Preparing for Easter

Just preparing a little prelude for the Easter service.




Bonus Joke: it's an Anthony Berger arrangement.

Early Easter!

Worship pastors are downing coffee in record numbers. Check it out:

Easter Sunday occurs unusually early in 2008.

Do you realize how early Easter is this year? As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

Here 's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

The Sacrifice: part 1

A poem from George Herbert (1593 - 1633) that I ponder every year to prepare my heart for Good Friday and Easter.

The Sacrifice

Oh all ye, who pass by, whose eyes and mind
To worldly things are sharp, but to me blind;
To me, who took eyes that I might you find:
Was ever grief like mine?

The Princes of my people make a head
Against their Maker: they do wish me dead,
Who cannot wish, except I give them bread:
Was ever grief like mine?

Without me each one, who doth now me brave,
Had to this day been an Egyptian slave.
They use that power against me, which I gave:
Was ever grief like mine?

meetings

I had a meeting today from 9 till 12:30. Then 1:30 till 4:30. Easter plans. Good Friday. February.

Question: why does it take 20 jelly bellys to have a good idea?

Have your own meeting to discuss. :-)

Easter video

Now, I know a bunch of you readers actually go to Harvest. But some of you don't. I apologize for how much "EASTER SERVICE" talk I've been doing. This video is the last thing you'll see from me about the service.

He Lives.

A sweet song from the Graham Kendrick bag. It's on an album called "A Carnival of Praise." You heard me. A Carnival of Praise.

(Who is that handsome pianist? The one rejoicing that NO astounding piano notes can add to the finished work of Christ, nor incorrect ones subtract from it. :-)

Easter: RECAP

There's the newspaper article, and a couple of reviews of the service: here, here and here. (Don't forget HERE.)

It was a blast. I think the thing that I am happiest about is this: (1) that is the most people I have ever been in front of at one time; and (2) we told them the singular best news I know.

I'm so proud of our team . . . Keith Neubert, Joel Smith, Steve Johnson, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews, Lindsay McCaul, SHEILA FORTSON(!), Luke, Johanna, and Matt Stowell. Heather and Nicol sang so well. The band (Aaron Mortenson, Gordon Persha, Josh Caterer, Dagan Nolan, Aaron Stampfl) really went the extra mile -- 'cause that was a ton of music. Gospel, brit rock, samba, pop, arena anthem - they covered it all. The horn section (Carey Deadman, David Polk, and Barry Slabaugh) played with great passion and precision.

It's good to come home and have exhausted yourself getting out the gospel. You know?

In an effort to keep the day normal, my son (Ethan) cut his eye, and I went with him to urgent care to get it all patched up. Yes - the resurrection power is real. No - it's not all here yet. COME LORD JESUS!

The doctor was patching up the cut, and he asked Ethan "Did you do anything for Easter today?"

"Uh-huh. I learned that Jesus rose from the dead and then I sang loud songs to Him."

Well, I guess that's worth it all.

That's as close to well done good and faithful servant that I'm going to get on this side of heaven.

Easter Service: The SHOUT

Most Christian churches have an Easter tradition. At some point in the service, a person says "He is risen," to which people respond "He is risen, indeed."

Well, at Harvest, when someone says "He is risen," the place goes crazy. Check it out.