The Lenten season is upon us, a time for reflection, repentance and renewal. At Pleasant Grove, we’re preparing in these next six weeks to celebrate Christ’s resurrection at Easter. Join us for this special time.
Pastor Paul Klepees looks at Lent this year as an opportunity to build a stronger, more compassionate church family. Read what else he has to say on page 2.
One way to show our compassion is by feeding our neighbors in need. This month, we want to Fill The Cart with donations of canned vegetables for Pleasant Grove’s food pantry and Feed The Children ministry. Find out more on page 2.
NextGen Minister Kris O’Neal is working on judgment issues as he seeks wisdom and peace in the politically fraught landscape of ideas. So where does he turn to find that wisdom? God, of course! Read all about it on page 7.
Our calendar on page 5 boasts a wealth of happenings in Hatton this month. Get the details in the announcements on page 9, plus a peek at plans
for a few other spring events. Then turn the page for More News from the Pews on page 10.
Just in time for Easter, the Pleasant Grove basement has received a bit of a facelift with a new ceiling and lights. You can see the difference in our Before and After photos on pages 12-13.
Limitless youth group was very busy in that bright, clean basement last month stirring up chocolaty goodies for Valentine’s Day. By the time the last treat was tucked into the last box, our youth had raised nearly $5,500 for UNITE camp costs this summer. See the photos of their Valentine venture on pages 16-18.
Again this month there are many opportunities for outreach and spiritual development at Pleasant Grove. We offer a few ideas on page 23.
And as always, dear reader, you are the reason for News from the Pleasant Grove Pews. Share your news, events, photos and suggestions with Kathy Casteel at kcasteel@ ktis.net and Betsy Bell at mammabell003@gmail.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!
As we journey through another year, the season of Lent invites us to pause, reflect and experience profound renewal. In the United Methodist Church, Lent is a cherished tradition — a time when we intentionally turn inward to acknowledge our need for God’s transforming grace. This sacred season is not merely about sacrifice; it’s about growth, renewal and deepening our relationship with Christ and one another.
Lent offers us a structured rhythm of prayer, fasting and reflection that has nurtured the life of the church for centuries. It’s a time when we embrace both our weaknesses and God’s strength. Through the practices of confession and repentance, we learn that acknowledging our shortcomings is not a sign of defeat but a stepping stone toward becoming the renewed people God calls us to be. Scripture reminds us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation is at the heart of Lent, challenging us to reexamine our lives and align our hearts with God’s purposes.
Within the United Methodist tradition, Lent has long been a catalyst for community growth. As we journey together, sharing our struggles and celebrating our breakthroughs, we build a stronger, more compassionate church family. Whether through small group
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF YET TO HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF IT. BUT ONE THING I DO: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.
DO NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS — HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.
studies, extended worship services or community service projects, Lent creates space for honest conversation and mutual support — key ingredients for a thriving congregation.
Renewal isn’t just a personal journey; it’s a communal experience that breathes new life into the church. As we collectively seek God’s guidance and healing, we are reminded that our growth as individuals is intrinsically linked to the growth of our community. Invite others to join us on this path of transformation as we pave the way for a future marked by deeper faith, resilience and unity.
The Lenten season allows us to consider new growth. This might include attending a Sunday School class, Bible study or looking for a new way to change. However you decide to enter this season, may this Lent be a time of renewal and growth for you and our entire church family as we continually strive to reflect the light and love of Christ in our lives.
FILL THE CART
Mama always said, “Eat your vegetables. They’re good for you!” And she was right (because, well, moms usually are right). Essential to a balanced diet, veggies are packed with vital nutrients that keep us healthy. Vegetables are also great items to donate to food pantries — especially canned varieties, which last the longest on shelves.
In March, Pleasant Grove will Fill The Cart with canned vegetables to benefit the church’s food pantry and its Feed The Children ministry. Pleasant Grove is a mobile site of the SERVE food pantry. Our partnership with SERVE helps distribute food to any family in Callaway County who needs help filling their pantries. We distribute food boxes on the third Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church basement. Anyone who needs food is welcome; just stop by and register that day to start participating in the food pantry at Pleasant Grove.
Our Feed The Children ministry provides weekend food packs to 36 children at Hatton-McCredie Elementary School as a supplement to Buddy Packs. The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri provides Buddy Packs to eligible area school children with food for a two-day weekend. Since North Callaway schools are on a four-day school week with a three-day weekend, Feed The Children supplies that extra day of weekend food for Hatton-McCredie students who need it.
Any Fill The Cart donations in excess of Pleasant Grove’s local needs will be sent to SERVE for use in all of Callaway County.
COOL BEANS
pictured left to right front: spencer, paul, gibson back: margie, ezra, and maverick klepees
By Pastor Paul Klepees
ROMANS 12:2
EVENTSOF CALENDAR
SERVE and Baby Grace
Pleasant Grove is a mobile site for SERVE food pantry and Baby Grace.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH, 11 A.M.-2 P.M.
