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…

Though our Sunday School classes for December 20 have been canceled, we will meet to worship at 10:30 am. Join us as we look at how the Lord promised to turn the world upside down through the son named Emmanuel.

This weekend, October 24 and 25, is our annual missions conference, Open Doors. We have a number of events planned for all ages. Come and hear what God is doing as we rejoice and are glad in his salvation.

The weekend’s achedule will flow as follows:

Saturday, October 24 from 6:00-8:30

6:00-7:00 pm Dinner Theatre. in the Sanctuary for adults and youth 6th grade and up. Our own Grace Players wills present, “The Ledge”. Children will have their own meal and activities during the evening session.

7:00-8:30 pm Worship, Listen, and Pray. During the second half of the evening, we’ll hear from missionaries which GPC has been supporting over the past year.

Sunday, October 25 from 9:30-Noon

9:30-10:15 am We will have a combined Sunday School for ages Kindergarten through adult in the sanctuary.

10:30-Noon We will worship and hear from our missionaries. Our morning concludes with celebrating the Lord’s Supper and rejoicing in his salvation.

You may download our Sunday worship bulletin here. See you then!

With the start of the school year and a more regular schedule, August 23rd marks the change back to our regular Sunday schedule: Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:30 am and Corporate Worship begins at 10:30.

We’re making a number of plans for our fall. Having concluded our worship series on the Seven Deadly Sins, we begin this Sunday looking at the Life of David. This series will culminate with our celebration of the coming of the Son of David during Advent.

Adult Sunday School will be focusing on several books and topics this fall. This Sunday we will begin a seven week study on the books of Habakkuk and Jonah. August 23 also is Promotion Sunday, so children will be moving up to the next age group in their respective classes.

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.

There’s lots going on this Summer, and I want to bring you up to date on a couple of fronts.

Firstly, THIS SUNDAY (June 7) marks the beginning of our Summer Flip Schedule. We will meet for worship from 9:30-11:00 am, and at various times throughout the summer, we’ll be have familial (church family events), missional (out reach events), and social (hang-out together and with new friends) events. Check the bulletin and our church website for upcoming events. Regarding our 9:30 am start time, I want to strongly encourage you to arrive by 9:15. It’s important that we be here when newcomers arrive. You wouldn’t want anyone you had invited to your house when you were unprepared to meet them, or worse not even there. Our dress in the summer is more casual, too–so please make the effort to be here on time.

Secondly, May marks the time of year in which officers rotate on and off the Session and Diaconate to and from their sabbaticals. I happy to welcome back Joe Dell’Arena and Matt Lievens and to thank Jim Plybon, Wynn Baum, and Karl Freeman for their had work and service as they head into a season of rest. Please be in prayer for these men and their families as they make the transition.

Thirdly, Nancy Jewell has agreed to serve as the volunteer coordinator for GPC as we partner with Family Promise of Forsyth County. It is likely that our first family will be staying with us the week of September 6-12. Prior to this week we will need a host of volunteers who are willing to help set up and take down, prepare meals, spend the night, provide tutoring for children, and prepare the building for inspection. Please let Nancy Jewell know how you can help. This is a GPC all-hands-on-deck ministry. I trust God will use us and our resources to be a blessing to those families seeking a way out of homelessness.

Fourthly, we have some new faces around. In particular, Michael Kuehn (Keen) and Brent Wilson. You may have seen both on the worship team over the past month, and they are helping as volunteer interns in various aspects of ministry. Brent will be leading a HS study on C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce which will meet Sunday nights at the Baum’s home beginning June 12, and Michael will be doing various other tasks for and within the church. Please welcome these men, and thank God for our opportunity to help train the next generation as God raises up workers for his harvest.

Lastly, Vacation Bible School is coming up at the end of this month (June 22-26) This too, is an “all hands on deck” event. We will have more children and adults from outside our congregation in this building than any time other than a Grace House event. We cannot miss the opportunity to welcome outsiders, make new friends, and share the love of Christ with our neighbors. Please let Carla know how you can help.

Lots going on this weekend GPC-er’s. We’re looking forward to celebrating the Lord’s Supper together on Sunday, and I want to encourage you to prepare your hearts to receive the sacrament.  The order of worship is copied here.

Tonight is Family Promise of Forsyth County’s CARDBOARD BOX CITY. GPC youth and adults have been collecting pledges and now it’s time to anti-up by sleeping in a cardboard box. We’ll be joined by one of GPC’s worship team who will be providing music at the event tonight. We’re looking forward to it and would like to thank everyone for their support.

This Sunday after worship, the Mission’s Committee will be hosting a SPAGHETTI DINNER immediately following the worship service. Donations will help support the Cherokee Mission Trip. Suggested donation $5 per adult, $3 per youth age 4 and up, $20 family plan. Additional donations are appreciated.

Some of the GPC men will be at the Men’s Retreat this weekend, but if you didn’t go, you’re not left out. MEN’S BREAKFAST is next Saturday, May 2 from 8-9am in the fellowship hall, and KINKLINGS (aka Kernersville Inklings) meets on May 4 at the home of Don Bechtold. See Don for details.

It’s posted on the calendar, but we want to remind you just the same, that a  CONGREGATIONAL MEETING is scheduled for May 31st following the worship service for the purpose of electing officers who are rotating back into office from their sabbaticals.

The most significant of the announcements this week is that we are considering flipping out this summer. What we’re calling THE SUMMER FLIP is a potential change in our summer schedule. Before we finalize and make plans, we need to know your concerns or whether there are serious disadvantages. Beginning June 7 and continuing to August 16, GPC’s worship service would be from 9:30-11:00am each Sunday. At 11, we would have events planned which would be either: social – to which you could invite friends and neighbors, missional-to reach out and serve our community, and familial-something which we can all do together as a church family. This is a great opportunity to freshen things up, to reconnect with one another, and to recommit to reaching Kernersville. If you have any input, the Session needs to know by Friday, May 1st.