“Graves to Gardens” I WEEK 2
We all know life can change in a few days. A wedding. A funeral. A birth. A virus. Those few days are a mix of profound opportunity and profound uncertainty. This is exactly how the disciples of Jesus found themselves in the most trying 3 days of their lives. But amidst all the darkness and glory of the Cross - amidst the waiting - Jesus was doing something. In fact, the Good News is that Jesus takes what looks like a GRAVE and turns it into a GARDEN. So, what does Jesus want to do in your own time of waiting? Join us this Sunday as we explore the 3 days that changed everything.
WEEKLY GIVING STATISTICS
(Fiscal Year Began June 1, 2020)
Last Week Weekly Need YTD
$3,491 $2,661 $23,629
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP IN PERSON OR ONLINE
SUNDAY, MARCH 28 AT 10AM
VISIT centergr.com/live OR centergr.online.church.
GOOD TO KNOW:
GOOD FRIDAY ZERO COLLECTIVE WORSHIP SERVICE
Friday April 2 at 7pm at Frontline Community Church
Join us in person or watch online!
Sneak Peak…there’ll be many unique elements throughout the service;
childcare will be provided (birth-5th grade)! Kids are encouraged to come dressed in their pajamas :)
Looking for resources to ‘dig deeper’?
Interested in leading a Bible study but not sure where to start, what to study ?
We can help! Just contact office@centergr.com and we can introduce and connect you to RightNow Media.
Check it out- it’s well worth your time.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Hand2Hand Ministry: UPDATE
SIGN-UP SHEETS ARE LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE WORSHIP CENTER!
The Center Church is scheduled to provide and pack lunches for Hand2Hand once in April (4.26.) and twice in May (5.03. & 5.24.) this year, including special bags for the end of the school year.
We serve 140 kids each week!
Want to get your entire family involved? Help us collect the foods listed below.
WANTED:
Cans of Pasta (Ravioli, Spaghetti, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Spaghetti O’s, etc.)
Boxes of Macaroni & Cheese
Cans of fruit
Cans of veggies
In addition, the following items are always appreciated:
- Oatmeal packets
- Granola bars/protein bars
- Individual fruit cups
- Individual sized cereal boxes
- Microwave popcorn packets
- Trail mix
- Granola bars
- Fruit snacks
- Fruit cups
- Pudding cups
- Peanut butter/cheese cracker packets
- Meat sticks
- Any kind of small bagged snacks (Goldfish Crackers, Animal Crackers, etc)
Donations may be brought to church, but a socially distanced pick up can be arranged at Byron Community Ministries as well.
Thank you for your support!
Any questions? Please contact office@centergr.com for more info and we will get you connected.
HOPE UNEXPECTED:
UPDATE on how you can get involved to follow soon.
THANK YOU for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
INFO:
SMALL GROUPS:
LOOKING TO GET CONNECTED? WE HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU!
PLEASE CHECK OUR ONLINE RESOURCES; SOME OF OUR SMALL GROUPS MAY BE MEETING DIGITALLY
DUE TO COVID-19.
Visit thecentergroups.churchcenter.com for more info.
CENTER STUDENTS MINISTRY:
Please stay tuned for updates and contact jon-michael@centergr.com for more details.
Interested in serving in our Center Students ministry?
He’d love to hear from you!
CENTER KIDS MINISTRY:
Look for important updates in your inbox, Dani loves to keep everyone up to date on what’s happening in our Center Kids ministry :)
Questions for Dani? She’d love to connect with you at dani@centergr.com .
DAVID DOERNER I ZERO COLLECTIVE GROUPS AND TEACHING PASTOR
“GRAVES TO GARDENS” WEEK 2
KEY PASSAGES: NIV
Matthew 27:62-66
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Luke 23:50-56
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
John 19:38-42
The Burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.