Christ is Still Risen!

It was an awesome Holy Week and Easter celebration at Christ Church as we lifted up the promise of “resurrection power” for all who receive Jesus as their Savior! There were more than 900 people in attendance on that beautiful morning and the spirit of worship and praise was electric!  109 people indicated either a “first time” commitment or a “recommitment” to Christ.  Praise God!  The worship, the Word, the flowers, the new altar and staging, the fresh coffee and delicious breakfast, the families and friends… it was a morning to be remembered!  I want to thank the dozens of dedicated volunteers who served so joyfully to make the whole weekend possible.  What a team!

I’ve got Good News for you!  “Christ is still risen!  He is still risen indeed!”  Easter is not for an hour or a day but for a lifetime for those who are followers of Jesus.  We serve a risen Savior who is in the world today; loving, caring and working in our church, communities, families and daily lives.  Since that first Easter Sunday, Christians have continued to worship on “the day of resurrection.”  Since that first Easter Sunday, we have known that it is only “resurrection power” that truly brings life!

I’m very excited to continue our Power Trip series during these next 8 weeks and press in to discover what that “resurrection power” is all about.  This Sunday, April 27, we will resume our regular schedule with both Worship and Sunday School at 9:00 and 10:30 AM.  My topic is “Power to Go!”  What direction has life been taking you lately?  Have you been going with God’s power?  A friendly greeting and a fresh cup of Dunn Bros. coffee will be awaiting your arrival.  Come early and hang around awhile.  Invite a friend to join you.

Next Thursday, May 1, is the National Day of Prayer.  I will be helping lead a prayer service in the State Capitol rotunda beginning outside on the steps at 2:30 PM.  All are welcome!  Our annual NDP Area Worship and Prayer service is once again at ERHS on Thursday night, May 1, at 7:00 PM. The offering this year will be presented to the Mayor of Elk River, John Dietz, to bless the city. I’ll be giving a BlessMN update too.

New Member Classes will be held on Saturday morning, May 3, from 8:30-10:30 AM and Monday, May 5, from 7:00-9:00 PM.  Choose the one that works best for you.  Child-care is available as needed.  Please come and make some new friends, meet members of our Church Council and staff and learn more about the Mission and Ministries of Christ Church!  We welcome you to join this congregation that is on fire for Jesus!

BlessMN continues to grow!  On Sunday, Pastor Jason Sorley from Elk River Baptist, one of our newest partners, will share the BlessMN opportunity with his congregation.  Next week, Zylstra Harley Davidson, Sportech Inc. and Integrity Insurance will all be launching special initiatives with their employees, clients and customers.  How can you network through your workplace, Facebook account, circles of friends etc. to encourage everyone you know to “adopt a street in prayer?”  Let’s help light a fire here that will continue all across the State of Minnesota!

Blessings in Jesus!
Pastor Greg Pagh

Blood Moons and Easter Sunrises!

At 2:00 a.m. last night, Colleen and I stood in our bathrobes peering out a second story window at the total lunar eclipse being referred to by some as a “blood moon.”  Sure enough, as the earth temporarily blocked the sun from hitting any part of the moon’s surface, a reddish-orange glow appeared.  This phenomenon will now occur four consecutive times at 6-month intervals which any astronomer will tell you is highly unusual.

Others see this “lunar tetrad” as representing the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.  In Joel 2:31-32a it says, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Pastor John Hagee has written a New York Times best seller entitled, “Four Blood Moons – Something Is About to Change.”  Hagee finds special significance in these particular lunar eclipses because they coincide with the Jewish festivals of Passover and Tabernacles.

When asked about the end times, Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Mk 13:5)  He went on to describe great testing and persecution for those who proclaim faith in God, along with calamities like wars, earthquakes and famines.  Then Jesus said, “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.  ‘But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’  At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” (Mk 13:23-27)

As we enter this Holy Week, 2014, of this we can be sure.  The second coming of Christ has never been closer than it is today!  The world is shaking.  Nations are at war.  Natural disasters abound.  That’s why we are so passionate about sharing the “Good News of the Gospel” and inviting everyone to be saved.  You see, the eyes of Jesus’ followers are not focused on a “blood moon” but on a blood-stained cross and an empty tomb!  These are the “signs” that give us hope in the face of these uncertain days.

