Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
Read Scripture: Luke 24: 1-12
Al- le-lu-ia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today,
Earth and Heaven in chorus way,
Al- le-lu- lia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Sing ye heavens and earth reply!
Al-le-lu-lia!
An Easter hymn reminds us all that Jesus Christ has risen
Let every heart sing forth with joy; Salvation has been given!
Jesus showed the world that love would conquor every situation!
Live in peace with God's own son
Allelulia, Christ is risen!
Church of the Reconciler United Methodist Church
Come for our Easter Service at 9:30
112 North 14th Street
Birmingham, Alabama
Don't look for a steeple! Look for a warehouse full of God's loving people!
Easter Baskets for all the Children!
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Restore the image of love in us.
Read Psalm 31 Verses 9-16
Key Verse: Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; (Verse 9)
Let Your face shine on your servant; Save me in your unfailing love. (Verse 6)
The psalmist is distressed indeed! His enemies are out to get him because they love political power and control more than truth and justice. His friends have abandoned him because their love failed in a time of testing. Surely we can all remember times when human love failed us and when our love failed someone else. “The human heart is deceitful above all things”. (Jeremiah 17:9) At one time or another all human love fails – yours does and mine does.
It is quite amazing that our love fails because we were created in the image of God – who is love. Where has this image of God gone? We have, as C. S. Lewis says, become bent”.
We are out of alignment. We are self centered rather than Christ centered.
How does this relate to Easter? On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was abandoned by his friends and crucified by his enemies. Human love failed that day but the love of God and Christ Jesus remained unchanged. Jesus was not angry, bitter, or filled with hatred. He did not call on God to send revenge upon those who murdered him without cause. Rather, He asked God to forgive them, to forgive us. That is redemptive love! What greater grace, unmerited favor, undeserved love, could there be?
PRAYER FOCUS: Restore the image of love in us.
PRAYER:
Lord God, I am so very thankful that Your love never fails. My love fails time and time again. I humbly bow before the cross and seek your forgiveness and mercy. I need the healing balm of grace that flows from the wounds of Your Son so I can begin to have your image imprinted upon me again. I look up . . . I see the risen Christ – Your manifest, living, transforming, unfailing love. Please transform me into His likeness.
Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If God’s love ever failed He would not be God.
Sharon Parsons
Key Verse: Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; (Verse 9)
Let Your face shine on your servant; Save me in your unfailing love. (Verse 6)
The psalmist is distressed indeed! His enemies are out to get him because they love political power and control more than truth and justice. His friends have abandoned him because their love failed in a time of testing. Surely we can all remember times when human love failed us and when our love failed someone else. “The human heart is deceitful above all things”. (Jeremiah 17:9) At one time or another all human love fails – yours does and mine does.
It is quite amazing that our love fails because we were created in the image of God – who is love. Where has this image of God gone? We have, as C. S. Lewis says, become bent”.
We are out of alignment. We are self centered rather than Christ centered.
How does this relate to Easter? On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was abandoned by his friends and crucified by his enemies. Human love failed that day but the love of God and Christ Jesus remained unchanged. Jesus was not angry, bitter, or filled with hatred. He did not call on God to send revenge upon those who murdered him without cause. Rather, He asked God to forgive them, to forgive us. That is redemptive love! What greater grace, unmerited favor, undeserved love, could there be?
PRAYER FOCUS: Restore the image of love in us.
PRAYER:
Lord God, I am so very thankful that Your love never fails. My love fails time and time again. I humbly bow before the cross and seek your forgiveness and mercy. I need the healing balm of grace that flows from the wounds of Your Son so I can begin to have your image imprinted upon me again. I look up . . . I see the risen Christ – Your manifest, living, transforming, unfailing love. Please transform me into His likeness.
Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If God’s love ever failed He would not be God.
Sharon Parsons
Friday, April 02, 2010
Who are You Looking For?
Read Scripture John 18:1-19,
Key Verse: Verse 5 “ He (Jesus) said to the guards, “That’s me.” The Message
Who are You Looking For?
