The Chapel House Homeless Shelter in Auburn is steadily growing. We are currently caring for seven homeless men each night. Many thanks to the entire community for the outpouring of support to make this project a reality.

New volunteers are needed to work the night crew, for any increments of time. No experience is required; training will be provided. If you can help, please attend a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Holy Family school building, side entrance, last classroom on the left.

The work is easy, and we get back so much more than we give. What could be more rewarding than giving a warm bed and a meal to someone who is cold, hungry and tired, with nowhere to turn?

I have lots of good news to share this week from First United Methodist Church on South Street.

Special thanks goes out to Sue Hemmingway for sharing this news.

The church's project, “Fill Everyone's Plate in 2008,” was a great success.

On “Souper Bowl Sunday,” after services, it collected 1,543 items for the Calvary Presbyterian Food Pantry, plus $453.

Our food pantries really struggle to make ends meet for families in need, especially at this time of the year after the holidays are over.

A building facelift is underway at First United. Thanks to the vision and prioritizing of the board of trustees, as well as the support and funding from the memorial team and others, new curtains were hung in the Fellowship Hall on Fat Tuesday.

Thanks to Nancy Long, Brandon Musso, Mark Bianco and Dave Medler for hanging them. It is a nice improvement for the room.

Soon to be added are 20 new round tables, replacement doors and possibly new light fixtures.

These updates should help make the room even more warm and welcoming. Next on its list of renovations is the restrooms, the hallway and the Sanctuary.

On the third Saturday of every month, members of First United and Trinity United Methodist churches are helping to prepare, serve and clean up at the soup kitchen provided at SS. Peter and John Episcopal Church on Genesee Street.

Last time they sang “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands” and other favorites as they worked.

Kim, Paul and Heather Dungey of First United Methodist traveled to New Orleans in December 2007 to help rebuild after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

This was their second mission trip there. They shared a slideshow with the congregation in February showing the devastating conditions that still exist in New Orleans, even 2.5 years later.

People are still struggling to recover, and they went there to do whatever they could to help rebuild - mucking out debris from houses, painting and dry walling.

Kim likes to refer to the story of the starfish that were stranded on the beach. A man passing by kept throwing them back. Someone asked him “Why bother? What difference does it make?”

He looked at the one in his hand and said “It makes a difference to this one,” as he threw it back in the water.

She said that's what it's like in New Orleans. There is so much to do and so little they can do in one trip, but it makes a difference to the ones they help.

Their helping in the Gulf Coast was more than just rebuilding property. Once they arrived, Paul and Kim found their real mission was “to help restore hope and fix lives, ”and it was a joyous experience.“

There are beautiful Holy Week Services planned at First United.

A contemplative communion service will be held on Maundy Thursday, March 20. One thing was mandated by Jesus.

He told his disciples to, “Do this in remembrance of me.” This year they will remember with a silent communion. A table for 13 will be set up in the sanctuary at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m. A simple bulletin will instruct each person through a time of prayer, scripture reading and reflection.

A Good Friday Prayer Vigil will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 21.

The sanctuary will be open for people to come in and be in prayer throughout the day. A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex to fill all the half-hour increments throughout the day so that there will constantly be someone in prayer. Prayer cards will also be available for those having a specific prayer request to be lifted up.

The Ecumenical Prayer Walk will also take place on Good Friday from 10:30 a.m. until noon through downtown Auburn. This year's walk will go from the gazebo at the State Street Mall to 14 stations ending at St. Mary's Church.

Also on Good Friday, an Ecumenical Tenebrae Service will take place at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Everyone is welcome to join in this very meaningful and dramatic reading of the Passion, as all but the light of the Christ candle are extinguished.

Easter morning will bring a 6:30 a.m. sunrise service led by Pastor Dana Hornell and the youth. An Easter breakfast will follow, put on by the Youth Group. A 9 a.m. traditional worship service will be led by the Rev. Jeff Childs and will also be followed by a 10 a.m. brunch. In addition, an 11:15 a.m. contemporary service is offered and will also be led by Childs.

Don't forget that Sunday, March 9, begins daylight-saving time. Have a great week and remember, God loves you so much.

“What fine edification a soul gives who, when greeted with scorn, answers gently to conciliate the offensive individual; or perhaps makes no reply at all, nor complains to others, but maintains a placid expression and shows no bitterness. We are asserting that because we love God, we will not allow anyone to make us respond to an offense in a non-Christian way.”

- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com