He is Risen!
Prepare your Heart for the Resurrection
Easter Season brings excitement of new growth as spring bulbs begin to bloom, the days grow longer, and we see the drabness of winter melt away. But we have to come through winter—the drabness, dreary and the dead—before we can celebrate the life that emerges in spring.
This is what it’s like as a Christian at Easter; we want to celebrate our risen Christ, and indeed we should, but we have to acknowledge that there was misery, pain, and death before there was victory, because even in His obedience, the Lord suffered a horrific death for our salvation and eternal lives.
The challenge—the place where growth can happen—is to walk slowly through the days of Holy Week watching the bold ministry of Christ; soak in the parables, the stories of His unashamed boldness in the Temple, see the surrender in His words to His disciples during the Last Supper, the anger and the submission in the Garden of Gethsemane, and hear the sorrow in His cry on the Cross as He cries out to His Father.
As you take time to reflect on the last week of Jesus’ life, think about your life and the price that was paid for it. Try not to rush ahead to the celebration; don’t speed through the uncomfortable but ask the Father to speak to you during this time and reflect on your life. What might the Lord be asking you to do in obedience to him—to repent, to be still, to forgive, to surrender, or to be courageous in? And when Sunday comes, oh, how we will celebrate! Celebrate with unhinged excitement and joy because we know the price Jesus paid, the love the Father has for us, and that we are a part of His family!
Reflection like this often leads to new growth—shedding what is old and tending to what is new growth underneath the surface. We anticipate God to move in life-changing ways if you take time this Easter to slow down, reflect, and prepare for the celebration that the season of Easter and Resurrection Sunday brings.
During these coming weeks, we have a few experiences you can engage with to slow down and remember what took place, who Jesus is, and what makes the Christian faith different than any other religion—the relationship we have with a resurrected King!
Lent: February 14 - March 28
Lent is the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Jesus’ 40-day fasting and temptation in the desert, Passover Thursday the Seder Dinner, and Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the grave after His crucifixion.
Some amazing resources to help you wait and remember through this season of preparing for the Cross are available here.
Holy Week: March 24 - 31
Sunday, March 24 - Palm Sunday: Join us for Baptism Services at 9am, 11am, & 6pm
Available online - Journey to the Cross: Enjoy a series of thought-provoking readings to help you reflect on the events of Christ’s death & resurrection
Tuesday, March 26 - God's Story: CrossRoads Church Sanctuary, 7pm
Thursday, March 28 - Passover Seder Dinner: Register here
Friday, March 29 - Good Friday: Services at 9am & 11am
Sunday, March 31 - Resurrection Sunday: Services at 9am, 11am, & 6pm
Find more info on our Sunday Services at CrossRoadsChurch.ca/Sunday.
Events for Young Families & Kids
Monday-Sunday (March 25-31) - Walk Through the Garden Experience: 8:30am-4:30pm in Room 202.
Monday, March 25 - Movie Night, Prince of Egypt: 6:30pm in the Chapel
Wednesday, March 27 - Family Seder Dinner, 6pm in the Chapel: Register here
Easter Invite
Right click on this picture to "save as" and upload to emails to invite family, friends, and neighbours to celebrate Easter at CrossRoads. Keep your eye out for social media invites to share!
Explore more about Holy Week
Details about "Journey to the Cross"
Hosting a Passover Seder Dinner
