GBC Community Update: Why do Christians celebrate Easter?

Good morning!  Spring has sprung. I don’t know about you, but I love this time of year. I find it so encouraging.
I’m starting a news series of devotional ‘Thoughts for the Day’ called “Why Easter?”  I’ll look at some of the things we perhaps take for granted to get a clearer sense of the significance of this incredible event.  You might want to take these short thoughts and share with your friends and those you know to give them something to consider as we prepare for Easter.
 
 
Communion This Sunday!
Our next opportunity to participate in communion will be held this Sunday. I would encourage you to spend time this week preparing your hearts to commune with the Lord. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that when we take communion “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  This is a great thing to remember: Jesus is coming back and when he does everything changes.   We’ll be remembering that on Sunday. I hope you’ll celebrate with us.
For those joining us on our livestream, I’d encourage you to participate.  If you’d like a set of the elements we’ll be using, let me know and I can arrange delivery.
 
 
Notice of Annual Meeting
Please plan to join us for our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Sunday, March 28 at 12:15 p.m. following our morning service.  The purpose of the 30-minute meeting is to approve the 2020 financial statements, approve the 2021 budget, appoint an auditor and elect Directors to hold office until the next annual general meeting.  If you are member and are unable to attend, please complete a proxy form (attached) to ensure that we achieve quorum for the AGM.
We hope to see you there!
 
 
Prayer
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the day: Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter?
Back in the 1880’s philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared that “God is dead,” and before the turn of the twentieth century, authors Bernard Shaw and HG Wells both declared the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s “religious phase.”
 
All were wrong.
 
Yet, today a church now meets in Russia’s former Museum of Atheism., churches continue to thrive even under communist suppression in China, the gospel continues to sweep across Africa and Latin America and every Sunday millions of people gather in the name of Jesus in North America including here at GBC. No, God is not dead.
 
Nietzsche, Shaw and Wells have long since decayed in their graves, and God continues to live! That’s the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
 
Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You can’t visit His remains, you can only visit His empty grave, because He isn’t there. He arose!  Jesus is alive, he’s coming again, and when he does, everything changes. That gives a hope for any situation, even the times we’re in.
That’s why we celebrate Easter!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris