April 1, 2026

Palm Sunday is now in the past, and Maundy Thursday is tomorrow night. During this week in history Jesus was hard at work preaching, teaching and healing at an exhausting pace because He knew His time was short. His disciples were hard-pressed to keep up with Him, and I am reasonably sure they did not understand the pressure Jesus was under. They loved Him, thought they knew Him, were destined to fail Him Thursday night in Gethsemane’s garden. One of them had already become so frustrated with Him that he had agreed to sell Him out – to reveal a meeting place far away from the public eye so the Jewish leaders could have Him arrested without worrying about witnesses. Jesus loved them all anyway, explained multiple times what was about to happen, and continued with His Father’s plan. 

As we move deeper into Holy Week, I hope that each of you has plans to set aside time to read through the Gospel accounts and refamiliarize yourself with the last few days of Jesus’ earthly life. Whom did He heal? What did He teach? Where did He go? How did He pray? Above all, why did He do it? (Pastor Doug will be teaching on that last question this very Sunday). After our Maundy Thursday service, we will not meet again until Sunday, when we come to celebrate His glorious resurrection. Between those two services let me encourage you to allow yourself some time to explore the sadness, the grief, the hopelessness (however temporary) the disciples and others who loved Jesus experienced over those three dark days. Only then will you be able to understand the complete joy that must have burst into unquenchable flame within them at the news that the tomb was empty. Hallelujah! He is risen! He is risen indeed!!

I hope to see you tomorrow night, and again on Sunday morning. Sunrise service starts at 6:30 a.m., and our regular worship at 10 a.m.

Careen

Worship Songs for Maundy Thursday, April 2:

Were You There? – Shawnee Press Church Choral – https://youtu.be/zrtxSXPTjkw?si=4lsu7VV2W42UI_L_

Remembrance – Hillsong Worship – https://youtu.be/EDtT3UMHYBg?si=KBi5pv_3Qbl0Y-xl

Easter Sunday, April 5:

Christ the Lord is Risen Today – Islington Baptist Church – https://youtu.be/nzy7jFNUc3wsi=W_WI4HjOTJ9uIh66

Christ Arose – Daniel Baptist Congregational – https://youtu.be/6BYMCZNHPmg?si=ZOGC0xL_OEU36YYP

It Was Finished Upon That Cross – CityAlight – https://youtu.be/PUGQNYm44hk?si=GBw4WCpxXFCp03EX

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery – Matt Boswell/Matt Pap – https://youtu.be/IVlJEfjLhqUsi=ynYmYhdd5KPxbu-D