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Dear MRC Family,

Here we are in the holiest of weeks.

As I said on Sunday morning, my prayer for you this coming Holy Week is that you will let the week be just that — Holy — and not rush to new life. That you will not clear out the dirt and decay and ugly leaves, but sit in it, sit with it, let it wait. Wait on God to clear it out. And when it is time to live and bring forth fruit, as Barbara Brown Taylor said, “We can either live small or live large. We can hang onto the grain we have or we can gamble it all for love” for in this place of rising from the ground we will have “one power left” — not the power to hang on to our lives but the power to open our hands and let it go as Jesus did, offering his life for us. For this is how God blooms; this is how God brings life out of death. As our Lenten devotional says, “The good news is alive in the world.”

So, this week, I encourage you to take time to pray, read Scripture, go for a walk, sit in a park, meditate. Carve out the space in your schedule to observe the beauty of spring singing out the song of new life. Let us resist the temptation to hurry and scurry, thinking that doing something is more important than being in the presence of God. (I have signed off my personal Facebook page in order to be still and know.) Take the time to write in your Lenten devotional where you saw, heard, received, shared, or enjoyed the good news of God this week. Share your findings and inspire someone with your goodness sighting.

Below are our worship offerings for Holy Week. If you are unable to be in person for worship, we will be streaming live on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@mrcafabulouschurchoflove1611.

Maundy Thursday
All are welcome to attend Maundy Thursday worship on April 2 at 7 PM. Come and remember the night Jesus was betrayed. Come and remember his last supper. Come and remember his giving of a New Commandment to love one another through the voice of his mother, Mary. We know that Mary washed Jesus’ feet many times. What would it have been like for her if Jesus washed her feet that night? We will have Prayer, Music, Scripture, Reflection, The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, Stillness, Reverence, Remembrance, and then, Waiting

Good Friday
The sanctuary will be open on Good Friday, April 3 from 9AM - 12PM for quiet prayer and reflection.

Easter Sunday/The Resurrection of the Lord
Come and celebrate that Christ is Risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! And that Love and Life always win over hate, fear, and death at 10:30 AM on April 5. The New Jericho Choir will sing “Easter Medley,” the Joyful Noise Adult Choir is singing “Behold the Lamb,” and we have special guest musicians joining us, Sarah Hanvey, vocals and Andrew Olenik, violin. I will be preaching from John 20.1-18 and my sermon title is When Jesus Calls Our Name. After worship, we will have the “holy chaos” that is our annual Easter egg hunt on the Great Lawn of the church.

As you come to worship, I humbly ask that you consider being generous in your Easter offering in addition to your regular offering, as we rely on your faithful giving to support the ministries of God’s church. You may give safely and securely online at www.mrchurch.us/give or you may give in person. And please let me say thank you for all the wonderful ways you already give to the life of MRC.

May God gentle you into a "more holy and human shape" on your Holy Week journey. Keep bothering and following Jesus, beloved.

 

In gratitude for the privilege of being your Pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish