Easter Plans

Holy Week, 2020 will be remembered as the year when a virus closed the Church on a Friday, but the Church rose to its feet by Sunday. Even robbed of its ability to assemble, the Lord's Church is alive and well in the Spirit, and powerful in word and deed all around the world.

The Lord hears our prayers, and meets with us in worship. And so we assemble however we can. We lament not seeing each other's faces and hearing each other's voices, but we know that one day soon we will see each other again, and one day soon we will see Jesus. This is our Easter hope, and it carries us.

This Easter, more people will hear the gospel in their living rooms than ever before. Not only are "churched" people tuning in to multiple worship services, but dechurched and unchurched people are searching for inspiration and hope in these uncertain times. Since we canceled our public gatherings, our online worship services have resulted in over thirty people indicating that they were committing their lives to Christ. Hallelujah.

Pray with me that this "shut down" will be an "open up" as millions of people hear the Easter message this weekend and open their hearts and minds to receive Jesus! May it be as a modern day sign and wonder. Amen.

Our Weekend Services:
In the hope of engaging more and more people, we are offering our Good Friday program four times, at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, and 11pm. The gospel will be presented in scripture. And I will ask each of us to participate in the communion by preparing bread and juice in our homes. (Note that since the Good Friday service is reflective, we will not have live chat as with other services.)

Saturday we will quietly reflect as part of our worship, praying that the Holy Spirit is working in the lives of our neighbors and friends.

Then Sunday we will host our Easter worship service twice, at 10am and 4pm, and then again Tuesday at 8pm. This is our worship. And so is inviting our friends, as an act of faith, to watch with us from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Please do not pass up the opportunity to invite your friends. The gospel will be presented.

All services are hosted at https://sarasotacommunity.online.church.

Thank you for your prayers. I am so proud of our staff and the worship team as they pour extra creative time and energy into serving you all. Please pray blessing over them and their families, even as they pray for you in the gift they give. May the name of the Lord be praised! Amen.

With love,