THOUGHTS FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER
Next week, the church universal will celebrate Holy Week. I am reminded of the profound significance these days hold within the Christian calendar. Holy Week invites us to journey alongside Jesus Christ as he walks the path of suffering, sacrifice, and ultimately, triumph. If you haven’t already checked out the Monday Morning Preacher Livestream Discussion between Jada and I on Facebook, be sure to go watch it. We discuss the ups and downs that come with Holy Week and how they are connected to our lived experience.
The Holy Week journey will begin this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We will mimic this moment of Jesus’ life as we wave palm branches and process into our sanctuary. Let us also remember the humility and grace with which Jesus approached his mission, even while knowing the trials that lay ahead. As we gather in faithful community for our Easter Dinner and Easter Egg Hunt, we can celebrate Jesus as our King, while remembering that his power comes not from strength, but from humility and sacrificial love.
As the week progresses forward, Maundy Thursday is a time for us to remember that final gathering between Jesus and his disciples. The synoptic gospels tell us of that final meal that Jesus shares with his disciples, instituting the ordinance of communion that we share together each time we gather. John’s Gospel tells of that beautiful moment in which Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, providing another example of the powerful humility of Christ in which we are called to follow.
Good Friday, we will gather at Community Baptist Church (7:00 pm) for the solemn Tenebrae service as we reflect upon and remember Jesus’ crucifixion. Good Friday is a day of reflection and mourning as we contemplate the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and death in relation to our salvation. Yet, even in the darkness of Good Friday as the candles are extinguished and the light becomes dark, we have the hope of Easter Sunday.
As disciples of Christ, we know that Good Friday and death do not have the final say. Easter morning, we will gather with the Henderson Ministerial Association at Greater Norris Chapel for a beautiful Easter Sunrise Service (6:00 am). We will continue the celebration of Christ’s resurrection in our own worship at 10:30 am. Resurrection Sunday is a day of joy and triumph, as we proclaim the victory of life over death. May we rejoice in the promise of new beginnings and the eternal hope that Christ’s resurrection brings.
I want to invite you to journey through Holy Week with us by joining us in each of these important worship services and gatherings. May we be ever mindful of the profound love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May these sacred days deepen our faith, inspire our devotion, and renew our commitment to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. Next week is truly a week to experience.
Peace Always,
Rev. David Clifford
It's Just Water?
By Fran Pangle
For 37 years, I was so very blessed to teach young elementary students here in Henderson and in my previous/home state of NC. One of the favorite hands-on experiments that my young scientists experienced involved small baggies of water attached to our classroom windows. For many weeks, all the children would observe and document what was happening to the water in those small bags. They were so excited when frost appeared or when water droplets showed up within the bag during exhibitions of both evaporation and condensation in the cycling evidence of the 3 sta
ges of water during the school year! Thus, they were witnessing God's creation of an amazing relationship between weather and the water cycle. Recently, I thought of this as I was driving home from Pastor David's Bible study of the lyrical Psalms 8 which we'd just "dived" into...a little water reference for what's coming!
Ok, stay with me as I mention the significance of March 22 which is World Water Day, whose theme this year is "Water for Peace." Coordinated by the United Nations every year, it raises awareness of major water-related issues and inspires action to tackle the shortage of water and sanitation in relation to stabilizing and developing countries whose people have unequal or no access to water. Sooo, what could this possibly have to do with Psalms 8? This beautiful chapter is in praise to God for all creation and an acknowledgement of our stewardship of all he's made for us. Thinking water, I naturally looked up the current miraculous statistics, so brace yourselves. Approximately 71% of the land surface of Earth is covered with water; 96.5% is ocean; people are 55% to 60% water...with our brains maxing at 95%; and plants are 80% to 90% water! Amazingly, even my cat is 60% to 70% water.... not sure about his brain! WOW!
Jeremiah 2:13 says that God is the "spring of living water," in the OT. In the NT, Jesus offers salvation and spiritual sustenance through a metaphor of himself as "living water" (John 7:37-39)! Reading and discussing the history, lessons, and messages that are in scripture, I'm pretty grateful, delighted, and all smiling when something rather clicks as my growing thoughts hit what I call "I get it-ness," formally known as an epiphany of progressing comprehension! As essential as water is to every living thing on this Earth, so is all that Christ offers us...accept and share it all, just as you do when you offer a co
lol drink of water to any of God's blessed creations! Have a glorious day!
As we continue in gratitude….
By Carolyn Dorsey
Rejoice in the Lord! Sing Your Song!
What is your first thought when you wake up in the morning? I have to be honest that some days when my sciatica is acting up, I don’t really want to move…when I move, I hurt! But then I look over at my dog, Biscuit, and I say “Time to Rise and Shine!” And then we get up and greet the morning….usually around 6 am. Then the blessings start! We go outside and see the stars, and listen to the birds waking up, and start thinking about all the fun things we have planned for the day and we are grateful. Yes, even dogs are grateful…for the love and attention, meeting their needs for exercise and play, and for their food and care.
The truth is, even if we are hurting and feeling sorry for ourselves, maybe even worried about our future, we still can stop to look around and easily see that we are so blessed in so many ways. It is a matter of focus…. what we let our minds focus on determines the day. Do we look at our problems…or our blessings? This is where it is good to make a note in our Gratitude Journal of what we are grateful for in that moment. Those thoughts will help us this day and, in the future, to stay focused on the good.
One of the best ways I have found to keep my focus is to go out in the world and minister to those in need. Very quickly it is easy to see that there is much suffering and pain, and it is obvious in that moment that God blesses us in so many ways, and we can then love and encourage and help others to see their blessings no matter what the circumstances. God provides, and sometimes all we do is complain. So, get up every morning, open your eyes, give thanks to God for another day, get up and get going, sing your song and bless someone…the blessings will come back to your heart 10-fold!
“The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning; it’s time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes.” From the song 10,000 Reasons.
Thanks for listening….with much love and gratitude, Carolyn Dorsey
