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Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. 

Mine has been full—and good! - so far. It’s a busy season for all of us in the office, as we prepare for the many events that cluster around Holy Week and Easter. Between now and the end of April we’ll have Palm Sunday, the first Sunday evening SNL worship gathering, our annual Tenebrae service-of-darkness on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, then a slightly-late Seder supper (which in a perfect world would happen on the Thursday before Easter) and glimpse into Passover as another source of insight on all that Easter means. I’m excited about each event and pleased with all the activities. But it certainly has us all taking a deep breath before plunging in. There’s a lot to think about. 

Fortunately, the “thinking about” isn’t just planning and working on logistics. This is also a wonderful time for reflection, encouragement, and worship. The activities that will keep us occupied in the next few weeks are all centered around the most important, transformative events in the history of our world. In between selecting songs, building outlines, connecting with guest speakers, rehearsing, and other practical stuff, we find ourselves mulling over the amazing truths of the Easter season: that God demonstrated His love for us in giving His Son to die on our behalf while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8); that Jesus was willing to do this in spite of the cost; that sin and death and the grave were defeated in His resurrection; so that even though the wages of sin is death, God now offers us the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). It’s more than any of us can fully understand. But it’s wonderful. And it’s a privilege to be able to spend so much time thinking about these precious truths! 

I’m glad we included the old hymn And Can It Be in our service this past Sunday. The style isn’t contemporary, but it’s been good to reflect again on what the song says. 

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him, to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 

‘Tis mystery, all—the Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all, let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more. 

He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me. 

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 

As part of reflecting on all this and entering into personal worship, I try to read through one or more of the gospel accounts of the full story from Jesus’ triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, through the events of Holy Week, into the trial and crucifixion, and on to the resurrection. I also have a favorite fictional book that retells the same things in a different form that I try to sit and read along the way. It adds to the impact of the season for me. I hope you find ways to revisit and ponder these events which lie at the core of our faith as well. It’s certainly worth the time and effort. And of course, it will serve as helpful background to the messages coming up over the next 3 Sundays. 

Perhaps I should warn you that I’m going to do something a bit different in this year’s Easter sermons. Typically, our messages in this season would come out of those narratives from one of the gospels. This year, I’m going to go in a different direction. We’ll focus our attention on 1 short verse: Romans 6:23. You’ve probably memorized it—and it’s well worth imprinting into all our hearts and minds. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I’m doing this for 2 reasons. First, Romans 6:23 really is a fabulous 21-word summary of Easter and the gospel message, and it lends itself to a 2-week, 2-part presentation. Second, I’m conscious that Easter is a time when guests come to visit the church, and I like to be able to give a fairly short, simple message that is both a celebration of Easter and a friendly presentation of the gospel. What could be more suitable than to talk about how God’s free gift is eternal life? 

So … this is all the more reason to spend a little time reading through the Easter account in your own devotions or with your prayer/study group in the coming days. It will bring a fresh reminder of the historical facts that will be assumed but not discussed in as much detail on the next 2 Sunday mornings. (Of course, you’re welcome to spend time reflecting on Romans 6:23 as well, though it’s short and won’t take long to read.) 

Also, I suspect that some of you are like Diane and myself—you’ve got friends who you’d like to invite to church, but you’re not always sure how well a given service will fit for them since they’re not “churchy” people. We’re trying to make Easter Sunday visitor-friendly, with a short message from a single verse as well as a celebratory time around a couple baptisms. So, this might be a good opportunity for that invitation. May God give you wisdom as you share with friends and family. 

Well, those are the things on my mind this week. Sorry—this is a bit longer than usual. But there’s a lot going on, and a lot to think about. Have a wonderful week, and may the events of Holy Week and Easter be truly refreshing, enriching, and worshipful for you this year. 

Pastor Ken