Building a Reputation

Greetings in the Name of our Risen Lord,

EASTER WAS GLORIOUS! I have never seen more cooperation, work behind the scenes, and a willingness to serve than the work that was put into our Holy Week and Easter services.

Maundy Thursday communion was meaningful as we commemorated the Last Supper of Jesus. I was impressed with the number of people involved in the service and the amount of work that went into making the experience of the presence of Christ so real. One person said to me after, “When I sat at the table to receive and share the bread and the cup, I was overwhelmed with the Spirit of God in my heart.”

The Good Friday service made the suffering and sacrifice of Christ so real. As I read the scriptures and listened to the music, it was as if I could hear the voice of Jesus crying out from the cross. When the service ended with the sound of a hammer banging on the nails in Jesus’ hand, tears began to roll down my face, realizing how much God loves me. 

I cannot say enough about Easter. It would be impossible to count the number of volunteers who made the day so glorious and smooth. Greeters were at every corner of the building, the ushers were at their best, the children’s workers and volunteers were rockstars, the decorations were magnificent, and the choir was better than ever!  

I want to say thank you to everyone who made this past week a special experience for our church and our guests. An extra thanks to our staff for all the extra hours they spent making sure the message of the resurrected Christ was heard. You are truly willing to do whatever it takes.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Stonebridge UMC is building a reputation as a church who cares. The message of Christ’s love is surging out of our doors and into our community. We are truly Making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by living and loving like Jesus.

I close this epistle with the words of the final verse from "The Hymn of Promise" by Natalie Sleeth. When her husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she dedicated the song to him. The day before his death, he requested that it be sung at his funeral as a testament to his faith. For me, it captures the wonder, beauty, and promise of Easter. 

In our end is our be­gin­ning;
In our time, in­fi­ni­ty;
In our doubt there is be­liev­ing;
In our life, eter­ni­ty,
In our death, a re­sur­rect­ion;
At the last, a vic­to­ry,
Unrevealed un­til its sea­son,
Something God alone can see.

See you Sunday! Invite someone to worship! Together we can make a difference in our community through our faith in Christ. 

Pastor John 

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 1:3-6)