ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 10, 2023A Prayer from the Sunrise Easter Service:By faith, O God, we see the Easter story—the story of an empty tomb—the story that reflects who you are and what you do. Every tomb, every obstructed path, every moment of despair, every experience of hopelessness does not have the final word, as you are the One who is in the business of rolling stones and making a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 9, 2023–Easter SundayGood morning! Happy Easter! The tomb is empty! He has risen! Then comes the, “So what?” This is where Easter gets good. Too often, we settle with the declarations of this amazing day without thinking about the implications of our claims. The world needs some Easter people, some folks who are standing outside the tomb of a self-absorbed life, having been liberated from the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 8, 2023Guest Writers: James Seymour, CCCC ElderScripture: John 19:38-42Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 7, 2023Guest Writer: Paula Byrd, ElderToday is Good Friday, yet sometimes I think of it as a terrible Friday because it’s the day Jesus died. John 19:28-30 says:Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 6, 2023Guest Writer: Robert Neunkirch, CCCC ElderEvery week at Cypress Creek, we close out our service with a prayer that includes the language “may Jesus be our mentor and our model.” The language is beautiful and the task is noble, but it is also monumentally difficult. There are nights that I lay my head down on the pillow thinking that I did a pretty good job
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 5, 2023Guest Writer: Robert Neunkirch, CCCC ElderTeaching a child to hit a baseball is not an easy thing to do. A lot of coaching goes into it. They learn how to stand, what to look for, how to swing, and when to swing in painstaking detail during practice. They have to learn what to do with their feet, their knees, their hips, their hands, as well
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 4, 2023Guest Writer: Sheri Ragan, CCCC ElderWhen we join John in these verses (John 12:20-36), things are changing and starting to move faster. Jesus’ earthly ministry has ended and the time for his death and resurrection has arrived. We read how the grain of wheat must fall to the earth and die in order to bear much fruit. Likewise, Jesus’ death bears the fruit of a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 3, 2023Guest Writer: Chip Bettis, CCCC ElderScripture: John 12:1-11Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 2, 2023Guest Writer: Richard Whyde, CCCC ElderIn John 12:12-19 it tells the story about the crowd’s reaction to seeing Jesus entering into Jerusalem. I heard the teachings of this story in Sunday school when I was a child, and I remember the little plays we used to do. I am reminded of the HOSANNA songs we learned in Sunday school and the ones we sing in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 1, 2023Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, and of course, that means Easter is a week from tomorrow. I’m sure there are many such weeks in other walks of life, but for ministers, this is the intersection of stress and joy, craziness and exhilaration. Over the years, I have found the range of emotions to provide a little glimpse into the experience of the first Holy Week. People