"Don't eat them all at once!"

As a young girl growing up in a Sikh home I really had no idea what Easter was all about. In fact, for the longest time I associated Easter with chocolate and throwing up. Yup.  Let me explain.

Growing up my mom worked at Eaton’s Department Store.  And like most retail establishments after a major holiday, unsold holiday items were sold at a drastically reduced price.  One year, my mom came home on the Tuesday after Easter with four large Chocolate Easter Eggs (they were hallow and stood about 12” high and filled with smaller chocolate candies).  I remember thinking I had won the lottery!  I didn’t even have to go hunting for them like my friends did. Can you imagine…4 feet of chocolate… all for me!!!

“Don’t eat them all at once.” My mother warned.

“Wow! Sure”. 

By Friday I had consumed all four and spent the weekend sick to my stomach. I couldn’t bring myself to eat chocolate for years. 

If you asked eight year old Mona, “What does Easter mean to you?”  I would have said, “Chocolate and barfing.”  I really had no idea what Easter was about.  At school we would dip eggs in food colouring and vinegar, and colour pictures of bunnies and flowers.  I found myself asking, “But why?  What was it all about??”

Perhaps I was told by a kind teacher or a snarky school mate, but I didn’t fully understand the meaning of Easter until I was much older. 

Easter is about Christ’s persecution and it is about Christ’s resurrection.  

Did you know that back in Jesus’ day crucifixions were a normal practice?  

Thousands died by crucifixion, but what made this particular crucification different was the ONE who was crucified, Jesus.  

Jesus died on the cross but Jesus rose from the dead.  Eyewitnesses talked about it and wrote about it, and people have been talking about it ever since because the resurrection is not what He did; it's who He is.

Why does it matter? Because God, in His love and mercy, did something for us we were incapable of doing for ourselves.  In His great love, God became one of us, in Jesus, God in the flesh, born of a virgin. 

Why does Jesus being born of a virgin matter? 

Because Jesus didn't inherit the sin nature from an earthly father but inherited the divine nature from his Heavenly Father. Therefore, he could be the lamb without blemish or spot or wrinkle.

On the cross when He brutally suffered at the hands of creation, we are told that he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, I did what you sent me to do. It is finished. Into your hands I commit my spirit." thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in Him.

Scripture tells us that the earth went dark and shook, and everyone who had hoped maybe Jesus was the messiah fell into despair and darkness. They didn't realize it was Friday but Sunday was coming!  God would be glorified through the death, as Jesus was raised.

When I realized that that was what Easter was about and not chocolate bunnies, eggs and the negative side effects of over indulging, it changed my world.

One touch from God and it can change your world too!

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Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  The gospels record the arrival of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.  With excitement they honour him as their long-awaited Messiah and King. 

On Sunday we too had the opportunity to wave palm branches…and we had an opportunity, as we look ahead to Maundy Thursday — the day Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper— to look at and experience communion in a unique and reflective way.  If weren’t able to join us, you can hear the teaching here! 

Here is what is happening this Holy Week:

• On Thursday we gather at Amberlea for a very special Messy Church.  Everyone welcome.  Dinner is a 6pm. Let Nancy know how many in your family plan to attend. It is going to be a wonderful evening.  familyministries@amberlechurch.ca

• We also remember Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  We invite you to join us at 11 a.m. for a powerful, reflective service. 

• And then, on Sunday we celebrate Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday.  We will begin with a wonderful Easter breakfast at 9:30 am, an Easter Egg hunt at 10:30 am and then at 11a.m we will celebrate that He is Risen!  (He is Risen indeed!)

This is a very important week. Simply put, the most important thing Jesus ever did to rescue our world happened this week - that’s what makes this week “Holy”.

Join us as we reflect and prepare our hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.

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