Maundy Thursday
Gather with members of our Church Family for Maundy Thursday Communion Services on Zoom. There will be 2 service times: 12:00 Noon and 7:00 PM. Be sure to have elements ready before logging on. Prefilled Juice/Wafer Communion sets will be available for pick-up during our Palm Sunday Drive Thru on March 28 from 3:00 PM-3:30 PM, or you may want to gather bread or crackers and juice or water at home. Zoom link.
Good Friday
The Way of the Cross video worship service will be posted online on Good Friday. This powerful service reflects on images depicting Jesus on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. Fourteen of our members share these reflections and invite you to join them in prayer using the order of worship contained in your "Holy Week Kit".
Watch on our Youtube Channel or Click Sermons
Easter Sunday
Celebrate Easter with our online worship service in the morning and our Drive Thru Celebration in the afternoon at 3:00 PM. Our beautiful floral cross will be on display and Jon Terry has offered to take family photos. (Social distancing protocols and masks must be worn while you wait)
Ruth Terry will be in the parking lot as well for any who would like to wish her farewell. We have a special sweet treat (donated by See's Candy) for each car that drives through.
Daily Holy Week Reflection
Saturday
Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24
Reading:
Late Friday afternoon, Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus down from the cross. He wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb made of stone. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James prepared spices and ointment to anoint the body. The next morning, Pilate ordered a stone placed in front of the tomb and a guard to stand by. The disciples were stunned. Jesus was dead. The last week had been so confusing. On Sunday the crowds had cheered him, and on Friday they killed him. He said he would build a kingdom, but he was dead. Jesus was dead and his body was under the earth. All about the city of Jerusalem, the followers of Jesus quietly and privately mourned his death, and remembered all he had said and done, and gave thanks for how his life had given new hope to their own.
To be continued…
Friday
Scripture: John 18:1 — 19:42
Reading:
Friday morning, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him to the Mount of Olives. Jesus asked the disciples to pray. Then he went a short distance from them, knelt down, and prayed. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” When Jesus returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping. “Why do you sleep? Rise, and pray!” While he was speaking, Judas came, bringing the authorities to arrest Jesus. Simon Peter drew a sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put up your sword ... The cup which my father has given me, shall I not drink it?” Then they led Jesus away and the disciples fled. The religious authorities accused Jesus of blasphemy because he claimed to be the Son of God. In the crowd during the trial, a young woman saw Peter and asked if he were a follower of Jesus. Peter denied ever having seen Jesus. Others asked Peter if he was a follower of Jesus, but each time he denied knowing Jesus. Next, Jesus stood trial before the civil authorities, Pilate and Herod. Although Pilate found no fault in Jesus, he was pressured by the crowd’s cries of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” They placed a crown of thorns upon his head, a purple robe around him, then forced him to carry the cross up the hill of Calvary. It was a day of shame ... a day of pain ... a day of intense suffering ... it was an awful and terrifying day when evil and horror seemingly caused even God to forsake the world.
Thursday
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Reading:
Thursday morning, Jesus sent two disciples into the city to arrange a place for them to observe the Passover. That evening while they were together in the Upper Room, the disciples began to argue among themselves, “Who will be the greatest?” “The one who serves others is the greatest,” Jesus said. Then he took a basin and towel and washed their feet. Conversation at the table was full of questions. Over and over again, Jesus tried to explain, to comfort them. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. If you shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. A little while and you behold me no more, and again a little while and you shall see me. I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” During the evening, Judas fled, and all were made aware he would betray Jesus. Later in the evening, Jesus took the bread and wine and blessed them saying, “This do in remembrance of me.”
Wednesday
Scripture: John 13:21-32
Reading:
Not only did Jesus make the scribes and Pharisees look foolish, but he finally spoke out openly against them. Sometime during the day the chief priests met together with the high priest, Caiaphas, to plan the killing of Jesus. Judas Iscariot met with them and agreed to deliver Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. On Wednesday, Jesus did not venture back into Jerusalem, but spent the entire day at the home of friends in Bethany. At dusk he walked out onto the roof of the house and watched the sun setting behind the Judean hills. Memories of childhood, youth, and growing up surely mingled with thoughts about tomorrow and the road he must walk. He “had been about his father’s business” for 33 years, and his work was now almost done. His life had been lived filled with love — wondrous love — and now, in perfect, wondrous love, he was about to die.
Tuesday
Scripture: John 12:20-26
Reading:
That day, the lame and blind came to Jesus in the Temple, and he healed them. The scribes and Pharisees who had been disturbed by Jesus’ actions on Sunday and Monday were now infuriated because of his popularity with the people. They began to talk seriously among themselves of how they might destroy him. And on Tuesday, they challenged his authority in the Temple. It was a day of continual questions with answers or stories that were so clear even a child could understand them. Perhaps it was a day when the disciples sensed the risk of discipleship, and perhaps the beginning of danger.
Monday
Scripture: Mark 11:15-19
Reading:
Monday morning, Jesus and his followers returned to Jerusalem. When they entered the Temple, Jesus was angered to see that it had become a marketplace. The noise of the merchants hawking their wares made it impossible to worship God. Tables of money crashed to the floor and crates of doves were broken open as Jesus very deliberately threw the money changers out of the Temple. Then he very calmly spoke to the people, “The Temple is not a den of thieves. The Temple should be a place of prayer for all people. My house should be a place to pray.”
Palm Sunday
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11
Reading:
“Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the Son of David who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!” So the crowd shouted as Jesus and the disciples entered Jerusalem that very first Palm Sunday. It was a glorious parade of cheering crowds with palm branches flooding the narrow streets of Jerusalem that morning. It was a festival time for the followers of Jesus; for now, after three years, it looked as if he was going to set up his earthly kingdom. The disciples were exhilarated by the events of the day, but by late afternoon, they were weary as they walked with Jesus back to Bethany to spend the night with friends. Can you imagine what it must have been like that week ... the last week?