March 30, 2023

Dear Central Church,
 
Creation is telling a story. This week I noticed the tree in my front yard had tiny buds of green beginning to emerge from its limbs. It feels like it happened overnight, but this is the first sign that the earth is renewing itself after the cold dormancy of winter. The little shoots of green are a preamble to the story of life that will be told in just a few weeks as leaves fill trees and flowers color our landscape once again.
 
Like the story of creation that is told in the changing of the seasons, the people of God are telling a story of life. This Sunday begins “Holy Week” and commemorates the major moments of Jesus’s journey to the cross and ultimately his resurrection.
 
There are things that will try to impede on this week. There is school, there are meetings to attend, and commitments to keep. Let’s slow down, however, and listen to the story of this week. Don’t take for granted that we tell it every year. Ask the Lord to reveal something new to you in the story of Christ’s passion.
 
Here’s what we’re doing this week at Central to slow down and hear the story anew: we’ll receive communion this Sunday as we commemorate Palm Sunday. Our students and kids ministries will meet as normal on Wednesday night, calling young disciples to reflect on the significance of this week. On Good Friday, we will gather at 6:30pm to relive the moments of Christ’s suffering, being reminded again of all He endured so that we might be forgiven.
 
Holy Week culminates with Resurrection Sunday. Just as the earth, bursts into spring, Christ’s victory over death enables us to experience new life in Him! Please make note of the adjusted schedule on Easter:
 
9am - First Service
10:15 - Fellowship/Refreshments
11am - Second Service
 
This good news is too good to keep to yourself! Would you consider inviting 5 people to Easter Sunday at Central? We’ll be providing you with invite cards that have all our Easter details on them. Who among your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers can you invite to church on Resurrection Sunday?
 
Let this sink in: If everyone at Central invited 5 people and only 5% of those actually accepted the invitation, that would be 175 people who would hear the Gospel on Easter Sunday!
 
Our family is so excited to be walking through this season for the first time with you. Let’s share this story with as many people as we can. I believe God is going to transform someone’s life as a result of our Easter celebrations at Central.
 
Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark