Ruth 1:8-16

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

The UMW is holding a Formula & Diaper Drive each Sunday in May.  Bring any size or brand of diapers and formula.  

The next Club MnM is tomorrow at 6 pm.  Bring sunscreen, insect repellant, and/or ball caps for people at the Austin Street Shelter.  And don’t forget to wear your swimsuits.  We’ll have special water games for everyone!

Exodus 2:1-10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

The UMW is holding a Diaper, Formula, & Layette Kit Drive each Sunday in May.  Bring any size or brand of diapers and formula.  The layette kits will be donated to UMCOR and sent around the world.  Special assembly details are available in the May newsletter.

This Sunday is Bring-a-Meal/Share-a-Meal, when we share communion together and bring food donations for other families in need.  Your generous donations will be given to the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry.

Exodus 2:1-10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

This annual UMW banquet will be held Tuesday, May 8, at 6:30 pm in the Ministry Center.  The theme this year is, “Mothers and Daughters Helping Mothers and Infants.”  Sarah Squires, WRCC will speak.  RSVP and request child care through Roz Swan, 214-929-6935 or swanrk43@msn.com.

The UMW is holding a Diaper & Formula Drive each Sunday in May.  Bring any size or brand of diapers and formula.  On those Sundays they will also collect layette kits for UMCOR to send around the world.  Assembly details will be available in the May newsletter.

 Obedient. Influential. Faithful. Resourceful. Courageous. Passionate. Strong.

…Words that describe women of the Bible whose stories you have probably never heard. These extraordinary women lived in a culture that relegated them to hidden roles, but they have much to teach us. This sermon series will uncover the stories of these lesser-known characters of the Bible, revealing their faith and faithfulness even in the midst of great hardship and disappointment.

Sunday, May 6: Miriam
Sunday, May 13: Jochebed
Sunday, May 20: Ruth
Sunday, May 27: Martha & Mary