Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honour to this Day,
That sees December turned to May.

If we may ask the reason, say
The why and wherefore all things here
Seem like the Spring-time of the year?

Why does chilling Winter’s morn
Smile like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like to a Mead new-shorn,

Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
‘Tis He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To Heaven and the under-Earth.

We see Him come and know him ours,
Who, with His sunshine and His showers
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome Him. The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the heart.

Which we will give Him, and bequeath
The Holly, and this Ivy wreath,
To do Him honour, who’s our King,
And Lord of all this reveling.

—Robert Herrick

Join us for a service of Lessons and Carols TONIGHT at 7pm.

And if you’re are around this weekend, we conclude our Advent and Life of David Series with Isaiah 9:2-7. Also, in lieu of Sunday School, we will gather for a Christmas Brunch from 9:30-10:15am. Bring something to share if you’re able and join us around the table as we enjoy the good company of friends, new friends, and family.

This Christmas Season we are reducing the scheduling of our normal weekly meetings in favor of opening up space and time for a purposeful and thoughtful celebration of Christmas. At a time of year when largess and leisure should be the normal experience, we are more often frenzied harassed. This is a far cry from how we should experience “glad tidings of great joy.”

One opportunity to lean into the Christmas Season is to host a Neighborhood Christmas Party. These parties are designed and planned to help you to meet and reach out to your neighbors. If you are interested in hosting a party or in learning more about them, GPC is hosting a training and informational meeting on Sunday, November 22nd at 2pm at the church building. Hope to see you there.

We are very excited to visit with our friends at Robinwood and celebrate our annual Thanksgiving Dinner together on Sunday, November 15 in their great room from 5 -7 pm.

If you have food items to contribute, please bring them by the kitchen at Robinwood by 3pm. Guests, servers, and hosts need to arrive by 4:45 pm.

Many of you are asking when A. Cables returns for leave this week. We have no update yet, but you can see what he’s been up to here: http://tinyurl.com/km2fqx .

As many of you are aware, GPC has had it’s own team playing in KSA’s summer rec league this summer. Word on the street is that it was a lot fun getting to know others and enjoying the game, or at least remembering how we used to play it. In order to show appreciation and to celebrate this endeavor, we’ve scheduled a celebration this Sunday to recognize our players and to express our gratitude for the fellowship we’ve enjoyed and new friends we’ve made on and off the field.

This coming Sunday (7/19) following the worship service, we will be hosting our comrades in soccer for a cookout. We are asking that GPC members whose last names begin A-M to bring a dessert and members whose name begin with N-Z to bring a side dish.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and hey, maybe even a pickup game or two will happen?

This year’s Vacation Bible School concludes this evening with a hot dog supper and closing large group meeting. Last night’s “you can get wet” water slide was a blast! We want to thank everyone who helped and all the children who participated for being such willing servants. It’s been great!

Sunday’s services are planned, and as we come together for our gathered worship, we want to remind you that this Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and we have an after-worship picnic at Fourth of July Park’s Picnic Shelter #2. Bring a picnic lunch and lawnchairs, tennis rackets, basketballs, skateboards–and enjoy hanging out and playing outside.

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 April 5).  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 9).  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 10).  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 12).  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.

This week we continue to break from the normal routine as we celebrate the passion and victory of Jesus over all his and our enemies. Here’s what’s going on:

• Corporate Prayer on Tuesday, April 7 from 10-Noon in the office. If you can join us for all or part, please do so. During this time we pray for the needs of our congregation and that Jesus would make his name great in our community. Also, if you are unable to attend, take time during this time to pray with us from where ever you’re at.
• Holy (Maundy) Thursday. Join us from 7:00-8:00pm on April 9 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 10 as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
• Children’s Easter Egg Hunt. Join us Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 as GPC kids and our friends gather to have fun and learn about Easter.
• Resurrection Sunday. Join us Sunday, April 12 for gathered worship at 10:30am as we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death!

Take some time to pause and reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection. As we celebrate in our gathered worship times, we’ll be looking at the three Marys of John 12-20: Mary of Bethany, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdelene and the extraodinary theological and pastoral revelations they received. Take a look for yourself.

It looks to be a beautiful weekend, and there’s a lot going on!

The Grace House Preschool Consignment Sale continues this evening from 4-6pm and tomorrow from 9 til 1pm. This looks to be one of the best years so far.

Middle Schoolers depart for their Spring Retreat: Fear Factor at 6pm from the church parking lot.

And on Sunday, we are priviledged to have with us good friend, Tim Brieaddy who will be sharing with us a new ministry in Waughtown and God’s word from Isaiah 58. Additionally, we will have special guest, Men of Grace, who will be leading us in worship. And if that wasn’t enough,  we’ll wrap up the morning showing hospitality to our guests and friends we’ve invited with Friendship Sunday, a covered dish potluck lunch.

Join us for Sunday, but don’t forget to set your clocks ahead Saturday Night. 10:30 am will feel a little earlier.

If you weren’t able to be with us the last time Men of Grace came, here’s a look-see.