Today is Wednesday, March 24th and Pastor Dave reminds us that Holy Week begins this coming Sunday, March 28th which is Palm Sunday.  This was the day that Jesus came into Jerusalem riding a donkey.  The people standing on the roadside were waving palms to honor the one that was coming to take King David’s throne and to save them from the Romans and the religious leaders of that time who had become corrupt. Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is the commemoration of the last supper and the inauguration of Holy Communion.  Next, we remember Good Friday. Although a terrible and humiliating day for our Lord the outcome for humanity was the greatest gift we could receive.  Holy Saturday commemorates that Jesus was in the tomb. Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Beginning on Easter Sunday, Pastor Dave will ask us to enter a time of breakthrough prayer. This means that we pray to God to breakthrough things that are challenging us such as our fears and concerns. He hopes it will also touch our hearts and our spirits to remind us that we are not alone, and that God is always with us. Christ said at the last supper, as I live so too will you live. It is important that we not forget that Christ lived, died, and yet lives again. We belong to Christ; he is our Good Shepherd.  Pastor Dave encourages us to pick up our Bibles and ask God to reveal the truth in the words of Jesus. When we hear it declared to us in the Bible who Jesus is, we must know that these words come with an invitation.  Meditate on the Word and pray that you hear the Good Shepherd’s voice in your heart inviting you into discipleship. God calls us, with his grace, and helps us to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words.  

Pastor Dave will be writing a small prayer for us to include along with our daily prayers. We will pray to God to reach into our lives and remind us who we are and to whom we belong. We will pray that God will reveal His will for our lives and to help us to know what direction we should take during the post pandemic time. Pastor Dave will introduce this prayer and will begin using it on Easter Sunday and will continuing saying this prayer until our denomination determines a way forward, asking God to lead us and to help keep us focused on our main priority, which is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ.

 

Blessings.

Summary by Lorna Magliaro, secretary Sturgeon Bay UMC