How can you be prepared to meet Jesus face-to-face?  By receiving him as your Savior and trusting in his every promise!  “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (Jn 1:12)  Jesus’ followers place their confidence in a heavenly Father and choose to live every day as his children until he comes again.  For those whose hope is in the Lord, the second coming is not a “dreadful day” but one of great joy.

Who do you know who needs to hear this Good News?  Please invite them to join you on Holy Thursday at 7:00 p.m. as we remember the Last Supper, on Good Friday at 7:00 p.m. as we gather near the cross, or on Easter Sunday as we celebrate the victory of the resurrection at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m., with an Easter breakfast and plenty of fellowship included. 

I believe that this Holy Week represents a “tipping point” for Christ Church.  Blood moons may be fascinating but God’s Word declares, “They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11 – emphasis added) 

Bring your family!  Bring your relatives!  Bring a neighbor, co-worker or friend!  Easter is coming and we are going to party because the blood of Jesus has given us life!

Blessings,
Pastor Greg Pagh

Kitchen Table Talk

My mom has the gift of hospitality!  She loves to cook and bake, and now, even at 80 years of age, it is not uncommon for her and dad to welcome lunch or dinner guests, take a meal to someone in need, or serve coffee and refreshments to a whole group at their Eden Prairie high rise.  They love to serve and bless others with the love of Jesus and great food is just one of the vehicles!

When we were kids the kitchen table was a place of great food, family, laughter and conversation.  My dad had a rule:  “If your mother makes it, it’s good, and you will eat it.”  There was no criticizing or complaining about anything that was put on the table.  Of course, mom only made the meals that dad liked, so this was an easy rule for him to enforce.  Casseroles or “hot dishes” as we called them were a staple for a growing family in those days.

The Bible is full of “kitchen table talk.” Jesus broke bread with the highest and the lowest of society but always used the opportunity to build relationships, meet needs and share the message of God’s amazing love.  He visited the home of a fraudulent business man named Zacchaeus and turned his life around.  He multiplied a handful of loaves and fishes and turned a teaching seminar into an outdoor picnic.  He dined in the home of a member of the religious establishment but pointed to the sincere faith of the woman who washed his feet with her tears.  He had lunch with Lazarus and his sisters just a short time after raising him from the dead.  The night before his crucifixion, Jesus turned the Passover meal into a commemoration, or should I say a celebration of his impending death and resurrection.  Kitchen tables come in all shapes, sizes and locations!

So, do you welcome the Lord’s presence at your kitchen table, family gathering, coffee at Caribou, business lunch or dinner with friends?  Our meals are more on the move than ever today; however, one thing remains true.  Where two or three gather “in his name” he promises to show up!  Don’t forget to invite, welcome and acknowledge Jesus’ presence as your most honored guest.  And then listen, he just may have something to teach you!

When we gather for coffee, refreshments and conversation after worship on Sundays, remember that Jesus is in our midst.  His eyes are always open to welcome the guest, comfort the hurting, encourage the weary or celebrate with laughter.  Our eyes should be open too.

When we gather for fellowship with our Life Group, Teen Challenge guests, an all-church potluck, a funeral reception or an Easter Breakfast, let’s make sure that our “kitchen table talk” is up-building and glorifying to God.  Jesus is right there among us.

When we receive Holy Communion, let’s come with hearts prepared to both confess our sins and receive God’s amazing grace, mindful of the need to extend that forgiveness and grace to those around us.

When I was growing up I was blessed to be in a family where anything could be talked about openly and honestly.  There was lots of love and support with an appropriate amount of discipline and correction sprinkled in.  Meal times were happy times. God invites you to make every meal an opportunity for “kitchen table talk,” the kind that acknowledges and welcomes our most honored guest, Jesus.

Blessings,
Pastor Greg Pagh