Celebrating the Gift of Easter

Blossoms on the fruit trees and new shades of green bursting into our landscapes remind us of God’s gift of new life.  In only a few short weeks we’ll be celebrating God’s gift of new life in Jesus Christ from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday and Easter. Our choir is almost ready to share an amazing and dramatic musical tribute on Easter Sunday. Our Elders will be joining me in calling out thoughts to the communion table in our Maundy Thursday worship service. These are truly days of excitement and joy in the life of our church.

Between now and then, on Palm Sunday, April 17 we’ll stay after worship for a special Palm Sunday brunch. Be sure to bring your favorite breakfast foods to share in our giant buffet.

I continue to be excited about your response to my sermons on “Ten Spiritual Gifts to Bless Your Life.” I’ve heard wonderful stories about how your faith has been uplifted by sharing in these acts of faith. I’m looking forward to the last pair of messages as we close out these weeks before Easter. I’m also grateful for your support of our “Try Tithing” challenge in these weeks. Our average offerings during the five Sundays of this challenge have increased by $918.04 per Sunday over those of the nine prior Sundays. That’s great!!! It also means that together we’ve also shared $1,335.80 in mission offerings to be shared in service to others. I’m proud of you and grateful for your gifts.

I’m also excited about our work in small group visits. We’ve almost reached out goal of 108 persons sharing in one or more of these groups. I’m studying the stories and dreams you’ve shared and preparing for my presentation about our church and possible visions for our future. That will come on Sunday, May 1 in worship and at a lunch to follow worship. I hope you’ll plan to be present with me on that day. I believe it may be one of the most important days in our recent history.

I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday.

matthew