Dear First Pres,
Easter is upon us in ten days! Maybe you haven’t thought much about that, but I have. The Session, staff, and key leaders have been planning and preparing diligently for Easter 2014. I couldn’t be more excited for the morning of worship we have planned for April 20. Here is my question for you: who do you know, here in Fresno/Clovis, who needs to know the living hope of our Risen Christ? Think about it for a moment (seriously, take a 30 second break from reading this, and think about a particular person who fits this description). Do you have someone in mind? Can you imagine what it might mean for them to be living in right relationship with Christ? Can you imagine the impact they could have for the sake of God’s Kingdom? Take another moment, right now, (yes, I’m serious again) to lift that person up in prayer. Ask God to make Himself known to that person; ask God to draw him or her to Jesus through the Spirit. Finally, ask God to use you (yes, you) to help them know the good news about Jesus.
One way that God might use you in the life of that person you’ve been thinking about is to connect them with your local church. Do you know what service you’ll be attending on Easter? Are there any open seats in your car that morning? I encourage you to consider inviting your friend, neighbor, coworker, or family member – the one God has put on your mind – to come with you to our worship gathering on Easter. We’ll have invitation cards available on Sunday morning if you think that’ll help.
Don’t forget that Easter morning isn’t the only time we’ll be gathering during Easter week. We have Maundy Thursday worship at 7 p.m. on April 17. We have a short Good Friday service, led by community pastors and leaders, on April 18 from 12:10 – 12:50 p.m. I really hope you’ll consider attending both of these worship experiences; I’m confident that you will be encouraged as you worship our worthy God.
One last thing, will you pray for me and the other worship leaders for Easter morning? We’ll probably have twice the number of worshipers that we do on an average Sunday. I know some of them are your parents and children who already know Jesus. But there will be some, maybe many, in worship who either have no or little faith in Jesus. Will you please pray that God empowers us by His Spirit to boldly and winsomely proclaim the incredible and transformational news that Jesus is alive and well at the right hand of God the Father? Thanks.
May the Lord use you in a mighty way as He brings everything under His Lordship.
P.S. There will be an Easter reception one the lawn from 9:30 – 11 a.m. on Easter morning. You can either stay after or come early to enjoy this time of fellowship.
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