Thank you, wonderful parents, and grandparents, for bringing all those sweet kids to join our Easter egg hunt. It was a joy to stand back and watch the excitement. Molly and Bridget helped Vickie and Doug put out at least a zillion eggs! Many of them were filled with prizes, they all had candy.

We had 2 golden eggs containing enough cash to make me wish I was a kid again! The kids had to look extra hard for those eggs. Noah and Reese each found one! Danny Eades took a picture of these happy guys. I am sure Danny has more pictures to share!

After our Egg Hunt, the kids went inside to watch The Easter Promise. They all had popcorn and juice. The kids all sit quietly as the Easter story unfolded before them.

The women were the first to see the empty tomb. As they approached the tomb, there was a great earthquake and they saw an angel roll away the stone and sit on top of it. The angel told the women not to be afraid; Jesus was not in the tomb. Jesus is alive!

As the women ran down the path to tell the others, Jesus appeared to them! They fell to their knees when they saw Jesus. He told them that they should “go tell the disciples I will see them in Galilee.” A direct command from Jesus to the women to remember his resurrection and share the Good News with others.

Thanks again for being with us Sunday. Hope we see you all again on Sunday. Blessings

Last Sunday—Palm Sunday

It was a memorable Sunday.

What a great lunch! Thanks to Bill and Linda Parker and all who brought food.

Folks called me to comment on the choral anthem, the great piece by G. F. Handel. It had all of us rejoicing. We thank the Lord for the blessings of the day.

Holy Thursday—7:00 p.m.

I don’t mention it is Friday’s Word, which comes out the day after. I hope you can come on Thursday evening. (Light supper at 6:30 before worship.)

Mary will lead this service.

What’s it all about? It is about celebrating our Lord on the yearly anniversary of the Last Supper.

“Do this,” he said, “in remembrance of me.”

Good Friday—7:00 p.m.

Light supper at 6:30.

The crucifixion narrative from John (and “the beloved disciple”) will be illustrated with a life-sized image of the Shroud. The image will be mounted on a 7-foot piece of plexiglass. I am working on how I will get
this large piece of plexiglass to the church from Oak Cliff Glass and Mirror in Dallas. Then, how do I make it stand up at the front of the church?

Is it worth all this effort?

The Good Friday service is—for me—the most important service of the year. I consider it a privilege to be part of it.

It is always a hard service to prepare for.

And this year, it will be different from all previous years. Come, if you can.

Easter Sunday

Egg hunt for the kids at 10:00.

The great Hallelujah of Easter begins at 11:00.

Our great choir. A brass quintet. Lilies fill the sanctuary. Joy abounds.

You know how it is.

And I can hardly wait.

God bless—MB

Greetings to all from the risen Christ, 

We follow the risen Christ, but we are still in that time of waiting for the inevitable. We know that Calvary is coming, that the cross has to happen. One day they shouted, “Hosanna!”, and a few days later, “Crucify Him!” We have learned of the depth and breadth of God’s love through God’s actions on the cross. We also experienced that love now, in this moment. As I write and as you read, the love of God surrounds us both. Close your eyes and feel the breath of God blowing across your life. Become aware of the warmth of the Savior standing next to you. Be aware of the little things that God uses to feed your spirit and empower your faith. God is in us and through us and all around us. God is mystery and God is light. Picture in your mind that God made flesh and dwelling among us as Jesus of Nazareth is spending the last, few precious hours telling the world that we are loved and we are forgiven. There is nothing greater than this. Thursday evening we will talk briefly and then have communion together, remembering the last supper of our Lord. 

I just received word that Anna is being transferred from the hospital to a physical rehab facility.! This is the next step in her journey toward health. I am so grateful for your love and your support of my family. We would not have survived this without you. My love to all, Mary

Be at church early this Sunday! We will have lots of eggs for our kids to find! The Easter Bunny told me that there are a lot of goodies in the eggs!

Be at church by 9:45. Our Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 10:00 sharp. Please do not be late!

Bring Mom and Dad to help you open all your eggs! You may be the lucky one to find the Golden Egg! We will have crafts in the fellowship hall that you can work on before our hunt! Remember that time — 9:45!! We will have a movie and popcorn during church for all you kids to enjoy while Mom and Dad are in church!

This last Sunday our kids carried in palm leaves and shouted as they entered church! All this shouting was to welcome Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. People were excited as Jesus entered the city, they gave him the same greeting that a king would receive in those days. They spread palm leaves and their clothes on the road for Jesus to walk on.

As Jesus passed, the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” By riding a donkey instead of a horse, Jesus said that he came in peace. We can remember the palm leaves as a symbol and a way to praise God.

See you all in church on Sunday! Blessings

Palm Sunday

Holy Week begins.

The entrance into Jerusalem.

Remembered in our Parade of the Palms.

It’s a day of celebration, with our Palm Sunday dinner after worship.

We need food.

We passed a sign-up sheet last week. If you did not see it, you can still bring something. (I think a lot of people did not see the list and the sign-up looked insufficient. If you want to know what is needed, call Linda Parker: 817 296 0064.)

Palm Sunday is a great Sunday.

And we need kids to carry the palms!

Breakfast

None this week.

We have lunch after.

Holy Week Services

The two Holy Week services are important.

I hope they are important to you.

Mary will lead the Maundy Thursday service. It may be a little different. It may not. Depending on what Mary decides. Let us gather on the anniversary of the Last Supper our Lord had with the disciples.

It was important for him.

Let it be for us.

Good Friday this year WILL be different. It will feature a life-sized reproduction of the image on the Shroud (of Turin). It will assist us as we follow Jesus in the last hours of his life.

This is one of the most important services of the year. I hope it is important to you.

See you Sunday. Palm Sunday.

What joy!—What love awaits us in the coming week of worship!

Remember plastic eggs and candy for the kids.

Remember kids for the palm processional and for the Easter egg hunt on Easter.

God bless—MB