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Irondale Church News
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Easter is Coming
This year Easter is on
April 16. As a kid growing up
Pray Always: Easter was a special day. The
boiled eggs we had colored
Pastor David and
the week before were hidden
either inside or out, depend-
Colleen
ing on the weather and the
Easter basket that had been
Community Soup
stored for the past year was
brought out for this special
Our outreach and occasion. There were plenty
witness to our com- of jelly beans, marshmallow
munity chicks and chocolate bunnies.
We had an Easter meal with
Busy Hands the extended family and I
recall it as a great day. I knew
People struggling Easter had to do with Jesus
with illness and His resurrection from the
dead, I knew it was a happy
Young families and time and though Im sure our
single parent fami- family could have been more
lies spiritual on Easter, the Day,
like Christmas, taught that
Christians and churches were
Those struggling
good places that wanted peo-
with addiction
ple to be happy. When
youre a kid that is enough.
Schools: students, Today with our children
staff, administrators
grown and celebrating their
own Easters, I want some-
Missionaries thing more, something more
than just one day and done.
Homeless, helpless, So I discovered Lent. Lent is a
hopeless and hungry season of forty days, not
counting Sundays, which be-
gins on Ash Wednesday and
ends on Holy Saturday. Lent
comes from the Anglo Saxon
word lencten, which means
"spring." The forty days rep-
resents the time Jesus spent
in the wilderness, enduring
the temptation of Satan and
preparing to begin his minis-
try. Lent is a time of repent-
ance, fasting and preparation
for the coming of Easter. It is
a time of self-examination and
reflection. In the early church,
Lent was a time to prepare new
converts for baptism.
For me Lent serves as a
break from the routine. A way
to set Easter apart as a very
special day. Forty four days
before the actual day of Easter I
start preparing for Easter. We
sort of do that with Christmas
as we prepare by purchasing
and making Christmas gifts,
hosting parties and all kinds of
other festive activities. But I
want Easter to be even bigger
in my life.
Lent begins on Ash
Wednesday and continues until
Easter Sunday. I began observ-
ing Lent a few years ago by
fasting from sweets. A lot of
people do that. For a guy like
me who has a real sweet tooth I
thought it would be tough, but
it wasnt that bad. During Lent
if I reached for a candy or a
cookie that little voice would
say, Nope, not till Easter and I
would walk away. It was sur-
prisingly easy for me.
The fact that it was easy
bothers me. If its easy, theres
no sacrifice and without sacri-
fice there is no advancement of
faith. So this year I am going to
have to up the ante. I read in
Guideposts about a woman
who gave up being snarky for
Lent.
Here are a few other ideas:
1. Using your smart phone
and . And doing anything else,
like eating, being with a friend,
drivinganything else.
2. Fast meals. For Lent
March, 2017
take time to eat. No McDonalds,
no QFC chicken or pizza, just
meals cooked from scratch or
restaurants with tables and wait-
ers.
3. Television. No TV, no
DVDs, no YouTube for 44 days,
read books.
4. Swearing. I know we are
all Christians and Christians never
swear, but some could still give it
up for at least Lent.
5. That sentence reminds me
that we can also give up sarcasm.
No eye rolls, no snorts, no sar-
casm for 44 days.
6. Sweet drinks. No soda, no
sweet tea, no juice, no cream and
sugar in your coffee, the water
would be good for you.
7. Complaining: for 44 days
just look at the bright side, the
bright side of everything. If you
havent given up movies, watch
Pollyanna, if you have read the
book. Who knows you could
become an optimist.
Well there you have it. If
you have never observed Lent
before there are some ideas to
get you thinking about ways to
focus your mind on the fact that
Jesus of Nazareth was died for
your sins. Jesus was un justly
accused, found guilty without a
crime, flogged and crucified on a
cross until He was dead. He was
laid in a tomb and left for dead.
