A message from the Pastor's Desk

Hello, neighbors.
Holy Week is upon us, and I pray you are just as excited as I am to celebrate it this year! Last year at this
time, our buildings were closed down, and we hoped it would only be for a couple of weeks. It has been a
year, and we are still working toward getting things back up and running to 100%. Not being able to
celebrate Easter last year was heartbreaking. But we have the opportunity this year to gather safely and
celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I encourage everyone in the neighborhood to extend this
invitation for Holy Week with all of your neighbors.
The week begins with Palm Sunday (3/28) as we cheer on Jesus and his arrival into Jerusalem. Then on
Thursday, we share in the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples. On Good Friday, we journey to the
cross and the death of the Son of God. Easter Sunday provides us the time to celebrate the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. Please don't approach this week like any other week or go through the motions. "Yep, it's
Easter again. Get the candy out, paint the eggs, and we should probably go to church." Look at Holy Week
as a chance to not only retake this journey but to praise God for getting us through this last year.
Out of curiosity, I did a Google search on “Why is Holy Week special?” Here is what I found: “Holy Week is
important as it reminds Christians of God's sacrifice of his son and also God's love for his people.
Christians can learn much about Jesus through the last week of his life. Easter is the most important
festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates God raising his son Jesus from the dead and the destruction
of the power of sin and death forever. It symbolizes the opening of Heaven with the gift of eternal life to
everyone.”
Despite the lives we have lost and things we have missed out on, we have a lot to be thankful for, too. We
continue to find new ways to do and share ministry with those we love and want to share our love with
moving forward. Let us lift our vision of being good neighbors who strive to be a welcoming neighborhood
so that all may experience God's love and grace. Allowing us to meet new neighbors, nurture their
relationship with Christ, and transform the world together. Be thankful that we will be gathering in the
neighborhood here at Marble to celebrate Easter this year! Can I get an “Amen”?
Peace be with you, neighbors.
Pastor Matt