(We are open every third Thursday of the month.) If you are in need of a food box from SERVE, please stop by! You can register that day and participate in the food pantry.
The Baby Grace store offers free diapers, wipes and gently used or new clothing for ages birth through 5 years.
COMMUNITY LUNCH
The Discipleship Sunday School class invites you to join us for a homemade meal. Stay for a game of cards, dominoes, or bring a suggestion!
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 12 NOON
N EXT G EN NOTES
Seek Wisdom from God
by NextGen Minister Kris O’Neal
I have been seeing a lot of political posts lately, and I have participated in some political conversations recently that have really got me thinking. Many believe that the media reporting and opinions of others are 100% fact and that the leaders making decisions are doing so based on things they may not completely understand. We are so quick to judge without gaining true perspective into the intent or understanding of the people charged with making these decisions.
I have often found myself getting caught up in this thought process. As I think about my experiences with these behaviors and what I have tried to work on personally, I am reminded of a scripture from James that puts this into perspective: If you lack wisdom, you should ask God! Not your neighbor, not the news media, not even your own worldly understanding, but God!
James also points out that God gives generously to ALL, without finding fault! This, to me, is the most important thing — not finding fault. We are quick to judge others based on our perspective of what we think they should do, but we are not so quick to understand why they did what they did. We take an oppositional stand without even trying to see their side. This is true in so many disagreements.
Why is it so easy for us to believe that a doctor may know something we don’t know when treating us, but not so easy to think any other leader may be making a decision that we don’t understand because they may know something we don’t? If we want to truly understand the why behind the why, we must seek the wisdom of those making decisions, truly try to understand them, and seek only God’s wisdom for guidance.
So many things are easy for us to judge, but hard for us to truly understand. I urge you to stop joining the complainers and casting judgment, and instead seek understanding and peace, allowing only God to guide your thoughts.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sisters in Faith Gather
Cindy Watson will host Sisters in Faith at Pleasant Grove on Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Angie Raebel at 573-416-6438 or email Plote.hogan@gmail. com.
L.I.F.T. Meets
Brittany Montcalm will host Ladies In Faith Together (L.I.F.T.) on Wednesday, March 12, in her home at 4635 County Road 282 near Auxvasse. Find out more from Sarah Peck at 573-808-2324 or email cspeck428@gmail.com.
Choir Tunes Up for Easter
Pleasant Grove’s music makers are planning a celebration of Easter in song on Palm Sunday, April 13. Rehearsals begin this month:
• Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m.
• Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to join. For more information, contact Jan Hankinson at 573-999-2139 or email janhankinson@ gmail.com.
Scholarship Deadlines Draw Near
The application deadline for United Methodist Church scholarships is April 1. Check out these sources of financial aid.
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation awards funds to students attending Methodist-related schools through four scholarship programs. Find out more at UMHEF.org/scholarships
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry offers general scholarships, Black College Fund awards and Ministry as a Career scholarships. Eligibility requirements vary. For more information, visit GBHEM.org/scholarships.
A Visit to the Land of Lincoln
Pleasant Grove’s On The Road Again gang heads east May 13-15 to Springfield, Illinois, for an adventure in the Land of Lincoln. The group will visit the landmark places of Abraham Lincoln’s life as he blazed a path to the presidency. The itinerary includes the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln Tomb, New Salem (where Lincoln lived as a boy), Lincoln Depot, Lincoln Home … and even a Lincoln Ghost Tour. Other Springfield gems to visit are the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana Thomas House and the delightful emporium Scheels, plus lots of great dining and shopping.
Reservations and a $75 per person deposit are due Sunday, March 9. Jan Hankinson has all the details on lodging, cost and amenities; contact her at 573-999-2139 or email janhankinson@gmail.com.
Bible Study Turns the Page
Barring any more weather delays, the Women’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study will wrap up its study of Jesus & Women on March 18. The group will not meet on March 25, but will resume in April with a four-week study of the Beatitudes, God’s blessings Jesus handed down in the Sermon on the Mount. They’ll discuss the relationship between attitudes, actions and rewards of those blessings. There is no book to buy; just bring your Bible. For more information, contact either Becky Stevens at 573-915-9596, email stevensbecky81@gmail.com, or Pat Hardesty at 573-819-2066, email gardenerinpearls@gmail. com.
CMU Band Concert
The Central Methodist University Concert Band will wrap up its spring tour with a performance at Pleasant Grove on Friday, March 7, at 5 p.m. The band’s repertoire will include select pieces performed by some of CMU’s finest musicians. Come out and enjoy the ear candy!
pews FROM MORE NEWS THE
TECH SAVVY
Pleasant Grove has received a $2,500 technology grant from the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. The Rev. Laura Murphy of MUMF presented the check to Bill Marshall and Adam Hans during services on Feb. 2. The funds are earmarked for technology needs in Pleasant Grove’s music ministry, including:
• Hymns on CDs as backup accompaniment for the traditional service.
