Matthew 26:14-16 – Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Holy Week – Arrested, Convicted, and Crucified – John 18:1-19:42
Before you take a look at the video devotional I invite you to read John 18:1-19:42. Ask yourself why Friday was good.
Click here to watch the Good Friday Devotional Video.
Take care of yourself and take care of one another.
Pastor Dan
Holy Week – The Upper Room
Click Here to watch the Video Guide for Maundy Thursday Worship at Home
Maundy Thursday Online Worship Guide
Things to keep in mind:
- Print out this Worship Guide to follow along.
- Get your Bible to read along.
- Gather your communion elements (bread, juice or water w/red food coloring)
- Elements – The Meal and Footwashing will be addressed but not re-enacted in our time. (You are welcome to pause the video and celebrate these elements.)
Welcome & Prayer
Reading….. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of Nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all!
The Fellowship Meal
Scripture & Reflection…………………………. Luke 22:7-16
A Time of Preparation & Personal Examination
The Betrayal………………………………… Matthew 26:20-25
Examination…………………………. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Prayer /Lord’s Prayer………………………………………………………….
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Forever. Amen.
Feet Washing
Scripture………………………………………………… John 13:1-17
The Bread and The Cup
Scripture……………………………………………. Mark 14:17-25
Sharing of the Bread
“The bread which we break is the
communion of the body of Christ.”
Sharing of the Cup
“This cup of the New Testament is the
communion of the blood of Christ.”
Closing Prayer
Holy Week – Wednesday – What Will You Give Me? – Matthew 26:14-16
“What will you give me?” These words could be the slogan for sin. Sin is always focused on our gain or our benefit, without any consideration of God or others. It is ridiculously centered on us and how we might get ahead and build our kingdom.
Judas is a painfully familiar character to us all. He is a reminder of our sinfulness. We don’t like to talk about him because we can associate with him all to well at times. At our worst, in our shamelessly sinful plots through some of life’s circumstances, we proclaim the words of Judas, “What will you give me?” It hurts to admit it and even brings denial and shame of our sin, both of which Jesus died to forgive. Nonetheless, we can all associate with this betrayer.
Sin always costs us something and often more than we ever take into consideration. Although Judas knew the teachings of Jesus, he believed the promises of Satan rather than God and thought he would be happier and better off. He was focused on what he would get from others, but not from Jesus.
On this Wednesday of Holy Week, a somewhat quiet day in the events of this week, I encourage you to reflect on what Jesus was willing to give Judas…and what He is willing to give you. But like Judas, we have to believe in faith, that what Jesus gives is always better, if sometimes different than what we expect. Let these reflections build your faith on the source and giver of life. It astonishes me that even in our wants and desires, when we go to the right source (Jesus), he will shape and restore them for His glory and not our own. What has Jesus given you?
As we continue to walk through Holy Week take time to STOP. This different season calls for prayer and worship in different ways but to the same Jesus that died on the cross for you and me over 2,000 years ago.
Holy Week Worship
- Thursday, April 9 – Maundy Thursday Worship From Home
- We will be sharing a video and written worship guide for all to worship Jesus on this day of remembrance for Christ’s sacrifice.
- Mark out time today for a time of worship tomorrow.
- Friday, April 10 – Video devotional for commemorating Good Friday
- Saturday, April 11 – Virtual Easter Egg Hunt – Details to come.
- Sunday, April 12 – Easter Worship Service – eatoncommunitychurch.org
Holy Week – Glory in Tribulation (John 12:27-33)
Click Here to watch Pastor Josh’s Video Devotional
Happening This Week
- Daily devotionals – Remembering the Passion of Christ
- Thursday, April 9 – Maundy Thursday Worship From Home – Details to come.
- Saturday, April 11 – Virtual Easter Egg Hunt – Details to come.
- Sunday, April 12 – Easter Worship Service – eatoncommunitychurch.org
Holy Week – Mary’s Worship – John 12:1-11
Years ago, I stood in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. We were on our way to a mission trip in Egypt and our flight layover in Rome provided a chance to stop by a few world-famous places. There, at what some would consider the holiest place in the world, I waited for awe to creep in. But instead I found an incredible sadness…a sense of disconnect. “This isn’t what He would have wanted!”, I thought. This ornate, grandiose portrayal of man’s idea of what it meant to worship God – it just wasn’t Him! I was feeling that, were Jesus Himself standing there, He’d be shaking His head at us, saying we’d got it all wrong.
But in the years that passed since then, I’ve come to realize that there was an aspect of God that I was missing. Yes, He is the meek, the lowly, He models for us how to seek the lowest place and how the humble will be exalted. Yet there is also another part of Him that we’ve not yet glimpsed. Perhaps it is revealed in the 12 gates of the New City of Jerusalem, each made of a single pearl. Perhaps it is unveiled in the golden streets of that same city, that will someday come down from heaven to earth. They are of such pure gold, they will look like transparent glass. Perhaps it is portrayed in the glimpse into the heavenly throne room where His magnificence is so powerful as to overwhelm the simple prophet who saw it, not even in its true form but just a vision.
The truth? Our God is an extravagant God. When He gives to us, He gives with extravagance. When He pours out His blessing, He often does so, not parceling it out in meager pieces but with extravagance. When He provided supper for the five thousand, they not only had enough for every person to eat to the full – but had 12 baskets left over. That’s extravagance.
When it came to the cross, God didn’t give meagerly there either. He didn’t send an angel to pay for humanity’s sins. He didn’t merely arrange for His Son to endure a quick and painless punishment, even though death could have been brought in many less-painful ways. No, even in this, God gave extravagantly. He gave His Only Son – to not just endure pain but to die – and to die in the most painful way possible. God was…extravagant.
So it’s no wonder then, when Mary began to pour out the perfume over Jesus’ feet and the others protested, Jesus stopped them cold. LEAVE HER ALONE! There is a time to save up our money, there is a time to care for the poor, there is a time to watch every penny. But there is a time to be extravagant – and that is when we are bowing in worship at His feet.
A few years ago, our church was delivering Christmas gifts to a needy family. This family also had some practical needs; they were going through a pretty tough time. What they didn’t know is that those needs would be met also. A son of about age 9 or 10 was home when we arrived with everything. As the items were carried into the house, the child began to cry openly. “It’s too much!”. He was overwhelmed by the generosity and love represented by those gifts. In that moment I understood the heart of God’s extravagance; it shows us who He is – a God who gives freely, unflinchingly, and generously to each one of us – who can give Him NOTHING back in return.
When was the last time you were extravagant in your worship?
Miss Coleen
Happening This Week
- Daily devotionals – Remembering the Passion of Christ
- Thursday, April 9 – Maundy Thursday Online Worship Service – Details to come.
- Saturday, April 11 – Virtual Easter Egg Hunt – Details to come.
- Sunday, April 12 – Online Easter Worship Service – Details to come.
ECC Update – Holy Week
Happening This Week
- Daily devotionals – Remembering the Passion of Christ
- Thursday, April 9 – Maundy Thursday Online Worship Service – Details to come.
- Saturday, April 11 – Virtual Easter Egg Hunt – Details to come.
- Sunday, April 12 – Online Easter Worship Service – Details to come.
ECC Ministry Update – Stretched to the Breaking Point?
Anger. Harsh Words. Hurt feelings. Lashing Back. Tears Flow. Voices raised. Accusations. No one wins. Everyone loses…
Why is it that in the place where we should feel the greatest love and joy we often feel instead the greatest hurt and pain? We love our families – really we do. But when things happen a certain way, something just seems to rise up in us. And when the dust has settled, there is pain.
It’s easier to be nicer to people outside our family sometimes. Things we wouldn’t say to our coworkers come pouring out of our mouths at home. Behaviors that we wouldn’t tolerate in ourselves with more distant relatives flow freely throughout the house. Attitudes that would kill our friendships never even come up in those relationships; it’s unthinkable. But it’s not unthinkable at home. There…we DO the unthinkable. We hurt each other.
The Bible is rampant with stories of families fighting: Cain with Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau with Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, and even James and John arguing with the others over who would have the highest place of honor. Sometimes their conflicts impacted not just them but their children and their descendants for generations to come.
I wonder if that’s why God knew we’d need self-control. To NOT say the words that are bubbling up on your tongue…to not give way to the anger you feel inside…to not hold someone hostage by not speaking to them or excluding them – it takes a powerful amount of self-control that few of us possess.
