Our VBS this week, Cosmic Wheat, was a delight. Thank you to all the helpers, leaders, cooks, musicians, and parents. It is such an encouragement to watch people come together and to see all the age groups enjoy the festive atmosphere and learn more of the good news about Jesus.

The Grace Glory Garden is ready. The soil has been prepped, limed, tilled, and conditioned. All we need now are some individuals to make use of plots that have been staked off.

In order to cover the cost of maintenance, we are asking that individuals interested in ‘renting’ a plot, pay $25 per year. If you are interested, please contact either, Kathryn Sloan, Christy Ogburn, or Mary Freeman and make your check out to GPC and note in the memo “glory garden”.

Hope to see you out on the back forty!

Firstly, we want to wish Mr. and Mrs. Matt and Anna Norman congratulations on the wedding yesterday. We love you both.

Next, this Sunday we’ll be wrapping up our series on John and the “I am” sayings of Jesus in John’s Gospel. This being the second Sunday, we will also have our mission’s minute. Pat Abbott, missionary to Uganda and member of World Harvest Mission’s Budibugyo Team will be our guest.

Following the worship service the Missions Committee will be hosting a lunch as a fundraiser for summer teams and to raise support for those attending the MTW’s fall missions conference. Please join us.

What is Holy Week?

Holy Week refers to the week which begins with Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Sunday during which the church remembers the events and words spoken by Jesus twenty centuries ago.

Why participate in Holy Week services?

As I’ve celebrated Easter lately, it has grown increasingly difficult to capture all that Easter means during an hour and a half worship service on Easter Sunday.  Emotionally, it feels like too much to take in: the anticipation at the meal on Thursday evening, the shock of the betrayal, denial, and abandonment, the devastation on Golgotha, the finality at the tomb on Friday, and the thunderstruck hope and joy on Sunday. This year we will remember the events of Holy Week by celebrating Palm (or Passion) Sunday, Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday (Tenebrae), and Resurrection (or Easter) Sunday.  Both Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday will be celebrated during our regular worship times.  In addition, we will hold special services on Thursday and Friday evening from 7-8pm.

What are the services?

Palm Sunday (10:30 am on March 28).  Found in Matthew 21, Palm Sunday remembers Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem upon a donkey colt which in effect identified him as the promised Son of David.  Recognizing this, some in the crowd spread palm branches in Jesus’ path while others laid their cloaks on road and the crowd ran ahead of Jesus shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Holy (Maundy) Thursday (7:00 pm on April 1).  Sundown on Holy Thursday begins the Triduum (tree do ‘em) or “three days.”  Holy Thursday is oftentimes referred to as Maundy which is taken from the Latin “mandatum” or “commandment.”  After washing his disciples’ feet and instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus told his disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).”  On Holy Thursday, we will gather and recount Jesus’ last words to his disciples and celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  Holy Thursday concludes with recalling the betrayal of Judas Iscariot.

Good Friday or Tenebrae (7:30 pm on April 2).  Tenebrae is Latin for “shadows.”  During the Good Friday service we will remember Jesus’ last words, his crucifixion, and death.

Resurrection (Easter) Sunday (10:30 am on April 4).  Resurrection Sunday remembers the truth that the tomb was empty because the Lord Jesus had conquered death by rising from dead.  Jesus’ resurrection confirms for us that he is the Son of God, that he accomplished the work of saving his own, and that we too share in the hope of the resurrection and the promise of new life by our faith in him.

Childcare, as usual, is provided during our Sunday worship services.  However, childcare is not provided for Holy Thursday or Good Friday service.  Both Thursday’s and Friday’s services are quiet and more somber in their mood.  Because of this somber mood, it may feel like too much of a challenge for parents to monitor young children.  I want to encourage you to try it out.  It has been my experience, that children pick up on the unfamiliar feel of the service and respond surprisingly well.  How will they learn unless given opportunity?  Not only is this a worship experience, but it is a teaching opportunity.

