Easter is once again upon us friends! Many celebrate by attending church services full of amazing worship experiences, Easter Choir cantatas, and events for the whole family all week long. We love this time of year because it reminds us of Jesus’ conquering of sin and death leading each of us to victory that we can take part. His resurrection means life – everlasting life – for all who believe and for that he is to be praised!
But take a moment and re-read the Easter story (Luke 24). What do you NOT see there? It’s not as big of a bash as we make it out to be. There’s no elaborate worship service. There are no crowds or churches singing praises. There is no egg hunt. There is no elaborate celebration of any kind seen the day Jesus rose from the dead. There is only Mary in the garden that morning. She’s not wearing a brand new Easter dress ready for a grand celebration; she is at the tomb to mourn. What a difference if you compare the very first Easter to today’s Easter celebrations.
After Jesus’ resurrection, he only saw a handful of people (Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James), Peter, 2 men on their way to Emmaus, the 11 disciples a couple of times, a gathering of people in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-17), James (1 Corinthians 15:7), and Saul/Paul (Acts 9). That’s it folks! And two of those are AFTER he assented. There is no grand coming out party. No post-resurrection “welcome back to life” gathering with the disciples hiding in a room ready to jump-scare Jesus. Could we perhaps as the church of today have Easter Sunday blown out of proportion?
As you celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter remember the first Easter. A small gathering of people here and there who didn’t have their fanciest clothes picked out for weeks, who were dazzled by Easter sermons by pastors exhausted from preaching 4 times as much as they normally do, heavenly choir cantatas, or astounding musical numbers by a worship team. Don’t overdo the celebration just because it’s Easter – Jesus kept it simple and yet oh so life-changing. Simplicity may just be what Easter is missing in our churches today. May that be what makes Easter so special to you and your family; not the elaborate worship services or the festivities of the week. Let simply the resurrection of Jesus fill your heart with joy, thankfulness, life, and a message to tell others!
Events in April:
- Spring Clean (Rain Date TBA) – Just like any house, our church house needs some spring cleaning! Wash windows, rake leaves, pull weeds, clean inside and outside of church and grove…just to name a few items on the list! Come lend a hand for an hour or two or stay till the work is finished starting bright and early at 8:00AM! Connect with friends, have some fun, chase away winter cobwebs, and help make our church home sparkle! (If you happen to have outdoor equipment of your own [rake, garden tools, gloves, tarp, etc.] please bring them with you!)
***Date will be posted ASAP as this is a rain make-up from our April 1st scheduled cleanup date. Thanks for your flexibility and understanding! - Egg Hunt (April 8th @ 10AM) -Kids of all ages are welcome to the church for a wonderful time of hearing the Easter story and participating in the annual Egg Hunt. Be sure to bring a basket to carry all those eggs in because there are sure to be a lot!
- Holy Week:
- Palm Sunday – Join us for a celebration of Christ’s triumphal entry as a kick-starter to Holy Week. A fun and exuberant time of worship sets the stage for a powerful week of remembering God’s redemptive plan!
- Maundy Thursday (7:00PM) – Worship through coming to the table of God. Be sure to be a part of our special time of Communion remembering the Last Supper and its impact on our daily lives. Christ’s body was broken for you – Do this in Remembrance of Him.
- Good Friday (7:00PM) – We gather on this somber evening as we remember Christ’s death. Many find Good Friday to be one of the best services you can attend all year and we encourage you and your family to be a part of our Good Friday service.
- Easter Sunday – The long awaited morning of jubilation – Resurrection Sunday brings together family and friends for a morning of pure joy celebrating Christ’s resurrection, conquering of sin, and our salvation in Him! You don’t want to miss this special morning! Join us at 10:15AM for a worship service that’ll fill your heart with praise!
- NEW SERMON SERIES – Beginning the Sunday after Easter (April 23rd) we’ll begin a new 12 week series entitled: “The Moral of the Story”. Jesus was a master storyteller, and the parables He told were ingeniously simple word pictures with profound spiritual lessons. Understanding the parables is a crucial matter for followers of Jesus. Jesus told parables so His people might comprehend His message about the kingdom of God clearly. Together we’ll journey throughout the Gospels to explain the Word of God in clear and comprehensible terms that bring this stories to life centuries later. Our goal in this series is to help Christians and seekers alike to understand the essential lessons contained in the most famous and influential short stories the world has ever known.
Upcoming Events:
- Mother’s Day (May 14th) – We’d like to wish all of the Moms, Grandmas, and Mothers-to-be a wonderful and special day to celebrate what they mean to us as well as God’s work in their lives. Join us for a special recognition that Sunday morning for all the Moms!
- EC National Conference (May 24th -27th) – Every year the Evangelical Congregational (EC) Church gathers for our annual meeting. During this time leaders from the denomination share about what God is doing in the local church, the denomination, and around the globe during this 3 day event. Pastors and Lay Delegates from all EC Churches gather for worship, sharing, and updating each other about their churches health and future goals/plans. This year’s theme is “Press On” based around Philippians 3:13-14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Join us in prayer for all the pastors, lay delegates, and denomination leaders as we listen to God’s wisdom for our churches.
- Serve at Opportunity House in Reading, PA – Be sure to check back next month for more details and how to get involved in this wonderful ministry!
Don’t forget to stay in touch here on our website as well as at our church! Feel free to comment AND SHARE with your friends on social media and we look forward to seeing you at California EC Church this month!
Don’t want to miss out on new posts? Be sure to check back for more Monthly Snapshots (always on the 1st of the month), “The Gospel According to…” reviews, and lots of other great things here on our church blog!
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