Just FYI: Major Mount Vernon Intersection to be Closed

What follows is an email from the Washington DOT announcing that the intersection of College Way and Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon will be closed for one week beginning May 10th. I am posting this information here for the convenience of our members who will have to take detours around this major intersection in our just-across-the-river neighboring city:

SR 538/Riverside Drive intersection closure delayed one week

MOUNT VERNON – Crews have delayed the weeklong SR 538/Riverside Drive intersection closure for one week due to a forecast of rainy, cool weather for the week of May 4. The closure was originally scheduled for May 3 through May 11.

The weeklong intersection closure will now start at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 10, and end by 6 a.m. Monday, May 18.

This $2.7 million project will help support more than 27 local workers and several local construction companies.

Detour signs will be posted in advance along Riverside Drive and SR 538 (College Way) to direct drivers around the closure. Signed detours will direct traffic north around the intersection via Urban Avenue, Commercial and Market streets. Drivers will use 18^th and Fir streets and Freeway Drive to detour south around the closure.

Drivers will still have access to all businesses near the intersection. For more details on detour routes and business access, see our maps on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157616809468328/

The Riverside Drive improvements are the first part of a project that also includes repaving a five-mile stretch of SR 536 and a half-mile of SR 538 in Mount Vernon. Construction at all three locations is expected to be complete by fall 2009.

For more information about this project, visit the project Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR536/SR538Paving.

Travelers Coming Home

Judy Hill is traveling home from California today. Her son, Robbie, has made considerable improvement after the accident where he was seriously burned. He is now home and on the road to recovery.

Roger and Jacqueline Todd are coming back from Germany this week. It will be good to have them home.

News/ Swine Flu Outbreak Affects Mexican Christians

First, some local church news --

• Please keep Rentz Gullick in your prayers as he awaits results from some biopsies performed this week. There is some cause for concern.
• Remember Sunday will be our monthly pot luck luncheon after morning services. An afternoon singing will follow the luncheon. There will be no evening service this Sunday.

Here's a link to a Christian Chronicle article about how the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico is affecting the Lord's work there.

Leadership Training for Christ

Michael Macomber reported to the church Sunday about last weekend's trip to the LTC Convention. Plaques were presented to Melissa Adams, Madeline Blunt, Olivia Blunt, Jacob Hill, Jennifer Hill, Larissa Macomber, and Abigail Todd. Congratulations to them (and to all the others who attended the event). We'll be getting started preparing for next year in the near future.

Sunday Prayer Notes

Prayer Requests from the April 26 Morning Service:

Evelyn Williamson asks us to "Please pray for the Juntenens."

Rodney Blunt as us to pray for Karee to have a quick recovery from her sickness.

Jim Wilkison reports that "Ruth Lake is showing some improvement but still needs our prayers."

A unsigned note asks prayers for Evelyn Hill -- and praise that she was able to be back at church today, for Ruth Lake & Jim Wilkison, and for Allen & Judy Hill and their family and for their son's Robert's rapid healing, and for the Juntenens.

Lydia Williamson asks for prayers for home school moms, dads, children, and all children in school.

Saturday Night

Looking for a good day tomorrow. Sunday morning's sermon will be about "Letting Our Children Know They Are Important." Some children get all the encouragement and self-esteem boosting they need; others are sorely lacking. We'll talk about a "fair and balanced" approach to this important part of parenting.

Plan to come back Sunday night at 6 p.m. as we continue looking at the book of Joshua through 21st century eyes. This week we're studying "The Marker of Misunderstanding" from Joshua 22. It's so easy to misunderstand and jump to the wrong conclusion even when others have the best of intentions. That kind of thing almost led to war among the tribes of Israel in Joshua's day. Sunday night, we'll learn some principles from Joshua 22 to help us avoid the same kind of mistakes.

Other notes:

Several of our young people and children will be away tomorrow attending the Leadership Training for Christ convention.

May Potluck Lunch will be in two weeks, on the first Sunday in May (due to Mother's Day on the second Sunday).

Andy Adams is interested in forming a bowling league. Competition starts May 12 at the bowling lanes in Mount Vernon. See Andy for more information.

The church bulletin is online from the link at the church's web site. Go to www.skagitvalleychurch.org and click the link to the weekly bulletin. Often, it is published on the web site before Sunday services, so you can get a sneak peak at the bulletin that will be handed out Sunday.

Sunny Sunday

Eighty-six were present Sunday morning as we had a beautiful sunny spring day to worship the Lord. It was good to have Ken & Tami Beach back visiting with us from Iowa.

The afternoon was busy with an Evangelism Team meeting and a baby shower for Crystal Scofield and her new baby. Finally, Sunday night worship capped off the day with a study of Joshua chapter 10 and "The Day the Sun Stood Still."

Remember, no pot luck or afternoon singing next Sunday, but since it is Easter, do invite friends, relatives, and neighbors to come worship with you Sunday morning. Some people are more likely to accept an invitation to church on Easter than any other day of the year. Don't let the day pass without taking advantage of the opportunity to ask someone to come worship with you.

Terrible Tragedy in Binghamton, NY

ABC News is reporting 13 fatalities in a shooting in Binghamton, New York http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7249853&page=1

Certainly, we should be adding the wounded and the families of the deceased to our prayers this morning.

Changes in Schedule for Easter Sunday

On April 12, we will not have the Second Sunday Potluck Lunch following our morning services. This cancellation is done in recognition of the fact that many of our families will want to have lunch and spend the afternoon with family members. The potluck is cancelled for April rather than rescheduled. Since the 2nd Sunday in May is Mother's Day, we will have to consider reschedulinga change in that date in May as well.

We will also not have the Sunday afternoon Singing that we normally have on the second Sunday of the month. We will, however, have an evening worship (and preaching) service at 6 p.m. on April 12.