Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Greetings to all in the name of the risen Christ!

I will admit that Holy Week is not easy for me. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services break my heart, and it does not get any easier year after year. Holy Week services—and especially the music—coupled with the number of church members who have passed away in the last two months (and in the last several years), have brought a great deal of grief into my heart over these last ten days.

Grief is an odd companion, coming in wave upon wave across one’s heart. Reliving the last days of the life of Jesus creates this kind of grief in me every year. And yet, Holy Week is the most spiritual time of the year for me. I tend to lean in toward God during the forty days of Lent, and especially in the last seven days leading to Easter.

After every Easter, I pray for a continuation of the intimacy I find during Lent and Holy Week. I am praying for all of us to be reminded EVERY DAY that we are Easter People.

Don’t forget our Saturday night concert, April 26th—music at 6:00 PM and a lovely spaghetti dinner provided by the Kitchen Crew at 7:00 PM. All proceeds will go to Eastside Ministries.

Blessings and love to all,

Mary

What a Sunday! This Easter, our church lawn was transformed into a joyful place of celebration, learning, and surprise. And not just because of the 1,000 eggs hidden for the kids, but because we were celebrating the most important part of our faith: Jesus is alive!

Before the hunt even began, the kids got a special visit from a mother bunny and her four babies, who seemed to come by just to give their approval! And as the Easter Bunny prepared for the big event, eight baby chicks also made an appearance. Each chick looked different—some fluffy yellow, others patterned with stripes or spots—and all of them were reminders that God creates each of us to be wonderfully unique.

By 10:15, the eggs were out and the hunt was on! Miss Vickie directed the little ones to a dry grassy area near the street (thanks to the rain the night before), while the big kids raced to the playground side. About 20 children filled baskets and shopping bags with bright, colorful eggs. Many of the kids from the homes across the street joined us too—we were so glad to welcome them!

In the end, Rhys Vitek found the golden egg for the older kids, and Mabel Salfen found the golden egg for the younger group. The smiles said it all!

But Easter is about more than eggs—it’s about the greatest promise ever made.

After the hunt, we gathered inside for a movie, popcorn, and juice. We watched The Easter Promise, a film that followed the story of Jesus from His arrival in Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, His trial, the cross, and finally, His resurrection. The story ended with beautiful music and clouds lifting as Jesus rose from the grave.

As the Bible tells us:

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” – Matthew 28:6

After the movie, we worked on a craft—stained glass crosses to remind us that out of darkness comes light, and from the cross came new life.

WHAT WE LEARNED

✔ Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection—He is alive!
✔ Each part of the story matters: the donkey, the garden, the cross, and the empty tomb.
✔ God made us all different, like the baby chicks, but we are equally loved.
✔ We can carry the joy of Easter with us by learning about Jesus and sharing His love.

Thank you for bringing your kids, grandkids, and friends to church this Easter. We hope you’ll come back next Sunday—and every Sunday—as we continue to learn more about the life, love, and promises of Jesus.

Jesus is risen. And that changes everything.