Midweek: Wednesday, April 13th, 2022

 

Midweek 4/13/22

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Music notes
• Easter Breakfast: 9:30am the 17th
• Maundy Thursday Service
• Cheers for Greeters
• Softball anyone?
• At the Window: The Empty Tomb

“Why do you look for the living among the

dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5b

“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:11

Joint Choir Rehearsal for Maundy Thursday: Thursday the 14th at 6:15-6:45pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal: Saturday the 16th at 11am

Chancel Choir Rehearsal: Sunday the 17th at 9am

You are invited to a delicious breakfast Easter morning in the fellowship hall! That’s this Sunday, folks! You will enjoy breakfast casserole, fruit salad and pastries, as well as coffee and juice. The meal will start at 9:30. Please sign up on the sheet outside the office or call/email Gretel in the office and she will sign you up. We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate together our Risen Lord.

Faith Circle: Wednesday the 13th at 1:30 in the library

Maundy Thursday Service: Joint with Central Christian Church: Thursday the 14th at 7pm at FPC in sanctuary. Come worship with us.

Greeters please! Thank you to those of you have signed up! We have greeters to cover the rest of April. Please sign up for a spot beginning in May. Whether you are caffeinated or not, or inspirational or not, a kind smile and friendly welcome go a long way to foster a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Items can still be brought for the Caring Center. We will collect until Thursday, April 14th.

Softball anyone? The Lebanon Park Department hosts a Co-Ed Softball League over the summer and has invited us to join the league. Please contact Gretel in the office if you would like to be a part of this. Join the few who have already stepped up. Questions? Gretel can connect you with more information.

This week when we come to the window, let’s take a peek at the window at the front of the church behind the choir loft. The best time to view this window is in the morning when the day’s first light illuminates it. I can’t help but wonder if that was the intent of those who designed the Sanctuary; it is certainly appropriate considering the subject of the window. I believe the window captures the scene recorded in Luke 24:1-7, when the women go to the tomb, prepared to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. To their surprise, they find the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb and no body in the tomb. They do not need to wonder about this for long, as two angels appear and tell them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Are we making the same mistake? Are we looking for Jesus in the wrong places? May we follow the instruction of the angels and “remember” what He has told us. (see Luke 24: 6)

“But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done mothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:40-42, NRSV

    It is one thing to come to the foot of the cross and surrender to the Lord, but this man, on his own cross, surrendered to Jesus. Shouldn’t we do as he did? Are we any better than he? Can’t we all say we have done amiss? Don’t we all need to fear God? Don’t we each need to look at the stark reality of Jesus on the cross? We are each one born in sin and we are each found guilty of sin. (Romans 3:23). We can echo what this man said, “. . . but this man hath done nothing amiss.” (Luke 24:41,KJV) What the thief on the cross did next is where change begins. He said to Jesus, “Lord, Remember me.” He trusted in Jesus. He acknowledged who Jesus was and where He was going. I pray today that we would each do likewise, that we would be honest with God and with ourselves about who we are and who Jesus is. I pray that we would trust Jesus. I pray that we would surrender to Him. Whether on our own cross or at the foot of Jesus’ cross, may we give our life to You, Lord. And may You birth a new freedom in us. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.

The following prayer is based on Psalm 65:2a (KJV): “O thou that hearest prayer.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Because You hear our prayer, we come.

We need not wait.

In the midst of now, we come.

On bended knee, or prostrate fall,

Or hands to heaven, standing tall:

We come.

You hear the smallest whisper, the deepest groan,

The angry confession, the plea to Your throne.

So we come.

No defenses, no apologies, no excuses.

We come as we are.

I come, and I thank You for listening.

That is as far as I get. Then I sit.

And You hear my silence.

Blessed is my soul.

In Jesus’ name we praise and pray, Amen.