Wave those palm fronds!

It was Palm Sunday and because of a sore throat, 5-year-old Johnny stayed home from church with a sitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Johnny asked them what they were for.    "People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by," his father told him.    "Wouldn't you know it," Johnny fumed, "the one Sunday I don't go and he shows up."

Palm Sunday 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 you too, will have the opportunity to wave palm fronds. The children and youth have a wonderful presentation prepared. It will be an exciting morning! 

Did you know that Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week? Holy Week is that special week in the church year that leads up to Easter. 

During HOLY week:  

• All week long a Prayer Labyrinth will be set up in the Fellowship Hall (lower level). This is a wonderful time for you, alone, or with your family to walk on the mat. It is meant to be a reflective time for you to pray and hear from God. If you are new to this amazing prayer resource take a look at this video for information on what a Labyrinth is, its history and how to walk it.

• On Thursday we celebrate Maundy Thursday, the day that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. This year we will gather for a Prayer Walk. Join us as we do a short walk around the neighbourhood, praying for our community and our world. We are then invited back to the church building for a Hymn Sing. Check the website or our weekly Newsletter for times.

• 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. Later that evening join us for Movie Night where we watch the story of Easter.

• And then, on Sunday we celebrate Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday. We will begin at 10:40 a.m with a fun Easter Egg Hunt for the children (young and old ;). Then at 11a.m. we will celebrate that He is Risen! (He is Risen indeed!). Join us for Refreshments immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.

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.

It all begins this Sunday as we wave those palm fronds!

You'll be glad you did.

On Sunday we started a new sermon series called “Famous Last Words” and we tackled the first words Jesus uttered on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

We looked at these powerful words of forgiveness but more specifically, how do we forgive like Jesus?  If you weren’t there on Sunday, check it out.

It shouldn’t surprise me but after the service I heard from so many of how the sermon had spoken to them.  It was a simple message of how and why we are to forgive.  Simple, however you and I both know how hard it can be to forgive sometimes, especially forgiving someone who has deeply hurt us or someone we love.

And yet, forgiveness is the heart of God’s good news for us.  Perhaps forgiving others would be easier if we truly understood what God has done for us.  God freely forgives us, and I wonder if we really take that in? How often do we turn a blind eye to that amazing truth?

I read this interesting story about an attorney, who after meditating on several Scriptures, (like Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32) decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than 6 months. 

He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its Biblical basis and sent 17 debt canceling letters via certified mail. 

One by one, the letters were returned by the Postal Service, unsigned and undelivered. 

Perhaps a couple people had moved away though not likely. Sixteen of the seventeen letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts. 

How profound! We owe a debt for our sin and God is willing to cancel it but how many of us will not even open the letter that explains how?

Today, take a moment to remember what God has done for you.  Ask God to fill you with love for those who have offended you, pray for them and forgive as you have been forgiven.  

You will be glad you did. 

Breathe, just breath.

A memory popped up on my Facebook feed.  On this day, twelve years ago I posted a quote from Mahatma Ghandi that said:

There is more to life than increasing its speed.

I don’t remember specifically what was happening in my life that that quote would resonate with me, but it resonates with me today.

As things are opening up and mask mandates have been removed (for the most part), there seems to be an urgency to get out to previously restricted places; to be with others; to return to some sort of “normal”.  And suddenly life is increasing speed.  I am also hearing from others that it is also increasing anxiety.

Long before I was an Ordained Minister, I was a Lamaze (Prenatal and Postnatal) Instructor. My company Expectations was contracted by three hospitals and I taught privately in my home. It was a wonderful time - meeting and guiding couples through one of the most significant and spiritual times in their lives. One of the core subjects of my curriculum was Non-medical coping strategies. The most effective coping skill I taught to deal with anxiety, stress and yes, even pain, was deep breathing.

Breathing is highly underrated.

Breathing is a miracle we seldom stop to think about. We just do it and it keeps us alive.

And breathing helps us to slow down, to chill out and to be mindful.

Breathing can also be Spiritual - to consciously and deliberately be aware of each breath as you inhale the pure and exhale the impure.  

To embrace a readiness to “exhale” or confess that which has separated us from God (sin), and to “inhale”, or trust God to fill us with His Holy Spirit.

When life increases speed or negative circumstances of life crowd in, we can slow down and breathe.  And as we do we can “Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18 (ISV)

Breathe….Just Breathe.

Join us this coming Sunday as we begin a new sermon series that will take us to Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.