| He is Risen! (He is Risen, indeed!) After Jesus’ resurrection, our scriptures have a few different things to say about what happened over the following days and weeks. Josh preached Sunday from Mark’s gospel, where Jesus told his disciples that he would go ahead of them and meet them in Galilee. In Luke’s gospel, we see a few different encounters with Jesus after he is raised from the dead. One of these occurred as two disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus. Jesus appeared next to them, but they didn’t recognize him. He simply asked them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” The disciples recounted the events of the previous week, and then Jesus spent the rest of the walk talking to them about the scriptures, “starting with Moses and going through all the prophets.” By the time they reached Emmaus, they sat down to share a meal together. When Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to them, they finally recognized who he was. Then he disappeared, and they went to find the other disciples and swap stories of how they had seen Jesus! Today, after celebrating Holy Week together, I find it deeply meaningful how Jesus interacted with those two disciples along the road. He didn’t show up and announce himself in front of them immediately. If his only purpose was to “pop in” on two disciples and prove that he had risen, he could have done that at any point along the road and then moved on to the next group. Instead, he came alongside them along the journey, asking “what are you talking about as you walk along? ”He spent time with them. He explained the scriptures to them. And he broke bread with them—reminding them of who he was, harkening back to his last meal with the disciples. In the wake of Easter, I pray that each of us encounters God as well. I pray that, as we are “walking along” the everyday road of life, we recognize Jesus next to us through the Spirit: teaching us and walking beside us. Quakers have long recognized that, through the power of the Spirit, Jesus has come to teach his people himself. If Jesus is alive and has come to teach his people himself, let’s pay attention and listen! May you look to Jesus as you walk through life this week. Peace in Christ, Bobby Kirkpatrick CQH Save the Date HS | June 5-11 JH | June 10-15 Mark your calendars! Camp dates have been finalized! The dates listed reflect the travel days needed for Friendswood Friends Church and will vary from the camp dates posted on the EFCMAYM website. Registration for camp begins this month. To be directly contacted once registration opens, please fill out the Camp Registration Contact link below. Camp Registration Contact Form Scholarship Applications Open The Patricia Ann and Robert Ladd Allen Scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming college freshman or a continuing college student. The recipient is chosen based on a strong Christian faith, active involvement in Friendswood Friends Church, character, leadership, academics, interest in Christian ministry, and financial need. The deadline for submission of applications is May 1st. Scholarship Application Women’s Bible Study Opportunities Ladies, join us on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:00 am for a bible study. We will be looking at the three enemies that sabotage our peace and what God says about recognizing them and resisting them. All you need is a bible. If you would like to dive deeper you can grab John Mark Comer’s book “Live No Lies” but it’s not necessary. The Ladies Evening Bible Study over “Ruth” will begin on April 10. The women meet in Susan Tam’s home: 1916 Lundy Lane. Contact the church office if you have any questions. Purchase “Ruth” Bible Study Book Here Missions Night Join us on Sunday, April 14 from 5:00-6:30 PM for an interactive Missions experience. There will be booths themed to each country coordinating with our Missionary Families. Kids will participate by taking passports around the room and making crafts at each station. We will have a video call with the Linvilles at 6:00 pm and then prayer time. We hope you can join us for a Missions Night traveling around the world. Handbell Rehearsals Bell Friends will hold regular rehearsal this Thursday at 12:30 pm in the Worship Center. Contact Nancy Hansen for more details. A Shower for Baby Stevens Join us on April 13 in the Coffee Cafe at 1:00 pm to celebrate Deidre and Andrew! In place of a card, please consider bringing a baby book with your name inside. You can find a link to their registry by clicking the RSVP link. Sunday Evening Activities April 7 Kidzone and Bible Study 5:00 pm | Fuse 6:00 pm | Core 7:30 pm April 14 Missions Night in the Coffee Cafe 5:00-6:30 pm April 21 Kidzone and Bible Study 5:00 pm | Fuse 6:00 pm | Core 7:30 pm April 28 Kidzone and Bible Study 5:00 pm | Fuse 6:00 pm | Core 7:30 pm Sympathies Our condolences go to the family of Ann Wood; she passed away on March 26th. The funeral service will be held in the chapel on Thursday, April 4 at 10:30 AM. Ann Wood Obituary In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7 |