• Software upgrades, lyrics and background music for the Praise Band.
The church is still considering how to spend the remaining grant funds; possibilities include programs of the Institute for Modern Worship and other resources as needs arise.
Flower Power
The fragrance of Valentine bouquets made for a sweet-smelling companion in the cars of 16 Women’s Ministries volunteers who braved the mid-February chill to deliver arrangements for Allen’s Flowers in Columbia Feb. 13-14. The florist pays the group for the service, which this year netted $1,483 to help fund certain Women’s Ministries projects — camp scholarships for youth, quilt group and other requests such as helping an adult attend a conference.
The next event on the Women’s Ministries agenda is a Spring Tea for all the women of the church on Sunday afternoon, May 4. Stay tuned — we’ll have more details in upcoming issues of News from the Pleasant Grove Pews.
Look on the Bright Side …
Pleasant Grove’s basement is sporting a bright, clean new look these days after a yearlong renovation project that removed the old, unsafe ceiling and replaced it with new ceiling tiles and lights. Church volunteers removed the old material, built new rooms around the HVAC systems and installed new lights. Contractor Jade Edwards was hired to do the sheetrock work and install the new ceiling.
Sweet
Success
The youth of Pleasant Grove have learned they can count on the collective sweet tooth of the community to raise funds for camp costs. This year’s Valentine goody box sales hit a new high as the group cleared nearly $5,500 to help pay the way for campers heading to UNITE youth conference at Central Methodist University in July.
Over two days, 45 kids helped create and assemble the boxes of treats — chocolate-covered strawberries, pretzels, Oreos, popcorn and marshmallows, plus cookies, chocolate bark and other goodies. Our generous Pleasant Grove family donated many of the ingredients, which kept expenses down.
Pleasant Grove’s Limitless youth group reaches new heights in fundraising for camp.
JOIN US THIS SEASON FOR NEW SERMON
Ash Wednesday Observance
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, a time for reflection and repentance. Throughout Scripture, ashes are part of rituals when people seek forgiveness and mourn their sin. As the season of Lent begins, ashes symbolize our awareness of mortality and an intent to repent.
Pleasant Grove will observe Ash Wednesday with the opportunity to receive ashes on a come-and-go basis from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. All are welcome.
Feed the Spirit
Pleasant Grove provides dinner at every Wednesday night meeting of Kids For Jesus and Limitless youth group. If you’d like to help out with those meals, visit the link at SignUpGenius.com/go/ 10C084AADA929A5FFC16-55111987-kfjyouth.
Soul Space
The spring edition of Soul Space launches at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, and continues every Tuesday through May 27. Soul Space is a weekly virtual gathering on Zoom for 15 to 20 minutes of guided reflection and prayer. Open to both clergy and laity, you can join from anywhere. Register at Missouri-reg.brtapp.com/ Soulspacespring25 to receive login information.
Pack Up Your Toolbox
The Missouri Conference is offering a free online class for laity called “A Discipleship Toolbox” this spring. The four-week class on Mondays runs March 17 to April 7. Class meets 6 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. Find out more and register at MoUMethodist.org/layeducation. Questions? Contact Morgan Scott at mscott@ moumethodist.org.
When Disaster Strikes …
With severe weather season approaching, it’s a good time to get some training in disaster response. The Missouri Conference will host an in-person Early Response Team Training on Saturday, March 22, at Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mill Road in Manchester. Early Response Teams fill a specific need in the days after a disaster to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes and help prevent further damage while providing a caring Christian presence. The March class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; cost is $15, which includes lunch and supplies. Register by March 19 at Missouri-reg. brtapp.com/ManchesterERT. Contact Bambi Wheeler with questions at bwheeler@moumethodist.org.
BLESSINGS
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse … and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Join us in our mission to know Jesus Christ and make Him known. Your generosity enables us to help more and more people experience a life-changing relationship with Him. We are truly grateful for your donations and hope the convenience and simplicity of our ways of giving are helpful to you.
1. Try scanning our QR code.
2. To use mobile giving, download the “Church By Ministry One” app to your mobile device. Search for Pleasant Grove by entering the zip code 65231.
3. Online giving can be found at www.mypgumc.org/donate.
4. Text “GIVE” to 573-312-2909.
5. Cash and checks can be placed in the offering plates during worship services or mailed to the church office at 3686 State Road E, Auxvasse, MO 65231.
Consider becoming a recurring giver. Church statistics show that churches with high numbers of recurring givers experience the most growth.
If you need assistance or have questions about our digital giving methods, please reach out to Kayla O’Neal in the church office Monday through Thursday, by phone at 573-387-4822 or email admin@mypgumc.org.
MALACHI 3:10
2 CORINTHIANS 5:20
WE ENTREAT YOU ON BEHALF OF CHRIST: BE RECONCILED TO GOD.
