From the Pastor's Desk: March 2010

January 2010 Feb 2010 April 2010

Join Jesus on His final journey

What is it that motivates or inspires or makes your heart race? For some, it is the feel of a new puppy's fur, or the look of a parent as they see their baby for the very first time. It could be the first pitch of spring baseball in Florida as our Orioles take the field, or maybe it's the first sign of spring after 80 inches of snow finally has melted away and the spring flowers start to pop their heads through the soil. Whatever it may be that has touched us, it is a sensation or feeling we will never forget.

Do we remember the first time we heard the story of Jesus as he enters the city on the colt and how the crowd shouts out, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven" (Luke 19:38). What was our reaction? Praising our Lord Jesus felt good. It felt inspiring and the triumphant entrance makes our blood rush! Then came Easter, the following Sunday, and the story of the Resurrection and the women at the tomb, and we heard the bright and joyful music telling us the story by sounds. We were always asked to put on our good clothes for church and then we were fed a special breakfast at church and then off we went to have a Easter dinner! Wow! What another great day we had at church and, as the song says, "I feel good!" Each of us have been told the same type of stories by our parents or grandparents about their experiences, too, for these are the days that we shall never forget.

What I don't remember much of from my youth is what happened the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. The bookends of Holy/Passion Week are as clear as a bell in my memory, but it's sad that I have lost the rest of the story. Can we remember any of the events or traditions that we and our families experienced Monday through Saturday? One of the struggles the Church (all churches) is only now starting to understand is that the rest of the story of Jesus' life during this week has been forgotten.

This forgotten week is what makes Easter so special, because of what Jesus experiences, what his disciples experienced, and what we experience when we travel with Christ as he moves from his grand entrance into the city to his presence and witnessing to his followers after his Resurrection.

I hope that you will be able to take the time to Hear, to Feel, to Experience, and to Witness the rest of the story of Jesus' life during his last week with your sisters and brothers at Perry Hall UMC. Starting Sunday, March 28, join us during church services as we Join Jesus on His Final Journey. Come and witness the grand entrance as Jesus comes into the city, and then visit the Garden of Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday (7 p.m.) as we break bread with Jesus and watch as he is stripped and taunted by the guards. Gather with us on Good Friday (noon) as Jesus utters his final seven words from the cross; that evening (7p.m.), we hear the silence of the world as it struggles without the presence of the Messiah.

Saturday is our time to personally experience the silence until we come and join one another on Easter Morning (6:45 a.m.) as the sun breaks through the darkness and the silence of the past night and ushers us into the glorious joy of the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For those who will not be able to be with us, I invite you to read a portion each day during this final week, starting on Sunday, March 28, of the Gospel of John 12:12- 20:23. This is the Word of God, as God shares His deep passion for each one of us. For we are the children of God and this is the story of the one who has been called to give us the gift of Salvation, Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

May you have a very Blessed Easter! Alleluia!