Family Promise will have an overnight shelter for families experiencing homelessness very soon! With the support of the RJS Foundation, Family Promise purchased a 5,000 sq/ft home with 7 bedrooms, where the families can recover from the trauma of homelessness and begin to rebuild their lives. Our volunteers will be able to provide meals, activities, and conversations again.
Family Promise has already helped 27 families secure stable housing in 2022! This will be another great resource to help more families find stability.

Thanks to a very generous donation, we are able to remodel the sanctuary. The remodel, which we hope will be started and completed by late summer, will involve carpeting the entire sanctuary floor, retreading of the steps to the platform and replacing the current pews with padded chairs.

Efforts are being made to make sure the pews that are leaving the sanctuary go to good use. First, the pews are being made available to the people of PUMC for any home project that you may have in mind. Second, any remaining pews will be offered to a church or organization in need. Inquiries are in progress to find churches or organizations that could use pews.
For the people of PUMC to request a pew:

• Requests can be made by completing a paper form and leaving it at the church office or by completing the form online at pumc.org/pews.
• Request forms will be available starting Sunday, April 24.
• Request forms will be available in the North and South Lobbies and in the church office.

After your request form is submitted:

• After May 22 all request forms will be reviewed.
• By May 27 notifications will be made if and how many pews you will receive.
• Pews will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis from the day the request form is submitted.

Exciting news! Disciple Fast Track will cover New Testament in eight short weeks. The class will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evenings starting in May and continuing through June.

The New Testament study will be a great way to start the summer and help everyone become better disciples of Jesus Christ. Picture yourself joining a small group, learning about the Bible with other followers of Jesus, and starting the summer with purpose and intent. The table is set. Sign up for New Testament Disciple Bible Study at pumc.org/disciple-bible-study

The Meaning of Holy or Maundy Thursday

Christians commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper when he broke bread and gave the cup to his disciples, initiating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. John’s Gospel tells of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and giving a new commandment. Maundy Thursday worship traditionally includes Holy Communion and sometimes foot washing as well.

The word Maundy comes from the Latin, mandatum, which means commandment. At the Last Supper Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34)

Based on The Special Days and Seasons of the Christian Year, Abingdon Press

The Meaning of Good Friday

Good Friday celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along (1 Corinthians 15:3).

On Good Friday, we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10). The Sunday after Good Friday is Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Romans 6:5).

Based on What’s So Good About Good Friday, Christianity.com

PUMC will sponsor a CROP Hunger Walk to help the refugees from Ukraine on May 1 at 2:00 p.m. The CROP walk is a community-wide event sponsored by Church World Service and organized by local churches or groups to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world.

The mass exodus of people from Ukraine has left many surrounding areas in dire need of food, water, shelter, sanitation, and financial help to assist the fleeing refugees. Church World Service already has partners on the ground in Moldova, where over 200,000 refugees have already crossed the border and need assistance. Please join us as we walk 3 miles to raise money to support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. If you are interested in walking or donating to this effort, please email Mary Geible at marygeible50@gmail.com or Ted Underwood at teund5@yahoo.com. We will meet at Rec Center by the Splash Island parking lot at 1:45 p.m. Checks can be made to CWS/CROP with walk4Ukraine on the memo line.

GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF:

My loving husband Bruce, by Denise Alm
Steven Linville and Paul Fulp, by Anonymous
My husband, Bill, and our parents, by Barbara Baker
Keith Barding and Loved Ones, by Betty Barding
My father Noble Bowen, by Pam Blackard
Horace Blackwelder, our loving father and grandfather, by Mark & Rebecca Blackwelder
Ted Blosser, by Lynn Blosser
Donna Coulson, by Jim Coulson
Bernie Smit, by Melinda Coulson
Elaine & Delmas Crum, and Eric Schreibman, by Troy & Heather Crum
Our parents, Eugene & Jeanette Tague and Melvin & Gaynell Brown, by Phil & Judy Heffelman
Our parents, Tom & Thelma Castleman, and Byron & Ellen Hylton, by John & Sue Hylton
Cora Lee Rosemary, by Tom & Jane Iles
Carol Edmondson and Jeff Edmondson, by Debi Kinnamon
Our parents William Belser, and Don & Erma Linn, by Mick & Linda Linn
My faithful parents, Bob & Eloise Waggoner, and my loving husband Bill Lyons, by Pam Lyons
John Martin, by Jane Martin
Ken & Carolyn Jolly, by Tamara and Sarah Miller and Terry Jones
Our parents, Ken & Bertie Overbey, and Dick & Barb Wykoff, by Bill & LeeAnn Overbey
Rev. Erma Rohrer, by Hugh Rohrer
Our grandson Brayden, by Larry & Anne Rudy
Earl & Evelyn Sims, by Jonathan & Prudence Sims
Philip and loved ones, by Vern & Lou Sullenger
Ed Vermillion, by Eleanor Vermillion
Robert R., Charlotte and Robert C. Watts, by Judy Watts
My dad Tim Miller, and my sister in the Lord, Charlotte, by Christina Wooley

GIVEN IN CELEBRATION OF:

Our loving church family, by Mark & Rebecca Blackwelder
Our family, by Troy & Heather Crum
Helen Wallen, by Sue Doty
Our children and grandchildren, by Anita Green
God’s beautiful blessings of my “Terrific Ten” grandchildren, by Treva Marcum-Rubsam
Our children Scott and Olivia, and Kyle, by Bill & LeeAnn Overbey
Children Andy, Ariana, Matt, and grandchildren Ellis and Henry, by Debbie Proctor
My husband and Vietnam Veteran Richard, by Sally Risley
Our grandchildren Taylor, Bryce, Brock, Brody, Samuel, and Benjamin, by Larry & Anne Rudy
Our children Matthew, Kayla, and Kristen, by Joel & Cherie Wesley

PUMC will be providing the evening meals for Family Promise families the week of April 18-23. To provide a meal or get more information, please contact Mary Raver at mraver@pumc.org.
The families are currently staying at the WoodSprings Suites Hotel in Plainfield. Meals can be dropped off there or earlier in the day at the Resource Center.

Plainfield UMC’s men, young men, and guests gather at the church on the fourth Saturday in April at 8:30 a.m. for food and fellowship.

We meet in Clayton Hall/Worship Annex. Bring an empty stomach, a friend, and your Bible! Be ready to be nourished through delicious food and the word of God! Hope to see you there!
After breakfast, the Men’s Breakfast group will be spreading mulch around the church; be sure to bring your gloves, shovels, & rakes!

Check our pumc.org for more information.

You’re invited to join a special group of people who have agreed to use God’s gifts in his service. Some have been part of this group for many years. Some have recently accepted God’s invitation to join in service.

If you have the spiritual gifts of faith, giving, hospitality, service, and help, consider becoming a Communion Steward. This is an opportunity for men and women, people new to PUMC, and those who have been here many years; this is a wonderful opportunity to serve.

This is not a life-long commitment; however, many feel it is an honor and privilege to help in this way. To volunteer to be a Communion Steward, visit pumc.org/serve and fill out the form, Sue Hylton will contact you as soon as possible. If you prefer, you may contact the office and a message will be relayed to Sue. All are welcomed, and you will be answering a call to service.