Easter Sunday, April 8,2012 He is Risen! Alleluia

Mark 16

Jesus Has Risen

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Why do you think Mark ends his gospel in such a baffling way, informing us that the women said nothing to anyone about Jesus’ resurrection? What is your role in letting others know the news that Christ is risen? How can you go about doing it in the next week?

Why do you think Mark ends his gospel in such a baffling way, informing us that the women said nothing to anyone about Jesus’ resurrection? What is your role in letting others know the news that Christ is risen? How can you go about doing it in the next week?

Lord Jesus, light shining in the darkness, you lead your people into life, and give our mortal nature the gift of holiness,
- may we spend this day in praise of your glory.

Lord, you walked the way of suffering and crucifixion,
- may we suffer and die with you, and rise again to share your glory.

Son of the Father, our master and our brother, you have made us a kingdom of priests for our God,
- may we offer you our joyful sacrifice of praise.

King of glory, we look forward to the great day of your coming in splendor,
- that we may see you face to face, and be transformed in your likeness.

2012 Holy Week, April 7, 2012

Mark 15:42-47

The Burial of Jesus

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

As the 15th chapter of Mark ends, the disciples had scattered, Joseph had placed Jesus in a tomb, and two women watched where Jesus’ body was laid. What do you think was going through their minds as they reflected on the events of the past few days?

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Good Friday 2012

John 19:17-30

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”[a]

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[b] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

In John’s account, even while on the cross, Jesus appears to be in complete control. Rather than feeling forsaken by God, Jesus seems to know that he is fulfilling the will of his Father. Take time today to ponder the fact that on the cross, Jesus not only accomplished his Father’s will, doing what was needed for our salvation.

Visit our You Tube Channel here and follow Pastor Jim's sermons each week, we have special video posted from our Palm Sunday Service held April 1. Join our Facebook page get to know us! New photos from the Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday are posted.

For our sake our Redeemer suffered death and was buried, and rose again. With heartfelt love let us adore him, and pray:

Lord, have mercy on us.

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2012 Maundy Thursday Holy Week

Luke 22:14-23

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

What does it say that all of the disciples --- including Judas, who would betray Jesus; Peter, who would deny Jesus; the others, who would desert Jesus --- were gathered around the table to share in the meal Jesus instituted that night? Does it help you to see that there is a place for you at the Lord’s table?

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We celebrate the gift of the love of Jesus,
given to us for our nourishment -
given to us as an example of self-less love.

In our prayers today, we let our Lord wash our feet - love us unconditionally -
and we let Jesus be broken and given for us.
We pray that we might be faithful to the one commandment of Jesus -
that we might love others in the same way that we have been loved.


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Maundy Thursday Seder Meal at 6:30 PM. RSVP required for attendance.
Good Friday Service at 6:30 PM
Easter Sunday : 8 and 10 AM services with breakfast served inbetween services.
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2012 Holy Week Wednesday 2012

Mark 14:3-11

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Why do you think Jesus commended the woman who anointed his body? Weren’t those who criticized her for her extravagance correct in saying that the money she spent could have helped the poor? What message might this have for the Church today?

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The Son of Man came not to be served,
but to serve
and to give his life
as a ranson for many.
Matthew 20:28

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Easter Sunday : 8 and 10 AM services with breakfast served inbetween services.
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2012 Holy Week Tuesday 2012

Mark 11:12-19

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.”

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Just shortly after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus wreaked havoc in the Temple area, further infuriating the religious leaders and no doubt confusing some of the people who witnessed his actions. Why do you think Jesus chose to cleanse the Temple at this point in his ministry, when he had been in Jerusalem at other points and could have done it then?

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I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach
to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 49


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Maundy Thursday Seder Meal at 6:30 PM. RSVP required for attendance.
Good Friday Service at 6:30 PM
Easter Sunday : 8 and 10 AM services with breakfast served inbetween services.
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2012 Holy Week Monday 2012

Isaiah 42: 1-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

God of love,
Our prayer is simple:
Your son, Jesus, suffered and died for us.
We know only
that we cannot have real strength
unless we rely on you.
We cannot feel protected
from our many weaknesses
until we turn to you
for forgiveness and your unalterable love.
Help ua to share this
strength, protection and love with others.

Visit our You Tube Channel here and follow Pastor Jim's sermons each week, we have special video posted for our Palm Sunday Service held April 1. Join our Facebook page and get to know us!


Join Us in Worship!
Maundy Thursday Seder Meal at 6:30 PM. RSVP required for attendance.
Good Friday Service at 6:30 PM
Easter Sunday : 8 and 10 AM services with breakfast served inbetween services.
Come and Join Us! Casual Dress OK