Why Holy week?
Why does Jesus have to die? There are multifaceted pieces to the most important week in our Judeo-Christian faith. Easter cannot happen without Good Friday, which is preceded and given meaning by the Last Supper (New Covenant in Jesus blood) that we remember (practice) each month (communion). It all begins with Palm Sunday. Jesus must die, so that we can live (with Him eternally). Join us for this sacred time, schedule below. Can you identify the 6 images above of Holy Week?
Sun. March 29th: Palm Sunday – Jesus enters Jerusalem to begin the last week of his life as the redeemer king “Hosanna” save us “Son of David” the crowd cheers. By the end of the week the cheers turn to jeers and “crucify him.” We’ll have palms to wave and celebrate (and take home), one of few occasions in scripture that Jesus allows the crowd to acknowledge his royal presence.
Friday April 3rd at 7 PM: Good Friday – Without this solemn service there is no Easter celebration. I would encourage you to attend and participate. There will be an opportunity to carry the cross starting outside and bringing the cross into the sanctuary. We will here Jesus’ 7 statements from the cross as well as correlating meditations read by congregation members (sign up to read). It is the most powerful service on the Christian calendar and gives more depth and richness to the joy of Easter.
Sun. April 5th: Easter Sunday – We will adorn (place) flowers on the cross during worship. We’ll celebrate Jesus’ resurrection through special music and scripture. “He lives” and so do we (eternally), if we believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. There’ll be an Easter egg hunt following worship.
Blessings, Pastor Michael
- Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026
- Good Friday, April 3, 2026
- Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026
- Earth Day, April 22, 2026
The Joy of Resurrection
We Christians simply cannot get over the reality of the Resurrection. For us, the fact that God raised Christ from the dead proves that Christ’s way alone is God’s answer to the sins and horrors of the world. The truths Christ taught when he walked on earth stand solid and irrefutable. The light he brought is the only light that never goes out, for it is the eternal light of God’s glory. Christ’s life is the clearest example of how God intends for us to live. His way is the way that makes the most sense for our lives on this earth. The saints throughout history have shown that again and again.
The hope Christ offers is the only true and lasting hope. Ultimately, it is our assurance that life can be good and joy-filled for all. Consider the words St. Paul wrote to the church at Rome and apply them to your own life: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:4–5, NRSV).
If that is not a tremendous cause for abiding joy, then what is?
Following Christ’s Example of Humble Service
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus gathered with his friends to celebrate the Passover. During the supper, Jesus rose from the table, poured water into a basin, and went from man to man washing the disciples’ feet and drying them with a towel. Peter protested, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Peter relented and asked Christ to wash his hands and head as well (see John 13:1-16).
Afterward, Jesus said to his friends, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15, NKJV). On Maundy Thursday, let us remember Christ’s command and his example of humility, service and love.
Yes, I can!
I cannot end poverty, but I can feed one hungry person. I cannot stop war, but I can offer peace to my neighbor. I cannot prevent death, but I can hold the hand of someone who is dying.
These may seem like small acts, yet they are far harder—and far more meaningful—than any grand plan for social change. Christ reminds us of their worth: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40, NIV).
Rain: A Gentle Reminder of God’s Care
A rainy day can be many things …
It can be moisture for the farmer’s garden,
Or the picnic that has to be postponed;
It can be the replenishing of a stream,
Or the overflow of a flood;
It can be relief from a hot summer day,
Or the chill of an autumn wind.
The rotating cycle of clouds to Earth
Is part of Nature’s plan
For stability throughout the Universe,
As old as the hills,
And dependable as the seasons.
Rain and sunshine are equal partners
In the daily expression of God’s love.
— Jeanne D. Birrell
There’s Something Better Coming
The Easter season is a precious time for Christians to celebrate the source of our hope: Christ is risen, and he invites us to rise with him into new life. Easter reminds us that God is still at work, even in the places where we’ve felt stuck or discouraged.
Easter is an invitation to try again—with his strength—to break habits we thought were unbreakable. Easter is an opportunity to renew our faith. There’s something better coming.
