Holy Week and a Look Ahead

A preview of this week's services and our next series in 1 John

We began Holy Week on Palm Sunday with the convergence of the end of the Joseph story and the Genesis series we began back in January, and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week that would lead to the cross and the empty tomb. If you missed Sunday’s sermon, you can catch it here:

We also expanded on the idea of “Genesis 50:20 Vision” in this week’s podcast:

Maundy Thursday Service - Tonight at 7:00pm

Now, we turn our attention to the events of Jesus’ Passion beginning tonight with our Maundy Thursday service at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. “Maundy” comes from the Latin, “Maundatum Novum,” or the “new commandment” Jesus gave his disciples to “love one another” as we washed their feet on that Thursday evening before he went to the cross (John 13). It was also the evening that Jesus gave his disciples a perpetual sign by which to remember what his sacrifice the next day would mean—a meal that would, like the Passover did for the Israelites, point God’s saving grace and abiding presence in the body and blood of Christ.

We celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion every Sunday at Aldersgate Church and a lot of people wonder about that. Why do we make the table the center of our worship each week? Does receiving communion weekly diminish its value by making it a rote ritual? What does it mean for us and how can we embrace this sign as necessary for our lives as disciples of Jesus? Tonight, I’ll be focusing on some of those questions in the sermon, “Dinner’s Ready.” We’ll join together for Holy Communion as well, and I hope that tonight will help you experience the power, presence, and love of Christ in a way that makes you want a place at his table as often as possible.

Good Friday Tenebrae Service - Friday at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary

“Tenebrae” is the Latin word for darkness, and this special Good Friday service uses 16 readings from the Gospels, along with the lighting and extinguishing of candles, to tell the story of Jesus’ Passion from his arrest to the crucifixion. I have always loved this service because it allows the reading of Scripture to tell the story, with no sermon needed. The sound of a nail being struck after each reading, the candles going out one by one, and the service ending in total darkness remind us of the suffering and death Jesus undertook in order to save us from sin and death. We’ll have some special music at this service as well as times of silence for reflection. Come and experience the drama of the cross with us as we gather in the Sanctuary.

Easter Sunday - Services at 6:15, 8:00, 9:00, and 10:30am

We begin our joyous Easter celebration with a 6:15am Sunrise Service outdoors behind the church building. Pastor Jeff will be leading the service in word and song along with some of our youth. Bring a lawn chair and experience the dawn of God’s new creation in the good news that Christ is risen!

Our 8:00am Easter Service will be in the Chapel where we’ll gather for hymns, the message, and Holy Communion. As a reminder, this will be our last 8:00am service as we are consolidating our worship schedule. We look forward to seeing our faithful 8:00am crew at one of our other two worship services.

The 9:00am Contemporary Service will feature our Praise Band leading the joyous songs of Easter along with the message and communion. Come ready to sing and celebrate!

And we end our Easter morning with the 10:30am Traditional Service, with our Sanctuary Choir, soloist Xela Pinkerton, and Beth Gross on the organ leading the deeply rich and traditional hymns and songs of Easter, along with prayers, readings, the message, and Holy Communion.

The Easter sermon will focus on the shock of seeing someone whom everyone thought was dead suddenly being seen alive. It happened to a man in England back in 2008, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. When it happened with Jesus, however, he had really been dead and now was seen very much alive by eyewitnesses. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central claim of Christianity and the event upon which history turns. How do we understand it and what does it mean for how we live our lives? We’ll be looking at the story of a “Dead Man Down Under” to get the answer.

So, after you’ve gone through your Easter basket and chomped the head off that chocolate bunny, come and join us either in person or online as we celebrate Easter at Aldersgate Church!

Upcoming Series: 1 John (Begins May 4)

When we read John’s Gospel, we get a vision of Jesus from the outside looking in. When we read 1 John, we get a vision of Jesus from the inside looking out. First John, one of the shortest books in the Bible, may pack one of the biggest punches as it unveils the unconventional movements of the supernatural love of God in Jesus Christ and their uncanny implications. Join us a journey with the ancient apostle, helping us to see with our own eyes, conceive with our own minds, and know in our own hearts the gospel of Jesus Christ from the inside—as told by his closest friend. The series begins on Sunday, May 4. Daily devotional books by my friend J.D. Walt will be available for purchase and several of our small groups and Sunday School classes will be following the series as well. Check the bulletin and our website for details.

Romania Mission Team - April 22-28

I’ll be heading out with our Aldersgate Romania Mission Team on Tuesday as we visit with the kids and staff at the House of Joy, a group home for orphans near the city of Sibiu, and check in on the Arms of Hope ministry with Ukrainian refugee families. Both of these are ministries of Global Hope, a Christian non-profit that serves orphaned and abandoned children in Romania, Kenya, and India. I am privileged to be on the Board of Directors of Global Hope and I’m excited to introduce our team and the congregation to this vital ministry and the kids we serve. They have become like family to me! If you missed my video from last year’s trip, you can check it out below and get a sense of the story and the nature of the ministry in Sibiu. Please pray for our team—Steve Bentzel, Harvey and Kelly Elder, Robin Hoffman, Jennifer Strayer, Julie Winters and me—for safe travel and a fruitful time of ministry and learning. Watch the blog next week for updates, pictures, and videos!