March 2026
      Sonora United Methodist Church Newsletter
From Rev. Kevin Campbell,
This Lenten season we will be reminded of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection by the journey of a caterpillar. Our caterpillar will move around the sanctuary, become a cocoon for Good Friday, and transform into a butterfly for Easter. Jesus lived, travelled, taught and healed during his life on earth. Holy week recalls his arrest, trial and death on the cross. All these events take place so God will raise Jesus from the tomb on Easter morning. I want to share Bishop Sandra Olewine’s words from the Ash Wednesday devotion:
Lent begins with smudged ashes on our foreheads. As Elizabeth Scalia wrote, this practice “harkens back to ancient penitential practices of lament, of sack cloth and ashes, signs of brokenness and heartache, and ultimately, an outward sign of all we will become, whether we are kings or kooks: ashes.” But if the ashes only symbolize what becomes of us at the end of this life or only represents our failings and faithlessness, Ash Wednesday would be a rather depressing day.
But there is something more here than just our mortality and failings. There is also here something of eternity – not in terms of a life beyond this one, although that is there too – but of an eternity that is captured in the midst of our very real lives now. In these ashes, we are reminded that God, who was, is and will ever be, does amazing things with dust, creating from the dry residue of a life spent, worn out, and depleted, something restored, healed, and inspired.
God says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:2) The ashes we wear are a sign that this day is the day that God is saving us. Because God listens to us as we weep and wail, as we lay spent before God’s gracious Spirit. Because God hearing our cries, calls us to look up, to lift our eyes above the ruins and to see salvation approaching.
Today is as good a time as any to recognize that God does indeed make things new – even those things that are on our hearts that feel like death. The marks on our foreheads are a sign that we are dying to an old way of seeing, being, and living. They proclaim that we are choosing today to believe that no matter our shortcomings, our failures, our screw ups, large or small, our fears, or our dashed hopes that we trust that God creates beginnings even when everything around us seems as if it is ending.
This is from the first of the daily devotions for Lent written by different members of our Annual Conference. I invite you to go to the conference website: cnumc.org or Facebook or Instagram page to continue to engage in daily study as we journey toward Easter.
Shalom,
Pastor Kevin
Scriptures and Sermon titles for March:

Mar 1: 2nd Sun of Lent
           "Our Keeper"
           Psalm 121
           Genesis 12: 1-4a

Mar 8: 3rd Sun of Lent
            "Church Shopping"
            John 4: 5-42
        Daylight Saving Time begins

Mar 15: UMCOR Sunday
             "What Does God See?"
             1 Samuel 16: 1-13

Mar 22: 5th Sun of Lent
             "A Tomb with a View"
             John 11: 1-45

Mar 29: Palm Sunday
             "Open the Gate"
             Matthew 21: 1-11
            Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
Shalom,
Pastor Kevin

               
  Coming Activities 

            Beans, Rice and Jesus Christ
Thursdays: Free Community Dinner every Thursday, 3:30 to 4:30 pm.  Main dish, salad, dessert and drink for anyone who wants to come.  
       
Fridays: 2 pm  Bible Study using the Upper Room devotional booklet.  Good discussions about how to be a Christian in the modern world.

Saturday, March 14, at  9 am     The Women’s Fellowship will prepare a main dish for Beans, Rice and Jesus Christ.  The dish is frozen and is used when needed.  Such a big help to the BRJC staff.

Sunday, March 15  United Methodist Committee On Relief. 
We will have a special collection to support this  organization that acts on our behalf when there is a crisis in the world.  These funds cover the cost of doing business, so that when we give when there is a disaster, 100% of our giving goes to disaster relief.

Sunday, March 22 after the 11:30 service will be our all church potluck, followed by our Church Council meeting.

Sunday, March 29, Nancy Fraleigh will lead the waving of the Palm Branches during the 11:30 service.  Rev Kevin Campbell’s message will be “Open the gate”.

The annual Palm Sunday Morgan Chapel service and hymn sing will be at 3 pm. The service, (and very good cookies)  are organized by the Tuolumne/Soulsbyville congregation. Directions: take Tuolumne Rd to Ward’s Ferry Road and travel 3 miles.  A cemetery is on one side of the road and the Chapel on the other.  If you wish to car pool, be at the church parking lot at 2:30 pm

April 3: Good Friday, 1-3 pm. Drop in prayer an interactive activities for personal meditation on Christ’s last hours.  You may come at any time between 1 and 3 pm and meditate at the stations at your own speed.  Short readings will be available to guide your meditations and items, such as a crown of thorns, will be there for you to experience.

