April 1, 2023

Dear Rockford Reformed Church Family and Friends,

Just a quick note for this Palm Sunday weekend… “Holy Week” begins tomorrow with our worship that will focus on Jesus’ final days and triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The kids will help us get started with waving palm branches and reading Scripture. My sermon will focus on this strange event leading up to Jesus’ entry into the city (Matthew 21:18-22)—when Jesus curses a fig tree and it immediately dies. What is that about and how does it matter for us today?

We are glad to introduce you to a few new members during worship tomorrow. And then, we will also provide an opportunity for some of you to give a testimony or share a bit of how God has been working in your heart and life. I often hear the stories of how Christ and his Spirit are wonderfully at work in many of you and it’s a great encouragement and honor to Jesus when we share it with each other.

God’s Spirit is also at work in our students as several of them are exploring what it means to make a profession of faith and become a member of Christ’s church. Anyone who wants to explore what it means to become a member of our church family is encouraged to sign up for the next Discovery Class (May 7 and 21, 5-7 pm). As I met with our students on Sunday evening, I noted that they would be welcome to join us for a Discovery Class as well. And if there’s more than a few, I will do a separate class for students.

Each time our consistory meets, we take time to share about our “outreach temperature,” some stories about how we have made some connections, and how we will work to raise our outreach temperature. We are working toward all of us raising the temperature and having stories to share about sharing Jesus and praying for and with neighbors and friends.

Who are you praying for? Who can you invite to Easter worship? Or, to the Maundy Thursday gathering? We want to celebrate the power of the Jesus’ resurrection for everyone who is wandering aimlessly without the joy, love, and peace that only comes through Jesus.

Pray for healing, grace, and comfort for the church, school, and greater community that has been devastated with the murder of six beloved members of their community. Pray for his kingdom to come and for the many who are struggling in our nation. And pray for God to have his way with us as we pray, worship, and live for him. He is worthy!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Tim