Daily Archives: April 16, 2025

Friday’s Word – “Without His Cross, There Is No Crown”

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(NOTE: I do not mention Holy Thursday here because this comes out in the paper on Friday.)

Good Friday service is tonight (for those getting this on Friday) at 6:30 PM. (Light supper before it at 6:00.) This is the hardest service I do each year. The effort is to let the scriptural story of the trial and death of Jesus come to life for people.

I have the help of our great choir, directed by Mr. Blake Glass. This year, we also have a guest cellist. (Yes, I love me some good cello!)

Truth is, I think the big attendance should be at Good Friday as well as Easter.

As our choir will sing, “Without His Cross, There Is No Crown.”

Good Friday is the heart of Easter. Easter is the answer to the suffering of Good Friday.

And that suffering is all for us. Yet most Christians pay no attention to Good Friday and simply jump over it to Easter.

(Our Easter service is at 11:00 AM.)

But those willing to relive Good Friday can better feel the power of Easter.

We see through scripture the degradation of Jesus—the mockery, the beating, the crowning with thorns.

John shows us that Pilate was playing politics. He was afraid of the crowd on one side and Rome on the other.

He thought he could get off the hook by hauling the brutalized Jesus out for the religious leaders to see.

There He was, covered in blood from head to toe.

“Crucify him! Crucify him!” they shouted.

Hope was gone.

We know the feeling.

It’s over. It’s over.

And then—suddenly—it’s not.

It’s Easter.

It’s joy.

And life goes on.

Always—and forever.

And I’m inviting you to two great services: Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Make sure I meet you.

Max’s Corner

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Our Church Family

John Reynolds, a member of St. Matthew for over half a century, has died after a long illness. John was in his 90s. He will be missed by his surviving son and daughter and by his church family. Service time is pending.

HOLY THURSDAY

Light supper at 6:00

Worship at 6:30

We gather at the table on the anniversary of that Last Supper. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” It is His call. We are following.

GOOD FRIDAY

Light supper at 6:00

Worship at 6:30

We faithfully follow Jesus from the garden to the cross—from Gethsemane to Calvary—and beyond to the tomb. The powerful music from our choir will feature our guest cellist. This service is held at the time of Jesus’ burial on that first Good Friday.

EASTER SUNDAY

Egg Hunt for the kids at 10:00

Breakfast at 10:30

Worship at 11:00

We meet “in the beauty of the lilies” to celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection.

Sermon title: Welcome to the Real World.

Breakfast this Sunday

This isn’t up to Winston, but let’s try to have breakfast ready for those here for the egg hunt and others. I’ll bring both donuts and “little piggies.” You, too, may want to help. After all, it’s our only Easter this year.

Come, as you are able, on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

How good to know the truth about life.

How good to be in church!

Did somebody say “Amen”?

God bless—MB

Mary’s Corner

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Peace and love to you all in the name of Jesus Christ,

A book called The Universal Christ was my first encounter with the writings of Father Richard Rohr. I remember being fascinated by the book and by Father Rohr’s understanding of Jesus Christ. To summarize: “Richard Rohr proposes that every human being is already ‘in Christ,’ and that Christ is not just Jesus, but a broader, universal reality. This idea suggests that the divine love expressed in Jesus is also present in all of creation, including every human being. The book encourages seeing the Christ in all things and fosters a sense of interconnectedness and unity.”

The book calls us to change our point of view. It invites us to look at everything as holy. It challenges us to stop judging, stop comparing, and stop separating ourselves from one another. Instead, Rohr calls us into a relationship with Jesus Christ so intimate that we begin to see the world through Christ’s eyes and love the world with the divine love of our God. I remember from my first reading that Rohr emphasizes this divine love begins in the mirror.

That is the barrier though, isn’t it—loving ourselves, also? We hold so many grudges against ourselves and have passed so much judgment on our own actions that we struggle to give mercy where it’s most needed. “Mercy is a way to describe the mystery of forgiveness. It is who God is.” The word for mercy in Hebrew is hesed, and it means steadfast, enduring, unbreakable love.

Steadfast, enduring, unbreakable love! Can you imagine the world if people practiced this kind of love with the human in the mirror and the rest of God’s creation? This is what heaven must be like—a place where we give up clinging to our unforgiveness, toward ourselves and others, and release the divine love that God has placed in our hearts.

As we move through Holy Week, think about what it took for God to set aside the glories of heaven, take on human flesh, and live the life Jesus lived on this earth. God gave everything. I believe God did it for love.

I pray that you encounter the Universal Christ in your life. I pray that God’s divine love so overwhelms you that you begin to see yourself—and others—as we are all seen in the eyes of Jesus: the beloved children of Christ.

Maundy Thursday: 6:00 PM light dinner, 6:30 PM service

Good Friday: 6:00 PM dinner, 6:30 PM service

Easter Sunday: 10:00 AM Easter Egg Hunt for the children; 11:00 AM Easter worship service

The Universal Christ. 2019. (Accessed April 14, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/receiving-gods-mercy/)

Kids’ News – “Palm Branches and Praises”

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It was the beginning of Passover, and the city of Jerusalem was full of people. Word had spread quickly: Jesus is coming! The man who healed the sick, fed thousands, and even raised Lazarus from the dead—He’s on His way!

As Jesus approached the city, the crowd grew larger and louder. People rushed to cut palm branches from nearby trees—symbols of celebration and hope. Some waved them high, others laid them on the dusty road ahead of Him. Children ran forward, placing their branches gently before Him, so the donkey carrying Jesus could walk on a path made of palms.

And as Jesus rode into the city on a young donkey, the people shouted with joy:

“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

But Jesus wasn’t the kind of king they expected. He didn’t come riding a warhorse or dressed in royal robes. He came humbly, peacefully—riding on a donkey, just as Scripture had promised:

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:15)

This King didn’t come to conquer. He came to love. And the path He chose would lead not to a palace, but to a cross—and then to a miracle.

What We Learned

✔ Palm Sunday tells the story of Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem with celebration and praise.
✔ The people and children laid palm branches on the road to honor Him as King.
✔ Jesus rode a donkey to show He came in peace and humility, not in power or pride.
✔ We are invited to follow His example by choosing kindness, peace, and love.

This Sunday, our kids helped bring the story to life—shouting Hosanna! and laying their branches before our King. It was beautiful to see!

And now… we’re getting ready for Easter!

🐣 The Easter Egg Hunt starts at 10:00 AM this Sunday—don’t be late!