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Holy Week starts on Sunday with Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. We have a beautiful service planned and we will be passing out palms. Please join us on Palm Sunday and for all the events of Holy Week, as well as Easter Sunday with two services at 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
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A Spiritual Reflection
for Your Weekend
by Henri Nouwen
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Joy is a Divine Gift
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The joy that Jesus offers his disciples is his own joy, which flows from his intimate communion with the One who sent him. It is a joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moments from moments of failure, experiences of honor from experiences of dishonor, passion from resurrection. This joy is a divine gift that does not leave us during times of illness, poverty, oppression, or persecution. It is present even when the world laughs or tortures, robs or maims, fights or kills. It is truly ecstatic, always moving us away from the house of fear into the house of love, and always proclaiming that death no longer has the final say, though its noise remains loud and its devastation visible. The joy of Jesus lifts up life to be celebrated.
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Holy Week @ PWC
Palm Sunday,
March 29 @ 10:00 a.m.
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Holy Thursday Service,
April 2 @ 7:00 p.m.
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Good Friday Service,
April 3 @ 7:00 p.m.
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Holy Saturday Retreat,
April 4, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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Easter Sunday,
April 5 @ PWC
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7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service, Outdoor
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Mobile Petting Zoo
Easter Sunday, April 5
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Fun for the entire family: bunnies, goats, sheep, and a pony Have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny!!! 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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Lenten Reflections
with Pastor Mark
Today, Friday, March 27
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Join Pastor Mark on Friday mornings for Prayer and Lenten Reflections. We will spend an hour breaking open the Word of God and examining how we can deepen our faith through this Lenten journey.
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Friday Morning:
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
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Join us for Sunday Worship at PWC
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This Sunday, March 22
@ 10:00 a.m.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
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Make the in-person commitment to be there on Sunday!
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Praise and Worship Never Ends…..It Must Be Lived!
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This Sunday, March 29
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Please contact Helen Dipree for more information about the Children’s Ministry @ [email protected]
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Prayer Retreat
with the Movie “The Chosen”
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Tomorrow, Saturday, March 28
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Holy Saturday Retreat
with Fr. Dale
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What a wonderful way to prepare for Easter!
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Tickets for the Mother’s Day Brunch go on sale this weekend before and after Sunday Service.
Tickets will also be available during the week in the office.
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Our Theme Song for Lent 2026 at PWC
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by Phil Wickham
Please see the link below:
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Pastoral Counseling is available at PWC
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Fr. Mike Lessard is available for pastoral counseling on Wednesdays at PWC. Please call the church office to make an appointment at 480-649-0300.
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At PWC
your tithing & generosity allow us to minister to so many who come through our doors with their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.
Thank you for your tithing and
commitment to PWC!
From pastoral counseling to grief support, to bible study and adult education, to providing food through Matthew’s Crossing for families who are economically struggling, to Marriage Enrichment and our funeral ministry -- your consistent giving makes a difference, a big change in people’s lives!
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Here are the different ways you can tithe to PWC:
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• Mail in your gift to: Praise and Worship Center, 2551 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225.
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• Sign up for monthly giving with a credit card or voided check. Just call the office at 480-649-0300 or stop by the office.
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Blood Pressure Checks take place at PWC on the first and third Sundays of the month
from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Our medical team is providing the blood pressure checks.
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Are you homebound? If so, Deacon John Null can bring you communion. The only exception is if you have or are recovering from COVID. The best way to get in touch with Deacon John is by contacting the church office, at 480-649-0300, and leaving a message.
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Arrive to Sunday Service prepared to hear God’s Word proclaimed.
The reading for this Sunday, March 29, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion is Matthew 27:11-54. Here is a reflection on the passage.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion begins with celebration— “Hosanna!”—but quickly turns toward the suffering and death of Jesus. In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, we are invited to stand at the foot of the Cross and confront a profound mystery: the innocent Son of God, rejected, mocked, and crucified…for us.
The Silence of Jesus
Before Pilate, Jesus is accused, questioned, and misunderstood. Yet He remains largely silent. This silence is not weakness—it is strength. Jesus does not defend Himself because His mission is not to win an argument but to offer Himself in love. How often do we feel the need to justify ourselves, to prove we are right, to win? Jesus shows us another way: trust in the Father, even when misunderstood. There is a quiet power in surrender.
Practical Application:
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- Practice restraint in moments of conflict. Not every accusation requires a response.
- Spend time in silent prayer, allowing God to be your defender.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
The same voices that once cried “Hosanna” now shout, “Crucify him!” The crowd chooses Barabbas—a known criminal—over Jesus. This moment reveals something uncomfortable: human hearts can be fickle. We, too, sometimes choose what is easier, more comfortable, or more popular over what is good and true.
Practical Application:
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- Reflect: Where am I choosing “Barabbas” in my life—comfort over truth, sin over grace?
- Make one concrete decision this week that aligns with Christ, even if it’s difficult.
The Mockery and Suffering
Jesus is stripped, crowned with thorns, and mocked as “King of the Jews.” The King of the universe is ridiculed and humiliated. Yet, this is exactly the kind of King Jesus is—one who reigns through love, humility, and sacrifice, not power and domination.
Practical Application:
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- Embrace humility in daily life—especially when unnoticed or unappreciated.
- Show kindness to someone who is overlooked or marginalized.
“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”
From the Cross, Jesus cries out in anguish. These words echo deep human suffering—the feeling of abandonment, pain, and darkness. But even here, Jesus is praying. He is quoting Psalm 22, a psalm that begins in despair but ends in trust. Even in suffering, Jesus remains in relationship with the Father.
Practical Application:
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- Bring your pain honestly to God. You don’t have to hide it.
- When you feel distant from God, continue to pray—even if it feels empty.
The Curtain is Torn
At the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the temple is torn in two. This is no small detail—it signifies that the barrier between God and humanity has been removed. Through Jesus, we now have direct access to the Father. Even the centurion, a Gentile outsider, recognizes: “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Practical Application:
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- Approach God with confidence in prayer—He is not distant.
- Recognize Christ in unexpected places and people.
Final Reflection
Palm Sunday asks us a question: Where do I stand in the Passion?
Am I like the crowd—easily swayed?
Am I like Pilate—avoiding responsibility?
Am I like the soldiers—indifferent?
Or am I willing to stand at the Cross, like the centurion, and proclaim: “Truly, this is the Son of God.”
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We are looking forward to seeing you this Sunday for Service at 10 a.m. and for all the events of Holy Week.
Please continue to pray for peace.
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Love,
Father Dale & Pastor Mark
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Keep up with all your PWC friends on Facebook
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Please do not reply to this email;
the sending address is not monitored.
Please reply to: [email protected]
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Chris Pfund PhD, MBA, BSN, RN
President Homestead Health
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phone: (602) 755-4508
fax: (602) 691-0283
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Homestead Health is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping adults live safely and independently at home. We offer a range of in-home and virtual medical services, including concierge medicine, palliative care, transitional care, and geriatric care management. We believe everyone deserves access to compassionate and affordable healthcare.
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