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Happy Monday! Happy Holy Monday as we embark into Holy Week! 

What a lovely day we shared together yesterday in worship and in intergenerational fellowship! I hope you were equally blessed by the display of Christ’s body, the Church! Thank you to all who participated in Every Generation Sunday! It was lovely to learn and practice this week’s BELIEVE practice - Bible Study, together!

I am back in the office after a really great week in Minnesota for an intensive, or in-person week, for the graduate class I am taking this semester. I was blessed and encouraged by my classmates (who I finally got to meet in person!), a wonderful professor and a challenging project. So now we get back in the swing of things in preparation for a meaningful, yet busy week around here! 

Even though there’s a lot of other items on the church family calendar this week, make 

sure to join us for this week’s Wednesday Roots Night! We’re coming to the end of this schedule, which is hard to believe! This week is a regular program (dinner at 5:45pm and discipleship programs at 6:30pm). The following (4/15) is a Family-In-Service project night where we’ll be serving our community through various projects. In May, we gather on the 6th and the 20th, and then we’re done for the school year! Don’t forget; however, that the Adult Digging Deeper Bible Study that meets every Wednesday in Room 014, will continue to gather through the end of May. 

Thursday is Love Feast. Love Feast is a church gathering where we practice the ways of Jesus at the Last Supper. We share in a time of reflection and confession in the Sanctuary, then move to the Family Life Center, where like Jesus, we share a meal, break the bread of communion and wash each other's feet (or hands!). All are welcome! I hope you’ll join us for this meaningful evening. The program begins at 7pm in the Sanctuary. 

***Take note!! Friday’s events have changed!*** The Youth Fundraiser Dinner that was to be held prior to the Movie Showing on Good Friday (4/3) is being postponed to the evening of the Spring Congregational Business Meeting (5/13). 

On Easter Sunday we will celebrate our risen King at our Sonrise service at 6:15, musical presentations and the preaching of God’s Word. We will be taking a break from the BELIEVE series for Easter Sunday. Pastor Kevin will be preaching on Easter texts and each Sunday School class has chosen their own Easter lesson. Who are you inviting to join you for Easter worship this year?!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Key Idea: “I study the Bible to know God and his truth and to find direction for my daily life.”

Our Key Verse: Hebrews 4:12

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Complete this week’s “Taking Up Lent” Challenge - Scripture Study!

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST

*This season of the “The Dig” podcast is specifically designed for EVERY 

GENERATION to deepen their understanding, ignite their curiosity and grow as fruit-producing, God-glorying disciples! Don’t miss out! To make it easier for you to find and listen, you can now grab “The Dig” episodes on the church website: https://www.mgcb.org/family-ministries/the-dig-podcast--8

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

Last Monday evening, I had a long day of travel to Minnesota. I finally had my rental car around midnight and was ready to get to my hotel and call it a night. My hotel was let’s just say… not as I expected. I powered through, getting just a few hours of sleep, and decided, without question, I wouldn’t be sleeping there the next night. I made my way to campus, got to my class and tried to get focused on meeting new people and the class material. In the back of my mind; however, was how tired I was, what hotel I was going to stay at, a few deadlines that I needed to square up before the end of the business day. 

You get the point by now, I would imagine. The first 36 hours of my trip were exhausting. It just felt like I could not catch a break. Wednesday morning, after a night of good sleep, (finally!) I made my way to class. On my drive, I was chatting with God, thanking him for the ways he kindly provided for me, a new hotel room, good caffeine and good community. 18 hours prior to this, I wasn’t sure how I would make it through this trip upright. 

Just as I’m pulling out of the hotel parking lot, this song came on my phone - Psalm 23 (Wilder). It’s the artist’s son reciting Psalm 23, so this precious little voice comes over my speakers saying “I lack nothing.” Yes, Lord! I lack nothing! You have it all in your hands! Bad hotels, sleepy bodies, lonely hearts, anxious souls. All of it! 

But then as this little friend gets to the end of the Psalm, he gets a little stuck. He forgets and needs his parent to prompt him to recall that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Don’t we all need a little prompting from our Parent, our Heavenly Father, to recall that SURELY goodness and mercy WILL follow us ALL THE DAYS of our lives. 

I was that kid. Needing a little help to remember that despite what my circumstances felt like, I lacked nothing. Thanks be to God.

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: A great resource for us all - Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Something to Listen to: This was a super interesting podcast interview sharing some cultural insights on Holy Week! Give “Understanding Holy Week Through Its Original Historical and Cultural Context with Rabbi Jason Sobel” a listen or a watch!

Something to Follow: Here’s a simple, yet impactful Holy Week Devotional you may want to follow along with - Hope for Holy Week!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for those in your life who need an Easter worship invitation this week! 

PRAISE for a beautiful Every Generation Sunday experience! That is a picture of the church, friends!