LENTEN AND HOLY WEEK EVENTS
April 3 Lord’s Supper
April 17 Palm Sunday -- Kids Connection to sing
April 19 Presentation of Parts 2 & 3 of Handel’s Messiah by the Choral Union of Stetson University at FBC, DeLand
April 21 Maundy Thursday service, 6:30 pm
April 22 Community wide Good Friday service, 12-3:00, Grace Episcopal Church, Port Orange
April 24 Easter Sunday

Maundy Thursday Worship Service
On April 21 at 6:30 we will celebrate Maundy Thursday. This will replace our normal Wednesday evening activities. It is the celebration of the night in the upper room on which Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and said, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." The name Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin word mandatum which means "command." Jesus also said to the disciples that night, "“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). We will study and reenact the events of the upper room that night.

WITHOUT EASTER
Without Easter,
there would be no hope of heaven.
Without the hope of heaven,
there would be no repentance,
no personal transformation,
no attempt to follow biblical principles.

Without Easter,
the world would be in chaos
and darkness.
Jesus’ death and resurrection
means we can be reborn,
to live better, to do better,
to shine light into the shadows.
Hallelujah!
Happy, Happy Easter.
By Joanna Fuchs
www.poemsource.com

Japan Crisis Offering
Goal: $400
The Missions Committee has suggested that we collect a special offering this month to help in Japan. Our donations will be sent to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and channeled through its ministry partners. (The Fellowship does not have field personnel in Japan.) Stats as of last week:
• On March 11 a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan triggering a massive tsunami.
• 7.348 confirmed deaths, 10.947 people missing
• More than 500,000 in emergency shelters
• 2 million without electricity
• 1.5 million without access to clean water
Plan to give by March 17.
Halifax Urban Ministries
For months food pantry shelves at HUM have been sparsely filled. The current “Love Your Neighbor” drive has the goal of returning to giving family food sacks every month instead of every 60 days which began last November. Canned and dry packaged foods are needed.
Countryside Lakes ALF
Join Bill Batchelor and the New Hope gang in celebrating April birthdays at the assisted living facility on Wednesday, April 20 at noon.

PAINTING FUND DRIVE
Fred Griffith says, “Our church needs to be waterproofed by sealing it and then painting the two buildings SOON. We have noticed that the western exterior wall has shown signs of some minor warping of the wood due to the direct rays of the summer sun and some minor moisture penetration last year. So far it appears to be only minor correctible damage, however should it go on much longer we may have water coming through this western wall (which is the front of our sanctuary) and this would be very expensive to repair and replace – and then also repaint . The Building / Grounds Committee has recently completed some minor preventive measures, however we believe that we need to hire professionals this year to prevent further damage. We have received a professional painting quote to perform this rather large and extensive painting job. All prep work, cleaning, priming, sealing, caulking and painting is included. We are also considering a new paint color (subject to Church Council approval) that may help to complement our existing light gray roof color.

“Currently adequate money is not budgeted to perform this work. We need approximately an additional $3,000 to begin the work. The total estimate of $4000 covers everything for both the sanctuary and the A-frame.

“We need to act soon to prevent any additional damage to our sanctuary.”

LADIES BIBLE STUDY
Ladies Bible Study will meet April 5 and 19 at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. On the 5th we will be studying chapter 10, “Embracing Strength.” Cindy Suprenant will be our leader and Dorothy Rollins will provide dessert.

In May we will begin studying a new book in the Bible Study Series, “A Woman After God’s Own Heart.” The title of the new book is Growing in Wisdom and Faith using scripture from the New Testament book of James.
Please see me to order a book.
Jeanne Mathieson

LADIES LUNCHEON
April 26, 11:45 AM
Cranes Roost
On the deck
Please let Linda Manners know if you plan to attend.

MUSIC AND WORSHIP
The Season of Lent
Following the Church Calendar of events, I am always impressed with the Season of Lent. It is the preparation that we make for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It includes the six Sundays prior to Easter Sunday and it also includes the week prior to the resurrection known as Holy Week. For me, this has always been a meaningful time in my life because of the music and specifically because of the events prior to Easter known as PALM SUNDAY, MAUNDY THURSDAY and GOOD FRIDAY. I have not always been a Baptist. I was raised in a church formerly known as the Evangelical and Reformed Church which merged with the Congregational Christian Church and is now known as the United Church of Christ. I tell you this to let you know that I have been exposed to other denominations beside Baptists including singing in a Reformed Jewish Synagogue on Friday nights while attending a Catholic University. Because my voice teacher at Loyola University was the choir director at the Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans, I was invited to sing there during my college years and I must admit that I gained a great respect for the way in which Episcopalians do worship. They sit to be instructed, they kneel to pray and they stand to sing praises to God. When I became a Baptist, I started listening to the words I was singing and the prayers I was praying. For me, it became more than ritual. It became meaningful. For years, I would sing the words from “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Dubois or the three parts of MESSIAH by Handel and not really know what these words meant. When I entered the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary I took courses related to music theory and harmony and counterpoint. But I also took theology courses and a hymnology course that has actually changed my life. I learned the background of the writing of hymns that we sing in church. Dr. Harry Eskew, the teacher of this course, has become a lifelong friend.
Dennis Bucher

NEW HOPE 101
An introduction to Baptists
and to New Hope Baptist Church led by Dr. Mulkey
Sunday, April 10, 5:00 PM


BUILDING AND GROUNDS CLEAN-UP DAY
All hands on deck this coming Saturday, April 9, to spruce up the property inside and out for spring. We anticipate many visitors for worship services this month.
Fred Griffith
Please, if you are placing posters, flyers or decorations in the church buildings, use masking tape, not Scotch tape which will lift off the paint when removed.

