April 2, 2026

PALM SUNDAY EGG HUNT & PICNIC

AND HOLY WEEK LUNCHES

SUNDAY WORSHIP

April 5 at 10:45am

EASTER SUNDAY

Rev. Jillian Hankamer Preaching

The Good News Is...Alive in the World

Matthew 28:1-10

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to stream this Sunday's service live

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to see the Order of Worship

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to stream last week's service

OUR WORSHIP IN SONG



The Opening Hymn: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today The unknown editor of Lyra Davidica wanted music with more movement and spirit than found in the grave, slow-paced psalm tunes, with one note to a syllable. Easter Hymn was among the first of a new popular style.



The Middle Hymn: The Day of Resurrection a Greek canon-an extended poem of eight or nine odes, each based on a scriptural canticle - was the sourse of this hymn. John of Damascus gave up a high government position to enter a monatery. traditional spiritual.

The Anthem: "Hallelujah" from Mount of Olives by Beethoven.

The Communion Anthem:  In Remembrance of me from Celebrate Life, Reagan Courtney by Beryl Red.



The Closing Anthem: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Gilbert M. Martin.

Down throught the ages the geat Pietàd of Western art show the dead body of Jesus lying across the lap of his mother. The one who said that he was the light of the world has gone out like a match. The onewho they said was the hope of the world is himself now hopeless.

There is reason to suspect that Mary never fully understood what her son was about and would have persuaded him to give it up if she could. Jesus never had much time for her, and when they came to him once to say that his mother was waiting outside, he told them that whoever did the will of his Father in heaven, that was his mother. Only on the cross did he seem to focus clearly on who she was and on the depths of her need. He told the disciple he loved most to look after her when he was gone and told her that from now on the disciple would be the son to her that he himself had no time to be, what with a world to save, a death to die. He spoke to her more like her father than like her child, so that in losing him she lost a child and father both. --From The Faces of Jesus by Frederick Buechner.

OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

Paul Brannon 2nd

Tim Jaquess 3rd

Jay Aro 6th

Arturo Rodriguez 7th

Peggy Caskey 8th

Mara Loeb 8th

Henry Aro 8th

Norris Duke 9th

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

CHURCH LIFE

Please join us today at 5 pm for wine and water in the Northminster Columbarium Garden (weather permitting) and then at 6 pm for our Maundy Thursday service in the sanctuary.

“The Prayer in the Palm Grove” by Lázaro Ceballos, Matanzas, Cuba

This wonderful painting was recently acquired and given to Northminster to join our permanent art collection. It is fitting to introduce it tonight on Maundy Thursday because it represents Jesus praying in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night following the Last Supper with his disciples. Here is what the artist says about the painting.

“This icon is also a classic icon, an ancient one. I don’t know where it is from exactly. I believe this icon is Russian.

Here is Jesus, Praying.

His face is a face of anguish, of sadness. He has his hand reaching toward heaven, in a position of prayer.

But there is a detail here in this icon and that is the left hand is closed in a fist. This fist gives the impression of a heart; it resembles a heart. Perhaps it refers to the manner one prays when we come face to face with the absurd, with pain, with injustice. One prays with a firm heart. For this, the hand is closed, the left hand.

There is another detail, that he is praying in a palm grove. It is a prayer that comes from here, from our land, from Cuba. For this reason, he is surrounded by these palm trees, palm trees that are in a contorted shape with positions and movements that also are expressing pain.”

Join us Good Friday, April 3 at 6pm for Tenebrae, a service of shadows as we observe an ancient Christian Holy Week service—dating back over 1,000 years—marking the death of Jesus through a gradual extinguishing of candles and a final, loud noise (strepitus), representing the earthquake. This service creates a solemn, mournful atmosphere of reflection. 

STREAM THE SERVICE HERE

SEE THE ORDER OF WORSHIP HERE

PUB THEOLOGY

Pub Theology meets on the third Thursday of each month. Next meeting is April 16 at 7pm

On Sunday, April 12 from 2pm - 4pm a special and exciting event will be held at Northminster. Our Education/Arts Commission is collaborating with PEO Ch V to bring the beautiful works of artist, Don Cincone, to us in a Spring Talent Showcase. The event will also celebrate Cincone's 90th birthday and a fantastic program of art and music will be presented. Opening the program will be the West Monroe High School Jr. ROTC posting the colors. Appearing will be Don Cincone, artist, Alexa Jones, Ryan Kersh, and Morgan Meyer Huth, soloists, the Northminster Choir with D.H. Clark on organ and Elizabeth Rennick on oboe, John David Cleveland will bring two very special selections and the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir will close out the program.

COMING UP

This Sunday

9:00 am - Choir Rehearsal

10:00 am - Sunday School

10:45 am - Preludes

11:00 am - Worship Service

Wednesdays

5:30 pm: Craft and Chat

6:30 pm: Choir rehearsal

10TH ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS EVENT

Over the past 9 years, the Empty Bowls event has raised funds to provide over 1.5 million meals to local children, families and seniors who were facing hunger. What an incredible impact made possible by artists, restaurants, musicians, sponsors, community members and YOU! Thank you for being a part of this amazing effort.

Tickets are now available, including a limited number of VIP tickets that provide early entry at 10:30. We're also offering a pre-sale for t-shirts as an add-on option with your ticket purchase. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring this event, please reach out to me for details.

This year, we will be back at the Monroe Civic Center Arena, with plenty of space for the best food, art and music in town. All guests will enjoy a tasting of delicious food & beverages from local restaurants, live music, kid’s activities, photo booth and more. 

We hope you will join us on Saturday, May 30th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (or 10:30 if you get a VIP ticket!), at the Monroe Civic Center Arena. Make sure to order your tickets before they sell out!

GET TICKETS

Click Here if you can’t attend but would like to make a donation.