But by the power of God life re-
turned to Jesus and He was res-
urrected from the dead. It was a
true miracle to create a way for
man to be reconciled to God and
to obtain eternal life for all who
believe.
-Pastor David

Irondale Church News
Jesus
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Authentic Walk of Love
What is love, what does it look like?
Love looks ahead always hoping for the
best. When love looks behind it sees foot
prints in the heart side by side, not angling
for position. What does the truth look
like? It doesnt move around. Behaviors
match words: no whiplash moments, no
gotcha or ah-ha moments, no side- someone, which do we declare? When
ways look or shocking revelations. Selfish-
ness seeks its own reward. In love youre
safe whether present or absent. Im-
portant things are important to share in
depth. Love longs for the presence of the
beloved. Others will not do. Faithfulness
lives in the quiet place of the heart and is
shaped by happily confined expectation in
the beloved. Hearts are woven as one in
an instant but depth develops over time in
the growth pattern of love and its attrib-
utes. Jesus walked in the fullness of this
kind of selfless love.
Disappointments and forgiveness are
hand in hand with the walk of love. Its gave up every right He, the king of Glo-
an expectation that love implies. Safe to
fail, safe to restore, safe to accept your
own failure and that of your beloveds.
Although Jesus never experienced a per-
sonal failure in the area of love, He was
well acquainted with our human failure.
When Jesus came He gave us the
pure example of true fully unselfish love.
He revealed the final piece to the picture;
willingness to give up ones very life for
the beloved.
In our lives today, He requires we do
that for the ones we love. Putting their
wants, their needs in perspective in rela-
tion to our love, sometimes requires our
very lives. Do we live authentically in our
love life on a daily basis? Do we strive to
give our very best in spite of our daily cir-
cumstances or health or position of wealth
or social position? His example is perfect
and a lofty but attainable one. It takes a
conscientious decision to practice Godly
love moment by moment. Children today
are often miserably lacking, in many in-
stances, this type of loving example in
their daily lives; instead they see self-
seeking and angry examples from the very
ones who should be showing them the
way, their parents, their grandparents and
those in authority over them.
Irondale Church News
Do we drop hints or blatantly
speak words of discouragement or
supremacy over others in their hear-
ing? Do we encourage their ac-
ceptance of others or speak of their
lack of value? When we have a chance
to speak blessing over someone orof
and its walk is Loving! Jesus said:
we have the opportunity to stop mali-
cious gossip, do we? Or do we enter in
by our silence, or add the little bit we
know, corroborating the true or false
facts, by so doing, teaching them and
others we cant be trusted? We also
teach that this behavior is acceptable.
We can decide to live in our wounded-
ness or ask God to help us overcome
and be strong enough to live in the
strength of His Love.
Strength of character is devel-
oped in two places: at the foot of the
cross in its loving perfection as Jesus
we all are capable of an unbridled
ry and Son of Man had, of righteous
treatment, fulfillment and expectation,
as well as at the feet of those who rep-
resent those we also look to for guide-
lines in our life as we establish our own
identities and the belief systems we
live by.
Lest you think that as I write this I
believe in any way I have arrived, I
do not, and know I have my whole life
to learn to walk in His ways of perfect
love, so help me along my journey,
strive with me to walk in the ways of
the Lord, together as we serve each
other as He has asked us to. Be the
one from across the parking lot who
hollers: Hey did anyone today tell
you, you are amazing? If I look at you
in astonishment go ahead and be bold
enough to say: Well you are! Dont
be afraid to be the blessing!
A person speaking in wisdom said
to me, Dont react when you are be-
ing goaded or baited, listen in silence.
Peace is what reigns when you return
godly behavior for evil. When some-
one asks you to enter into speculation
concerning another person, change
the subject, if they continue, change it
again, if they persist, continue in
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silence.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the
man who walks not in the counsel of
the ungodly, nor stands in the path of
sinners, nor sits in the seat of the
scornful; (NKJV)
Love looks like love, acts like love
John 15:13 Greater love has
no one than this, than to lay down
ones life for his friends.
