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.

The church’s Sunday Worship Bulletin is here if you’d like to download it.

Also, at 2:30pm Sunday afternoon, Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries will be holding their annual volunteer training at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. If you’re curious about assisting GPC’s jail ministry team join us.

This morning the children will be hunting for Easter Eggs at 10:30 am, and as we do that we’ll begin the turn of leaning into the joy, surprise, and glory of Resurrection Sunday. You can view the Order of Worship in preparation for tomorrow.

A lot of disparaging talk is made of Easter as a pagan ceremony commandeered by Christians. Granted, may philosophies and religions speak of  an afterlife. That our existence did not end at our physical death, was really nothing new, almost every people group has a belief in the afterlife. What makes Christians different, is that Jesus Christ’s resurrection points to the hope of a life after ‘life after life’. The Lordship of Jesus Christ, as validated by his physical resurrection from the dead, vindicates his sacrifice on the cross, and as Paul echoes the prophets, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The same is true for culture. Jesus’ resurrection swallows up all of the old stories. We have hints of the truth of new creation in many legends and traditions, but they were always recognized as just that: legends and traditions. But in Christianity and particularly in Jesus Christ, we have the legend that is true.

There really was and is a Great King who came to his kingdom like one of his subjects and after living a life that his subjects should’ve lived and dying in their place, He won their deliverance from judgment and condemnation and despair and death. And today he reigns and calls all to the deliverance that only he can provide, because on that first day of the week two millenia ago, he awoke.

Here are the bulletins for the Holy Thursday and Good Friday Services. We’ve got two special worship services planned which will help you take in all of the celebration of Easter. Also, I’ve posted some thoughts over at Twentystone about what scriptures we’ll be looking at as we celebrate.

Speaking of Easter, we’ve got a new sticker on the home page to King’s Thrift. Tim Brieaddy will be here on Sunday to report on how the work is proceeding at the thrift store, and how GPC can be a part.

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.

This Sunday we will be looking at Habakkuk 2:2-20. You can read some thoughts about this weeks sermon over at Twentystone, but I’d encourage you to read the Lord’s response to Habakkuk’s second complaint before worship on Sunday. If you’re interested, you can find a copy of the church worship bulletin here.

The music at GPC might be described as “blended”. By that, we mean that there are elements of both contemporary and traditional worship. Though there are some aspects of our worship which will remain as a part of what another might call paleo-orthodoxy, we recognize that new expressions (rather than forms) of praise are appropriate in each generation. Hymnody is one of those expressions which, to some degree, should always be new.

We also recognize the deep, richly theological, and heartfelt expressions of previous generations. So, just as this generation, through it’s own hymnody proclaims to another generation the marvelous deeds of God, so we let previous generations speak to us.

If you’ve been around GPC enough, you know that we re-tune old hymns. Sometimes it is good to leave off and sing the hymn the way it’s always been sung. In this way we stand with others in sharing in the common expression of our faith and experience in Jesus Christ through the common tune known to all. In other instances, a new tune provides a fresh reaffirmation of the hymn writer’s lyric.

Here are some music listening resources. I’ve enjoyed each of these groups and their work tremendously. They each seem to be engaging in their own peculiar way the historic and new.

When I’m left to do the church bulletin–usually because I’m late with material I contribute. It’s a trap for me. My perfectionism rears it’s head, and despite my efforts to concentrate on the task of proofing, I invariably miss something. Well, this morning I went to print the bulletin at the church, and the copier was broken, and so the proof copy I was going to print couldn’t be printed. And because of all that was going on this morning and all the the effort I put into the bulletinyesterday? Well, surely Staples could print it. And with loads of optimism about the bulletin’s error/typo free condition, I emailed it off to be printed.

My self-righteousness is an ever-hopeful endeavor. Sadly though, a futile one. So, that’s to say, when you read the bulletin tomorrow, remember that your pastor is glad that the Heidelberg Catechism captures the truth of the gospel when it says that those who in true faith accept Jesus, they “have in him all they need for their salvation.”

If you care as much about the bulletin as your pastor does, you can download the corrected  one at the following link: 03.15.09 Bulletin. Evenso, it still may not be perfect, but then your pastor’s not depending on his perfection as his right-ness, but on the one who is all he needs. You depend on that One, too.