Read: John 20:1-18
 
            Jesus said, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet returned to the father.  Go instead to my brothers and tell them ‘I am returning to my father and your father, to my God and to your God.’”
 
            Today is the greatest day of celebration on the Christian calendar.  This is the day that Christ was raised from the tomb.  So we should be glad and rejoice in it.  This is the day which makes our faith so important, not just for First Church, but for the entire world.
 
            As we read the Gospel narrative about Christ’s resurrection, we should make time to re-pledge our hearts to him, re-connect our spirits to God and renew our hopes and dreams in Jesus, our risen Savior and almighty Lord.
 
            We are Easter people redeemed from our sins by Christ’s sacrifice and restored to God’s everlasting kingdom by the power of Christ’s resurrection!
 
Christ is Risen!  He Is Risen Indeed!
Hallelujah!!  Hallelujah!!
 
            Lord Jesus, you are the savior of the world and our almighty king.  We rejoice in you this day and forever more.  Amen.
 
Rev. Dr. Yvonne Wallace-Penn

Read: Matthew 27:57-66
 
Have you ever felt as if all hope was lost, and your efforts were doomed to failure.  These experiences can leave us feeling defeated, especially when we had reason to believe that our endeavors were bound for success.
 
In Matthew 27: 57-66, we encounter Christ being buried in a tomb.  It’s significant to note that during this era, those who were executed by the state did not receive a traditional burial.  Instead, their bodies were left to the elements for scavengers to devour.  Yet, Joseph, who followed Christ, saw fit to take possession of his body and provide a proper burial.  Imagine for a moment: Christ was left in a tomb.  Christ, the man who walked the earth prophesying and performing miracles…the Son of God, was buried.  I’m certain many wondered to themselves, “How could this be?”
 
But we know that the story didn’t end there.  We know that on the third day, Christ was raised from the tomb with all power in his hands.  What does this mean for us?  Your situation might seem dire…it might appear as if your ship has sailed; however, keep the faith.  Just as Christ was resurrected, our destiny, reputation, aspirations, goals, etc. can be resurrected from the depths of despair.
 
Heavenly father, your word says that with you, all things are possible.  We have faith that you are able to raise our endeavors from the dead.  We place our lives and will in your hands, so that even when our circumstances seem bleak, we know that you have the last word.  In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
 
Corey Beauford

Read: John 18:1-19:42
 
The chapters and verses for today begin with the acknowledgment that Jesus had just prayed for all believers to be unified.  Yet on this very same day he would be betrayed and crucified.  He poured out his spirit in prayer to God that we would be one with him as he is one with God the Father (Jn 17:22).

Just hours later would he would discover not only disunity among believers, but even unbelief among the disciples.  Jesus prophesied these moments yet would not deny ‘the cup that the Father has given’(Jn 18:11).  He knew not only that his own would deny him (Jn 18:27) but that he would die on the cross for those of his kingdom, whom he loved and whom he desired to believe and follow him.  John 19:37 declares, “And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced” which references Zechariah 12:10  “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.  They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

As we carry our crosses and burdens to Christ each day, lifting our hearts in prayer for our daily bread and for forgiveness of sins, let us remember the living word of Jehovah God who has given all who are in the world (but not of the world), all who believe in God, the immeasurable grace of God through the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Amen.
 
Marci Matthews

Read: John 13:1-7, 31b-35
 
Washing the Disciples' Feet
Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God.  This means that it’s a time for personal reflection that prepares our hearts and minds to journey with our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is also the season when we talk about giving something up.  Earlier in our study, there was strife among the disciples arguing who would be the greatest in the new kingdom that Jesus was to usher in.  Surely, they weren’t expected to stoop to the level of a servant to get into this kingdom!  Is it part of your Lent commitment this year to stoop to the level of a servant and wash our neighbor’s feet?  None of the disciples was willing to do this, however, Jesus came to serve, live, and die for our sins.
Let us set aside our wants and needs to come humbly and meek before God, to serve others, wash their feet and serve as servant even to the lowest in our midst.  “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
 
Heavenly Father, we want to learn of you, to know you more, and to love you as you love us.  Let our life be a true testimony to the world that, we are your children, your disciples, so that our life may bring honor to your name. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
 
Dipo Ogunrinde

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3
 
               Distractions around us lead us from following Christ.  Each of us has things in our lives that are really important and yes they are important in a sense, but nothing, I mean nothing, is more important than our relationship with our Lord, who suffered way more than we could even imagine.  
 
               We think that what we go through is suffering - puh-lese! We must realize that what Jesus went through, all of the pain, humiliation, utter desolation, and abject loneliness only to make our lives better.  What?! Huh?!  He knew! He just knew that it would make all of the difference to us.  While our trials are challenging to us, we must know that Jesus saves us.  And as the song goes
 
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
 
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
by Andrae Edward Crouch
 
That is what we must do “Trust.”  Faith is hard.
 
Lord give me strength to really trust you.  I know that you sacrificed it all for me.  I feel unworthy but that is the point, isn’t it? Thank you for being you and loving me.  Amen.
 
Tracy Day

Read: John 12:20-36
 
Some Greeks came to worship at the feast and they asked to see Jesus.  Philip and Andrew told Jesus.  Jesus answered them by speaking in parables.  He informed them the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  He was referring to his coming crucifixion.  He used the example of a grain of wheat falling to the ground (his grave) and dying.  If it dies, it produces much grain. Jesus used this metaphor for his death and grave.
 
