Welcome to the holiest week in the Christian calendar, Holy Week. It is our prayer you grow in your relationship with Jesus during this sacred time that is set aside by the church. Please participate in Good Friday and Easter Sunday Services.
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Good Friday & Easter Sunday Services
this Week @ PWC
Our Good Friday Service is March 29 at 7:00 pm outdoors, weather permitting.
Easter Sunday falls on March 31 this year; our services will be at 7:00 am outside, weather permitting, and 10:00 am in the church.
It is the holiest of weeks in the Christian calendar, please make plans to join us, you are welcome to invite family and friends!
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The Easter Plants, that will decorate the church, will be for sale after both services for $20.00
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A Good Friday Reflection
from
Henri Nouwen
God’s Love is Stronger than Death
Even though Jesus went directly against the human inclination to avoid suffering and death, his followers realized that it was better to live the truth with open eyes than to live their lives in illusion [of immortality].
Suffering and death belong to the narrow road of Jesus. Jesus does not glorify them, or call them beautiful, good, or something to be desired. Jesus does not call for heroism or suicidal self-sacrifice. No, Jesus invites us to look at the reality of our existence and reveals this harsh reality as the way to new life. The core message of Jesus is that real joy and peace can never be reached while bypassing suffering and death, but only by going right through them.
We could say: “We really have no choice.” Indeed, who escapes suffering and death? Yet there is still a choice. We can deny the reality of life, or we can face it. When we face it not in despair, but with the eyes of Jesus, we discover that where we least expect it, something is hidden that holds a promise stronger than death itself. Jesus lived his life with the trust that God’s love is stronger than death and that death, therefore, does not have the last word. He invites us to face the painful reality of our existence with the same trust. This is what Lent is all about.
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The Children’s Ministry
will not meet on
Easter Sunday
March 31.
We return on
Sunday, April 7
from 9:45 am to 10:30 am
in Building 4:12
Please contact Helen Dippre, our children’s minister, for more information on the Children’s Ministry here at PWC, [email protected].
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Please Support NPH’s
St. Damien
Pediatric Hospital
in Haiti during the
Easter Season
During the Easter Season PWC will be supporting NPH’s (Nuestros Hermanos Pequenos) St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti with our loose change or other monetary donations. As you know, the situation in Haiti is dire and NPH needs your support to continue the necessary work caring for children in Haiti. St. Damien is the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. Any amount you can contribute will help this necessary and urgent cause.
There will be a special basket for donations.
Here is more information on St. Damien Pediatric Hospital: https://nphusa.org/haiti-programs/
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Information about The Chosen:
Season Four
The creators of the Chosen wanted a way to bring Season Four—all of it—for Easter. Unfortunately, streaming is not an option yet, so instead what they are going to do is have a movie marathon. Over three days, they will be showing all eight episodes at movie theaters in the United States and Canada.
Episodes 1-3: on Holy Thursday, March 28 Episodes 4-6: on Good Friday, March 29 Episodes 7- 8 on Holy Saturday, March 30
The creators of the Chosen want to make it affordable, so they have arranged for discounts:
Half off through Fandango with the code: THECHOSENSEASON4
All three movies for $30.00 at Cinemark
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• April 5: Funeral for Larry Oien, Friday, 9:30 am
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• April 5: Marriage Enrichment, Friday, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
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• April 6: PWC Men’s Group, Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:30 am
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• April 6: Women’s Bible Study, Saturday, 9:00 am to 10:30 am
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• April 7: Children’s Ministry, Sunday, 9:45 am to 10:30 am
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Do you want to be inspired again by Fr. Dale or Pastor Mark? You can re-listen to Fr. Dale or Pastor Mark’s sermons on our podcast page, here is the link: PWC Podcasts Page.
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Fr. Mike Lessard is available for pastoral counseling on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Please call the church office to make an appointment at 480-649-0300.
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Your financial stewardship is important to the life of the PWC community. From pastoral counseling to grief support, to Bible Study, to 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! Your generosity allows 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!
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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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Come to Sunday Service Prepared to Hear God’s Word Proclaimed
The scripture reading for this Sunday, Easter Sunday is: John 20:1-9. Here is a synopsis of the reading:
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As Christians around the world celebrate Easter Sunday, we are drawn once again to the profound significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In John 20:1-9, we encounter the powerful narrative of Mary Magdalene's discovery of the empty tomb, an event that would forever change the course of human history and the trajectory of our faith.
As we delve into this passage, let us reflect on three key themes that emerge, inviting us to deepen our understanding of the resurrection and its implications for our lives today.
First, we are reminded of the transformative power of hope. In the early hours of that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene approached the tomb filled with grief and sorrow, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. In that moment, her despair turned to wonder, and ultimately to joy, as she encountered the risen Lord. The resurrection serves as a beacon of hope for all believers, affirming that even in the darkest of times, God is at work, bringing forth new life and possibilities beyond our imagination.
Secondly, the passage underscores the importance of faith amid uncertainty. As Mary Magdalene ran to inform Peter and the beloved disciple of the empty tomb, they too were filled with doubt and confusion. Yet, it was their faith that propelled them to investigate further, leading them to encounter the risen Christ. Similarly, in our own lives, we may grapple with doubts and questions, but it is through faith that we are able to perceive the hand of God at work, even in the most perplexing circumstances.
Finally, the passage challenges us to embrace the call to mission and proclamation. After encountering the risen Christ, Mary Magdalene was commissioned to go and announce the good news to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord!" As bearers of the Easter message, we are called to share the transformative power of the resurrection with others, bearing witness to the hope and joy that Christ's victory over death brings to the world.
On Easter Sunday, may we be renewed in our faith, inspired by the hope of the resurrection, and emboldened to proclaim the good news to all who are in need of its transformative message. May we echo the words of Mary Magdalene: "I have seen the Lord!" and may our lives bear witness to the reality of Christ's victory over sin and death, now and forevermore.
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We look forward to seeing you tonight for Good Friday Service and Easter Sunday Services. May you experience the unconditional love of the resurrected Christ in your life.
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Love,
Fr. Dale and Pastor Mark
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Our Theme for
Lent Easter 2024
at PWC is
This is Our God:
He Loves Us,
He Saves Us
It is based on the song This is Our God from Phil Wickham, here is a link to the song:
YouTube Link to song.
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Praise and Worship Never Ends,
It Must Be Lived!!!
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