The View from the Pulpit:
Dear Fellow Children of God at Resurrection,
“HAPPY, HAPPY EASTER”
Did you ever stop and consider: the Bible opens in the Book of Genesis with God doing something creatively new. And it closes, in the Book of Revelation, on that same joyous note: “I am making all things new … I will wipe away every tear from their eyes,” says the Lord God. The eternal heartbeat of divine creation never stops! No cardiac arrest here! No bypasses needed here! If that is not reason enough to celebrate our new life in Christ, what is?
The author of the Book of Revelation is envisioning the same blessed hands that stretched out to create the heavens, stretching out to touch your cheeks; the same blessed hands that scooped up clay from the riverbed to shape a human being, cupping your face and brushing away your tears. If that’s not reason enough to celebrate our new life in Christ, what is?
“Death will be no more; mourning and crying will be no more,” says the heavenly voice in the Book of Revelation. Can you imagine that? A world with no hearses, no caskets, no morgues, no cemeteries, no tombstones, no funerals, no somber clothes – a world in which “good-bye” is a meaningless phrase! Can you imagine that? And if that glimpse of heaven isn’t reason enough to celebrate the Easter Good News, and to celebrate our new life in Jesus Christ, what is??
That’s the voice of God we are hearing. It’s God Himself speaking: “Look! I am making all things new.” That is what Easter is all about! New life over death – victory over defeat – life after death! Now that is Good News!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Celebrating Jesus’ Empty Tomb and His New Life with You,
Pastor Hank Hollar
PS: Make plans to attend the Holy Week Services, and, of course, the Easter Day Worship Services and the annual Easter Fellowship Breakfast! Continue faithfully on your journey with the Lord! A Schedule of our special worship services is below.
Invite and bring a relative – friend – neighbor – co-worker to Easter Worship – SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE RESURREC-TTION WITH ALL!
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:
Maundy (Holy) Thursday Worship with Holy Communion & the Stripping of the Altar on Thursday, April 13, @ 7:00 PM
Good Friday Services on April 14:
Noonday Service with the traditional “Table” Holy Communion
Tenebrae Service @ 7:00 PM (from Light to Darkness)
RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD – EASTER DAY SCHEDULE: Sunday, April 16, 2017
6:30 AM – Easter SON-Rise Service (scheduled to begin on the Front Lawn of the church, weather permitting, and will move to the Sanctuary – this is a Songs of Praise Worship Team-led Service that will incorporate elements of the Easter Vigil)
8:00 AM – Early Service Easter Festival Worship with Holy Communion
9:15 AM – Easter Fellowship Breakfast (Fellowship Hall — approximate time, with breakfast following the Early Festival Service)
10:15 AM – Sunday School Opening (in the Sanctuary)
10:25 AM – Easter Egg Hunt (on the Front & Side Lawns of the church
11:00 AM – Late Service Easter Festival Worship with Holy Communion
