| 3.19.2026 This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. We will look at John 11:1-45 which recounts the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The passage begins with Lazarus, a resident of Bethany and the brother of Mary and Martha, falling seriously ill. Mary and Martha send word to Jesus, hoping He will come and heal their brother. However, Jesus delays His journey for two days, explaining to His disciples that Lazarus’s illness will ultimately bring glory to God. When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has already been dead and in the tomb for four days. Martha meets Jesus and expresses her grief, but also her faith that God will grant Jesus whatever He asks. Jesus assures Martha that her brother will rise again, declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Mary also comes to Jesus, weeping, and is joined by others mourning Lazarus’s death. Deeply moved, Jesus goes to the tomb and, after praying to God, commands Lazarus to come out. Miraculously, Lazarus emerges from the tomb, alive, demonstrating Jesus’s power over death and leading many witnesses to believe in Him. My sermon title is “Lazarus, Come Out”. I would like to thank all of you for your love and support to the Whirls family as we celebrated the life of Earl Whirls yesterday. I know the family really appreciated the gathering space and meal provided after the service. We will continue to pray for Cindy and the family. We did not have the opportunity to have Earl join us on Sunday morning due to health reasons, but I have heard many stories about his kindness and the positive impact he had on those around him. Earl’s memory will live on through the love he shared and the connections he made within our community. Thank you once again for the spirit of unity and care that this congregation continues to demonstrate. You are the best. Week five of Lent brings us deeper into our spiritual journey as we prepare our hearts for Easter. This is a good time to finalize our reflections on the meaning of sacrifice, forgiveness, and renewal. This week might allow us to take a moment to consider what practices or thoughts to let go of, and what new habits or attitudes you’d like to embrace as we move closer to the joy of resurrection morning. Whether you choose to spend extra time in prayer, reach out to support a neighbor, or simply pause for gratitude, remember that each small step helps us draw nearer to God’s purpose for our lives. As we journey together through this season, let’s encourage one another to remain faithful and open to God’s guidance. Even the smallest acts of kindness and moments of reflection can make a difference in our hearts and our community. Let us continue to look for ways to serve, uplift, and inspire each other, trusting that God will use our efforts for good. May you find peace and joy in every step you take this week and every week. This year our Holy Week celebrations are as follows; Maundy Thursday will be at Darrtown UMC at 7:00 PM with a 6:00 PM potluck. All are welcome. Good Friday Service will be hosted by Ross Community UMC also at 7:00 PM. Please join us for these Holy Week experiences. We invite you to bring friends and family as we remember and reflect on the significance of these sacred days together as we share in the joy and hope of Holy Week. We look forward to seeing you! The 200th Anniversary Committee is well on its way to preparing us for our big year of celebrations. The committee has put together several ideas starting in April, continuing each month that will allow us a celebration for each. You will notice some improvements taking place and more display spaces being created that will share our wealth of history. More to come…… Thank you for your support each month for Heifer Project International. We collected over $260.00 since we sent in the last gift. Jan will be giving us an update on the animals we will purchase, and if you would like any additional information, see Jan or the Heifer Project International table. We just learned that our donations would continue to double into June 2026. Adult Sunday School is growing. Many of you have shared with me how wonderful your class is and how much you enjoy being with Paul Smith’s weekly topics and leadership. This is another perfect opportunity to invite others to join us and experience RCUMC. Invite a friend and join Sunday School at 9:45. During the 10:45 am service, we are blessed to have Trysta Taylor lead our younger ones. She has a great class ready to receive our children with a program just for them. Any questions, stop by her area and say hello on Sunday. Thought for the week: “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer Blessings, Pastor Chris Next Update 03.26.2026.  |
ROSS COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST
2943 Hamilton Cleves Road Hamilton 45013-----513-868-2923
