E-note from Pastor Andy March 28, 2013

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Dear Eastridge Family,

World War II Jewish holocaust survivor and author, Elie Wiesel once said, “The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.”  The enemy uses the business of life and the cares of this world to distract us from the task we have been given by Jesus.  Before Jesus ascended into heaven to take his place at the right hand of God the Father, he gave the disciples the Great Commission not as a suggestion but as a command.

How have you been faithful to that commission in the last couple of weeks?

Easter is a great time to demonstrate our love to Jesus and our love to our neighbor by inviting them to come and hear the Easter story and to worship the risen Jesus.  Have you invited someone to join you this Easter?  Have you talked to your family member who does not attend church about coming with you?  Have you invited the kids who live on your block to come out to our Easter Egg Hunt?

We may be rejected but they will at least know we love them enough to ask and invite.

We have door hangers and invite cards at the church in both English and Spanish for you to use this week.  Remember, as a church, we exist not for ourselves, but for those who are not here yet.  Let’s make sure that as many people as possible get an invitation and let’s remember to pray for them to respond.

·        Thanks to all who prayed on our Day of Prayer

Yesterday we had a Day of Prayer and I want to thank everyone who participated.  I am convinced that a Church can only be as powerful as its prayer life.

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” - Martin. Luther

·        Easter Preparations

Thank you to everyone who has donated money to purchase candy and toys for the Easter Egg Hunt.  We will be filling the eggs this Saturday at 2PM, and we could use lots of help.  If you are planning on bring items for the breakfast on Easter please bring them a few minutes early so we can get started with the breakfast by 9:15 AM.

·        Good Friday Service

Tomorrow our Good Friday Service will begin at 6pm.  We have a number of people who will share on each of the “Seven Sayings from the Cross.”  Come and spend time reflecting on the cost of our sin and the love of our God.

·        Easter Offering

The Easter Offering is for the World Evangelism Fund (WEF). Traditionally, WEF is collected through two large offerings each year “the Thanksgiving and Easter offerings.”  The Nazarene Church has always had a strong history of supporting missions through their generous giving through these offerings. 

Because He lives, we live and can live abundantly!  This abundant salvation that brings forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of hearts is the message the Church of the Nazarene proclaims around the world.  The life of Christ is now our life as He lives and reigns in the hearts of His people.

Having received His life, we now have the God-given responsibility and privilege of sharing this life with those who are dead in trespasses and sins.  The annual Easter Offering is vital to our shared mission of taking the life-giving gospel to those who are bound by sin and darkness.  The Easter Offering provides a wonderful opportunity for Nazarenes everywhere to lovingly and generously join hands and hearts to rescue the perishing, make Christlike disciples, develop churches, and care compassionately for the hurting and suffering in the name of Jesus, our risen Christ. 

·        Easter Sunday March 31st

We will start our day with a Continental Breakfast at 9:15 AM – 9:45AM.  Followed by our Easter Service at 10:00 AM.  We will have Children’s Church as normal followed by our EASTER EGG HUNT.

The reason we have scheduled these special activities like Easter Egg hunt and Breakfast is to create an opportunity for us to invite unchurch friends and family to expose them to God’s people or to give them a “nudge” towards Jesus.  These activities are not designed to give us something to do.  So even if you do not have children who will be participating in the Easter Egg Hunt you may consider staying around to meet new people and show the love of Jesus to them.  Your first choice may not include having breakfast at the church but if we look at it from the perspective as an opportunity; an opportunity to visit with guest visitors why not come?

·        Favorite Quotes of the Week

“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.” ~ C.S. Lewis

"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions."  -  G.K. Chesterton

“The difference between you and God is that God doesn't think He's you.” - Anne Lamot

I am looking forward to Celebrating the Risen Jesus with you on Sunday,

Pastor Andy