethmeriwether@gmail.com for more information.
EMPTY BOWLS Empty Bowls is a fundraising dinner organized by Warren Wilson’s Community Engagement Crew, which will take place March 19 at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. All bowls are provided by current ceramics students and you get to take your bowl home with you at the end of the evening! This year’s cash recipient will be Blunt Pretzel, specifically their Blunt Kitchen program, which provides free hot meals in Swannanoa. Tickets for Empty Bowls will be on sale outside of the Chapel for an hour both before an after service for $25. Also on sale are raffle tickets for $2 each. Cash, card, and check accepted, as well as Venmo upon request.
SVCM Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry is in need of: small mens’ sized jeans, mens’ small/medium sized underwear (new, unopened packs), childrens’ 4T-5T clothing (especially girls), queen and king sheet sets, queen and king blankets, towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Deliver to SVCM at 101 N Ridgeway Ave, Black Mountain.