Easter Worship – 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Worship

                                         9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                         (No Sunday School this Sunday)

                                         10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Easter Breakfast served by Youth  – 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Easter
The Tomb is Empty
March 31, 2013
Luke 24:1-16

Key Verse: “The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’” Luke 24:5

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus spent his final days in Jerusalem preparing his disciples for the work to be done following his death and resurrection. After he shared his last meal with his disciples, he went out to pray on the Mount of Olives. There he was arrested and put on trial. Jesus was tried before the Council, before Pilate, and before Herod. Although none could find fault with him, he was sentenced to flogging and death by crucifixion. He died on the evening preceding the Sabbath, so his body was temporarily placed in a tomb to wait for a proper anointing for burial.

Background: It was the morning following the Sabbath when the women went to the tomb to anoint his body. There they found he had been raised from the dead!

Community: Easter marks the most significant event in a Christian’s life. Who could you share this news with?

At Home: How will you honor Christ today?

Read This Week:
Monday: Jesus Appears to His Disciples, Luke 24:36-53
Tuesday: Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas, Acts 1:12-26
Wednesday: The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-13
Thursday: Early Christians, Acts 2:14-47
Friday: Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar, Acts 3:1-10
Saturday: Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico, Acts 3:11-26

Next Week: The Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35

 

 

 

Community Worship  – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church

ELC “Tenebrae” Worship at 7:30 p.m.  at ELC Sanctuary

Tenebrae is a service of increasing darkness as we reflect on the final hours of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Good Friday
March 29 2013
Luke 23:32-47

Key Verse: “Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: After Jesus’ last supper, he prayed on the Mount of Olives, asking God to “remove this cup from me;” to free Jesus from the responsibility of dying on a cross. Jesus gathered strength in prayer and boldly faced his betrayer, Judas, and those who would arrest him. After his arrest, he was taken to Pilate to be put on trial. Though Pilate and Herod found nothing against Jesus, he was stripped, beaten, and sentenced to death on a cross.

Background: Jesus was crucified between two criminals; one who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and one who didn’t. Several in the crowd taunted Jesus calling him, “King of the Jews.” Little did they know they were proclaiming the truth. After Jesus’ death, the centurion was the first to recognize, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

Community: To whom will you proclaim the entire forgiveness of sins that is possible because Jesus died on the cross?

At Home: In what ways have you put Jesus on the cross? How might you live and behave knowing that your sins have been washed away by Jesus’ saving act of love?

Read This Week:
Monday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:28-46
Tuesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:47-71
Wednesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 23:1-31
Thursday: The Last Supper, Luke 22:1-27
Friday: Good Friday, Luke 23:32-47
Saturday: Burial of Jesus, Luke 23:48-56

Next Week: Easter, Luke 24:1-12

Join us for Maundy Thursday Worship as we recall Jesus’ last supper with the disciples.  We’ll share the story of that evening before Good Friday, and share Holy Communion in remembrance of him.

Worship times —  11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday — The Last Supper
March 28 2013
Luke 22:1-27

Key Verse: “Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: After entering Jerusalem, Jesus prepared his disciples for his death and resurrection as they celebrated the Passover together.

Background: The Passover celebration was a remembrance of the Exodus event, in which God saved the Israelites by leading them up out of slavery in Egypt. In that event, God made a covenant with the people in which God would be their God, and they would be God’s people. In the Last Supper a new covenant was made. By Jesus’ body and blood, all humanity has been saved from sin and death.

Community: How does your community of faith celebrate communion? What does it mean to you?

At Home: From what do you need saving? How might you surrender that to God?

Read This Week:
Monday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:28-46
Tuesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:47-71
Wednesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 23:1-31
Thursday: The Last Supper, Luke 22:1-27
Friday: Good Friday, Luke 23:32-47
Saturday: Burial of Jesus, Luke 23:48-56

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, March 24th.

Worship will begin with a procession of palms for all our young people, and anyone else who would like to take part!

Saturday worship – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday worship – 8:30 a.m  – Traditional Worship

                               9:30 a.m. – Sunday School, Adult Bible study, and fellowship time

                             10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship

Check this site for our schedule of Holy Week worship for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday next week.

Check out the latest blog post for our India Youth Exchange group at:  http://scswindiayouthexchange.wordpress.com/

Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
March 24, 2013
Luke 19:29-44

Key Verses: “As [Jesus] was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’” Luke 19:37-38

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus told a parable indicating that, as much responsibility as the disciples had already given to sacrifice of themselves and to proclaim the good news, even more was about to be asked of them as they approached Jerusalem for the last time before Jesus’ death.

Background: Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing he would be arrested and killed there. He entered to the laud and praise of the people, who expected him to triumph over their oppressors.

Community: When has the movement of a crowd gotten swept away and out of hand? Why do you think mob mentality has so much power of people? What is happening in your congregation that is being swept away by such momentum? What needs to change to turn the momentum?

At Home: What are you willing to give or do to follow Christ? What can you do this week that pushes you beyond your comfort zone?

Read This Week:
Monday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:28-46
Tuesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:47-71
Wednesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 23:1-31
Thursday: The Last Supper, Luke 22:1-27
Friday: Good Friday, Luke 23:32-47
Saturday: Burial of Jesus, Luke 23:48-56

Next Week: Easter, Luke 24:1-12

 

Easter is Coming!!  Click here  to watch video!