April 5: 11:30  Easter Sunday  Pastor Kevin Campbell will bring the message. 

May 30: Saturday 8 - 2 pm  Women’s Fellowship Rummage Sale

Dear Friends of Beans,Rice and Jesus Christ,

Dear Church family,
   I hope you all survived, and even enjoyed the February rain and snow, and stayed safe and warm.  Due to the harsher weather conditions, we did not serve quite as many people as we did last month.  But those who made it to the dinners left with a full tummy, blankets and clothes.  Guests enjoy themselves and left refreshed.

    A special thank you to the Women’s Group for their delicious contributions of Chile Verde and turkey cheese sliders.  Also a thank you to Lorraine Vogt for shopping each month in the Valley, saving us from higher prices in the Foothills by buying in bulk at discount stores.  Everyone loves the good food!

    On Thursday, February 19, the snow was so deep in East Sonora, that 5 BRJC staff members were snowed in at their homes.  We talked and problem solved until we finally decided it was not safe for staff or guests to venture out.  I was struck by the depth of commitment we have to show up for our people.  I was also proud of how well the staff communicate with each other without judgment, and with love and respect.  Yeah team!  I am reminded of Joshua 1:19 “God never sends out His promise without His presence.  When God sends you on assignment, His presence goes with you.”
   God bless you all.
Love, 
Alice Mansfield
BRJC Coordinator

Women’s Fellowship
   I hope everyone has made it through our brush with winter without too much difficulty. It was much needed rain and snow, but now we have sunshine that came just in time for Martha Weather's celebration of life. What a wonderful tribute to a good and faithful servant!
   Our next cooking day for Beans and Rice and Jesus Christ will be Saturday the 14th at 9 am. We may once again do the hot sliders as there is still lots of sliced turkey in the freezer. 
   Our next meeting is on Saturday,  April 25th at 11:30 am. We will be getting ready for our spring rummage sale set for Saturday,  May 30th. When you do your spring cleaning, perhaps you can set aside clean usable items that you no longer need. Good things to donate would be household and kitchenware, books, movies, music, toys, etc.
   A talent show fundraiser is being planned for some time in June. Lynn Whitlach is working on the details. This may include a bake sale as well. Be watching for more information. 
Blessings until next time,

Karla Wasson 

 

March Birthdays 
3/21   Jerry O’Day
3/30   Lucy Sousa 

YouTube Instructions for Accessing SUMC’s Sunday Service Videos:
1)    Open YouTube by installing the app on your phone or clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com or search for YOUTUBE in Google Search Tool, and SELECT
2)    Go to the Search Bar in YouTube at the top of the page and type in “Sonora United Methodist Church Lynn” and hit ENTER…or type in “@SonoraUnitedMethodistChurchLyn”
3)      Select the video you’d like to start watching from the SUMC services videos.
4)    Once it starts playing, tap anywhere on video. You’ll see CC come up in the upper right-hand corner. Click the CC to turn on Closed Captions to ensure you can follow along with the service.
5)    After finishing the video, please make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube Sonora United Methodist Church’s page. This will notify you every time a new video is posted, but you might be required to register with YouTube – this is free.

 

From Lorraine Vogt, Church Council Chair

    Last month, my article was full of complaints about all the reports and statistics we had to do.  I am happy to report that we got them all done and in on time.

    On Sunday (February 22) we received news that our grant request for technical equipment was well received by the Central Valley District Union and we will receive a check for $7500 for new technical equipment! With this equipment we are planning to be able to Live Stream our worship services, have a Flat Screen system for hymn lyrics display, upgrade our sound system, provide equipment for the hearing impaired, and have equipment to safeguard our computer system and data. Our thanks to Dan-joe Lopez, Lynn Whitlach, Pastor Kevin, and Peggy Florence who worked hard figuring out what we needed and wrote and edited the answers to the grant questions.  Much research, writing and coordination were needed.
       
  We are joyous when, as a congregation, we can meet together, sing hymns, and listen to an inspiring sermon.  We thank God that we have issues that we need to attend to and that will make us grow into our God given talents.  We are especially joyous to be able to work together to serve this congregation and community that we love.