I hope you have survived the “Spring forward” of our clocks and have caught up on the sleep you lost last week. I have never liked when we change to daylight savings time. It takes me about a week to get used to it. When my children were young, they struggled to understand why they had to go to bed when it was still light out. I have a feeling that many children are still asking that same question. But while I don’t like changing my clocks, I do like the change of seasons. I like when we move from winter to spring and then from spring to summer and into fall. I love the changes each season brings into my life and I especially love the changes I see in nature as the trees are bare then filled with bright green leaves that turn dark green in summer and brilliant colors in the fall. But then transitions have never bothered me too much. I guess I just enjoy seeing what comes next.
Jesus teaches his disciples that “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Having grown up on a farm I understand the first half of this verse very well. I saw it played out each year when we planted our garden and when the farmer who farmed our land planted the crops, he would grow each year. I would see one seed produce a plant that would offer up many vegetables on its vine, stalk, bush…and we would enjoy the fruits of the harvest each fall. But none of that would happen if that one seed didn’t “die” as we planted it in the ground, and it sprouted to grow a new plant that would offer its own abundant crop.
But the second half of that verse is a little harder…it seems to me that it answers the question: “What is the meaning of life.” I hope you join me on Sunday as we explore John 12:20 – 33 and maybe come to the answer to the question: “what is the meaning of life,” especially in light of our Christian faith and all that means to each one of us.
We are getting closer to Easter and all the activities of Holy Week. I hope you will join us either online or in person at each of the Holy Week activities beginning with Palm Sunday on March 28 with services at 8 AM, 11 AM and 5 PM. Niki, our children’s minister is planning an egg-cellant, egg-travaganza for our children and families at 3:30 PM on Palm Sunday. We will have special services during the week for Maundy Thursday April 1 and Good Friday April 2, both will be at 6:30 PM. Then on Easter Sunday we will have our Easter Services beginning with our youth doing a Sunrise service at 6:30 AM outside in the pumpkin patch area. We will then have our services inside at 8 AM and 11 AM. Our day of worship and celebration of our Lord’s resurrection will end with the Five outdoor Easter worship service at 5 PM. I hope you join us during this wonderful season of the year!
Please continue to be in prayer for me and everyone who is involved in our worship services. There is a lot going on and we all covet your prayers.
Blessings,
Pastor Beth