MINISTER - FRAN HAYES

We are Easter people! Christ is risen! Alleluia!

What a joyful time we had celebrating the resurrection on Easter Sunday! The tomb is empty. Christ is risen!

What does that mean? The news keeps reminding us that we're still living in a world that looks like Good Friday. We were shocked by terror attacks in Brussels and Iraq and Nigeria and Turkey when we heard of yet another attack in Pakistan. In our global neighborhood and even close to home, many people are hungry or malnourished. In Flint, children have been poisoned by lead in the water. The list could go on and on.

In the midst of all this bad news, what difference does the resurrection make? The gospel stories make it clear that it took Jesus' first disciples a while to figure it out. In the Eastertide stories, we find the Risen Christ seeking them out while they are gathered as a community, teaching them and sending them out to serve in his name. “Feed my lambs,” Jesus says. “Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep.” As they followed the risen Christ, they experienced his power and love in their daily lives and in their life together, and they were transformed into Easter people!

The good news of Easter invites us to live a new life, as we follow the Risen Christ in the way of self-giving love and justice and peace. Trusting in the risen and living Christ, we can experience new freedom and strength and courage.

Every act of love, every deed done in the name of Christ, by the power of the Spirit, every work of true creativity…healing families, doing justice, making peace…is part of how we carry the resurrection out into the world and anticipate the final new creation. Because we believe the good news of Easter is real, we can live as Easter people…forgiven, hopeful, and free. We can change the world with God's transforming love and life, trusting in Christ's promise that he is with us, as we live into hope and wholeness and freedom.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

SCRIPTURE READINGS
(Based on Revised Common Lectionary)

April 3
First Lesson-Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150
Epistle Lesson-Revelation 1:4-8
Gospel Lesson-John 20:19-31

April 10
First Lesson-Acts 9:1-22
Psalm 30
Epistle Lesson-Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel Lesson-John 21:1-19

April 17
First Lesson-Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23
Epistle Lesson-Revelation 7:9-17
Gospel Lesson-John 10:22-30

April 24
First Lesson-Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Epistle Lesson-Revelation 21:1-6
Gospel Lesson-John 13:31-35

PRAYER MINISTRY

How sweet the sounds of Spring
As songbirds now return,
And here below the rainbow
Earth makes another turn.
For Spring's a noble season,
One of show and tell,
When God reveals His majesty
And shows us all is well.
– Clay Harrison

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Someone is sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
– Warren Buffet

TODAY'S CHUCKLE
Just because everyone always agrees with
you doesn't mean you're brilliant; maybe
you're just the boss.

PRAYER
Lord, a cloud can suddenly darken the brightness of a day,
but your light will shine through the darkness,
and we can thank you for restoring visions of confident anticipation.
Amen.

MARY CIRCLE - APRIL 4

Contact the church office for details.

TAIZE WORSHIP
April 5 @ 7:00 p.m

Light, prayer and music are woven together in a contemplative prayer service. Short, simple songs, repeated again and again, help one enter into a meditative state. Thus, this meditative singing becomes a way of listening to God. All are invited, regardless of faith background and age, to come and renew your spirit. You are invited to dress comfortably and casually. Invite a friend!

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

The Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Detroit (PWPD) will hold its April Gathering at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Detroit on Saturday, April 9. It will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Charon Barconey, commissioned Ruling Elder at Hope Presbyterian Church in Detroit, will provide an overview of the Horizon Bible Study for 2016 ñ 2017, ìWho Is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes.î Reservations are not necessary. Morning refreshments will be provided.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN BIRTHDAY OFFERING

Though the Birthday offering was begun to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the auxiliary (now Presbyterian Women), the idea of giving to a specific mission project each year caught on. Since then, the Birthday Offering has helped launch nearly 100 major mission projects that continue to improve the lives of women and children around the world today. Four locales will receive funds in 2016. The actual grant amounts for these worthwhile programs will depend on gifts received. We ask that you give as you have been blessed, generously and as led by the Holy Spirit. The nationwide PW goal is $500,000.

Littlefield will be collecting for this offering on Sunday, April 10 during the worship service.

SILENT AUCTION 2016 DONATIONS

Our Presbyterian Women are ready to accept donations for the Silent Auction to be held at the Annual Spring Tea on April 23.

