Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! It’s Easter Week! Who are you going to bring to meet the risen Jesus and His family? Here’s the schedule:
- Maundy Thursday* Lord’s Supper 6:30
- Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic, Saturday 11:00
- Easter Worship – Saturday 6:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am & 10:50 am
* What does Maundy mean? Maundy is from the Latin word for mandate. When Jesus initiated the Lord’s Supper, He washed His disciples feet and told them, “A new mandate I give you that you love one another as I have loved you. ”
- At the Maundy Thursday service, seven students will join the church and receive their first communion: Garret Bates, Hunter Bowman, Ashley Jack, Katherine Johnson, Mason Poloske, Nathan Rosamond and Nathaniel Squires. At this service, we ask people not to come casually, or dress casually. We enter in silence and we leave the service in silence – sobered by Jesus’ sacrificial death to atone for our rejection of God.
- Thank you to the 500+ families who have made a financial pledge to the MORE campaign. Cards continue to trickle in, so if you intended to make a commitment but are just tardy, please turn in your card by mailing it or leaving it at the Welcome Desk this weekend. Next weekend (April 6-7), we’ll announce the total amount pledged. We had a three-tiered financial goal for the campaign – $2.5 million (which would be more than was pledged in our last campaign), $3 million (the most realistic target) or $3.5 million (which is the "Holy Spirit has descended upon us and the gospel is running amok at SRPC” target.) Don’t miss next weekend and the big “reveal!”
- When should you begin your MORE giving? April 2013!
- SRPC has a new staff member! Tom Huey, who has superbly lead our building and grounds staff for 6 ½ years, is retiring on May 1. Tom has been a bulwark of strength and support in facilitating all the varied ministries that flow through our campus weekly and we are deeply grateful for his stellar labor. On April 1, Steve Stack begins as our new Facility Manager. Steve is a deacon at SRPC, married to Drenda; they have three daughters and are an integral part of our church/school community. We are really looking forward to working with Steve!
- The Ancient Paths is our new sermon series beginning on the weekend of April 6-7. The title of this series is taken from Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’” Together as a church, we’ll look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, the paths that when men walk in them, they find rest for their souls. This will lead to sermons on bedrock values that direct God’s people on how to live in a way that will bless our community and enable our culture to flourish. Over the following eight weeks, we’ll be preaching on hard work, truth telling, humility, hospitality and others of the tried and true ancient paths!
- Next weekend (April 6-7) we’ll return to one Sunday service at 10:00am!
- Last week, Diane and I were with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Barrett, in Harlingen, Texas. I had the privilege of speaking in their church and got to make a side trip to San Antonio and the Alamo! I’m excited be home to celebrate Easter with you!
Ray
