God of Tender Mercies,
This week we are invited to remember and relive Jesus entry into Jerusalem, His Passover meal with the disciples, His trial and crucifixion, His burial and ultimately His resurrection. Help us to enter the stories, Dear God. There is cause for celebration when we wave the palm branches, share the meal and stand at an empty tomb. Forgive us when we are more like the jeering crowd, the betraying Judas, the denying Peter and the doubting Thomas. We are not always rejoicing and we are not always denying, in fact, our actions betray the pendulum swings of our devotion. We seek Your mercy, O God. We confess our sin before You and we seek the new life that comes to us through an encounter with the Living Christ. Our hearts are open and our spirits are willing. Come to us, Lord Jesus, and fill us with Your love. AMEN.
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We were shocked to hear that Chuck Crites died yesterday morning. Please pray for Eilene, their daughters and the entire family. Chuck’s funeral will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Imogene Price is still in rehab at St. Mary’s. Austin Wade is showing improvement. Please pray for Imogene and Austin.
There are no WWNF activities this evening. Watch the Visitor for announcements about summer activities.
The Bell Choir will rehearse this evening at 5:30 p.m. The “actors” for our Maundy Thursday service will meet at 6:00 p.m. The Chancel Choir will also rehearse this evening.
Tomorrow evening our Maundy Thursday service will be in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.
There will be a Good Friday Tennebrae service in the chapels on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
May your journey through Holy Week be spiritually uplifting and profound.
The scripture for today is Matthew 19:16-30:
Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?”Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?”But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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