Are the words that come out of our mouths really that big a deal? What's the impact of how we speak with one another? Do your words have power? JAMES definitely has something to say to us about this and in chapter 3 teaches us very clearly about the "Power of Words!"

This week when we gather for worship, we will have the joy of celebrating Holy Communion at all three services and continue our study of  JAMES. This Sunday we will be in chapter 3 and understand what JAMES is teaching the church about a significant part of the daily living of a Christ-follower. How we speak with one another - the use of our mouth - has the power to encourage, affirm, build-up, teach,  and guide OR to criticize, destruct, hurt, mislead, and disempower! JAMES says the "uncontrolled tongue is a world of evil"!  We need to look at what and how we speak with each other, as a fully-devoted Christ follower! In JAMES 3:11, he says, "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks ." This leads us to consider that truly the concern over how and what we say, truly has to do with checking what's in our heart! The teaching JAMES gives us in this week's scripture is critically important for building the Body of Christ - the Church!

It will be great to be in worship with you this week! Our worship design team has prepared these times of worship with great thought and prayer.

Sunday we will certainly engage the Holy Spirit who calls us together and will guide us in daily living as the Body of Christ. I know God has a wonderful experience of worship prepared for us this week - come prepared to allow HIS Spirit to touch and empower your heart!

These days during Lent are definitely times when we want to focus on our own spiritual growth and the spiritual disciplines that will help us grow in faith. Gathering together in worship is a significant part of this growth and for each one's deepening faith. It will be great to share with you in worship this Lenten Sunday! 

peace, kim  <><

Communication

Disasters Relief - to find out what we as the people of the United Methodist Church are doing and can do for the victims in Haiti and Chile.

Maundy Thursday - for more information, to volunteer or to find out what type of donations are needed.

We will be making our own Palm Crosses for Palm Sunday this year. Come out on Wednesday night Discovery to learn how and to start making them.

Easter Egg Hunt - for more information, to volunteer or to find out what type of donations are needed.

This Week's Scripture

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

James 3: 1-13