Good Morning!
He is Risen!
I hope everyone has a Happy Easter! 🙂
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Matthew 28
¹ In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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From RoyalChoralSoc
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Wandering Views 
Happy Easter, everyone!!!
We went to an Easter egg hunt at my MIL’s yesterday. She lives about an hour north of us. Becca had a ball. The girls spent the night at Grandma’s. We are meeting them for brunch after church. It’s become our Easter tradition and the girls look forward to it, as it is a delicious brunch! MIL’s husband has been dead for ten years now, so we try to spend most holidays with her, as we’re her only family in the state. MIL was diagnosed with melanoma, which had metastasized to her brain three years ago. That she is still with us is nothing less than miraculous.
I hope everyone has a blessed day!
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Christ is risen!
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My husband and I had a beautiful sunrise service this morning. Fire crackling, sandhill cranes warbling and Canada geese calling, with a warm kitty cat on my lap. so wonderful.
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Happy Easter. I will be fighting the CEO’s for space at the 10 am service this morning. For the first Easter in my life I have no food plans. No one is coming here. I haven’t dragged out any china, silver, nor crystal. We are not going anywhere for a meal. I forgot to call the Grand Hotel and make reservations. This is completely out of character for me, as you know.
We are going to church, eating something for lunch, and going kayaking this afternoon. I hope you all have a grand day.
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He is risen indeed!
Do you all get more people at church on Easter? The people I sit with like to go to the early service that we add on Easter so I’m not sure we always get that full effect of how many “extras” there may be (as 10 a.m. is the regular service hour and is much more popular, of course).
Some of the added people we get likely are visiting family of members I’m thinking, but we might also get a few without those ties.
Our sermon passage for today is 1 Cor. 15:13-19: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
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My pastor spoke from 1 Corinthians 15, also.
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It was crowded this morning. They asked us to scoot to the middle to make room. This was the first time I’ve attended Easter service at our church. We usually go to Greensboro.
I taught for Dr. Jones this morning. On the crucifixion and resurrection, of course. Mark 15 & 16. I also discussed the issue of “It is finished” that I posted last week. It went well.
As we were singing the opening hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, I thought that the Lord would hear that song sung a million times as it rolls across time zones today.
Sure enough, when we got out of SS, I cranked up the car and on the radio First Methodist was singing that same song. Must have been written for Easter.
Our church didn’t sing it in the second and third “Celebration” service. They sang “In Christ Alone”. That song has good words, but no melody, so I don’t care for it.
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So! that’s the third time I’ve heard that today. The first two times were in English.
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We sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” as well, of course. 🙂
I ducked out of the breakfast afterward, though, just feeling still wiped out (almost under the weather) from the week before, capped off by a very busy Saturday also. I also just didn’t feel like I was up to a big breakfast, I had a hard-boiled egg this morning which seemed like enough for me today feeling like I am.
So I’m going to head back to bed for a couple hours. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it to dinner at my friend’s this afternoon.
When i did a lot of local traveling on Easter (sunrise service, regular service then dinner with relatives 50 miles away) I always tried to take the Monday after Easter off.
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BG didn’t go to church with me. We we crowded The priest made one of his points by quoting a child who asked him why he had on that funny looking dress (vestments). I whispered to a fried that perhaps we could turn it into a fundraiser and charge for the seats at Easter. She is currently praying for my heathen soul bit admitted that itakes her dislike Easter too. Mr P and I went out to lunch now we are going kayaking.
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We heard from 1 Cor. 15 too, definitely one of my favorite passages, but we didn’t sing “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” or “Low in the Grave He Lay.” We sang one traditional Easter song (I forget which one), but the other two were fairly unfamiliar, probably ones we’ve sung past Easters in this church but that I’d never sung before. (They are in the Trinity Hymnal, just not the most familiar classics.)
Then lunch and conversation with the in-laws.
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He is risen. He is risen indeed!
It’s really too bad the world makes a big deal about Christmas and Easter, but forgets what happened on Friday. “Born to die, to rise again” says a Tim Sheppard song from the 70s. “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins” says the Bible.
Too bad so many churches are full on Christmas and Easter but half empty the rest of the year, and that the pastors of those churches aren’t doing more to convince the once- or twice-a-year attenders that they are going to hell, instead of only telling them “Glad to see you.”
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Our church had 2 services today – normally just one. There seem to be a lot of people who show up casually, but always on a Easter or Christmas.
I listened to the radio today and was saddened to hear that a United church’s sunrise service was all about the restoration of the earth in spring. I also noticed that they have seemed to take all reference to ‘the Lord’ or ‘our Lord’, and the Lordship of Christ out of their songs. They sing “This is the Day that Our God has made” and they even said they would be singing the traditional hymn: “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”. Oh, and they were going to read the traditional story of the resurrection. Hopefully, they read it straight from the Bible and didn’t change portions of it. It made me quite upset this morning.
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I played the clarinet and three times got up to sing a descant with the sopranos and once on another song. I’m now cooking a ham and waiting for the adorable grandchildren to show up.
During the children’s sermon, one little boy asked the pastor why Jesus was still alive. He laughed and gave a mini sermon.
He is risen indeed!
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got to see a couple of adorable grandchildren on facebook and their mom even did a blog post with pictures of the school break just for me.
Blessed
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Hymns today: Were You There,
Low in the Grave He Lay,
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,
Not Guilty,
Christ Is Risen,
Offeratory-Stronger
Benediction-Because He Lives
Message “The Cure for Death” from
1 Corinthians 15
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Finally had a telephone conversation with son after several weeks when he was too busy to talk. He has to try to find summer employment and decide about what to do for next year’s apt.
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I must have been really tired, I literally slept the afternoon away — but I got to my friend’s for an early (4 p.m.) ham and scalloped potato dinner, though, and then we sat out in the backyard for about an hour (she lives in a 1920s Spanish-style 4-pled and one of the tenants has a very green thumb). Watched the birds and a couple cats came by to visit. very peaceful.
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Our church was full and a few extra chairs added. Most of the extras were from families having visitors for the holiday.
We did sing, “Up From the Grave He Arose.” It was the only traditional hymn. That is disappointing to me. Our children’s Sunday School did a few songs. We also have a friend who sings, “He’s Alive” every year. She did a wonderful job. I do not mind choruses or new songs, but I do not want to leave behind the wonderful classics.
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Along with “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” we sang: “Revelation Song,” “Guide Me Thou, O Great Jehovah,” “Praise To the Lord, the Almighty” and “How Great is Our God.”
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Kare, sad but not surprised to hear about the sunrise service theme. 😦
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