The Messenger - April 20, 2011 - The Grand Finales

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The Grand Finales

During each Sunday morning for the last two months, our church has followed a "Countdown to Calvary," pausing at at every scene in the last 24 hours of Jesus life. We have studied both Jesus and those around him, finding many examples of courage and cowardice, anger and forgiveness, resignation and resolve. On Thursday of this week, we will reach the climax of this journey--the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Calvary.

This should be a moving service and a solemn chance to think about the price that Jesus paid for your salvation. According to Matthew's Gospel, Christ's crucifixion was so powerful that many folks who had been dead arose from their tombs and came back to life--even before Christ did! There's a lot of good news in that! But most Christians shy away from this scene. Like Christ's first disciples, we tend to look at Calvary as a place of humiliation, degradation, and shame, forgetting that there would be no Easter Sunday if Good Friday had not come first.

Thus, I hope you will join us for both of the "Grand Finales" of this Holy Week. On 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, we will focus upon Christ's crucifixion at Calvary. At 9 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday, we will focus upon Christ's resurrection from the dead. As you well know, the latter is a joyful witness to God's surprising power, but the former is a stunning witness to God's amazing love. I hope that you can witness both of them with us.

I'll see you in church!

Neal

Thu, Apr 28
7:30 pm - Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Erik Larson is the interim editor of the Messenger.
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