Dear Caldwell,
Well, the parade Gail preached about on Sunday is over and we are getting ever closer to the cross in this Holy Week.
Last year, we were scrambling to adapt to the pandemic, to find a way for us to share these meaningful days as we sheltered in place in the first days of the pandemic. For better or worse, since then, we’ve become accustomed to being “together” even when we are apart. I hope you will be able to take part in this week’s Holy Week activities.
Tonight, you’re invited to come to the Preachers’ Porch and join John as we look at both Gail’s Maundy Thursday scripture (John 13:1-17, 34-35) and the passage from John for Easter morning. The Passion Narrative offers the full range of emotions and characters through whose eyes we see and experience the story.
On Thursday at 7, we are on Zoom for Maundy Thursday. Immediately following, you’re invited to take advantage of some great resources and planning that allow us all to keep vigil. Here is just a taste of what will be available. Vigil keepers will use the same Zoom link as the Maundy Thursday service to be “together.” Watch for all the details on Thursday.
On Saturday, we will decorate the cross with flowers, anticipating the glory of Easter morning. And … you’re invited to find or make your own Easter Bonnet and take a photo of yourself with it on for a virtual “Easter Parade” Sunday morning. Send photos to Justin at jmartin@caldwellpresby.org no later than Friday to appear in the video.
As we worship, pray, meditate and keep vigil, we also keep our promise to serve in the world. Congratulations on another highly successful food drive. Leader Hutch Hutchison said you outdid yourself again, filling six giant bins of food. Thanks Hutch and all.
We keep members of our flock in prayer as they experience life, death and everything in between. In specific, we keep the Pulley family in our hearts after the loss of Michael Pulley on Sunday morning. Friends and loved ones may visit with the family next Tuesday evening, April 6, 2021, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at McEwen Funeral Service-Derita Chapel, 6300 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28262. You can read Michael’s obituary here. Memorial services are planned for 2:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon, April 7, 2021, at Denver United Methodist Church, 3910 North, NC-16, Denver, NC 28037, where the family will also receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service. The service will also be available on Zoom.
May peace surround you as we take stock of how far our God went for us in Christ, even to the cross, robbing death of its sting.
In Christ,
John