Easter Sunday 04-16-17

Welcome to worship with Eastminster on Easter morning! A special welcome goes out to those who are visiting for the first time or returning to worship after an absence.  May you find joy, hospitality, faith, beauty and love as you encounter the risen Lord and relate with God’s community here.

Eastminster exists to glorify God, to know God more deeply and to serve God in the world. Our mission statement is “Eastminster joyously ministers as a vital, growing congregation of passionate followers of Jesus extending our reach as a missional church to transform our greater community.” It is our expectation that the web of caring relationships will continue to grow as new visitors, friends and members bring life to this community and to the world.  Let me know how Eastminster might enrich life with you.

 

The early visitors to Jesus’ tomb and his disciples were fearful and doubtful. Many of us have been the same way. We are in good company. God’s love flows to us in different times and seasons. That’s why community is important. Sometimes we give, sometimes we receive support.  All the time, we are together.

 

Amidst doubt and fear the question, “What if what they say is true?” arose with early believers. It is a legitimate question. If Jesus is God’s Son and the resurrection a validation of his divinity, what does that mean for my life? Your life? Our lives together? There are a lot of barriers to coming to Jesus Christ and a lot of power unleashed when the barriers are broken. One barrier is to simply accept God’s amazing grace.  It is a gift, rather than something earned, and that’s countercultural.

 

Relax.  Allow God’s love and grace to reach you through music, light, movement and most importantly, God’s word proclaimed in what we say and what we sing.  May you sense the mystery of a God greater and more powerful than we could ever conceive whose Spirit provides more than we could ever ask or imagine.

 

Welcome again!

Blessings!

Pastor Tim

 

04-09-17

Sunday is Palm Sunday.  It is a day we celebrate Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and begin what is commonly referred to as “Holy Week,” which extends from today through Easter.  In one week the Good News of Jesus will be proclaimed meaningfully in many ways.  It is a week that shapes our identity and community together.  .

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem Palm Sunday, people sold him short.  They thought he would be an earthly leader of a revolt that would throw off the yoke of Roman domination.  Even though Jesus said many times that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer, die, and three days later rise, people didn’t comprehend it.  So they waved Palm branches and cheered as he entered Jerusalem hoping for what would amount in baseball terms to Jesus hitting a “single.”  Little did anyone know that Jesus came to overthrow sin and death and bring us close to the loving reign of God Almighty forever.  Jesus came to hit a “home run!”  That was just too huge for even his disciples to grasp!  It’s hard for us to fathom today! 

So today we cheer Jesus Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem, but there is much more to the story.  One needs the events during the middle of Holy Week to get the full picture.  We join together on Maundy Thursday in Fellowship Hall at 5:45 p.m. around tables shaped in a cross to hear how Jesus will become the Lamb of God that takes the sin of the world, even as he is betrayed by one of his own.  Our Sanctuary will be draped in black as we gather Friday night at 7:00 to hear the Seven Last Words of Christ ending in “Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit” as he breathes his last.  Saturday morning Eastminster hints at New Life as we tell the whole gospel story, hunt Easter eggs and do Easter crafts at 10:30 with kids of all ages from the church and community at 10:30 a.m.  That night at 6 p.m. we host a Vigil which involves drama and beauty in telling the salvation story … up to a point.  Then Easter morning at 6:30 a.m. Sunrise, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. the story becomes complete with the shouts of “His is risen!”  “He is risen indeed!”  If all service times are convenient for you on Easter, come to the 8:30 to help balance the parking.  Don’t skip the events between Palm Sunday and Easter.  Participating through the week allows one to experience the whole story! 

Thanks to the many, many hands, hearts and voices who are contributing to a meaningful lent and Holy Week at Eastminster.  You are wonderful!

May All Have a Blessed Holy Week!

Pastor Tim