As we begin the month of March, many start to think about warmer weather, flowers blooming and trees budding, planting and working in the gardens and yard, planning short trips, a family vacation or maybe a “staycation”, and Easter.  Just as Springtime points to new life around us, Easter points to the New Life in a Christian. “He [Christ] died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them…This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:15, 17 NLT)
Whereas Spring comes around each March 21st, we celebrate Easter, or rather the resurrection of Jesus Christ, every Sunday! We don’t have to wait for Easter Sunday to come around on the calendar, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ every time we gather to worship and praise Him! Easter Sunday is a great day to remember the resurrection because it’s a great time to invite family and friends who don’t celebrate the resurrection every week. Easter Sunday this year is on April 20th.
​Start inviting your non-church-going family and friends to celebrate this Easter with you. But you don’t have to wait for Easter Sunday for them to come, invite them to our March to Easter services on Monday evenings at 7 PM starting March 17th and going to April 14th. We’ll have different speakers and musicians each night as we March to Easter. On Easter Sunday we will join with others for our Community Easter Sunrise Service at Campground Cemetery and then we will have our Easter Celebration Service at 11:00. Again, Easter is a great time to invite someone to join you in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ! In addition to Easter and our March to Easter services there are other opportunities listed in this newsletter for you to be involved.
On another note, how are you “Thriving in ‘25”? For many, our “thriving in ’25” has been more “striving to survive in ’25.” Please, know I feel your pain and frustration and so do many others. I still believe and am striving to “Thrive in ‘25”. Let me offer a verse that has been an encouragement to me, “In His kindness God called you to His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. After you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.” (1 Peter 5:10 NLT) We are going to go through tough times, we will suffer some, but God is faithful. God is Faithful! God Is Faithful!! GOD IS FAITHFUL!!! And remember this thought, “when you’re too weak to hold on to Jesus, He’s too strong to let you go.” One more verse as you continue to “Thrive in ‘25”; “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.” (Romans 8:18 NLT) Keep pressing forward. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. The reward will be worth it.
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” (William Carey)