Add to that an abnormal amount of stresses and everyone gets stretched to the breaking point. Things that should be insignificant blow up like nuclear bombs. So here we are in the midst of a world-wide pandemic, a state-wide quarantine, the loss of many jobs, and the destruction of most of life’s routines. It’s a recipe for disaster – were it not for our God.
He knew this would happen. And He’s prepared us for it by teaching us in His Word the principles of navigating relationships in tough times. So here are a few steps to talk through as a family.
1. Acknowledge together that it will happen.
Sit down together as a family and admit together that it is strongly possible that, sometime during this quarantine time, you are going to get very angry with each other. That doesn’t mean you don’t love each other or that you are bad Christians. But it does mean that, to get through this time, we have to be ready. Read 1 Peter 5:8 together to talk about how the enemy might try to stir up conflicts and fighting in your home and how you can be on your guard.
2. Develop a plan for how to respond.
· Create a short term plan for the moments when a conflict starts: talk about how to give each other space. Sometimes being in separate rooms for a while helps people cool down and be able to talk with less anger. Maybe create a signal that anyone can use when they need some space to cool down.
Consider also – what does a “soft answer” look like for each person (Proverbs 15:1)? What would it mean in your family to put other family member’s interests your own (Philippians 2:4). Be sure to talk about how to avoid passive ways that people often show anger – locking someone out emotionally is just as bad as screaming and yelling.
- Invite each family member to come up with a plan for what will help them exercise self-control. What pushes our buttons is different for each one of us. Do you KNOW what your buttons are? Once you know, what can you do to respond better when one of your buttons gets pushed?
- Create spaces – either physical ones or spaces in the family schedule – to come back together and talk through conflicts, work through compromises, and to reaffirm your love for one another.
3. Do the hard work of following Christ
Being a Christian is never easy because God calls us to do what’s hard – but do it in His strength. So ask His help to FORGIVE (Ephesians 4:32)…to OVERLOOK AN INSULT (Proverbs 19:11 and I Peter 4:8) …to PUT OTHERS NEEDS BEFORE OUR OWN. To do so sometimes goes again everything that is in us! But sometimes that which is in us is our sin nature which God is gently but forcefully overcoming in us. And God may be using each family member to shape us to become more like Christ – are we willing to let God have a free hand in doing that?
This season – for however long it is – can end with us rushing away from each other, eager to get away from the irritants of family members, feeling vaguely guilty but somehow “freed”. Or it can end with great reluctance to return to “normal” life because our relationships have grown deep in ways we never thought possible. Instead of being stretched to the breaking point, maybe God is stretching us to a new point of spiritual maturity…
Miss Coleen
Happening this weekend:
Friday, April 3 – Movie Night Ideas & Lessons – Access Movie Night
Sunday, April 5 – Sunday Morning Worship – Access at eatoncommunitychurch.org
Take care of yourself and take care of one another!
ECC Ministry Update – My Grandpa
Arthur Petry was my maternal grandfather. Grandpa worked most of his life at Dairy Maid Creamery in Greenville. After he retired he raised a few animals and farmed some ground outside of Hollansburg. I used to love to go the farm. For a young boy it was full of adventures and activities. Grandpa also had a garden and a woodworking shop with some really cool woodworking tools. He could do a lot of things well, like the aforementioned items, and perhaps one of his greatest talents, playing cards. He is one of my heroes.
Over the past 6 months I’ve been reminded of my Grandpa on several occasions. Last fall as we cleaned out my parents home, we came across multiple items that were made by Grandpa Petry. In September, when we were moving my parents into the Brethren Retirement Community, where my Grandpa lived the final years of his life, an employee shared some fond memories they had of my grandpa. Finally, early in February, at the church leadership seminar we hosted, I came into contact with some people who knew Grandpa from many years ago. They attended the same church together and served together. They too shared some fond memories. I am grateful for these memories that I have and those that were shared with me. Gifts from the Lord!
Of all the memories that I have and that have been shared with me, there is one thing that stands out. He was a gentle man. Gentleness is described in one dictionary of biblical theology as “Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love.” That was my grandpa. His disposition and his kindness, all motivated by love. I watched it demonstrated with his adult kids, his many grandchildren (including me) and with my grandma. This strength far outweighed all of his other talents and gifts.
