Nokesville Church of the Brethren
April 2024 Newsletter
PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
Having an April birthday, I paid attention when I was younger to the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” The last few days have included quite a bit of rain. So, I’m hopeful! This is the beginning of the gardening season. Our daughter has her starter plants sprouting inside her west-facing glass doors. As we move towards mid-May, she’ll transition them to their outside locations. These sprouts had their first chance at growth when she put the seeds in soil and cared for their watering needs. But the real growth happened because of God.
As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he addressed dissension over which leader to follow. Should they follow Paul? Or should they follow Apollos? Paul confronted their tendencies toward quarreling by reminding them of how Apollos and Paul have each done their part.
Is Apollos important? No! Is Paul important? No! We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. I planted the seed of the teaching in you, and Apollos watered it. But God is the One who made the seed grow. So, the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God is important because he is the One who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. And each will be rewarded for his own work. We are workers together for God. And you are like a farm that belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9, International Children’s Bible)
We are to be co-workers who plant and water seeds for God. Then, we trust God for the growth. What seeds are we planting and watering? Are we sowing seeds of discord, disagreement, and dissonance? Or are we sowing seeds of unity, encouragement, and love for all? Each of us has seeds to plant. And each of us has what we think should be the garden plan. But have we gone to God for the best seeds? And God’s plan?
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The seeds that we plant together for God will be our testimony to the world of how to garden. We all have a gardening job to do at any given moment. Are you planting good seeds? Are you watering faithfully? As we do this together, God will make things in the kingdom garden grow. Then everyone will see blooms and fruits of God’s love.
Pastor Janet
CONGREGATIONAL SPRING FORUM
Nokesville Church of the Brethren
April 14, 2024
Following worship with fellowship meal
Please bring a dish to share
Come share the business of our church
MANY THANKS!
Sheldon & Peggy wish to send a thank you to their Church friends for the cards, visits, and well wishes on Facebook for Easter and their 69th anniversary. It made both occasions special.
SERVICE & COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT
The Fellowship of The Least Coin The Service & Community Engagement Team decided to continue this project that aids women and children. On Mother’s Day, May 12, our children will be given a special project to do. Adults can help, too. Be sure to come to find out more!
New Blessings Box The new Blessings Box arrived and was assembled by Brentsville’s high school students in FFA. Thank you for your generosity and support of this ministry to and with our community.
Senior Social Events continue on the third Wed. of every month @ 11:30 a.m. with lunch provided! We have some new and exciting programs planned for the coming months. Such as ‘exercise on your level’; a barbershop quartet; therapy dog presentation; and more! Invite your friends. This is for the whole community.
April Senior Social invite your friends!!
We are hosting a local Barbershop Quartet for the month of April on Wednesday April 17th @ 11:30 a.m.! You don’t want to miss this!
Let Nancy Hedges or Jo Ann Stanto know how many extra folks will be coming so that we can provide enough food for lunch (again there is no charge, but you may make a donation towards the food if you like).
SHOEBOX MINISTRY
For the last ShoeBox Ministry goodie box of the year to our only college student we’d like donation be delivered on April 21st. Please place your homemade items, other snacks & gift cards in the container provided in the Narthex.
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
We will continue to host coffee hour before Sunday School each week. We encourage you to consider providing breakfast for the congregation. You may also consider signing up with a friend. See the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
Community Yard Sale on April 20th. Vendor spots are now open up for both congregation and community members. You can sign up for a vendor space by scanning the QR code on the flyer. If you would like help organize the event, please reach out Pam Breslin or another member of the Congregational Life team.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS ARE BACK!
Food Truck Fridays will be starting up again May 10th!
To find out what trucks will be joining us this year please visit our News & Events page here: https://nokesvillecob.org/2023/05/01/food-truck-fridays/
RAINBOW PRESCHOOL NEWS
Our new updated website has been launched: rainbowpreschoolncob.org. A big THANK YOU to Pam Breslin for all her hard work and expertise. Thank you to Tracey Hladky for all her help and to Elizabeth Evans for editing. It was a team effort!
We still have openings for the 2024/2025 school year so please feel free to share our website with anyone who is interested or have them email us at rainbowpreschool538@gmail.com.
FLOWER SHARING
We have created a Signup Genius so you can order flowers online. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4EABAE29A4F94-46656315-2024
Your offerings can be made through our website. https://www.continuetogive.com/ncobbudget
SERVING APRIL 2024
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Coffee Fellowship 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Janet’s Office Hours
Tues – Fri
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
pastor@nokesvillecob.org