Sometimes in so doing, you are
being your own best friend by not
adding discord to your soul.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in
love, as Christ also has loved us and
given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
aroma. (NKJV)
I pray He sees us all as sweet
smelling White Gardeniasfragrant
but fragile, wise enough to recognize
tongue. When we fail ourselves or
others fail us in words or deeds
remember that from the crossJesus
said:
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said,
Father, forgive them, for they do not
know what they do. And they divid-
ed his garments and cast lots. (NKJV)
Sometimes we are weary and we
dont take responsibility for our
words, other times we are being ma-
nipulative and trying to get others on
board with us. Other times we are
just careless and enter in to sin by
simply not being vigilant. None of
these reasons represent Jesus to the
world in a favorable light. As the song
says, They Will Know We Are Chris-
tians By Our Love.
We need to be the Valentine
Jesus expects of us. Loving well will
cause us to live well, serve well, and
have joy in our life and in the lives of
others whom we are allowed to share
our lives with. Its hard to be authen-
tic in this broken world, thats one of
the reasons why Jesus cameto show
us the way. We can do this together.
-Love, Colleen

Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Womens Bible Study at Irondale Church
Eleven Irondale ladies are currently
taking the Beth Moore bible study vid-
eo series: "John-The Beloved Disciple".
These ladies have committed them-
selves to an intense study of the "Life
and Ministry of John". We are well past
the half way mark of this 11 week
study. The study is taking us from
where John is first mentioned in the
Bible as he and his big brother James
accept Jesus' call. It will continue on
until we meet John on the island of
Patmos. It is there that it is believed he
wrote the Gospel of John, I, II, and III
John, and Revelations. It is an exciting
journey which, as we learn about John
and his ministry and his love for Christ
Jesus, our eyes are being opened to
our own personal relationship with
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The
common thread throughout John's
writings is the love of God. John him-
self, told us that his purpose for
writing the gospel of John was so that
people might know that Jesus was who
He said He was. John 1:1 "In the begin-
ning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God..." In
this study we have added singing a
new song each week. Songs are select-
ed to enhance the study of that partic-
ular week. Our theme song for our
Servant Soup
With the days lengthening, we have
seen a rise in the number of servings of
soup, bread and cookies we provide
each week. In February our highest
number was 137, and the lowest was
106. People are also coming in a little
later than during the dark days of win-
ter, and maybe lingering a little longer.
I think I can say for everyone that we
continue to love our neighbors in the
best way we can, with gratitude to our
Lord for His continual faithfulness to us
as we seek to do His will. Gods econo-
my continues to amaze and delight us.
We dont always have enough people
scheduled to help, especially for dish-
washing, but when the time comes,
study of John is: "Be Thou My Vision".
This is the third Beth Moore bible
study that has been offered within
the last year and a half. January 2016
we began our first study of "David-
Seeking a Heart Like His" in which we
studied the life of David and his reign
as king of Israel. We learned about
David as a boy, a shepherd, musician,
writer, friend, slayer of Goliath, warri-
or, husband, fugitive, father, adulter-
er, murderer and king. But above all
that we studied his deep love for God
that prompted his writing some of the
most beautiful words of scripture.
And watched as his human failings
brought him to a deep despair. But
we also saw God's incredible love for
David and His forgiveness. One of my
personal Psalm favorites is Psalm
139:23 "Search me, O God, and know
my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: 24And see if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting."
In September 2016 we embarked
on the study of the book of James.
We learned about this younger half
brother of Jesus and his real insight in
the teachings and practices of Jesus.
How he and his brothers participated
in ridiculing and mocking Jesus during
there is always someone doing the
dishes. There are folks who dont
want to be scheduled, yet show up
whenever they can, asking how they
can help. Sometimes it might look
like there wont be enough food, but
time and time again there is just
enough-right down to the last drop
and crumb. Somewhere along the
line, I stopped worrying about
whether there would be enough, and
just began to notice how He quietly
provides, filling each gap as only He
can!