I know grandpa wasn’t perfect. He had his faults and I’m sure he got angry, even though I don’t remember seeing it. However, gentleness is the one word I would use to describe my grandpa. It was the legacy that he left me. I believe he learned it from his relationship with Jesus, “who is humble and gentle at heart”. It is a fruit of the Spirit held high in the Kingdom of God. Consider the words of Paul below and think about how you, this day, can walk in gentleness.
Titus 3:1-2
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
Thank you Lord, for teaching me, even years after his death, of the difference one man can make by living like Jesus.
Take care of yourself and take care of one another!
Pastor Dan
Happening This Week
Thursday, April 2 – (6:30-7:30) REFIT® – Hosted by Brandie Back. Click here to participate.
Friday, April 3 – Movie Night Ideas & Lessons – Access at eatoncommunitychurch.org
Sunday, April 5 – Sunday Morning Worship – Access at eatoncommunitychurch.org
ECC Ministry Update – Faithfulness
“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night” – Psalm 92:1-2
This is a painting that I completed last year that hangs in my office next to my desk. It is simple and not really all that good, but it is meaningful. I based it off of the above verses from Psalm 92. It visually reminds me of God’s love in the morning, (upper left) that extends to His faithfulness at night (lower right). The red section in the middle represents the blood of Jesus Christ, which made a way for me to receive the faithfulness of God. The many layers remind me of how God’s character covers every part of our days and every circumstance we could ever face.
We need God’s love and faithfulness more than ever. If not because of what we’re experiencing, then because of the sickness and sin of this fallen world that is so prevalent each and every day. We need God. We need him every morning and every night. We need Him more every day. Cry out to Him as much as you need, He won’t grow weary and He won’t get tired of hearing from you.
One of the ways we grow in faithfulness to God is to build a pattern of celebrating Him. If you are reading this in the morning then acknowledge how His love will carry you this day. If it is night, then thank Him for His faithfulness that got you through your day. Morning until night. No gaps. No missed moments. He was there. He will be there. That’s faithfulness. Whatever the days ahead, He will be faithful.
Check out these additional scriptures that speak to God’s faithfulness. Psalm 61:7. Psalm 36:5. Psalm 85:11. Psalm 89:8. Psalm 89:14.
Let the words of Psalm 119:30 be descriptive our heart and souls in the days ahead. It says, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”
Happening This Week
Wednesday, April 1 (6:00) – “Threads” Bible Study – Hosted by Pastor Josh. A time to study God’s Word. Click here to participate in “Threads” Bible Study
Thursday, April 2 – (6:30-7:30) REFIT® – Hosted by Brandie Back. Link coming soon.
Friday, April 3 – Family Movie Night Ideas & Lessons – Details coming soon.
Sunday, April 5 – Sunday Morning Worship – Access at eatoncommunitychurch.org
Take care of yourself and take care of one another!
Pastor Dan
ECC Special Announcement
Good afternoon everyone! Can I first say how much I miss you all! I can’t wait for us to be together again in one space for worship and to share and encourage one another.
As you likely know, the newest federal and state government orders and recommendations for social distancing and isolation have been extended until May 1.
In light of these orders the elders, staff, and I have made the difficult decision to cancel all gatherings on campus for the month of April. This is what we believe is best to care for one another with the love that Jesus showed.
- This means we will not be meeting on campus for Sunday morning Worship Gatherings. (No gatherings on April 5,12, 19 or 26)
- We are thinking through some ways to celebrate Holy Week and Easter in a different, yet meaningful ways. Stay tuned for details.
- This means we will not meet for Wednesday night Etch gatherings in April.
- This also means that the church building will be closed and thus are asking ministry teams to not meet unless absolutely necessary.
- The church staff is available by email and phone.
We absolutely believe that while this is a very different and difficult time, God’s church will grow stronger in and beyond this season. Let’s continue to reach out to one another with calls, cards, Zoom gatherings, and in other thoughtful ways to share with one another through this time. We can still Share Life and Share Christ in this season!
Take care of yourself and take care of one another!
Pastor Dan
LifeShare 