The guards were led by Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had gone into a garden that he frequently went to for quietness and prayer. Only the disciples knew where this garden was located.
When Jesus saw that the guards were coming, he went out to meet them. He asked them, “Who are you looking for?” He knew full well who they were after.
The guards said the were looking for Jesus, the Nazarene. That is when Jesus answered them, “That’s me.”
The guards were taken back. They had expected a confrontation. They did not think it was going to be so simple to find Jesus.
This story in John begins the final hours of Jesus life before the crucifixion.
In the hours coming up, Jesus is not only betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples, but Peter, probably his closest disciple, also betrays him, telling the woman in the market place that he does not even know Jesus.
As we close down the days of Lent we reread these episodes of Jesus’ life and realize how much Jesus suffered for our sins.
Why is this day called “Good Friday?” It seems like it should be called “Bad Friday.”
Many churches will have a service today where they cover the cross in black and have the seven last words of Jesus read, leaving the service in total darkness.
We rejoice in the knowledge that Easter is coming!
Prayer: Thank you, O God, for the coming resurrection. Amen
Thought for the Day: Just two more days till Easter.
Nancy Higgs
Key Verse: Verse 5 “ He (Jesus) said to the guards, “That’s me.” The Message
Who are You Looking For?
The guards were led by Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had gone into a garden that he frequently went to for quietness and prayer. Only the disciples knew where this garden was located.
When Jesus saw that the guards were coming, he went out to meet them. He asked them, “Who are you looking for?” He knew full well who they were after.
The guards said the were looking for Jesus, the Nazarene. That is when Jesus answered them, “That’s me.”
The guards were taken back. They had expected a confrontation. They did not think it was going to be so simple to find Jesus.
This story in John begins the final hours of Jesus life before the crucifixion.
In the hours coming up, Jesus is not only betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples, but Peter, probably his closest disciple, also betrays him, telling the woman in the market place that he does not even know Jesus.
As we close down the days of Lent we reread these episodes of Jesus’ life and realize how much Jesus suffered for our sins.
Why is this day called “Good Friday?” It seems like it should be called “Bad Friday.”
Many churches will have a service today where they cover the cross in black and have the seven last words of Jesus read, leaving the service in total darkness.
We rejoice in the knowledge that Easter is coming!
Prayer: Thank you, O God, for the coming resurrection. Amen
Thought for the Day: Just two more days till Easter.
Nancy Higgs
Thursday, April 01, 2010
A New Command
Read Scripture: John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
Key Verse: Verse 34 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another.” The Message
A New Command
Jesus gave his disciples a new command, to love one another. He was talking with the disciples after they had eaten together in the Upper Room. He told them to love each other and others the same way that he loved them. He said that everyone would recognize that they were followers of him by the way they loved one another.
Can everyone recognize that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you showing the forgiving love of Jesus to everyone, even your enemies? This season of Lent is almost over. Have you grown in your relationship to Jesus and to following his command in the last 37 days? Easter is only three days away. The day of celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is almost upon us. Decide today to be recognized as a follower of Jesus Christ. Love one another.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the new command. Help us to follow you and love as Jesus loved.
Thought for the Day: Jesus gave us a new command. Follow it!
Key Verse: Verse 34 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another.” The Message
A New Command
Jesus gave his disciples a new command, to love one another. He was talking with the disciples after they had eaten together in the Upper Room. He told them to love each other and others the same way that he loved them. He said that everyone would recognize that they were followers of him by the way they loved one another.
Can everyone recognize that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you showing the forgiving love of Jesus to everyone, even your enemies? This season of Lent is almost over. Have you grown in your relationship to Jesus and to following his command in the last 37 days? Easter is only three days away. The day of celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is almost upon us. Decide today to be recognized as a follower of Jesus Christ. Love one another.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the new command. Help us to follow you and love as Jesus loved.
Thought for the Day: Jesus gave us a new command. Follow it!
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