The season of Lent continues as we move toward Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Morning. It is an amazing journey as we move with Jesus and one another toward Jerusalem.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem with all the other pilgrims coming for the Feast of the Passover. He is riding on the back of a donkey and crowds of people follow him; they are going ahead of him waving palm branches, praising Jesus as the one God has sent.
We will have palms in worship on April 13 for each of us to wave as we sing out our “Hosannas” to welcome the one who comes in the name of the Lord. This year our palms are purchased from EcoPalms, an agency that seeks a balance between retaining a market for palms and encouraging sustainable harvesting practices to protest palm forests and local jobs where they are grown.
Holy Week progresses with Jesus and his disciples sharing the Passover meal together on Maundy Thursday. It will be the last meal they have together. Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. They protest and say they will never let him down. Jesus blesses bread, breaks it and give it to them saying, “Take, eat, this is my body.”
On Maundy Thursday, April 17, the church building will be open for prayer and meditation from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The elements of bread and juice will also be available to partake of Holy Communion as the Spirit leads you during this meditative time.
Good Friday of Holy Week finds Jesus arrested and standing trial. The soldiers take Jesus to kill him by nailing him to a cross with a sign on it saying, “King of the Jews.” Everyone, except those that really love him, laugh at him and shout at him: “If you are God’s son, save yourself.” Darkness falls at midday. At 3 o’clock Jesus dies after crying out in prayer. Earth shakes and the rocks split apart.
On Good Friday, April 18, we will gather at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary to hear the crucifixion story from John’s gospel as we remember the details of our Savior’s death. Though difficult, it is crucial to our faith and Lenten journey.
Holy Saturday holds Jesus’ body in the grave but Sunday morning comes! Easter Resurrection proclaims the stone has been rolled away from the tomb!
Come at 9:00 a.m. for Easter Brunch and 10:00 a.m. for Resurrection Worship! Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
Journeying with you,
Candice
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