WHAT’S COOKING?
Mary Huber, former owner of a tea room, has submitted three soup recipes. We offer the first.
Lettuce Soup
1 large onion, chopped
¼ c margarine or butter
1 c milk
3 T flour
1 lb. Boston lettuce in large pieces
½ t lemon pepper
½ t salt
Saute onion in butter until transparent. Add milk and flour. Simmer until thickened. Drop lettuce leaves into boiling water. Cook until leaves are wilted (about 5 minutes). Drain leaves. Put into blender and puree leaves. Add puree to milk mixture. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with garlic croutons.


CBF 20th ANNIVERSARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
June 22-25
Tampa, Florida
The annual national assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is meeting at our back door this year. We are hoping to have a representative group from New Hope to attend this time of fellowship and inspiration. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear some of our field personnel and learn more about our global mission work. Hotel space at the discounted rate is going fast. For more information, see Dr. Mulkey.

Since Florida is hosting this event, there is a need for 150 volunteers for registration, ushering, set-up and take down. If interested, contact the CBF Office at 863-682-6802.

FILM REVIEW
AMADEUS
This year is the 220th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I may not be a musician but I certainly do appreciate the really great music of my favorite classical composer. The 1984 film "Amadeus" chronicles the most productive part of the short life of Mozart and his nemesis Antonio Salieri who was the court composer for the Emperor Joseph of Vienna during the 1700's. I viewed this one via Netflix which is a great and inexpensive way to see movies at home.
This film won about 40 awards worldwide including Best Picture and Best Actor for F. Murray Abraham as Salieri at the Academy Awards. But the reason I pulled this one out of the archives is the theme of jealousy and envy that destroys lives. These are emotions portrayed brilliantly and oftentimes comically by Abraham in his role as Salieri, the court composer who is jealous of Mozart's God given talent but also admires and adores him.
The film begins with an elderly Salieri in an insane asylum claiming to have been responsible for Mozart's death. The story of Mozart's brilliant life is told in flashbacks by Salieri who is somewhat remorseful for his hatred of Mozart. The interesting thing about Salieri though, is he is jealous of Mozart because he hears the voice of God in Mozart's music. He is jealous because he does not feel that God is speaking through his own compositions. Mozart was a child prodigy who wrote a concerto at age 4, a symphony at 7 and an opera at age 12. He was spoiled by his own brilliant father and paraded around Europe from the time he was 5 years old. His music was original, complicated, and like most geniuses he was ahead of his time. He unfortunately died at age 36 and was buried in a community grave. He was not as appreciated in his lifetime as he should have been.
Salieri, as an old man in a wheelchair looking back on his life, is gleeful and full of joy as he describes Mozart's slow death. He is like Satan who is jealous of Jesus. He admits he himself had only a mediocre talent (though in reality there is evidence to show that he was extremely successful and talented, just not in comparison to Mozart). Salieri asks of his confessor, "Why would God choose an obscene child to be His instrument?" At another point in his confession he says, "All I ever wanted was to sing to God. He gave me the longing and then made me mute."
I think a lot of us have felt a longing like this and certainly jealousy and envy of others. But as Salieri experienced only frustration and hatred which corrupted him and led to a pathetic outcome so we must look inward and ask our Lord to help us to not feel negative feelings toward those we think are just plain better than we are. Our Lord is the perfect parent and doesn't love any of us more than our siblings in Christ.
Salieri wanted to please God but didn't believe his music was pleasing enough. He thought he could hear God's voice in another person's music and so was driven to maniacal pleasure at another's misfortune. But he only ended up hurting himself by allowing the negative emotions of jealousy and envy to consume him. Far better to allow God to speak through whomever He will and for us to try to nurture them as our Father does to all of us. By the way, "Amadeus" in Latin means "lover of God."
Sandra Kleinschmidt

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
YARD SALE A SUCCESS
Last month’s Yard Sale netted a total of $1175 for children’s and youth ministry. Thanks to all who donated items and worked during the sale. Left over items will be donated to three charities: HUM, Halifax Humane Society
and Haiti.

KIDS CONNECTION TO SING PALM SUNDAY
The children from Saturday morning Kids Connection will perform at the 11:00 o’clock worship service on Palm Sunday.
YOUTH NIGHT
Friday, April 8
7:00 – 10:00 PM

KIDS CONNECTION EASTER EGG HUNT
Saturday, April 23
Donations of plastic eggs and wrapped candies are welcomed.

KIDS KLUB
AWANA theme night, “April Showers” is April 13. Clubbers should bring an umbrella to decorate with Easter foam stickers to win extra points for the Point Store. Parents note: Umbrellas can be purchased at the Dollar Store for $1.00.

The AWANA Store will be open on Wednesday, April 13, for Clubbers to use their points.