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This Sunday is Palm Sunday, when we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  The next Sunday is, of course, Easter Day, when we gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave and to ponder the meaning of this miracle for our lives and, indeed, the life of the world.

 

To jump from Palm Sunday immediately to Easter Day is, however, to neglect the mysterious and painful stories that fall in between.  The Gospel writers thought that these stories were of the utmost importance; in fact, the accounts of the individual days and occurrences of Holy Week are the most detailed and descriptive of all the Gospel passages about Jesus' life.  Take sometime this week to read Matthew 21-28 (only a chapter a day!), in which we overhear the words, reflections, and actions of Jesus, his disciples, and their enemies as the dramatic events transpire.

 

One reason for all this detail is so that we will be able to share the sense of awe and wonder that the disciples must have felt on that first Easter.  By traveling with them through Jerusalem's political mess, the meal they shared together, the betrayal of Thomas, the disciples guilt and shame, the agony of the crucifixion, and the sense of utter failure. If we travel through all that we will also be able to share with them the marvelous astonishment of Easter, and of a God who somehow uses all of this to transform the world.

 

Join us for worship at Crete United Methodist Church: wave palms this Sunday, eat and drink at the Lord's table on Holy Thursday, confront the reality of violence and death on Good Friday.  So that then on Easter, you will experience anew that Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

 

Yours in the journey,

Pastor Kristen

                                           Announcements: 

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The Pancake Breakfast, hosted by the Women's Club, will be held on Sunday, Palm Sunday, March 29th,

after church services.  All are invited. 

 

The next Women's Club meeting will be held on Monday, April 6th, in the narthex, at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome. 

 

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    Holy Week Services at Crete United Methodist Church

 

Maundy Thursday Come and Go Communion, April 2 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Come when you can, leave when you must. Holy Communion will be served. Join with
others seated around a table following a brief time of Scripture reading and prayer.

Good Friday Service, April 03, from  2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

A Tenebrae Service consisting of scripture readings with the gradual extinguishing of candles to symbolize the growing darkness of Jesus’ death on the cross.

And Join Us for Easter Sunday Worship, April 5 at 10 a.m.

A service of joy, music and song celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ

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