JOIN US FOR… Maundy Thursday ServiceMaundy Thursday ServiceMaundy Thursday ServiceMaundy Thursday Service

at 7:00 p.m.at 7:00 p.m.at 7:00 p.m.at 7:00 p.m. followed by a Prayer Vigil lastingfollowed by a Prayer Vigil lastingfollowed by a Prayer Vigil lastingfollowed by a Prayer Vigil lasting

through 3:00 p.m. on through 3:00 p.m. on through 3:00 p.m. on through 3:00 p.m. on Good FridayGood FridayGood FridayGood Friday

Saturday, AprilSaturday, AprilSaturday, AprilSaturday, April 3 3 3 3rdrdrdrd,,,,

at 10:00 a.m.at 10:00 a.m.at 10:00 a.m.at 10:00 a.m.

AND

with us on Easterwith us on Easterwith us on Easterwith us on Easter Services atServices atServices atServices at

6:30 a.m. (in the garden)6:30 a.m. (in the garden)6:30 a.m. (in the garden)6:30 a.m. (in the garden) 8:30 & 10:45 a.m.8:30 & 10:45 a.m.8:30 & 10:45 a.m.8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Easter Easter Easter Easter Breakfast at 7:15 a.m.Breakfast at 7:15 a.m.Breakfast at 7:15 a.m.Breakfast at 7:15 a.m.

VIEWS AND REVIEWS “EASTER EVERY DAY”

When we celebrate Easter we don’t just remember what Jesus did long ago. The resurrection is not simply about Jesus coming forth from the tomb. It is about how our lives

are touched by the life of the death-defying Christ. The resurrection is not just something we do believe as an article of faith. It is the power

by which we live in faith. Countless times the story has been told of

how the apostles were driven into dark despair when Jesus was crucified. But after Easter

morning everything changed. The confidence of the apostles was restored and strengthened. Their lives took on a vibrant and burning sense of

purpose. No obstacle or opposition could dissuade them from their work of proclaiming the gospel and building the church as a community of

renewed humanity. The apostles attributed the change in them to the resurrection. Christians through the centuries have made the same claim.

But the resurrection must not be reduced to some sort of motivational principle. We are to live in the pattern of the resurrection and see life

in light of the resurrection. We are united with the resurrection in baptism so “we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) wrote the apostle Paul. Such a life stands in stark contrast

to the calculating, self-centered and often hostile world that is often thought of as “realistic.”

A life that is rooted in the resurrection will inevitably look “unrealistic” to those whose eyes

are limited by the horizon of this world. But as a people of the resurrection we can see things about reality that are hidden from those without

faith. As we live in union with the risen Christ our perceptions change. And so, “we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view,

we no longer regard him so. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, such a one is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2

Corinthians 5:16-17). From a “human point of view” self-interest

reigns supreme. From a “human point of view” division and walls of hostility separating peoples

are crucial. But in Christ “there is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). There is neither American nor Iranian nor Cambodian,

neither rich nor poor, neither black nor white. For those of us who see with the eyes of the resurrection the barriers come tumbling down.

We see all people as recipients of God’s love and prospective citizens of the kingdom of God. “The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”

And so, we celebrate Easter knowing that

it started when Jesus stepped from the tomb, but it did not end there. Easter penetrates us every day as we see with the vision of faith and live in

the confidence that God calls us to walk with the living Christ in ways of service, peace and love.

Grace and Peace, Craig

Church Chatter April 2010

“We will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before us, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

PRESCHOOL NEWS We all enjoyed a visit from some really

friendly farm animals on Farm Day. “Turk” the 52 lb. turkey was amazing and the star of the day. We also got to see chickens, goats, a baby

turkey, a bunny and a pony. Lots of egg coloring, egg

hunting and Easter celebrations brought us to the beginning of

Spring. Happy Easter!

APRIL PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS

6th Preschool resumes

14th Preschool Board Meeting (7:00 p.m.)

20th & 21st Sharing with Pastor Craig 22nd Earth Day

Take Your Child to Work Day 28th Tunes from the Two’s (9:45 a.m.) Individual Graduation Photos 29th Individual Graduation Photos

30th Ms. Rita, Dramatic Storeyteller 5/2 Preschool Appreciation Sunday

(at 10:45 Worship Service)

APRIL BIRTHDAYS 4th Shelby Suelzner 5th Emma Winston

11th Donna Pruner 12th Ashley Ehlebracht Olga Tocuyo

13th Aida Arias-Thurlow 14th Jeremy Greenfield 17th Patti Johnson Scott Johnson

Robin Wooldridge 24th Emilie Richardson 27th Steven Bramley

Robert Rutkauskas 28th Douglas Lucas 30th Reggie Ghann

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES 7th Michael & Diane Wead 12th John & Donna Linn

13th Romeo & Ruby Espiritu 14th Jon & Sandy Alexander

[We apologize if your name is not on the list. Please call the office to update your information!]

