It’s EASTER WEEK, and I’m so excited to be with you and celebrate the greatest event in history. Jesus rose from the dead! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Jesus came to Earth on a mission to save us from our sin and lead us into a relationship with the Father. As Kim and I shared through our weekly video, this mission ended in the cruelty of the cross as Jesus was crucified for us.

Today on Good Friday, let’s not miss this opportunity to reflect on His death on the cross on our behalf. Holy week began with Palm Sunday, when Jesus was coronated as King of the Jews by the Jewish people – the same people who just days later were calling for His crucifixion. Jesus knew abject rejection, complete injustice, and cruel pain, and all of that was for us.

As Kim and I shared, the most moving of Jesus’ words from the cross were the final ones where in hopeful anticipation of renewed intimacy with God, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” Wow, that is so moving to me. He is expressing ultimate confidence in God’s faithful relationship with Him.

I’ve been using that phrase as a breath prayer this week to help me relate to Jesus and to help with some anxiety I’ve been feeling. This COVID logjam has left me susceptible to moments when I wonder just where God is and what He’s up to. In fact, I told someone early this week that it’s like my shocks are broken, and every bump I hit jars my entire system. But when I turn to God using this phrase as my breath prayer, He helps me trust in His plan, and each bump seems to have less impact on me.

The way breath prayers work is to engage your body and focus on a particular Bible verse or phrase. In this case, as I breathe in, I say, “Into Your hands.” I then hold that breath for a few seconds to focus on the One to whom I am saying these words. As I breathe out, I say, “I commit my spirit.” I could also say, “I commit my health, or resources, or future, or children, or marriage, or work.” I think you get the idea. This can help us grow in peace as we move into this season of Easter and beyond.

Easter is just two days away! We’re going to have four identical services so you can invite your friends to attend in person with you or gather online with you. You will be able to make sure we can have plenty of space by choosing to attend at 6:00pm on Saturday or at 8:00am on Sunday. That will allow us to have plenty of room for everyone. Of course, if that is not possible, we will look forward to seeing you at 9:30 or 11:00am as we celebrate Easter together. 

Our Children’s Ministry team has adapted and creatively changed the annual Easter Egg Hunt into an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt. Families will go on an adventure by car to various locations around our community where they will snap a photo, collect candy, and meet some of our Ministry Partners. They will then race to the church and celebrate victory by having a picnic. You can bring your own lunch or buy a Domino’s cheese pizza for $5. Join us on the lawn for live music and games. Make sure to check out the website for all the details. Helpful hint: You can come by the church and pick up your Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt map and instructions so you can be ready to launch out from your home. If you can’t make it by, stop by the church after 8:00am, and the team of friendly volunteers will get you started.

On Sunday, we’re going to take a different approach to Easter. I know some of you are saying, “Ron, don’t mess with Easter. Just give us the straight story.” Well, I want you to know that this message came out of some deep angst – I might even call it despair – I was feeling a couple of months ago. I was wondering just what God was going to do as we begin to rebuild after all that has happened during this COVID logjam.

It was during one of those dark moments that God gave me a word from Isaiah 43. I found the hope in that chapter to be so impactful for me, and it’s all about the expectation we have of our future home – HEAVEN – and how God wants us to live our lives in complete trust that He is in control. But more than that, He has promised to rebuild a new thing out of the ruins of the old. I hope you’ll encourage your friends to join us in person or watch the service online.

Here are the links you’ll need to be fully prepared for Sunday’s Service:

• Message Notes and Study Guide
• Weekly Spotify Playlist
• Children's Ministry
• Student Ministry 

Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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