Blog & Trail Talk-April 4, 2025

From the Ashes of Hunger

Dr. Linda Settles

4/03/25

I was sitting in a meeting with someone just this week. As we talked, all of a sudden, my stomach began to talk as well. Grrrrrrrr! A huge hunger pang rang through the quietness of the room. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? To be so hungry that your stomach cries out.

People are hungry for many things these days. Hungry for peace, hungry for money, hungry for love. And many of them are crying out. In Matthew 26 we find two types of hunger. Hunger for the Word and hunger for the world.

We see the story of a brave woman who brought her most prized possession and worshipped Jesus:

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

Matthew 26:6-7

She was brave because she was not an invited guest, and she was a woman. A woman who let her hair down, according to Mark’s version of the story, and scandalously wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. Never mind that she was so overwhelmed by Jesus’ presence that she cried enough to wash His feet with her tears. She worshipped Him!

The disciples, especially Judas, were not pleased with this brazen act because the ointment could’ve been sold for a pretty penny and given to the poor. But Jesus saw it as her sacrifice of worship and as preparation for his burial.

12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told

in remembrance of her.”

Matthew 26:12-13

And here we are in 2025, still talking about her. In fact, Cece Winans sings a song about her called Alabaster Box. She was hungry for her Lord. Hungry for worship.

Shortly after that, Judas went to the chief priests to see if they still were willing to pay the one who would bring Jesus to them. Judas wanted Jesus to take the Romans by storm, destroy them and set up His kingdom. But that wasn’t His mission. They gave Judas thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. Judas was hungry for power.

So, we see in Matthew 26, hunger on display in two acts. One out of a sense of gratitude and love. The other out of a sense of power and control. Both dealing with hunger pangs but from vastly different motives.

And we see it in the world, don’t we? People who are hungry. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. What are you hungry for? There are so many commercials on today that you barely get a tv show in. They might as well call it the commercial hour, because all you get is about twenty minutes of show and forty minutes of commercials! And all of them have one aim – to make you hungry for what they’re selling.

So, I’ll ask again – what are you hungry for? Later in Matthew 26 we see Jesus in the Upper Room with His disciples. And yes, Judas was with them. And after the meal, when their stomachs were full, Jesus institutes a new meal. One that would satisfy their spiritual hunger. The Lord’s Supper. Where He gave them of Himself, His body and His blood. A foretaste of what would happen on Calvary.

“Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took a cup…saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant…”

Matthew 26:26-27

Jesus gave them food that would get them through the dark days ahead. Food that would cause them to remember His love for them, shown in the greatest sacrifice of all, His crucifixion. Food that would never spoil but that would cause them to be stronger, wiser, faithful. Food that continues to build the body of Christ every time we eat of it. Are you hungry yet?

I hope you will join me on Sunday as we continue our Lenten sermon series: From the Ashes. This Sunday marks the fifth Sunday of Lent. The sermon title: From the Ashes of Hunger: The Least Supper. And we get to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. The Table is set. The meal is prepared. I’m getting hungry already. See you in the Sanctuary!

Lenten Offering goes through Easter. This is above your regular giving. It is a sacrificial giving that the board usually designates for a particular cause or need. This year, the board has once again designated it for the youth and children’s ministries. This will help ensure that our young people have vibrant ministry so that they, too, become deeply rooted disciples! Please designate “Lenten Offering” when giving.

Membership Sunday will be Palm Sunday, April 13. If you would like to become a member of Green Trails, this is your day! If you would shoot me an email at drlinda@umcgt.org I will have a certificate ready for you. And even if you decide on the spot, that’s fine too. Prayerfully consider casting your lot with this awesome group of folks who love the Lord!

Easter Lillies and other flowers will be on sale starting this Sunday. There will be a table in the lobby where you can order yours! See Jane Durell or Lynne Johnson for more information or just stop by the table.

Churchwide Bible Study! Who is Jesus? Let’s talk about it on Wednesday, from 6:30-7:30pm. Whether you’re a long-time disciple or new to the faith, this course is sure to strengthen you on your faith journey! No book is required for purchase. Study guides will be made available for each week. Potluck dinner (optional) will be available from 5:45-6:15pm, or come for class at 6:30p. Let’s pack the MPR, because the church that studies together stays together! Check out the trailer: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/860452?session=871151&position=0.

Save the Date! GT will once again dine out together! We had so much fun at the Mellow Mushroom, that we decided to do it again. So, on April 8, we will dine out at Maggie O’Brien’s from 5-8p.

Women’s Event! Settle for the Best Ministries will be hosting a one-day women’s conference on Saturday, May 17! It will be held here at Green Trails Church from 9am-3pm. Registration details will come shortly, with a special discount for GT women! Save the date, ladies. It’s your time to shine!

Good Friday We’re going to host the 7 Last Words Service again! With 7 preachers, bringing the 7 last utterances of Jesus from the cross. Please join us on April 18 at Noon for some powerful praise and worship!

Vision for 2025:

Deeply Rooted:

Growing Through Discipleship!

Blessings,

Pastor Linda

This Week!

*Sunday, April 4* 9AM-Small Groups Beans and Bags-Room 204 Children's Cafe-Room 206 Youth Group-Room 210 In the Word-Room 108 10AM-Sanctuary Worship From the Ashes of Sacrifice Pastor Linda Settles 6PM-Room 210 Youth Group	*Tuesday, April 6* 10AM-Multipurpose Room Tai Chi 6PM-Multipurpose Room After Hours Community Band *7PM* *Wednesday, April 7* 5:45PM-MPR Potluck 6:30PM-MPR WOW! What is a Christian? *Saturday, April 12* 8AM-Multipurpose Room Zumba

Trekkers' Flyers

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Tuesday!!

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Please return to Claudia or put in the offering on Sunday!

Eggstravaganza!

Real Bunnies Easter Bunny

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Photo Booth Crafts

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St. Charles Convention Center

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WOW is BACK!

Churchwide Bible Study!

Lenten study: What is a Christian?

Potluck at 5:45p, class from 6:30-7:30p

This study is part of RightNow Media's Essentials of Faith series. It answers key questions of the Christian faith such as:

Who is God?

What makes humans unique?

What went wrong?

Who is Jesus?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

What is a Christian?

This study is good for all who believe in Jesus, whether you've been following Him for years or you're new to the faith.

Grow in your discipleship and get deeply rooted with us!

A new challenge for a new year!

Write a verse a day from the Bible. Here is January-click below to print out a copy or use your own notebook!

FROM YOUR BOARD

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