April 9, 2022

What a busy, emotional, and inspiring week we've had. We celebrated the lives of two incredible spiritual beings, Pete Vasta and Grady Mills. We had a wonderful worship service centered around Zacchaeus followed by the first Big Coffee Hour we've had in a long, long time. Then Paul Nixon, our church consultant, flew in to guide us for several days about our merger and ministries. Whew! What a week!

We've got another great and inspiring week ahead of us. I'm going to tell you about it in just a minute, but first I want to say: 

Our Hospitality Team took a long break during the pandemic, but they really worked hard this past week. They hosted two food receptions after the Memorial Services, and they hosted our Big Coffee Hour. How good it was to see everyone in the Social Hall connecting and fellowshipping. We appreciate the members of our Hospitality Team for their love and service. 

I want to encourage you to be in worship this Sunday. It is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We invite you to join us in the courtyard before the service so you can be part of our Palm Processional during the opening hymn.

Also, four of our youth will be confirmed. Natalya Dutko, Lucy Perry, Ian Perry, and Collis West have been meeting with Beth Tyson and me to learn about the Christian faith. This Sunday, they will publicly be expressing their desire and commitment to follow the way of Christ. I hope you can be in attendance to express your support for them. 

This coming Thursday, we will have Holy Communion and remember the last supper Jesus had with his disciples before his arrest. We will also be remembering the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples. The service concludes with the stripping of the altar representing Jesus' arrest by the Romans and the abandonment by his disciples.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are two of my favorite worship services. This year's Good Friday Service will be different from what we have done in the past but will be just as powerful. Music of Taizé will play an important part of our spiritual experience on Good Friday this year.

Join us tomorrow for our annual Easter Egg Hunt! It will be from 10 - 12 at our Wesley Oak Campus in Thunderbolt. Looking forward to some fun and fellowship!

Be sure to see the details in our newsletter about the Vernon River Cleanup that Asbury's Green Team will be sponsoring with the Ogeechee Riverkeeper. The event will be next Saturday, the 16th, starting at 9:00 a.m.

The majority of people who visit church for the first time do so because someone invited them. And the two days when people are most likely to come to church are Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. If you have a friend who isn't involved in church, I encourage you to invite them to join you for worship this Easter. That also goes for those of you who are worshipping with us online. Hope you will share your Easter experience with others.

I also hope to see you this Sunday when we remember the big entrance Jesus made into Jerusalem. I'll be talking about resources that helped him through the stressful and painful days there. They are resources that can help you and me, too.

Love and Blessings,
Billy