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I have appreciated our “Taking Up Lent” challenges over the last six weeks and how appropriate it has been to be reading of Jesus’ final days/hours in the Gospels this week. I mentioned on Wednesday before the Roots Meal that Wednesday is known as Betrayal Wednesday where the Scriptures denoting the betrayal by Judas were to be read. I also mentioned that many of the days of Holy Week have special names like Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and of course Easter or as I like to say Resurrection Sunday. Fourteen years ago, I wrote an article about one of the silent days of holy week, Saturday. I found it again and have attached it here if you would like to read it as it was written in 2012.

Last night we observed Maundy Thursday by participating in Love Feast. Love Feast mirrors much of the events of that last night Jesus had with the disciples. They shared a meal together, Jesus washed their feet, and Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to give the disciples and us tangible reminders of the sacrifice He would make for us on the cross of Calvary. I appreciate Janae, Pastors Mary Etta, Rita, and Brian Berkey for their assistance with the service last night and for the deacons for preparing what is always a meaningful worship experience.

Today is Good Friday and tonight we are showing the movie “The Passion of the Christ” in the sanctuary at 6:00 pm. There is no meal tonight but please come for the movie. Because of its R rating and for being extremely graphic, we are providing a more age-appropriate showing of the movie “King of Kings” in the lower level children’s wing. Adults can view that movie if they do not wish to see “The Passion of the Christ.” Let me encourage you to read the passages outlined in the “Taking up Lent” challenge for today as we seek in a variety of ways to remember the sacrificial death of our Savior.

This Sunday will begin early with our sunrise service at 6:15 am at Pam and Alan Platt’s home. We will then have our traditional service at 8:15 am, Sunday School will be at 9:30 am, and our contemporary service will be at 10;30 am. We are putting our Believe series on pause as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday in both worship services and Sunday School. Easter flowers will decorate the sanctuary and there will be lots of music as we celebrate the greatest news of all—HE HAS RISEN!

The title of this column for the last three years has been “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming.” That title is based on this day on our calendar. Good Friday is a day of tremendous sorrow as Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, is slain. The crucifixion of Jesus is foundational to our faith as Scripture says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin” (Heb. 9:22). But Good Friday is not the end of the story. There is a story of hope that is coming in just a few days. How often do our days feel like Good Friday, when nothing seems to be going well. But praise God that Sunday is coming! It is the promise and anticipation of Sunday, Resurrection Sunday that enables us to move beyond the shock and the heartache of Good Friday. If you watch “The Passion of the Christ” tonight, you will see in a graphic way the punishment and death Jesus endured for you and me. But hang on, there is a Sunday morning miracle coming! It is Friday but praise the Lord that Sunday is coming! And what a celebration we will have as we gather together in remembrance of the greatest day in history, the day of victory, the day of hope, Resurrection Sunday!

Have a great weekend and I hope to see some of you tonight for our movies and don’t forget to get started early Sunday morning with our Easter sunrise service at the Platts. What a great day of celebration we will have as we gather as God’s church—the Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, brothers and sisters in Christ who are redeemed by the blood of the lamb. It is never more appropriate for me to say this than today—It is Friday...but Sunday’s coming!

 Easter Blessings to each of you!

Pastor Kevin