Thankful Thursday 4-9-2020
Thankful Thursday grieves my heart today. The official announcement occurred today: Pennsylvania schools will not physically return for the 2019-2020 year. Our oldest is a senior this year. Today’s news solidifies the loss of expected year end special activities: finishing courses with classmates, prom, spring sports season ended, and usual graduation steps currently left to the unknown.
This reality takes a hard turn from the usual excitement of senior year. Acknowledging this grief and loss of anticipated expectation allows living through the sad and moving forward. It hurts. After processing the grief, the challenge of using our current situation to celebrate our senior in a new way awaits. Parents of seniors will creatively find ways to show them love and support while helping to launch them into a new chapter of life.
During Holy Week, the disciples went through a roller coaster ride of emotions. Experiencing a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the palpable excitement filled the air with crowds anticipating Jesus to take his on the title, King of the Jews. Little did they know in the way in which this would be fulfilled. Christ on the cross sent a blanket of grief across humanity. Christ would not be a king as humans understood it. On Easter morning through the resurrection, Christ broke the mold of human understanding on how kings rule. Christ is Lord! He rules and reigns over all creation beyond human understanding.
On Maundy Thursday, we pause to remember the gift given to each and every one of us: eternal life through Jesus Christ. He took our place on the cross. He did this so we may live forever in heaven with Him. The gift awaits you. You can not earn it. It is freely given. You simply choose whether you accept it.
4-9-2020 #GHEasterPeople
The “Becoming Easter People” sermon series causes me to review my choices. When my life is looked at, is the joy of Easter morning seen through the way I am living? Do I praise God through all the twists and turns life throws at me? Do I see the changes that need to be made as a loving nudge from my heavenly Father growing me more fully into the person He intended? In this growth while sometimes painful and others invigorating, do I give thanks for the strength He gives me to experience it all? Do I use that strength to create love and support for others?
Gravel Hill invites you to celebrate Easter differently this year. Watch this video to learn about the celebration. Post your pictures and videos and tag them: #GHEasterPeople . Follow the hashtag: #GHEasterPeople to see all who participating in the virtual worship.
As we move through the grief toward the glorious joy, may each of us pause for awareness of the blessings in our lives. Faith, hope, and love. The greatest gift from our Heavenly Father awaits you:
LOVE.
Blessings to you!
4-9-2020 Experience Opportunities:
All are invited to online worship this Sunday Sunrise at 6:45 AM and Easter Celebration at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. To know more about these services, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.
Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill are currently canceled; however, look for worship services online on our Sunday Sermon page. Lent occurs now through Easter, April 12.
New on Facebook and Twitter: A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! posts from our worship leader, Joyce. You can search for our page by typing: Gravel Hill Church beside the magnifying glass. She will be sharing a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.