Jesus says anyone serves me, let him follow me.  If we serve him, his father will honor us.  Jesus verbalized he was troubled about his coming death, but realized it was for his father’s glory.  In verse 28, a voice came from heaven and the people heard it, but did not understand it.
 
Jesus says, and I, if I am lifted up (symbolizing his crucifixion on the cross) from the earth, his grave will draw all peoples to myself.  Remember the grain of wheat being multiplied by dying in the ground.  He tells them the Son of Man must be lifted up, meaning his crucifixion.  They asked who is the son of Man ?  Jesus replies, a little while longer the light is with you.  He is the light.  The Son of Man is the light.  They still don’t understand.  Then he says, while you have the light, believe in the light, that you become sons of light.  After he spoke, he departed and was hidden from them.  He had to get ready for his crucifixion.
 
During this Holy Week, as we reflect on the activities on the road to the cross, may we stay grateful, grateful that we are the sons of light by the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Amen.
 
Mfon Umoren

Read: John 12:1-8
 
Probably you remember that Lazarus had been raised from the dead (11:38).  The action here is at Lazarus’s house.  We are told that Mary produces “a pound of costly nard” so we can reasonably infer that Lazarus, Mary and Martha are well off.  Then Judas takes exception, criticizing Mary for her extravagance and he estimates the value of the nard at 300 denarii (about a year’s income for a laborer), which he says should have been given to the poor.  The text lets us have no doubts that Judas is being altruistic here.  Now Jesus intervenes in defense of Mary, saying she bought this in anticipation of his death. This is amazing: even the disciples have not understood where the politics of the time were leading but Mary does, a true disciple indeed!
 
Prayer: Lord God our Father/Mother, we have very little idea that your passion here on earth through your Son, Jesus, somehow forgives our sinful ways. We can only plead for your mercy. Amen.
 
 
Jim Langworthy

Read: Mark 11:1-11
 
The story of Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday is told in this passage from the Gospel of Mark.  Jesus makes his return to Jerusalem amongst a large crowd of people who greet him with chants of “Hosanna” and laying of branches and cloaks.  Here was the king that they had been waiting for.  Laying of branches, leaves and the like was customary in recognition of the arrival of royalty.  There is a real jubilation in the shouts of “Hosanna,” but Jesus isn’t actually coming as a political king, but a spiritual king.
 
            The people looked to him to be that human king who could save them from the Roman Empire, but Jesus knew what was to come, what is purpose was on that fateful week.  He did come to save, but not politically.
 
Palm Sunday is the start of holy week.  Jesus knows what is ahead, and is steadfast in his action.  He had the power to change course, but never took a detour.  Palm Sunday begins the greatest story of love that one can imagine.  Jesus came to save us all, even you and me.  He knew the struggles that he would endure in Jerusalem, but he remained committed to love.  Hosanna in the highest, indeed/
 
Greg Richards,
Certified Lay Servant
(from 2018 Lent Devotional Book)
 

Read: Matthew 26:36-46
 
This scripture is about Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to “sit here while I go and pray over there,” he prayed for God’s will be done not Jesus’s but God’s will.  Jesus had asked Peter and the sons to stay here and watch with him but did they watch, NO, Jesus came back and found them sleeping. Now Jesus chastised them for falling asleep, but did he give up on them? no, he gave them a second chance and guess what - yes they fell asleep again and yet even then gave them another chance.  Now during this whole time Jesus knew he was going to die but this verse shows the us a side of Jesus, the human side, as he prayed for the cup pass from him.
Here is what I take from this passage, we are going to experience many hardships in our life, we face illness, hatred, crime, poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, injustice but we can question God, we can ask the cup pass from us, and God will not give up on us.  We may sin, fall asleep when we should stay awake but God will still give us more chances, and through all of the good but more importantly, through all the bad, the hardships, we are not alone, God is with us, and we can sing and shout the victory!!!
 
Heavenly father thank you for always giving us another chance and for always being with us.  Help us to always remember it is your will and not ours that matters. Amen.
 
Cindy Harding
Certified Lay Servant

Read: Philippians 2:5-8
 
Jesus, what a wonderful Savior!  Our blessed Lord left his home in glory, put on human flesh and dwelt among men.  He humbled himself to the cross, death and the grave.  He made himself of no reputation, being made in the image of his heavenly father.  We give him our best praise, glory and honor.  He loves us so much that, although he knew no sin, he took on the sins of mankind, became humble and obedient, even to death on the cross.  He died, but rose again with all power and victory!!!  He now sits at the right hand of God, the father, daily making intercession for us. 
 
  Song:  Oh how he loves you and me, oh how he loves you and me,
      he gave his life, what more could he give. Oh how he love you.
      Oh how he loves me, oh how he loves you and me.
 
As we live, let us strive to be more Christ- like - in our walk and talk; loving others as he loves us; kind and compassionate; obedient to he who called us from darkness into his marvelous light; forgiving others as he forgives us.  Let us put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13). 
 
Dear Lord, we continually give you thanks and praise for all you have done and continue to do for us.  As we go about being doers of the word and not hearers only, we know it is only through your grace and mercy.   We bless your holy name.  Amen.
 
 
Mary DeaVone