A blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter to all!
“Thy Will Be Done” – Lenten Season Worship Series: “Not as I will, but as you will,” Jesus prayed to his Father the night before he went to the cross for our salvation. That is our prayer as well this Lenten and Easter season as we seek to do God’s will in our lives.
March 30, Good Friday Tenebrae Service, 7:00 p.m. – God’s Will is Done: In this service for Good Friday, we remember that on the cross Christ followed through with the will of God, crying out, “It is finished” as He breathed His last. This ultimate sacrifice serves as a model to look at our lives as a holy sacrifice to Him.
This service is a version of the ancient Tenebrae (meaning “darkness”) used by the church for centuries to impress upon the hearts and minds of believers the awful consequences of sin and the magnitude of Christ’s suffering love for us. Toward the end of the service, as we draw near to remembering the death of our Lord, the church is darkened. The extinguishing of the lights signifies the flight of the disciples and the darkness which covered the earth at the death of Christ. The removal of the Christ candle symbolizes the death of Jesus and its return points ahead to His resurrection. The noise of the closing of the Bible acknowledges that the Lamb of God’s sacrifice is complete – the Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled.
April 1, Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – God’s Will for the New Creation: In this service for Easter Sunday, we remember that when Christ rose from the tomb, He opened the door to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. God’s will for us is to fix our eyes on the new creation of perfect paradise prepared for us in heaven.
Please join us for a potluck brunch at 9:15 a.m. Bring a brunch dish to share; beverages will be provided. Family and friends are welcome. There will be an Easter egg hunt after the service. If you are participating and are able, please bring a dozen (or more) filled, plastic eggs to hide.
Tuesday evening Men’s Bible Study will meet on April 3. Our study will be Joseph: Carpenter of Steel.
Women’s Evening Bible Study is moving to Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. beginning April 3. The current study is “The God of All Comfort” by Donna Pyle.
Lumberton Volunteer Work Crews: On March 15, four members of Advent joined other workers in Lumberton to help repair and restore homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew, a demonstration of how God uses us for His good works. The workday was one of a series of events organized by Pastor Puls, Hope Lutheran, Winston Salem. Want get involved? Contact Pastor Scott or Dave Neely.