This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to Holy Week, the week in which we are confronted with the sinfulness of yesterday and today, our brokenness, and our need for God's redemptive grace through Jesus Christ. It is a week in which we confront the hate and violence of the world, a hate that caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross. In the Gospel reading this past Sunday, Jesus said to us, "Put away your swords, for the one who lives by the sword will fall by the sword." Instead of fighting, Jesus submits through humble obedience. This week, as an expression of our own humble obedience to God, we are called to walk the way of the cross. We do so knowing love will win.

This Easter, let us celebrate the love of God that makes us all siblings in Christ. Let us celebrate a Lord who came not to hold power over us, but to lift us up. Let us celebrate that through Jesus's death and resurrection, we are made new. In this newness, we are commissioned to be witnesses of the Gospel, which I believe means that we are to share God's love. As we journey through this last week of Lent and into Easter, I pray that you might find a way to share the love of God with those that you encounter, for the faith that is in you is meant to be shared. I wish everyone a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter.

Peace,

Mitch