April 27, 2011

A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2010

HOW POPULAR ARE BUNNIES AT EASTER?

By Pastor Richard Todd

Even though bunnies, eggs and other commercial images saturate the marketplace, 55 percent of Americans polled identified Jesus as the most recognized symbol of Easter.  Even 41 percent of people who do not identify themselves as Christians associate Christ on the cross with the holiday.  Only 11 percent selected the Easter Bunny, eggs and jelly beans, while 16 percent associated Easter with family gatherings. The true meaning of Easter wins out over the consumer-driven aspect of the holiday.  Let’s get the TRUE STORY out there.

The Old Testament prophets pointed toward it and the first disciples of Jesus proclaimed it.  When we CLING TO THAT OLD RUGGED CROSS as the familiar hymn encourages us to do, we are not doing so out of mere sentimentality.  The cross of Jesus Christ is the heart of our message and the heart of our power.  The cross is the hinge upon which the door of history swings.  It is the hub that holds the spokes of God’s purposes in a grand unity.

Our guest speaker on Palm Sunday was very unique. Larry Williams came as a reporter covering what event of the Easter season? Did you know that Larry spent the first part of his professional life in the field of journalism and that he currently covers events as assigned by the Daily News? Watch for his newspaper name, RED WILLIAMS (ask him why).

We received word late in the week that our new church campus would not be ready for us to meet for worship today so we got the word out to all of you. If you are here this morning and were not contacted this week, then please check with Oralia Alvarado today so we can contact you this coming week about our May 1 worship schedule and location.

Want to volunteer at our new church campus? Call the church office beginning Tuesday morning, April 26 about the work hours (Monday, April 25, is not a volunteer work day).

Remember there are no other church events scheduled for the rest of today (Walking N the Word will meet next on May 1). Enjoy Resurrection Sunday with family and friends.

A group of us men participated in a men’s retreat at Forest Home with several hundred men from many churches on Palm Sunday weekend. Our speaker walked us through both Old Testament and New Testament passages in ways that we had never considered before (ask me). A few snapshots of our time there are posted on our church photo gallery at www.whittierbrethren.net

Mark your calendars today for the Operation Barnabas Shakey’s Pizza Night on Monday, May 2.

He is risen,

Pastor Richard

My writings or whatever you want to call them are regularly emailed to missionaries and others wanting to keep in touch with the Community Grace Brethren family.  You can find my writings and view our church photo album and other material by going to whittierbrethren.net and follow the links.

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