We plan to feature handmade goods such as doll clothes, handmade greeting cards, hand sewn items, etc. Further, if you can donate gift cards, tickets to sporting events, plays, concerts, even subscriptions to restaurants and theatres, etc. – we would be happy to receive them. All monies from this event will be donated to missions.

To donate your items, please make arrangements with the church office by April 10. Thank you!

HEALTHY WOMEN HEALTHY FAMILIES MOTHER'S DAY PROJECT 2016

The Healthy Women Healthy Families Mother's Day Project is an exciting opportunity to broaden the impact of the annual Mother's Day mission activity that Presbyterians have generously supported since 2001. The Mother's Day project has expanded beyond the four African countries that were originally supported to include a range of partners around the world. Your donations to Healthy Women Healthy Families through the Mother's Day Project will provide grants that not only provide medical care for needy women, but will also provide literacy, education and leadership training as well as support for community development projects.

The Mother's Day Project supports life- changing activities with overseas partner churches of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Special Mother's Day cards will be available again this year in exchange for donations to the Healthy Women Healthy Families Mother's Day Project. Cards will be available at the PW Spring Tea on April 23 and in the library during Coffee Hour on April 17, 24, and May 1, or by contacting the church office. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8.

THE PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN SPRING TEA

Good news!! Tickets are available for Saturday, April 23, when we will gather to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday in true British style. Our Annual Spring Tea Fundraiser will be at 2:00 p.m. in our own Victorian Tea Room aka Lounge. Tickets remain at the amazingly low price of $12.00 per person. For this amount you will receive personalized service from our lovely wait staff; a variety of freshly brewed teas; a variety of tea sandwiches; scones; shortbread and other sweets all served on fine china and linen.

And, that is not all! You and your guests will be entertained by Phyllis Barkey who has studied the world of ‘tea’ in Georgia, New York and London, England. She will deliver a program about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in honor of her 90th birthday. We will even have the scoop on what her majesty carries in her ever-present handbag. If you wish to know more about Phyllis or Teas, you may want to visit her blog called The Relevant Tea Leaf.

And, if that is not enough to have you purchase your tickets immediately...we will have our usual Silent Auction with a variety of items. These items include: gift cards, event tickets, handmade items, fine china, and a miniature tea service.

And most importantly, the net proceeds from this event go to supporting the mission fund of the Presbyterian Women in Littlefield Church!

So, mark your calendars, call your friends and look out those spring hats and gloves…Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Church Lounge. Remember we have limited seating so don't delay! You can purchase tickets from the church office for just $12.00! Where else can you get a deal like that while helping others?

MEN'S STUDY GROUP

The Men's Group will meet on Monday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. for dinner, followed by the study. Please join us for the new study “Islam and Christianity,” Session 1, Worship One God. Each session is built around a question that Muslims often ask about Christianity and provides material for participants to come to a beginning understanding of Islamic views and help the participants come to a clearer and more articulate understanding of our own faith and practice as Christian.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
PEACE CAMP: JULY 26 (Tuesday), 27 (Wednesday), and 28 (Thursday)

SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY, MAY 14

Time for Faithful Imagination – Part 2

Saturday, May 14
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Last November, most of us participated in our first session of Faithful Imagining. This was a great opportunity to share our concerns and hopes for the future of Littlefield Church. Now, we look forward to the next session to be held on Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. We hope that this important date is on your calendar and that you will be ready to move to the next steps in this process of discerning our future.

Yes, we realize that we are asking you to give up what might be a beautiful spring day when you could be doing something else. We all know that it is hard to give up a portion of our weekend. However, the energy we generated last November should help each of us make the decision to be a part of the next step and put the date on your calendar. We will convene at 9 a.m. and move through the morning, take a break for lunch together and then move to see where our work is leading us. All of us are needed to see this through. More details will come along soon and a sign-up sheet will be available as well.

Please review the report of our “Faithful Imagining I” day that appeared in the December edition of Life at Littlefield to help you prepare for this time together. It will remind you how important our life together as the congregation of Littlefield Presbyterian Church is to each of us. See you on Saturday, May 14, at 9 a.m.!

