April 01, 2018
My previous article was written before Community Table was served. We enjoyed eating hot, thick, and delicious meatball stew with cornbread and salad. Several regulars were “out of pocket” so, some new faces came to help us. Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way. We fed 208 hungry souls. Unless the Lord is involved in our work, nothing good will come of it and we see, hear, and feel His presence every time we begin this effort.
There was a good crowd at Easter Sunrise Service. If you have never seen the sun rise behind the three crosses in our atrium, come and watch, our gate is left unlocked. Some of the neighbors come in to sit and pray or meditate. Our heart, mind, and gate really are open.
We appreciate the efforts the Dublin Ministerial Alliance made to put together the Sunrise Service. Thanks goes to these area ministers; Rudy Cortez, Michael Hannah, Dr. Gregg Judy, Gerald Freeman, and Ken Lunsford. Leta Sage played the keyboard and the music was wonderful. Pastor Cortez brought the sermon and it was meaningful. The collection plate offerings ($300) will be equally distributed to Dublin CWJC, Salvation Army, and Goodfellows. All funds will be used locally.
David Cleveland, Stormy Armstrong, and Jeannie Wendt cooked pancakes and sausage for the sunrise crowd. They had hot coffee, cold orange juice and milk ready and waiting.
There were several living Easter lilies at the altar. Dublin Floral donated one to every church in town and A pair were given by the Moore family in remembrance of Dr. Joe Bob and JoAnn Pate who were the parents of Jill Moore. Juanita Duncan and Dr. Harlan and Eddie Raley also gave lilies.
It was pleasant to see so many guests with us Sunday.
Ola Mae LaBaume has been to the hospitable and is back home, but she and Ray would appreciate our prayers.
Brady Moore was in church after important knee surgery. We are thankful that all seems to be a success.
Lee Lusk asked for prayers for his brother, Alton Lusk, who is not doing well at all.
Pastor Ken is slowly but surely getting better.
I served as Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Mark 16:1-8 and John 20:1-9. Joe Salinas serves as acolyte.
Laura Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson and held a small granddaughter in her arms at the same time. She talked to the children about the significance of Easter and the empty tomb.
Rev. Ken titled his sermon “Does Easter Really Matter?”
The grieving disciples and other followers of Jesus were confused and worried when they found His tomb empty. Even Simon Peter didn’t know what to believe. But very soon they all discovered that it was true, Christ had risen as He said He would.
Does the resurrection matter? Well, yes it really does! It does if you have ever lost a loved one to death. It matters if you value the gift of life. If Christ lives, then life has meaning, and death is defeated. We need to be reminded of the power of love over hate, of hope over despair. We can feel that by peering into the empty tomb of the man from Galilee.