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This was a slower, calmer week than last week. I took Monday for my Easter holiday as our oldest daughter Molly visited and we spent much of the day with her. Today we are in Harrisburg to celebrate our daughters’ birthdays. Because of Holy Week and schedules, we have been unable to get together. Our youngest Tessa turned 23 on March 26th and Molly turns 26 on April 14. So tonight we are getting together to celebrate both of their birthdays. Ruth and I are excited for some overdue family time.

I am so grateful for all who made Holy Week and our Easter Celebration so meaningful. Our deacons were amazing in preparing Love Feast for us and I am thankful for Lori and the choir and for all the music on Sunday. The entire staff pitched in to help with the extra services and responsibilities and many volunteers as well. Kay Swarr once again led an amazing Sonrise service Easter morning and I am thankful for Pam and Alan Platt opening their home again for the Sonrise service. I can tell you that I was serving this week out of the joy I experienced on Resurrection Sunday. What a great culmination of an amazing week in ministry for our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was a short week, but I was able to administer home communions to Charlie and Edna Wagner and Emma Dubble. I was able to visit Anna Jane Glisson and Jim Showalter as well. Please keep each of them in your prayers as they are both now under hospice care. Paul Trimble’s procedure went well this week, as did Paige Herr’s surgery. And it was great to have our first Monday prayer this week where we prayed for our church, community, and global needs while still celebrating the good news that HE IS RISEN!

This week we will resume our Believe series in both worship services and Sunday School. The practice we will consider is single-mindedness. And yes, that is a practice as you will learn on Sunday. The preaching text is Matthew 6:25-34 if you want to read ahead in preparation for the morning message.

Sunday is the last day to sign up to help with the Wee Friends 50th Anniversary Carnival which is happening one week from tomorrow. The volunteer opportunity board is still in the gathering area and there remain opportunities to serve or to give in support of this community event. Ruth and I are looking forward to helping with the hot dog and popcorn concessions Saturday morning. If you have any questions about helping with the COM carnival, please contact Janae.

Next week will be a busy week. We have Commissions, Church Board, and Executive Committee meetings Monday evening. The Oaks Ministry (older adult ministry) has an event and lunch together on Tuesday. We have a Roots night on Wednesday with an intergenerational service project and then Wee Friends 50th Anniversary Carnival on Saturday. 

Let me close with this. I Corinthians 15 is Paul’s chapter on resurrection. Fifty-eight verses detailing Jesus’ resurrection and what our resurrection will be like. Towards the end of the chapter, Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8 and says, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” He then asks rhetorically, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Paul then adds in verse 57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a perfect summation of Resurrection Sunday. Because He has risen, we have victory through Jesus Christ. Death has lost its sting because He arose. And someday we too shall rise with Christ in victory. 

Have a great weekend, the weather looks to be delightful. Our hiking group will have its first hike since fall at 2:00 pm on Sunday. The hiking group will hike from the Colemanville Church Road Parking area to the Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve. We will take some time to walk through the Wildflower Preserve before hiking back. Participants should park at the Colemanville Church Road Parking access to the Enola Low Grade Trail. Lots of blessings are in store for us as we gather on Sunday to resume the Believe series and continue the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin