Dear Friends,
During the Lenten Season, we need to ask ourselves, "How can I deepen my relationship with Christ and thus fulfill God's will for my life?" and prepare to take action.
There was a plant in my garage that withered. It once flourished when it was given consistent loving care. But because of neglect, it was waiting to be disposed. Our spiritual life is very much like that plant. It will grow or wither depending on what care we give it.
In order to see growth in our relationship to God, we must give time and attention to it through regular times of worship, prayer, study of God's Word, service and holy living. In this Lent, I urge us to take special care to deepen our walk with Christ as we participate in the Lenten Season's worship & prayer opportunities.

Following Christ with you,
Pastor Julia YH Yim

NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT (NCD) NIGHT with the Rev. Ann Pearson (Conference Director of Connectional Ministries) this Sunday, March 4 at 7:30 PM: All the members of the Administrative Council and ALL church members who are interested in the health & growth of our Church are invited to this special presentation. NCD is a process by which churches can discover areas to improve and implement ways to grow in effectiveness for Christ and His Mission.

TO ALL UMW MEMBERS: The monthly General UMW meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 13th has been cancelled. The Executive Meeting originally scheduled for March 5th, 7pm is in conflict with the Nursery Board Meeting. Please note the Executive Board will now meet Tuesday, March 20th, 7pm in the UMW Board Room. This meeting is quite important, and if at all possible, every circle should be represented. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

• a 6-week DVD study on "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg
• Three 2-week programs:

1. Discussion on How the Bible Came to Be - The Early Church and the Formation of the Bible, The Gospels - The Chosen & the Lost;
2. Discussion on Henri Nouwen's Out of Solitude
3. Discussion based on the recent movie, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

There will be programs for Children & Youth. ALL ARE WELCOME!

J.C. CAFÉ HOME EDITION: Church Talent Night, Sat. Mar. 10th. Come and experience the J.C. Café atmosphere with a special focus. Coffee, tea, desserts; suggested donation $5.00 (to be given to UMCOR-Darfur).

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! The Sunday School has adopted a kindergarten class in Gulfport, Mississippi that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. They do not have books in their classroom to read. We are collecting new or like-new fiction and non-fiction picture books, preferably soft cover, for their classroom library. Monetary donations will be accepted (can be dropped off either in the Church Office or with Jenn Lee). Please leave donated books in a box in the So. Transept. If you have any questions, please contact Jenn Lee. Thank you.

QUINIPET RETREAT: Reservations will be taken Sun. March 11th & Sun. March 18th, after the 9:30 worship service and before the Potluck Dinner. The retreat dates are Fri. July 20th thru Sun. July 22nd, 2007. See Rob Schozer for details.

WORKSHOP FOR LAITY: The New York Annual Conference Board of Church & Society is sponsoring a workshop for laity on Sun. March 25th, 2:00-4:30pm at Hicksville UMC. The goal is to provide laity with basic education on the social principles of the United Methodist Church and to train persons who can themselves take this knowledge back to educate wider circles of United Methodists in our districts and local churches. Featured presenter is Rev. Clayton Childers, Program Director, Annual Conference Relations. For further information, contact Rev. Jeff Wells (516) 541-7008.

UPCOMING RETREAT FOR LAITY: All laity are invited to attend a special retreat featuring Rev. Terry Teykl, a much sought after dynamic speaker and seminar leader, on Fri., Mar. 30th & Sat. Mar. 31st at Passionist Retreat Center, Bronx, NY. The topic is Acts 29 "Prayer Encounter" (a blend of worship, teaching, ministry, prayer & fellowship). If you have a desire to grow more in the area of prayer, this retreat might be of interest to you. The cost is $75 both days, $55 Saturday only. Please call the Church Office for further info.

2006 ANNUAL REPORTS: copies are available in the Church Office and the Welcome Center.

IN NEED OF PRAYERS THIS WEEK: : Kyli Abbinanti, Shirley Baker, Emily Brown, Scott Brown, Carmen Capoziello, Mabel Greenidge, Mildred Lindquist, Peggy Lopez, Ruth Mace, Tom Maldonado, Praveen Misra, Carolyn Minn, Evelyn Occena, Ann Robertson, Louisa Rodriguez, Vera Schefer, Barbara Simpson, Lou Volla, and our troops in harm's way.
*If you know of someone in the hospital, or someone who wishes a pastoral visit, please call the Church Office.