We thank Adrian Salinas and Laura leatherwood for organizing our congregation’s Easter Egg donation to Golden Age Nursing Home. Golden Age does a tremendous job holding a huge Easter Egg hunt on Good Friday.
The Dublin Ministerial Alliance was ready for a Sunrise Service in the Prayer Garden, but the threat of rain put us in the sanctuary. It was a joyous service anyway.
Clay Cooper, the Youth Minister at First Baptist Church, brought the sunrise sermon. Clay gave a “fire cracker” message of encouragement. He told us church membership is down all across the US, the majority of people are not going to church anymore and we must reverse that. We are all disciples, speak up! Get committed and win souls for Christ.
A breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk, and juice was served to the early risers in the Clay Annex.
A big ole thank you goes to Kathy Logan and David Cleveland for cooking and to Stormy Armstrong for the cleanup.
At the 11 o’clock service Cole Moore and Joe Salinas served as acolytes. We appreciate both these young fellows.
We learned that Cole Moore had competed at the state level at UIL in future problem solving. We are very proud of Cole and hopeful young men such as him will one day solve some of the world’s problems.
Laura Leatherwood told the youth during their lesson about the word ascending. She brought a helium filled balloon to show the children. Laura said when you turn a balloon loose to rise in the air you watch it go for as long as you can. Laura told about the disciples being on the mountain side with Jesus as He ascended to heaven. Jesus told His followers to go out into the world and tell His story, tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
Then Laura and all the little ones went out to the Prayer Garden to turn the balloon loose.
Leta Sage did a wonderful rendition of “Halleluiah” using her own rewritten words. It was stunning to say the least, many of us, man and woman, young or old had tears in our eyes. I wish I had a recording of Leta’s version.
“The Rest of the Message” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon. He based it on John 20: 1-18.
Like Mary Magdalene we can stand at the mouth of the open tomb and still cannot see. We hear the words of angels and let our lives be untouched by the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
The good news of Easter is that God knows how hard it is for us to believe. He knows how tightly our sinful human nature clings to this world. And because of that God sends us another message, for Easter proclaims, “Jesus defeated death.” Because He lives we shall live also. That is the rest of the message. His victory is our victory. His rising to new life is a new life for us as well.
It was not until Jesus spoke Mary’s name that she believed. Faith is born when God speaks our name. Do you want to grow in faith? Then draw nearer to God’s people in worship and let God speak to you. To experience the presence of Christ more fully stand closer to Him and listen to Him in prayer. Open the Bible and read it more faithfully, stretch your spiritual muscles. Reach out to others that are in need and forgive others for wrongdoing. Forgive yourself also. Mary heard Jesus speak her name and she fell at His feet in worship. And that is where we belong as well.