April is drawing to a close and already the May calendar is fi lling up with plans for meetings, graduations and other end-of-school activities, Mother’s Day plans, and other important family and community events.

First Sunday Breakfast at our church will be served next Sunday at 9:00 A.M. The Women’s Bible Study group meets at 9:30 in the fellowship hall on May 7^th . The Lake Ministry begins on May 25^th , and Memorial Day services are scheduled for the afternoon of May 26^th at the Atwood Cemetery.

Besides all that our church is preparing to attend Falls Creek in June, and Alex and Yashna, our Youth group leaders are planning a June wedding. In fact, Yashna is also graduating from ECU in May. Never a dull minute lately, and that’s just the way we like it.

This Sunday Joyce Searcy sang “He Grew the Tree” as the special music selection. It is impossible to imagine the grace and love that was required of Jesus as He created and sustained the tree that would become His cross.

Following the worship service, several of the men reported on their experiences regarding the men’s retreat at Falls Creek last week. Most people who attend a religious retreat experience spiritual blessings, and there were many of these. But they also shared how God had transformed problems (mostly unexpected ones) into unexpected blessings. All this and more fun than anyone who still thinks religion is for the sour and stodgy would ever expect--or even imagine.