WORSHIP & CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Did you know the books on the shelves in our Library/Coffee Hour Room are more than just a pretty backdrop for our social time? Each book in the Library has its own story to tell and we encourage everyone to take a look for a book you might like to check out and read. We have lots of theology books and scripture companions, but we also have many inspirational biographies and fiction books. All you need to do is select a title, remove the library card in the back (just like the old days), sign your name on it and place the card on the library desk. When you are finished with the book, return it to the library desk and our librarian will re-shelve it for you. In past years our library enjoyed a wide circulation. Let's all resolve to read one book from it in 2016.

EVANGELISM & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

On Tuesday, March 22, we finished our Lenten Book Study having spent six weeks reading and discussing George Hovaness Donigian's book entitled, A World Worth Saving: Lenten Spiritual Practices For Action. During the past weeks, we have explored the themes of service, social justice, personal and social healing, and friendship. In a time when some voices are calling for walls to separate us from others, these weeks of reading and reflection reminded us that the Lord loves the world and desires that we build bridges. Each week we began with a simple meal followed by an hour of sharing our reflections on the text. We concluded by singing a hymn that challenged us to live the message of the week. In a time when we hear so many negative messages, it is good to remember that the world is worth saving!

Save the Date! Our Annual Littlefield Worship In The Park is scheduled for Sunday, July 17. We will gather under the Hemlock Park pavilion in Dearborn (near Schaefer Rd and Hemlock St). As in the past, we will first worship under the pavilion and then have our picnic.

Now that our Lenten book study is finished, it's time to Engage!. As we have mentioned in previous newsletters, we want to start a book discussion group. The purpose of this group is to meet throughout the year in order to engage with fiction and non-fiction works which challenge us to be God's witnesses in a world worth saving. We are calling the group Engage! (with the exclamation mark) to remind us that we are to be engaged in the text, engaged in the times, engaged in each other's concerns, and engaged in making God's presence known and felt in the world. After reading the designated book, we will meet once to discuss how the book impressed us. For our first meeting, we would like to choose one of the following books. More information about these titles can be found on amazon.com. If you would like to participate, please let us know which of the following titles you would like to read:

I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity by Izzeldin Abuelaish: “In this impassioned, committed attempt to show the reader life on the sliver of land that is Gaza, he demonstrates that ‘[a]nger is not the same as hate.’” —(Publishers Weekly Starred Review)

Lila: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (author of “Gilead” and “Home”): “Lila is a deeply affecting exploration of existence and love” —(List)

Grounded: Finding God in the World-A Spiritual Revolution by Diana Butler Bass: “In Grounded, Butler Bass convincingly plants us and God squarely in the soil of this world, and gently invites us to get up out of the pews and take a long, meandering walk outside, where more and more people are finding and experiencing God.” —(Patheos)

Please send your choice to the church office. Once the book has been chosen we will schedule a time and place for the book discussion.

Last but not least, the new directory should now be in your hands! The deacons have been distributing the 2016 edition of the Littlefield directory. Once again we want to thank everyone who was involved in this venture.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE HYGIENE KITS

We collected 34 Hygiene Kits for Church World Service! They are on the way to the Ferncliff Distribution Center where they will be prepared for world-wide distribution. Somewhere, someone will be grateful that we cared enough to give out of our abundance to those who don't have even basic hygiene items. Thank You Littlefielders!

DID YOU KNOW?

Some people who have missed a Sunday or just like to ponder some idea they heard in the sermon have shared they enjoy listening to it again or reading it. You can listen to Littlefield sermons at www.littlefieldchurch.org/sermons.html. While you're there, you may want to check out the rest of the website. If you prefer to read Fran's sermons, you can find them at the blog, at revfranmusings.blogspot.com/2016/03/idle-talk-or-gospel-truth- sermon.html. A link to the most recent sermon is posted at the Littlefield Facebook page. Or you can sign up to follow the blog and have posts emailed to you.

2016 FEATHER BOWLING

On March 20, we made our annual trip to the Cadieux Cafe. It was a great time of fellowship, fun and food as twenty-two of us gathered together for feather bowling. We created four teams and played for two hours. After the tournament we enjoyed a Cadieux Cafe meal. If you have never experienced feather bowling, we encourage you to join us next year. If you wish to see some pictures, you can go to the church's Facebook page.

CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

Who we are:
We are a community of ordinary people
committed to growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ
through worship, fellowship, learning, prayer, and mission.

Why we exist:
To love God, one another, and all people.
To show God's love in our work for peace and justice.