Moving Upward!

Our newest members are:
DENNIS & GLORIA A.
BILL & TERESA K. (We were privileged to baptize Bill)
CRAIG, KATHI, ALYSON & JOSHUA M.

I’m really pumped about this coming Sunday. I’m having a lot of fun with “PARABLES OF THE LOST” (The Waterloo Sermon). And the 7:00 evening worship celebration of St. Andrew’s Nicaragua, is shaping up wonderfully. I hope you’ll make it a morning/evening double-header. I’m guesstimating the evening service will last about an hour and fifteen minutes.
*
If anyone got a good picture of the mass of Upward people on the chancel during the 10:45 service, I’d appreciate a copy.
*
Speaking of hoops, now that Creighton’s season is over, who do you like in the NCAA tournament? I’ve got Kansas and North Carolina in the finals. On the Kansas side, my daughter Laura graduates from KU this spring. The Tar Heels feature this Hanbrough kid from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. I saw him play during high school and while I deeply regret that he did not go the University of Missouri (my alma mater), it’s hard to blame him, given the mess in the Tigers program.
*
The worship count Sunday was 1,057, with another 135 kids in Church School.
*
Remember, we’ve rescheduled TRIVIA NIGHT for Saturday evening, April 21, 7:00. If you’d like to plug in, sign up at the Trivia Table this Sunday or via return e-mail. Cost is $5 for those who register in advance, $10 at the door.
*
FROM DIANA F.

20-30 SOMETHING EVENT: Come watch 88improv perform and feel like you’re on the TV set of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” The event is Friday, March 30th at the Grande Olde Players Theatre (90th & Blondo by Hobby Lobby), 7:30 p.m. start time. Tickets are $5 each. RSVP by Sunday, March 25 to Jamie S. View 88improv at www.88improv.com.

THINK YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT??
Living The 3rd Half of Your Life is a workshop for the 50+ age group. As we approach our sixties, we are seeing an evolution of how many people are creating their lives beyond sitting at home! This series of four 1-hour+ sessions will help you focus on creating a life plan which is as unique as your “finger print.” Note: This is not a financial planning workshop.
The series will begin Thursday, April 12 and run through May 3rd from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The fee of $30 per individual covers the cost of an on-line assessment. Please make checks payable to St. Andrew’s UMC. Registrations must be made by April 5 to Diana in the church office. Larry Willis, a member of St. Andrew’s will facilitate this workshop.

DIVORCECARE OR DIVORCECARE OF KIDS (DC4K) TRAINING EVENT:
Do you have a heart for hurting people? Are you interested in helping St. Andrew’s continue to offer the DivorceCare program and start a DivorceCare For Kids program? Now you can receive the training here in Omaha on Sat., May 5. This day long training will be held at Celebration Covenant Church, 16868 Giles Road, and is sponsored by the DivorceCare Facilitators Network of which St. Andrew’s belongs. Check out www.divorcecare.org/leaderzone or talk to Diana for more information.

SINGLE PARENTS AND SUCCESSFUL KIDS:
A free presentation for Single Parents will be held on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Celebration Covenant Church, 16868 Giles Road. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information, contact Diana in the church office.
*
PASTOR CHARLOTTE asks: Prayers for Laura J., receiving aggressive cancer treatments (Kathy R.’s sister-in-law). Prayers of sympathy for the family of Phyllis J., in her recent passing (aunt of Kathy R.). Prayers for 6 year old Alec, who has Coats Disease in his eyes, has lost his sight (friend of Mickey V.).
*
Luke 15:1-7: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them a parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
*
BRD