Time to Listen and Reflect

El Tiempo Para Escuchar y Reflexionar

 

 

The First Scripture Lesson / La Primera Lección de Escritura

Acts 10.34-43:  Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone.

                You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.

                "And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."

 

Proclamation of the Gospel / Proclamación del Evangelio

Mark 16.1-8:  When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"

Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."

They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.

 

Song of Response / Canción de la Respuesta

             There is strength in the name of the Lord.

             There is power in the name of the Lord.

             There is hope in the name of the Lord.

             Blessed are we who come in the name of the Lord.

 

The Easter Message / La Mensaje de Pasqua

             Rev. Mark Pridmore, Pastor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Listen and Reflect On

What God Has to Say to Us

 

Now that we are in God’s presence, it is time to tune our hearts in to what God has to say to us through Scripture, as it is interpreted, taught, and illuminated in the weekly message.  We encourage you to be open to what God has to reveal to you today. 

 

Each week we print the Scriptures in our worship bulletin for your use and study. We encourage you to take them home and study them for yourselves. 

 

 

 

Our goal is to reverently and faithfully present the word of God in scripture.  We strive to make it accessible to everyone.  Therefore, we read from reputable translations that are written in language that is easy to understand.

 

 

 

We at Eternal Joy MCC strongly believe that God is too big to limit to a single gender.  When referring to God in Scripture, we use gender-neutral words for God.  We avoid labeling God as exclusively ‘he’ or ‘him.’