WEEKLY NEWS
March 12
Can You Answer Them?
We are no longer a “Biblically Literate” country. The Bible is not as widely read nor as fully understood as it used to be. As believers, then, we need to be ready to explain what we believe and why we believe it–and to do so correctly.
It takes Biblical knowledge, understanding, patience, and gentleness to explain our beliefs in today’s world. Yelling our beliefs is not enough!
Listen in as I explain this further.
Pastor Jack
Future of our Homeless Ministry
IHELP partners with Lutheran Social Services for administrative support, a social worker, and insurance. Federal cuts for social services have left them in a financial crisis. They are owed $1,000,000 for work the federal goverment contracted them to do in December and January to help settle refugees. They have not and may not be paid; the courts will decide. As a result, they are laying off workers, cutting ministries, and getting out of homeless ministry altogether by March 31. We are meeting with churches this week to see what we can do to keep this important ministry open. Pray for us!
Two Important Blogs . . . What Does The Bible Say?
It doesn’t matter what politicians or celebrities say. It doesn’t matter what bloggers and preachers (like me) have to say. For believers, the question is, “What Does The Bible Say?” Here are two recent blogs from this occasional series on issues of importance. Read them at abcaz.net/blog.
Two "Big" Sunday Nights!
Kidz Ministry Update
Parents I wanted to make sure you got this update! On Wednesday Night we have been practicing and putting together a play that we will be performing on Sunday Night, March 30 . We really need to make sure that all the kiddos are at the church on Wednesday nights and following second service on Sunday for practice. A second update is we are getting a text number for Kidz Min. Please click here to sign up for the number.
Holy Week Events
“Holy Week” refers to the week in Jesus’ life from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. We celebrate it with a variety of special events that help us remember and understand the week in which Jesus died and rose again.
All of these events are family friendly and are excellent introductions to our church for your friends and neighbors. Invite a family to attend with you! And put these events on your own calendar!
Church Picnic, Sunday, April 13: The church will provide hamburgers and we ask you to bring a side dish to share. (It can be as fancy as you like or as simple as a bag of chips!) We have reserved grills and ramadas at Festival Fields Park beginning at 4:00, with our meal at 5:00 pm. We often have baptisms on that day as well!
Lord’s Supper Around the Tables, Wednesday, April 16: When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He wasn’t in rows in a worship center. He was around a table with His disciples. We recreate that with a meal at 5:30 (excellent catered tacos!) and the Lord’s Supper Service at 6:30 pm.
Good Friday Prayer Walk, Friday, April 18: “Good Friday” is the day in which Jesus was crucified. We remember it with a prayer walk, stopping at various stations around the church to pray for our church, our families, our friends, and our nation. The church will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 pm and families and individuals can come and walk through at their own pace and time.
Easter Services, Sunday, April 20, at 8:30 and 11:00 am. We focus on the resurrection and celebrate together! In between the two services, we will have a ministry fair (with free coffee and donuts) showing off all of our various ministries and teams. For us, Easter is the highight of the Christian year. As you may have heard us say, Easter is to Christians what the Super Bowl is to the NFL.
A Special Note: Why is Easter on a different date each year? Most holidays are either like Christmas (always on December 25) or Thanksgiving (always on the 4th Thursday of November). The formula for Easter is based on the Jewish calendar since Jesus rose on the Sunday after the Jewish Passover. When you translate the Jewish calendar to modern times, it works out that Easter is on the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. The Spring Equinox is usually considered to be on March 21. The next full moon after that is April 13. So Easter falls on April 20 this year!
Vitalant Valentines for Life
Butch and I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Vitalant Valentines for Life Luncheon again this year! The guest speaker told of how she had received two blood transfusions a month, since the age of five years. She is now a middle-aged woman, and, because of the generous donations of blood donors, she is doing well and is a Registered Nurse.
You, too, could be a “BLOOD HERO!” It gives me a wonderful feeling when I receive a text that says, “We have used your blood today!!” Our next blood drive is Sunday, July 13, 2025. Please contact me at (602) 751-8494 to sign up to donate! YOU MIGHT JUST SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE!! 🩸
Jodi Bettag💗✝️💕
Basic Christian Beliefs Lesson 8
Miss a Service?
If you miss a service or want to review one again, both full worship videos and sermon podcasts are available on our website! Watch videos at www.abcaz.net/worship-videos and listen to podcasts at www.abcaz.net/sermons or wherever you listen to podcasts by searching for Pastor Jack Marslender.
Dont Stop! There is still more!
Prayer Meeting Online and In Person!
We meet for prayer every Wednesdays at 5:30 pm in conjunction with our Wednesday meal. We also have an online prayer group meeting on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. You can join prayer meeting via zoom by following this link.
Parents there is a registration form that needs to be filled out for Zona. Please click here and register for camp. You will need to fill out all the forms. When asked for a church code put: Avondale2025 again if you have any questions please reach out.
BBQ Mission, March 12, 11:00 am
Family Night at Church, March 12, 5:30 pm
Dinner Theater, March 30, 5:00 pm
Food Distribution, April 2, 8:00 am
Deacon Ordination, April 6, 6:00 pm
Church Picnic, April 13
Lord’s Supper, April 16
Easter Sunday, April 20