In Europe, there are no palm trees. And so, historically, European churches have used pussy willows, which are early spring branches, as a substitute for the palms on Palm Sunday. These days palms are shipped all over the world for Palm Sunday services. At Mayfield we are fortunate to have both palms from far away and local pussy willows from a farm just down the road.

Holy Week and Easter Worship

Palm Sunday – April 14 – 10:00 am—the Holy Week story unfolds first with this day’s hubbub and excitement. Our Lenten theme of “The Journey Is Home” adds another layer with “the Homestretch.”

Maundy Thursday – April 18 – The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a Salad Potluck and will include the worship elements of Communion and Tenebrae. Everyone is asked to bring a salad to share. The word Maundy in the name of this day is believed to be derived from a Latin word for mandate and is tied to this verse of scripture from John 13:34: I am giving you a new commandment.  Love one another as I have loved you. We gather at a salad table because at one time this was known as Green Thursday, acknowledging the greening of the earth in early spring.

Easter Sunday – April 21 – The Easter Bonfire will be lit in the fire pit behind the parsonage at 7:30 am. Bonfires glowed on Easter morning in the early church and still are a part of many Easter vigil services around the globe. Once our fire is lit, a first light ritual will follow. Bring lawn chairs if you have them. Our Easter Potluck Breakfast will be served in the Dining Room starting at 8:30 am. What breakfast treat might you contribute to our table? Festive worship will be underway at 10:00 am. To help us decorate for Easter, you are encouraged to bring potted spring plants like daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, tulips, or others.

Church Council

Church council members, our April meeting is this Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 pm.

And a good time was had by all. Thanks to so many at Mayfield for another successful pancake breakfast on Saturday, April 6. Special thanks are extended to Angie and Dawn for their leadership. It was a wonderful morning. Mark your calendars now. The fall breakfast will be on Saturday, October 19.

Remember, we are saving plastic caps for the Granville UCC. Bring them to church in coming weeks. Becky will deliver them on our behalf to the Granville church.

6th Annual Mayfield Fellowship Retreat – Finding Resilient Hearts in These Days

Saturday, April 27 – 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – MacQueen Forest Preserve

See the flyer attached with this memo for all the details. The registration deadline is Sunday, April 21. Please register soon. This retreat is for the entire congregation and for friends you would like to invite to join us. This day apart is a time to nourish and strengthen both our inner and our outer lives. We would love to see you there.

Looking Ahead to May

The Bookcase Project presentation of books is open to the public at Faranda’s in DeKalb on Saturday afternoon, May 4, 3:00 pm. This year tucked inside each child’s books will be a bookmark made with care by our children at Mayfield. Hopefully, several of us will be able to attend this joyful afternoon.

Under the direction of Becky and Theresa, our children will be preparing delicious refreshments for the congregation on Mother’s Day, May 12. Don’t miss their yummy gift to all of us.