Earlier this week, I got a text from one of our members. It said something like this…
“I just saw a billboard on 22. It was a GRACE Church billboard…
advertising Christmas.”
My heart sunk when I heard that. I had seen the artwork for our Easter billboard earlier in the week. I thought I knew where the text was headed.
The mistake was corrected the next morning. I laugh when I think about it. Life goes fast. Easter will come. Christmas will come. And then Easter will come again —- on our new campus in 2023.
I know God is at work leading us and guiding us.
Easter 2022 is getting close. Hopefully, you will see the billboard and remember to invite your friends to join us. I’m so looking forward to the journey toward the cross with you. Here’s the schedule beginning with Palm Sunday weekend.
Saturday, April 9th
Easter Egg Hunt, Northampton Community College, 2-4 pm – close to our new campus. You can register now for this event. Pray for this event as we host not only GRACE families but families in our community and in our new neighborhood.
Palm Sunday, April 10th
Worship Services, BECAHI, 8:30, 9:45, 11 am. At our Palm Services, we will wave our palm branches and say Hosanna! The donkey is back this year. His presence reminds us that Jesus came into Jerusalem as a king, but not the king everyone expected. I’m excited that our children’s choir will sing for the first time since COVID on Palm Sunday, along with our other musicians and worship leaders.
Maundy Thursday, April 14th
Maundy Thursday Service, BECAHI, 7 pm. We will take communion together just like the disciples took the first Communion at Passover. Then we will begin the Tenebrae Service, reading the Passion Scriptures, hearing the chancel choir anthems and singing the great hymns of Lent. The service will end with the darkness of Jesus’ betrayal and death on the cross.
Good Friday, April 15th
Journey to the Cross: An Interactive Prayer Experience, Locust Street Sanctuary, 10 am – 8 pm. Come anytime on Good Friday to experience a self-guided, interactive prayer experience where you will walk with Jesus on his journey to the cross. Our staff and elders will host your experience. All ages are welcome and you can spend 15 minutes or as long as you want – you set your pace.
EASTER Sunday
Easter Services, BECAHI, Sunday Morning
8:30 and 9:45 am (Classic) and 11 am (Modern)
Jesus is Risen. Celebrate this incredible truth that changes everything.
At the classic services (note times – 8:30 and 9:45) – there will be special music from our Chancel choir and Orchestra, led by Tom Goeman.
At our modern service (note time – 11 am only) There will be special music provided by our full worship band led by Kelby Dixon.
At all services, as has become our Easter tradition, you will receive a special gift to help you mark this life-changing day.
THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, we continue in our Questions Jesus Asked series, Doug Stewart, our Executive Pastor, will preach, “Why Did You Doubt?”
At our 11 am service, we will present our 2nd graders with a Bible. As they continue to grow up, our church is providing them with a Bible especially designed for them.
We want our children to be able to say with the Psalmist…
“Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.” Psalm 71:17
Please pray for these 2nd graders and for all of our children that God’s Word would continue to teach them to walk in God’s ways.
Also, a note of thanks to all who gave to our Ukraine appeal. To date, $14,800 dollars was given. Your generosity will send help to the front lines. Christ have mercy. I know we all continue to pray.
Walking with you to the cross and to resurrection,
Dr. Marnie Crumpler
Senior Pastor