THOUGHTS FROM THE REV…

Can you believe that Easter is almost here? Maybe that is where my hair went… time is traveling so fast it just blew off. Well, if that is the case, let me suggest that you wear a hat. One good thing about the time moving so fast is that spring will be here soon and my head won’t be so cold. And maybe the white stuff lying in the shaded areas will finally go away.

I want to join you in thanking the five people who joined the church in February and thank the Rowe’s for the honor of celebrating Emma’s Baptism. Those were some special times for us all. Please do all you can to make these people feel very welcome and at home among us.

For those of you who haven’t been with us for a while we want to say that we do miss you very much and hope and pray that you will soon return home to us. It is just not the same without you.

For those of you still considering whether or not to join the church, give me a call and let’s talk about it. My feeling is that we all need to be here and as involved as we can be. More of us working together for the kingdom is all the better. God needs all your talents and we all need each other. Come and become a greater part of the grace going on in this place. You are going to love it!!!

A special thank you to those who are coming and participating so faithfully in our Sunday evening study of “24 Hours That Changed the World.” Adam Hamilton is making us think and ask questions and ponder the story once again – in a new way. Thank you for being here and making this time together so special.

Our Easter events has been changed somewhat; our Seder Meal will be on Monday evening at 6:30 in the fellowship hall. This will be the traditional Jewish Passover Meal (with chicken instead of lamb) and will be led by Reverend Ed Tapper – formally of the Jewish faith. After the Seder we will adjourn to the sanctuary where we will celebrate Holy Communion.

On Friday evening at 7:00 we will observe a Good Friday Tenebrae Service. (A service of shadows – the sanctuary will become darkened as we move closer to the betrayal of Christ.) The service will end in darkness and silence – mournful of what has just happened. During the service different elements of the faith will be removed from the sanctuary; the Bible, Communion set, the offering plates, the Baptismal Font will be draped… you see those things don’t matter if Jesus is dead. It is a very solemn service.

Easter morning we will gather for the SONRISE… and all the elements of the faith will be restored to the sanctuary… Jesus is Risen!!!

I hope that you will pray for our church and its ministry… especially that it may touch our lives and the lives of others during this Easter season in such a way that Jesus may be made known in a real and touchable way, and that our lives will be changed.

Be at all the services you can. Your presence and participation makes a real difference.

Grace and Peace

Steve

PS. I will let you know more about arrangements for the Seder within the next week or so.