On Easter Sunday, we offered refreshments in the Lobby before the worship service, and our Hospitality Team (led by Jim and Dawn) set up a feast for us. Our Worship and Arts Team (led by Beth Parker) offered worship songs interspersed with narrators and narratives about Jesus’s resurrection and a skit (with Judi, Bart, and Robby) acting out the implications of the veil in the temple being torn from top to bottom as Jesus died on the cross. Pastor Karen offered an encouraging message about faith, hope, and love, using three examples from the scriptures: a restoration of faith, a restoration of hope, and a restoration of love. Behind the scenes, on March 12, Pastor Karen hosted a painting party at her home, where wooden eggs were decorated and stuffed with three gifts representing faith, hope, and love. On Easter Sunday, the gifts were distributed and explained. We shared Communion together at the end of the service. We rejoice that we had visitors in our service on Easter Sunday and look forward to the fruitfulness of the seeds sown into hearts that day for those who attended in person and those who tuned in online.
On April 7th, Pastor Nancy encouraged a sense of anticipation as she embarked on our new series in the Gospel of Mark. We delved into the background of this gospel with its quick action words like “immediately” in modern translations and “straightway” in the King James Version. Mark, the shortest gospel with its sixteen chapters, promises us a rich journey of learning, reflection, and action. We plan to preach and teach from one chapter each week and invite you to join us on this journey as you read along. Highlights from Mark 1 include the beginning of the good news, the preparation of John the Baptist, the baptism, testing, and preaching of Jesus, and the call for repentance because the kingdom of God is near and here. Jesus calls his first disciples and proclaims and demonstrates the coming of the kingdom of God with deliverance and healing miracles. The good news begins and continues in our hearts and lives. The stage is set for an engaging and transformative series.
Our question for this week is: Where do we see Jesus, the “good news” made flesh, inviting us to join him in the ongoing work of reconciliation in the life of our world today?
With you on the journey,
Rev. Dr. Nancy Penton
Associate Pastor, Liberty Vineyard Church
404.695.3181
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