He Lives

I am still basking in the glow of this past Holy Week, culminating in our dynamic Easter morning Resurrection Celebrations! It seems like so long ago, but beginning with our Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Sock Hop, we were engaged in ministry and outreach to the community and world for nine straight days! We had two special Palm Sunday worship services; the Celebration Singers blessed us with the Easter Cantata; we held Communion services daily at noon; the two groups that studied the 24 Hours That Changed the World book completed their journeys; the Stations of the Cross walk-through helped many people – young and not-so-young alike – come face-to-face with GOD’s love for them; we remembered Jesus’ Last Supper in our Maundy Thursday service; we joined with others in the community at St. Mary Magdalene as Pastor John spoke at the Stations of the Cross service on Good Friday at 3pm; later on Good Friday evening we nailed our sins to the cross as we reflected on the “seven last words of Christ”; on Saturday, groups arrived to transform our two worship spaces to help us celebrate Easter; and on Easter, we enjoyed three unique and dynamic worship celebrations with messages from Mr. Larry Carter, Pastor John, and yours truly. And through the whole week, we drew attention to our Stop Hunger Now project where we are aiming to feed 25,000 children in locations of the world decimated by poverty, tragedy, and violence. It was a dynamic week to be sure, and though many woke up this past Monday morning feeling a little weary, the profundity of Holy Week provided the necessary spring-in-the-step to keep on shinin’ the light and love of GOD in Christ Jesus!!!

It was an amazing week, and I cannot say enough how grateful I am for the incredibly large number of people who helped make it happen. Many hours of preparation and work went in to the planning, implementation, and execution of such a busy and dynamic week. Hearts were touched and lives were changed as a result of the faithful service of so many, and Pastor John and I want to offer a resounding and heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who sacrificed so much to help us experience Jesus’ sacrifice for us in a new and profound way. Your work has made a difference for the Kingdom of GOD, so again, know how thankful we are for you and all you do!

As Pastor John was closing his message in the 9am traditional Easter service, he quoted the lines of the poignant hymn, He Lives, which we also sang in the 7:30am Sunrise Service. He spelled out the lines of the song in a way to bring a new and living perspective to them. I decided I wanted to share these with you as we continue to reflect over our powerful and exciting Holy Week and Easter:

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever foes may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.

May the power that raised Jesus from the dead also raise you from any feelings or fears of disappointment, discouragement, or despair! In Jesus’ resurrection, all of the barriers that separate us from GOD were removed so our hearts can know the beauty of a relationship with the LORD! So my prayer for you following our Easter Celebrations is that you may be aware like never before of the loving peace of GOD that envelops and encourages you!

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39)