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This week I was working on the sermon for Easter Sunday. This year I will be preaching on Jesus’ resurrection day appearance to the two travelers on the Emmaus Road in Luke 24. With Easter just one month away, I am looking forward to Holy Week and the culmination of our Lenten journey with a great celebration of Easter. If you haven’t ordered your Easter flowers yet, please do so. If you haven’t heard, the price is actually $9.50 per flower and not $9.00, as it says on the order form.

With the warm days this week, Ruth has been out walking, and I have joined her when I am able. I mentioned in last week’s column that Lent is seen as a season of spiritual renewal, but perhaps it should be for physical renewal as well. I am looking forward to warmer days to walk more and get my bike out for riding on the trail. I was excited to see that our Hiking Group has a spring hike scheduled for Sunday, April 13th in Pequea. Ruth and I greatly enjoy these hikes and are looking forward to this one next month.

Rhonda is completing the compilation of the Dream Big ideas, and we would love to put together a team from the church to begin processing the list and discerning how the Holy Spirit is calling us to move forward. With our Strategic Vision process winding down, it is time to begin working toward some dreams that will advance the mission and vision of the Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren. If you are interested in serving, let me know. I anticipate beginning our meetings in May and conclude in a few months. 

Several big events are coming up. The Men’s Banquet is happening a week from tomorrow at 5:30 pm. Please get your tickets and reservations in by Sunday so that we can accurately prepare the meal for the men. The Ladies resurrection gardens event is coming up as well. Also on Saturday, the Oaks (older adult) ministry is headed to see the Promise Players at Lampeter Church of the Brethren for a 2:30 matinee of Muddled Memories. Signup is across from the mailboxes. And Grace Marriage is having their next date night next Friday evening. Holy Week begins April 13th and mark your calendars for Love Feast on Thursday, April 17th at 7:00 pm. Easter Sunrise service will be at 6:00 am at Alan and Pam Platt’s home.

This week I met with the Solanco Pastor’s Fellowship and next week I will have pastor’s hours at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries on Wednesday afternoon. Tomorrow Solanco Neighborhood Ministries is having a strategic planning event at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren as we gather key leaders to discern how God is leading the ministry in the coming years. Ken Rutt and I serve on their board and will be participating in the planning process.

As I was praying this week, I was burdened for the church in general. So many churches are struggling across every denomination. It seems as though the pandemic five years ago wounded the church to such a degree that many are struggling to recover. There are other issues as well, but I found myself praying at length for the church this week. I was praying for revival and for a passion for the things of God for the church. And I found myself praying for the mission of the church to seek the lost and serve the least. Please know that I am praying for you as well and for our Lord’s beloved Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren.

On Sunday, we will share yet another Lenten symbol and have a message about an unexpected believer. This encounter with Jesus comes in Luke 7:1-10 and includes perhaps the greatest compliment Jesus ever gave. It was another life changing encounter with Jesus. The choir will share in the 8:15 am service and we will continue our journey with Jesus as He makes His way to Calvary. Expect to be blessed as we gather as God’s people in celebration of our Savior Jesus. I look forward to worshiping with you.

Let me close with this thought. My devotions this week were in 1 Samuel where David is anointed as Israel’s next king and God removes his presence from Saul’s life. Even though Saul was trying to kill David, David still respected Saul as the “Lord’s anointed one.” When David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life, he chose not to. He trusted in the promises of God and God’s timing and believed that he would ascend to the throne at the appropriate time.  Psalm 57 is a psalm of David when he is fleeing for his life from Saul. Only eleven verses long, David writes these words twice in Psalm 57: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth” (vv. 5, 11). Let me encourage you to take a moment and read Psalm 57 and perhaps make Psalm 57 verses 5 and 11 your prayer this Lenten season.

Have a great first weekend of spring. Looking forward to continuing our Lenten journey together and praying for you as we exalt our Lord together. It is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin