April, 2021
Dear Church Family,
Happy Easter! A year ago we were several weeks into COVID quarantine and suspended worship for Easter. Now, like the budding blossoms on the trees we can see and are experiencing the renewal of life together. We’re not all the way there, but more and more people are getting the COVID vaccine, with the final general group having access the week after Easter Sunday. I am seeing more people in-person for Sunday school and worship, and life is starting to regain some semblance of normalcy. That is encouraging!
We continue to offer a range of ways to engage and re-engage with worship and other church ministries. I specifically want to share Holy Week service information with you, beginning with Maundy Thursday in just a day or two on April 1!
April 1: Maundy Thursday communion* - 6pm
*Communion will be served in sealed containers to those in the sanctuary and Sonlight room
- Sanctuary, live singing with Eric; masked and social distancing by household
- Sonlight Room (next to sanctuary): view live stream together, no singing; masked and social distancing by household
- Livestream on Facebook and Church Website (gspc.net)
April 4: Easter Sunday
- 6:45am Sunrise service – meet outside the sanctuary, then process outside to the Columbarium; we will sing one verse of “Christ the Lord” outside at the conclusion of the service; we will remain masked and distanced during the brief (10-15 min.) service
- 8:30am Early service – non-singing service, masked/distanced; talk-back after sermon and sharing of prayer requests
- 11:00am Second service – singing service, masked and social distancing by household
- 11:00am Livestream (and on-demand afterwards) – on Facebook and Church Website (gspc.net)
We will conclude the “Journey to Easter” series from John on April 11 with John 21, which is a post-resurrection encounter with Jesus and the story of Jesus restoring and re-calling Peter to ministry (after his denial in John 18). Then on April 18 we will begin a new sermon series on Galatians, entitled “Grace, the Truth of the Gospel.” I am excited to go through an entire book of the New Testament with you, particularly this one focused on the interplay between grace and truth in the life of a local church.
Whether you are able to join us in person or engage with us online, I hope that each of you has a meaningful and blessed Holy Week and Easter!
In Christian love,
Robert
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UPCOMING SERMON TEXTS & THEMES
Journey to the Cross with the Gospel of John
April 04 (Easter): Lord! (John 20)
April 11: Work (John 21)
Galatians: Grace, the Truth of the Gospel
April 18: Grace Defined, Grace Deserted (Galatians 1)
April 25: Grace on Trial (Galatians 2)
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