This Sunday marks our returned in-person worship. To say I'm excited about that would be an understatement. I'm proud of what we are doing for online worship. Our team of musicians, techs and leaders have responded to the ever-changing conditions brought on by this pandemic in a way that has dramatically improved our digital ministry. And I believe our online worship experience is going to be an important part of our ministry going forward. But I also have to acknowledge that I have missed the in-person connection. So I am looking forward with great anticipation to us being able to add in-person worship back to our ministry opportunities.
We are back to in-person worship this Sunday. Sandown at 9:00 am. Plaistow at 9:00 & 10:30 am. North Shore at 10:30 am.
But I want to remind us that this Sunday is not just “back to in-person” Sunday. It is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy week, the final week of Christ life on Earth. This is the week of the last supper, the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal, the arrest, the trial and the crucifixion. In truth, the most important events in the history of the world happened during this week. Since the start of the year, we have been on this “Journey of a Lifetime.” We have been walking with John and the other disciples through many of the most powerful experiences they had with Christ. From the moment of their calling they walked side by side with Jesus as he taught, healed, prayed, performed miracles and more. And through this series, we have put ourselves into these experiences.
Now as we approach this Holy Week the journey reaches its culmination at the cross. This journey we have been on, all we have seen, heard and experienced, leads here to the foot of the cross. And so I want to encourage us to take time this coming week to fully embrace this final stage of the journey. To help make this Holy Week a meaningful and powerful experience, I would like to suggest a few things that I think would be helpful:
Set aside some extra time for prayer. This might even mean getting up a few minutes earlier each day during Holy Week.
Read John chapters 17-19 over the course of the week. (Perhaps half a chapter per day.) And as we've done in the series, try to put yourself in the story.
Attend the Holy Week services on Thursday and Friday night. Maundy Thursday commemorates the last supper. Good Friday observes the crucifixion. Thursday's service will be in Sandown. Friday's will be at North Shore in Amesbury. Both will be at 7:00 p.m.
Come to Easter worship, in person or online, prepared to truly celebrate the joy of the resurrection having experienced the struggle of Holy Week.
As those who are redeemed by Christ, having received new life by his sacrifice, this is the most important celebration of our faith. I pray that the Holy Spirit would help you prepare for it in a way that renews your faith and strengthens your resolve to live a life fully committed to him.
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
To register for Palm Sunday worship click this link.
To register for Maundy Thursday click this link.
To register for Good Friday click this link.
To register for Easter worship click this link.