Reaching Out from
Grand Lake Community Chapel
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Greetings in Christ!
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice that there isn’t a coating of ice on the roads and sidewalks, and let us be glad that the forecast isn’t calling for ice or snow or gale-force winds! Only rain…
What a difference a week makes, eh? Last Wednesday found most of us hunkered down at home, with an ice storm having made travel uncomfortable at best, hazardous at worst. Today, we look out our office window and see slowly diminishing piles of snow, and just a hint of green emerging from the newly uncovered grass. Last Wednesday also found us 17 days away from the end of the Lenten season; today we’re only 10 days away, and on the cusp of Holy Week. Starting with our observation of Palm/Passion Sunday, we will begin our journey to the cross alongside Jesus. We will share in the Passover with him at the Maundy Thursday service at Westminster Presbyterian Church; sit at the foot of the cross during the Good Friday vigil from noon until 3:00 p.m. as he suffers; and we will contemplate all these things during the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday. It’s a full week, to be sure, but the most important week of the year for we who believe. And it’s not a week to be consumed with worries over what we’ll be wearing to Easter Sunday worship services or what we’ll be serving for dinner on Easter Sunday. Our spiritual energy should be expended on making absolutely certain that we’re fully prepared to receive the inestimable gift of salvation when Christ rises on Easter, when we will shout with believers around the world “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!” Alleluia, Amen!
With our love in Christ,
Karen and Greg
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13
A Palm Sunday Devotion for your Family
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION: Your family will plan a party for Jesus.
Before you start, gather these supplies: Bible; paper; and markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Instructions:
Everyone think about the BEST party you’ve ever been to. Now, go around the room and share what party you’re thinking of and what made it the BEST.
After you’re done sharing, you and your family will plan a party for Jesus. It’s up to you if you want to make this a real party or an imaginary one.
Together, talk about how your family would throw a welcome party for Jesus. Get creative! Write or draw what your party for Jesus would include. Who would you invite? What food would you prepare? Would you have music? Dancing? What kind of decorations would you have?
Read Luke 19:36-40 to your family. Talk about it!
∙ What do you think of how people praised and welcomed Jesus when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?
∙ How is our party plan like or unlike how the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus? ∙ Why do you think it’s important for our family to praise Jesus?
Pray!
Have someone in your family start the prayer, and then go around the room and let everyone add their own word.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being here with us every day. I want to praise you because ___________. In your name, amen.
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