Our journey to JOY!

Have you ever wondered why Easter falls on a different date every year?

Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21).  The date of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that the Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.  Easter can fall as early as March 23 and as late as April 25.  

This year Easter Sunday is on April 21st. The next time it will fall on this date is in the year 2030.  I wonder where we will be then?

And I wonder what it would have been like to be there there in Jerusalem all those many years ago.  The Passover was being celebrated – a celebration of thankfulness to God for bringing God’s people out of Egyptian captivity.  So Jerusalem was an incredibly busy place with people filling the streets.  It was also a time, however, when the Israelites were under oppression from the Roman government and they were anxiously waiting for God to send them a deliverer – another Moses or David.

As Jesus enters into the city the people begin to cry “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest”.  They had heard of Jesus’ great wisdom and miracles.  Others were there when He had feed the five thousand with only a few fishes and loaves of bread.  This must be the man who would save them!
The crowds took the cloaks off their backs and spread them on the road.  They waved branches, cheering “Hosanna, in the highest”.  Their shout of “Hosanna” was a shout of “Save us”.

But as we know, Jesus did not come to save them from their political oppression.  He came to rescue them from their sins. 

As we enter into the Easter story this week, know that this man of power and presence – Jesus the Christ – came not only for those in the crowed streets of Jerusalem, but He came for you and for me.  

On Sunday we will wave palm branches to the King of Kings. We will sing “Hosanna, hosanna in the highest” like the crowd in Jerusalem all those years ago were singing “Save us”.  

However, unlike the crowd that gathered that day, we have the assurance that when we surrender and commit our lives to the king, Jesus will save us!  

Also this Sunday we will experience a very special communion service as we look ahead to Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. 

Speaking of which, do plan to join us for Messy Church on Thursday, April 18th at 6 pm.  This will be a very family friendly Maundy Thursday experience.  

Do you know where the name Maundy Thursday came from?  

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter and the word Maundy is from the Latin translation of Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel, chapter 13, verse 34: “Mandatum novum,” meaning “new commandment.” During the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples, he said this: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

On Good Friday April 19th at 11 am we will gather to remember.  

Often people will say that the word “good” does not properly describe the day.  “What’s so “good” about Good Friday?” they ask. Think about it this way:  on that day Jesus paid the penalty for humanity’s sins; because he took upon himself what we deserve, it is a day that delivers good news for those who accept this gift.  Joy is coming.

On Easter Sunday at 11am we celebrate the Risen Christ. 

Jesus lived, died, and was raised from the dead on a Sunday morning.  This is likely the most attested event in human history. Through this God showed us his perfection, his love and he showed us he is who he said he was. We, who are Christians, believe that the cross and empty tomb are the decisive moment in history and …death no longer has final say.  Hosanna!

Join us this Holy week as we journey to JOY!

On the lookout!

God reveals Himself often in unusual ways, wouldn’t you agree?

I was having coffee with a friend the other day when my friend shared the most amazing story.  It was how God revealed Himself in the most unlikely of places, at the most unlikely of times and (my friend stated in reference to himself), “to the most unworthy of people”.  Isn’t that just like God?  When we are on the lookout (and even if we are not) we can see God moving in the most surprising, even outrageous ways!

Take a look at Luke 12:35-40.  Jesus tells the parable of the servant and the master.  We’re told that it’s better to be the kind of servant who is waiting and ready for their master’s return.  We are also told that the reward to the “watching” servant will be outrageous.  We are told that for the servants who are watching and ready the master will have them “recline at the table” and the master “will come and wait on them”.  

Imagine a master serving the servants.  Pretty outrageous isn’t it?

But that’s not the only outrageous way that God moves in scripture.  To win the battle of Jericho, Joshua had to organize a parade.  To cure the festering wounds of leprosy Naman had to take a dip in a muddy river.  To feed the thousands the disciples had to divvy up one small bag lunch.  Pretty outrageous.

God is moving even today in surprising and even outrageous ways.  Can you think of any outrageous or surprising ways God has moved (or is moving) in your life? I would love to hear your stories.  
God also moves in subtle understated ways – in the quietness of a spectacular sunset; in the sound of the ocean against the stones; or even in a baby’s first smile.

Jesus, the fulfillment of humankind’s deepest desires, was born in a lowly stable surrounded by animals and commoners.   Those who weren’t on the lookout missed it.  They didn’t take notice because on the surface it looked to plain and ordinary.  If we don’t watch for him in the subtle understated ways, we’ll miss Him too.

Are you on the lookout for God?  He is moving!  Like the parable, we are to be ready and watching for God.

There are “God moments” all around.  This week be on the lookout and seize them, embrace them and remember you are loved!

On the lookout!

M 

Unique Masterpiece

Last week a friend and I went to a paint night.  Perhaps you’ve heard of these events? It is an evening were people sit at an easel with a blank canvas, brushes, a paper plate with dollops of paint and a paint smock —and we pretend to be artists.   

We were not alone on this adventure. There was an instructor who guided us, step by step, showing us how to recreate the painting she had painted earlier that day.  

There were at least thirty of us there that evening.  It was so fun, but here is what was amazing.  All of us were using the same colour paints, we were all recreating the same picture and given the same directions and not one of the paintings looked like the other.  Every single one was different! Every unique artist created their own unique masterpiece! It really was amazing.

And here is the thing, even though we are created in God’s image, we are all unique. God allows for great variety. Today, there are over seven billion people that live in the world. That’s a lot of people and yet, science confirms that each person is different and unique. No two people are or will be exactly alike. Right down to our fingerprints and how each of us thinks, we are all utterly and uniquely different.

You might ask, what makes me unique?  Everything!  

God sees you and God knows you. As a God of limitless power, God is intimately aware of each and every one of our attributes.

You and I come to God as children of different races and nationalities.  You and I have different temperaments. You and I have our own distinctive life experiences, gifts and talents. 

With that in mind I would invite you to consider this important fact: when you are clear about what makes you a unique individual, you can then better understand what it is that you can give to others. You can know your unique place in the world and the purpose that God has for you.

Please never underestimate your significance to the Body of Christ. God gifted you uniquely, and God has a plan and purpose for your life.

And if I may be so bold… if you see that something is not being done at Amberlea, or that there is something missing, it may mean that you are not doing it.

You are a vital and valued part of God’s kingdom!

See you Sunday!