As you prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, you may want to reflect on the following passages and hymns:

Read John 12-21.  These chapters recount the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Read through the following hymn lyrics.  Teach the tunes to your children.  ”All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “What Wondrous Love is This,” “Morning Sun,” “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” or “Up from the Grave He Arose.”

On Palm Sunday: Read: Psalm 24, Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 11, and John 19.

On Holy Thursday: Read: Jeremiah 31:31f, Matthew 26, Mark14, Luke 22, John 13-17.

On Good Friday: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 18-19.

On Resurrection Sunday: Matthew 27-28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 1 Corinthians 15.

As we continue seeking the Apostle John’s exposition on the question, “Who is Jesus?”, we come to the last of the seven formal “I am” sayings in John’s gospel: “I am the true vine.” We also will be celebrating Palm Sunday which begins Holy Week at GPC.

• Palm Sunday, Sunday, March 28. Palm Sunday remembers the Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. The children’s handbell choir will be providing the offertory during the morning service. They will have their final rehearse at 10 am on the 28th prior to the service.
  
• Holy (Maundy) Thursday. Join us from 7:00-8:00pm on April 1 at the building as we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples by worshiping together through the celebration of the sacrament, singing, and scripture readings.
• Good Friday (Tenebrae). Join us from 7:30-8:30pm on Friday evening, April 2 as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
• Children’s Easter Egg Hunt. Join us Saturday, April 3 at 10:00 as GPC kids and our friends gather to have fun and learn about Easter.
• Resurrection Sunday. Join us Sunday, April 4 for gathered worship at 10:30am as we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death!

Take some time to pause and reflect on Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection by reading John 12-20 this week in preparation for Holy Week.

Grace House Preschool Consignment Sale is Friday (3/12) from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm; and Saturday (3/13) from 8am to Noon! Check it out there are lot great deals.
Also, the Missions Team is hosting a Benefit Lunch for Summer Teams and to raise funds for those attending the PCA Annual Missions Conference in November.
Lastly, this is Daylight Saving’s Time weekend so don’t forget to move your clock ahead an hour on Saturday. If you don’t, we’ll know…

There’s a couple of things going on at GPC this weekend.

Firstly the Men’s Breakfast is Saturday, March 6 from 8 am til 9:15 in the Fellowship Hall. Nothing goes better with pancakes than community and fellowship.

Secondly, this Saturday is the rescheduled date of our Winter Work Day. We’ll be working on things inside the building: repairs, organizing, and cleaning up from the winter which, we are hopeful, is behind us. We’ll meet around 9:15 and be finished by Noon. Hope to see you there! Aside from pancakes, there’s nothing like working alongside one another for building community.

Lastly, our Sunday sermon series on Who is Jesus? continues with John 11:17-44, “I am the resurrection and the life.” You can view this Sunday’s bulletin, here.

Wednesday, February 17 is Ash Wednesday. We’re hosting a service from 6:30-7:30 pm which is for all ages. We hope you’ll take the time to join us. This Lenten Service will preempt our usual Wednesday Night Schedule which, of course will return next week with our monthly primary age club, JAM (Jesus and Me) from 6:30-7:30pm

If you haven’t considered how you might celebrate Lent, Gene Edward Veith is hosting an interesting discussion over at his blog, Cranach. And Pastor Randy has posted a few thoughts over at Twentystone.

Just a reminder, Rooted in Grace is this weekend (Friday: 7-9pm and Saturday: 9am-Noon). If you haven’t signed up, there’s still time. Just call the church office.

Incidentally, “Lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for “spring”. “Spring”…are you ready yet?

Just a couple of reminders about events going on this week at GPC.

Due to the inclement weather predicted this weekend, we’ve canceled the Men’s Breakfast on Saturday morning and have rescheduled Saturday’s workday.

The men will still be gathering on Friday morning from 6-7 am to pray for one another and the needs of GPC.

And if you’d like to take a look at what’s planned for Sunday, here’s the bulletin.

All Services — morning and evening — at GPC are canceled for Sunday, January 31. Enjoy the snow and play as well as the opportunity to enjoy community with others and communion with Jesus Christ as the one who took our scarlet sins and made them white as snow.