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Have You Ever Wondered...
Have you ever wondered why the cross in our sanctuary (and other Presbyterian churches) is empty while the cross in other faith traditions bears the likeness of Christ? In our faith tradition, the emphasis is on the risen Lord rather than the crucified Messiah. This is usually the case when it comes to our worship attendance as well. Many of us celebrate with the waving of palms and shouts of hosannas on Palm Sunday, skip over the dark events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and return to sing exuberant Hallelujahs on Easter morning.
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The trouble with this kind of approach is that we run the risk of undervaluing the cross; as if it were just a stepping-stone to Easter morning. It may be the more comfortable approach; after all, who wants to dwell on sin, suffering and death? But unless we spend some time at the foot of the cross, contemplating the seriousness of sin and God's sacrificial love on our behalf, our Easter morning celebrations can lack depth and understanding
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Or, as C.S. Lewis put it, "A recovery of the old sense of sin is essential to Christianity. Christ takes it for granted that men are bad. Until we really feel this assumption of His to be true, though we are part of the world He came to save, we are not part of the audience to whom His works are addressed." Throughout the season of
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Lent, through worship and devotion, make time to prepare for the full blessing of Easter morning. Please join us in worship not only on Palm and Easter Sunday, but also in Sunday worship throughout the season of Lent where we will be focusing on the 7 Last Words of Christ from the cross, and for services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
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In the bond of faith,
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