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