YOUTH ON WEDNESDAYS

Our youth are now meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:00. The D-Unit group [Middle & High School youth] meets in the Youth

Room and Sanctuary. The younger youth are meeting also…Kidz Praiz happens on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, and all other Wednesdays are JYF (Junior Youth Fellowship) for Elementary kids.

Come have some fun with us!

A WARM WELCOME Betty Cottrell joined the church because

the church has been a great source of comfort and support during and after the passing of her husband Jack. Betty is grateful to Pastor Craig

who helped her at a critical time in her life. RPCC is happy to have Betty as a member of our church family.

Carmen Williams was driving on Royal

Palm Blvd and the "EMBRACING CHURCH" sign got her attention. So, in November last year, she walked into the church and was instantly touched by the music and the friendliness of the people.

She placed membership on March 14th. Carmen is a native of Virgin Islands and was raised a Methodist. She works as a CNA in an Assisted

Living Facility and has been a Coral Springs resident since 2006. Carmen has two grown children – Jermain is in University in Tallahassee and Jerome studying aviation in Daytona Beach.

RPCC extends an embracing welcome to Betty and Carmen. We are glad you are part of our church family!

JOSH LOOMIS ~ ACTING ON A NEED For nearly 3 years now, I have been

blessed and privileged to serve the local

homeless population by working at the Jubilee Center of South Broward in Hollywood. This small, non-profit organization not only helps feed

nearly 100 homeless individuals a day, it also provides a wide variety of emergency social services. As a social service counselor, I meet with the client, assess their needs, and provide

them with supplemental food, clothing, hygiene items, and referrals for counseling and shelters. We also provide a friendly ear who will listen to

their problems related to joblessness, addiction, mental illness, or health issues.

Through countless discussions with them, it became clear that many of our clients become

hospitalized (and some die) without anyone ever knowing or going to visit them. God continued to place this issue on my heart and led me to do something about it. Six months of prayer, phone

calls, and meetings have given rise to a new ministry with Memorial Hospital which allows me (as a volunteer chaplain) to visit and minister to

any homeless person admitted there. It has been an amazing experience so far that has blessed me more than I ever imagined, gave me many new friends, and brought me closer to God

as a result. If you are interested in learning more

about the local homeless, working with the

homeless, or donating clothing, small hygiene items, or entertainment items (magazines, books, crosswords, etc.), please feel free to contact me at jloomis@nova.edu.

The Christian Men’s Fellowship will be

hosting their Annual Spring Chicken Barbecue on

Saturday, April 24th, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Join us and other families and friends for some food, fun and fellowship. An adult platter includes: chicken, coleslaw,

beans, roll and a beverage, and costs $5.00. The child platter includes: hot dog or chicken, chips and a beverage, and costs $3.00. [There will also be another 50/50 raffle!]

NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Are you interested in having your business listed in the new RPC Church & Preschool Business Card Directory, which will be distributed to the families in our congregation and

preschool? Well, we are moving forward in creating this directory! (see example below) Participating is easy…just submit your

business card to us, along with a minimum donation check (made payable to RPCC) for $25.00. The deadline for receiving business cards is April 15, 2010. Please give your card

and payment to Alice (in the church office), Teri Pinto or Loni Skipper. If you have questions, call Teri (954-825-3235) or Loni (954-214-7787) or e-mail Loni at laurenskipper@att.net

BLESSINGS God is at work in our community! Do you

have a blessing you would like to share with your RPCC family? If so, email it to the church office [rpcc2@bellsouth.net] and we’ll include it in an

upcoming Chatter.

BAPTISM CLASS Pastor Craig will host a Baptism Class for anyone in 5th grade or older interested in finding out about being baptized. The class will meet at

12:30 p.m. beginning on Sunday, April 18th. For more information, please call the church office (954-753-2383).

FEELING TAXED? LET US TAKE CARE

OF YOUR KIDS ONE NIGHT! The Christian Women’s Fellowship will host an evening of FOOD, FUN and FELLOWSHIP

for children of ALL ages. Save the date… Saturday, April 17th, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. $20 for the first child, $10 each additional child ($40 max per family). Dinner and snacks included.

“GOD IS BIGGER”

The camp directors

have begun preparing for this summer’s camp adventures! The dates for the various camps are

listed below, and camp registration forms are

available on the youth room door. In order to

receive the discounted Camp Fee listed below, all registrations should be turned in before May 11th. Regional Camp Scholarships are also

available for campers in need of financial assistance. Scholarship Forms are also on the youth room door. Scholarship Forms MUST BE completed and given to Ms. Alice no later

than Easter Sunday (April 4th).

Adults…there are camp counselor positions available also. If you haven’t ever been

to camp, find time to speak to Coral, Libby, Ingrid or Cheryl…they have first hand experience!

Camp Grades Dates Cost

CYF Conference 9th – 12th 6/20 – 26 $295

Genesis Camp 5th – 8th 6/27 – 7/2 $285

Junior Camp 4th - 5th 7/11 – 15 $245

3rd Grade Camp 3rd 7/18 – 22 $245

ChiRho Camp 6th - 8th 7/25 – 30 $280