About 30 children joined us on March 22 for a fun afternoon of egg hunting, snacks, and coloring Easter pictures. The Easter Bunny had to endure some blowing snow during the hiding of the eggs, and the kids were chilly during the hunt, but everyone enjoyed themselves!
A message to the PC(USA) from the General Assembly Stated Clerk, The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
This is a good year for Easter to come early!
The date of Easter this year, March 23, is the earliest it has been for almost 200 years. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, the conflict in our church, and the deep yearning for the good news that can only be answered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an early Easter is just what the world needs.
In my years of working in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the church around the world, I have been struck by how the Easter message brings life, hope, and salvation to people in so many different contexts and finds expression in so many different ways. The ultimate triumph of the love of God in the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, brings incredible hope and joy to people who, like Jesus, face tremendous obstacles to fullness of life.
For those suffering from the guilt of sin, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the good news of forgiveness and newness of life.
For those facing death, the resurrection is the promise that death is swallowed up in victory and we are invited to share with Christ in life eternal.
For those feeling deserted or overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, the resurrection is the promise that no suffering is so great that it cannot be overcome by the love of God through Christ.
For those struggling for justice against great odds, the resurrection is the demonstration that God’s righteousness will ultimately triumph in this world.
For all of us, the resurrection is the assurance that “nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).
Easter is the church’s finest hour and God’s greatest blessing to each and every one of us. As you celebrate new life again this Easter, may your heart be filled with the love of Christ and the joy of being part of a community of resurrection people.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
Saturday April 12 @ 8:30 PM in Kresge Hall in the Green Center for Performing Arts at DePauw University
Doors Open at 7:30 Ticket Sales begin at noon. Will Call opens at 6:30
*Where to I buy tickets?
Online at myeasytix.com
At the Union Building (Room 100) between 8 AM – 4PM
**How much are tickets?
$12/ ticket at http://www.myesasytix.com + $1.50 Convenience Fee/ per order
(WILL CALL AVAILABLE)
Optional Phone Service Toll-Free Call Center (877-840-0457)
Hours: M-Th 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-2pm (PST) $2.00 per order
(WILL CALL AVAILABLE)
$15 at Door for general public
[This article first appeared in the Synod of Lincoln Trails Leadership Update on March 5, 2008 ]Brian Clark, a New Church Development coach, recently spoke with our Church Development Subcommittee about strategies for planting churches. As part of his lesson, committee members went on a field trip to a coffee shop to see who lived in the area and consider how a congregation might engage their neighbors. What might your congregation learn by sending teams of about three people to visit coffee shops, malls, or other places where people regularly congregate and observe your neighbors? If your team repeatedly visited the same place, the Spirit might provide opportunities to chat with regulars about the needs of your community and how your congregation might address these needs. The work of the Church Development Subcommittee is to encourage, financially and with prayer, mission projects in the Synod. To this end we approved funding a New Church Development probe grant in the Presbytery of Blackhawk and a transformation grant for eight predominantly African-American congregations in the Presbytery of Chicago. Your congregation’s contributions to Basic Mission Support helps make these grants possible and helps to spread the gospel in our Synod. To learn more about new church developments, church developments and mission projects in the Synod of Lincoln Trails, visit the Church Development Subcommittee page on the synod website. Robert Shaw is the moderator of the Congregational Development Subcommittee and the immediate past moderator of the Synod of Lincoln Trails. |