Matthew 6:31-34 says, Therefore
do not be anxious, saying, What shall
we eat? or What shall we drink? or
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his ministry. And how James eventually
became one of the strongest followers
within the Christian Jewish community of
the early church. His message preached
that one who truly believes in Christ can-
not simply say "I believe" and do nothing.
By the anointing of the Holy Spirit we are
spurred on to action. We learned how
faith without works is dead. James 2:26
"For just as the body without the spirit is
dead, so also faith without works is
dead. ..." And we put our faith in action
by collecting a substantial amount of
food and delivered it to a family in need.
And as God moves, it so happened the
donation of food came at just the right
moment; when it was needed most.
We do not know the date of the next
Bible Study. It may be this next fall or it
may have to wait until next winter. We
are considering "Jesus: The One and On-
ly". There will be announcements and
sign-up sheets. Ladies are always wel-
come to join us! We are excited about
continuing on in Bible Study as we learn
and seek more about Our Lord Jesus and
strive to live our lives in His Service.
Matthew 7:7"Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you."
-In His Humble Service, Belinda Price
What shall we wear? For the Gen-
tiles seek after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. But seek first the king-
dom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to
you. Therefore do not be anxious
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble.
Arent we blessed to serve such a
faithful, loving God? Thanks be to
Him and to all of you who are so faith-
ful to pray and support and show up
each week!
-Kim
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I ran across this little story, its probably not true, but it does point to our ever changing cultures
and well worth reading. I dont know who the author is, but if you are old enough you will enjoy read-
ing it.
Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the much older lady that
she should bring her own grocery bags, because plastic bags are not good for the en-
vironment. The woman apologized to the young girl and explained, "We didn't have
this 'green thing' back in my earlier days." The young clerk responded, "That's our
problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for
future generations."
The older lady said that she was right -- our generation didn't have the "green thing"
in its day. The older lady went on to explain: Back then, we returned milk bottles,
soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and
sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.
Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things.
Most memorable besides household garbage bags was the use of brown paper bags as book covers
for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the
school) was not defaced by our scribblings. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown
paper bags. But, too bad we didn't do the "green thing" back then.
We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We
walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go
two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the "green thing" in our day.
Back then we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw away kind. We dried
clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power real-
ly did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or
sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the "green thing"
back in our day.
Back then we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small
screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen we
blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When
we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not
Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut
the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't
need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't
have the "green thing" back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every
time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we
replaced the razor blade in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade
got dull. But we didn't have the "green thing" back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked in-
stead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service in the family's $45,000 SUV or van, which cost
what a whole house did before the "green thing." We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an en-
tire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to re-
ceive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger
joint.
So maybe the green thing isnt quite as green as it can be. By the way, dont forget to wear
green on March 17 or you may be penalized with a pinch, for not being green.
Submitted by Pastor David

Business Tagline or Motto
Fun Fact: St. Patrick used the
three leaves of the shamrock
as an object lesson to teach
his followers about the Fa-
ther, Son and Holy Spirit .
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Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord
-The two final verses of the Breastplate of St. Patrick
Submitted by Belinda Price
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Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin , Associate Pastor: Troy Norman, Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance, Troy
Norman-Worship, Su Tipton,-Missions, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer

Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Childrens Church & Nursery; Coffee Hour, 6:30 Evening Bible
Study
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
PO Box 959
681 Irondale Road
Wednesday: 2:40-5:00 Kids Club ages 4through grade 5
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
Phone: 360-385-1720
Friday: 1:00 Revival Prayer
Email: someone@example.com 2nd Saturday: 8:00 Mens breakfast at Chimacum Caf
irondalechurch .org 3rd Saturday: 10:00 Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
find us on Facebook
4th Saturday: 8:00 Mens Breakfast at IHOP (Irondale House of Praise)

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irondale Church
PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339